stargazing

The past week saw the formation of a Mars and Uranus opposition about four days ago (December 25th or so), which has given us all short tempers and the tendency to have emotional outbursts. Space and freedom are very important right now, and so any intrusions from others will not be taken lightly. The days leading up to this opposition may have been a bit chaotic as well.

As this week begins, the most noticeable changes in energy will come from the Sun conjunct Mercury aspect that formed yesterday evening (December 28th), and the Mercury square Uranus aspect that formed earlier this afternoon (December 29th). These aspects will make us more communicative and sharpen our thoughts (Sun conjunct Mercury), and Mercury square Uranus will result in a need for new information, changes of scenery and the development of new ideas. There may be a discomfort to the square, so expect a very persistent need for outside the box thinking.

Tomorrow (Monday) the Sun will square with Uranus, making us yearn for freedom and different things yet again. This will create a reckless edge to the week's energy, so be careful and try to think things over before you take action. 

Mercury will form a couple of new aspects before the year is out. Tomorrow we will see a sextile between Mercury and Chiron, and Tuesday will bring a conjunction between Mercury and Pluto along with a strong square between Mercury and Mars. Mercury is completing its tour through Capricorn next week and is making a lot of stir there before it moves onto Aquarius. These Mercury aspects will make us more able to discuss the things that are hurting us (Mercury sextile Chiron), and we will likely have intense conversations and interactions as a result where much information is learned and a lot of ground is covered (Mercury conjunct Pluto). The Mercury/Mars square will make it difficult to act on anything that we learn. The best thing is to hold tight until these aspects wind down, and then take appropriate action later on to make changes.

Those with their sun sign in Cancer are protectors, dreamers and are deeply connected to their family and roots. Their "family" may be their birth family or their marriage family, or it could be a group of friends and like-minded individuals that the Cancerian adopts as their own. The qualities of the Moon are pure and strong here, since the Moon only rules over one sign, and that sign is Cancer. Cancers are warm and maternal usually, and enjoy giving to their loved ones. Their only condition is that they feel as though they are needed. The worst slight to a Cancer would be someone who cannot promise them love, security and loyalty, or someone who is flaky or distant.

The Moon here gives the Cancer a home in the emotions. Cancers tend to be quite emotional, and may alternate emotions frequently throughout the day. They might be prone to nagging, because they care so much about the people around them and they want to be sure they are safe and protected. Many Cancers are intuitive and psychic, or have vivid, lucid dreamworlds. Since they are ruled by the Moon, their brain is very awake in sleep, which will help them bring back messages to utilize in their daily lives. Cancers may have interest in creative avenues, including art, writing or music. They enjoy anything that will help them express their emotions more easily. While they have a lot of emotions, they may not always express them fully, because they don't want to upset others. Confrontation is VERY difficult for those with a lot of Cancer in their charts. They are more apt to lean toward passive aggressive behavior as opposed to saying what they truly want or expect from the other person.

In esoteric astrology, Cancer is the fourth stop on our journey. As we have emerged into the world and explored (Aries), we have found a place to rest and call our own (Taurus), and have finally gone out into the world to meet and interact with others (Gemini). Now, we are able to develop love and affection for those around us, and that is what Cancers are all about.

Cancers with a lot of other water signs (Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces) in their chart are generally more creatively inclined. They probably have issues with holding down a steady, regular job and would prefer something that can follow their changing needs and emotions. They may feel like they are too sensitive for the world, and lean toward being empathic. They are chameleons of energy, so it is important that they try to surround themselves with positive, uplifting people. This is especially true if the Moon sign is also a water sign. They may be shy, unless their Ascendant or Mercury sign is in a fire or air sign... this could give them a more dramatic flair to their personality that would allow them to be extra social. This combination can be very persuasive and magnetic. People want to be around them, even though the water-sign Cancer may be shy. Their kindness and purity often shines through and attracts others.

Cancers with a number of earth signs in their chart (Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn) would be more practically minded. They would enjoy taking care of others in whatever way they can, and that would be a big part of their life's work. They may show their affection in ways like cooking for someone, or cleaning up after them. Their family will be especially important to them, and they may have several children, or at least surround themselves with those they care about. This is the combination most likely to be a bit "naggy", especially when they are making sure their loved ones' basic needs are met ("Are you eating enough?" "Have you applied for a job yet?"). They do this out of love, of course. They often are very connected and in tune with nature, and could love gardening, hiking or just being outside in general.

Cancers with a lot of air signs in their charts (Gemini, Libra or Aquarius) are more socially minded. Their friends become their family, and they may bond to one or two people especially. They may become very agitated and insecure if these people are not consistent in their relationship. For instance, if a friend doesn't reply to a message for a day, the Cancer could become very insecure and think the other person doesn't like them anymore. This could cause them a lot of anxiety. The mental energy here is more pronounced, so over-thinking could become an issue. There could be an interest in philosophy, poetry or talking over various subjects with others, particularly if Gemini is in the Moon, Mercury or Ascendant. Every subject will become a playful, imaginative conversation with an air sign-heavy Cancer. This combination will be a little less connected to their emotions, and more to their thoughts.

Cancers with a great amount of fire in their charts (Aries, Leo or Sagittarius) will be a bit more volatile. They may not stay put as often as other Cancers do. Home is very important to a Cancer, and yet a high amount of fire signs (especially if one is in the Moon sign) will make the Cancer more likely to change residences, jobs, etc with their whims. These people will often become attached to something else and consider it their home: a significant other, a friend, etc. As long as they have this person they will feel as though they are home and safe. This combination makes for the "crabbiest" Cancer. They could have a temper, or moods that change at the drop of a hat. This is another creative placement for Cancer, and these natives are often artistic or musical and can be prolific in their interests. Romance becomes a huge passion for them, and a big focus in their lives.

What does a stellium in a particular house in an individual's natal chart indicate about that person? I hope this quick guide will be helpful in giving the basics! For more info about what a stellium is see my post here.

1st house - A first house stellium will make a person focused on their own self identity and how they project that into the world. They can be gregarious, boisterous and good at getting things done. These people know how to charm others and to convey the image they want into the world. The sign the stellium is in will indicate what image the person wants to show others. For instance, a Pisces stellium in the first house will make a person want to come across as sensitive and charitable, while an Aries stellium in the first house will want to come across as independent and a go-getter. The exception to this rule is a first house stellium in Libra. Since there is an opposition to the seventh house (Libra's home) you may see the opposite effect here, where the native is obsessively trying to draw attention away from themselves to others. A lot of celebrities have first house stelliums, especially those who are in the public eye frequently.

2nd house - Second house stelliums are always out for security. Security has a slightly different meaning to every individual, so whatever sign the stellium is in will show us how the individual seeks out this security. A Libra stellium in the second house will find security through partnership, whereas a Capricorn stellium will find security through money or career. This will be a major goal in the native's life. A stellium in this house in Scorpio will make a different result here, however. The opposition to the eighth house, Scorpio's home, may make someone who seeks security through destruction of the very thing that makes them feel secure. This person may seem to make rash decisions, i.e. quitting stable jobs, ending relationships that seem to be going well, etc. Overall, all people with second house stelliums are focused in the material realm, and many like nice possessions, a well-kept house, and being in touch with their bodies through art, sports or dance.

3rd house - Third house stelliums are all about communication. They have a message and they want to get it out to the world. They tend to be social beings, or fascinated by writing, reading, storytelling, songwriting, etc. How do they go about sharing their message? Look at the sign the stellium is in! Cancer stelliums in the third house come at conversation and writing through using their emotions, and noticing others' feelings and subtle social cues. Aquarius stelliums will have unique, devil's advocate style ideas and will enjoy bucking the social norm as they communicate. Again, there is one exception - Sagittarius stellium in the third house will create a weird opposition here where communication might be a little tricky. The expansive energy of Jupiter will make it difficult for the person to teach or share their knowledge; instead they will continually be seeking information, not feeling like they are ready to communicate. The overall presence of a third house stellium is someone who is chatty with varied interests and a restless mind.

4th house - Fourth house stellium people are intensely shaped by their home environment, either in childhood or in adulthood (or both). Their motivation is to find an anchor point - a place to settle. This is one of the more complicated houses to find a stellium, because there are many factors at play here. First, the presence of outer planets can completely change the interpretation. Uranus here can indicate someone who moves around a lot, while Pluto can represent a very unstable home situation. Saturn will show a lot of responsibility in the home, or even someone who is not free to move because of obligations (i.e. having to care for a family member, or supporting an entire group of people). The sign the stellium is in will show the type of home base the individual is seeking out. A Taurus stellium here will show a person who wants a stable home with nice things in it, or possibly in nature. A Virgo stellium will show someone who seeks out perfectionism and organization through their home and family. Anyone with a Capricorn stellium in the 4th house will have an opposition of energy, and will tend to reject the idea of nostalgic, Cancerian values that typically comes with a fourth house stellium. Nostalgia in general, attraction to the past, and emotions are heightened for all fourth house stellium natives.

5th house - Theatrical dramatics are present in those with fifth house stelliums. Creative energy is heightened, and these people often love children and animals. Fifth house stellium's motivation is to create and express. Whatever sign the stellium is in will show us what they are trying to express and how they go about it. Gemini stellium in the fifth house will show someone who creates through writing or through public speaking/communication. They will be more vocal about their need to create. On the opposing end, someone with a Virgo stellium in the fifth house would express themselves a bit more subtly, and would work very hard on their individual creative contributions. Just because someone has a fifth house stellium does not automatically mean they are an artistic, theater-type person. They may have a flair that shows up in their career, or perhaps they are occupied with their children. It more speaks of the way they do the things they do - with a big, all-their-heart-in-it gesture. An Aquarius stellium in the fifth house will manifest differently, with them wanting to share the stage with friends, family and basically anyone else. These people will often support others' creativity over their own.

6th house - You often see sixth house stelliums in the charts of service industry types, like doctors, nurses, etc (this is especially true if the moon is part of the stellium). These people could easily be described as workaholics. They are perfectionistic and responsible, and do everything they can to help others around them. They often put their own needs last. So though they are "workaholics", that doesn't necessarily mean they are spending all their time on their actual career and ignoring their families too. Those with sixth house stelliums will find a way to juggle everything. Their goal is to serve. If you look at what sign the stellium appears in you will see what their focus is primarily. A Leo stellium in the sixth house would make someone who is perfectionistic in a creative venture, like a writer or musician who will practice their craft till it's perfect... they may also be focused on helping their children or pets at whatever cost necessary. An Aquarius stellium in the sixth house will manifest as someone who is always there for their friends, or who works tirelessly to help humanity in general. Sixth house stelliums are detail oriented and notice everything. The exception is a Pisces sixth house stellium. These folks, with the 6th-12th house opposition in place, will have a much more relaxed attitude and may be more 'go with the flow' than their sixth house stellium peers. They might have their heads in the clouds, or could potentially be obsessed with religion or spirituality.

7th house - Seventh house stellium people are pleasant, stylish and chameleon-esque. They tend to be agreeable, and it is not because they are two-faced, but rather because they can easily see all sides to any situation. They may be artistic or enjoy fashion, design or other Venus-ruled activities. Since Libra rules this house, partnership is important to them. They seek out connection wherever they go, and while it may not always be a romantic partner they are trying to find, they still are looking for a "partner" in anything they do. They will come up with inside jokes with people they meet, will network, and find a uniting factor between themselves and any given person. Someone with a Pisces stellium in the seventh house might be more apt to connect through dreams, wishes, and spirituality so would look for partnership through those avenues. On the other end, a Capricorn stellium in the seventh would try to connect through more serious matters or would network for their career or education. The opposite end of this is an Aries stellium in the seventh house. This oppositional energy will create someone who rejects the idea of partnership and who will sometimes overcompensate by asserting their individuality at any cost. 

8th house - Eighth house stelliums are similar to fourth house stelliums in that they have a lot of factors to consider. Sometimes those with eighth house stelliums will have a lot of experience with intense change. Things might have been uprooted for them a lot, or they might have had a hard childhood or difficulty with relationships. They may experience a lot of death or tragedy around them, or just a lot of change and intense situations. The presence of Pluto, Uranus, Saturn or Neptune in this stellium could make this even more apparent. These people tend to be investigative, curious and sometimes very suspicious of the world around them. They are often intelligent and unusual, and sometimes intense. They may have interest in the occult or stranger sides of spirituality. They often have a powerful magnetism that draws people to them. You could not define someone with an eighth house stellium as mundane or dull. Look at the sign in the house to see what is drawn in to them. A Gemini stellium in the eighth house will manifest as a lightener for the Scorpio energy of the eighth house, and will allow the native to communicate their ideas. They will find themselves confronted with a lot of opportunities to talk about the things they experience. A Sagittarius stellium in the eighth will create a lot of occultism intrigue, and opportunity for travel. Those with a Taurus stellium will find an opposite reaction, in that they will hide and reject the "darker" parts of themselves and pretend they are simply not there, or become fearful of them.

9th house - A ninth house stellium often manifests as an innate curiosity about everything under the sun. The native here will enjoy learning, philosophy and travel as a means to discover new things. Novelty will be the main motivator, and loss of freedom the biggest discomfort. Often these individuals do better in a less rigid schooling environment, and may do a lot of studying on their own. They are usually optimistic, gregarious and a bit wacky or unusual. The idea of the unknown is overly appealing to them, so much so that a regular routine is unthinkable and binding in their eyes. Where do they look most for their freedom? Check the sign. A stellium in Libra will indicate a desire for freedom in romantic partnership. A stellium in Cancer will indicate a desire for freedom in living situations - they may bounce around a lot, or else they may fixate on the "perfect" home, one they don't have yet. The opposite will be apparent in Gemini stelliums in the ninth house. These individuals will be more focused on teaching others and may ignore their own personal quest for freedom by giving it to everyone else.

The Moon is currently in Gemini and will be moving into Cancer at around 1pm Eastern Time tomorrow afternoon. Right now, mental pursuits are being focused on above all. Reading, communication and idea exchanges are heightened. As the moon changes signs, we will see the focus shift to helping others, especially family and those we are closest to. 

Jupiter is in trine with Saturn right now, which means that we will be able to walk the line between self indulgence and responsibility. This is good, because things will get done but we'll still be having fun along the way! Mercury will be inconjunct Jupiter tomorrow, which will make the tendency to exaggerate or overemphasize things strong. Don't take words at face value and be sure to think things over before jumping to any conclusions. 

Uranus goes direct on Tuesday for the first time in months, which will turn the Uranian energy out into the world as opposed to in our own minds. Uranus Retrograde has the effect of revolutionary thought and change inside our beliefs and values, and when it goes direct we find it easier to implement these new ideas into our external lives. 

Enjoy the last five days of the Sun in Sagittarius! This week will bring more Jupiter energy as it goes out with a bang. We'll be able to share ideas with others, and interact with an optimistic and cheerful attitude (depending on personal natal transits of course). As the Sun shifts into Capricorn later in the week, we'll have to finally buckle down and get some more work done.

Venus goes retrograde for a little over a month on the same day the Sun enters Capricorn. A Venus retrograde in Capricorn advises us to look at our relationships seriously to see what they are contributing to our lives. We should also be careful not to overspend (which might be hard in this holiday season). Old friends and lovers might reemerge over the next month.

A stellium is a collection of three or more planets that shows up in someone's natal chart. These three plus planets will all need to be in the same house and the same sign. These planets may be in conjunction with one another but that is not always the case.

Some astrologers disagree on this definition but this is one of the more widely accepted theories, and I have found in my experience enough evidence to support that three or more planets creates stellium energy.

In the example given above, you will see that this person has a 3 planet stellium in the 9th house in Pisces (Chiron, Mercury and Neptune) and a 4 planet stellium the 10th house, also in Pisces (Mars, Moon, Sun, and Venus). Despite the fact that Uranus is also in the 10th house, it is not a part of the stellium because it is in the sign of Aries. The Midheaven is not included in this stellium because it is not a planet or luminary.

Stelliums are ONLY made up of luminaries/planets - Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron. Things like North Node, South Node, Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven, etc are not included in stelliums because they are not physical bodies.

Stelliums represent a place of power for the native, and also show a concentrated focus on the area of that house in the native's lifetime. Whatever sign the stellium is in will also be a large part of that individual's personality, and will represent motivations and themes within the larger lesson of the house.

If there are no stelliums in a chart, it does not mean anything negative or bad. Many people do not have them, and that's fine. It just means that there will be more of a balance in life themes, and not any super area of concentration or obsession over the lifetime.

Stelliums are also used to analyze cultural or mass events. If a stellium shows up in the chart at the time of a historical event or current event, it means the event is charged with the energy of that house and sign. We will get into that more in a different article.

In order to understand how the energy of the stellium will manifest, you will have to look at the house it is in, and what that house represents. Houses often show us external circumstances that occur in our lives, while the sign of the planets in this house show us how we handle these circumstances. For instance, in the example chart given above, the 9th and 10th house stelliums of Pisces represent a focus on expansive thought, philosophy and travel (9th house) and finances and stability (10th house), which is handled in a sensitive, dreamlike, almost unconscious manner (Pisces). It will be natural for the native to spend a lot of mental energy theorizing on possibilities, and they may even tie this into their career. 10th house stellium indicates a potential for leadership, but with Pisces as the sign the native may take on leadership roles in order to help others to the point of stress, since Pisces is the sign of "martyrdom".

Also, be sure to look at which planets are in the stellium. The presence of certain planets, like Pluto, could indicate a compulsive quality to the energy of the stellium. Neptune could represent an unconscious aspect, so that the native is not as aware of the energy of the stellium. Uranus will give the essence of the stellium a unique twist (i.e. Uranus in a 2nd house stellium will encourage the native to earn money through a unique career). Saturn will bring up lesson after lesson in the theme represented by the house. 

Compatibility is one of the most popular branches of astrology, and many people enjoy checking their compatibility with their romantic partner, or with friends and family. There are a number of ways to do this, but the sun sign is probably the worst way to check it (and sadly, the most common type of article you'll see online). The best way is also the most complicated, and I'll do a feature on that later on (the composite chart - combining your chart and another person's chart to make a new unique chart that represents your relationship).

For now, I will show you a few quick and dirty ways to assess compatibility.

First, you will need a copy of your birth chart and the birth chart of the other person. There is a link on the sidebar of my blog that will bring you to a site where you can make one for free if you don't already have one. It will be a lot better if you know the other person's time of birth in addition to their birthday.

First, check the person's moon sign and your own moon sign. Moon signs represent hidden emotions, or the true part of ourselves that we may keep under wraps in our subconscious. While our sun sign is what we show to the world, our moon sign tells us what we show when we are behind closed doors, or when we feel safe to let our true feelings out. This is way more important in a relationship than the sun sign, because relationships are where we access our true emotions. 

Remember: Fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius / Earth - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn / Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius / Water - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces 

Moon sign compatibility 2 of the same moon signs - See eye to eye, and have similar motivations and wants. Generally compatible, but with no real room for evolution or growth.  2 moon signs in the same element (i.e. two fire moon signs, or two earth moon signs) - Similar values allow for support and understanding, but having different moon signs will offer a chance to learn something from the other. A great combination. Fire moon sign and Air moon sign - Overall a good pairing - after all, air feeds a fire! These are both playful elements, and so these partners will enjoy good discussions, travel, and a lot of new experiences together. They will learn from one another, too. Fire moon sign and Water moon sign - Can be very difficult. Fire moon makes for an impulsive, freedom loving person and a water sign moon can want too much reassurance and end up feeling ignored, while the fire moon feels smothered. This can create a lot of conflict if the partners are not willing to compromise. Fire moon sign and Earth moon sign - This is a decent combination, but nothing too exciting. It is what we call a stable combination. The earth moon will provide a stable base of emotions for the more volatile fire. The only issue is that steady earth could become "scorched" by fire, meaning fire might say something they don't mean and upset earth, who does not operate in that same way. Also, fire could be become bothered by earth's lack of spontaneity. Overall, if this pair can learn to accept the other, it can be a real learning experience and chance for evolution for both parties. Air moon sign and Water moon sign - This is generally not the greatest partnership, but with some attention paid to each person's individual needs, it could potentially succeed. Water moons are quite sensitive and enjoy knowing they are needed and special and safe. Air moons are not as concerned about the emotions of a relationship - it's not they are cold, it just doesn't occur to them to think that way. They may be confused by the water sign's need for assurance, and the water sign may feel their partner is ignoring them. Each will have to become better at expressing his or her feelings in a way that makes sense to the other. Air moon sign and Earth moon sign - This pairing is pretty "in between". Air signs are mentally focused, while earth signs are more environment-focused. Air signs are innovative and like networking, learning new things, and communicating their ideals, and may be a bit frustrated with earth sign's "stuck in their way" type of expression. Earth signs may feel a bit overwhelmed by air's scattered energy. As long as they can respect the other's needs, it could work out alright. They could each offer the other something unique - air signs can give earth a new way of looking at the world, and earth signs can give air some needed stability. Earth moon sign and Water moon sign - This is a winning combination. The earth sign is reliable and reassuring to the sensitive water sign, and the water sign provides the earth sign with a way to open up and get in tune with expressing feelings. The key here is to balance it out - earth signs are not as dreamy and intuitive as water signs are, and water signs are not as organized and steady as earth signs are, and so too much of either side will overwhelm the other. Provided a balance can be reached, this can be a great thing for both sides.

Another thing to check is which house the moon sign is sitting in. This will show the potential key to this person's feelings, or what will be most important to them emotionally. For instance, a person with their moon in the 4th house will enjoy being at home and surrounded by family, but a moon in the 9th house will be more interested in travel, exploration and mental roving. It may be a bit of a clash if these two were to be together. However, the person with the 4th house moon may get along famously with a 6th house moon, who is interested in serving others and helping them in whatever way they can. The 9th house moon we mentioned earlier may enjoy being around a 5th house moon, who is creative and artistic and opens the other up to excitement.

Venus signs are the second big one to look into. This shows, in addition to how we relate to beauty and the arts, how we act in love. The same element guide from above (the moon sign one) will work well to compare Venus signs too. Also check in which house Venus appears in. For instance, a 10th house Venus will tend to be more subdued, enjoying a relationship that is stable, financially sound, and with mutually shared agreements and investments, while a 3rd house Venus will enjoy a relationship with someone that is intellectually compatible who they can chat with about anything. 

Check the aspects to the moon and Venus. A lot of squares and oppositions may indicate areas of challenge to the native's emotions and romantic relationships, where trines and sextiles will indicate easier expression of energy in these fields. If one partner has many squares, and the other doesn't, it doesn't mean that one partner is the problem in the relationship, and the other has nothing to do with any conflict. It instead means that the afflicted person tends to choose relationships that bring out these issues. They become both people's issues to work through, and no party is specifically at fault. We'll address this more in the article on Composite Charts.

Another interesting thing can be found in the Descendant of the chart - this is the spot on the right side between the sixth and seventh houses, where the 3 o'clock would be on a clock. Check what sign this line is in. It will likely be different on each partner's chart. While our Ascendant shows us the personality we project into the world, our Descendant shows us what personality we search for in a partner. Just because your partner's Descendant is not your sign and vice versa doesn't mean that you're not a good fit. It just indicates the qualities that likely attracted your partner to you, and what needs they seek to find in a partnership. For instance, if someone's descendant is Aries, they are looking for an independent partner that is motivated to succeed, or basically someone that embodies the qualities of Aries. In a relationship that could mean they want someone to run the show. If someone has a Descendant of Pisces, they are looking for someone dreamy and intuitive, who in a relationship shares feelings and gives the other person a place to hide away from the rest of the world.

Those with their Sun in Gemini are masters of duality, ruled by the planet Mercury. Their inherent duality is present in everything they do - they are the twins, after all. They are a playful bunch, with lots of emphasis placed on learning, wordplay, mental exploration, and social expression. Geminis tend to be social butterflies, and enjoy keeping busy. They like a job or schoolwork that challenges them, but allows them room to think freely and express opinions with others. A subject like Philosophy would be perfect for a Gemini. They have roving minds, which is one of the reasons they are considered 'dual'. Sometimes you are speaking to a Gemini, and their brain is already moving on to the next subject, so they are two places at once.

Mercury rules over both Gemini and Virgo, but its energy is quite different in both. Virgo uses their mental, Mercurial energy to organize and structure their life, and Gemini uses it for playtime. Geminis want to have fun in everything they do. No matter how hard at work they might be, they are still finding time to learn new things and communicate with those around them, and so what they're doing is really not work to them at all. A common effect of Geminis can be "scatterbrain", where they might feel like they are in a million places at once, mentally. Many Geminis are fond of writing or reading, and especially love talking about what they're written or read, and so are encouraged to join creative writing groups or book clubs. (I will take the time to mention here that just because you don't have your Sun in Gemini or any planets in the 3rd house/Gemini doesn't mean you can't be a talented writer. Your placement of Mercury can have a lot to do with it, and so can your 5th and 9th house along with a number of other placements).

In esoteric astrology, Gemini is us finally coming out of our shells and interacting with those around us. We are excited to see them and we want to learn all we can from them. After making our rounds from Aries (self-focused) to Taurus (environment-focused) we are now people and idea focused.

Geminis with a lot of air signs in their chart find that Mercury energy to be quite easy to access. Having an air Moon sign (Gemini, Libra or Aquarius) will heighten the traditional qualities of Gemini, but will also make the individual a little more flighty and mentally focused. For the Moon and Venus, this may make it a little difficult to express feelings beyond a mental level. Airy Geminis will be easy to spot - they like to talk with their hands, for one, and they also tend to be pretty active, kind of like an Aries. They might be a bit fidgety. This is because all that mental energy needs an outlet. They may experience issues with insomnia, if their overactive minds go unchecked. Social expression will be VERY important to air-sign heavy Geminis, and so they will likely be surrounded by friends. In this day and age, sometimes Geminis use the internet to get their communication fix.

Fire sign heavy Geminis will have an impulse to be active in the world, too. They will enjoy getting ahead in their career or in school, and will be motivated to succeed. They may enjoy working in groups, or doing activities like Theater or public speaking. These are the Geminis most likely to want to travel or see new places. A career that allows them this freedom would be ideal, or at the very least they will need to take frequent trips on holiday. This is a good leadership position, and these individuals will have the potential to be skilled at communicating their desires to others to get things done. They may be a bit more dramatic than your average Gemini, and some enjoy acting or doing other creative projects. Fire and Air Geminis are the most social of all the Geminis.

Earth sign-heavy Geminis will be a bit more like Tauruses in their general presentation, particularly if their personal planets (Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) are in earth signs. They will be drawn to aesthetics, and will enjoy decorating their home, or else collecting things of meaning or interest. They will enjoy learning new skills and abilities, such as playing musical instruments, cooking, or woodworking. Making things with their hands will be a fascination to them. They may be a bit less social than other Geminis, but Gemini is one of the most social signs so that will still see them surrounded with friends whenever they choose. They might prefer working from home, or at least enjoying a lot of time at home working on their many interests. They could enjoy a profit on any of their many skills and talents.

Lastly, water sign-heavy Geminis are very interested in those around them, and want to help them. They are good with advice, or may enjoy sharing wisdom or writing columns to help others. They can be intuitive, especially if Pisces shows up in their Moon or Mercury. There is a gentle feeling to these folks, and a mental depth that makes them very quick on the uptake. They have a natural ease at making others feel comfortable, and knowing what to say to create a certain result. Depending on how this tactic is used, it can be very beneficial to others (or not, if the Gemini is less evolved!). These Geminis are very playful and enjoy chasing pleasures. If something is not interesting or entertaining to them, they will have a hard time sticking with it. They may join a lot of different activities and then leave them, until they find something they really like.

This week, fire and air unite in Sagittarius and Aquarius/Uranus.

As of present, the Capricorn Moon is beginning its movement into Aquarius for a 2 day stay. If you are on the east coast of the USA like me, the change will occur at about 1:53am. The Aquarius moon has a Uranian energy to it, because Aquarius is ruled by Uranus. Since the moon rules our emotions, we will have a desire to embody the qualities of Uranian energy: innovation, freedom, rebellion and a desire to help those around us through ideas and social changes. Friday and Saturday will see us getting out of the house more, and working together in groups. The exchange of ideas will become natural, and our moods might lighten up a bit (depending on individual natal charts, of course). The moon will also move out of its unpleasant opposition with Jupiter. This opposition has made it difficult to truly feel joyful, and keeps people focused on money, finances and keeping their emotions in check. Come tomorrow, we should see the mood lightening up considerably.

The Sun is in trine with Uranus right now, which will heighten that Aquarian/Uranus rebellion spirit I mentioned earlier. Those with natal Aquarius in their sun or Uranus will feel this effect most splendidly. Unfortunately, the Sun is also in square with Chiron over the next week, which will bring attention to any deep discomforts, wounds, or emotional pains that we've been hiding. It's my opinion the other less emotional aspects to the Sun will help cushion this square and make it easier to cope with any pain.

Mercury just moved into Sagittarius, which will make spontaneous socializing more of a thing this week. New connections and chance meetings will lead to fresh opportunities and perhaps even new friendships. Mercury's current sextile with Mars will make us more likely to speak our mind, and reach out through communication.

Tomorrow evening Mercury will be placed into a square with Neptune, which will allow conversation about other realms, spiritual matters and the unknown to be talked about freely. However, this will also create a bit of confusion around meaning and intention, a bit like the effect of Mercury retrograde. Clarification will be necessary.

This weekend the opposition between Saturn and the Midheaven will end, allowing more career opportunities to open up. Any limitations experienced in the societal arena or in our jobs/schoolwork will become less pronounced over the next week.

As the sun continues its tour through Sagittarius, it will create an inconjunct aspect with Jupiter around December 9th-10th, making us lazier and more inward and reflective for a week or so. Procrastination will be the word of the week.

Around the same time, Mercury in Sagittarius will trine Uranus and square Chiron, making perspective easier to come by, and wounds easier to overcome via intention and visualization of what it is we want to accomplish and become.

Those individuals with the Sun Square Pluto in their natal chart have a very specific energy, no matter the signs each of those planets dwells in. Squares by nature are a hard angle, reflecting through the individual's personality as a difficulty or fixation that crops up over and over in their lives, typically without the person's full conscious knowledge. In this particular aspect, the Sun, our egoic self, interacts and clashes directly with Pluto, the God of the Underworld. This is the essence of light and darkness, poised against one another in an epic battle. It may sound dramatic, but for the native with this aspect in their chart, it is quite an every day thing.

These individuals are possessed with a passionate outlook on the world. They don't do anything half-hearted. They feel intensely, and they may form attachments with others, based on little else than a thought that exists in their mind. Despite these marked feelings and intrigue, they often let little on about their true self. They hide in shadow, or in altered light. Their inner worlds are magnificent, lush paradises, and yet they keep these things inside most of the time or only reveal small portions of the whole picture at any given time. This stems from their continuing fear, the fear of being vulnerable, and that the darkness inside of them might constitute them as 'defective'.

Everything about those with this aspect is marked by death. I don't mean that to be so morbid, and I am not saying they are destined for an early or gruesome death. I mean instead that the cycle of birth and death emanates from them. In everything they do, there is creation and destruction. Their entire world view reflects this, as do the projects they take on, the beliefs they hold, and the way they change their persona seemingly overnight. They destroy what they create, and then they repeat.

Those born with their sun sign in Taurus are connected to the earth and everything around them. No matter the rest of their chart, there is an energy here that manifests through their love of nature and all things beautiful. Taureans enjoy having a well decorated home, and often enjoy beautiful aesthetics in the way they dress or in their own personal possessions. Many are attracted to art and fashion, or else love nature, animals and being at home. The phrase "your home is your castle" is such a Taurus way of looking at life! Taureans are often collectors or purveyors of objects, and they tend to know a lot about these collections. The ruling planet of Taurus is Venus, so when someone has their natal sun in Taurus, the energies of the Sun and Venus are connected. If the Venus sign is also in Taurus, these energies will be even stronger.

In terms of esoteric astrology, Taurus is the second sign on the evolutionary path (which we all travel again and again, so it does not mean that Taureans are more evolved than those with an Aries sun sign). While Aries is about asserting your own identity and making your own path in the world (a Mars/first house outlook), Taurus is about enjoying the things you've found, and taking them all in with your five senses. Taurus is above all a sensual sign, and not just in a romantic or sexual way (though they can be that too).

Those with an earth-sign heavy chart and their sun in Taurus will usually be quite slow-moving. This might not necessarily refer to their physical habits, but could refer to finding enough motivation to make changes in life. Earth signs are rooted, and can be stuck in their way. Taurus in general has a stubborn energy, and doesn't like to be disrupted. Adding more earth signs to the chart, particularly under Mars, will make it even more difficult for the individual to make any changes or outward action. Despite that challenge, earth-heavy Tauruses are often quite connected to animals and nature, and may be good with saving money. Their family and friends mean everything to them... once you're into their inner circle, you're there for life. 

A Taurus with a number of planets in fire signs will have quite a different outlook on the world. They will be more outwardly motivated to accomplish goals, and will be more physically active. They might have a temper, particularly if their Mars is in a fire sign, and this will usually be activated when someone presses them to change their mind about something. A Taurus with a fire sign Moon will be roving, maybe changing residence more often or at least giving their environment a good overhaul every year or so. They often have good sense of humor, and are motivated in creative fields. These personality traits may be more apparent in Taurus/Aries cusp folks. I don't believe that those born on a cusp will be completely split between those two sun signs, but in my experience these individuals will inherit a bit of their cusp sign temperament. The first few days of the Taurus sun will have a bit of a bleed over of Aries energy, and so those born in this time will have a more "fiery" feel, even if their chart is low on fire signs overall.

Tauruses with a great amount of air in their chart will be social and intellectually driven, especially if their Mercury is in an air sign. They will enjoy talking about their interests, and will have a charming air about them. These are the types of people who will enjoy going to art galleries, or wine tastings, or any other social event that allows them to indulge a specific interest. There is more of an emphasis on a wider circle of influence here, with the Taurean looking to share personal interests. Air signs in Mars or Mercury could potentially make for a more scattered person, with a disjointed, offbeat way of looking at the world and interacting with others. The Moon in an air sign coupled with the Taurus sun will result in a slightly more detached personality - not anti-social by any means, but definitely more independent. Taurus/Gemini cusp Sun will also have this type of energy in their charts, to a lesser extent.

Water-sign heavy charts in Taurus sun signs make for an interesting combination. These people tend to be emotional and gentle, and are typically interested in nurturing their interests, and helping their loved ones accomplish their own goals. The energy of water and earth is a fertile one, and so they will not have much to fight against in terms of making these things a reality. This combination can result in a sensitive, empathetic soul to the point where it can be difficult to separate one's emotions from the feelings of others. These people sometimes end up in supporting roles, or behind the scenes type projects. Their support and confidence in those they love often makes them the "wind beneath their wings", rather than the star of the show. Despite this, they are often liked by almost everyone, and even if they feel as though they are overlooked, they are not at all.

Those born with their sun sign in Aries are independent individuals, with a fast moving brain and an impatient demeanor overall. They are creative, motivated and determined to get what they want. They tend to be egocentric, and so they may sometimes say something they don't really mean, and not realize until later that it could have hurt someone. This is not to say they are ill-meaning. Aries enjoy adventures, friends, and exploring the world around them. They adhere to the pioneer spirit lifestyle, and no matter their career or interests they will find a way to succeed in their chosen field. They are quite determined and having someone say they can't do something will likely merit a laugh back in the person's face (or at least an inner laugh, if they are a shyer Aries).

The expression of the Aries sun energy will differ based on the rest of this person's chart. An Aries with a lot of other fire energy in their chart will be even more "typical" of an Aries sun sign, particularly if their moon and Mercury are in a fire sign (Aries, Leo or Sagittarius). They may have a short temper, and a lot of unbounded enthusiasm and energy. Fire-heavy charts, particularly those with an Aries sun sign, tend to be on the move a lot. They may be interested in sports and outdoor activities. These Aries will be outspoken and driven to accomplish things, usually on their own. Group work will be difficult, unless the Aries can be the leader.

If the Aries has more air energy in their chart (lots of planets in the air signs - Gemini, Libra or Aquarius) the Aries expression will be more centered on communication. This usually makes for a person with a lot to say! Aries with lots of air signs may be a bit more intellectual, and could enjoy writing, or just talking about interesting subjects with anyone who will listen. Mars here (Aries' ruling planet) will give the airy Aries a lot of drive to make connections with others, sometimes to further their own goals and other times just to have someone new and interesting to talk to. If the Aries enjoys writing, they will be able to power through their projects and see them through to the end.

An Aries with a heightened amount of earth signs (planets in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn) will be a bit more focused on maintaining his or her career. This Aries will be better with money than their Aries peers (not that any Aries is inherently bad with finances, however) and will have a less restless energy than the others. They may be more inclined to take on home decorating projects, oftentimes jumping into something they don't really know how to do and refusing to take any help from others. These Aries will be quite dynamic still, as all Aries are, and often are career pioneers, taking on a new and exciting project, working hard all on their own, and making money that way.

Aries with a lot of water signs elsewhere in their chart (planets in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces) will be a little spacier and dreamier than the other active, boundless energy-filled Aries. They will be more inclined to utilize their energy in creative pursuits, such as art or music. They may be a bit more sensitive than your average Aries, and slightly less outward. These are the types of people who have a shy side hiding just underneath their seemingly extroverted exterior. These Aries may be more focused on developing relationships, and could be more excited by working together with others.

Before I start really exploring the depths of astrology, I want to provide a handy resource guide for those of you who are beginners when it comes to the zodiac. This will have some basic terms in it, along with some links to free natal chart creators, and more. I will link this page in the sidebar for easy access.

Many people out there know about sun signs - sun signs are usually what people are asking about when they say “what’s your sign?”. Or, if you check the horoscopes in the newspaper or a magazine, you would look it up by your sun sign. Sun signs are the zodiac constellation the sun is in at the time of your birth. There are 12 zodiac signs, and the sign the sun is in changes about once a month. You might hear people who don’t believe in astrology say things like “How could everyone born in one month be the same, or have the same life?” Those people probably think that all astrology involves is your sun sign, which couldn’t be farther from the truth!

Many planets and luminaries (like the sun, since the sun is not technically a planet) affect our lives at the time of our birth, and then continue to affect us for the rest of our lives. People often ask how a planet is able to affect the way we act, or what our personality is like. I think that there is a lot of evidence of this in our society. Look at the moon. The moon controls the tides, women’s menstrual cycles, our moods (people are said to be more ‘crazy’ around the time of the full moon), and the list goes on. It is impossible to escape the effects of the moon. Just like the moon, the other planets and asteroids in our solar system directly affect our energy, moods, and even life circumstances. People’s beliefs on why this is differ tremendously. I am still researching it myself, and there is no set answer. I think that despite the reason, if you study astrology long enough you will see these correlations for yourself, and that may be enough to satisfy your skepticism. If not, you can continue to search for answers yourself through science, philosophy, religion or other astrologers’ words.

Like sun signs, you can track the movement of any other planet or luminary in the solar system at the time of your birth. The most common of these to see in a birth chart are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. We’ll start with those first. Each of these planets/luminaries/planetoids (I’m going to call them planets from here on out to make it easier - just remember they’re not all technically planets but we call them as such in astrology) makes its way through the zodiac constellations just like the Sun. So at any given time, each of those planets is in one of the 12 signs. They move through at a steady rate, but each moves at a different pace. For instance, the Moon changes which sign it’s in every 2-3 days. Pluto is the slowest, taking 15-25 or so years to get through just one zodiac sign.

When you look up your natal chart, you will need to know what month, day and year you were born, along with which city. The location of your birth can make a difference. It is also great to know what exact time you were born. While you can discover most of your planet signs without knowing your birth time, with faster moving planets like the Moon, the difference of a couple hours can change your moon sign entirely.

Your natal chart will show up as a wheel, with 12 divided sections, much like a clock. These sections are each called “houses”. Depending on what day and time you were born, each of your houses will be ruled by a different zodiac sign. Each zodiac sign has a number of characteristics that are associated with it. Traditionally, in sample natal charts, you will see the zodiac signs appear in order, with Aries ruling the 1st house, Taurus ruling the 2nd house, all the way to Pisces with the 12th house. Your chart may not look like this, and that’s fine. 

Your ascendant, or rising sign, is denoted by what exact time you were born. Rising signs change every hour or two, and so if you don’t know what time you were born you will be unable to look into your house astrology.

To get a copy of your natal chart, travel to a site like this one. Input your data and then scroll to the bottom of the interpretation to see a graphic depicting your chart. Below I’ve posted a copy of my natal chart, along with a symbol guide to the zodiac signs for easy understanding.

If you look above at my natal chart, you will see the 12 houses. Each one has a symbol in it, denoting which sign each house is in. My rising sign happens to be Pisces. To find your own, you will look at the blue arrow that is pointing left in the center of the chart (right around the 9:00 mark if this were a clock). If you look at the symbol in this house, you will see that it is Pisces. Therefore, my ascendant is Pisces. The first house will be the first section marked by the Roman numeral, the second house will be counterclockwise, and so on, until you get to the twelfth house, which is right above the blue arrow. All natal charts are read this way.

Because Pisces is my ascendant and I am right at the cusp of this, each of my houses is in the “traditional” placement, meaning each sign is in the house of its ruler, or just about. Your chart might be different, and that’s completely fine. No way is better or worse than another.

To figure out what sign each of your planets is in, you can look at the guide on the bottom right of your chart and then translate the symbol to the zodiac guide above, or you can look on the actual wheel and find each symbol, and then see which house and zodiac sign it’s in. For instance, let’s look for the Moon. The moon is represented by a gray crescent moon icon, and if you look at my chart you will see it is sitting up in the 9th house in the sign of Sagittarius. Therefore, my moon is in Sagittarius and in the 9th house. Mercury, denoted by the green symbol, is sitting in my 5th house in the sign of Cancer.

It might be a good idea to write down each of these planets and what sign and house yours are in. If you don’t know your birth time, you can still figure out which sign each planet is in but probably not the houses. 

Now, see all those lines in the middle of my chart? These are considered “aspects”. Depending on the placement of each of your planets in the chart, it may or may not aspect other planets. Aspects can be easy, challenging, or somewhere in the middle. The chart on the bottom left is another way of looking up what aspects you have in your chart. Yours may look completely different from mine. We’ll get more into that later on.