Leo-Aquarius-Axis Eclipse

CLICK DIAGRAM TO SEE ENLARGEMENT. 5   I made this diagram to get a feel for the oppositions inside of this week's Total Eclipse. The main oppositions are of course the North and South Nodes, as well as Venus - Mercury - Sun opposing Chiron - Neptune. This could feel something like reuniting with someone we hadn't spoken to in years — feeling ecstatic, insecure and in pain with poignancy. We may over-worry or over-analyze. I think these are signs of love; let's try to leave it at that. There may be some issues of who is playing the father roll. There may also be growth spurts in babies, teens, pregnancies, relationships and with grandparents, too. It may feel awkward as we get to know each other in our advanced states of change; it may be unbearable to wish we hadn't worried for so long.

With North Node and Chiron conjunct in Aquarius, it is possible now to find a sense of resolve around dull yet excruciating pains which lingered in our tribe over decades. Issues we may have thought were hopeless can take a turn now. The next time Chiron is conjunct North Node will be in 2024, when Pluto is entering Aquarius. The comfort we may find with newly defined families or close circles could well play important rolls in our lives for the course of Pluto in Capricorn. This next phase of Pluto in such a practical and hardworking sign may be about fixing everything which has been sitting broken in the basement, the attic and in storage for the last 15 to 30 years. We may be happy to sit in living rooms together repairing old radios, wheelbarrows and rollerskates with people we have loved for a long time.

Branding Peace Into The Wood

We have another day of Moon in Aries tomorrow and the battle continues. I mean whatever battles it's been. It may be about mold on cutting boards and dish drainers that drip into the sink and don't make puddles. It may be a war on mold, bacteria and spores. Untastely chopping blocks may have flown into the trash with military force. Keep up the fight, brothers and sisters, and we may find fights turn to constructive criticisms at worst. Friday and Saturday, Moon is in Taurus, and positively aspects Saturn. You may get some sanity around the issues which were hard last Monday. I predict less flying chopping blocks, more sensuality, less fast, more slow, less battle, and more peace.

Astrology and Pregnancy

A reader writes in asking about pregnancy and astrology. She writes:
I can't help looking at things astrologically. I've been applying astrology more and more to my life and like seeing how things play out. I've read that you should look to Ceres aspects for this but I am not sure if this is a the best rule of thumb? Also, would you use a progressed chart or natal chart with transits? I have been looking at Ceres, Moon, Jupiter and Venus aspects for likelihood so far but am a bit dumbfounded. Thanks, Curious

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Dear Curious,
I have read that when a woman wants to get pregnant, it is good to look at the relationship between natal sun and moon. For example it could be a closing square, which is 270° apart. It is said, that this 270 degrees difference between Sun and Moon may provide a window for fertility. So that means now that Sun is at the end of Cancer, 270 degrees would be when moon is at the end of Aries. Thus, fertility windows happen monthly. If you put your data in astro.com, this aspect is listed in the daily horoscope for free. They describe this aspect as, "Same lunar phase as natal".Your Sun and Moon aspect is a closing sextile, roughly 300° apart, so this is the aspect which astro.com will highlight for you on the day once a month when you have the "Same lunar phase as natal".

I associate Ceres with mothering after the kid is there. Like Ceres in Capricorn takes mothering like it's a career or calling. Ceres in Leo would be a playful mom, etc. Ceres might also show how you deal with feeding your kid, yourself and your family. Your Ceres is in Virgo, so I think creating whole and healthy meals is a special talent of yours. Pallas can show how you will defend your baby. Pallas in Capricorn is like a military guard in uniform, for example. Your Pallas is in the 6th in Leo, so I can imagine it is nice to make play a regular part of everyday.

You can look at Moon to see how you will relate to other Moms like at PTA and other Moms groups. Your Moon is at the root of your chart conjunct the IC in Gemini. You may like to have groups over to your house to discuss and share whats on your mind.

Jupiter aspects to the Ascendant may indicate a body which is expanding, like pregnancy. I associate pregnancy with the first house, because it is so much about the body. Mars-Jupiter transits like Jupiter conjunct Mars or Mars sextile Jupiter or any combo may show lots of energy for the birth.

Your Venus is in Gemini in the 4th House. I think talking with friends in your kitchen may be very satisfying to you. Your Venus is being aspected so you may be working the numbers around how you will budget during this phase of your life.

See what sign is on your 5th house. What is the ruler of that sign. What is in the 5th. What is transiting. Saturn in the 5th moms are strict for example. Moon in the 5th these moms are at home being moms even if they work full time. In your chart, Cancer in on the 5th house cusp and the ruler is Moon. In the 5th house you have the South Node. I think you know how to make mothering fun for everyone.

These are my brief thoughts for now, I hope this helps.

Yours,
Deirdre

The Last Few days of Sun in Cancer

My son and I are back in America for the first time in a year and we flew right into the full Capricorn moon. My aunt passed away on the day we landed, so the mood is like that, Saturn is squaring my Moon. Those who are here, well, we are treasuring each other. There have been layers of family time, of quiet time with my son, of normal time, even seeing the really scarey Batman movie with my grown up youngest brother. There has even been some design time too as Elsa's site is coming alive with merchandise. Now I look forward to connecting with clients.

Moon enters Pisces Sunday night at 9:08 on the east coast and shortly after opposes the Mars Saturn conjunction. It's a good time to eat broccoli and listen to classical music and spend the night evening organizing the home in a way that makes you feel secure. The social alternative is watching a movie with people who wont flip out on you.

On Tuesday, Sun will enter Leo and Wednesday Moon will enter Aries — now that's energy, enthusiasm and ideas. You'll be glad you folded all your socks et al. on Sunday.

Full Moon in Capricorn Illuminates Family

This Friday, July 18, is a Full Moon in Capricorn. Sun is nearing the end of Cancer and will enter Leo on the 22nd. We may have spent the last several weeks planning family reunions or vacations or focusing on a family issue. All the small interchanges add up to larger gestures of taking care and strengthening security.

Bonds of love help our culture and our souls. Think of the bonds in your family, including family of choice, those who have passed on and those who have yet to appear. As Venus is in Leo, and Vesta is in Taurus, consider creating a geneological manuscript to hang above the hearth. The surface — paper, canvas, a wall or a website — is for everyone in the clan to participate with words or images. Eltest documenting elders create stable roots for us all.

Weekend Mood

With Mercury in Cancer and Moon in Scorpio we discover mystery in our inner circles. Deep emotions bring us to a deeper and more more practical reality. Child-like laughter bursts from Venus in Leo. Sort family issues with a friend or family member in smallest detail. Confirm who you can trust. Conversation spans the unfathomable. Does she know that we know that she knows that we know?

Portrait left: Unknown painter, Elizabeth I (NPG), c. 1560s
portrait right: Hans Holbein, Laïs Corinth (Basle), 1526

Inching Toward the Wardrobe

In roughly 23 days, there will be a total eclipse of the Sun. If you're going to be in Northern Canada, Russia, Mongolia or China, you might be able to see this eclipse. If you are at a crossroads in your life whether you know it or not, you may start to feel the eclipse already.

This eclipse is at 9 degrees 31 minutes of Leo. Leos and Aquarians, stay as awake as you can during this season, eclipses often can bring in a new dimension. Be aware of who you meet, where you go, and how appointments get scheduled.

What's really fun is the two weeks between August 1 and August 16th's Lunar Eclipse, which I liken to the Wardrobe of C.S. Lewis. For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, this eclipse period may concur with summer vacation travels. Bon Voyage.

Welcome Back, Íngrid Betancourt

The news of Íngrid Betancourt's release fills the media with images of hearts reunited. This is a time of joy and celebration. We just had a New Moon closely aligned with Venus. This image above of Íngrid Betancourt kissing her daughter for the first time in six years holds the essence of Moon and Venus.

In 2002, when Íngrid Betancourt was kidnapped, Chiron had just conjuncted her midheaven and Neptune was conjunct Jupiter. She was surging with high ideals and she had a mission. She may have felt unstoppable. During her six-year captivity, Chiron conjuncted her Sun, Neptune opposed her Moon, Pluto conjuncted her Venus, Saturn conjuncted her Moon and most recently Pluto conjuncted her natal Pluto. To put it mildly, Íngrid Betancourt is a heroine.

Íngrid Betancourt is a Capricorn, with Moon in Leo, a natural leader. She was in the jungle since Pluto was at 17° Sagittarius and was nearly free in the spring when Pluto was conjunct her 0° Capricorn Mars. Pluto will go back into Capricorn in November to conjunct her Mars again and over the next few years will also conjunct her 8th house Capricorn Sun.

On the day a Columbia military operation liberated her and and 15 other hostages by helicopter, her transit was Mars conjunct Uranus.

Welcome back to your family and friends Íngrid Betancourt.
Thank you for never giving up.


photo by Ricardo Mazalan

Weekend in New Territory

Thursday, July 3:

New Moon in Cancer, Venus in Cancer opposed Jupiter, Mercury trine Chiron
For the next two weeks we are building the structures of our dreams, so dream pretty, big and expansive. This weekend, those who are normally chintzy with themselves may pull out the stops today and tomorrow. For those who have a hard time saying no, hang out with a buddy who supports you to stay safe.

Friday, July 4:

Moon in Leo 9:15am London, Pallas in Taurus trines Jupiter in Capricorn
Happy Birthday USA from Europe. People here go to work and school as normal, so we'll be thinking of you at your celebrations. With a Moon in Leo festivities can surely be fun. There is another take on get-togethers which is to have a common vision. If you are in an experimental community and have been struggling to manifest the vision, you may feel movement today, so take it. Listening to those younger than us may help us see concrete sustaining images which support us.

Saturday, July 5:

Mercury square Uranus, Moon still in Leo
The weekend is not over, so pace yourself, because you may be partied out. Some people may be sensitive to being taken over by a show-offy leader. Careful with words as we could spit back in vengance. Have a surprising talk with a neighbor instead. Design a weird shaped fence to solve issues which have not been easy to solve.

Sunday, July 6:

Mercury trine Neptune, Moon in Virgo 12:04 pm London, Venus trine Uranus
When moon enters Virgo we have efficiency available to us. We may be closing the weekend house and find it comforting to put everything back in its place. You may wake up where you always do and find yourself getting ready for a big week (because we all have one). Take time today to plan what you will wear everyday this week, put all book bags, knapsacks, camp satchels and carry-ons next to the door. Make a list of what supplies need to be bought. This coming Thursday is a day of new structures. Where ever we will be on Thursday, July 10, we are at the front door of a two-year project, or a two year phase within a project. The structure is almost built but the masculine archetype has had limits clamped to his skeleton. The way through is with awareness, patience — not brute force. I do think a very strong bridge is in construction. Imagine what the bridge needs before you test it. As the final cherry on top, surprising a friend later today.

Chiron, A Master Key

Dear Deirdre,
I faced these days a medical problem and I was afraid a lot. I started omeopathy and I feel already better. I would like to know about my Chiron the natal aspects and the transits.
thank you thank you.
Gia from Greece

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Dear Gia,
I am happy to hear you are feeling better.
In your chart Chiron is in Pisces in the 8th house conjunct the South Node opposed Pluto. I get the impression that you came into this life with a natural and gentle understanding of medicine and healing. This is just one of the many ways you may be extremely sensitive to the world you live in. It may come so easily to you, you may think every one is like this, but I don't think so .

This year your intuition may be working differently for you than other years. Normally you can calculate the mood, and the situation, very quickly to your advantage.

This year I think your intuition is working at a slower speed, suggesting it may be necessary to slow your life down so you can be in sync with your intuition. You may even find yourself socializing with conservative people or people you have known a long time. You may have thought your life was on the right track a few years ago, but there are a lot of signs that now is the time to rearrange as much as possible and try not to cling to the past. Something new is coming in. By the end of the year, Uranus will finally be past your Sun, and Saturn will be way past your North Node. You may start to feel more calm and brave about making big decisions.

You mentioned you were not feeling well. Sometimes what we describe as health problems are really deep changes going on in our cells, helping us to change our bodies and our world. As well, 2008 is a transition year for many of us because of Pluto's entry into a new sign. Given all these indicators of change, I believe your greatest strength is your heart full of love and your inspired mind with ideas. I think it is a very good idea to have a book you write in every day, what you are thinking and what you are dreaming. Notice the very smallest changes you want to make, and help the changes happen everyday. If you like motivation, you may find this with some music, (Chiron in Pisces conjunct South Node), as this can help you tune into your natural and ancient wisdom

Nice to hear from you,
Deirdre