Pluto

Astro Doings May – June 2023

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the hybrid solar eclipse. It was spectacular online! May has the second eclipse of the pair – a lunar eclipse.  (They always come in twos, and sometimes in threes!) There’s a lot of fixed energy in May – read sustaining and/or stubborn, so things may seems slow to move forward.

May

Pluto is not so sure about this change of signs from Capricorn to Aquarius that happened in March. So, on May 1at 1:09 p.m. EDT, the planet starts its 5-month retrograde period. It will be at 00 Aquarius and will remain there for the whole month. Aquarius is an air sign, an innovator, destroyer of outmoded forms and stubborn—or sustaining—to put a more positive spin on things.

On the 14th at 11:17 p.m. Mercury ends his retrograde period at 50 Taurus, squaring Pluto. Taurus is an earth sign – and one of the most stubborn of the zodiac. Taurus is very practical with a “show-me” attitude, and Aquarius is the sign of the innovator, the rebel. So you can see how they might not get along too well! Then on the 17th Jupiter joins the party, entering Taurus, right on top of Mercury.  Don’t forget that Uranus is also in Taurus, so that’s three planets in the same sign. We call that a stellium – lots of stubborn, practical energy, but no one wants to change their mind!

Then on the 20th at 11:31 a.m., Mars enters Leo, another fixed sign. This time the element is fire, and it’s on the opposite side of the heavens from Uranus. Think teeter-totter. Balance? And everyone is ganging up on all that staid Taurean energy. Fire wants to get things moving – is enthusiastic and sometimes reckless – and earth is a great way to put fire out.

Meanwhile, on May 5th there will be a lunar eclipse at 140 Scorpio. Might just as well have all the fixed signs at the party! Scorpio is on the other side of the zodiac from Taurus and is a water sign. The water may soften Taurus some, and earth does provide boundaries for emotional water. The eclipse will last about four hours and is not visible in the US. (We have to wait until next April for a full solar eclipse to cross the US and Canada.)  If it impacts your chart, the impact will last approximately four months. This eclipse is about service and giving up old patterns that no longer serve us. 

The New Moon occurs on May 19th at 280 Taurus. The Sun enters Gemini (phew, not a fixed sign!) on May 21st at 3:09 a.m. Gemini is an air sign of changeable quality (mutable). Gemini likes to explore everything for about five minutes. It is the sign of the writer and the teacher.

June

Venus has been feeling left out of the fixed sign party, so she enters Leo on the 5th and is opposed Pluto, squares Jupiter and is next to Mars. Venus and Mars in the same sign can feel like walking with your shoes tied together, or it can feel like balance between masculine and feminine energies. 

On June 11th Pluto decides it’s had enough of this Aquarian stuff and backs into Capricorn, which is much more familiar. It won’t return to Aquarius until January 2024. Capricorn is an earth sign, rules the status quo and major structures. Pluto’s long transit in Capricorn, from 2008 when it first entered the sign to now, has contributed to major changes (or identifying the need for change) in many major institutions and systems. I believe Pluto’s return to Capricorn may finish any changes that weren’t made earlier and/or identify additional changes. These may look like more upheaval.

Saturn stations retrograde (moves from west to east in the sky from our perspective) on June 17 at 1:27 p.m. He’ll be at 70 Pisces. Pisces is a water sign that has a very difficult time managing on this plane. Saturn rules structure – he is the ruler of Capricorn – so it’s a challenge for him to be in the watery realm of Pisces. This may be a time to examine what we truly believe and ramp up our meditation practice. It’s an inner time for sure.

The Full Moon occurs on the 3rd at 130 Sagittarius. The New Moon occurs on the 18th at 260 Gemini.

And the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer, occurs on the 21st when the Sun enters Cancer, another water sign.

Enjoy the spring and beginning of summer!

Abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings March-April, 2023

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

I hope you enjoyed the relatively quiet February, because March and April promise to be very busy with lots of changes. So, let’s get started.

March

Every planet except Uranus and Neptune changes signs during March. That’s a lot of change! The major one is the hand off of the sign Aquarius from Saturn to Pluto – sort of like a relay race. They do appear to drop the baton, however, since Saturn enters Pisces on March 7th and Pluto enters Aquarius on the 23rd.  When outer planets change signs, it’s a big deal because they move so slowly. Saturn through this sign has brought delay, restriction, and fear, as he generally does in whatever sign he’s in. It’s also noteworthy that Saturn is the ancient ruler of Aquarius, so his energy expresses easily in this sign.  Aquarius is a fixed sign so it tends to remain stubbornly rooted in its opinions, but is also the visionary and one who is not afraid to change the status quo. So the baton passes from restriction and the status quo to the rooting out of deep-seated attitudes that are no longer viable.

This is the first time that Pluto has been in Aquarius since he was first discovered in 1930. So no one knows what deep-seated transformation Pluto will bring to the sign of the Water-bearer. Aquarius is a little confusing (or is it confused?) since it’s called the Water-bearer, but it’s an air sign . . . . We do know that Pluto’s transit through Capricorn has brought many challenges to established systems and ways of being of all sorts. It’s going to take Pluto a bit to settle down in his new environment. He’ll retrograde back into Capricorn a couple of times before he settles into Aquarius for good (or for the next 20 years) in November 2024. Aquarius is the sign of the rebel, the innovator, the destroyer of old forms. I would expect to see some upheaval in the areas of electronic media, Internet, and humanitarianism. Pluto removes (sometimes not gently) outmoded ways of being. Time will tell what other areas Pluto will use the Aquarian light of innovation, rebellion, and concern for mankind as a whole to change (or at least bring to our attention) systems and attitudes that no longer serve us as a whole (or personally).

Let’s not forget about Saturn, now in Pisces, the sign of faith, illusion, fog, spirituality, and escape. He joins the Sun, Mercury, and Neptune. Pisces is a water sign that finds navigating the earth plane challenging at times, impossible at others. It’s represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions, unaware of each other. Saturn’s transit through this sign can strengthen our faith in the benevolence of the universe, or it can become more rigid and stringent in the rules and practices of our faith. It can be a call to re-examine our spirituality, as well as being on the earth in a kinder more compassionate way. It can also mean more restrictive laws about addictions of all kinds.

Other planets change signs in March:

  • Mercury moves into Aries on the 19th. Lots of new ideas, but can be rather scattered. Aries likes to start but not always finish.
  • Venus moves into Taurus on the 16th. Venus rules Taurus, so she’s very happy here. Lots of love to Mother Earth, appreciating beauty in all its forms.
  • Mars moves into Cancer on the 25th. Well, the god of war isn’t too happy in the Moon’s watery world. He’s likely to churn up our emotions or our initiatives may get drowned out by our emotions. Also of note, Mars will transit the Venus, Jupiter, the Sun, and Mercury of the US chart next month.
  • And the Sun moves into Aries (the Vernal Equinox) on the 20th. Time for new initiatives and ideas. Aries is also the sign of the warrior.

The Full Moon occurs on March 7th at 160 Virgo. The New Moon occurs on March 21st at 00 Aries.

April

Phew! Got through March. . .. April chugs along very nicely, no retrograde planets and only the speed demon planets, Mercury and Venus, change signs. Until. . .the 20th and 21st.

The first solar eclipse of 2023 occurs on April 20th. It is a total solar eclipse, but will not be visible in the US. The Sun and Moon will be at 290 Aries. The eclipse will last about five hours, so it will be active in people’s charts by transit for the next five months or so.  Solar eclipses generally indicate new beginnings, changes in attitudes, and brings an influx of new energy. This is just before the Moon and Sun enter Taurus. Aries is impulsive, energetic leader, who doesn’t always think things through. People with planets or other points in their charts at late degrees Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn may feel the impact of the eclipse more than others.

And the next day – it’s everyone’s favorite retrograde! Yep, Mercury stations retrograde on the 21st at 4:35 a.m. He’ll be at 150 Taurus. These retrograde periods, of which there are three each year, last about three weeks and represent times of repose, retreat, reflection. . . Of course, if we’re not into repose, this retrograde can bring frustration, delay, and confusion if we try to push the river or get something done in a hurry.  So, as much as possible, try to relax into this retrograde period – re-lax, re-treat, re-pair. . . .

And don’t forget Mars’ transits to the US chart all month. There could be a lot of anger, dissention, and disagreement both nationally and internationally.

The Full Moon occurs on April 6th at 160 Libra.

Hope you have a wonderful March and April!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings November – December 2022

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

I can hardly believe that I’m writing the last Astro Doings for 2022. Where has the year gone?

November

November has some challenging planetary placements, most notably a powerful t-square that involves between five and six planets. It also has a total lunar eclipse, on November 8, the date of the US mid-term elections. This is the first time in our history that this has happened.

T-square:  A t-square consists of an opposition and a square in the shape of a T. Hence the name. On one end are the Sun, Mercury and Venus in Scorpio and in opposition (on the other side of the heavens) is Uranus in Taurus and squaring everyone is Saturn in Aquarius. You’ll note that all the signs involved are fixed, which can mean stubborn, entrenched and/or sustaining. At least there is some compatibility in the quality of the signs, but not so much in the elements. Earth (Taurus) and water (Scorpio) work well despite their opposing approaches to things. Air (Aquarius) not so much….. Scorpio gets an addition boost of water with Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces, which they both rule. (Jupiter is the “ancient” ruler of Pisces.) So there is a boat load (ha,ha) of emotional, watery, sensitive, and entrenched energy in this line up. Those with placements in mid-degrees of any of the fixed signs, including Leo, may be more sensitive to this configuration. The T-square dissolves around the 23rd when the Sun, Mercury and Venus move into Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign. Saturn continues to square Uranus however.

Total Lunar Eclipse:  To add to the T-square festivities, on November 8th the Moon will be next to Uranus in Taurus, opposed the Sun, Mercury, and Venus. This eclipse is visible in the US if you’re willing to get up around 3-4 in the morning on the East coast (and assuming the skies are clear). This eclipse occurs on the Moon’s south node, which means that has a lot to do with payback and selfless service. It will last for about 6 hours which means planets around 160 will remain sensitive to any transit over them during the next 6 months.

On November 22nd the Sun moves into Sagittarius and Jupiter ends his retrograde motion in Pisces. He’ll be at 280 and will stay there for the rest of the month. The New Moon occurs the next day and Jupiter changes directions (goes direct) at 6:02 p.m. He’ll be at 280 Pisces.

December

Two planets change direction during December: Neptune and Mercury, and while the month starts with some energy in fire signs, it ends with most planets in earth and only two in air signs.

Neptune: ends its retrograde period on December 3rd at 7:15 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 220 Pisces. after Jupiter moves into Aries on the 21st she’ll be the only planet in a water sign.

Winter Solstice: occurs when the Sun enters Capricorn, a cardinal earth sign, which will occur on December 21st at 4:48 p.m. ET. He’ll be joined by Mercury, Venus, and Pluto in the same sign. Capricorn has to do with the status quo, practicality, and large institutions. Capricorn is considered by some to be the sign of the spiritual initiate, like the sure-footed goat, climbing the mountain of spiritual understanding. Mars and Saturn (the ruler of Capricorn) are in air signs (Gemini and Aquarius, respectively).

Mercury: begins his last retrograde period of 2022 on December 29 at 4:32 a.m. ET. He’ll be at 240 Capricorn. He’ll end his retrograde period in January.

The Full Moon occurs on December 7th at 160 Gemini. The New Moon occurs on the 23rd at 10 Capricorn.

I hope you have wonderful holidays and all the best in the coming year.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings March-April, 2022

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

March brings the first day of Spring and more planets in air signs, but otherwise is rather quiet. April brings showers with more planets in water and the first eclipse of 2022.

March

On the 6th both Venus and Mars enter Aquarius, joining Mercury and Saturn. Aquarius is an air sign, full of revolutionary ideas and no patience for outmoded thinking or structures. It can be very stubborn, as its energy tends to sustain rather than initiate. These planets are in a challenging relationship (square) to the ruler of Aquarius (Uranus), who is in Taurus, an earth sign. The good news here is that some of Aquarius’s innovative ideas will hopefully be more earth-based and practical. 

Mercury moves into Pisces from March 9- 26, joining Jupiter and Neptune in this changeable water sign that rules faith, illusion, fog and redemption. Jupiter is the “ancient” ruler of Pisces and Neptune is the “modern” ruler of the sign, making them both very strong in this sign. Optimism (Jupiter) and dreams (Neptune) can join with concrete thinking (Mercury) while they are transiting this sign.

The first day of Spring occurs on March 20th at 11:33 a.m. EDT. This, of course, is when the Sun enters Aries and is the astrological new year. Mercury joins the Sun in Aries on the 27th. The New Moon occurs on March 2nd at 12:35 p.m. She’ll be at 120 Pisces. The Full Moon occurs on March 18th at 3:18 a.m. She’ll be at 270 Virgo.

April

Both Venus and Mars enter Pisces during April, joining Jupiter and Neptune. Venus enters Pisces on the 5th and Mars on the 14th. That’s four planets in water – and all in the same water sign. The good news is that Mercury enters the earth sign, Taurus, on the 10th and the Sun enters the same sign on the 19th joining Uranus in this most earthbound of all the signs. Earth gives water boundaries and water softens earth. Both are feminine in their elemental feel. Taurus is the most stubborn of all the signs, which may help to focus dreamy Pisces.

In addition to Mercury and Uranus in earth signs, Pluto begins his 5-month retrograde period on the 29th. He’ll be at 280 Capricorn, an earth sign that is related to structures, systems and the status quo. When one of the outer planets basically stops and then changes direction, it can be a significant shift in how their energy is experienced. Those with planets in late degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn may feel this change of direction more acutely. Pluto, the ruler of the Roman underground, rules deep-seated transformation and the destroyer of old forms. These forms may be personal or collective. Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2009, pointing out structures that no longer serve us.

I should also note that the US is experiencing its first Pluto return and when Pluto stations retrograde, he will be at the exact same degrees he is in the US (Sibly) chart. When a planet returns to its natal degrees all the issues that were present at the birth come to the fore again. This transit has been going on for a while and will continue until Uranus enters Aquarius for good in 2024. It has contributed to significant unrest and issues that were present at the nation’s founding that have not yet been resolved, such as race, isolationism, sharp polarization and radical attitudes, to name just a few. This change of direction may mark an intensification around these issues, and a time of introspection for each of us on our attitudes, thoughts, feelings around them, as well as a focus on personal transformation.

The first eclipse of 2022 is a partial solar eclipse that occurs on April 30th. Both Sun and Moon will be at 100 Taurus. It will not be visible in the US and will last about four hours. A solar eclipse generally indicates new beginnings and those with planets in Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio may feel the impact of this new beginning more strongly.

Happy Spring!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

AstroDoings November – December 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe that this is the last AstroDoings for 2021. Where has the time gone? This year ends with two eclipses, one in November and one in December, plus some direction changes.

November

November begins with three planets in water: Sun, Mars, and Neptune. Mercury joins them on the 5th. Three planets are in Scorpio, and Neptune continues her transit of Pisces. Also on the 5th, Venus enters Capricorn, joining Pluto in that sign and Uranus in another earth sign, Taurus. Mars in Scorpio is opposed (on the other side of the heavens) to Uranus, and Saturn in Aquarius squares both planets, creating a fixed (read stubborn) t-square. When planets are in opposite signs, they can operate like a teeter-totter – first one, then the other. With this t-square opinions about anything and everything may be very strongly held without much room for compromise. This tension begins to ease toward the end of the month and into December as Mars, the fastest moving of the three planets, moves away. Those with planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio) may feel the impact of this t-square more strongly.

Partial Lunar Eclipse. There is a partial lunar eclipse on the 19th. The moon will be at 270 Taurus, and the eclipse will last about six hours. It will be visible on the east coast if you want to get up really early in the morning. The maximum eclipse will be at 4:02 a.m. This eclipse will be in an easy flow of energy with Pluto and a challenging contact with Jupiter in Aquarius. This lunar eclipse is about service and ending of old attitudes. In Taurus we can hope that one of the areas is Mother Earth and that some of the innovations (Jupiter in Aquarius) will be realized.

The Sun enters Sagittarius, an optimistic fire sign, ruled by Jupiter, on the 21st at 9:34 p.m. Mercury joins the Sun in Sagittarius on the 24th. The New Moon occurs on the 4th at 5:15 p.m. She’ll be at 120 Scorpio.

December

The last month of 2021 starts off with a bang. Neptune, the planet of fog, illusion, addiction and spirituality, ends its retrograde period on December 1 at 8:22 a.m. EST. She’ll be at 200 Pisces, a water sign, where she will remain for the rest of the month and halfway into January. Those with placements around 15-150 Pisces, Gemini, Virgo or Sagittarius or the other water signs (Cancer, Scorpio) may feel the impact of this shift in direction more strongly. It may be a time to bring our dreams, that have been gestating during Neptune’s retrograde period, to fruition. Or our spiritual progress (or lack thereof) may be more apparent as the planet changes direction.

Total Solar Eclipse. Book your ticket to Antarctica if you want to see this total solar eclipse – or you could just watch it on the internet! The Sun will be at 120 Sagittarius, in a challenging relationship to Neptune’s change of direction a few days before. This eclipse will last about 4 hours and can represent the beginning of a period of payback, selfless service and clarifying the connection between the spiritual and the material. It is also very near the Ascendant of the US chart (Sibley) and may indicate a new way of how we present ourselves in the world. Mars joins the Sagittarius parade on the 13th. 

Mercury, the planet of how we think and process information, moves into Capricorn on the same day. At this time there will be three planets in Capricorn, a Saturn-ruled earth sign that deals primarily with the status quo in the material plane. It is also the sign of the spiritual initiate, slowly climbing the mountain of spiritual understanding. In addition to Mercury and Venus, Pluto continues to move through the sign very slowly. Venus begins her retrograde motion on the 19th at 5:36 a.m. EST.  An important time to focus on loving ourselves, as our appreciation of beauty, loveliness and sensuousness turns inward. Time for great chocolate and long bubble baths.

The Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st at 10:59 a.m. – the Winter Solstice. At this point there are 4 planets in Capricorn: Sun, Mercury, Venus and Pluto. The Full Moon occurs on the 18th at 11:36 p.m. She’ll be at 270 Gemini.  Jupiter enters Pisces, a sign he ruled until the discovery of Neptune, on the 28th.  This leaves one planet in fire (Mars in Sagittarius) and one planet in air (Saturn in Aquarius).  Fire and air are male elements and tend to initiate movement – air with ideas, fire with enthusiasm. Water and earth are female elements that tend to hold onto ideas until they are deemed practical (earth) and emotionally (water) for the best. This may not appear to be a time of innovation or new ways of doing things.

I hope you have a wonderful end of 2021 and joyous holidays.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings July – August 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

July and August promise to be a little bit quieter than May and June – good thing!

July

Saturn

The great teacher of the zodiac retrogrades backs into Capricorn on July 2, joining his good buddies Jupiter and Pluto, all at late degrees Capricorn. This is a very powerful combination of planets all in the same sign (called a stellium), and this stellium is sitting on top of Pluto in the second house of values and resources in the US (Sibley) natal chart. For those with planets in late degrees of any of the cardinal signs (Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra) this planetary line up could be challenging. Jupiter and Saturn together can feel like walking with your shoes tied together. Jupiter says, “go for it;” Saturn says, “better wait, better not.” And Pluto says, “what is your deepest fear about this or where is your power in this?”

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Eclipses normally come in pairs, but every once in a while, we get a third eclipse, a bonus as it were. There is a penumbral lunar eclipse on July 4-5 beginning at 11:07 p.m. on the 4th and ending at 1:54 a.m. on the 5th. It will last just under 3 hours and will be visible in the US, as a darkening of the moon. The moon will be at 130 Capricorn, exactly opposite the natal Sun in the US chart. It will also be in a challenging relationship (square) to Saturn, which represents the executive. (I incorrectly stated that the solar eclipse in June was next to the sun in the US chart. It was next to Venus, the planet of love.) On a personal level, again it is the cardinal signs that will feel the impact of this eclipse, especially placements from 10-160 of Cancer, Capricorn, Libra and Aries. Lunar eclipses are generally about endings of eras and service. The impact of the eclipse will last about 3 months.

Mercury

Celebrate! Mercury goes direct at 4:27 a.m. on July 12! He’ll be at 50 Cancer. He’ll do one more retrograde period in 2020, starting in October.

The New Moon occurs on July 20th at 1:33 p.m. She’ll be at 260 Cancer. The Sun enters Leo at 4:37 a.m. on July 22nd.

August

Uranus

Uranus begins his “backward,” retrograde motion on the 15th. He’ll be at 100 Taurus. He’ll remain retrograde until January 2021. Taurus is the most earthbound of all the signs, stubborn, slow moving, and Uranus’s lightning bolt breakdown of old patterns has a hard time in this sign. However, the good news is that Uranus will help break down old patterns of thinking and it can also provide innovative ways of helping Mother Earth, since Taurus is the sign that is most closely connected to her. When a planet is retrograde it frequently feels like an inner preparatory period, and then action/change occurs when the planet goes direct. Those with planets in the fixed signs, (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius) could be more impacted by this change of direction.

The month starts with a Full Moon on August 3 at 11:59 a.m. The Moon will be at 110 Aquarius. The New Moon occurs on August 18th at 10:12 p.m. She’ll be at 260 Cancer. And the Sun enters Virgo on August 22nd at 11:45 a.m.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your summer! Stay safe and healthy!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May – June 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone —

We have a couple of busy months ahead as the planets change direction and even a pair of eclipses!

May 2020

May is a month of threes. It begins with three planets in Taurus, ends with three planets in Gemini and three planets start moving backwards (retrograde – no, not Mercury). In the beginning the Sun, Mercury and Uranus are in Taurus and at the end the Sun, Mercury and Venus are in Gemini. We move from a predominance of earth’s practicality (Taurus) to more air’s ideas and exploration of the mental realm (Gemini). It may feel like the pace has picked up, since Taurus is the slowest moving sign of them all, and Gemini wants to explore all there is – for just a little bit – before it gets bored and moves on to something else.

A word about retrogrades. Astrology is geocentric so it appears to us that at times planets move from west to east rather than east to west. We know that the planets don’t actually change direction, but it appears that way. Planets in retrograde motion tend to express more inwardly. It’s a time of inner work and the changes during that period may manifest when the planet goes “direct,” or starts moving from east to west in our skies. Of course, the “inner” will depend not only on the energy of the planet but also the sign the planet is in, which works as a filter through which the planet’s energy must express. Sometimes the “filter” helps the planet express and sometimes it’s more challenging. And how it impacts you personally depends on how this retrograde interfaces with your natal chart. There are a lot of retrogrades in May and June.

Saturn is the first of the planets to station retrograde on May 11 at 12:09 a.m. He’ll be a 10 Aquarius where he’ll remain for the rest of the month. (He backs into Capricorn in July.) Aquarius is an air sign and deals in novel ideas, destruction of old ways of thinking. It has a harder time expressing in stern Saturn, but Saturn can provide practicality to some of Aquarius’ more innovative (hair-brained) ideas. Saturn represents authority figures of all kinds, especially males, so your inner critic, your father’s or boss’ voice, might be very loud during this retrograde, which ends in late September. However, this may also be a period where you think through a new idea before implementing it. It may also be a time where you look at the changes you’ve made during the recent pandemic to see which of them you want to maintain even as things return to “normal.”

Venus stations retrograde on May 13 at 2:45 a.m. She’ll be at 210 Gemini. This is a fairly short retrograde period. She’ll station direct in June. Venus is the planet of love, the planet of relationship and the planet of beauty. In retrograde motion, she turns all of these inward with the idea to see them in ourselves as well as others. This can also be used as part of the integration of changes made during the pandemic to be more loving toward ourselves and open to new ideas (Gemini). I hope you’ve been joying seeing bright Venus in the evening sky last month and her dance with the Pleiades.

Jupiter doesn’t want to be left out of the fun. He stations retrograde on May 14 at 10:32 a.m. He’ll be at 270 Capricorn, next to (conjunct) Pluto. This is a very powerful conjunction, that has been going on (and will continue to go on) for a while. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, good luck, and optimism in Saturn’s sign (Capricorn). It’s sort of like walking with your shoes tied together. As I’ve written previously Capricorn is the sign of the status quo and systems we’ve developed to maintain this status quo. Pluto calls into question all of it, by looking deeply into the truth behind these structures. In retrograde, again, this could be a time to look at internal structures, ways of being and thinking that no longer serve you with the optimism (Jupiter) that the changes you make will be for the best. This conjunction falls in the house of values and resources in the US chart, and is next to natal Pluto, calling us examine what we value and how we use our resources both natural and man-made. This conjunction has been going on for a while, indicating the need for deep consideration about these issues.

Also on May 13, lest you get bored, Mars, the planet of war, self-assertion and a “me first” attitude moves into watery Pisces at 12:17 a.m. Mars is not at all excited to be in Neptune’s sign – all that watery, emotional stuff – yuck! How is a warrior supposed to deal with that? However, this can be a time of heightened intuition, which is water’s realm, which can be used to guide our headstrong warrior.

Mercury moves into his own sign, Gemini, on May 11 at 11:39 a.m. For the next 17 days, ideas will fly and there will be lots of conversations (chatter?). On the 28th he moves into Cancer and things may slow down a little. For those of us having trouble stilling our mind – monkey mind – this could be a challenging period. In any event there will be a lot of talk about the new ideas being circulated.

The Sun moves into Gemini on May 20th at 9:49 a.m. and the New Moon occurs the next day at 20 Gemini. The Full Moon occurs on May 7 at 6:45 a.m. She’ll be at 170 Scorpio.

June

Thought May was busy? June is just as busy! Three planets change direction and we have two eclipses.

So, let’s start with the two eclipses, lunar and solar. Neither will be visible in the US but depending on where they occur in your chart, you may feel their impact to a greater or lesser degree (or not at all).

The prenumbral lunar eclipse occurs on June 5th from 1:45 p.m. to 5:04 p.m., a little over three hours. The Moon will be at 150 Sagittarius. So those with placements around 150 in Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and/or Pisces, the other mutable signs, may feel the impact of this eclipse more than others. A lunar eclipse deals with service to others and an ending of an era in the way you’ve been dealing with the energy of the impacted planet. The influence of this eclipse will last about three months.

Eclipses come in pairs – sometimes in threes, as this one does. The third eclipse (lunar) will occur in early July. The solar eclipse in June occurs on the Summer Solstice, June 21. The Sun will be at 00 Cancer. The eclipse will begin at 11:45 p.m. and will last about 6 hours. Solar eclipses occur at a New Moon, so the Moon will also be at 00 Cancer, and generally represent new beginnings. However, as we all know, new beginnings can be jolting at times. This eclipse occurs very close to the Sun in the US Chart (and Canada’s) so it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Attention all those with placements in early degrees of Cancer, Capricorn, Aries or Libra. The influence of this eclipse will last about six months.

OK, now planetary changes.

Everyone’s favorite retrograde – yep – Mercury’s second retrograde of 2020 begins two days before the solar eclipse (June 18) at 12:59 a.m. He’ll be at 140 Cancer. These retrogrades last about three weeks and are wonderful times to repair, regroup, retreat and do some inner reflecting. The energies of both May and June seem to be guiding us into a rather reflective period, both personally and globally.

Two days after the solar eclipse (June 23), Neptune stations retrograde (starts moving from west to east) at 12:31a.m. She’ll be at 200 Pisces. She’s been in Pisces for quite a while now – likes being there, she is said to rule that sign. This retrograde ends in late November. Neptune rules fog, illusion, compassion and redemption – quite a list! This retrograde can be used to deepen our relationship to all that is greater than ourselves. Neptune rules the sea and wants to merge with something greater than itself. The search for this “something” will move inward during this retrograde period, providing a different perspective. Of course, there also may be a lack of clarity, as Neptune also rules fog!

Venus ends her retrograde period on June 25th at 2:48 p.m. She’ll be at 50 Gemini with an easy flow of energy (trine) to Saturn in Aquarius.

I should also mention that Mars leaves Pisces (phew!) and enters his own sign, Aries on the 29th. He’ll be very glad to be in Aries, the sign of the warrior, impulsive, headstrong and sometimes reckless. He will be in a challenging relationship (square) to the Sun and the only planet in fire, which may mean he’ll work extra hard to be sure you notice him.

A busy two months in the heavens! Have a wonderful May and June!

Peace, Margaret

Astro Doings September-October 2019

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hard to believe that we’re heading into fall. Where did the summer go? September and October promise to be rather quiet, with a couple of planets changing direction.

September

The most striking thing about September is that in the first half of the month, we will have seven of the 11 planets in earth: four in Virgo (Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars), two in Capricorn (Saturn and Pluto) and one in Taurus (Uranus). That’s a lot of earth energy – practical, systems focused, and potentially in tune with our beloved planet and her needs. Virgo is the sign of the harvest, and it is truly about the harvest of self into an integrated, healthy being. My favorite quote about Virgo is from Maya Angelou: “A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.” Virgo is often misunderstood, but to me that quotes sums up her essence. Oh yes, we’ll have two planets in fire (Chiron in Aries and Jupiter in Sagittarius), and Neptune is the only planet in water (Pisces). Once again, there are no planets in air, the realm of ideas.

Saturn ends his retrograde period on the 18th. He’ll be at 130 Capricorn, a very sensitive degree for cardinal signs and will remain there for most of the month. He is still next to (conjunct) Pluto and they are still transiting the house of values and resources in the US (Sibley) chart.

The Autumnal Equinox (aka when the Sun enters Libra) occurs on the 23rd at 3:51 a.m. The Harvest Moon occurs on the 14th and she’ll be at 210 Pisces. The New Moon occurs on the 28th at 280 Gemini.

October

October begins with Saturn’s traveling companion, Pluto, ending his retrograde period on the 3rd at 2:37 a.m. He’ll be at 200 Capricorn, where he’s been for a long time! However, this shift of direction, coupled with Saturn’s, could indicate that much of the inner work that has been done (inner or behind the scenes) will now express more openly and overtly. Capricorn has to do with structures, as you know, planning, and the status quo. Saturn has to do with authority figures, inner critics, and fathers in general.

Mars moves into Libra on the 4th. He’s not particularly happy to be in Venus’s sign of relationship, but may provide some energy, moving toward more balance and consideration of others (Libra).

The Sun moves into Scorpio on the 13th and there will be three planets in that sign: Sun, Mercury and Venus. The Full Moon occurs on the 13th at 200 Aries; the New Moon occurs on the 27th at 40 Scorpio.

And on the very last day of the month at 11:42 a.m. Mercury begins his last retrograde of 2019. He’ll be at 270 Scorpio. (Yes, yes. He goes direct on November 20th!) Happy Halloween!

Have a wonderful fall!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings July-August 2019

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the quiet of May and June. July is quite active with 2 eclipses and everyone’s favorite retrograde (Mercury). In August two planets change direction, so the rest of the summer will be active in the heavens!

July

July 2: Total Solar Eclipse at 3:16 p.m.

This eclipse will not be visible in the US or Canada. The Sun and Moon will be at 100 Cancer, since a solar eclipse occurs at a New Moon when both luminaries are in the same sign. Its impact or effect will last until transiting Saturn opposes the degree of the eclipse in September 2019, so three months. The totality of the eclipse lasts four minutes, 33 seconds, which the longest in six years. Those with planets from 7-130 in Cancer, Libra, Aries or Capricorn may feel the impact of this eclipse more than others. (Also, those with placements in the other water signs, Pisces and Scorpio.) Neptune in Pisces trines (easy flow) the eclipse, and Saturn and Pluto oppose it (balance). The Moon, the “Lord” of this eclipse, is in her own sign, so very powerful. Mothers, female authority figures, emotions, moodiness, home, hearth, loyalty to family and clan may be themes that come to the surface during this eclipse. An eclipse in water signs may also signify excessive rain, drug-related problems, wide-spread unrest, tidal waves, and destruction of things that live near or in the water. And it is emotionally driven. Not to be forgotten, Saturn is also in his own sign (Capricorn), opposing the Sun/Moon. Saturn represents restriction, lack, fear, fathers, authority figures of all types. So, there is a need to balance these two opposing principles. This solar eclipse is next to the north node of the Moon, also known as the Dragon Head, when talking about types of eclipses. A Dragon Head solar eclipse can lead to fresh opportunities, but it can also come as a surprise, which can be experienced at first as disruptive. (For more information about eclipses, I would recommend Celeste Teal’s book Eclipses.)

Of particular interest is that this eclipse also plays out on the world stage being conjunct (on top of) the Sun in US Chart (Sibley) and Canada’s, both being Sun sign Cancer countries. (Happy Canada Day to our good neighbors on July 1!) This eclipse also squares Saturn in Libra in the US chart, which represents the executive, and is in the 10th house of government and national prestige. The eclipse occurs in the eighth house in the US chart, which includes international finance, financial relations with other countries, and foreign investments.

July 7: Mercury Retrograde at 7:15 p.m.

Mercury will start his three-week retrograde period in Leo but will back into Cancer on July 19, joining the Sun and Venus in the sign of the Crab. You are now all experts on Mercury retrogrades as times of re-grouping, re-treating and re-thinking, so I’m not going to say anything more about that. Leo is the sign of the Divine (or not-so-divine) Child within, and Cancer is about sanctuary, home, hearth, and nourishment (not just physical). Remember that the Crab carries its house on its back, so your sanctuary is within you. Mercury stations direct on July 31st at 11:58 p.m. He’ll be at 230 Cancer, adding more energy to the lunar eclipse.

July 16: Lunar Eclipse at 5:38 p.m.

The Moon will be at 240 Capricorn. (Remember that lunar eclipses occur at a Full Moon, so the Sun is in Cancer.) This is a very powerful eclipse, as Saturn and Pluto will be next to (conjunct) the Moon. Because Pluto is nearer to the eclipse degree (it’s at 210) it becomes the Lord of this eclipse, instead of Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn. Remember that Pluto rules the underground, deep-seated transformation and power. This is a Dragon’s Tail eclipse, because the Moon is opposed to the north node, which is in Cancer. Eclipses in earth signs, especially Capricorn, are concerned with issues of the earth, including on a global stage, recessions, business, agricultural issues, drought, crop failures, earthquakes, etc. On a personal level, Capricorn can also be concerned about financial issues, security, and on a higher level, sure-footed progress climbing the mountain of spiritual development. Those with planets from 21-270 Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra may feel the impact of this very powerful eclipse more than others – also the other earth signs: Virgo and Taurus. Its influence will continue until Saturn crosses over the degree of the eclipse in January 2020.

Once again, this eclipse impacts the US Chart. Transiting Pluto is coming very close to natal Pluto in the US Chart, which is at 270 Capricorn, and this eclipse is right on top of it. Pluto is in the second house in the US chart, which represents resources, both financial and natural, and a nation’s values. Pluto calls for a complete overhaul of whatever house it’s in – deep-seated transformation, as you know, both personally and nationally. Dragon’s Tail eclipses generally represent a time of balancing the ledger in areas out of balance and it also vibrates to timeless service and things of a more spiritual focus. It’s a time of giving back and practicing compassion.

The Sun enters Leo on July 23rd, the sign of the child and creativity! The New Moon occurs on July 31st at 11:12 p.m. She’ll be at 80 Leo. Venus and Mars also enter Leo during July on the 28th and 2nd respectively. So lots of fire in July.

August

August 11: Both Jupiter and Uranus change directions!

Hold onto your hats and/or buckle your seat belts! Jupiter, the planet of expansion, good fortune and all things bigger than life, ends his four-month retrograde period at 9:38 a.m. He’ll be at 140 Sagittarius. He’s very happy in his own sign, brash, optimistic, proud, impulsive and enthusiastic. He can also be a groupie with an us versus them attitude, but he can also be a quester for higher truths. He is currently on top of (conjunct) the Ascendant of the US Chart, which deals with how we present ourselves to the world.

Uranus, planet of the higher mind, rebellion, inspiration, vision, revolutionary thinking, begins his five-month retrograde period at 10:26 p.m. He’s at 60 Taurus. He’s not very happy in Taurus, as his lightning-quick energy is not compatible with Taurus’ slower, more deliberate way of doing things. However, Uranus can provide new ideas and innovative practices that could be beneficial in all earthly matters and Taurus can slow things down, so they have a chance to manifest. Of all the earth signs, Taurus is the most connected to Mother Earth and her rhythms.

The Sun enters Virgo on August 23rd at 6:02 a.m. Virgo is the sign of the harvest, of the Self primarily – collecting all the different parts of ourselves into one whole — but also we begin to harvest what we’ve planted in our gardens in late August and early September. By the end of the month, there will be seven planets in earth signs: Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars in Virgo, Uranus in Taurus and Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn. No planets in air — only Neptune in water and Jupiter in fire.

The Full Moon occurs on August 15th at 8:29 a.m. She’ll be at 110 Aquarius. The New Moon occurs on August 30 at 6:37 a.m. She’ll be at 60 Virgo.

Have a great summer!

Peace and abundant blessings!

Margaret

Astro Doings May-June, 2019

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

May and June are pretty quiet, so I am going to give an update for both months in the same blog.

May

A pretty quiet month astrologically. No planet changes direction. Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto continue their retrograde motion that they began in April. The air element still does not have a lot of representation, even after the Sun enters Gemini on May 21 at 3:59 a.m. Mercury also enters Gemini, a sign that he rules, on the same day at 6:52 a.m. Gemini likes to sample, flitting from one thing to another, to experience as much as possible, without delving into any one thing deeply. The sampling is done in the realm of ideas and to some extent people, whom he finds fascinating for about five minutes. Otherwise, the outer planets are in fire (Jupiter), earth (Saturn, Pluto, Uranus) and water (Neptune). Venus joins Uranus in Taurus on the 15th at 5:46 a.m. Mars adds to Neptune’s water when he enters Cancer also on May 15 at 11:00 p.m. Water and earth work nicely together energetically and are considered to be “feminine” in their nature – sustaining, holding and nurturing. The question is without much air and fire to create new ideas or ways of doing things is this emphasis on feminine energy sustaining old ideas or patterns? May’s New Moon occurs on the 4th at 140 Taurus; Full Moon on May 18 at 270 Scorpio.

June

As far as the outer planets go, nothing changes in June, except that Neptune stations retrograde (i.e. moves from west to east by our perception) on June 21 at 10:36 a.m. She’ll be at 180 Pisces and will stay there for the rest of the month. The 21st also happens to be the Summer Solstice when the Sun enters Cancer at 11:54 a.m. Mercury joins the Cancer brigade on June 4th, so there will be three planets in that sign, which rules home, hearth, Mother, nurturing, including food. All this Cancer energy is on the other side of the zodiac from Saturn and Pluto, who continue to run together in Capricorn. This provides an opportunity for balancing earth and water — large structures such as corporations and governments (Capricorn) and individual needs for sanctuary (home) and nourishment (Cancer). Both the US and Canada are sun-sign Cancer countries, as a point of interest. In the US chart, Saturn and Pluto are currently in the second house of values and resources, both natural and man-made. June’s New Moon occurs on the 3rd at 120 Gemini (6:02 a.m.) and the Full Moon occurs on June 17 at 250 Sagittarius (4:31 a.m.).

Have a wonderful spring and beginning of summer!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret