And so it begins

With yesterday's about-face of both Jupiter and Venus (on Thursday, November 18), we should now have a little more clarity on some questions we've been asking, specifically about certain relationships and our finances/resources (areas ruled by Venus), and perhaps also about a personal truth that has recently come to the surface (ruled by Jupiter). If you've been dealing with issues in these areas, the review period is now over, and the work of going forward begins.

It's not that we have all the answers now -- and I suspect we never really get to that longed-for level of omniscience, at least not while we're in human form. But, at least the haze created by having so many planets in retrograde should be clearing, with first Neptune and Chiron going direct on November 5 and 6, and now Jupiter and Venus following suit. As of now, the only primary planet still in retrograde is Uranus, so we are looking more and more out the front window now, and less in the rearview mirror.

Since Venus' retrograde phase has been so powerful this time around -- no doubt because it occurred mostly in Scorpio -- I'll be watching her forward motion most carefully now. She is currently in Libra, trying to keep things in balance and to be as fair as possible. She will re-enter Scorpio on November 29 and spend the rest of 2010 in that transformational sign, finally gaining freedom from the emotional depths when she enters Sagittarius on January 7, 2011.

We may also want watch for developments in our areas of concern on December 20, when Venus again reaches the degree where she originally went retrograde back on October 8. And, with the Total Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon AND the Solstice on the next day (December 21), those two days may be quite powerful in revealing what karmic patterns and emotional debris we've been working to release this fall.

Transiting Chiron opposing natal Pluto

This is a special posting for those of you, like me, who were born in the mid-1950s, in particular those born when Pluto was between 25 and 27 degrees of Leo. That covers people born:

• from September 1954 through February 1955
• from July 1955 through September 1955
• and from March 1956 through July 1956

I've just (re)read astrologer Rob Hand's interpretation of transiting Chiron opposite Pluto, which is what all of those with the above birthdates are going through right now. This transit is part of the intensity I am personally feeling, and I'm thinking it might be helpful for others to read as well.

I am copying this text from the Astro.com website. If you're not familiar with the site, it's a great tool. Just enter your birth information and you not only get your free chart, but a listing every day of the transits that are occurring for you personally. Here's the link, if you want to check out their services: Astro.com

Now, here's the text for transiting Chiron opposing Pluto. I'm hoping this will be helpful for others with other birthdates as well, since it encapsulates a lot about Chiron's effect -- which we're all dealing with right now, with Chiron stationary and strengthened through alignment with Neptune:

Chiron opposite Pluto: "Old psychological burdens"

Don't become too worried by any profound changes which may turn your life upside-down, because they will give you the necessary strength and energy to finally get rid of some of your old psychological burdens. A friend, work colleague or close family member could have the necessary therapeutic capability to help, being able to put their finger on something that you find particularly painful to discuss. Rather than intending to hurt you, their behavior will simply reopen old wounds that you suffered in your childhood or adolescence.

The recognition that many of your problems with others are simply the result of your own tendency to cover up your weaknesses and avoid painful issues will help you gradually change your behavior. Try to overcome the compulsion to keep up appearances all the time, and admit that you also have your failings, weaknesses and inferiority complexes. You will then discover an inner strength that you thought would be lost by admitting this. Feeling powerless or having a vague sense of being controlled or manipulated will only take hold of you if you are unable to find the courage to confront your own inner demons.

Be quietly thankful to all those people and events that are now throwing your life into turmoil. They are only helping to stir up regions of your unconscious which you have been so adept at repressing, a repression which has been blocking any chances of healing. If you can accept your whole self, including those influences that are painful, you can help to pave the way for a more confident and calmer future.

I hope you find this helpful!

Blessings, Pam

I-N-T-E-N-S-E

So far, this week has been quite intense -- and I'm guessing we're not quite done with it yet. The Scorpio energies are taking us deeper and deeper into the dark corners of our psyches, exposing the fears and manipulations that have been holding us hostage. At the same time, Chiron and Neptune stand still in the sky, bringing up our deepest wounds and simultaneously offering the means to release and heal them.

In addition, Pluto and the North Node are now within just a few minutes of each other in Capricorn (exact conjunction on Nov 27). The effect of this alignment further amplifies the intensity, and is bringing up lifetimes worth of defensiveness, fear, emotionalism and insecurity -- hallmarks of the South Node in Cancer. This alignment requires that we let go of what has been, to no longer allow ourselves to be controlled or limited by what has come before. It also asks us to step back and observe our emotions, rather than be manipulated by them.

The Scorpio New Moon is tomorrow night (Friday, Nov 5, 9:52pm PDT). As we experience the darkness that accompanies the beginning of the lunar cycle, we are given the opportunity to find new clarity on the emotional issues that are present now. This clarity will gain strength as the Moon grows into fullness over the next two weeks.

Blessings,

Pam

Helpful reading

Good morning, all...

I have found two channelings for the month of November to be especially helpful, so thought to share them with you. Each has given me a better understanding and higher perspective on the month ahead -- very much needed right now!

If you're interested, just click on the titles below to go to the online articles:

"Akashic Transformations November 2010 Message" by Jen Eramith

"November Forecast 2010" by Lena Stevens

Blessings to you this month as we ride the river of change!

Pam

Neptune and Chiron, too

After sending out today's NorthPoint Journal, I reflected that I should have included something about Neptune and Chiron as I was discussing the intensity we're now experiencing. It may be true that we can point to Venus retrograde and Saturn in Libra as being the primary contributors to current pressure on relationships -- but woven into that energy is also the ongoing Neptune-Chiron alignment, which is now strong again, with the two planets separated by just 11 minutes (about one-sixth of a degree).

This alignment between Neptune and Chiron has been with us in varying intensity since April-May 2009. It has the effect of both bringing up our deepest wounds (Chiron) and asking/helping us to release (Neptune) the pain associated with those wounds -- in effect, rewiring our emotional circuits so that we are no longer at the mercy of the fears of being hurt again.

Because the two are in Aquarius, the primary wound they're working to release is the belief in separation -- the pain of being apart from those we love, either through someone making their transition to nonphysical, or through apparent rejection or abandonment.

In addition, I'm finding that our natal Chiron issues are also being triggered in major ways. This is one of the interesting things about transits -- no matter where in our natal charts a planet happens to be by transit, it carries for each individual some of the themes related to its sign, house, and aspects at the time of our birth. For instance, for someone with Chiron in the fourth house in their birth chart, transits from Chiron will usually contain themes of vulnerability and a strong need for emotional security.

This means that as Neptune and Chiron finish their tandem journey, saying farewell to each other in early 2011, we are in the final stages of some very important emotional/ spiritual work. No wonder everything seems to plumb the depths these days.

Comet 103P/Hartley 2

The comet with the unromantic name, Comet 103P/Hartley 2, will be at its closest proximity (11 million miles!) to Earth tomorrow, October 20. I've received questions from readers, wondering what comets mean astrologically. Synchronistically, in the book I am currently (re) reading, Patterns of the Past by Judy Hall, I just this week read this passage, which describes a comet's astrological purpose very nicely:

"Rudolf Steiner has said that comets have the function of taking collective psychic debris created by human suffering down through the ages (in other words, karma) out of the solar system. This suffering is the result of soul separation and ignorance of our divine roots."

With all the karmic debris we're currently stirring up through Venus retrograde and so many planets in Scorpio, the idea of a comet coming through to help clear the air energetically is a relief! And, something to be grateful for. Timing is everything.

Here's a photo from SpaceWeather.com today, showing the comet's "vast green atmosphere and an auburn tail of dust":

Seeing that our green comet (sounds like an action hero!) will be at closest proximity to Earth tomorrow, this would be a very good time to do some release work of those beliefs and patterns (karma) that have kept us experiencing the more painful sides of life and relationships.

Happy house cleaning!

The Chilean miners, the Cardinal Grand Cross and Saturn in Libra

A blog follower asked this question in response to my "An intense week" posting from October 8 -- and I thought it deserved an entry of its own! Here's the question:

Pam -- What are your thoughts on how the astrological configurations tie in with the Chilean miners and their rescue? It's nothing short of a miracle -- and the fact that the reason they survived is being put down to working together -- both the miners underground and the whole team put together to rescue them. There seems to be some very strong Libran themes to this and I'm wondering how it ties in to the cardinal squares.

I agree that there are very strong Libran themes! It's also very interesting to see the astrological influences that were involved at important stages of the unfolding situation:

• When the cave-in occurred, on August 5, we were dealing with very strong energies from the Cardinal Grand Cross, energies that were being triggered that week by Mars' alignment with Saturn. 

To review, the planets involved in the grand cross were Pluto/North Node in Capricorn, Uranus/Jupiter in Aries, Saturn in Libra and South Node in Cancer. The cross brought about stressful situations that required us to overcome excessive emotionality and blaming (negative sides of South Node in Cancer) and to focus on specific goals with intention and integrity (North Node in Capricorn).

• Seventeen days later, when the drill reached the miners and they sent word to the surface that all were still alive, Saturn was opposite the position of Jupiter and square Pluto in the Cave-In Chart (the "CIC") -- the manifestation (Saturn) of hopes and optimistic beliefs (Jupiter) and the "return from the dead" (Pluto).
• On August 30, when the drilling began of a pilot rescue hole, Saturn was conjunct the CIC Mars -- the fusion of focus, responsibility, authority (Saturn) and aggressive effort (Mars) in a cooperative venture (Libra).
• Now, with the rescue efforts proving successful, Pluto has returned to where it was at the time of the original mine collapse -- the god of the underworld returning to the surface and bringing the resurrected souls with him.
• And, Saturn is now square the CIC Nodes -- manifesting through the worldwide outpouring of support and nurturing (a positive side of the South Node in Cancer) and through renewed commitment to find sensible solutions to the safety issues involved (North Node in Capricorn).

As already noted, this situation has provided significant opportunities for people to learn lessons of cooperation, of working together to achieve a common goal. These themes are quintessential Saturn in Libra. The success of the rescue -- which involved experts and technicians from around the world and from many industries -- and the efforts of the miners to work together and support each other while they were underground, are strong evidence of our human potential for cooperative effort. And, the fact that this has been broadcast worldwide means that we are all affected by the events and its outcome.

It will be an interesting challenge for each of us -- and, no doubt, especially for the miners and for each person who was involved directly in the rescue -- to extend what we have learned about the power of cooperation into other situations in our daily lives.

Saturn in Libra will be very happy with us for making this a priority, and will reward our efforts.