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Past forecasts

by Terry Lamb, M.A., C.A.

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New to astrology? Read on and ignore the technical bits. There's plenty here for you too! Why don’t I write horoscopes for each sign?

AS I WRITE THIS (ON OCTOBER 29), Saturn has just slipped into Libra, but I began to feel the energy shift about a week ago. Saturn is now officially square to Pluto, and people are digging in their heels, vying for stronger position in their respective king-of-the-heap game. An example of this is in the US Senate, where Harry Reid introduced a healthcare reform bill on Monday (October 26). Without even drawing breath, Joe Lieberman, in an obvious pander to the three huge health insurance corporations in his state that fund his campaigns, said that he would filibuster any bill with a public option. This is in the face of his pledge not to break ranks with the Democrats to filibuster important legislation. He may yet bend to the protocols of party loyalty and his pledge, but he probably wants a backroom deal of some sort. Alternatively, he could just decide that he is not going to vote against his financial interests, no matter what.

Regardless of his motive and the outcome, this is an obvious power-grab, a behavior that is very “Saturn-Pluto”. Although Lieberman has shown that this behavior is within his nature, he has not actually taken such a strong stance (except against the use of the filibuster in just such circumstances). Saturn was conjunct Lieberman’s Neptune when he took this action, not the greatest placement for seeing the logical consequences of his actions.

We too may find ourselves dealing with people who have become more difficult, or with situations that defy solution or require difficult choices. As I indicated in my essay in October’s forecast, these new behaviors are fear-driven. Lieberman is afraid, just as is anyone who “doth protest too much”.

The Truth Comes Out.
In fact, this is one of the signs of fear-driven behavior. There are many more, but one that will gain less traction in the future is the reliance on “fake facts”. This is a devise that works best when planets are in mutable signs, and now that Saturn is out of mutable Virgo, those who are liberal with the truth will be called out more and their “logic” will be blatantly more absurd. They may even have more trouble convincing themselves that their “truth” is true.

Of course, we are all liars to the extent that we lie to ourselves, and you can rest assured that we will be called on our own internal prevarications as well. This is good. It may be humbling, but we will live more effective, successful, and happier lives when we have shed our self-deceptions. Knowing that this is an aspect of human nature helps us to be gentler both with ourselves and with others as our eyes open.

This brings us back to fear. Self-deception is based on fear. It protects us. No, we won’t give up all our personal lies — only the ones we don’t need any more to carry on. In the meantime, we will become more acutely aware of our fears, which gives us the opportunity to dispel them. Indeed, this is our prime directive when Saturn and Pluto come into contact.

If you have Saturn and Pluto in contact in your birth chart, this time is more significant for you. If you were born in 1930-32, 1939-40, 1946-48, 1955-56, 1964-66, 1973-74, 1981-82, 1992-94, and 2001-02. (Years in bold may feel the energy a little more.)

We have already had several recent planetary events to cue us on what to expect. There were the eclipses in Cancer-Capricorn, on July 7 and 21. There was Mercury’s retrograde in early Libra, which affected us most in late August-early September. Underlying that is the most significant of all, Pluto’s transit in Capricorn, which began in late January 2008. Most of us noticed that very much. It’s when the financial system began to wobble and our world began to change. Simultaneously, the fragility of the global ecosystem and how much damage was being done — how much more advanced global warming is than was previously thought — came into highlight.

To get a sense of what’s ahead, look at what you’ve been experiencing since January 2008, and what happened last summer around the times of the eclipses. The Saturn-square-Pluto reaches its peak on November 15, with two more contacts before they part company (January 31 and August 21).

Saturn Gives Us a Vision of the Future.
The best part of this change of signs is that now we get to look ahead. We may have caught a glimpse of what we thought might be the best next step, but we weren’t fully in the energy of the shift — we couldn’t be sure. When any planet enters a new sign, we feel a purpose related to that ingress. Even with the Moon, which enters a new sign every 2.5 days, this occurs, but with a slow-moving body like Saturn (which changes signs every 2.5 years), we take on a bigger task and feel it more deeply. In November, we are seeing the shape of this task and feeling deeply drawn to fulfill it. It is a moving and uplifting experience.

I know that I had a vision of the future in late August. I made a list of my intentions on how to develop that vision. Since then I’ve let it sit idle on my desk. I’ve been busy completing — upgrading an old computer that was about to fail, clearing out old ideas and objects that don’t fit where I’m heading. While for me there’s plenty of completing to do, I am reasonably ready to launch into the future.

Of course, once we’ve developed the vision, the work lies ahead of us. When we get this vision, we tap into our soul level. This means that the task involves challenge and personal growth in weak areas as well as just plans and actions. It pulls in our ties to others and our self-image. It challenges us in whatever way is unique to our nature (birth chart), circumstances, relationships, and unfolding choices.

Whatever we take on, it is a three-year project in the making, lasting through September 2012. It overlaps with other tasks we have taken on through the other planetary processes we are experiencing concurrently.

When we see this process for what it is, it can make our daily experiences, which can often feel mind-numbingly mundane, deeply meaningful. It can create a sense of progress and process. It gives us a direction, something to shoot for. I invite you to write down your vision now, while you are in touch with the deepest parts of yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it may be more developmental than permanent. In fact, you may completely change your perception of what’s really going on or what you want to accomplish by the time Saturn’s sojourn through Libra is done. (To schedule a session on your soul’s plan for Saturn in Libra, click here.)

A Saturn in Virgo Retrospective
This brings us to consider what we accomplished while Saturn was in Virgo, because we took on a task when Saturn entered this sign of service in September 2007. Of course, health matters and how we provide service to others are tied to this period, but there will be a meaning more personal and specific than this for each of us. You were inspired at that time just as you are now. What did you take on?

We may have focused on our health and applied discipline to achieve well-being in all its forms. (We have another impetus toward healing too, through the planets in Aquarius.) We may have examined our livelihood — not just in terms of whether we enjoy (or can endure) it, but whether it gives us security, fulfills a worthy purpose, and does not harm our health. As Saturn opposed Uranus, we were shocked into seeing rigidity in our lives — old, entrenched habits that needed to change.

If you feel like the work on these issues is not over, you are not alone. In fact, we get another go at it when Saturn returns to Virgo (while retrograde) April 7, then until July 21 to finish our Virgo tasks.

What Dreams May Come
With the slower planets clustered mostly in Capricorn-Pisces (see Chart A), their cycles are fairly synchronous. Since October 12, we’ve been experiencing a shift toward completion in those cycles. Neptune joins Jupiter and Chiron in this phase when it turns direct (moving forward) on November 1. All three of these planets have been traveling together through the last half of Aquarius since May.

This has plunged us deep into a healing process, one we don’t usually have access to. We have had the chance to clear out core misunderstandings that are responsible for obstacles in our lives. This year is the peak of a three-year process that will continue through next year. If you need help figuring out what situation(s) tie into this, check what you were experiencing around February 9 and all of May and August.

For me, it has been an opportunity to get in touch with subtle factors that influence my energy balance and level of vitality — everything from toxic metals to childhood emotional issues to a latent bacterial infection. The theme of Aquarius is many small things from many sources resulting in a large effect. This means that there is no magic-bullet fix — rather, many different solutions must be found to resolve the overall issue. Fortunately, it also allows us to tap the “community of energies” where one system in balance helps the other systems in our body to heal as well.

These planets working together may have also led us to teeter between high hopes and deep despair. This has been evident in the body politic, as populist movements (very Aquarian) have tried to find their voice in politics from Iran to the United States. The public has ridden a roller coaster with respect to many political issues, particularly healthcare reform and marriage equality. The good news is that the voice of the people is having a greater impact than before, and progress is being made in bringing about necessary changes.

Neptune has to do with dreams, visions, and creativity, as well as all things spiritual. With Neptune moving forward again, we can see progress in our healing process, and that clears the way to fulfill dreams that we’ve put on hold because of personal limitations that no longer hold us back.

We’ll be solidifying our gains and improvements as the year ends, even as we are reminded by challenges that there’s still more to learn. We’ll see exactly how much we’ve gained as the Sun, Mercury, and Venus trigger the Aquarian cluster. We’ll feel tested by these contacts, which occur November 8–15 and 23–26. There are balancing contacts going on at the same time that ease our way as they occur, however.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Mars Is in its Retrograde Shadow Again.
Even as these cycles reach their conclusion, Mars is in the opening phase of its two-year cycle with the Sun. Starting on October 17, when it moved into Leo, it entered the part of the zodiac over which it will retrograde starting December 20. Actions we take between these dates will be tested and either strengthened or found wanting during the retrograde, which lasts through March 10.

Because Mars is in Leo, we are likely to exert too much enthusiasm in areas where we later feel less interest. We may be chagrined by what we’ve gotten ourselves into, or we may discover that we’ve been too meek and weak in pursuing our potential. We can use Mars in Leo to take actions outside our normal range, but we must be prepared to deal with the follow-up when Mars is retrograde and live with the results once Mars is direct again.

Uranus Gives Us a Break — But Don’t Blink.
Uranus is back-burnered this month by the other planetary events that are occurring. For now, Saturn has left it behind so it is temporarily without contact late in the month. It will leap back into the foreground come November 30, when Mercury stimulates Uranus just prior to its official direct station (the end of its retrograde period) on the next day (December 1). This means that we should keep our finger on the pulse of change and create space for the miraculous in our lives. We’ll see it resurface at this time.

The second grand trine is in Water and occurs on the 7th (Chart B). This one is threaded with a pleasant element of surprise, as it involves Uranus. Be ready to respond to unexpected delights — or create them for yourself and others.

The third grand trine is longer-lived, lighting us up from the Fire signs on the 26th-28th (Chart C). We’ll feel revitalized and energetic. With connections to Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius to form a kite, this is the ultimate opportunity pattern. It makes for a blissful holiday weekend with easy travel, even if that’s all we want to do with this energy.

Not to be forgotten is a minor grand trine on the 21^st. The Moon splits a Sun-Uranus trine to smooth our holiday preparations or that last burst of industry before the Sun leaves Scorpio.

November In Depth

November 1-3
The Full Moon in Taurus brings out feelings of being both stable and stuck. Look for the roots of resistance to changes in routine — this may be what’s holding you back. Be willing to clear the cobwebs. It may feel bold and daring now, but after you make the changes, you’ll laugh at your caution.

November 4-5
We’ll feel the fog lift as Neptune returns to forward motion and contributes to a giddy Air grand trine. Lost objects are found, and we find new clarity to apply in fulfilling our goals. Obstacles fall away, and we feel we can fly!

November 6-7
The second grand trine of the week falls in Water to add flow to our lives. We are at home with our feelings, and more accepting of change — adventurous and inspired.

November 8-15
This is the first “test period” for how well we are fulfilling our hopes and dreams, healing ourselves, and participating in community. This occurs as the Sun and Mercury make contact with the Healing Conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius.

November 12–17
We’ll be feeling Saturn’s contact to Pluto (the first of three) over these few days. Watch how it plays out in the world around you to get a perspective on your own experience of it. Watch for areas where you feel powerless or fearful, or where you feel there is no hope. These are where Saturn-Pluto is making its mark in your life. These are of course all illusion, since everything changes, no one is powerless, and there is always hope. This is also the dark of the Moon, so our feelings are likely to be internalized now, set to unfold over the next two weeks.

November 18–22
In spite of Venus’s square to Mars, there are other ways to create harmony in relationships. The 21st is a good day for building on good ideas that you’ve been developing over the year.

November 23-26
This is the second test period of November, with this one focused on the health of relationships and finances.

November 25-29
We experience a very useful and blissful grand trine in Fire that promises fairer weather, safe travels, harmonious gatherings, and good food in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.

November 30
We are tuning into Uranus again, the big player in the first half of December, as it makes its station to forward motion tomorrow (December 1). How have you incorporated the unexpected, miraculous, and chaotic into your life? What have you done to invite the creative spirit into your consciousness? The more you have done to consider these elements of existence, the better you will accommodate the forces that are released starting today and extending through December 14.

Looking Ahead
December is about three planets: Uranus, Mars, and Pluto. It promises to bring some startling events. Don’t expect the holiday shopping season to go as planned, and travel could be very difficult in the days prior to Christmas. In spite of this, we regain our freedom in areas where we have felt fettered. We can move ahead again!

November will take us deep into the hidden recesses of consciousness, helping us consolidate the gains we’ve made so far this year. It’s symbolically the time for us to take our harvest and use it to build a foundation for next year’s successes. Integration and completion are key.

Significant Planetary Events

Uranus and Neptune are retrograde. Venus is in rulership. Saturn is in exaltation.

All dates are based on Pacific Time.
Blue = harmonious/Red or orange = challenging/intense/black = neutral
Events in bold are more significant.

© Terry Lamb