Inspiredastrology Weblog

Venus trines Pluto May 1, 2008 @ 3:44:34 AM EDT
Venus trines Saturn May 1, 2008 @ 6:19 34 PM EDT

There is a Grand Trine on May 1. It includes Venus — trine Pluto — trine Saturn.

This is the same as the Grand Trine of April 20– which instead of Venus, included the Sun and Mercury as the 3rd point of the triangle. (The trines are the darker blue lines, sextiles are lighter blue.) So this Grand Trine including Venus is a continuation of recent events, with a new theme.

The change of April to May this year is a special moment. The Moon in Pisces will create a quick Kite to the Grand Trine as the early Pisces Moon opposes Saturn (stationing Direct) in Virgo. The distance we feel, and any sense of lack and alienation can also be part of a greater spiritual awakening, a deeper look at ourselves and how we interact, how we give, what we expect, and what we get. It is our choice, whether to hold on tight to feeling bad or to begin a process of learning to relax, release, and center ourselves. Being responsible now means being centered, not overreacting emotionally, keeping it calm so you can think clearly at all times; looking beyond blaming others and accepting our responsibility/ability for things to flow smoothly.

With Venus as part of this Grand Trine to Saturn (as it stations Direct) and Pluto, you may find yourself working in a way that is focussed and concentrated, and possibly alone. It can be an ideal time to do creative work that draws on your inner self and accesses your deep intuitive creativity in a way that is disciplined, relaxed, and precise. Take your time.

The Grand Trine with Saturn stationing Direct comes at time when it is time to get serious about your talents. How ARE you going to market yourself? Exact, what are the steps? There’s no need it ALL alone, but you have to take the first step on your own– without blaming anyone else for the results. This may not be easy. If you are feeling and projecting hate, you will feel the hate coming back to you, very strong during this Grand Trine configuration– so strong it can be debilitating. However— you can consciously choose LOVE over hate, and breathe LOVE into the mix, sending and receiving more LOVE. What you send out, LOVE or HATE, is recirculating now.

This can be a good time for thinking seriously and practically about making major purchases or investments. The investments you make now are likely to be long-term and relatively safe, but you may have a strong yearning to beautify and improve things from the bottom up. If you’re not sure, a trusted professional may be able to guide you as you take things apart and put them back togeher, even better.

In relationships, this can be a time you want to get deeper, more seriously and spiritually. What is the purpose of your relationship? Is there a commitment, and if so, is it deep enough to bear the realities of living every day? What can you do to improve and understand your sexuality on a deeper level? This is a time you can re-generate a relationship. But the commitment has go both ways.

You can stretch it to call this a Kite to Neptune-North Node. A KITE occurs when one of the planets in a Grand Trine has a planet opposing it. The opposing planet then also sextiles (60 degrees) the other 2 planets in the Grand Trine. Neptune sextiles Venus and Pluto and opposes Saturn (or it did last year). This is a wide sextile (6 degrees) and out of sign because it’s separating and moving out of orb. Usually, aspects are between signs of the same element. However, the Moon passing through early Taurus on May 4th, the same day that the North Node and Neptune are conjunct, not only lengthens the time the KITE is in effect, it makes this KITE more influential, if subtly.

When an aspect is out of sign, it is a few degrees into the next or previous sign. Counting by degrees apart, it is a sextile aspect (60 degrees apart). Yet, the planets are not in the same element. In this case, the Grand Trine is in Earth. Neptune and the North Node are conjunct in Aquarius, an AIR sign (a perfect KITE would include a planet in WATER opposing one of the Earth sign planets). Out-of-sign aspects can make any aspect less potent. It can also give it more perspective which can give it a notable influence. Since Neptune rules oil and Venus carries the theme of money, we can see that the price of oil has the support (sextiles) to rise. So does everything Neptunian. Including people with strong Neptune placements in their charts.

This Kite is an old story. In this Grand Trine chart, the Kite is based on the separating opposition of Saturn to Neptune. It was exact from August 2006-June/July 2007. So this is old business reappearing. With the help of the Grand Trine, perhaps we can figure out more about sustainable business practices that benefit everyone. Or, we can find ourselves stuck in a rut that keeps going round and round.

Neptune is also conjunct North Node as the focal point of a KITE. If you have faith, you just might meet someone who upgrades and sustains your life in some crucial way. This is a time to delve into your spirituality, regardless of the price or lack of funding.

When the Sun and Mercury joined the Saturn-Pluto trine to create a Grand Trine, Mars was approaching an opposition to Jupiter. The Moon was Full. The energy was fast-paced, which can be challenging for an Earth Grand Trine that includes Saturn and Pluto, both slow and thorough movers. So you seem to spin your wheels, trying to make things happen, for real.

As Venus enters Taurus and joins the circle (the Sun and Mercury have moved past the Trine), it can be time to slow down and add some financial reality and clarity to your manifesting formula.

Feelings can get intense this week, especially if there’s something you deeply want and see someone else enjoying, while you feel denied the same pleasure or success. Or perhaps you feel a pang of jealousy when your loved one has any affectionate feelings for another.

Current Grand Trines do not make this an easy time to create change in your life. No matter how much you say you want change, the hold of the status quo is compelling. Even if you have complaints, you can be comfortable in your situation, or have more fear of change than of continuing, despite the parts you don’t like.

Limitations have a purpose, which is why we encounter them. And what makes us feel limited? Shame. Some shame is healthy. Most of it is toxic. And the result of too much shame is self-sabotaging patterns that keep you stuck. So every time something positive happens, somehow you ruin it. In astrology, psychological patterns are represented by patterns like Grand Trines, T-Squares, Grand Crosses. These patterns are compelling. They can keep us stuck in ruts that feel natural, yet we suppress our talents, our thoughts. Why are we afraid to spread our wings and show our beauty? Because many of us are afraid that we’re going to do something “stupid” that works against our best interests.

So what if that’s true? What if you shared and were rejected? What if you really do still have more work to do? What if you need more practice doing something you love? We may have to push ourselves further to get the results we envision. But that just means there’s still more of ourselves we can explore, more gifts we can develop, enjoy, and share. As long as you refuse to grow, you will keep repeating a pattern, no matter how much you complain about it. It’s not complaining that changes lives. The resistance you encounter is your unwillingness to change. WHY? Because change always involves some adjustment, which may not feel immediately familiar or comfortable. We’d rather be miserable with what we know than uncomfortable with what we don’t. We can make other choices.

If you’re serious about changing or improving anything, you will have to make a commitment you can stick to, and keep doing it. What can you do now to attract more of what you want? And if you get it, what will you do with it? Having an intention and a plan can help in your effort to attract your goals and success.

If you can visualize it, you can attract it! Even if that seems to be in slow motion for now.

Lauren Edmond
artcharts.com

One of the main astrological events of the week is the Mars-Jupiter opposition. This is JUMP-to-conclusions energy, the kind that your ego loves! The kind of energy that jumps at any chance to prove it’s right, and the other person deserves to be trounced, blasted, crushed before you’ve thought it through — immediately!

Mars is about passion. What’s so seductive about blaming someone for not doing what they “should” have done? The ego gets excited when it thinks it has a way to control people, something that cannot be argued, only followed immediately. And this presumes you know what the other person needs– better than they do. That’s a lot to take on! No wonder it often backfires, especially obvious during a strong Mars-Jupiter opposition.

Before you jump to a conclusion, check your facts. This is a JUPITER opposition, so the temptation to stretch and exaggerate the truth is strong.

This once-every-2-year event is super charged by its ties to the last New and Full Moons. Mars is not only opposing Jupiter, Mars is square Venus and trine Uranus.

This is a time to step up and do more. Being eager is exciting. Yet if you push it too far this week, you can wind up with more, or less than you expected. And you can alienate friends and allies if you’re moving too fast to be sensitive.

T-Square
When Mars and Jupiter oppose, they are both square Venus — and Pallas. Venus and Pallas are conjunct, putting both Venus AND Pallas at the center of this week’s T-Square. Venus-Pallas squares Mars and Jupiter. This explains why people who are talented, artistic, creative, are being referred to in the media as “elitist”. This is why Hillary doesn’t have a chance. Not this week, which is a crucial week in her campaign. This does not mean I am putting a judgment out or saying she doesn’t have the talent, ability, and drive to do the job. But right now people on this planet may not understand or rally to endorse an assertive woman. Or a creative man. But it can push them to try harder.

It’s important to express outrage during this Mars-Jupiter. And the way it’s done will decide whether or not we can be effective in expressing our outrage. To come across in a way that’s genuine, believable, and effective, we have to be aware of our own internal conflicts and able to maintain our cool and confidence in any situation. If you have an important message or agenda, something you need to get done, you will need to be assertive and watch any tendency to become aggressive or defensive, signs that you have not worked out your own internal conflicts and may not come across as a someone worthy of trust or capable of sincerity.

Besides from behavior, this is a week you can spend on indulgences. Something you decided was too expensive may be the thing you have to purchase this week. Even if you blow your budget or accept less than you’re worth, you can make friends and influence people with your positive energy and generosity. Holding on out of fear can help to deplete your bank account, while sincerely feeling your gratitude can start a positive trend. Quickly.

Aspects to Jupiter often indicate luck, so even if you do take it a bit too far, you’re still likely to luck out. Things can work out better than expected. Sometimes you have to push a little harder to make big things happen. Sometimes that offends people, but if the work and good feelings you’re extending are exciting and can benefit yourself and others, you can find yourself riding a wave of success now and in the near future.

good luck
Lauren
artcharts.com

ps. reality tip- in true Mars-Jupiter fashion, I have started receiving 100s of spams titled: returned mail, undeliverable mail, etc etc etc. I am deleting them and I encourage you to do the same. Always be careful opening any spam and certainly– never click on a link you do not trust!

There are a few aspects between late Friday night and early Saturday morning that can turn this “date night” into something you may not like.

As the Moon in Venus-ruled Libra opposes Venus and squares Mars, we are getting a sneak preview of this weekend’s Full Moon effect (more on that in the Newsletter!)

This is the time people may NOT see your best qualities. Why not? Because they’re angling. They’re thinking how much they can get and how little they can give back. To this goal, they may make sure you know that you’re “not all that”, in fact, you’re not worth much at all. From that position of lowered self-esteem, you’re “supposed” to accept whatever they’re willing to give, which may be far less than you are really worth. But— this assumes that you let the person manipulate you. That you accept their version of who you are instead of the true you. If you do accept their judgment, you can find yourself giving much more than you intend, and not doing the things you really do need to do for yourself. And this can leave you feeling drained and really lower the value of what you’re giving, making it seem like they were right, what you have to give it not good enough.

Accepting the judgments of others as who you are can bring you down, lower your expectations, put you back in whatever negative comfort pattern you use to feel better. You can do far more good for the world if you are yourself instead of what others suggest you are “supposed” to be– or else! Getting angry, blaming, internally or externally, will keep you frustrated. More important, what are your feelings? On this Full Moon weekend, take the time to figure out your own values, priorities, and feelings before jumping into someone else’s value judgment of yourself.

The Moon in Libra interacting with the current Venus-Mars square can make it seem like someone is being very insensitive. Yet, if you react in a way that is defensive, you can make it worse instead of better.

When you use your energy to manipulate others, when you make idle threats to keep others under your control, you are wasting your precious energy, and accruing debt. What to do? Let it go! Seriously. Breathe it out. When? How is NOW? Or you say when. Planning for the future is fine, but it’s not accomplished until it’s done, and that can only be now. Deep exhale, then breathe in.

The astrology of now is that when you offer someone way less than their true value in the attempt to “keep them in their place”, you may find that they get a better offer and your offer is off the table! Yes, you can be fabulous!

Have a great day!
Lauren
artcharts.com
laurenedmond.com

Outer planet aspects usually bring some kind of large-scale change, and this can be especially exciting when they involve expansive Jupiter and changeable Uranus. And since Venus, Vesta and Uranus are conjunct, this also means Venus (and Vesta and Uranus) sextile Jupiter. This can be an ideal time to step out and try something new. To achieve your goals and remain centered despite whatever happens around you, approach life from a new perspective.This is the time to think positively and get things done without thinking about why not. You can worry again starting Sunday when Sun and Mars are exactly square and will be through the approaching New Moon in Aries on April 5. That’s a lot of impatient energy and that’s significant “because Mars rules Aries, which is where the Sun is now. Why so impatient? Because everyone is telling you to hurry up and get it done yesterday. Of course that is going to make you feel more anxious!

While the Sun and Mars are square, the Sun is also semisquare Neptune. So the anger or irritation you feel can be an illusion. The old adage that it’s never about what gets you angry is especially true this weekend. If you are disappointed or dissatisfied, check out the reality of your expectations before you blow off steam on someone undeserving. Things may not be what they seem! The resistance you encounter is not coming from “them”, it’s coming from you (Sun aspects Mars and Neptune). We continue to blame others until we give ourselves permission to go beyond our resistance and make actual changes.

Read more about Jupiter sextile Uranus in the blog piece on Saturday’s Last Quarter Moon (also on this blog).

This is Jupiter sextiles Uranus from the StarLight Solutions Forecast:
Mar 28, 2008 (Mar 17, 2008 to Apr 2, 200 Jupiter Sextile Uranus

“You are open and eager to have new experiences, ideas, and people in your life, and thus draw them to you. A series of unusual events or coincidences may bring unexpected good fortune. Unbidden changes work out in your favor and allow you more freedom and room to move - like being “bumped up” from coach to first class.

This is an exciting and stimulating time, an excellent period to begin a new venture or attempt something unprecedented.

Working with groups or collectives can be a very positive experience now, especially if you feel that your freedom, individuality, and room to move is encouraged. Other people stimulate you to new ways of thinking and being, and you do the same for them.

Positive Potentials:

Increased optimism, confidence, and willingness to try a radically different approach. Cross-cultural experiences that expand your understanding. Unexpected positive developments socially and professionally.

Negative Potentials:

Very few, or none.

Remedies and Suggestions:

Begin asking for what you want, put out clear intentions and goals, and you’ll attract positive responses. Carpe diem!”

And this is Jupiter sextiles Uranus from the Advanced Astrology Forecast:
Mar 28, 2008 (Mar 17, 2008 to Apr 2, 200 Jup Sxtil Ura

“Your life is very upbeat and progressive now. You enjoy jovial, spirited get-togethers and parties, and you feel optimistic and enthusiastic. Associates, co-workers, and other businesses that you conduct business with are now ready and willing to talk to you about making progressive changes. Contracts or agreements signed at this time tend to be fortunate, although they do lead to progressive changes that make people who want to hold onto the status quo unhappy.

You become very interested in progressive options in all phases of life, and you take an active interest in new ideas and inventions. You may also participate in social change which, perhaps surprisingly to you, is met with little resistance and considerable interest from the public.”

On this Valentine’s Day 2008, Venus, planet of love, is having a tough time with Mars, planet of passion. It’s not that they’re not getting along, it’s just that they don’t have much in common right now. Being together is an uncomfortable stretch.

This is because the balance of give and take is off.

Love may not be reciprocated. The love you give may not be returned and the love you receive may not be from the source you intended. You may not trust someone who is being honest, while your desires lead you to someone who takes advantage, rips you off.

Why not?

Judgment. Gets you every time. It seems so natural in the moment. Of course you have to filter out most of the people you meet, there are just too many. Same thing with information. Too much. Yet, when you form opinions without understanding, it’s called judgment. What’s so bad about that?

Judgment creates resistance, and that creates friction and defensiveness which stifle your energy and distort your passions and desires. This makes natural self-expression more repressed, calculated, or inappropriate. Off.

Judgment creates negativity. You may not think so in the moment. In fact, you may feel elated, but it’s bloat and it starts to eat away, slowly. It creates insecurity, bad feelings, bad vibes. And that lowers your vibrations, which makes you feel less and less attractive, and less likely to attract any of the things you want and know you deserve.

On this Valentine’s Day, with Venus and Mars forming an inconjunct aspect (150 degrees), judgment can throw you off. The love you attract may NOT be the love you desire, while the love you desire may not be what you get. This can mean inappropriate come-ons and rejected offers. You can be obsessed with a desire, or you may not care about someone who feels passionately towards you. You may trust the wrong person, selling yourself short. And you may mistrust the one who really does value you. Give and take are not in balance.

To heal and re-connect to your source of LOVE, think about these questions:

What are you expecting? What are you giving? Are you willing to try to understand? Do you really care or are you obsessed with trying to get something? Are you willing to work through something, or do you want to conquer? Is it your ego or your heart?

Finding your true answers can get your vibes back into the positive love zone and help you to start connecting to love that feels good.

Happy Valentine’s Day,
Lauren

Steamy. Sexy. Hot and bothered. That’s Venus on top of Pluto.

Innuendos? You bet!

But when Venus and Pluto get together, and on the last degree of Sagittarius, which is where Pluto will until almost midnight (1/25/08), we are finally ready to let go of heavy relationship issues– the kind that keep you separated from true intimacy. The hidden issues, the kind you never speak about, the secret sensitivities that lurk deep inside and still rule your life, even if you consciously don’t think so. And while Venus is conjunct Pluto, your relationship issues may not be obvious. But if you’re “lucky”, or willing to be wise, the last degree of Sagittarius just might have a gift for you….

It’s almost time to get to work! If you want it, make it real. Be honest. Fantasies won’t work long-term. And right now, you can re-define your relationship to relationship. Step by step.

Step 1 — other people are NOT you. Having some healthy curiosity about The Other can make EVERY relationship more fun and less need-based. YOU have gifts to bring to every relationship. What are they? Don’t repress them by only looking for what YOU can GET. That makes it harder to actually receive anything, because you’re always looking for what more you can get, never really digesting what you’re getting, never looking for what you can give.

If you can’t give, you probably have a hard time accepting, because that puts you in a vulnerable position. You’ve already admitted you’re interested, and now it’s either a shared feeling or an opportunity for a power play. Who’s more interested, who’s in the better position, who’s the alphadog.

Conflicts will come up in any relationship, but if you see conflict as an opportunity to assert your power OVER, you miss out on an opportunity to turn a misunderstanding into a deeper understanding.

This is the wisdom of the last degree of Sagittarius.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

[Monday's Aries Moon squares Jupiter and sextiles Mercury. Tuesday's First Quarter Moon in Aries, with ruler Mars sesquisquare Mercury]

What seems like an easy decision may be more complicated than first glance, and further discussions can be helpful. While you’re a planning big expansion and thinking fast, the equipment and people you’re relying on may not be able to keep up with your pace.

You can take positive action and get things done, but if you’re offering too much or pushing too hard, you can increase the stress level to OVERLOAD and create more friction additional conflicts.

This can be a busy week. The week starts with the First Quarter Moon(Tuesday) in active Aries with ruler Mars sesquisquare Mercury, while the Sun sesquisquares Saturn. Whether you’re doing errands or attending an important meeting, you can get more enjoyment, energy, and satisfaction from your interactions and connections if you go with the flow and overlook the small irritating things.

Or, you can resist and insist on full ego control. And wind up feeling agitated and stir up conflicts that make your BIG goals more difficult to achieve. Sure, you may be right and you can “win”, but you can also stir up bad feelings and lose the energy you could use to get things done.

It can be a lot more energizing to let go and let the higher spirit guide you this week. As Venus sextiles Neptune on Wednesday, you can easily see the best qualities and intentions in everyone you meet. And this unconditional feeling of love can inspire you to give selflessly for a purpose higher than your personal needs and desires. It can also make you feel genuinely happy

Venus opposes Mars on Saturday. Expect to feel the POWER of attraction INTENSELY this weekend. Do not underestimate how love can make you feel or what it can give you the courage and energy to do! Is it true love, or just infatuation? You’ll know by the response you get this weekend.

Have a wonderful week!

More to come soon!

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, if you benefit from the articles on this blog and you don’t want an astrology report or reading, please let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks

If you read my series on Venus is Happy, that was last month when Venus was making lots of happy aspects. That’s not what’s happening this week. And it’s showing in the economy and the polls, and maybe in your life.

Venus, planet of attraction, is having a tough time. Venus started the week by squaring Saturn (1/7), and went on to square Vesta (1/9) and will square Uranus (1/12).

However, Venus is NOT ALONE!! She has SUPPORT through her commitments to LOVE and relationship. Venus is also conjunct Juno (1/7), putting Venus and Juno at the focal point of a T-Square, and highlighting the Saturn-Uranus opposition (which will be exact on Election Day in the USA). No wonder Hillary didn’t win in Kansas. Women are NOT favored this week! Not at all. And especially a woman known to the world as a famous wife as well as a strong woman on her own. That goes not only for Hillary, but for all strong, married women.

Yet, the conjunction of Venus to Juno shows that by having faith (Sagittarius) in relationship (Juno-Venus), you can prevail against challenges. And more surprises are coming…? Venus will square Uranus (politics) on Saturday, so no story is written in stone right now.

While the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction intensifies as it becomes exact, on an almost-unrelated front, good things are happening with love and money.

Venus, planet of love, money, and nice things, has been making helpful aspects, helping money and love flow. This week, Venus in Scorpio will trine Mars, currently Retrograde in Cancer. And they will both be sextile to Saturn. [Venus/Mars=Saturn]

This position of Venus suggests that despite feelings of undeniable passion, there can be resistance and inhibitions that make it difficult to attract money or affection. Instead of feeling unadorned and unloved, look into the issues you (and/or your partner) may have in relation to money and intimacy, either through tradition or dysfunction. How RECEPTIVE are you to taking love, and money? Since Venus and Mars are in WATER signs, it can be easier to feel the emotions that accompany your passions and work through any resistance. And since both Venus and Mars sextile Saturn, this is about the RESPECT you feel for the one you love. This is about looking beyond the sex symbols and into what lasts. This is about making a commitment to what you love.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

Venus and Mars are at it again! They are making square (90 degree) aspect on Monday, November 19.

This Venus-Mars square offers a way through the tensions of relationships, so your tango doesn’t get tangled in relationship goo.

If you feel like your giving OR receiving is out of balance, you can feel unappreciated, which can drain your energy and intensify any feelings of conflict. Before you end a romance, this SQUARE calls on each of to give more thought to WHY our relationships get out of balance. Are you both able to give? to receive? It’s not as simple as it seems. Both giving and receiving require being open to the other person and to your own heart. If you exist in a shame-based blaming relationship, you are not giving or receiving, you are staying closed-off by blaming the other person. Though joyless, this kind of lifestyle can seem very comfortable. Being open to giving OR receiving requires great strength AND great sensitivity. And that’s the balance Venus-in-Libra square Mars can show you this week.

Mars, currently stationing Retrograde, is part of a Grand Trine that also includes Uranus (and the Moon on Monday) and Mercury in the guest co-host seat for this week only, as Mercury trines Mars on Monday and Uranus on Wednesday. This is the 3rd and last time. Mercury made a trine to Mars before the last Mercury Retrograde station (September 26), during Mercury Retrograde (Oct 17), and this week (Nov 19) for the final time.

You can make fast progress now if you communicate your needs and ideas. If you leave your happiness to whether or not someone can read your mind, you can find yourself in a continuous disappointment loop. But this week, your ability to communicate can be exceptionally clear and persuasive. You can get things done quickly— just by using the right words.

Step one is to write. When you write, you clarify your thinking. If there is something you want, if you have a goal you would like to achieve, write it down. Thinking about it is a good start, but if you want to make it happen, start writing. Writing and communicating can help to balance you emotionally. Sharing is not required, but if you feel that you want to reach out, make new friends, and share more of yourself so you can grow, Mars-Mercury-Uranus in trine formation this week is the PERFECT time to start your blog or social-network page. Join an online group, participate in community events, join with like-minded locals. And if you’re not ready for that, start reading more, leaving comments, writing profiles, sending messages. Express yourself, make suggestions to the group. Don’t think everyone will agree with everything you say and think. They won’t. Yet, when you are yourself this week, magical things can start to happen, like your intuition can open up and give you just the right words of wisdom.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, if you benefit from the articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks