Mercury trine Chiron

Astrological update for the week of November 29, 2021: A solar eclipse, and some Neptune fog

artist unknown

This week the big news is Neptune turning direct on December 1 after traveling in apparent retrograde motion since June 2021 (like the other two outer planets, Neptune is retrograde approximately half the year), and the upcoming solar eclipse on December 4th in Sagittarius.

The outer planets work as inspirational forces, and because they move slowly their impact can last for a long time. When a planet is preparing to change direction, its apparent motion from our perspective on Earth slows down to a crawl before stopping as it appears to turn, just like a car doing a U-turn would do.  At these times the influence of the planet is particularly potent, especially if it is hitting a sensitive point in our own chart.  Neptune has been between 20-23 degrees Pisces since February 2021, so if you have planets in this degree range in any of the mutable signs (Pisces, Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini) you might have been experienced some intense confusion, inspiration, heightened imagination, deeper spiritual connection – all of these are Neptunian experiences that tend to enhance or blur the mundane day to day reality.

This can be a magical time, full of Spirit and wonder, but it can also create some illusion and delusion. In the middle of a pandemic, and with the intensity of the square from Saturn to Uranus creating some conflict and disruption, the desire to escape may be a strong one. Neptune in Pisces is itself connected with the idea of a virus that spreads mysteriously around the world. Neptune will not leave this 20-23 degree box until April after a conjunction to Jupiter in Pisces, which is another whole story of potential spiritual grace mixed with delusion.

In any case, […]

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By |2021-11-30T10:49:01-05:00November 30th, 2021|Planetary news this week|2 Comments

Planetary news this week: August 2, 2021

Astrological forecast by Lynn Hayes

Major events

This week we have the conjunction of the Sun to Mercury, one of the linchpins of the Mercury retrograde cycle (the exact conjunction was August 1st but it lingers into the beginning of the week).  The Sun conjoins Mercury, planet of the mind, once as Mercury travels direct, and then again at the midpoint of the retrograde cycle.  I think of the Sun as the Illuminator, shining a light into the darkness, and the Sun/Mercury combinations bring the potential for realizations and a new kind of intelligence.

That is particularly important this week because the Sun and Mercury also activate the challenging square from Saturn (control and rules) to Uranus (radical change) which is the main story of 2021.  That effect lingers throughout the week, and then the Leo New Moon on August 8th acts as an additional trigger.

What this means is that any structures we have built for ourselves which are eroding and will not fit into the energy patterns of the new world will begin to fall away as new patterns and structures are created.  If we are personalities which embrace change this may come easily and bring exciting new influences.  If we tend to hold onto the past, though, this is likely a difficult time. On a global level the pressure for change is enormous, and this is a good time to remember the Serenity Prayer and think about what we can and cannot change.

Dates and times are given in EDT and UTC, please adjust for your time zone.

Monday August 2nd

Yesterday we had an opposition from Mercury to Saturn which may have created some negative thinking.  Saturn isn’t inherently negative, but it does urge us to face up to reality and […]

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By |2021-08-02T07:39:10-04:00August 2nd, 2021|Planetary news this week|6 Comments

12.4.20 Rebuilding life philosophies under Mercury trine Chiron

art by Everild Wolfden

With Mercury in Sagittarius now (especially after quite a long while in Scorpio), it’s easier now to take a longer-range and more optimistic view of the things that are to come.  Our dreams and longings are easier to imagine, and we may be somewhat more energized to make any necessary changes.  That is especially true over the next couple of days under a harmonious trine from Mercury to Chiron.  Chiron opens the door to healing old wounds, and to deepening our innate wisdom in order to eventually become a help to others.  Under this influence (December 4th and 5th) there is a tremendous amount of energy for healing and facilitating personal transformation.

Mercury is also locked in a square to Ceres, the asteroid/planet that teaches us how to live more fully in physical form.  This adds a layer of challenge to the healing trine, and suggests that making sure to take care of our body through eating well and movement will enhance our ability to take advantage of the Mercury trine to Chiron. This trine ultimately facilitates our ability to rebuild our philosophies and ideas about life, something which will become even more necessary in the days to come.


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By |2020-12-04T08:16:00-05:00December 4th, 2020|Planetary cycles|1 Comment