Neptune

Astro Doings September 2017

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Hi Everyone

Good news! September will be quieter than August – no solar eclipse! For most of the month, until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22nd, there will be a lot of Virgo energy. Virgo, an earth sign, is the sign of the harvest and has a lot to do with gathering all the different parts of ourselves into one integrated whole. She is discerning, discriminating, analytical and can get lost in the details. However, she’s also the one who will remember the forks and napkins for the picnic! I believe we can use this time to integrate the insights gained during last month’s volatility. We need fire energy to wake us up, but now comes the time of assimilation and integration.

Hallelujah! Mercury goes direct on September 5th at 7:30 a.m. He’ll be at 280 Leo, but will move into Virgo on the 9th. Mercury does well in Virgo; he likes to analyze and categorize. However, this also means that we can get into analysis paralysis easily and just spin without moving forward. Having said that, Mercury’s energy can also help us organize the gains made last month.

The Sun enters Libra on the 22nd at 4:02 p.m. Libra is the sign of balance – they’d like to have some, but most often Libra’s energy works like a teeter-totter. Libra can’t stand to be by him/herself; it is the sign of the “other” as we move outward from ourselves to others – for Libra, one at a time. S/he hates crowds. While this is the sign of relationship, it is the only sign with an inanimate object as its symbol – the scales. For me this speaks to the fact that Libra is about relationship in the head – the ideal of “perfect” relating to a “perfect” other. Smelly socks, gym clothes and dirty hands are not included in Libra’s vision! Libra is an air sign, after all, and air loves the realm of ideas.

Lest we think we can kick back and eat bonbons this month, Pluto, planet of deep seated transformation, the underground, all that we’d like to keep hidden from ourselves and others, goes direct on September 28th at 3:33 p.m. (I was struck by the time she goes direct. I’m sure numerologists would have something to say about three at three levels.) Pluto’s been retrograde since April, so the gains made during this long, inner transit can now be expressed more outwardly. She’ll be at 170 Capricorn where she’s been for the last two months and she’ll stay at that degree through October and most of November. Speed demon she’s not! Those who have planets from 12-220 in Libra, Aries, Cancer or, of course, Capricorn may feel this shift in direction more strongly. On a larger scale, Capricorn rules structures and systems. Issues, which have been brewing below the surface for the last five months, may become much more obvious and volatile with this change of planetary direction.

The Full Moon occurs on September 6th at 130 Pisces, right next to Neptune. The Moon, as you know, rules the tides and Pisces and Neptune rule the sea. Water may be, or continue to be, an issue. Also water and the Moon are associated with emotions, which may be running very high during this time.

The New Moon occurs on September 20th at 270 Virgo, providing a fresh start in our continued integration efforts.

Let’s joyously welcome the new season!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings August 2017

Margaret Lassiter 1 Comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the relatively quiet months of June and July. August promises to be rather unsettled with three planets changing direction and two eclipses. Hold on to your hat! I’ll take these celestial events in order.

Thursday, August 3: Uranus: goes retrograde at 1:31 a.m at 290 Aries. Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war and Aries, like all fire signs, is on a quest. In this case it’s for our higher selves. Uranus is the planet of the higher mind and can bring flashes of insight, inspiration and higher level thinking of all kinds. At the very end of Aries (each sign has 30 degrees in it), it is an inner (Uranus retrograde) time to war (Mars) against that which holds us back from our journey to our true selves (Aries).

Monday, August 7: Partial lunar eclipse at 150 Aquarius at 9:15 p.m. ET. Eclipses come in pairs, and while we will not be able to see this one, anyone with placements from 12 – 180 Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, or Aquarius may feel the impact of this eclipse more strongly than others. Lunar eclipses occur at a full moon and can bring the culmination of past activities, a sense of completion or desire to change on a deep soul level and a deepening of compassion. This eclipse is near the lunar South Node, or Dragon’s Tail, which provides an opportunity for a release of old energies and/or patterns. The lunar nodes are where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, the path that the Sun appears to follow over the course of a year. (Eclipses only occur when the Sun is next to one of the nodes.) This eclipse will last about five hours, so the sensitive energy vortex that opens at the time of the eclipse will remain so for about five months.

Saturday, August 12: Mercury goes retrograde at 9:01 p.m. at 120 Virgo. His retrograde motion goes along with the theme of inner reflection that Uranus, the higher octave of Mercury, began earlier in the month. Both planets of the mind are now turned inward. He’ll be retrograde for the rest of the month and will back into Leo before going direct at the beginning of September. While I know this everyone’s favorite retrograde (!), those whose Mercury is in the other mutable signs, Gemini, Pisces and Sagittarius, may feel this retrograde more strongly. Also Mercury will be opposed Neptune in her own sign, Pisces, inviting us to explore the realm of the heart, redemption and compassion, rather than relying totally on logic and linear thinking.

Monday, August 21: Total solar eclipse at 280 Leo at 2:30 p.m. This is the eclipse that will be visible in the US, as I’m sure you’ve all heard! It will last a little more than five hours. Once again we have a planet at the end of the sign, marking a potential ending of how we use the energy of the sign, in this case, Leo. At the time of the eclipse there will be five planets in fire signs: Sun, Moon, Mars in Leo, Uranus in Aries, and Saturn in Sagittarius, making a big triangle (a grand trine) in fire in the heavens. A trine is an easy flow of energy so we tend not to pay attention to it, but all that fire can be quite volatile, as well as inspirational. Fire is an interesting element. It can warm and provide light, and it can also destroy. Leo is the sign of the Divine Child in each of us, and I believe this eclipse can be used both ways: to burn away that which blocks our sense of our connection to the divine within and to the divine in each other and to illuminate the path toward our higher (or Christ) consciousness. The Sun is next to the lunar North Node, or Dragon’s Head, and promises an influx of new energy and inspiration.

And last, but certainly not least. . .

Friday, August 25: Saturn goes direct at 8:09 a.m. at 210 Sagittarius. The quest for Sagittarius is for Truth – truth about ourselves and each other. This change in direction may be more strongly felt by anyone with placements from 15 to 290 Gemini, Virgo, Pisces, and of course Sag. As Saturn ends his inner restructuring, his direct motion may help us all move forward more easily and straightforwardly in our quest for our own inner truth and in recognizing areas where we may still be deceiving ourselves. He is also in a challenging relationship (square) to Neptune, which may help soften the harshness of Saturn.

Have a wonderful August. While the energies may be a bit unsettled, they provide a great opportunity for inner work in our quest for our true selves, which we can then bring to the world.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings June – July 2017

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

June and July promise to be pretty quiet so I’m doing Astro Doings for both of them. I’ll be back for all the activity of a very busy August, including the solar eclipse on the 21st that is in the news already, because it will be visible in the US.

Back to June: Pretty smooth. Jupiter goes direct on June 9th at 10:04 a.m. He’ll be at 130 Libra and will continue his direct motion for the rest of the year. Also on June 9th, we’ll have the Full Moon at 180 Sagittarius.

Neptune, the planet of fog, illusion, compassion and redemption, goes retrograde at 7:10 a.m. on June 16th. She’ll be at 140 Pisces – her own sign – so we have the opportunity to turn all of her attributes inward. While the potential is there to increase our compassion towards ourselves, it may also prove to be time when we don’t see ourselves too clearly! Those with planets or other points on your chart from 10 to 200 Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius or Virgo may feel this change of direction more forcefully.

The Summer Solstice, when the Sun enters Cancer, occurs on June 21st at 0:24 a.m. As you all know, it’s the longest day of the year. June’s New Moon occurs on June 23rd at 20 Cancer. In the second third of the month there will be a lot of planets in water signs: Sun, Moon, Mars and Neptune. Good thing Venus and Pluto are in earth signs to provide some boundaries, but emotions (water) may be running high. (This could also manifest as floods and/or a lot of rain.) Saturn and Uranus continue in an easy flow of energy in the fire signs, Sagittarius and Aries, respectively.

Everyone continues to do their thing in July – no changes of direction or other “doings.” Towards the last third of July, when the Sun and Mars enter Leo, (July 22 and 20th respectively) joining Saturn and Uranus in fire signs – there will be a lot of fire. Inspiration, volatility, brashness, and/or anger could be close to the surface.

July’s Full Moon occurs on the 9th. She’ll be at 170 Capricorn, conjunct (next to) Pluto, hopefully providing some practicality and/or stability.

Hope you all have a wonderful summer! And I’ll be back in August.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May 2017

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

May promises to be rather quiet, especially compared to April.

Mercury goes direct on May 3rd at 12:33 p.m. He’ll be at 240 Aries at the time. He’ll enter slow-moving Taurus on May 16th, so our thinking may become more deliberate, less impulsive than it was in April.

The Full Moon occurs on May 10th at 200 Scorpio and the New Moon is on May 25th at 40 Gemini. The Sun enters Gemini on May 20th at 4:31 p.m. Gemini is the sign of the twins – and there are definitely two sides to the sign. It’s an air sign that tends to flit from one thing to another and is easily bored. Gemini wants to know a little bit about everything and is generally very restless.

As we go through May, the only planet in water is Neptune. So sensitivity may be a bit lacking. The planets in fire (Venus, Saturn, Uranus) will do very well with those in air (Sun, Mars, Jupiter), but they may have trouble settling down. This fire/air combination frequently looks like the Peter Pan complex – never wanting to grow up or bring their ideas to fruition because everything looks better in their heads. The planets in earth signs (Mercury, Pluto) may slow us down a little bit, but don’t work well with either fire (great way to put it out) or air. However, once these elements agree to work with each other, we could have the practicality of earth applied to the inspiration of fire and the ideas of air. Up to us on how we choose to use these energies both individually and collectively!

Have a great May!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings January 2017

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Happy New Year!

2017 starts pretty quietly, astrologically. The first week, Mercury will still be retrograde, a wonderful time to re-think, re-group, re-evaluate. He goes direct on January 8th at 4:43 a.m. He’ll be at 290 Sagittarius and will move into Capricorn on the 12th. Mercury in Capricorn processes information more slowly and thoroughly than he does in fiery Sagittarius. After Mercury goes direct, as we say, all planets will be going direct, i.e. moving from east to west through the heavens (by our perception from earth). It may feel more “full steam ahead” than we’ve felt before when the outer planets were retrograde.

The outer planets are all still in either cardinal (Aries, Libra, Capricorn) or mutable (Pisces, Sagittarius). Both types of energy are very restless, somewhat pushy, easily bored and seemingly without direction. We’ve had this energy lineup for a while now, which sometimes can feel frenetic and lacking in direction. There is very little sustaining (fixed) energy to slow things down a little bit. Throughout January, Uranus (planet of the higher mind, rebellion, lightening bolts) will be on the other side of the zodiac from Jupiter (planet of expansion, larger than life, not always realistic). Uranus is in Aries and Jupiter is in Libra, calling us to balance our own interests and growth (Aries) with others (Libra). Libra is the sign of balance (they don’t have it, but they keep looking for it!) and of the “other.” Of course, the goal is to recognize that we are all one. Both Uranus and Jupiter are squaring (growth opportunity, incompatible elements) Pluto in Capricorn, which is an earth sign. It seems that Pluto has been in Capricorn forever, challenging all of our systems within ourselves and in our societies. So a further adjustment is possible between our optimism (Jupiter) and our higher mind (Uranus). Those with planets from 15 to 250 Aries, Libra, Capricorn and/or Cancer, may be more impacted by this planetary combination, called a t-square.

That’s really it for January. The Full Moon occurs on January 12th at 220 Cancer and the New Moon occurs on January 27th at 80 Aquarius. The Sun enters the sign of the Water Bearer (Aquarius) on January 19th at 4:24 p.m., adding a little stabilizing and/or stubborn (fixed) energy to the mix.

I wish you all peace and abundant blessings in this New Year!

Margaret

Astro Doings November 2016

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Hi Everyone

We have a little bit more fixed (sustaining, feminine, stubborn) energy in November with the Sun in Scorpio until the 21st and Mars moving into Aquarius on the 9th. Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto are all in cardinal signs (Libra, Aries and Capricorn respectively), as they have been for a while. Jupiter and Uranus oppose each other and Pluto squares both of them. Lots of opportunity for growth and change come from this energetic line-up.

Neptune is still hanging out at 90 Pisces, the sign she rules. She will basically stop moving on the 18th and change directions at 11:39 p.m. on the 19th. This may impact those with any planet or sensitive point, like the Ascendent, at 90, plus or minus 5 degrees, of Pisces, Sagittarius, Gemini or Virgo (all mutable signs). Pisces is a water sign, so issues around water may come into focus.

The Full Moon on November 14th at 8:52 a.m. will be at 220 Taurus. This will be the last Super Moon and she will be the closest she’s been to earth since 1948. So hope the night is clear so we can see her! Taurus is a fixed sign, so those with planets close to those degrees in Scorpio, Aquarius or Leo may be a bit more moody or loony that day!

The Sun moves into Sagittarius on the 21st at 4:23 p.m. It will be an easy flow of energy with Uranus (trine) and square (growth opportunity) Neptune. The Sun is joined by Saturn. Sagittarius is the Pathfinder, the explorer and the optimist, in its best expression. It is also the sign of faith.

Hope you have a lovely November and a happy Thanksgiving.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings September 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you had a wonderful summer! September promises to be quite intense, especially for the mutable signs (Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, Pisces). And there are no planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio) until the end of the month, so it may feel that nothing is settled or finished. Fixed energy gives us the tenacity to finish what we start. Mutable energy is constantly shifting and adapting.

September begins with Mercury retrograde and a solar eclipse. Mercury goes retrograde on August 30 at 9:04 a.m. at 290 Virgo. It’s the last one in 2016!  Because of this retrograde motion, he will be in Virgo until October 7th. Virgo is the sign of discernment, discrimination and organization (among many other things). Mercury likes being in Virgo where he works to categorize life and put it in little boxes. Just don’t get lost in the analysis (paralysis)! He also trines (easy flow of energy) Pluto (power, underground, transformation) in Capricorn (status quo, big business, systems). In addition he opposes (other side of the heavens) Neptune (fog, compassion, redemption, divine homesickness) in Pisces. This can be a positive thing, as earth (Virgo) gives boundaries to watery Pisces and Pisces softens Virgo’s perfectionism. Both signs are feminine – sustaining, supportive, nurturing and both are about change.

The solar eclipse occurs at 90 Virgo on September 1st at 5:03 a.m. (We will not be able to see it in the US.) This is an annular eclipse where a ring of the Sun’s light is visible around the darkness of the Moon’s shadow. It will last about six hours so this energy vortex will be open for at least six months. Those with planets, lunar nodes or angles from 6-120 of any of the mutable signs will be most likely to feel the energy of this potent new beginning. This eclipse will be squared (growth opportunity) by Saturn (restriction, lack, lessons, Dweller on the Threshold) in Sagittarius (quest for Truth) and opposed by Neptune in Pisces. These two planets ask us to elevate our mundane perceptions (Saturn) to live our spiritual truths (Neptune) and create heaven here on earth. This eclipse in Virgo adds additional support to this effort as Virgo represents the harvest of our Selves, integrated spiritual beings, expressing ourselves from our highest understanding.

As you know, eclipses come in pairs. The lunar eclipse occurs on the Harvest Moon on September 16th at 3:05 p.m. The moon will be at 240 Pisces. What are you harvesting? What do you want to let go of? How do you want to serve? Are you ready to move forward in unity with all that is? This eclipse is squared by Mars in Sagittarius, whose highest expression is the spiritual warrior with plenty of courage to seek the Path to Truth, which is the quest of Sagittarius.

The Autumnal Equinox is on the 22nd when the Sun moves into Libra at 10:22 a.m. Libra is the sign of balance and reconciliation of opposites. Libra focuses on the other, but its task is to balance itself with the other.

And Mercury goes direct on the 22nd at 1:31 a.m. He’ll be at 140 Virgo. Phew! If that’s not enough, Pluto, the planet of deep-seated transformation, what lies beneath the surface, power struggles, and manipulation, goes direct on September 26th at 10:50 a.m. She’ll be at 14 degrees Capricorn. The inner work done during her long retrograde may now be more evident to you — and to others. Power struggles on the world scene could be more obvious.

The month ends with a new moon in Libra, signaling the potential for new beginnings of balance, beauty and measured growth!

Have a great September!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings June 2016

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Hi Everyone

The planet that stands out for me in June is Neptune. Attention all Pisceans – this is your ruling planet and she will be at 120 Pisces the entire month. Why? She goes retrograde on June 13th at 4:43 p.m. EDT and basically stops there. She will also be part of a big T (called a t-square, also called a growth opportunity) with Jupiter on the other side of the heavens in Virgo (earth), with Saturn squaring both of them in Sagittarius (fire). Early in the month, the Sun in Gemini (air) will change this T to an X by opposing Saturn and closing the figure. The New Moon on June 3rd will add a little more energy to this X in the heavens (called a Grand Cross). This may result in a feeling of restlessness, an inability to settle down, and needing to choose (but unable to do so) between many different possibilities. Emotions may be very close to the surface and anyone impacted by Neptune may feel somewhat in a fog. It can also be a time of increased compassion. By the way, Saturn (and this big X) is currently sitting on the Ascendant (how we present ourselves) of the US Sibly chart. I’ll leave it to you to figure out what that means!

At the very end of June – the 29th to be exact, Mars, the planet of war and warriors (spiritual and otherwise) goes direct after his retrograde that began in April. He’ll be at 230 Scorpio. Mars is male, initiating energy so things may seem to move forward a little more easily. Scorpio is a water sign and is about what ripples beneath the surface, especially power. Scorps can never been fooled and they have unfailingly accurate insight into others, which can be rather unnerving.

The Summer Solstice, when the Sun enters Cancer, occurs on June 20th at 6:34 p.m. Earlier that morning, we have June’s Full Moon at 290 Sagittarius. Since this occurs at the very end of the Gemini/Sagittarius continuum, it suggests that we have an opportunity to re-visit our ways of thinking about things (Gemini) and to incorporate higher truths (Sagittarius) into our everyday lives.

This is the 65th Astro Doings post, and I’ve decided to take the summer off. Astro Doings, or some form of it, will be back in the fall.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May 2016

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Hi Everyone

Happy May Day! As I looked at the astrological calendar for May, I was struck by the fact that most planets are in either fire or earth signs. Looking at this from a strictly practical perspective, fire and earth don’t get along very well. Earth is a good way to put fire out and fire can render earth dry and infertile. However, another way to look at this is practical (earth) inspiration (fire). It is the ability to take our dreams (fire) and realize them in a practical and useful (earth) way. Earth helps us look at the details (Virgo) and plan (Capricorn) how we will implement our insights into spiritual truth (Sagittarius) and into ourselves (Aries). We have a lot of Taurus energy this month, which slows us down enough to look before we leap.

Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius (and Pisces), ends its long retrograde sojourn on May 9 at 8:16 a.m. He’ll be at 130 degrees Virgo, the sign of harvest and integration. He is on the other side of the zodiac from Neptune in Pisces, and can provide boundaries and balance for our quest to merge with something greater than ourselves (Pisces). It can bring practicality (Virgo) to our dreams (Neptune).

Mercury also stations direct this month – on May 22nd to be exact at 9:20 a.m. He’ll remain in methodical Taurus for the rest of the month. Speed demon Mercury doesn’t particularly like being in slow-moving, deliberate Taurus. However, we can focus on “thinking things through” and on recognizing that thoughts are truly things. Along with Mercury, the New Moon occurs in Taurus on May 6th at 3:29 p.m.

The Sun moves into Gemini on May 20 at10:37 a.m. Gemini looks at both sides of any (and all) continuums and loves to explore the realm of ideas – for a few minutes, anyway, until he moves on to something else. The Full Moon is the next day, providing some balance to Gemini’s flitting energy, by focusing us more on higher truths (Sagittarius).

And don’t forget to watch Mercury pass over the face of the Sun on May 9th starting a little before 7 a.m. EDT (if I’ve done the time conversion correctly). Weather permitting, we should be able to see it in eastern North America. (The last time this happened was in 2006). If you decide to watch it other than online, be sure to protect your eyes from the Sun’s rays. I’m sure there will be more information about this astronomical event as we get closer.

Have a wonderful month!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings February 2016

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Hi Everyone

I hope you’re enjoying the 5 visible planet line up each morning before dawn. It truly is spectacular and worth getting up early to see. It will continue through mid-February.

February promises to be a rather quiet interlude between January and March – so enjoy it!

Jupiter, planet of expansion, good fortune and faith, continues its retrograde motion through Virgo (see January 2016 Astro Doings). It will make its second opposition to Chiron, planet of deep healing, inner child work, and mentoring, in Pisces. This transit can be used to soften our inner critic and nurture our awareness of our inner divinity.

The New Moon will occur on February 8th at 190 Aquarius at 9:39 a.m. ET. Aquarius is the sign of the visionary, inventor, humanitarian and tends to consider what would benefit the group in all issues. It is, however, also the sign of friendship. It is an air sign, so it’s more comfortable in the mental realm. Mercury (how we think) and Venus (how we express and receive love) will join the Sun in Aquarius in mid-February.

The Sun enters Pisces, a water sign that seeks to merge with something greater than itself, on February 19th at just after midnight and will be “running” with Neptune, Chiron and the South Node in the last third of the month. (The Sun will be exactly conjunct, read next to, Neptune at the end of February into early March.) This is be great time to increase our awareness of our innate divinity, with Chiron’s healing energy helping to erase old wounds that continue to prevent us from expressing who we are in truth. The water element can also help us to tune into others more compassionately. Mars in Scorpio, which is another water sign and flows easily with Pisces, provides additional impetus and energy for these internal changes. All this water, of course, can also mean that globally and nationally we will continue to deal with issues around water – think Flint, Michigan, major storms and/or lack of water. All this to increase our appreciation of this vital resource and to better protect it to ensure that everyone on the planet has enough pure water to meet their needs.

The Full Moon occurs on February 22nd at 1:20 p.m. at 30 Virgo. This will echo the Jupiter/Chiron opposition (see above). I think the key word for the end of February is softening. The beginning of the month will provide a lot of air (ideas, innovation) but the end of the month can provide insight of another sort – compassion and true understanding of ourselves and others.

Have a great month!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret