Venus-Uranus: Love at First Sight

Aspects between Venus and Uranus describe a need for freedom in relationships and this person can detach themselves when space is needed. There is also the search for variety and new experience, and the love life may have a sparkling and unusual quality.

Venus-Uranus aspects are concerned with the concept of ideal love. Friendship and romance are spontaneous affairs, and with the trine aspect these people are likely to have many friends and potential partners. Venus-Uranus people are self-willed and impulsive in partnership, sometimes to the extent that they won't allow anyone to curb their sense of freedom.

Venus-Uranus is exceptionally prone to the thunderbolt of love at first sight. Some people dismiss this kind of love as cliché, but if you’re among one of the lucky ones, you’ve experienced it – within one hour of meeting. Love at first sight knocks you over. You didn’t expect it and Uranian understanding is like a seamless and magical revelation. Uranian knowledge is said to give us complete and instantaneous information, and this type of love happens suddenly, like it was cosmically predestined. Falling in love so fast can be just as exciting as riding a roller coaster.

Jung believed that there were some experiences which showed the effects of the collective unconscious more clearly than others, for example, the experiences of love at first sight, and the immediate recognition of certain symbols were interpreted as the sudden conjunction of the outer reality and the inner one. Venus represents our affections, and shows us what we like, and want. Uranus captures us by surprise and love arrives ‘out of the blue’. When Venus and Uranus connect it can describe magnetic attractions, and it is both sudden and unexplainable.

Earlier astrology textbooks looked to Venus-Mars connections for falling in love this fast, so these kinds of aspects should also be considered. Elizabeth Taylor must have felt it over and over again; she has Venus conjunct Uranus in the sign ruled by Mars. Similarly, Venus-Uranus and Venus-Mars can fall in love with a shiny new toy. The partner is likely to be inventive, extraordinary or involved in some unusual occupation.

I do believe love at first sight is possible, but it’s something you would have to experience first-hand. Sue Tompkins believes that people gravitate towards Venus-Uranus like moths to a light, for they often have a very electric quality. However, she also believes that these people fall out love very suddenly, so you will have to make up your own mind on this one. Venus-Uranus people are open and progressive in their attitudes towards love and romance, and free in their love expression. Always willing to experiment and try anything new that a partner suggests, they enjoy being surprised and love. The unpredictability of love at first sight would not really surprise them at all, and they would be open to the experience.

Pluto in the 8th House

Those with Pluto in the 8th house possess the power to drastically change the lives of others. Pluto is placed in a very powerful and dominant position, but when its natural energies are obstructed it can lead to a build-up of repressed desires, which burst through consciousness, and all hell breaks loose. Many astrologers believe that when Pluto is placed in the 8th house of the horoscope the individual will experience at least one major life change. Pluto can plunge the native into the intensity of the underworld through a connection with profound issues, such as sex, death, power and survival. With all planets in the 8th house the individual needs to seek empowerment, which refers to the acquisition of power rather than wielding it over others. Additionally, ignoring such powerful intense desires will leave the soul feeling powerless, frightened and overwhelmed.

Partnerships may involve power-struggles, physical or emotional violence or the breaking of taboos. Some have a propensity for troubled relationships, and it involves long-drawn out conflict over inheritance, sex, business deals and divorce settlements. Relationships can be damaged as a result, and we can recognize this pattern in many couples, with silent stand-offs, withdrawal, ambivalence, distrust, anger, blame and an emotional tug of war. Slowly a power-struggle is brewing underneath, and the two people begin to test the waters (8th). Then as each partner sheds their inhibitions and lets their real self-emerge the relationship hits icy waters. Pluto in the 8th house describes this exchange of intensity and pronounces the desire to transform relationships; intense engagement doesn’t have to threaten a relationship and it can help it grow, develop and heal.

The problems arising in the present are often fuelled by the unconscious, and the 8th house represents our psychic inheritance. The family demons may include: death, abuse, emotional manipulation, nasty parental divorce, violence, suicide or mental illness. According to Jungian astrology many 8th house people are born to be the “curse breaker” of the family. Indeed, if the individual can wield such power, they can also bring profound healing. They have a talent for transforming, and their strong will power often equates with an all or nothing attitude.

Pluto in the 8th house can have a compulsive fascination with death and some have an unconscious death wish. Eighth house people are intensely probing and are often interested in dark subjects like the occult, psychology and unsolved mysteries. Inner growth may be a lifelong interest. Pluto here may also have strong psychic powers, and this placement gives the individual added insights. This placement also indicates research ability and the person is willing to dig deep and they may also possess a secretive nature. Issues of life and death may consume them, and the individual  may be able to assist those who are emotionally or mentally disturbed.

Pluto - PTSD

If we witness the horrors that exist in life, we are endlessly changed by our traumatic experience. The events may be so overwhelming that it impacts both psychological and biological coping mechanisms. We numb our feelings by hitting the emotional off-switch, and the psyche’s way of coping is to shut-down. Plus it can be difficult to integrate such an experience, and at times it is much easier to disassociate, withdraw, hide and take cover. 

Pluto describes soul-growth and transformational periods in a person’s life, and if we refuse to deal with an ordeal we may miss out on the opening for healing. Generally “transformational” experiences come about after some kind of symbolic death. The experience of loss, divorce, death of a loved one, rape and abuse are all examples of these kinds of events. Sometimes victims of trauma develop a “get them before they get you” attitude”, and does this remind you of Pluto? Long after the experience of trauma we still go to war with our psychological monsters. Pluto rules paranoia, distrust and suspicion and the panic alarm keeps ringing even when there is no present danger.

I believe Plutonian experiences that are triggered natally or by transit can be compared to PTSD, and sometimes the real response to such events are delayed, until the person becomes possessed by an image or event. Psychic trauma involves intense personal suffering, and we can suffer flashbacks like those experienced by war veterans. An individual may continue to live in the emotional environment of the traumatic event, and they may even become fixated on what happened. The traumatized carry an impossible history within them, and it can pull them into destructive patterns of behaviour. Typical childhood experiences of the Plutonian can force him to take back his lost power.

The Plutonian wounded by life can still be raging over their abduction into the underworld, and remain in the shadow of that experience. Liz Greene views Pluto as our fate, and his law was final and absolute and could not be overturned. Though, the psychological damage resulting from uncontrollable, terrifying life events is what we have to learn to survive after it has long happened. We have two choices in this life we can continue to mourn the loss of our old selves, and remain frozen and powerless, or else we can choose life and take back our power. Trauma can check out all of our emotions and leave us feeling emotionally bankrupt (8th) and despite our trauma’s we are not “damaged goods”, but we might have to dig and delve to find ourselves again, and what our destiny is, and then find our way out again and experience the fullness of LIFE.

LIFE-DEATH-REBIRTH.................

Venus in 12th House

Those with Venus in the 12th house have a loving and sympathetic nature, but they often feel compelled to sacrifice their own desires and give themselves in order to feel validated. Romantic partners may be unstable or addictive personalities, but they can become enablers in relationships.

Through an unconscious need for love and validation, they sometimes fall in love with unobtainable lovers, and become easily hurt when others take advantage of them. The love life may be kept hidden and concealed for years, and those with this position of Venus are particularly prone to secret affairs. Venus here may also fall in love with the illusory image of a lover, and then become disillusioned when the real person exposes their human failings. Still, Venus in Pisces loves with a kind of religious zeal.

Past life readings for Venus in the 12th house are interesting, but their trustworthiness is debatable. Several past life astrologers believe that Venus in the 12th house manipulated others with their wealth or beauty and this was the source for their previous undoings.

“Venus may incline you to various forms of indulgence which boost your sense of well-being. Secretly, you may eat large quantities of sweets, or go on periodic shopping binges (usually buying beautiful clothes, jewellery, or aesthetic objects). If your Venus or your chart as a whole reflects the influence of Taurus more than Libra, you may deny your own materialism, while nevertheless allowing yourself to become quite attached to your belongings. You may also be ashamed of your indulgent behaviour, which may be excessive, but which is also a healthy attempt to love yourself and experience greater pleasure in life.” By Tracy Marks, Your Secret Self

Venus in the 12th house gains self-worth from helping the unfortunate and those in emotional and financial need, and may be attracted to professions such as social work and nursing. Marriage and partnership can be used as a means to escape, and self-esteem may have been sacrificed and talents suppressed. However, a strong value system and peace-making skills could be their hidden strengths. Happiness is usually tied to the spiritual, mystical, otherworldly and ethereal side of life. Artistic and musical flair may similarly be buried gifts, which might offer the individual peace and happiness while in solitude. Venus in the 12th house is beneficial for charitable institutions and it increases kindness and goodwill.

Venus in this position can conceal and repress their love nature, and there may be a deep love of quiet and privacy. Beauty is found in hidden things, but feeling beautiful is sometimes discouraged in childhood, and they may have felt overlooked, ignored, unnoticed and disregarded in this department. Venus in the 12th house has an aura of loneliness and seclusion, and some suffer from shyness and vulnerability, and so they are easily hurt.

Mercury in Taurus

Those born with Mercury in Taurus form conclusions based on physical facts and direct experience. The mind is tied up to material levels of thought, and they may constantly be thinking up inventive ways to make more money. Those with Mercury here are less interested in abstract ideas than in workable techniques which can be applied consistently. This person may have a beautiful speaking or singing voice, or communicate about art and music. There is usually a good head for business, but Taurean's think a lot about their financial security.

Mercury in Taurus gives a deep appreciation for art and beauty, or love and nature, and there is usually a good sense of form. Those with Mercury here want everything to be simple, and they are not likely to jump to conclusions, and usually possess plenty of common sense. However, once an idea is planted in their mind, it is solidly rooted. Mercury here assists the mind to work something out practically, and the mind ponders slowly every decision. These people won’t be pushed into making a decision quickly, and will express itself thoughtfully, quietly, slowly and cautiously. Mercury here likes to chew things over slowly, and any idea that challenges an already fixed concept, is reluctantly accepted.

Mercury in Taurus learns best when allowed to go at their pace, and the native takes time to learn a new subject. Some with this placement may be mentally laid-back, and take a long time to complete a project. Ideas can be conservative and traditional, and these people are not easily swayed by others. Once they have made up their mind, they aren’t likely to change it. This can also work in their favour, because once they begin a project they aren’t like to give up and tend to stay the course. This person may be slow to form opinions, but there is plenty of mental determination, and excellent powers of concentration, but they need to be aware of their tendency towards intellectual obstinacy and fixed patterns of mental expression. The danger of this position is mental inertia, but they are noted for their realistic solutions, and when in debate they construct a careful and well thought-out argument.

Counting Down the Days

Transits unfold the potential within in each natal chart, and they also make us more aware of complex patterns and the fixed beliefs we hold about ourselves. Natal charts are frozen and motionless, that is, until a transiting planet comes along and activates our horoscope. A transit describes a journey on course for a destination with an arrival time and a time of departure. Unlike trains, transits are always on time, so don’t worry about delays; unless it’s a Saturn transit then the transit itself will probably feel like one big delay. However, it is necessary to spot these transient times approaching and prepare for them.

Look it at this way, if we could write our own autobiography the transits would mark those relevant time periods in our memoir and it would most likely be written near the end of our lives (12th). Furthermore, it would be written in reflection, and we always see things differently with hindsight. Writing our life-story would be very therapeutic and soothing, but that is dependent on the life lived. The “I” in a biography is often described as the “subject in progress”, and this describes how I view transits crossing natal planets in an individual life. Transits act like a timeline for important changes, revelations, and quite often they put us on the road to a different destination.

If we were to write a diary on the transits in our lives, perhaps we would get closer to the present feeling of those events, and could then reflect on how our feelings have changed since then. The feelings we have on the current Uranus transit may be completely different than the sentiments we hold in reflection of such a transit. Autobiography’s and reflecting on past transits show the need for self-revelation. We need to question how those triggering transits which set-off life-events have changed the picture of our horoscope. What new insights have we learned about ourselves? And have we changed our self-beliefs in any way?

The key to unlocking the personal meaning of transits is to stop long enough to connect to our environment. The moving planets continually challenge us to know who we are. We all have times in our lives when the pressure piles on, and we are sometimes humbled by life’s blows. When dealing with difficult “transitions” in life we need to act from the centre (Sun) of who we are and what we represent, and to live with meaning. Also it doesn’t matter who we love, and where we live or work, as long as what we do in life represents who we really are. There is something within us that can rise above everything, and even if our lives are perceivably “free”, in some way we all struggle with things beyond our control.

Friday's Film Round-up: The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones is the story of a teenage girl who, after being raped and murdered watches from Heaven as her family and friends struggle to come to terms with her death. The film is based on the novel by Alice Sebold, and apparently the book is much grittier than the director's version and many have complained that the director of the movie, Peter Jackson, failed to stay too long on the more horrific aspects of her death. I really enjoyed this movie and the depiction of her heaven was absolutely gorgeous, and the lead actress Saoirse Ronan was born under the Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn along with other rising stars such as Dakota Fanning and Justin Beiber. The young actress, Saoirse, also has Mars in Pisces trine Pluto in Scorpio which describes sensitivity and strength combined with powerful emotional depth. The trine between these two planets can aid strength and will-power in challenging situations.

Anyone with children can imagine the traumatic experience of losing a child in this manner. I think it is the worst imaginable thing to have happen, and no parent should ever lose a child. Similar to this story is the one of Molly Bish, she was a 16 year old girl who was abducted and murdered while working as a life guard. The day before her abduction, her mother Magi Bish claimed that she saw a man in a white sedan in the parking lot of the beach where her daughter was positioned. It is believed that Molly’s killer had tricked her into believing he needed help and when she approached him, she was abducted. In The Lovely Bones, Susie was tricked into a play den underground that he said he built for all the children to play in. Natally, Molly has Mars square a Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Libra.

“The Mars Saturn contact has long been associated with violence, either given or received, and whilst not the usual manifestation, it is by no means uncommon. “

“People with tight hard aspects (Mars-Pluto), and not uncommonly the conjunction will often themselves have had a history of physical violence, cruelty or sexual abuse.” By Sue Tompkins, Aspects in Astrology

The film also highlighted the aspects of explaining the dangers that are out there to children. My little boy was watching it too, it has a PG-13 rating, and he was very inquisitive throughout the movie. Asking questions about why he only murdered girls and why he did it. My little boy is a Plutonian andso he is attuned to the darker undercurrents of life. I don’t think you can have too much pretence around Pluto children. And the truth is that there are bad people in this world, and they do terrible things to others. As a parent you do as much as you can to protect them from this side of life, and maybe part of this job is informing your child about the dangers that exist, but without scaring them too much. The hardest part of the movie is watching Susie's murder and her family are all eating dinner and piling extra vegetables on Susie’s plate as punishment for being late. And you sit there thinking - it’s the last time they will laugh like that as family before their whole world is changed forever. I enjoyed the movie and my little boy gave it the thumbs up, too.

Neptune Transits: Cheating, Shoplifting and Hysterical Fans

Neptune transits can make our lives feel unreal for some time, and we can feel out of touch with reality. Neptune is disillusioning and we may become the victim of deception, unless we are disciplined by Saturn. The people we have weaved the idealisation around were probably never what we imagined them to be. And hard Neptune transits can bring with them a form of disenchantment. The transit is nebulous, and often drama and fantasy are more appealing at these times.

Neptune can make everyday life seem drab and unappealing. We don’t see life clearly, and illusions can obscure our judgement. Disillusionment is really mourning the loss of our core illusions, and perhaps if we had only looked more honestly, we may have seen it coming. Even if we are normally very pragmatic and down to earth, we will find ourselves acting on faith now. Our energy levels can be lower at these times and we are susceptible to catching colds and other illnesses.

Perhaps the disillusionment happens with a relationship and we feel a partner has deceived us, and so we feel drained and used. We might decide to live out some of our fantasies under a transit of Neptune. Jennifer Anniston began a relationship with musician John Mayor when transiting Neptune was conjunct her Sun in Aquarius. The attraction itself may have brought impossible expectations combined with great misunderstandings. Neptune transits to the Sun could be a time when we ‘lose’ ourselves in another person. We become ‘hooked’ on a relationship and cannot see its flaws.

With Neptune we really don't know who is doing the fooling, and we could be shrouding a lover in fog. Transits of Neptune seem to describe extremes of psychic and physical degeneration, but the further we travel into the mist of Neptune's world, the closer we come to an inner revelation, and life transforming experience. Neptune is the planet of imagination, idealism, creativity and it represents the capacity to experience beauty and universal love. Neptune rules the psychic world and has domain over the subconscious mind, hypnosis, dreams and visions, and intuitive insights.

And just when one is int he undignified throes of a breakdown and dissolution, one draws close to a strange diffuse light-magical door which opens into sacred secrets which, like those of the Melusine vanish in the cold light of what is usually defined as sanity. By Liz Greene

In the case of Hilary Clinton Neptune squared her Sun when the scandal of Bill Clinton’s extra-marital-affair hit the headlines. Bill Clinton was lying on the stand and deceiving thousands of people. The Sun in a woman’s chart represents the masculine figure in her life (father, husband or son). Neptune tends to view people through rose tinted glasses and put them on a pedestal. And what happens when illusions are shattered is that people become flawed and real again. Under Neptune transits we are sometimes asked to make a sacrifice of some kind, and it’s often for the “greater good” of the relationship, family or the children.

Justin Timberlake discovered Britney Spears’ infidelity when transiting Neptune was conjunct his Sun. Penelope Cruz also had some interesting film roles when Neptune squared her Sun. The actress played Johnny Depp’s wife in Blow, a story about a drug smuggler who eventually goes to jail. Cruz also played the role of a cheating wife while her husband was fighting at war.

The Dionysian myth can also apply to Neptune transits, and the Greek god had a bunch of raving women chasing after him. Robert Pattinson was chosen for the role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies, and when the movie was released Neptune was square his Sun. Robert was soon followed by hysterical teenage girls. As a Taurean, this ungrounded his sense of roots and security, and it was obvious he was overwhelmed and spaced out by the whole thing.

Dishonesty is another Neptunian problem. Winona Ryder was caught shoplifting when transiting Neptune squared her Sun in Scorpio. The raven beauty was also accused of using drugs without prescription. Neptune transits can be a time of disorientation, confusion, and loss of self. Neptune may employ drugs, alcohol, food , or other substances which act like an anaesthesia, numbing the pain of living in the real world, and keeping the individual in an altered state.

Neptune’s transits can cause us to be over-sensitive to situations. We may be avoiding responsibilities, and our self-will is eroded and weakened. Neptune can lead to escapism, suicidal urges, and the temptation to use drugs or alcohol. Neptune transits can be inspiring and we can be at our most creative. Music, poetry, dancing and painting are all powerful outlets. And because Neptune is such a slow moving planet it can take up to three years to fully complete.

Neptune's Fog, Ghosts and Smoke

We have all heard about Neptune’s fog and some of us live with heavy aspects to Neptune and probably understand it all too well. Neptune's describes those times when we enter a fog, and there is something undeniably strange and mysterious about this layer of cloud that drifts into our vision and obscures sight. Indeed, when in a psychological fog we can feel like a ghost drifting through life. Ghosts’ metaphors help me define some of the psychology of Neptune, and how it can feel to be under Neptune transits. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there is something close to the experience of ghosts that feels rather Neptunian. People look through you as if you don’t exist, and you feel lost, confused and misunderstood. Some Neptunian people also feel deeply haunted by the past. In a Neptune fog and ghost-like state, nobody sees you, and nobody hears you.

We can go from the distinct feeling of being an individual with a formed personality to feeling like an outline of our former self. It’s like someone has been erased and everything that defined us has now faded. It may feel as if we’re vanishing, and slowly slipping away from existence. When we are not really living, it can feel like we are invisible and drifting through life with no clear direction. Some ghosts often appear hysterical and change from laughing to sobbing, and we hear strange moaning, and they are imagined as misty figures walking down shadowy corridors, unable to move on, and stuck between this life and the next. I hope this is giving you some ideas on Neptune people. Some people believe that ghosts are like energetic imprints of our old personality, and the energy remains like a memory, and others believe that we are seeing images of people who are dreaming. In addition, it is under Neptune transits we are more open to experiencing the supernatural.

A dense fog has distinct characteristics: it has no boundary or shape and we don’t know how long it will be there. Heavy fog is kind of like a low laying “cloud” and fog reduces visibility. It’s like when someone has taken too many drugs, even months after “coming clean” they can still feel lost in a fog. Neptunian fog can be deceptive and hard to grab hold of, surrounding us, enveloping and obscuring. During December of 1952, the combined effect of soot, tar, and exhaust fumes created thick smog that hung over London for four days. The smog was so thick that it infiltrated buildings – cinemas and theatres were forced to close – and transportation was made impossible, and many people fell sick. However, it forced the government (Saturn) to seriously address the issue of “air pollution”. The smog occurred under a tight Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Libra.

Neptune aspects can involve uncertainty, spaciness, and the propensity to be attracted to drugs and alcohol. The Alcoholics Anonymous group was formed under a Sun trine Neptune contact in the 11th house. Neptune people can be associated with a chronic avoidance of life. And Neptune can cloud reality and make us more aware of dependency issues in relationships, it’s also where we escape, dream, and keep the world at a distance.

Venus in 8th House

Those with Venus in the 8th demand a high level of commitment from both their personal and business partners. The 8th house represents merging with others emotionally, sexually and financially. Planets in this house are concerned with the fundamental issues of life – birth, death and sex. Intimate relationships expose our hidden selves and close relationships require a high level of trust and honesty.

Venus in the 8th house can penetrate into a deeper level of relating than most people. No other placement of Venus can understand the unconscious side of relationships. Venus in this house is attracted to deeper and dangerous levels of engagement. They crave intense, deep, emotional relationships, and would even prefer a stormy, tumultuous relationship to one which is smooth but lacking in depth.

Those with Venus here may be drawn into power-struggles and destructive relationships, and they are prone to jealousy The individual loves with all consuming, total devotion and expect the same attention from a partner. Casual and light relationships hold no appeal for them. Crisis in a relationship serves to deepen the bond, but the more unconscious conflicts often threaten to tear them apart.

Venus in the 8th house attracts money through inheritances, legacies and business transactions. The individual may also be gifted at regenerating finances. The experience of Venus in the 8th house can sometimes mean the death of a parent at an early age, or the loss of a lover or spouse. The experiences are not necessarily tragic, but the event will plunge Venus into the necessary intensity and depth.

Venus in 5th House

The 5th house is concerned with self-expression and creativity, and it is here where we express what is special and unique about us. Romantic love is one avenue where we express these qualities, but the fifth house also rules children and our ability to express joy, happiness and uninhibited pleasure. Those with Venus here like to be appreciated and loved for their talents. The 5th house is symbolic of the search for security in our identity as an individual. In the 5th house there is the need to re-create part of one’s individuality, and often this house precipitates the need to be loved by others.

People with this palcement need an activity or hobby that fulfils their desire for creative expression. The 5th house symbolises the result of procreative effort – whether it is writing, art, a child, or blossoming romance. These creative accomplishments boost self-worth and feelings of happiness and contentment. It can be beneficial for the individual to be involved with children and creating something of value. Financial gain is possible through all creative endeavours such as music, art, literature and drama.

Unless they create something worthwhile, their creative expression is projected onto children and/or lovers. The 5th house also relates to the love we give others and so children and romantic interests can be viewed as beautiful and loving, and sometimes they have creative, talented and charming children. Those with Venus in this position usually possess a strong appreciation of aesthetics, and this person will not feel completely fulfilled without an outlet of some kind.

Venus is more dramatic in relationships when placed in a fire sign, and may appreciate fiery passions and emotional scenes in their love life. Earthy Venus’ are exceptionally supportive, water signs are loving and compassionate and air signs are articulate and fair. I have read this placement can attract quite a few admirers. However, this can simply mean that the individual has many admirers of their creative work.

Ordinarily, the individual enjoys sharing their creativity with others, and they are likely to do so with an eye for what they think is pleasing to others, and receive attention and validation through this arena. The problem with this placement can be a tendency to judge self-worth based on the amount of love and valuation that is received for their creative outpourings. The need to feel proud of their personal talents is often marked in the personality.

Neptune in Aquarius

I have been meaning to get around to writing about Neptune in Aquarius for quite some time. Neptune is currently in the critical degrees of the final air sign (27-29), and if we take a look back over the last 12-13 years, we can observe what fashions, movies and music swept us all away. Neptune glamourizes whatever astrological sign it passes through, so you’ll see its effect in popular trends like beliefs, politics, and fashion. Neptune’s transit through Aquarius began in 1998 and ends in 2011/12, and this particular transit has been interesting because it has been mirroring the recent transit of Uranus through Pisces. Aquarius rules ideals, air, mathematics, electricity, revolution, rebellion, electronics, technology, shared concepts, freedom, human ingenuity, genetic engineering, detachment, rationality, astrology, science, and astronomy. Aquarius is about the energy of the group working together to improve the quality of human life.

Neptune in Aquarius brought the vision of the World-World-Web, and we were flooded with multi-media. The WWW symbol looks quite similar to the astrological symbol for Aquarius. The World Wide Web was developed to be a pool of human knowledge, which would allow collaborators in remote sites to “share” their ideas and all aspects of a “common” project. There was a huge jump in Internet usage, and wireless Internet has been prominent at the end of the decade creating more freedom. Internet access also became available to mobile uses. GPS navigation service became widely popular, and it was now possible to direct any vehicle to its destination in real time.

In film the usage of computer generated images became more widespread, and online films have also become popular. The Matrix arrived at the beginning of Neptune’s transit through Aquarius and created a cult following. The film depicts the future in a computer simulated world and makes references to the cyber world and computer hackers. The Sci-fi film Avatar was big in the latter part of Neptune in Aquarius, and 3D television has emerged and changed the way we watch film. We have also seen a growing popularity in street dance, which involves innovative and future influenced dance moves. The movie Step-Up helped with this growing trend and the winners of Britain's got talent were a street dance group called, Diversity (Aquarius). Street dance is done primarily out of conventional dance studios, and it includes a collection if various styles incorporated into one exciting and original dance performance.

In music the bestselling artist is rapper Eminem (Uranian) and the best-selling female artist is Britney Spears, and she produced the futuristic album Blackout, and helped to popularise this new and innovative dance pop revolution. The album received good reviews overall, but some critics felt the music was cold and detached (Aquarius). The electronic sound had emerged with the help of music producer Timbaland, he has worked with artists such as Nelly Furtado and produced Justin Timberlake’s (Future/sex Love Sounds). The electronic musical producer has Venus in Aquarius trine Uranus. We also saw the rise of Lady Ga Ga, and the new innovative and shocking artist, has diverse taste in fashion and helped bring in a new wave of music.

The MP3 player has replaced most music players, people want music downloaded fast with thousands of songs loaded into one player. We have buried cassette tapes forever, and CD players have seen a steady decline. In the first decade of the 21st century we use computers and networks to play and distribute music and share files through peer-to-peer networks (Aquarius). This has had a tremendous impact on retail music stores and artists. Music is mostly sold through websites now.

Kylie Minogue and her album Fever was another futuristic pop album that stormed the charts. The release of the lead single, “Can’t Get You Outta my Head” reached number one in multiple countries, and the album has sold 10 million copies worldwide and is her bestselling album to-date. American Idol winners also took the spotlight and Kelly Clarkson released the amazing Breakaway album, and the “people” had involvement in choosing new stars.

The world of gaming reached a new level with the Wii and people became more interactive with the game itself and almost become a part of this virtual world. We have witnessed the rise of digital media opposed to printed books. Blogs have grown more popular than conventional forms of information providers such as books, magazines, and newspapers. People are more likely to switch on the computer to follow the latest events rather than wait for the next day’s newspaper or magazine edition. The sale of online e-books has also become more popular and the kindle has been the most popular gift on Amazon in the latter part of Aquarius.

In fashion Ugg boots were a growing popular trend in the winter, and the shoe was first believed to have been developed in New Zealand, and were first worn by Aviators. Modern leggings worn over dresses also came into fashion, and the Emo style also became more popular. I will keep the fashion piece short, because I am really bad at keeping up with fashion trends. However, all this gives us a good idea of Neptune’s transit in Aquarius and now we will await to see what Neptune in Pisces will bring in film, fashion and music.

Mercury in Aquarius

Those with Mercury in Aquarius understand life through abstract thought, futuristic thinking, and ideal concepts. This person can grasp ideas quickly, and is interested in anything new, different and progressive. Mental objectivity and detachment of mind can inadvertently alienate others. Still, ideas burst through like light, and this is the position of the astrologer, astronomer, electrician or scientist.

The mind thinks in new wave lengths, but they may have trouble grounding their ideas in practical form. Mercury here perceives the future, and their concepts are out of the ordinary. Aquarius cares about the rights of others, free-speech, and fairness. They are interested in humanitarian pursuits and enjoy sharing their ideas with others. Mercurial Aquarians like to talk about ideals and impersonal subjects, and they enjoy airing their views.

The truth is important and they view things from an unbiased and objective perspective. There is general open-mindedness, but once the mind is made up, it rarely changes. Aquarius has less concern for socially accepted ideas, and has the ability to see things in broad terms. Sometimes there is real mathematical ability with this placement, and intuitive understanding of universal patterns. The individual has an original turn of mind, and the intellect is clear and free of emotional judgement.

Mercury in this position can deal with clinical facts and figures, but the blind spot could be in not seeing the emotional slant on any given situation. This individual resists conforming to conventional opinions, and will freely expose themselves to new and stimulating ideas. Mercury in Aquarius can envision a more ideal world or society, and since it is also Saturn ruled it is concerned with structures and social dynamics.

Extra Terrestrial Love: Venus- Uranus

I was listening to songs from the latest Katy Perry album, and the track E.T. I then wondered if she had any Uranus contacts, particularly relating to love partnerships. I looked up her natal chart and was pleased to find Venus conjunct Uranus in Sagittarius. I should of guessed earlier when she sang about kissing girls. This contact couples the need for love and sexual excitement, and they couldn’t care less what others think about their relationships. Megan Fox is another woman who sometimes likes to kiss girls, too (Venus opposite Uranus).

Venus-Uranus contacts in natal charts are all about trying new things, personal independence, and freedom in relationships. The choice of mate can be unconventional, and these people possess a sparkling and magnetic love nature. I am not saying Venus-Uranus types have any real attraction to alien-like people, but they certainly boldly go where no lover has gone before. I am not saying all Venus-Uranus relationships are ‘out of this world’ but if the lover is too predictable, the individual may seek another lover who promises more surprises. Above all a relationship that promises growth, change and new forms of expression is desired. E.T is a song definitely penned from the heart... Cosmic Kisses, futuristic loving and ready for alien abduction!!

Cupid Boy: Aries-Virgo

Aries

Sun in Aries opposite Neptune, Cassidy was idealized by millions of girls.

•  Mach-macho man
• Needs a goal
• Winner
• Direct
• Into everything new and flash
• Fast mover
• Temper
• Pushy
• Impulsive
• Not afraid to fight
• Hates losing
• Competitive
• Warm
• Confident
• Passionate
• Hates routine
• Fragile ego
• Fiercely protective
• Brave
• The very image of Male (ruler mars)
• Insensitive
• Arrogant

Taurus

• Sensual
• Gentle
• Physical
• Possessive
• Down to earth
• Good taste in clothes
• Some vanity
• Powerful passions
• Simple
• Stubborn
• Rock of strength
• Fixed
• Likes security
• Lazy
• Traditional
• Likes to be waited on

Gemini 

• In the know
• Talks a lot
• Nervous energy
• Hard to pin down
• Fidget
• Forever Young
• Networker
• Keeps options open
• Gossip
• Charming flirt
• Interesting
• Low boredom level
• Versatile
• Clever
• Witty
• Sense of humour

Cancer

• Sensitive tied to mother
• Dependency
• Clingy
• Insecure
• Needs security
• Needs nurturing and protecting
• Needs understanding
• Gentle
• Usually good dads
• Prone to jealousy
• Changeable
• Moody
• Hard shell soft in the centre
• Creative
• Evasive
• Likes family tradition
• Shy
• Caring
• Won’t let go of the past

Leo

• Hates pettiness
• Honourable
• Loyal
• Warm hearted
• Dramatic
• Flashy
• Needs praise
• Strong affections
• Generous lover
• Creative talent
• Likes to be noticed
• Grand gestures of love
• Self-confident
• Stubborn
• Likes to be the hero
• Prideful

Virgo

• Helpful
• Cool
• Socially sensitive
• Sensitive and vulnerable
• Self-contained
• Likes order
• Down to earth
• Critical
• Hates too much emotion
• Intelligent
• Discriminating
• Kind and modest
• Thorough person

Venus in 9th House

Those with Venus in the 9th house may find it the norm to form relationships with people from other countries. The ninth house has been traditionally associated with travel, higher education, philosophy, religion and publishing. The individual may search for their values in other cultures, and relationships are not usually fulfilling unless there is constant growth. Lovers may be met on long journeys and places of learning, and they are attracted to others who share in their enjoyment of the pursuit of knowledge.

Sometimes partnerships are formed with those who work in publishing, research, translation, Law, or academics. This person may find that they are popular among students and teachers. Venus in the 9th house may receive money from far away, and have business deals with foreigners, foreign countries. Relationships may feel like a journey of discovery, filled with new possibilities and mental or physical adventure. Partners need to be challenging and stimulating, and share similar beliefs systems and philosophies on life.

Discovering new knowledge is also enjoyable and expands their value system. Those with Venus here may need someone who loves to talk about the nature of the universe and the purpose of life. Venus in the 9th house expresses a natural appreciation for different cultures and far off lands. The individual may fall in love with a country other than their own, or fall in love with someone they meet on holiday or abroad. Venus in the 9th house also confers harmony with marriage relatives. They are drawn to great thinkers and exotic people, and see the beauty in a culture different from their own.

This person may travel in luxury and to beautiful places, and they can be unsatisfied with what they find in their immediate environment. Perhaps art, beauty or foreign diplomacy is studied, and their charms and grace make them an ambassador of good will. There is a strong attraction to religious and spiritual ideals, and love comes through anything which expands the horizons. Venus here may feel the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

Venus in 7th House

Those with Venus in the seventh house want their relationships to be beautiful, harmonious, and balanced. The individual wants himself and the partner to be regarded as the perfect couple. Venus here is relationship orientated, co-operative and diplomatic. The 7th house traditionally signifies marriage and partnership, personal or professional relationships. Venus in its natural house necessitates the need for an ideal partner, and working together are important assets within such a union. Venus here knows how to wins others over using charm, sensuality and beauty, and a love relationship is of primary importance, and they will prioritize relationships in their life. The well-being and happiness of others is paramount, and the individual will go to considerable lengths in securing the lover.

In the professional sphere they make desirable colleagues, and are well suited to public relations. Support in partnerships is vital and these people need to share everything in one-to-one relationships. They may find it difficult not having a partner, and the tendency to be in love with love can make for some unrealistic expectations. Out of the concern for balance, they must learn to approach seventh house activities with full awareness. Libra’s house acts as a mirror, reflecting unconscious qualities which are projected onto others. Venus in the 7th house has a deep appreciation for others, but it helps to develop strong personal values, because dependency in relationships is linked to this placement.

The person with Venus in Libra’s house is overly concerned with working towards mutually pleasurable relating. There may be problems with being a perpetual people pleaser, and look for their own worth and validation through others. Venus in 7th house strives to present a picture of marital bliss, even during times of personal turmoil. This person may find it hard to deal with conflict and will always seek peaceful resolutions. Benefits come through social connections, business partnerships and the public. Venus in this position can show popularity with people, especially if other aspects in the chart support this statement. The partner may benefit the native, and bring material and social success. There may be a gift of attracting love and harmony from others, and they have the talent for making others feel more desirable and worthwhile.

Mercury in Leo

Those with Mercury in Leo understand life through creativity, colour, and a rich imagination. For these individuals self-expression is more important than memorizing details and they learn best when allowed to make a creative contribution. They have an enthusiastic quest for knowledge, and generous in all they have learned, and communication may be dramatic. Mercury here often has a talent for theatrical speaking,and others enjoy listening to their creative story telling talents. The individual also needs to be recognised for their intellectual talents, and they are usually confident in their ability to communicate with others, and know that this trait could push them into a leadership role. Sometimes the individual can exaggerate and is stubborn, and their pride is involved in all forms of communication. Yet, this person is also often loyal – this is not someone who talks about people behind their back. Mercury in Leo enjoys sharing their thoughts and artistic vision, and there is often a liking for speaking in front of others and being in the limelight.

A Mercury in Leo individual interprets events in a highly individualised way, and it may result in implying that everything they say has more importance than what anyone else has to say. The danger is too much subjectivity, but they are a person of strong opinions and they express their views energetically and often dramatically. Those with Mercury placed in Leo are proud of their intellectual achievements, and show great passion and strength in speech. Mercury in Leo speaks warmly and with great heart, and also likes to stand out from the crowd. Speaking with power and authority can lead to them coming on too strong when expressing their thoughts. The mind has a fixed purpose, but they may become self-involved with their own way of thinking. Nonetheless, they can be very powerful, dynamic and charismatic in speech, and they have an abundance of creative ideas and do not enjoy a job in which they have no creative input or voice in decision making.

The mind is concentrated and focused, and if they think strongly about something, they usually express it. Mercury here can give a bright mind, adding to one’s mental confidence and oratory ability. The individual may be interested in art, entertainment, drama, romance, music or poetry, and they have a genuine desire to empower people through their words, and could make a good spokesperson, group leader, director, or coach. Mercury in Leo can easily see the big picture, but would rather let others handle all the finer details. The intellect can be self-centred, but intuitive, and their intellectual efforts often carry their personal unique stamp. The outlook on life is positive, and this is the placement of the storyteller who dresses up information and makes it heart-warming, entertaining and interesting.

Mars in the 12th House: Repressed Rage

Those born with Mars in the 12th can find asserting themselves, and being direct and forceful very difficult. The desire to put themselves first and their interests first is lacking.

Pushing for they want in a direct manner is usually discouraged in childhood. Being selfish, assertive or angry is something that was frowned upon, and they may have difficulty going after what they want.

Mars in the 12th house hides from confrontation, and there will often be no reaction to conflict. Moreover, they can overreact and the individual blows up over minor incidents, and aggression is often misdirected. Nonverbal expression of anger can include slamming doors, angry silence, and indirect remarks. The individual may not feel their anger at the time something happens, and they get all steamed up a few days after the event.

This person may carry a heavy bag of unresolved anger problems, and will have to deal with family complexes. When anger is not acknowledged, owned, or experienced it tends to become repressed. The way this most frequently happens is that it is projected outside the individual onto the surrounding world. Mars here may attract situations in which they are victimized, and the twelfth house represents those things that are repressed and locked away.

Rage is sometimes articulated through strange fears and repressed feelings, which turned inward, and create violent fantasies and dreams. Anger is likely to be directed towards causes which champion the underdog, and those who are victimized in society, including the underprivileged, overlooked and ignored. Positively they can be unselfish, working more on the behalf of others rather than themslves.

Steps to Healing Repressed Anger:

1. Acknowledging Anger
2. Identify “unimportant” and buried issues
3. Learning how to express desires appropriately
4. Artistic Pursuits – Art and writing – Use the imagination actively
5. Exercise
6. Dance
7. Actively working with the Unconscious
8. Viewing anger as a cleansing emotion
9. Learning to see self-assertion as a healthy emotion
10. Finding hidden courage
11. Not perceiving anger as bad
12. Going into an empty room and screaming the rage out

Low Self Worth, Self-Hatred and Feeling Unlovable

I have struggled with feeling self-confident all my life, and so wondered about the astrological significations. I worked my way through all the planets and finally came to the conclusion that only Saturn and Pluto appear to be present when an individual feels inadequate, unlovable, and not good enough. Psychologists have studied the individual family background, to try and understand the roots of self-esteem. However, it is only Astrology which understands that we are born with innate predispositions towards certain behaviour and patterns, and learning astrology is vital to our understanding of self-defeating beliefs and attitudes. The primary element of low-self-esteem is the feeling of being looked down upon by others as inadequate and unworthy (Saturn). The problem is a consequence of how you imagine others see you and how you see yourself. If Saturn contacts the inner planets and if you have low self-esteem, you feel yourself to be inadequate, less than, ineffective, and flawed. Low self-esteem affects your ability to be successful in life, and if you do achieve success, there will always be a nagging feeling that you don’t really deserve it, and others will ridicule your accomplishments.

Low self-confidence can affect your entire life, and the fear of failure may prevent you from fulfilling your goals, even though you are perfectly capable and talented. There is obsessive thinking about your appearance and a frequent craving for the approval of others, and an inability to form relationships because of fear of rejection. Self-esteem is appreciating your own inner value as a human being, independent of outer achievements, and the ability to believe in yourself. Those born with Sun-Saturn contacts may never feel that what they produce is ever “good enough” and they tend to be serious people. Wherever Saturn in placed in our charts is what we have to learn the hard way, and it takes time for Sun-Saturn to build self-confidence, and overcome paralyzing fears. And fear to be yourself is like an automatic assumption that you will be rejected and denied positive feedback.

The question needs to be asked: How do we develop self-confidence, when we are up against the inner critic who self-sabotages our best efforts at achievement? Self-doubt can plague the best of us, but for some of us, it can be crippling. You know the saying, “frozen with fear” well this is what happens when anxiety and doubt take over. When you feel inadequate it shows in your body language, energy, demeanour and behaviour. Those with Venus in hard aspect to Saturn often feel insecurity and fear around relationships. Saturn is a restricting and limiting force, and Venus rules inner value, love, relationships, and feelings of entitlement. Consequently, the result is low self-worth. It is said that we attract experience according to our own inner substance, and when you believe you are unlovable, you send those signals out in the world, and ultimately you will attract people that make you feel unlovable. The belief of being unlovable comes “before” the actual experience of rejection.

Venus-Pluto people can also face deep feelings of rejection, hate, pain and trauma in forming close relationships, and there may be fear of abandonment and loss. Pluto is akin to feelings that others are out to destroy and annihilate them. These people withdraw from social situations, and there is a high level of mistrust. Those with Sun-Pluto aspects are most prone to feelings of self-hatred, but they can be driven, passionate and obsessive. Still, the individual may undergo self-destructive episodes and have to deal with their poor self-image. Of course people can cover up these feelings and those less psychologically inclined may not see what is really behind the façade. Some people hide their fears and self-hatred so well, that it may be extremely hard to detect. Self-pride is another strong factor in the Sun-Pluto personality, and sometimes the individual buries his self-hatred in others, and despises others for what he has projected on to them. In hating others he seeks ways to destroy them, and when there is no love and compassion and tolerance for his enemy, we can imagine how he treats the enemy within. 

I don’t know how one goes about healing wounds in the personality, and it may take intense self-reflection and self-analysis. Chiefly, Saturn and Pluto are sufficient in dealing honestly with their own self-flaws. Sun-Pluto is deeply introspective and brutally honest and Sun-Saturn is competent enough at realistic assessments. At worst, both are harsh in any type of self-analysis and tend to dwell on the negative. Success may mean knowing one's limitations, and accepting oneself as less than perfect, to live the best of one’s ability. Through developing more compassion towards the self, it  may help heal the loneliness, shame, and self-hatred. No overtly Jupiterian philosophy helps, and I feel that most self-helps books express an over-optimistic and quick route to self-confidence. Saturn and Pluto contacts, and planets in Capricorn and Scorpio are not easily duped into quick fixes. Pluto understands the need for delving deep into the psyche (soul) and Saturn is far too practical, realistic and hardworking. Deep wounds, require time and soul searching, which can eventually lead to deep healing and greater fulfilment in life.

Astrology Twins

With all the recent controversy about astrology, its nice to think back to some positive astrology stories which hit the headlines and promoted the accuracy of our art. I predicted that astrology would benefit under the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction and that we would see it advance and further interest would spread. It certainly hit the media and has received some free advertising, but not the kind we had been hoping would come. I should learn not to be so optimistic with astrology's advancement in the modern world. The following quote is from A Manual of Astrology by Raphael, and although one lived a life of royalty and the other an ordinary life, it shows how the horoscope plays out in both realities, even if two people are born in a different class.

In the Newspapers of February 1820, the death of MR Samuel Hemmings was noticed.   It was stated that he had been an ironmonger and prosperous in trade - that he was born on the 4th of June 1738, at nearly the same moment as his majesty George the III. and in the same parish of St. Martin's in the fields; - that he went into business for himself on October 1760; when his late Majesty came to the throne, that he married (the 8th September 1761,) the same day as the king; and finally after other events of his life has resembled those which happened to the late king; that he dies on Saturday, January 29th 1820, on the same day, and nearly the same hour as his late majesty!

After such an authenticated and luminous instance as the foregoing, where the lives of two individuals born at the same moment, corresponded in every remarkable particular, even in life and death; can the Astrologer be accused of superstition or absurdity, should he pronounce the fates of mankind to be subject to planetary influence? Or can any rational mind, upon nature and sober reflection, attribute the foregoing most pointed agreement in their destinies - to mere chance?

Rihanna

Rihanna first dyed her hair bright red in June last year. I looked on the net for when reports appeared about this new daring look she was sporting. When she first coloured her hair, she had it cut short and it was shaved at the back. Rihanna’s hair is longer and softer now, and it’s a brave style, to say the least. I might be one of the few that actually likes her hair this way. The style change is such a bold and dramatic transformation, and I feel we often make strong statements about our changing values, personality and new found freedom through our choice of clothing, hair styling and accessories.

Britney shaved all her hair off when she split with Federline. The Toxic singer was under some heavy Pluto transits at the time of her transformation, although I always felt it was a hasty bid for change, and the real process takes much longer. However, it's undeniable that after a break-up we all want to feel like a different person, make ourselves more attractive, regain self-confidence and start a new life. I could probably think of a whole 12 step healing process which begins right with Aries - Identity. It's like we go right back to the beginning when a relationship ends, but this can present us with an exciting new adventure, and new chapter in our lives. 

I was wondering what was hitting her chart for such a shocking (Uranus) and bold reinvention, and she definitely stands out as an individual. Last summer we had the Jupiter conjunct Uranus transit in Aries, and astrologers around the globe predicted revolutionary change, progression, and excitement. Aries rules the colour red, independence, courage, boldness and daring. However, the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Aries has fallen wide by 13 degrees of Rihanna’s natal Venus in Aries. Still, Venus rules beauty, self-worth, and happiness and through expressing these individual qualities she feels more beautiful. I looked on Astrodatabank for Rihanna’s chart and they don’t even have the star’s birth chart, so it doesn’t seem likely there is any birth time available for the Barbados singer.

The web site Libra Rising is voting for a Leo or Sagittarius rising, so they are going for a fire ascendant. However, if she had an Aries Ascendant, it would put Venus in the 1st house in Aries and Pluto in Scorpio in the 8th house (taboos, abuse, and darkness). This chart is just pure speculation, and this exciting look could be inspired from the close vicinity of transiting Uranus edging closing to Venus in Aries. Rihanna has had an eventful couple of years in the public eye. The domestic abuse which occurred early in 2009 happened under the transit of Pluto over the singer’s Mars, Saturn, and Uranus conjunction in Capricorn. Rihanna’s personal will and assertion (Mars) is sometimes thwarted and controlled (Saturn), but her rebellious, original and wilful side (Uranus), breaks away from controlling forces.

Capricorn energy represents self-achievement, sufficiency and mastery. The transit of Pluto over Mars is often violent in expression and so themes of abuse, aggressive and dangerous situations may be prevalent. It can also represent a darker (Pluto) sexuality (Mars) coming through, as we have seen on her previous album, Rated R. When transiting Pluto passes over Saturn it signifies a feeling of powerlessness, stressful conditions, and external pressure. I have seen this contact in charts when some form of bullying has occurred in the individual’s life, it can be through a partner, boss, neighbours, siblings, companies, or colleagues. The house/s need to be assessed to see where this will happen.

I don’t consider myself a blindly optimistic astrologer, and sometimes there isn’t much one can do under such transits. All you can do is learn how to weather the storm, until it dies down, but it can put an individual under a tremendous amount of burden. Only afterwards can we see the positive benefits of such change. I have known very few people who welcome such transits with open arms, but the task at hand is to transform ambitions and goals. Pluto transits force growth upon the individual and they often signify irrevocable change.

Rihanna’s chart has many planets placed in the cardinal signs (Aries and Capricorn) and so when both transiting Uranus and Pluto enter the cardinal signs (Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn) it represents both revolutionary progression and transformation in her life, but especially in relationships. Rihanna's inner resources and feelings of self –worth, happiness and empowerment are affected. An exciting energy is running through her close relationships when transiting Uranus conjuncts Venus in Aries, so there will be sudden attractions and new innovative partnerships happening in her life at this point, and this energy will be at its most active from the beginning of 2013.

Mercury in Pisces

Mercury in Pisces understands life through the imagination, music, poetry, and the visual arts. Mercury here expresses itself best when communicating creative, intuitive, and sensitive perceptions. There is an instinctive receptivity to others’ feelings and wealth of collective experience.

The collective unconscious is like the great sea of all thoughts and feelings, and so they often perceive things that others don’t. A great fictional example of this placement is found in Ghost Whisperer, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s chart. The Piscean actress, plays Melinda. Melinda has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts; she helps to heal unfinished business and then crosses the spirits over into the light. As we watch her throughout the series we also see that she sometimes pays a price for the gift she has been given. Jennifer’s horoscope has Mercury in Pisces square Neptune, and her character struggles with people who disbelieve her (Neptune).

Mercury in Pisces is better communicating with images, and even if they can barely write a coherent sentence their sensitivity to colour, sound, and music helps them to convey what needs to be communicated. Mercury in Pisces keen sensitivity puts them in touch with other realms, and some people with this placement can be quite psychic. Furthermore, there is a marked capacity for knowing what others are thinking and feeling and so reflecting their views and thoughts. Conversely, it can be hard to distinguish their own thoughts from those of others around them. Mercury in Pisces is highly telepathic and open to subliminal messages, too. Neptune also rules hypnotism and subtle communication of images and words which can enter our minds without conscious control.

Those with Mercury here will find that opinions and ideas emerge from the unconscious, and they see intuitive images rather than logical interpretations. There is difficulty knowing where this knowledge originates from. Mercury in Pisces is in fall, but this does not impair intelligence. It suggests this mind resists pure logical explanations and receives information from ‘somewhere else’. Ideas stream through the pores of their minds, and so the mind works on transmitting this imaginative world to others, but they can keep these perceptions ‘solely’ to themselves. The ability to communicate clearly becomes muddled and lost in the distractions of their emotional world. Sometimes the connection line to the oceanic realm is more important than remembering mundane responsibilities. The day-to-day functioning of life doesn’t interest them much. Mercury in Pisces can be found drifting in and out of conversations, books, and music.

However, this person has to be careful not to let their imagination run away with them. In extreme cases it can indicate a person who loses all touch with reality, communicating with spirits, lost in thought, and retreating into the imagination. Mercury in Pisces impressionability and over-sensitivity can lead to misunderstandings and distortion of facts. They can easily get lost even in a place they know well. Sometimes there is also shyness and seclusion in communication. Mercury in Pisces is quite chameleon and change their viewpoints according to the last piece of information that was received. The imagination is put to good use and harnessed through writing stories and poems, communicating about music, art, symbols and other artistic forms. This person may also talk and listen compassionately, always lending a sympathetic ear. The individual may listen with acceptance and without judgment, demonstrating great understanding.

Venus-Pluto Aspects

Venus represents what we desire in life and the kind of love relationship we want. Human relationships are complex, and they have changed rapidly over the years, and we are seeing a great number of alternative relationships emerging – gay marriages, long term living arrangements, and bi-sexual relationships.

Though, there is no variation on the theme of relationships which cannot be found in astrology. If anything, astrology proves that we are psychically glued to certain archetypal patterns when in love, and these astrological symbols colour and shape the expression of our relationship.

Venus-Pluto aspects are particularly prone to “fated” attractions. The goddess Aphrodite (Venus) had considerable power, and she could afflict men and women with uncontrollable passions, and could bring madness and destruction on those who had offended her. When the beautiful Venus is imbued with the dark, powerful essence of Pluto the result is a seductive, emotionally intense and passionate affair.

The film Fatal Attraction illustrates this archetype and is about a woman’s obsession with a man she is dating. Lead actress, Glenn Close, was an astrological match for this role. Venus conjuncts her descendant and is opposite Pluto. The actress was quoted in 2008 as saying: "Men still come up to me and say, 'You scared the shit out of me.' Sometimes they say, 'You saved my marriage.'" The tragedy of this kind of love is the need to absolutely possess another individual. Possessiveness arises from insecurity which makes the individual feel threatened by any danger to the security of the bond. It can be difficult for Venus-Pluto to have ‘friendship only relationships with someone they have been intimately involved with. I am not saying that it cannot happen, but a lot depends on how a relationship ended.

The ending of a relationship is something almost everyone has experienced, and people who have been in life-long relationships are considered to be extraordinary exceptions. The ending of a relationship presents an opportunity to regain ourselves, and to take what we have learned from the relationship and the way in which it shaped us. Venus' symbol is the mirror and the things that we find difficult to value in ourselves, we project them onto other people. 

I remember reading a story about a woman who found it difficult to cope with her partner’s pathological jealousy. The man sought ‘treatment’ in a help centre and he was getting better at handling his emotions. However, she couldn’t cope with his change in personality and put a stop to his counselling sessions. The abusive and controlling style of his relating, involved him wooing her with such single minded devotion and intensity, that she was deeply and secretly flattered by his behaviour. The obsessiveness may have made her feel more secure in the relationship.

The purpose of a Venus-Pluto aspect is to fully experience the highs and lows of a relationship, both emotionally and sexually. The Venus-Pluto person will often plunge themselves into deep emotional waters, and Pluto is never satisfied with light or superficial relationships.

Pluto introduces Venus to what lies beneath the flowers and elegant gestures of romantic courtship. This underpinning is often not ‘pretty’, and certainly not ‘fair’. For the individual with Venus-Pluto who has not yet reached the middle of life, the fate may not have made itself known. But it becomes apparent later, which is why the aspect has acquired a reputation for broken marriages. Venus-Pluto also has a propensity for sexual triangles. These are neither fair nor wished for, but are a fact of life, generally compulsive and conductive to considerable suffering among all participants. Venus-Pluto is not cool or ‘liberated’ like Venus-Uranus, nor is it martyr like and self-sacrificing like Venus-Neptune. In terms of personality qualities, it is proud, passionate, intense and often achingly loyal. But the very intensity of its passion usually runs side by side with spite, vengeance, betrayal, loss, manipulation and a revelation of one’s own potential for the destruction of what one loves the most. By Liz Greene, The Astrology of Fate

Mercury in Capricorn

Mercury represents communication in all its various forms: the written and spoken word, talking, teaching, writing, lecturing and reasoning. Mercury symbolizes how we learn, think, and communicate, and describes what we think about, and how we talk, and how quickly, or slowly, we respond to the written word, text messages, and telephone calls. Mercury also rules our perception of life and how we make choices, decisions, and how we digest and process information.

Mercury in Capricorn describes a mind that perceives the reality of the world. Mercury here has a preference for being an intellectual authority, and speculative thinking is highly mistrusted by this person. The mind has a practical bent, and is disciplined, thorough and capable of deep concentration. Before speaking they carefully examine their words, to make sure what is said is correct and sensible. The individual excels at planning and organization, and has a good head for business.

Clear objective, and realistic they are unimpressed by exaggerated claims or promises. They insist on being shown the facts to back up any statement they hear, and their natural scepticism often borders on cynicism. An efficient and organized brain makes this a great placement for administrative tasks, and for handling information responsibly. The individual may be reluctant to express original ideas, if not supported by objective evidence, and proven facts.

Mercury in Capricorn is inclined to look to the past for answers, rather than try anything new and untested. Their Cautious and sceptical nature, often makes learning anything new extremely challenging, and time is needed to apply these ideas in practical, and working form. If the person does have an original mind, look to Uranus in the 3rd house, and Mercury-Uranus in aspect. Still, with Mercury in Capricorn, what is learned is usually retained for a long time, and the individual is more comfortable with facts and ideas that are traditional and conservative.

The mind can be serious, somber and pessimistic, and the individual enjoys quiet time alone for thinking and reading. Sometimes they can be terribly hard on themselves if silly mistakes are made. Mercury in Capricorn are born worriers, often imagining the worst possible outcome. The individual is persistent, structured and methodical, if not potentially rigid at times. Capricorn sticks to what has been tested and accepted.  Mercury’s humour in this sign is dry and ironic, and realistic, it generally sees everything for what it is, and they are not easily deluded.

Mercury in Capricorn doesn’t jump to conclusions, and may be wary of ideas that are far fetched or ungrounded. Their thoughts are sober and cautious, and every risk is calculated carefully. Above all, this person would hate to be thought of as stupid, and studies hard to gain respect in their chosen field of interest. You can picture the goat climbing the mountain; wanting to be sure it has solid footing each step of the way. In order to climb successfully, Mercury in Capricorn needs to acknowledge its fears; but not dwell on them.

The Progressed Moon

The progressed Moon takes around 28 years to travel through all 12 signs. The Moon moves around 13 degrees a day, or, symbolically 13 degrees a year. As the progressed Moon moves around the chart, it stays in each sign for roughly two and half years. The Moon allows us to experience every sign and house of the zodiac, and observing the cycle of the progressed Moon can be interesting.

The emotional concerns of this period are often coloured by the sign, house and aspects. The individual may dress differently, feel a shift in emotional expression, and find that their interests change and gravitate toward the concerns of the sign. For example, the progressed Moon in Taurus has been active in my chart for some time now, and my concern throughout this whole period has been on finances and building resources (Taurus). The progressed Moon is at 25 degrees of Taurus and is nearing the critical degrees. According to Carol Rushman, 28 and 29 degrees of Taurus are the bankruptcy degrees and a lot of debt can be accrued. The author says you might not go bankrupt, but you will have to pay the piper.

Following the progressed Moon through the signs and houses and its forming aspects is an excellent guide to our inner emotional life. There is an ebb and flow from yin (water and earth) to yang (fire and air) as the Moon moves around the zodiac. A focus on practical concerns, security, and work may be active when the Moon progresses through the earthy signs and houses. The Moon in Pisces or the 12th house may pass through a period of confusion and helplessness. Alternatively, the Moon in Gemini might see us making new contacts and learning new things.

The emotional development and maturity of an individual is also interesting to observe. The Saturn Return and the progressed Moon complete their first cycle at around 28 years old. For example, a girl of 18 years, although considered an adult hasn’t really the power to crystallize her emotions, and she may be limited by the lack of experience in the things of life. The time of real emotional (Moon) maturation (Saturn) coincides with the progressed Moon and Saturn's Return. Many individuals feel the growing urge to settle down at this juncture and make some kind of commitment. This may mean marriage and children, buying a house, committing to a career, but growing up emotionally often takes a life-time.

During the Saturn Return, we don’t suddenly mature and lose all our childish ways, and no one expects this. Society has certain expectations of us, and often expects us to have settled down and made a career choice at this age. Fear is our most potent emotion and this is what holds us back from moving forward into adulthood. Saturn can put a dampener on our sense of self-confidence and ability to act. Saturn’s position in the horoscope often describes our most painful and fearful area. However, the purpose of pain is to bring something to our attention, and we can remain perpetually adolescent if we fail to develop emotionally, and overcoming fear may involve stepping outside of our comfort zone (Moon). However, this can fill us with a sense of anxiety, apprehension, dread and uncertainty (Saturn). Fear can come in all forms: Fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of being alone in life.

The wish to achieve (Saturn) something is the first attitude that characterizes a movement towards maturity. To achieve something in the world often takes time, commitment, perseverance and self-sufficiency. As the demands for emotional maturity increases the terrain becomes rockier, but it’s probably what old man Saturn would call, “character building”. Emotional maturity also includes the capability to adapt to change; the ability to deal constructively with reality, and the capacity to grow and learn from life’s experience. The Moon rules our needs, safety and protection and says a lot about what we need in order to feel safe. We all have a tendency to fall back on our Moon when we feel threatened. Saturn rules the reality principle and the so-called hard facts of life.

The ability to handle frustration and limitation in any given situation shows great strides towards the maturing personality. In worldly terms 18 and 21 years old seem to define the period when adolescents are granted the full right of an adult. However, astrologically it happens much later. The Coming of Age is really defined when the individual has developed, learned a lesson or taken on some form of responsibility, and I wouldn’t know when that time really occurs for any individual. However, as someone once said, “Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional”.