4th Floor, The Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., New Westminster, B.C.
Join us for a casual dinner 5:00pm at The Old Spaghetti Factory, 50 – 8th Street, New Westminster, BC.
Introduction
The graphic ephemeris is a powerful visual tool. Expand your knowledge in this fun lecture. Predict like a professional astrologer with the graphic ephemeris. Learn some simple steps to improve for your client forecast work. Bring your chart and be ready to roll up your sleeves.
In this presentation you will:
Learn where the graphic ephemeris comes from.
Discover how to correctly generate, print and use a graphic ephemeris.
Receive a blank graphic ephemeris sheet for 2019/2020.
Extrapolate your chart points and planets to create your own personal graphic ephemeris.
Improve your astrological direct forecasting techniques with the graphic ephemeris.
Presented by Alison Price a professional astrologer in Vancouver.
Alison Price is a consultant astrologer, writer and popular lecturer based in Vancouver, Canada. With a diploma from the South African College of Astrological Studies, Johannesburg, and a certificate from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, London, England, she writes feature articles for international journals. Alison mentors a select number of engaged students each year. She is the co-founder of Vancouver’s Summer Astrology Workshop (now in its 6th year) which teaches advanced astrology topics. Find her many astrology books on Amazon and subscribe to her creative “Starzology” YouTube channel.
We are delighted to welcome this month’s guest writer Alfred DePew from Evolutionary Astrology and Dreamwork who has written our September 2018 Horoscopes for you. Alison ⭐️
“My aim is to help people listen more deeply to their souls, and to see the practical application of their new insights and awareness.”
Your focus for most of this month is on daily routines, your health, and a renewed commitment to your career or the needs of a parent. Around the 10th your love life beckons and what has been out of sight and out of mind now needs your attention. By the 13th you may find yourself leading an initiative that brings a much-needed change to your community or brings new ideas or energy to your circle of friends. By month’s end, a business partnership, contractual agreement or your sweetheart will want more of your attention.
TAURUS
There’s nothing frivolous or indulgent about your need for creative self-expression, recreation or romance this month. It serves a purpose perhaps only you can know. Something in you is called to begin a new course of study, set out on a journey or embark upon a quest. Your relationships may take on a new intensity after the 10th and you might find yourself starting an innovative project at work that has far-reaching benefits for everyone involved. Check in with your health routines towards the end of the month.
GEMINI
You’re going to want to get your house in order this month. Shared resources may demand closer scrutiny if they are to bear fruit in the future, and you may need to get to the bottom of what is not being clearly communicated. There will be a renewed focus on health towards the middle of the month, and you may find yourself called to get to the broader philosophical truth of a matter that seemed quite mundane. At month’s end, tune into possibilities for new romance.
CANCER
Whatever is on your mind this month, you’re going to want to let people know about it. You are likely to feel a renewed commitment to your partnerships, both domestic and professional. Make way for romance after the 10th and don’t be surprised if you are feeling the need to initiate some sort of deep inward transformation around the same time. The end of the month sees you focusing on domestic harmony and beautifying your home.
LEO
This month, your attention will be on your resources—money as well as the gifts you were born with. You’re going to want to produce some serious results at work or double down on your exercise routine. Eliminate clutter at home and make room for transformation of your physical and psychic space. Mid-month is a good time to set boundaries in existing business or personal relationships. Near the end of the month, your attention turns toward beauty and balance. You may be asked to mend fences or help siblings reach a fair and equitable agreement.
VIRGO
This is a month to re-assess who you are and how you are operating in the world. Your makeover may well involve spending more time with your children, a romance, or a creative venture. All the same, you might be more reticent than usual in order to dive deeper for more insight into a problem you’ve been trying to solve. Keep long-range results in mind as you start a new exercise program or project at work. Review your budget at the end of the month. And don’t hesitate to confront something head-on, which you may have been avoiding.
LIBRA
September finds you turning inward to reflect. Which is just as well because you’ll be sensing a renewed pull towards home and family. What do you care about most deeply? Where are you spending your time, energy, and money? Mid-month may find you embarking on a new creative project or romance that has broad implications and may spark long-range changes. Towards the end of the month, check in with who you know yourself to be—and where you need to make adjustments. You’re likely to discover something new about your way of being in partnership.
SCORPIO
You’re feeling more inclined than usual to socialize. Go for it. This might be the month for some new clothes that are more in line with how you feel about yourself. Your siblings or neighbours may turn to you for advice. Your home may call out to be modernized or updated. Towards the end of the month, a work situation or health issue that seemed murky will likely clear up, and you’ll be able to see the way forward.
SAGITTARIUS
Keep your focus on a new project or a fresh start in your career in September. Don’t be afraid to commit to what you know to be true. Far from holding you back, your sense of responsibility is a resource. Towards midmonth, you may want to spend some time alone in order to incubate new ideas that are sure to get people around you out of the rut they’re in. Harmony and idealism are the themes for you at month’s end. Expect new information and insights about a romance or creative project around that time as well.
CAPRICORN
You’re feeling like your old self again, and it shows this month. Whether it’s a new course of study, a new life path, or a literal voyage, you’re going to want to let people know about it. The emphasis is on connection, and it may be intense, even passionate. So keep your eye out for a new love interest. Take a look at your spending around the 12th. Be more decisive about what you own or value. At month’s end, you may find that this social whirlwind has actually paid off in terms of your career or reputation.
AQUARIUS
This month, your attention is on getting your house in order when it comes to your taxes, shared investments, or an inheritance. Giving yourself some time alone for reflection will enhance a new initiative around the 12th that is likely to have a long-range healing influence for you and your community. Come the end of the month, you may well find yourself embarked upon a new course of study or a quest for meaning, beauty, and harmony. Expect some new insights when it comes to your neighbours or siblings.
PISCES
September finds you focusing on partnerships. Expect some depth, intensity and new insights about how you relate to others. Self-reflection will facilitate a new beginning around the 10th. As inward as this time may feel, you won’t want to forget your commitment to friends or community groups. Toward the end of the month, you’re likely to see what’s been hidden from view, which will help you restore the balance in your love life or in situations that have to do with shared resources.
About Alfred DePew
Alfred is an evolutionary astrologer in Vancouver, Canada. His practice is informed through his study of esoteric astrology, mythology, Sufism, systems theory, Jungian psychology, process work, and Christian mysticism. His aim is to help people listen more deeply to their souls, and to see the practical application of their new insights and awareness.
New Moon Wishing is a ritual you can practice every month that brings the meaning of each New Moon alive for you and relates it to your life.
The next New Moon will be at a particular degree in a sign and will be in one of the twelve houses of your chart.
By making wishes at the New Moon that correlate closely to your chart you can tap into the energy of the cosmos in a specific way.
The Cycle of New Moons
There is a New Moon about every twenty-nine days and that typically makes one New Moon each Month.
Two New Moons in a Month
But, each year there may be a month with two New Moons.
For example, in August 2019 there will be two New Moons. The first New Moon is on the first of August and the second New Moon is on the thirtieth of August.
Two New Moons in a Sign
Now and then there may be a zodiac sign with two New Moons.
For example, in June 2020 there will be a New Moon at 0°21′ Cancer and then the next New Moon is at 28° 27′ Cancer in the following month of July.
In this case there are two new Moons in one sign that of Cancer the Crab.
Check in the list below and see where the next New Moon will be in the zodiac. Then find the natal house in your chart where the position of the next New Moon will occur.
Each month the New Moon will likely move to the next house of your chart but it does depend on your chart’s houses. If you have an intercepted sign it could skip one house altogether. If you have wide houses there could be two New Moon in the same house for two months in a row.
Solar Eclipses
New Moons that are also solar eclipses can be more energizing for that month’s wishing.
The New Moons of 2018
January 17th at 27° Capricorn
February 15th at 27° Aquarius – partial solar eclipse
March 17th at 27° Pisces
April 16th at 26° Aries
May 15th at 25° Taurus
June 13th at 23° Gemini
July 13th at 21° Cancer – partial solar eclipse
August 11th at 19° Leo – partial solar eclipse
September 9th at 17° Virgo
October 9th at 16° Libra
November 7th at 15° Scorpio
December 7th at 15° Sagittarius
Your Natal Houses
Find the house in which the next New Moon will occur.
Make three to five wishes in line with the meaning of you New Moon house. Write them on a nice piece of paper and have these wishes ready and prepared before the New Moon.
Suggested New Moon Wishes
Here are some suggested wishes for a New Moon in your natal chart houses. You can add more wishes and modify the ones you like.
Let your inspiration guide you.
New Moon in your first house
I wish I was…
I wish my self-confidence was…
I wish I was more authentic in…
New Moon in your second house
I wish my income was…
I wish the value I place on people and things was…
I wish my self-esteem was…
New Moon in your third house
I wish to take a short course in…
I wish that I will spend more time in my local area so I can…
I wish that my commute was…
New Moon in your fourth house
I wish that my family was happy, healthy and…
I wish for a nice home that is…
I wish to thank my ancestors and parents for…
New Moon in your fifth house
I wish for children who are happy, healthy and…
I wish I took my creativity more seriously so I can…
I wish I could enjoy my leisure time and spend it doing…
New Moon in your sixth house
I wish to have simple daily rituals that…
I wish for robust health, a strong physique and the strength to…
I wish I had a job that…
New Moon in your seventh house
I wish to have a life-partner who will…
I wish for a business partner who has the skills of…
I wish that I treated other people…
New Moon in your eighth house
I wish to have financial support available for…
I wish that people will take my side regarding…
I wish that my intimate life was…
New Moon in your ninth house
I wish to read and know more about…
I wish I could go on a journey so I can…
I wish that I could advertise and promote my…
New Moon in your tenth house
I wish my career would…
I wish that what I am known for in the public domain is…
I wish I was accomplished and recognized for…
New Moon in your eleventh house
I wish my friends were…
I wish I could support the group of…
I wish my social circle was…
New Moon in your twelfth house
I wish to withdraw from life for a while and…
I wish I could look after and curate…
I wish to confine myself for a time so I can…
At The New Moon
At the moment of the New Moon place a candle in your window and say your wishes out loud.
Then place the paper with your wishes on it on the windowsill underneath or next to the candle.
If possible let the candle burn a while or even overnight.
Journal
In your astrology journal note the date and the degree of the New Moon and make any notes later in that cycle if there was anything to mention. Say how and when your wishes came true.
Annual Forecasting
New Moon Wishing and the positions of each New Moon can (and should) be a part of your annual astrology predictions and year-end astrology review.
You can get all the forecast information together for yourself towards the end of each year in November or December so you are all ready for the New Year.
When you get a next year’s calendar, diary or journal that is the time to add the astrological information which really interests you.
Professional astrologers typically have whole years of forecasting material ahead so they are fully prepared.
I usually have all major transits and therefore New Moons listed for up to five years ahead. This practice is more about that I write horoscopes so far in advance for publications who need to be months and even years ahead.
You can do one month at a time to start with and perhaps one day you too will look further ahead.
The planets continuously move through the zodiac. As they do so they engage in angular patterns with each other.
Some connections are positive and may foster growth and harmony whereas others are a challenge and create the catalyst for changes as yet to be made. Others are neutral and can go either way. It depends.
Transits themselves are neither good nor bad but the combination of the energies of the two planets in an aspect with each other makes the dialogue (the aspect) between those two spheres work as a team for the life of the transit.
Whether a particular transit will be good for you as an individual will depend on the placement of the planets in your unique birth chart.
Major transits are any one of the five Ptolemaic aspects or the sign ingresses of heavy superior planets. As major transits develop and unfold over several weeks, months and sometimes years they shape the background message for the rest of a horoscope reading.
Often a transit will start, fade and then return, up to five exact times, before the full impact has passed. Changes made under a major transit will remain.
These slow transits are the markers of general shifts through the solar system. They are like the development of life’s journey and the cosmic trends that are unfurling.
To be in tune with the ebb and flow of major transits each year is a good way to use astrology in your daily life.
Saturn enters Capricorn
The ringed planet Saturn returned to its tradition home sign of Capricorn the sea goat in the last few days of 2017. This planet strives to stabilize the bedrock in our lives.
This position is closely related to governments and the establishment of solid foundations upon which to build our future lives.
During the two and a quarter year period until March 2020 as Saturn moves through Capricorn you can expect conservation, restrictions and boundaries to be put in place.
Many people will feel pigeon-holed in dead-end jobs and careers for which they may not be suited. The challenge now is to get the formal education and take courses which will allow you to rise to the heights to which you strive in your career. Saturn gives you what you deserve and no more. There will be no easy way or
During the two and a quarter year period until March 2020 as Saturn moves through Capricorn you can expect conservation, restrictions and boundaries to be put in place.
Many people will feel pigeon-holed in dead-end jobs and careers for which they may not be suited. The challenge now is to get the formal education and take courses which will allow you to rise to the heights to which you strive in your career.
Saturn gives you what you deserve and no more. There will be no easy way or shortcuts up the career ladder as Saturn transits Capricorn. Only concentrated and steady progress will bring you the rewards that you deserve.
The energy of this transit will be felt by anyone with planets in Capricorn or planets in the early degrees of the three other cardinal signs which are Aries, Cancer and Libra.
Jupiter sextile Pluto
(January 7 to January 25 and September 5 to September 17)
As Jupiter forms a harmonious aspect to Pluto in January and September it creates two power surge times for the year. As Pluto disposes Jupiter it means he gives his support willingly to the planet of luck.
This is a good time to look forward and take a chance. There may be hidden backing available for you now. Sound judgment and good opportunities will appear.
This aspect will mainly affect Scorpio and Capricorn but the signs Taurus, Cancer, Virgo and Pisces will benefit as well.
Uranus enters Taurus
(May 15th)
In mid-May Uranus will enter Taurus for a seven-year stretch that lasts until 2025. This brings the radical planet some stability as the earthy fixed nature or Taurus will dampen the random and unexpectedness of Uranus.
During this transit, you can expect to see changes in the way finances flow. The monetary system will likely become more high-tech as banks and virtual currencies drive the change to a more equitable system that will benefit the man in the street and disenfranchised individuals.
This once in a lifetime ingress will particularly affect all Taureans and those people with planets in the early degrees of Virgo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
As Uranus enters Taurus it is the last major planet to complete the shift towards the passive elements as now Pluto, Uranus, and Saturn are in earth and Neptune and Jupiter are in water signs.
Jupiter moves closer to the trine to Neptune in its home of Pisces the fish. This aspect brings together the powerful Piscean planets because Jupiter is the old traditional ruler of Pisces and Neptune the new modern ruler.
The trine is a beneficial connection and shows there will be harmony and support for both Jupiter and Neptune related things now.
During this period you can expect spiritual enlightenment, religious exploration, appreciation or arts and cultures, and tolerance for diversity and metaphysical systems. More and more people will take up esoteric practices or at least become aware of them going on around.
This positive fluid transit will mainly affect Pisces and the other water signs of Cancer and Scorpio, and to a lesser extent the signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Saturn in Capricorn trines Uranus in Taurus
(August 21 to September 21)
As Saturn enters Capricorn it will soon trine the radical planet Uranus for the second time (the first contact was back in 2017) but this time Saturn is retrograde and Uranus is in its new sign of Taurus.
This is a combination of old meets new and the two energies of these strong planets will be worked out over time.
Technology will continue to be developed perhaps with the senior age groups being the main focus.
As this is the second connection of a three-part transit there still is time for changes to be made to projects and relationships that started last year. The concrete is not yet set so to speak.
There will be ease of stringent rules as the borders are tested for many. On a personal note, if you have been walked over by other people or been taken for granted, now is the time you will draw the line and halt further incursions.
This major transit will particularly affect Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn and have a similar influence on Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Jupiter enters Sagittarius
(November 8)
Now the largest planet in the solar system Jupiter returns to its home sign of Sagittarius the archer in early November. This transit promises a twelve-month adventure and expansion period for many.
Travel, eco-tourism and multi-cultural activities will be big now. Jupiter is the planet that encourages us to lift our eyes to the horizon and dream big.
We are inclined to reach for what we want and there is bounty around. The challenge can be overindulgence or taking more than you need or can use.
This fiery positive transit will add excitement for all Sagittarians and will invigorate Aries and Leo as well.
Overdoing it with excessive behavior will be a challenge for Gemini’s and to a lesser extent for Virgo and Pisces.
As you pass the age of sixty, and even the in the year coming up to your 60th birthday, the planets make a special contact to your birth chart as Saturn once more returns to its natal position.
This is where it was the day you were born and Saturn takes around thirty years to make one full pass through the zodiac.
Your first Saturn return happened at about age twenty-nine to thirty and the second Saturn return occurs at around age fifty-nine to sixty.
Saturn is the timekeeper of the zodiac and brings a time for you to recalibrate back to your core values as shown in your natal chart.
You can make the most of your second Saturn return by accepting the following:
You know who you are
You are mature
You know what you can and can’t do
You know your limitations both physical and mental
You consider starting a new business
You become the mistress or master of your own life
The Astrology of your Saturn Return
Your Saturn returns can happen in one of two ways. It all depends on the movement of Saturn at the time of your return. This movement is determined by the angular relationship Saturn has with the Sun in the transit chart.
If the Sun is square or sextile Saturn it will not be the Saturn retrograde that happens once a year.
Your Saturn return could be short as a one hit transit or prolonged if there is a three contact transit.
One Contact Return
In a one conjunction Saturn return the influence will be in orb for ten days beforehand and ten days afterwards the exact date.
If it is one single Saturn return you will immediately recalibrate back to all your natal aspects to Saturn.
Three Contact Return
If you are fortunate to receive a three contact Saturn return the transit can be for as long as three months as you experience an extended Saturn return that is more powerful and life changing.
There will be a first direct hit, then a second retrograde contact and finally the third contact.
The initial contact will set the stage for all this Saturn return favours.
The second contact makes you revise any plans or opinions about your life.
The third and final contact brings closure to the things initially opened at the first contact of the return.
Natal Saturn Direct
If your natal Saturn is direct and you get one transit it will be a relatively painless return. A Saturn return like this is short and sweet.
If your natal Saturn is direct and you get a three pass Saturn return it will draw out. The natal issues relating to Saturn and it’s complex in your chart as shown by the sign, house and aspects that you natal Saturn has.
Each contact will be reinforced in a prolonged Saturn return and you will have more time to assess and process the changes taking place in your life.
Natal Saturn Retrograde
If your natal Saturn is retrograde and you receive one direct contact from Saturn it will be refreshing and the positive side of Saturn will be available to you.
If your natal Saturn is retrograde and you receive a three hit Saturn return it will seem more familiar. The hesitation that comes from the Saturn retrograde will be reinforced through the aspects that you already have in your natal chart.
When to Expect Your Second Saturn Return
Your second Saturn return happens when Saturn does a full second cycle and returns to the sign it was in when you were born.
If your Saturn is in Sagittarius you may have just experienced the Saturn return or it may still be coming up until December 2017.
If your natal Saturn is in Capricorn you will get your Saturn return between the time December 2017 to March 2020.
If your natal Saturn is in Aquarius your Saturn return will happen from March 2020 to March 2023.
If your natal Saturn is in Pisces you will get a Saturn return somewhere between 2023 and May 2025.
The Third Age
Your second Saturn return is like a passage of life. Everyone’s life is different and if you were married or not or have kids or grandchildren the situation will differ from person to person.
But there are main themes for the third age of Saturn.
Now you are free to do more. The constraints and demands of reproduction have passed as most women are now through their menopause and cannot have children. They may be called crones or elders.
The grown up kids may have moved out, gone to college or got married.
Your parents may have gone. Even your husband or wife may have shuffled off.
This time is for you to master yourself and to draw the line about people or things that demand too much from you.
You may downsize your home and find a smaller place and change things.
You are not responsible for so many things and now you can concentrate on yourself.
Now your duty is to yourself. You can approach life with renewed energy and accomplish things you have only dreamed of before.
Now you can:
Be free from responsibilities of a family or a husband.
Know that retirement is a dirty word
Travel
Make new friends
Get more education
Explore your creativity
Be a mentor for others
Have a simpler life
Get a smart phone
Eat nourishing and quality food
Exercise as you see fit
Volunteer your time
Upgrade your wardrobe and style
Get new hair and makeup
Love your grandchildren
Each second Saturn return will be different for everyone but the core meaning will remain.
If you plan carefully you will have a new lease on life and can do what you have always wanted to do on your own terms.
The Saturn Return is becoming one of the most talked about astrological events in people’s lives.
It is the third most popular astrological topic for the general public after, “What is your sign?” and “Did you survive Mercury retrograde?”
Everone receives a Saturn return or two or three during their lives. If you are over thirty you have already experienced one and have more to come.
When to Expect Your Saturn Returns
First Saturn return – Age 29/30
Second Saturn return – Age 58/59
Third Saturn return Age 87/88
Saturn and the Ages
Saturn is a broad timekeeper and marks the passage of life.
Before your first Saturn return you are in the first age. the second age occurs after your first Saturn return.
The third age begins after your second Saturn return and the fourth age starts after your third Saturn return.
The First Age
The first age is from birth to your first Saturn return at age 30. This period of life takes you from child to adult to responsible person. In these years you learn to do as you are told up to a point. Those in authority like teachers, parents the government and older people will dictate how you should behave.
In these years you learn to do as you are told up to a point. Those in authority like teachers, your parents, the government and older people will dictate how you should behave.
Maturity. You get in your lane and you know your place. Your duty is to your parents. You learn the rules. You are looked after by others but you struggle to be autonomous. You get honours for yourself.
Keyword – Crisp.
The Second Age
The second age covers the years of life from 30-60 this stage of your life are the mature years when you are responsible for other kids and holding down a job or taking a mortgage. You may do traditional things and do what is expected by your betters and elders.
You may do traditional things and do what is expected by your betters and elders.
Now you consolidate your worldly achievements whatever they are. You have a duty to your spouse, kids and your boss to reproduce and play by the rules. You look after others. You are honour bound.
Keyword – Solid.
The Third Age
The third age starts at age sixty and lasts for thirty years until the age of ninety. In this age you get more time for yourself and the responsibilities of earlier years often fall away.
You have mastery. Your duty is to yourself. You have some personal achievements. You can rewrite the rules you live by. You look after yourself. You are honoured as you choose to do things for others.
Keyword – Capable.
The Fourth Age
The fourth age begins very late in life at age ninety. This is the final Saturn return the fourth one.
Not everyone will make it this far but more do every year. Now you will spend each day carefully living your life as if it were your last day on Earth. Time is precious.
You have limitations. You ignore the rules. You have a duty to a higher order. You are looked after (physically and spiritually). You become honoured for time and longevity.
Keyword – Tired.
Each Saturn return will be fully explored in future posts. I look forward to sharing my insights with your so you can navigate these special times in your life. Please bear with me.
The indirect forecasting techniques are often those that equate one day’s planetary movement to one year of life. They are also known as symbolic forecasting techniques.
Examples of indirect forecasting techniques are:
Secondary progressions
Solar arc directions (Venus arc directions etc.)
Forecasting Techniques You Need to Know
Most astrology students learn the forecasting techniques in the following order:
Many astrologers only use transits as they are easier to learn. Every Sun sign horoscope column relies on transits only and this makes transits the most popular forecasting method in any astrologer’s repertoire.
“Transits are the most popular forecasting method.”
If you work on several charts and need to do the forecasting then if you know that Uranus will change signs into Taurus in May 2018 it will do so for everyone.
Once you know a transit movement you can use that knowledge for every single chart you every look at. This makes transits the go to astrological forecasting technique.
Everyone needs to know transits.
Secondary Progressions
The second most popular forecasting technique is conveniently called secondary progressions.
In this case, the movement of a planet for each day of life from birth is symbolised as the corresponding yearly movement.
If you are thirty-three then you will cast a secondary progressed chart for the thirty-third day after your birthday and use the planet’s positions that day to cast the secondary progressed chart.
Each person’s secondary progressed chart is different. No two are the same unless you were born at the same time, date and place.
This means it is more work for the astrologer because it is almost as another chart to read. Professional astrologers will probably use secondary progressions for your full forecasting picture.
Solar Returns
In a solar return chart you cast a chart each year for the exact time the Sun returns to its natal position.
If your birth Sun is at 15 degrees 45 minutes of Virgo then each year when the Sun returns to the precise position you cast another chart.
Each year you will have a new solar return chart.
People with the same birth date (but not the same year) will have similar solar return charts but not exactly the same.
So, everyone born on September 15th will have the Moon here and Venus there in their solar return chart but the ascendant will be different.
This makes solar return charts popular as they are based on the transits of the day and astrologers know where the Sun and Moon are and the other planets.
Graphic Ephemeris
The graphic ephemeris is a special diagram that has to be read by the astrologer and it typically shows the superior planets and their cycles over a year or two. See image.
This is probably the most useful tool I personally use in my astrological forecasting.
Eclipses
Solar and lunar eclipses are transits and are special due to the close alignment of the Sun, Moon and the Earth on the eclipse day.
Eclipses can be further broken down into:
General eclipse forecasts
Personal eclipse forecasts
Collective eclipse forecasts
Solar Arc Directions
In solar arc directed charts you take the progressed movement of the Sun (as found in the secondary progressed chart) and add the longitudinal measurement to all the planets positions at birth. From this you will create a new chart called the solar arc directed chart.
From this you will create a new chart called the solar arc directed chart.
If your natal sun is at 15 Virgo and you are 33 years old you add 33 to 15 Virgo and the result is 18 Libra. This is the position of your solar arc directed Sun.
You do the same for the other planets. Add the Sun’s movement to every planet in your chart and find the new placement which will be 33 degrees further in the zodiac.
In a solar arc directed chart the aspects between the planets remain the same but the planets change house and sign.
The solar arc directed chart changes slightly every day as you get older.
How Much to Learn in Forecasting
How much you have to learn about astrological forecasting depends on who you are now and who you want to be later. There are 5 levels of astrologer and you can see where you fit in.
Hobbyist Astrologer
If you are simply trying to learn some more about astrology to make your life easier and more understandable then stick to transits.
Student Astrologer
If you are a student astrologer and plan to be a professional astrologer one day then learn transits first and the work down the list, (secondary progressions, solar returns, solar arc directions, eclipses and other).
Professional Astrologer
To be a professional astrologer you really do need to know at least four forecasting techniques.
They will compliment each other and underline the trends in the clients forecasting picture.
You are a Client
If you are a member of the public and you are looking for a professional consulting astrologer then do yourself a favour and find one who does advanced forecasting techniques.
Ask your prospective astrologer, “Which forecasting techniques will you use when you do my predictions?” and see what their answer is.
“Which forecasting techniques will you use when you do my predictions?”
If they only use transits be wary as they may not be fully trained in the more complicated astrological forecasting techniques.
This may imply they do not have a broad astrological education.
Creative Growth
If you have got this far then you will likely want to grow your astrological forecasting techniques and begin to understand the differences in each one.
To be a better astrologer you need to know these things.
Forecasting often separates the “men from the boys” in the astrology world.
On August 21st, 2017 there will be a solar eclipse visible from many places in the North America.
The eclipse will pass through the US from Oregon to South Carolina with the shadow of the Moon streaking across the land with the total eclipse path around 65km wide.
Even up here in Vancouver, Canada we see the Moon cover around 75% of the disc of the Sun and it will be a partial eclipse for us.
I have cleared my diary for this special day and I shall be in the park across from my apartment at the time of the eclipse which will reach totality at around 10:30 am.
You need to have found a seat by 9 am. I plan to take a coffee and a brunch picnic.
Perhaps I’ll have my sketchbook as well.
You will need special eclipse glasses and I have mine already.
Even though there are at least two solar Eclipses each year they often pass unnoticed over the ocean so you don’t get to see them at all. But this August the world will be watching as the shadow sweeps over the USA from Oregon to South Carolina.
Check out this handy eclipse path diagram with the compliments of NASA.
You Interpret Eclipses in 3 ways
The Eclipse Chart Itself – General
How it Contacts your Birth Chart – Personal
The Original Saros Chart – Collective
1 – The Eclipse Chart – General Interpretation
The actual eclipse chart itself will show you the nature of this particular eclipse. Always set your eclipse chart for the zero Aries house system if you are interpreting the eclipse itself.
Now aspects to the eclipse will come into play and with any eclipse chart you can look at:
Any planet conjoined this solar eclipse as it will be important.
Any planets opposing the solar eclipse will be important.
Any other aspects to the eclipse point can now be considered.
2 – Contacts to your Natal chart – Personal Interpretation
When looking at the personal effect of any particular eclipse check for two main things regarding your natal chart; the house and the aspects.
Natal House
The eclipse will be at 28 Leo. Find which house in your chart the eclipse will fall and this will be where you can make a new start.
Eclipse Aspects to Your Natal Chart
For aspects use an orb of 2 degrees and see if this eclipse contacts any of your planets or points with either an opposition or a conjunction.
I don’t look at other aspects as the main feature of any eclipse is the syzygy between the Sun, Moon and the Earth.
To support this geometry you only need to consider conjunctions (solar eclipse) and opposition (lunar eclipse). Only these two aspects are of interest when working with an eclipse to your natal chart.
If there are no conjunctions or oppositions to your natal chart this particular eclipse will probably not affect you much.
Conjunctions to you own Sun will make this eclipse a part of your Solar Return chart and thus it will be in effect for one whole year for you.
If your birthday is from August 19th to 23rd of any year the energy in this eclipse will affect you for the next twelve months.
3 – The Original Saros Chart – Collective Interpretation
Every eclipse belongs to a Saros series. The original Saros chart from the first eclipse in the Saros is important to show the nature of this family of eclipses.
The original Saros chart for the eclipse on August 21st, Saros series 1 North is shown below.
Saros 145
Below is the full display of Saros 145. The blue line is the Moon’s shadow as it slowly draws down towards the south with every eclipse in the Saros.
How Long Does an Eclipse Effect Last?
Typically astrologers say an eclipse will last until the next eclipses season or about six months when it is then wiped out by the current eclipses.
But there is a better way to measure the length of time each particular eclipse will last.
Solar Eclipse Effects in Time
Solar eclipses are in effect for one month for each minute of the eclipse. This particular eclipse is total for 2 minutes and 40 seconds so its effect will be for around two and a half months.
Lunar Eclipse Effects in Time
Note: Lunar eclipses are in effect for one day for each minute the eclipse lasts
Patreon is a place that showcases artists and creative people so that patrons (that’s you) may choose to support creative people (that’s me) through small, regular financial giving. Your patronage can be as modest as $1 a month.
Who I am
I am Alison Price a writer, astrologer and creative in Vancouver, Canada. I live sparingly with my family and maintain a low carbon footprint. I have no car, no cable TV and no pets. I care for a plant called Egbert and lots of books.
In my creative work I have a computer, phone and printer. I use software, paper and ink and I have internet and web hosting commitments. These things are my main expenses apart from a roof and food (for Egbert you know).
I share and grow my astrology knowledge at workshops and conferences where I usually teach but sometimes I just attend. I like to recharge my creative juices through spending time with inspired people.
My currency is astrological and new age knowledge.
My Creative Work
I am driven to provide basic astrology that everyone can use. I strive to give you enough information so you can bring the essence of astrology into your life without having to learn the detailed intricacies of chart work or in other words the nitty gritty.
My goal is to raise basic astrological knowledge of everyone through simple, but correct, information. This is the stuff you can confidently use and you know some already like your Sun sign.
I aim to take this knowledge out of the ivory towers of “Astrology only” people and make it available for those who seek understanding. If you support enlightenment then you can help everyone else on their journey.
Of course I am happy with high level astrological theory, debate and questions but that only appeals to a select group.
Your Support
I ask for your support, through your patronage, so I can continue to develop and write about astrology for everyone. Please help me.
Thank You
Your contribution means so much to me. I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for considering to be my patron.
You may have heard something about Mercury retrograde and wondered what it is and what is does, and what to do and what not to do, or you may have even thought, “So what?”
If you are interested in finding a job or growing your career see what to do when Mercury is retrograde so you can make the most of every moment.
Planetary Energy
To make the best use of planetary energy it is all about going with the flow and that means taking the meaning of the planet and noticing if it is holding up a “stop” or “go” sign.
One example of planetary energy that you can see is the Moon and the tides.
The Moon pulls the waters of the Earth and creates two high tides and two low tides each day. As each day moves on the times for the tides constantly changes. But every day there will be two incoming tides and two outgoing tides.
It is at the incoming tide that you can yell “Surf’s up!” and trot down to the beach to practice your surfing. Well if you live on the coast and have a surf culture perhaps like in Hawaii, but you get the picture.
You can only surf when the tide is coming in. There is no point in paddling out to hope to surf in if the tide is going out. Right?
About Mercury
Each year Mercury will be retrograde three times at around four-month intervals and for about three weeks each time. Each year the dates are different.
You can find the exact dates when Mercury will be retrograde for the next few years below. You can mark these dates in your calendar now and lock out this special time.
About Retrogrades
Apparent retrograde is the optical illusion of something going backward and in this case, it is the planet, Mercury.
Imagine you are on a train and moving along at a fair pace then suddenly you come upon another train on the next track. The other train is going slower than you are so your train overtakes it but the other train seems to be going backward.
Both trains are driving forward but one seems to be going in reverse. That is the illusion of retrogradation.
That a planet is retrograde can be interpreted as a time to change the pace and adjust your approach to things.
In everyday life, this means all your shopping, buying and selling, texts, phone calls, emails and general chatting, as well as gossip, comes under Mercury’s influence.
In the workplace, Mercury covers resumes, recruiters, interviews (by phone and in person).
It also is concerned with paperwork and anything you sign, like a job offer.
Timing is Everything
There is a sequence in each retrograde cycle.
It starts when Mercury is direct, then comes a shadow period of about ten days before the actual retrograde starts, the retrograde period itself, another shadow time of about a week and a half after Mercury has been retrograde, and then Mercury is no longer retrograde and is back to normal.
Phew.
Before Mercury goes retrograde (and is direct) do the following:
Write your resume crafted for each specific job
Compose targeted cover letters
Apply for jobs via email and snail mail
Call companies on the phone
Reach out to your contact list and tell them you are looking for work
Take the initiative to let your family, friends, and others know you are searching for a new job
Start a short course on something you need in your job to build your marketable skills
Join professional societies and attend Meetups in your field
All of the above should be done when Mercury is not retrograde and preferably not in its shadow period.
When Mercury is retrograde do the following:
Revise your resume
Refresh any cover letters
Get your filing up to date of jobs for which you have already applied
Write a list of companies and people with whom to follow up and contact them again
Research current thinking in your industry
Set up alerts for leads
Schedule second interviews (phone and in person)
Review job offers
Prepare your paperwork for jobs you plan to apply for after Mercury is retrograde as you wait for it to go direct
During Mercury retrograde periods you can follow up and work on things that you have already done when Mercury was direct.
Don’t start new things when Mercury is retrograde because if you do they will most likely be reversed when Mercury goes direct.
Sometimes you have no choice because a job advert or interview comes up when Mercury is retrograde and you need a job so you have to go. In these instances be aware that the terms will change.
As Mercury goes direct after the retrograde period, and if you did apply for a job or had an interview during the retrograde time, you can expect to return again and again for further interviews, or the job itself is shelved, or the job is morphed into something else altogether.
Don’t start new things when Mercury is retrograde because if you do they will most likely be reversed when Mercury goes direct.
Recruiters
Companies usually act in good faith when they place an advert for an opening in their business, but the effect of Mercury retrograde changes the terms or the agreement and thus they may no longer need the person that they were originally looking for when Mercury was retrograde.
This cuts both ways for people looking for work and recruiters.
Companies and career consultants are better off only placing vacancy adverts when Mercury is direct and communications are clear.
If a recruiter seeks a candidate during the retrograde period they will have to spend three times as long emailing back and forth and interviewing people that cancel and can’t make it for whatever reason.
All of this time-consuming effort is due to the Mercury retrograde effect which impacts communications, trade, and agency.
The word ephemeris (plural ephemerides) is from the Greek word ephemeros, which means daily.
This is a quick introduction to the graphic ephemeris. Generally the ephemeris that astrologers use is a hefty reference book.
It details astronomical data like daily planetary positions by zodiac sign with the degrees and minutes for each planet as well as information such as sidereal time (used for calculating the ascendant).
An ephemeris is usually laid out month by month for each year. Planetary positions are listed in tables for either noon or at midnight depending on the ephemeris used.
Graphic Ephemeris
Luckily we have a visual representation of the daily planetary positions in the graphic ephemeris. It is a quick way to find hard aspects.
It can be quite tedious to manually calculate all the planetary positions for a birth chart. Perhaps there are some of you who began your journey into astrology with this method.
You were probably relieved when the old Blue Star and then Solar Fire programs generated perfect charts.
Charts with a higher level of mathematical accuracy (even though birth times are still unreliable) are created by computers rather than manual calculations.
The graphic ephemeris has a slightly different purpose than the ephemeris book. It is mainly used for predictive work and specifically outer planetary progressions, transits and directions shown in a graph.
It is a highly visual tool where you can select the preferred time period. The planets remain constant on every graph of the period. It is the connections to the natal chart that are shown clearly by this method.
Visualization
Imagine if you take the birth chart wheel as 360° on a piece of paper and you fold it in half at the (0°Aries/0°Libra) line you then have 180° of the circle.
Next fold it in half again to show 90°, finally if you fold the chart once more you have a 45° ‘slice’ of the circle. If the paper was transparent, it would show all the planets and angles within the small 45° slice.
Transiting planets will be at the same point on the slice and therefore will be depicted near each other on the Graphic Ephemeris. This is simply a different way to look at the transits to a natal chart.
The process of folding the chart from conjunctions 0° into oppositions 180°, into squares 90° and then semi-squares 45° or sesquiquadrates 135° only allows hard aspects to be shown.
Generally there are no harmonious aspects like sextiles or trines depicted on the graph.
How to Read a Graphic Ephemeris
The left of the graph begins with a column showing the cardinal degrees from 0° for 30°. At 30°, the fixed signs start and carry on to the 45°, and then begin again at the top from 0° to 15°. Finally the mutable signs are shown from 15° for 30°.
Across the top is time in months.
On the right side of the graph is a column with the natal planets and angles by sign. Each planet and point has a coloured dotted line associated with it running horizontally across the page.
Predictive work usually begins with revealing the transits. The outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune as well as Chiron and Pluto are generally selected for transits.
The direct transiting planets enter the graph at the left and move through time down and to the right. During retrograde periods, they move up the page in a wave motion. Where planets are at 0° of the cardinal signs by transit, they will re-enter the graph at the top.
Planets changing signs have a small dot in the planetary colour on their path.
Pluto has a shallower path than Jupiter. This is due to the slower movement of this minor planet in space.
Transits
Where a transiting planet’s curve crosses a natal planet’s dotted line, a transit aspect to the natal planet is formed.
The aspect glyph is at the intersection of the two. Where two transiting planets’ paths cross each other on the graph, there is an aspect being formed between those two planets on that day in space. The actual aspect symbol is not shown on the graphic ephemeris, only aspects to the natal chart.
Nodes and Moon cycle
The nodal axis moves in a straight line on the plane of the ecliptic and is always retrograde.
The full moon is shown as a white circle and new moon as black circles.
Where a solar eclipse happens there is a black circle with the conjunction symbol within it. A lunar eclipse is depicted by a white circle with the opposition symbol within it.
I recently received this question about Saturn from a reader:
“I always watch where Saturn is transiting for me and I’m beginning to think that Saturn is not as bad as we understand. I have had some of the best things happen for me when Saturn is in a certain house.
Like when it was in my first house I stopped drinking, smoking and lost weight. Now it’s in the second house and I have never earned so much money in my life. I have a lot to pay but the earning is something else!
I think if we are aware we can make it [Saturn by house] work for us. Buckle down to the discipline and so on. We live in terror of Saturn and yet find incredible blessing in its transits.
What do you think Alison?”
Here’s what I think
How exciting that a relative novice at astrology has such insights. That by having even a smattering of information (Saturn in her houses) allows her to understand the complexities of the planetary astrology and how it actually works in her chart.
For a bit of background information, this woman is forty-something and lives a regular life in the suburbs. She and her husband enjoy a fulfilling life where they try to make ends meet at the same time educating their kids and enjoying their family with many dogs.
In fact they are a couple probably just like you or me.
The first house
The first house is about your physical appearance, vitality and how you look. It is the facade you present to others.
Any planet passing through (or transiting) your first house will change you in the nature of the transiting planet.
Saturn
Saturn is traditionally known as “The Greater Malefic” this means it is the biggest bad boy of the planets.
In case you are wondering Mars has the dubious reputation as “The Lesser Malefic” and on a side note Venus is the “The Lesser Benefic” and Jupiter is “The Greater Benefic” and we’ve got to love the old labels.
Saturn is the planet of control and discipline. It can be cold and hard but it does have its up side. When saturn bestows its gifts they are sometimes difficult to see.
Saturn brings things like:
Being able to master something
Finding staying power for the long haul
Building on a strong foundation
These are old fashioned virtues and don’t fit with the modern world of quick fixes, sound bytes and 7 day miracle diets etc.
Time is of the essence
Saturn takes time but if you do put the time in you will reap benefits from Saturn’s graces.
I often relate how Saturn works in your life, to the beloved character of Cousin Violet in Downton Abbey.
Here is a woman who is old and crusty, loves traditions but has staying power for the long haul.
The Dowager will prevail.
Reader insights and being self-aware
That our reader has noticed when Saturn recently went through her first house changing her physical appearance by her improved self care of cutting out drinking and smoking and losing some weight is excellent.
Yes, Saturn can change your life and yes, for the better.
Although you may not notice it at the time, you will be able to look back and see the improvements that have been made in your life.
Your vitality is as good as your first house.
Living every day with destructive habits can be stopped, or at least curtailed, and limited when Saturn passes through your first house. This is a perfect example of Saturnian energy.
Putting your back into your toil can benefit you through more work coming your way or an increase in your hourly rate. This usually means more pay.
You have to work hard but the cash is worth it and so are you.
I have often said that “good income equates to good self-esteem” and this is very much so when Saturn passes through your second house.
Forecast for Saturn in the third house
We can guess what will happen when Saturn enters her third house.
Perhaps she will find the time for her brother and sister, or she could easily take a stand on what is going on in her neighbourhood and perhasp build a fence to keep the dogs in or the passers-by out.
Our reader may decide to build on the successes she achieved when Saturn went through her second house of good work and income, and sign up for some more courses.
Maybe she will attend classes for something new that interests her or she could go back over classes she took in the past when Saturn first went through her third house, which would have been about thirty years ago when she was at school.
Perhaps she will make up a personal reading list and decide to get through one book a week for the year and a half that Saturn is in her third house. She could add some beloved classics to the list or try a modern author. Heck, she may even start her own journal, scribe poetry or teach others.
The possibilities are endless.
That we have given some ideas here will set our reader thinking on how best to use the planetary energies as they slowly transform her and she evolves in line with the potentials of her chart.
In reality an astrologer would look deeper into her chart and note the sign on the cusp of each house that Saturn is transiting and also how her natal Saturn is placed and how it contacts the rest of her chart through the dynamic aspects.
Of course there are many parts to a chart reading, and we have only looked at a small section today.
Further thoughts
Do you know which house Saturn is stimulating and transiting in your birth chart today?
Can you find the blessing when it passes by?
If you want to know more about astrology or your chart please contact me.
Black Friday follows the Thursday of the American Thanksgiving which is always on the fourth Thursday in November.
This is always different to the Canadian Thanksgiving which happens earlier in the year and usually on a Monday in October.
Being In the black
In days gone by when you had a typed bank statement if you had a credit balance it was typed in black ink, and if you had a negative balance in the bank it was typed in red ink.
Being in the red meant owing the bank and being in the black meant you had funds.
Black Friday has been the best shopping day of the year (since 2005) and is the date when retailers go from being in the red, or running at a loss, to being in the black and finally making a profit.
Up until Black Friday stores would not have made any profit for the year.
As the last major holiday of Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday signals the start of the Christmas shopping season, which is when the most money is spent.
Stores have different strategies to attract customers and they:
Open earlier than usual and some at midnight or 00:00 am on Black Friday.
Have special discounts in the first hour only.
Advertise “Door Crasher” free gifts for the first 100 shoppers through the door.
Offer great deals on some merchandise.
Stay open later.
Give longer return policies usually until after Christmas.
Bring in special items for the sale.
Have more staff on the floor to serve you.
This year most major departmental stores in Vancouver are opening their doors earlier than the usual 10 am now at 7 am this is even before the crack of dawn at around 7:47 am.
Tips for shoppers:
Be on time for the opening and this will give you the best deals.
Many bargains are to be had.
Reading up on the store flyers beforehand will help you to zoom in on exactly what you want to buy.
The Black Friday chart
Each year the chart will tell you the times to do the shopping and what to shop for.
As the ascendant is Scorpio it suggests that people may shop till they drop or keep going until the death.
What to buy when the different planets rise on Black Friday
Venus
Buy women’s gifts, cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, handbags, scarves and sweet things like cake, chocolates, plum puddings, sherry, jams, and biscuits. Also buy gift cards now. The beautiful planet Venus ends up the charge and in this placement suggests that having a break for tea and cake or a chocolate doughnut will sustain you for the spree. Be aware of how you look, your clothes and wear comfortable shoes. Paying cash will be quicker as money changes hands.
Sun
Buy things that you want for yourself of a personal nature like clothes. Buy children’s clothes, toys, and dress-up outfits. Buy gold now both jewelry and stocks. The Sun is always in Scorpio or Sagittarius on Black Friday. In Sagittarius, it indicates that you can enjoy the adventurous day in the scramble where your heart rates go up in anticipation of some great shopping.
Mercury
Buy books, CD’s, DVD’s, tech items, iPads, phones, TV’s, puzzles and games. Buy gift cards for services like manicures and pedicures. Buy classes as gifts such as cooking classes, horse riding classes, driving lessons, skating classes etc.
If Mercury is prominent those who will do good will have done their research on prices and know exactly what they want. If you drift around the stores you may buy more than you thought as you get caught up in the frenzy.
Saturn
Buy watches, clocks, diaries, 25-year whiskey, calendars, men’s suits, ties, formal wear, winter coats, and dress shoes in the first fifteen minutes. Be on time or line up before the shops open and don’t dawdle about. Make your initial purchase in the first hour.
Pluto
The best items will have gone and the hardcore shoppers go home.
Neptune
If you still have some energy for the second shift buy liqueurs, art, art supplies, music, sheet music, musical instruments, shoes and boots. Also, buy drinking glasses and crystal.
Uranus
If you’re still going strong this is the time to discover an unexpected gem in amongst what is left on the shelves. I can’t say what it will be but you will know it when you see it.
Mars
By now customers and staff will be exhausted. But press on. Now buy men’s goods, men’s casual clothes, golf clubs, sports and gym equipment and leather goods like wallets and briefcases. Black Friday is not for the faint-hearted as Mars rules the competition for goods is high. Expect some push and shove to snatch the best bargains. You will probably make some impulse buys but that is to be expected.
Moon
Treat yourself to something for later like a bubble bath sachet, then get your gifts wrapped, buy, gift baskets, gift tags, bows and wrapping paper.
Every year on or around March 21 the Sun enters Aries and we celebrate International Astrology Day. This day is chosen for its special status because it is the time when the Sun commences the annual astrological cycle on its journey through the zodiac.
The Equinoxes
Equinox means equalnight and therefore equal day. The day and night are twelve hours long which when added together makes up the usual twenty-four hour day.
The equinoxes occur on the day when the Sun is directly overhead at the equator, or in other words, at zero degrees of celestial latitude. To be specific there is a time in the day that this happens it does not occur at midnight. Each year is different.
There are two equinoxes each year and they are six months apart. The first near March 21st and the second on or around September 21st. The date slowly shifts back and forth over the years as we adjust the calendar for leap year.
The spring or vernal equinox is in March and the autumnal equinox is in September. This naming of the equinoxes is northern hemisphere related and my friends in South Africa, Oz and Middle Earth will experience the opposite seasons.
It is at the vernal equinox when the Sun enters the first sign of the zodiac Aries. The twelve zodiac signs are in sequence as follows: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
Cardinal Ingresses
The four cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
An ingress is the term used to define when a planet, or the Sun or Moon, leave one sign and enter the adjacent sign. So you can refer to this event as the Sun’sAries ingress or simply as the Aries Ingress.
We can cast an ingresschart for the exact time, to the minute and second, of the Sun’s entrance into Aries and this chart and it’s meaning will be in effect for three months until the Cancer ingress or one year until the following Aries ingress.
Cycles
All cycles have a beginning and an end. In this case the new beginning suggests hope and eagerness to start things afresh. The sign of Aries is one for initiating things, starting a venture or turning over a new leaf.
If you have a project that you want to start and get going quickly then do so after International Astrology Day and try not to start before that date. You can certainly plan and work over the strategy required for your actions but wait for the Sun to shine from Aries and use this strong energy.
How to celebrate International Astrology Day
Typically you can celebrate in several ways:
An astrology group meeting
Lunch or dinner
Bake a cake
Share and discuss the ingress chart
Other types of get together
Perhaps you can make some personal affirmations for changes you would like to see flourish in your life.
It is not necessary for everyone to acknowledge this day.
My good friend Arwynne O’Neill and I have collaborated in our exciting new venture, podcasting! We are under the label Axis Astrology you can listen to the first recording of ourpodcastand the second Scorpio episode.
We will be up on Itunes soon.
Arwynne is a second generation research astrologer with many years of experience. We met at the twice-a-month downtown Astrology Vancouver Meetup group earlier in the year and have quickly become firm friends.
We each have our ideas, entertainment and a love of astrology which we want to share with you in a light hearted manner and with plenty of laughs along the way.
In our podcast we:
Discuss the astrology of the day such as planetary transits and ingresses,
chat about the current Moon phase and eclipses,
explore one or two charts of famous people or those in the news,
give our take on astrology book and products with fun reviews,
clue you in on up-coming events and,
share our unique ideas on astrology.
This is something new for me and it suits my present astrological offerings. I hope you enjoy it, let me know.
Most of you are probably wondering what the heck this limerick is all about.
Let me explain.
A Yod is an astrological major aspect pattern sometimes found in birth charts. It comprises of one sextile aspect (blue line) and two quincunx aspects (green lines).
Yod bearers
An aspect is an imaginary line drawn between two planets in a horoscope. People who have a yod in their charts are known as Yod Bearers as it indicates there are burdens that need to be carried through life.
The image is that of an isosceles triangle where the short side is 60 degrees and the two equal longer sides are 150 degrees.
The shape is somewhat reminiscent of an arrow or finger pointing thus the nickname of The Finger Of God. It is also referred to as the Finger of Fate.
In chart interpretation the area of life that the yod is pointing at is highlighted and becomes an important focus for that person.
The Yod
A Yod is an astrological planetary configuration also know as a major aspect pattern which is formed when three planets line-up in a particular way.
A Yod is an aspect pattern composed of one sextile and two quincunxes. It looks like an isosceles triangle with one short side and two equal length longer sides.
A yod looks like a triangle. But it is different to a grand trine, T-square or a Thor’s Hammer because of the aspects it contains.
Yod Aspects
Sextile
A sextile is an aspect 60° wide or two signs. The orb for a sextile is 4° degrees. It is an aspect of ease and it suggests your latent talents.
Quincunx
A quincunx is an aspect 150° wide or five signs. The orb for a quincunx is 2°. It is an aspect requiring constant adjustment and causes mild irritation.
How to interpret a Yod
The broad stroke with interpreting yods is to look at the one planet being quincunxed (the green lines) by the other two.
This is known as the focal planet and is a sensitive spot in the zodiac which will be reflected in your chart by the house placement.
A Solar Eclipse happens when the Moon moves in front of the Sun. The Moon blocks out the light and the heat from the Sun.
Usually the birds stop tweeting as well which is a strange thing about solar eclipses.
I first experienced the cooling effects of a solar eclipse when we lived in a town called Phalaborwa in the province of Limpopo in South Africa. This place name means TheTown of Two Summers as the temperature is hot in winter and hot in summer.
Phalaborwa is situated right on the Tropic of Capricorn and experiences relentless dry heat all the time. It is a mining town and copper is the reason the settlement is there at all.
In Phalaborwa, any tree is a good tree because it is a shade tree. In the three years we lived there is rained three times for ten minutes each time. Dry, dry, dry.
The Eclipse Starts
It was about 2pm and a hot afternoon. I was ready for the solar eclipse and had the special eclipse glasses for all the kids as we sat in the garden sipping lemonade. Looking up into the clear blue sky we watched the Moon slowly creep over the face of the Sun.
Looking up into the clear blue sky we watched the Moon slowly creep over the face of the Sun.
But, that’s when I noticed the drop in temperature and the chill of the eclipse. Bearing in mind that temperatures were normally 40C at midday, suddenly it became cool and dark. Not fully night as it was a partial solar eclipse, but still enough to reduce the light to dusky levels.
Not fully night as it was a partial solar eclipse, but still enough to reduce the light to dusky levels.
Cold and gloomy the kids ran inside and were excited and anxious at the same time.
Within five minutes the Moon had moved over the disk of the Sun and again the bright light and heat came flooding back to the afternoon. And almost as sudden it felt as it had never happened.
Such is the nature of a Solar eclipse.
If you get a chance to experience a solar eclipse, like the one happening this week, pay attention to all your senses and not just sight and you will have a richer experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Myself and the kids standing on the Tropic of Capricorn.
New Moon
Every month there is a New Moon which occurs in the same sign as the Sun. Each New Moon is usually in the following sign from the last one.
When the Sun is in Libra we have the Libra New Moon. When the Sun is in Scorpio it will be the Scorpio New Moon.
A New Moon is a time to sow seeds, begin things and start a new course of action. A New Moon will affect all the things shown by the area of life (house) in which it occurs in your natal chart. If you know where this is going to happen you can plan ahead.
Types of Eclipses
There are two types of eclipse, a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.
Either type of eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up exactly in the sky.
For a solar eclipse the sequence is: Sun – Moon – Earth.
For a lunar eclipse the sequence is: Sun – Earth – Moon
Solar Eclipse
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves in front of the Sun and blocks out the light. If the Moon is close enough to the Earth that its umbra (main) shadow can reach Earth it will cast a shadow across the face of the Earth, this is known as the eclipse path.
The eclipse path is usually quite thin and can be up to 170km wide crossing the face of the Earth. This width varies with each individual eclipse.
Only places on Earth on the eclipse path and in the full shadow of the Moon will experience totality.
Annular Solar Eclipse
It depends on how close the Sun is to the node whether it is a partial, total, total annular or hybrid (a bit of both) eclipse.
When the orb between the Sun and the node is less than 9 degrees it is an annular eclipse.
If the Earth is also at perihelion the Moon can fully cover the Sun’s disk and it is a total solar eclipse.
If the Moon does not fully cover the Sun’s face then it is a partial eclipse.
The Eclipse Path
Solar eclipses can only be seen during the day when the Sun is above the horizon.
An eclipse is visible from all places marked in the dark red (in the image) and can be seen as a partial eclipse in the light red areas on Earth.
It you are on the eclipse path you will see the eclipse.
When
An eclipse will occur at different times depending where on Earth you are and you can catch a glimpse of one if you are near the eclipse path.
The Astrology of Eclipses
All eclipses are not created equal. Some are simply more dynamic and have a greater potential within themselves than others. Each one has to be judged on it’s own merits.
Astrologically eclipses are both general and personal. It depends on the eclipse chart (see above) and your own birth chart and if and how they connect. Therefore some eclipses have a deeper and more profound effect than others.
General Effects of an Eclipse
This eclipse will be in a sign and the ruler(s) of the sign will have influence over the eclipse.
If it is an eclipse at the Moon’s north node it indicates that we are focussing on future things and drawing in people, goods and experiences to ourselves.
If it is at the Moon south node it suggests that we are letting go of people, stuff and emotional baggage.
The Sun and Moon may be conjoined a planet which inclines towards discussing the issues brought about at the eclipse and the meaning of the planet.
Personal Effects of an Eclipse
Whichever house the eclipse occurs in your natal chart will be the area of life that will be affected. For example in your first house your looks, seventh house your romance, partner, relationship or in your tenth house your career and goal setting.
If it is your birthday on the eclipse day you will feel the most effect from the eclipse.
If your Ascendant is on the eclipse degree the effects of this eclipse will be impressive and there may be a huge change for your life, your personality and how other see you.
If you have any planets in your natal chart at the eclipse degree they will be stimulated by the eclipse.
How Long an Eclipse Lasts
The actual eclipse lasts about one hour but the effects of the eclipse are usually for around six months.
If a particular eclipse connects with your chart by any of the ways mentioned above it will have an effect on you for about six months and again this depends on how close the eclipse falls to your chart planets and points (Ascendant, MC, nodes, Vertex or Part of Fortune).
There are specific timing strategies that astrologers use which can change this six-month rule of thumb but you would have to consult with myself or your astrologer to fully determine how each eclipse in the next year or so will affect you directly.
Eclipse Seasons
Every six months the Sun draws near one of the lunar nodes and we have eclipses. Sometimes only two and on occasion three. It depends on how close the Sun is to the nodes in degrees. The closer the orb the more likely eclipse.
Solar Eclipse
Eclipses at the New Moon are always solar.
Solar eclipses impart a masculine or yang feel. This means it is an active eclipse where you can get started on your intentions right away.
North Node
This eclipse is at the north node which suggests the future. That is, your future can be supported based on intentions begun now.
Happy birthday
If it is your birthday on a solar eclipse day you will feel that particular eclipse intensely. This is because it forms part of your Solar Return chart whose energies are in place for the next twelve months.
Eclipse conjunct a natal planet
Now and then an eclipse will be right on the degree of a natal planet, ascendant or MC in your chart. Obviously, this doesn’t happen often but when it does you need to pay attention.
An astrologer can quickly tell when this will happen for you.
When two planets form an exact conjunction it heralds the start of their cycle. When those two planets are the Sun and Moon it is the New Moon.
The New Moon is the first of the eight lunar phase and it is the beginning of the Sun Moon cycle as both celestial bodies are at the same place in the zodiac.
The Sun/Moon synodic cycle is a “meeting” of the two planets.
The Moon travels around the Earth through the tropical zodiac and it takes around twenty-nine and a half days for the Moon to catch up with the Sun. Each year there will be thirteen New Moons so one month in any given year will have two New Moons.
From the New Moon until the Full Moon in a fortnight we experience the waxing half of the month. The Moon is becoming bigger in the sky each day. It is a time to focus on things that require growth.
New Moons are known as seed moments during the month. They are times to literally plant seeds for your future. Things germinate in the dark of a New Moon.
Every month (well almost) the New Moon happens in a different sign as the Sun moves through the zodiac. The type of things you can “sow” are shown by the house in your chart in which the New Moon occurs.
Night
On the night before, the night of and the night after a New Moon the Moon cannot be seen. These are the dark nights of the month.
Naturally nocturnal animals are less active at this time. When the light again begins to be reflected by the growing crescent Moon the night time creatures go back about their business.
Planting
Those of you into gardening can take note of planting seeds at the New Moon for optimum growth and fruition. Farmers do this as a matter of course.
Tides
We experience high tides at the time of the New Moon as both the Sun and the Moon exert gravity from the same position on the seas and oceans of the Earth.
Taking this one step further (and as the human body is largely water) it follows that the New Moon gravity will affect us as well.
The Moon provides us with the shortest of the planetary cycles.
It may sometimes go unnoticed by us.
Maybe this is the month to pay attention.
You can try some New Moon wishing and get in closer contact with the cycles of the Moon.
The Sun makes a square aspect to Jupiter twice a year.
The Sun as the faster moving of the two planets and is applying a square to Jupiter until the exact aspect, which forms on September 7th from then on it, will be a separating square. The applying period is felt more than the separating time.
A square aspect is ninety degrees with an orb of eight degrees coming and going. As the Sun moves at almost one degree a day this particular aspect will be in effect for sixteen days or just over two weeks. This one is the opening square.
Mercury owns this square.
With the Sun in Virgo and Jupiter in Gemini Mercury who rules both signs disposes them both. It is always valuable to consider the dispositors of the planets in any aspect as they may indicate which planet is the stronger of the two. In this aspect Mercury is conjunct the Sun reinforcing the Virgo part of this square.
What to expect.
We can expect to see individual aggrandizement and larger than life stories like “The one that got away” whether it was a fish, a job or a date.
If you are giving a presentation this Sun square Jupiter will aid you as it supports honest promotion.
You may want to tell all now and if you do you may not consider how the consequences of the truth you have to say may impact on your life. Be aware that you may be called to justify yourself. Things may later be seen as blatant lies and exaggeration.
This square can indicate a time where personal expression is over the top and excessive ego is visible. Watch out for behaving in a boasting way or hogging the conversation as both planets are in Mercury ruled signs. In the cold light of the day you may wish you had had more tact.
It will be tempting to take on more than you can deliver. Accepting projects with unrealistic deadlines will likely come back to haunt you later.
You (Sun) will be judged (Jupiter) in the aftermath of this square. Make sure your personal bluster does not let you down.
Children may be especially boisterous now and will want to get outside to run it off.
How are you experiencing this aspect? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I have spent some time thinking about Mars as the dispositor of Uranus in Aries (Mars is dignified by rulership in Aries) and the exalted ruler of Pluto in Capricorn (Mars is dignified by exaltation in Capricorn).
There will be seven exact squares between Uranus and Pluto over the next two years. This upcoming scenario provides a living classroom to monitor how a dispositor’s condition influences transiting planets.
Uranus is in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn for the whole period.
June 24, 2012 – Uranus 08 – Pluto 08 Rx – Mars Virgo 25
September 19, 2012 – Uranus 07 Rx – Pluto 07 – Mars Scorpio 17 (rulership)
May 21, 2013 – Uranus 11 – Pluto 11 – Mars Taurus 22 (detriment)
November 1, 2013 – Uranus 09 Rx – Pluto 09 – Mars Virgo 10
April 21, 2014 – Uranus 13 – Pluto 13 Rx – Mars Libra 14 Rx (detriment)
December 15, 2014 – Uranus 12 Rx – Pluto 12 – Mars Aquarius 08
March 17, 2015 – Uranus 15 – Pluto 15 – Mars Aries 19 (rulership)
The square aspect is the one where you can get things done. This is not the time to wait and see. The urgency inherent in a square demands situations to happen, unfold and manifest.
A ninety degree aspect as a vector brings two difficult sides together to thrash out solutions. The issues ruled by Uranus and Pluto will be affected as they are brought into an alliance (sometimes kicking and screaming) by this transiting aspect.
Look in your chart and find the two houses where Uranus and Pluto are now. The situations expressed by each house indicate how you will experience much of this ongoing square.
Now consider which house Mars is in at the time of the seven exact aspects (see table). This position will influence how you make an effort and experience the themes developed through this square transit. Mars as a dispositor by rulership and exaltation may change the nature of the energies being sparked from the square.
Over the period you may find that all three planets shift from one house to another in your chart. As Mars moves house it suggests how you may challenge the square from different standpoints. Use Martian attributes of action, heat and competition coupled with the house meaning to expend the energy being brought to bear by the Uranus Pluto square.
As the Uranus square Pluto transit evolves, the condition of Mars will influence your experience.
Over the next four years as each square applies I will ponder the presence of Mars over the square. I invite you to share your experiences.
Lin Ewing • Thanks, Alison. I’m going to pass this out to my beginning students as a great article to help understand aspects, dispositors and what’s happening in houses.
Jupiter rules the sign Sagittarius the archer. Traditionally it is the ruler of Pisces the fish. We now refer to Jupiter as the co-ruler of Pisces along with the modern ruler Neptune.
Jupiter takes twelve years to make one journey around the Sun. With a dozen zodiac signs Jupiter will spend about one year in each sign. The timing is not exact but is pretty close. Jupiter’s orbit is loosely aligned with Chinese astrology which has one sign for each year and not each month as in western astrology. You can see the slight permutations in the movement of Jupiter through Gemini when you line it up against the Chinese astrology signs.
People with Jupiter in Gemini born between:
1900 to 1966 are either Snakes or Horses
1976 to 1978 are either Dragons, Snakes or Horses
1988 to 2025 are either Dragons or Snakes.
Jupiter in Detriment
When a planet is in the sign opposite the one it rules (in this case Jupiter rules Sagittarius) it is said to be in its sign of detriment. Ptolemy had much to say about the essential dignities of the planets and when a planet is found in its detriment it receives a weighting score of -5. Jupiter is in its sign of detriment when in Gemini. This indicates the planets energies are not able to function particularly well or reach their full potential. Of course as always, a full analysis of the Jupiter complex is needed to appreciate its position in any chart.
The planet of breadth has met the sign of information.
What we can expect as Jupiter transits Gemini:
Information overload
Urgent messages need to get out
Outrageous media reports may not all be true
You will have a finger on the pulse of what’s going on
Online magazines will become the norm
Ebook publishing market will explode
You will broadcast yourself even more
Short forms texts and tweets will become expressive
Headlines will be too good to be true
Comments from LinkedIn user group “Professional Astrologers”
Rohit Parikh • Dear Alison ,
The planetary movement in indian system differs from the solar system of western astrology .In indian system the planet jupiter has recently entered in the Taurus .This is just for your kind information please.
Thanks
Rohit Parikh
Sandy Anastasi • How interesting. I am a double Gemini (Sun-Moon) and my Jupiter is in Taurus. I will certainly be watching this!
Alison Price • @Rohit, I believe in Lahiri this is the case. Perhaps you would like to share your views on Jupiter’s placement as you see it?
Alison Price • @Sandy, You can probably benefit by noting when Jupiter conjoins your Gemini Sun and Moon. This is a great opportunity to see astrology in action through your own natal chart.
Sandy Anastasi • Since my Gemini Moon is at 6 degrees I am already beginning to feel that…or at least get whispers about things to come. I have Gemini Venus at 19 degrees exactly trine Libra Neptune and my Gemini Sun at 29 degrees. Gemini is intercepted in the 12th house. Since I teach, write, and travel a great deal I suspect this is going to be an interesting if not wild ride! I will most definitely keep a diary. Under this present Venus transit I am getting some strong insights already.
A transit occurs when a planet, moon or star passes in front of another celestial body.
We frequently observe transits by our Moon to the planets and the fixed stars as our natural satellite is relatively large in the sky and can easily obscure other bodies.
Exoplanets (planets that orbit other star systems) which transit across the face of their stars offer an opportunity for astronomers to measure the size of the planets as they dim the light arriving on Earth from their star.
Lucky us to have seen a Venus transit at 9:04pm EDT, June 5, 2012.
Latest transit pair
Venus transits occur in pairs eight years apart.
Each couple has approximately 110-130 years between them. In the recent current pair of Venus transits the first happened on June 8, 2004 at 17° 53’ Gemini (17GE53).
We then experienced the second transit in the latest pair on June 5/6, 2012 at 15° 44’ Gemini (15GE44).
Both within two degrees of each other.
Count yourself lucky to be alive to have seen this exciting astronomical occurrence.
Previous century transit pairs
The last pair of Venus transits were on December 9, 1874 and December 6, 1882 both in the sign of Sagittarius and only 2°-3° apart.
The next pair of Venus transits will be on December 10, 2117 and December 8, 2125 again occurring in Sagittarius.
Venus retrograde
When in retrograde motion, Venus transits the Sun from the inferior conjunction. This means Venus is between the Earth and the Sun.
When Venus makes a conjunction to the Sun from the far side of the Sun it is known as a superior conjunction. In this case the Sun is between the Earth and Venus which is direct in motion.
Interpretation for a Venus transit
A Venus transit is a conjunction aspect with the Sun. It is special because the two planets are at the same declination which is a measurement north or south from the celestial equator displayed in degrees, minutes and seconds.
On June 5, 2012 the Sun and Venus were at 22° 38’ 37’’ N and were not only conjoined by longitude, but also in the parallel aspect with each other by declination.
This situation exquisitely intensifies the conjunction.
When the Sun and Venus come together it is a time for identifying (Sun) with love and money (Venus). She is known as the lesser benefic and always brings good things to the party.
The Sun consistently gives positive times. There is no downside to a Sun / Venus conjunction.
The Sun rules Leo, Venus rules Taurus and Libra.
This combination of signs suggests themes of warmth (Leo), pleasant social events (Libra) with good food and music (Taurus). Not to mention the endless chatting, texting and emails so typical of all things Gemini.
This blend of energies resulted in a great evening. In Toronto and all places on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) the transit is after sunset at 9:04pm so an evening out was indicated.
Find this transit in your chart
The astrological community was excited about this now past transit. Find the natal house where 15GE44 is in your chart.
Below are some ideas on how you could have celebrated this special day.
First house: Celebrate by acquiring a makeover. Invest in yourself. Get the works; new hair, new clothes and a whole new attitude!
Second house: Build your collections with smart acquisitions and go on a shopping expedition. Retail therapy anyone?
Third house: Have a fun spending time with your sisters, female cousins or the girl next door.
Fourth house: Celebrate at home. Entertain your family with fine wines, featured cheeses and mood music or break out the barbecue.
Fifth house: Party, party, party! Ok, get the kids involved, but, party, party, party!
Sixth house: Cocktails with co-workers and yes, you can discuss the job, if you must.
Seventh house: Join your loved one to appreciate a romantic candlelit dinner for two. Sigh…
Eighth house: Prepare for a hot and sticky evening…
Ninth house: If you are away from home or traveling on the road find time to enjoy a cosmopolitan experience. Think Mexican, Indian or other international feasts.
Tenth house: Still at the office? Get out of there and share a laugh (yes you) with your colleagues.
Eleventh house: Enjoy the company of good friends. Those who really know who you are and can call you on it.
Twelfth house: In peace and quiet be in your own company, feet curled up with a box of chocolates and a good movie. Bliss.
Where I was
For myself the transit occurs in my eleventh house.
I was socializing and breaking bread with two wonderful astrology friends janet and Kelly. Sharing good food, good company and a laugh or two as we planned a global takeover ha-ha!
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Presented by Alison Price a professional astrologer in Vancouver.
The Astrology of your Saturn Return
