Neptune Conjunct Descendant : "Now You Ask Me To Let Down My Hair, Okay? Ask Me To Let Down My Hair! DOOOO IT!"

Note 1: I borrowed very heavily from other sources for this writeup. I know this is technically plagiarism, but I no longer have my original sources. Sorry!
Note 2: This conjunction also involves my Lilith, which helps a bit.

Neptune conjunct the Descendant is a loaded position, offering profound gifts along side of tragic difficulty. The 7th house is one of the most likely houses from which to project planetary energies and Neptune, a transpersonal planet, is not easily welcomed into one's personal repertoire. The result is that Neptune on the descendant is most often not expressed personally but, at least initially, through projection onto another. The most likely "other" is the romantic partner, as the 7th house rules relationships. The 'worse' definitely includes the aforementioned projection and also a host of lofty, nearly impossible to meet romantic expectations.

Neptune/Descendant see herself as the heroine of her life, which she regards as a movie or fairy tale, defining herself through dramatic events. It is very hard for her to see herself clearly or perceive what it is she truly means to others. Particularly in youth, the ordinary roles of child, student, mate, etc. are dull to the Neptune/Descendant native. She will seek to spice them up with other considerations and, as a result, makes her life (and the lives of her friends, family and lovers) chaotic. She's attracted exclusively to those who inspire her romantic fantasies and is rarely practical about her relationships, preferring the excitement of fantasy to more pragmatic concerns. Her romantic cravings often involve her in peculiar emotional and/or sexual situations from which she may find it very hard to extricate herself.

On the positive side, Neptune conjunct Descendant is a highly artistic placement, especially positive if she is paired with an equally as creative partner, and particularly if they can share this without letting competitiveness spoil it. If the Neptune/Descendant individual's expectation of perfect beauty is met this way, through shared aesthetics and creation, it may undermine many of the more negative implications of this placement.

Neptune conjunct Descendant is also an excellent combination for counseling potential. They are capable of being so intimately attuned to others on a deeply emotional level that they may seem slightly psychic. There is an inherent talent for psychological studies and for drawing innermost thoughts and feelings from others. It is often quite natural for a person with this placement to exist completely inside of emotional intimacy, regarding it as their default way of being. In many cases, Neptune/Descendant expresses itself as an unnaturally strong valuation of probing and affectionate relationships, and the individual will feel compelled to create such relationships often in varying forms. Any partner will therefore need to acknowledge that this relationship forming is a vitally important part of the Neptune/Descendant individual's life, and internalize that this compulsion toward emotional intimacy with others is not a threat to the relationship. If this level of understanding is achieved along side of a shared creativity, it's quite possible the relationship will be truly idyllic in the way Neptune/Descendant dreams.

Being so prone to projection, however, the negative possibilities for Neptune/Descendant are many. Most obvious is the expectation that she must find a perfect mate; a fairytale prince who will rescue her from her own fog so that she may live happily ever after. Neptune loves a good rescue-- almost as much as she loves a good fantasy. If the aspected individual is fortunate, Neptune/Descendant can show itself as simply a very romantic undertone to the personality, with a deep and abiding trust in the power of love. However, there is a danger that it may develop into an expectation that the mate must fulfill all of the individual's deepest needs, provide unconditional love and support under all circumstances, and also be charming and lovely at the same time. This blind expectation that their partner be the embodiment of all that is beautiful and delightful in the world is damaging to all involved.

The strange truth of heavily Neptunian partners is that they are often amazingly noble and forgiving where major incidents (which typically break up other partnerships & marriages) are concerned, yet are unable to tolerate day-to-day differences and disappointments with any degree of grace. Some Neptune/Descendant partners, consumed by their desire to have a perfect union, will manage to maintain the illusion of the perfect partner in the face of an astounding amount of evidence to the contrary. They will overlook ignorant behavior, make excuses for immaturity, protect a weak mate, and generally do whatever is necessary to protect their fantasy. This is only exacerbated by the Neptunian gift of always seeing the best in others. The Neptune/Descendant individual who is protecting such an illusion will not give it up until she is ready to do so on her own, responding defensively to any suggestion from others that her partner may not be who she insists s/he is. Usually the mate's behavior must clash violently with another, more highly cherished value before the Neptune/Descendant individual even begins to see a problem.

It's important to mention that the Neptune/Descendant person, in facing the crumbling of her illusion, suffers a pain that is so deeply psychological it can be crippling. It is so painful, in fact, that it can only be survived if the native is able to accept fully that she built the illusion herself, in her own mind, and that her partner was never who she believed him or her to be. Otherwise she is likely to feel so deeply betrayed that her interaction with the world around her changes so gravely that she may dissociate from it entirely. If the illusion can be seen as a personally constructed lie to the self, the Neptune/Descendant individual can then grieve for the lost dream, rage at the unfairness of it all, and eventually let go of it. Depending on the level of expectation invested in the relationship to being with, however, this process can take years.

One constructive choice for the Neptune/Descendant individual who simply cannot give up on this need for a perfect partner/perfect devotion/perfect union etc, is devotion to the ultimate partner: God. This can be achieved through the ministry, priesthood/sisterhood, or through missionary service. It is a choice which needs to be carefully considered, however, for it is all too easy for Neptune/Descendant natives to be overwhelmingly drawn to such a life without consideration of it's profound sacrifices. Some find that an unimaginable weight is lifted from their shoulders by devotion to a life of service as they find they are truly fulfilled through it- often for the first time in their lives. Others are so overcome by their connection to otherworldly perfection that they are even less able to accept human fallability.

If the Neptune conjunct Descendant native has a strongly cardinal or fire element dominated chart (this is true of me in general, but also my Neptune/Descendant conjunction is in Sagittarius), she will typically adopt the savior role and find herself involved with tragic figures. This is a semiconscious procedure; few people deliberately saddle themselves with such a frustrating burden. The native falls in love with someone she truly feels she can help, someone who just needs a little propping up here and there in order to be ideal. Only when the illusion begins to crack does she see that her partners often do not wish to be saved, and are in the state they're in because of their refusal to help themselves. The native inevitably becomes the target of her lover's anger and frustration. They expect loving gratitude but generally end up with their mate's misplaced fury instead, as they lash out in fear at the Neptune/Descendant native who is "forcing" them to change. As a direct result of her choice of partner, the aspected individual will be continually punished, verbally attacked and emotionally blackmailed, when all she offered was loving help. If her misguided fantasy is not realized for what it is, under the burden of relationships with such victims the potential savior eventually becomes a martyr-- loving and supporting thanklessly until she is run into the ground and destroyed.

In order to make the most of this complex placement, Neptune/Descendant will need to first become fully conscious of her propensity toward illusion regarding her romantic partnerships. She will need to force herself to be constantly alert for the appearance of savior/victim games in her close relationships, games which can lead to abuse and an unimaginable kind of hell. She will need to take responsibility for her own spiritual and creative needs, and take steps to express them for herself (rather than using her partners to create the experience for her). This placement offers tremendous gifts; a rare talent for intimacy, a nearly psychic perception, and deep insight into the emotional realm. This insight, however, includes the ability to fully fathom the pain of others, a gift she must keep watch carefully so that it does not overwhelm her.

Fortuna in H10 Pisces : Yet More Neptune Up In My Karmic Grill

Fortuna in a natal chart is not actually a planet or asteroid like a majority of natal placements. Fortuna is considered an Arabic Part (theoretical karmic points of deep sensitivity), computed when the zodiacal longitude of an individual's Ascendant and Moon are added together and the longitude of the Sun is then subtracted from that sum. In this way, Fortuna (aka the Part of Fortune) describes the best possible relationship between these three points. A kind of alternate Ascendant, it's placement shows the areas and experiences of life in which we can achieve true, lasting happiness (by sign we are told why; by house, where) in the absence of our ego (Sun) - essentially, our road to bliss.

Fortuna is a complex and ancient concept, and so has been somewhat difficult for me to wrap my head around. Although it's utilized by both, Fortuna is more popular with Western, karmic astrologers (those who believe our natal chart holds us to a previously laid out destiny) than Eastern, contemporary astrologers (who use star logic as a foundation from which to spring off of instead of into). After a bit over two years of study, I'm still not sure exactly where I fall in this spectrum and have admittedly not done too much research into karmic astrology; to do so, I've decided to take on Fortuna first.

As a result of it's importance, when studying Fortuna in a natal chart there are several things that must be taken into consideration. Sign, house placement, tight conjunctions and oppositions to Fortuna (-3 degrees), and the ruler of the sign Fortuna is found in and aspects found to that planet (in my case- what else, Neptune). This is particularly interesting for me as my Fortuna is tightly conjunct (exactly 1 degree apart) my Venus in H10 Pisces and the 12th house (the house of Pisces/Neptune) is where my chart ruler falls.

When Fortuna is found in Pisces, the predestined road to happiness for the native is said to be complete transcendence of the tangible. They often (particularly as children, when such activities are more likely to be allowed/valued) use their powerful imaginations to transcend time, space and thought, and feel more "true" in doing so. The life force seems to work against itself in order to overcome itself, which can be muddling. They are bestowed a powerful intuition and attunement to the mystical, giving them a mysterious, magnetic quality. Others will sense that the individual with Fortuna in Pisces knows the unknown intimately, even when they do not consciously express it. For natives with this placement, their very being is restricted by living in a finite consciousness in which the only reality she is allowed by society is the one which can seen and touched. If she is to achieve pure happiness, she must completely cease to identify with that kind of reality.

Interestingly, Pisces Fortuna natives are also often regarded as tall tale tellers and exaggerators in the sense that their perception of reality is so intrinsically tied into fantasy that they often truly do not realize they are fibbing. Their grasp of what actually constitutes a truth is vastly different from most. In their understanding, they feel it and so it is. It follows that when others force them to deconstruct their own, transcendental reality to conform to the tangible, Fortuna in Pisces suffers. If they allow themselves to become too involved with the so called "daily truth," they will quickly loses any hold they may have had on who they are.

Although elusive, Fortuna in Pisces is generally regarded as one of the most rewarding "joy roads." It indicates a process of collective dissolution, a path laid out wherein the native plays a heavy role in making room for higher thought by deconstructing truth. The person with this configuration is contemptuous of lesser things, unable to connect with petty, material concerns. Often they achieve their purpose through crisis, both personal and social. They will face tremendous hardship and use the power of their transcendence to survive it. They will seem to float above worldly concerns which overwhelm others, who are inspired by it. Indeed, others may view Fortuna in Pisces' elusive, magical motion through life as somewhat of a miracle.

It has been noted by astrologers that this placement, which was once regarded with tremendous respect, has become very difficult to utilize as society increasingly turns itself toward not just valuation of the tangible (science as law, social status/money, etc) but also complete rejection of the intangible. In order to exist along side of their loved ones in contemporary society, many Pisces Fortuna natives willingly deny their only route to true happiness- and develop nervous and mood "disorders" as a result. For this reason, some choose professional avenues which allow their odd minds more freedom, such as mysticism, music, poetry, art, etc.

Any planet or point found in the 10th house is tied directly to the reputation and social representation. Although Fortuna in the 10th can indicate fame when found in other signs, it's placement in Pisces causes the native to be unable to relate to the very concept of fame. Natives may instead find they come in contact with it often (achieving recognition on a small scale only to devalue it, for example) but are mostly unphased by it's presence. Instead, the 10th house lends Pisces Fortuna a special kind of fortitude in her trek toward joy. These individuals meet happiness when they succeed in keeping their personal integrity and developing the strength to be faithful to their mystical principles despite opposition.

(Aside: Fortuna is said to be strengthened when found in the 10th house, well aspected to a planet in exhalation, or in sextile, trine, or conjunction aspect to Venus or Jupiter and I have all four; placement in my 10th house, conjunct my exalted Venus and trine my Jupiter in Scorpio. Benefic aspects to Fortuna are said to show areas where you possess greater talent for achieving bliss. In my case, that would be Venusian matters like love, bonding and sensuality and Jupiter's concern with deeper understanding, freedom and exploration. For what it's worth, I can say that I truly do feel happiest when utilizing my Venus & Jupiter together.)

Another interesting aspect of 10th house Pisces Fortuna is a complete acceptance of others' limitations. They feel a deep respect for everyone who is able to survive in the tangible world, which they view as frustrating and harsh, and so may find it difficult to truly judge others for the choices they make in order to do so. The road to happiness for this placement will be wrought with obligation (an earmark 1oth house trait) to others, who will want to be around Pisces Fortuna's other worldliness in order to reconnect with unseen aspects of themselves. They will be asked to involve themselves in many differing endeavors by those who wish to utilize their unique talents, and for this reason clear personal boundaries must be set by the native regarding what they will and will not allow themselves to do. For H10 Pisces Fortuna, who is herself resistant to fame, it is through fulfillment of these obligations that she often finds the most happiness.

(Additional aside: I also find it interesting, although I can't even really imagine how to articulate what it could mean, that my Fortuna [which is considered by some to be a "more pure" Ascendant, devoid of the ego) is in tension aspect [square] to my actual Ascendant in Gemini which is itself rather poorly aspected [trine Saturn & Mars, but square Venus, semi-square Sun, and opposite Uranus.)]

Moon Square Pluto; Reliance Vs. Destruction

When the moon (emotional nature) is in tension aspect to Pluto (control, transformation) in a natal chart, natives will feel they are constantly at the mercy of their overwhelming emotions. Even when there are strong indicators elsewhere in the chart of calm, capable self control, these folks' emotions will still seem to get the best of them every time. As a result, they will often resort to cruel tactics in order to control their emotional nature; namely by destroying every relationship in their lives which they feel an emotional reliance on.

Natives are often natural born loners, consumed with a quest to always be true to themselves. There is no fear of being alone with this placement, and many natives will find that they enjoy their solitude to a higher degree than what is considered normal. An obsession with controlling their own emotions typically leads to an extreme preoccupation with the turmoil of the inner self. Intimate relationships therefore are often difficult, fraught with intensity and extremes.

Moon Square Pluto individuals hate feeling restricted and will chafe against any imprisoning bonds, even if they are self-imposed. They prefer to take a dominate position in their relationships as a result, and will never willingly be submissive. If forced to do so, resentment will grow steadily and the native will inevitably undermine their partner's dominance with manipulative, subversive tactics. They can react almost violently toward anyone trying to change them, and will deliberately act in more extreme ways when displaying behaviors that another hopes to change.

Because Pluto is in tension aspect to Moon (female energy), natives will find they often make women uncomfortable. Their intense inner emotions generate an atmosphere around them which causes women to see them as threatening, intimidating and odd. Constant, confusing conflicts with Luna-type women (Lilith-type women being a different story) throughout life may lead to alienation from The Feminine and only strengthen Pluto's hold over the Moon.

As the Moon also rules the home, individuals with this placement typically have disruptive and difficult home lives in late childhood and adolescence. Conflicts with parents are virtually guaranteed as the individual grows into her/his self and rejects attempts by parental figures to mold them in any way. However, they find that their lives will change suddenly and not of their choosing often and dramatically, bringing them closer to their families over time. Perhaps ironically, it's typically the family which is most able to accept Moon square Pluto for who they truly are.

There is great struggle in this placement with powerful feelings of destructive energy, an urge to destroy and break down anything that even remotely resembles an obstacle. Natives will find they feel a sense of rebirth (Pluto) after tearing down such "obstacles," a feeling they likely may become addicted to. Their tendency is to explode in order to create solitude and space for personal changes to occur, as they are most able to deal with themselves when devoid of emotional attachment to others. It can be hard for others to understand how this sensation of destructive emotional energy shapes and restricts these individuals; indeed, it can be consuming and overwhelming. They will struggle to retain it as long as possible, but inevitably it spills over- typically during heated, emotional confrontation. Their inner emotional turmoil increases dramatically whenever they feel their emotions have thrown them out of control, shifting them into a "fight or flight" mode of thinking. Cruel, devastating things are often said and done during these explosive periods, so they nearly always create sudden and dramatic changes within the aspected individual's relationships.

What is not visible to their partners is that these dramatic changes are rarely the native's conscious aim; they simply reach a point where their emotions become so overwhelming that they feel they are forced to make a impulsive decision between exploding or imploding. Moon Square Pluto natives often do not see how truly damaging their inner conflict is to those who love them.

Although a difficult placement, it is also relatively easy to circumvent through self-actualization and study of the self. Although it is not always obvious to others, natives with this placement truly do desire to bond with others- it's only the fear of their own powerful emotions which prevents them from doing so. By Pluto's very nature, it is often the death of a loved one or birth of a child which causes this transformation in people with this tension aspect. A patient but forceful companion (lover, friend, family member, etc) who will refuse to allow the native to destroy their connection with hurtful words can also be instrumental. In order to jump the hurdle of this placement, individuals must learn to let go and communicate their feelings/difficulties more openly, so that others can help them to release their tension in less damaging ways. Redirecting preoccupation with the inner self toward helping others could become a way for emotional intensity to flow safely outward, reducing the inner pressure which leads Moon Square Pluto natives to destruction.

Juno Conjunct Moon in Capricorn; "Sometimes I Feel Like the Mother of the World"

Named for the complex & troubled mythological wife of Zeus, Juno is the archetype of the wife and partner who maintains her marital commitment to her husband in the face of conflict and struggle. In the birth chart she, along with other chart factors (the 7th house, Eros, etc) represents each individuals capacity for meaningful committed relationships/marriage, their general attitude concerning those relationships, and the type of partnership experiences needed in order to feel fulfilled. Juno represents both what individuals need and what they attract, also signifying the ways in which disappointments over broken unions are expressed.

When Juno is found in Capricorn, commitment is (to put it mildly) a very big, deep deal. Although natives may seem externally dismissive or pessimistic about the idea, this is merely because the idea of settling down is incredibly serious business to them.

Juno in Capricorn natives are often what is referred to a "serial monogamists," people who are involved in a string of long-term affairs that do not lead to marriage. To them, partnership is a foundation upon which to build a life; so marriage is a state reserved for nothing less than what they view as a solid, unshakable union. They will devote years of their lives to these affairs knowing marriage is not a possibility. This is not just because they want material and emotional security, but because of the earmark Capricornian need to complete everything they bring into being- including dead end partnerships.

For marriage to be of any consideration, it's of vital importance that Juno in Capricorn be able to take pride in her partner (this can take several forms depending on the native's individual values). They also need to feel as though the relationship is solid enough that they do not need to trip all over themselves putting out fires and making sure things are "okay," since they lack a nature aptitude for such things. When this need for constancy is not met, they will quickly lose respect for their partner, demeaning him/her as ineffectual and incapable. Or, in an attempt to create security where there is none, they will find themselves becoming controlling and domineering. Not surprisingly, many Juno in Capricorn natives eventually choose to forgo marriage all together, feeling it just isn't "for them." They will readily do this before they will settling for anything less than what they need.

When Juno is conjunct the moon, the individual's concern for meaningful relationships merges directly with lunar matters such as emotion, the inner self, and the home. The fulfillment of emotional needs is therefore more intensely entwined with having a meaningful long-term relationship in these individuals than most. Besides being lunar in Juno-type relationships themselves, natives will tend to seek out long-term partners who have a lunar quality to them as well; usually strongly feeling types with water moons or natal charts with strong Cancer influence.

Because Juno and the moon are both in stern, protective Capricorn, it takes a lot for these individuals to feel emotionally safe. Once they are, however, they are able to express a surprising degree of sensitivity and empathy toward their friends and partners. In the course of understanding, supporting and nurturing their partners, they find they are able to tune into his or her unconscious, fulfilling needs of which their partner may not even have been consciously aware.

Additionally, individuals with this placement may tend to have relationships which become identified with mothering. Memories of the mother from childhood may affect their approach to, and beliefs about, all human relationships. As a result of this, there may be a tendency to attract partners who project unmet childhood needs onto them. With such a strong Juno-Moon connection, issues with dependency often compromise the equality needed to achieve a truly adult partnership. Individuals with this placement will often they feel they are forced to take on the role of "Mommy" to their lovers, regardless of whether this is an embraced role or not. They will rarely feel as if their relationships are truly equal. The mythology of Juno will play out over and over again in their lives, and they will find themselves paired with dependent, moody or otherwise childish partners who use them for their lunar-Juno stability, when what they truly desire is to be nourished by a partner with strong, capable emotional energies.

Lilith in 7th House Sagittarius; Femme Fatale on The Descendant

"But I will not submit to you and be put beneath you,
Like a serving maid.
He conquers me, he who dares to pay my price.
I ask too much, you say? Yet I give all.

Watch out, you man, I warn you.
When I leave, you will fall asleep
And your rib will be taken out for your mate.
You banish me, but you will be cast out from the garden
And struggle to be reborn.
I will return to remind you of what you really want.
How you feel broken with a mate who is part of you,
Like a crutch."
- author unknown

The Dark Moon Lilith is the counterpart of Luna, the visible moon. Both are feminine energies which are associated with emotion and femininity, but with opposite aims. While Luna receives her fulfillment through nurturing and caring for others, Lilith is wholly self fulfilled and self defined. She lives in the shadow of our more accepted, open and nurturing emotional nature, governing the darkest, most secretive emotions we carry- shame, guilt, indignance, hatred, bitterness and jealousy. Where Luna is giving of herself, Lilith is the femme fatale- seeking to take pleasure for herself whenever needed.

Together, Lilith and Luna represent the complex polarity of femininity. Where Luna is soft, kind and nurturing, Lilith is strong, a disciplinarian, and will eagerly battle anyone who threatens the well-being of her self or her loved ones.

Lilith's placement in the chart is especially important to women, as it represents how, why, and when she expresses this harder side of her femininity. A woman with strong Lilith influence (Lilith is in my 7th house, on my Descendant, conjunct my natal Neptune and trine my natal Sun & Mercury) will find that her outward femininity is more Lilith than Luna in spite of herself. In a man's chart Lilith's placement shows the issues he may have with the women in his life. A man's Black Moon represents, in the same way the mythological Lilith did to Adam, the type of woman he fears most, yet needs to feel truly whole.

When a woman's Lilith is found in Sagittarius a deeply rooted, fierce independence appears which permeates into the native's every day life. These individuals, as a result, will have very few truly close, personal commitments to others. They are driven by both an insatiable wanderlust and a spine tingling fear of any kind of dependence. As a result of this, there will be great instability in the area of personal, intimate relationships, but a greater power than most in the social-universal areas of human existence. These women are The Feminine's generals. At their very core they are devoid of the need for security and protection that some women have, and are therefore next to impossible to possess in traditional ways.

Lilith in Sagittarius has an independence fetish, to put it mildly. How powerful she feels is directly parallel with the amount of autonomy she currently holds, and this has a strong influence on her sexuality. A "powerless" Lilith in Sag native will hold her sexuality closely to herself, and any partner who attempts to control her will soon find him/herself replaced. There is no middle ground for Lilith in Sagittarius where her personal power is concerned. If you can accept and embrace her free spirit, she stays. If you try to suffocate it, she goes.

It follows that the choice of a partner is most often one with qualities of independence that would guarantee Lilith in Sag's ability to come and go as she pleases. This in no way implies a lack of devotion, but simply an unusually strong restlessness which the native is (sometimes painfully) aware must be obeyed. Intimate relationships will be spirited, probing and exciting until the native begins to feel there is no more room for personal growth. When Lilith in Sag feels the growth potential dwindling in her partnership, it will begin to feel like a fence around her that she will struggle to resist jumping- sometimes in contrast to her deeper understanding of the relationship itself.

When a woman's Sag Lilith is found in the 7th house (the house of partnership), she is even further torn between commitment and independence. The general energy of Lilith desires to reject intimate commitment, while the 7th house concerns itself solely with it's acceptance. Instead of rejecting it outright, this placement instead attempts to express the power of her autonomy THROUGH her partnerships, which is difficult to do realistically. Although she appears at times unshakable, a perceptive few may notice a weariness behind this one's eyes. This weariness is caused by enduring the chaos of her own constantly changing life, as well as a dangerously deep, suppressed anxiety concerning partnerships that she has abandoned due to her restlessness. 7th house Sag Lilith privately wonders, "What kind of life would I be living right now if I had stayed?" She protects her independence fiercely while simultaneously desiring to be partnered, at times all too aware of the beauty of the fish she's thrown back to the sea.

When Lilith is conjunct the descendant, natives will find themselves unreasonably attracted to dark, secretive and rebellious types, regardless of the trouble they cause. She draws partners to her who desire relationships with strongly Lilithian women- women who are confident, authoritarian, and fiercely autonomous. This is because natives are driven to use the arena of partnership to explore Lilith's power, and only a mate who can keep up with her, as her equal, will do if this is to take place. At the heart of her, Lilith on the Descendant wishes to find a partner who will somehow, through his/her very being, cause her to desire deep, willing intimate surrender. This is a complex dance, however, when the Descendant Lilith falls on is in Sagittarius, as the native will insist that it happen naturally and without prompting. Any partner attempting to force this surrender, or coax her to it in any deliberate way, will soon find him/herself alone.

Jupiter in 6th house Scorpio - God Or Monster?

Jupiter rules our personal philosophy and wisdom, the area in which we have the deepest, natural understanding. By planet, Jupiter tells us the area where our personal philosophy centers in and is born of; the area in our lives we are most comfortable and "lucky." The house Jupiter falls in indicates how we bring this wisdom to the world. Jupiter stays in each sign for roughly 12 months, and is so considered a "generational planet," although not to the extent that Neptune (stays in sign 14 years), Uranus (7 years), Pluto (14-30 years, depending) and Saturn (2.5 years) are.

When Jupiter is found in the sign of Scorpio, a hypnotic quality is added to the personality. Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, in the planet Jupiter bestows natives with a deeper understanding of what it hidden away from others, and individuals with this placement therefore have a clever, charming and somewhat underhanded quality to them that can be difficult to pin down. There's almost always a degree of social power evident in these individuals, mostly due to their ability to clearly see (and exploit, if they choose to) the ugly, hidden parts of everything around them- people, situations, etc. This overwhelming need to both uncover and possess the absolute, dirty truth of every circumstance sounds daunting and a little scary, but to Jupiter in Scorpio natives the quality is so ingrained in who they are (and have always been) that it generally ceases to trouble them. Instead, it's what they choose to do with this deeper wisdom that inevitably makes or breaks them.

Jupiter in Scorpio straddles a serious fence between good and evil, arguably moreso than any other planetary placement (aspects are a whole other thing, naturally). In the (long ago) past, children born in the years where Jupiter was placed in Scorpio were considered marked by the devil. Although it always endows it's natives with a certain "badass" quality, it can manifest in drastically different ways depending on how it is aspected elsewhere in the natal chart. If well aspected, Jupiter in Scorpio's are often gifted investigators, artists/writers and political/spiritual leaders. If afflicted, there is a tendency toward extreme violence, cult leadership/mind control and exploitation of power. There has been extensive study on this offbeat placement because of it's extreme polarity- there is a wealth of information available on the internet if you're interested.

EXAMPLES OF "GOOD" BADASS VS. "BAD" BADASS

Charles Manson (cult leader), Ted Bundy (serial killer), Erik Menendez (murdered parents), Al Capone (gang leader, murderer) , Joseph Mengele (infamous nazi doctor called "The Angel of Death"), L. Ron Hubbard (cult leader), OJ Simpson (murderer, wife beater), David Koresh (cult leader, child molestor), Aleister Crowley (cult leader), and Joseph Fritzel (locked daughter & children she bore him through rape in a windowless cellar for almost 30 years) all had/have their Jupiter in Scorpio, for example.

On the other hand Patti Smith (singer/performance artist/poet), Kurt Vonnegut (author), Edvard Munch (expressionist painter), Leo Tolstoy (author), Rainer Maria Rilke (poet), Tchaikovsky (composer), Claude Monet (impressionist painter), Vladimir Nabokov (author), Deepak Chopra (spiritual guru), Carl Sagan (atheist leader/ideologist) and the Dalai Lama XIV also do.

Strangely, it's somewhat easy to see the elusive quality that all of these people share- all of them deal/t in the darker side of life. Jupiter in Scorpio always feels most alive when walking the thin line between good and evil. What can't be denied is that this placement instills in it's natives an almost perverse fascination with (and understanding of) the underbelly of humanity. They feel a deep sense of satisfaction in forcing the darkness of life into the light, even moreso if it happens to also scare the shit out of everyone else. What separates the good from the bad (or the "gods" from the "monsters") is that where most natives are satisfied in expressing this darkness through music, poetry, art and non-oppressive spirituality, others seem to need to "go the extra mile" (so to speak) by expressing it through absolute human cruelty and religious extremism.

When Scorpio Jupiter is found in the 6th house, the aspected individual uses her gift of darker insight to aid, heal and otherwise service others. There is a talent for spiritual and physical healing through helping (and sometimes forcing) others to confront the darkness in and around them. They are somewhat notorious for being able to "sniff out" dangerous and/or untrustworthy people; although this knowledge is also typically used only in service to others, as there is a part of them which is exhilarated when surrounded by such people themselves. These individuals tend to dole out their Jupiter Scorpio gifts in an oddly friendly, jovial way, as the 6th house adds a sense of critical perception which allows the native to see "the whole" of how the darkness cooperates the light and vice versa. They have the ability to regard their darker understanding of life lineally and sequentially, taking it into context.

They are generally mindful people, albeit trouble makers, who often become quite moral later in life. This is a direct result of extensive and often painful experience with the consequences wrought them by combining their inherent arcaneness with over indulgence and immorality.

Eros in Leo : Psyche In Virgo - The Heart & Soul

As is the case with most asteroids (or "minor bodies"), the clues to interpreting their meaning astrologically comes from studying the mythology behind their given names. Psyche and Eros are named for two mythological lovers whose story describes the ultimate union between heart and soul.

Eros, son of Aphrodite (The Goddess of love & beauty) & Ares (The God of Aggression), is sent to Earth by his mother to punish Psyche, a mortal princess of such complete physical perfection that the people in her kingdom have begun to worship her instead of Aphrodite. Aphrodite asks Eros to use one of his gold tipped arrows to make Psyche fall in love with the ugliest, most worthless and vile human on Earth in order to humiliate her family and ruin her life. Eros agrees, and descends to Earth.

Meanwhile, Psyche is lonely and miserable. Although she is worshiped by all for her beauty, she despises herself. She's filled with loneliness because her beauty has turned her into an idol or statue to admire as opposed to a unique individual with a soul in the eyes of every other mortal. She periodically loses herself in this, struggling to retain her totality of self. No one ever sees her as more than an admirable object and she knows this means she will never find reciprocal love.

Just prior to shooting the arrow at Psyche, Eros accidentally pricks himself with the tip and suddenly finds himself madly and completely in love with Psyche. Seeing that the beauty of her soul was still far greater than the beauty of her body, he breaks a number of "God" rules (including totally ignoring the wishes of his mother) in order to be with her and the two are punished again and again. After suffering many trials (including Psyche literally going to hell and back), the couple are finally united. And after that, they never parted ways again.

The myth of Psyche (soul, the deepest self) and Eros' (sexuality, desires which overwhelm the mind) complex interaction shows what is possible when heart and soul come together. Astrologically, the two therefore are more complete when combined. Although their meanings are valid on their own, together they define the "ultimate love" each individual yearns for.

My Psyche is in 4th house (sentimentality, the home) Virgo (perfectionism, mercurialism) and is also the only source of Virgo energy present in my natal chart. Keeping with my lovely, ongoing theme of dissociative identity, my Psyche is inconjunct my sun (ego, concious will) in 12th House Aries and almost directly opposite my Venus (attraction, sensuality) in 10th Pisces. In lamens terms, this would imply that my soul has difficulting connecting with my conciousness, and works in opposition to my ability to love and bond- both very true statements.

When Psyche is found in Virgo, the native is bestowed with a sensual knowingness and impeccable grasp of nuance. These individuals can effortlessly tap into the unspoken fantasies and secret motivations of their lovers, creating a suave partner who is so totally together during seduction that it borders on the holistic. However, Psyche in Virgo, as it relates to the individual soul, yearns for someone who is able to show that same grasp of details recipriocally. Utterly sensual, they are most deeply enticed by a deep mental affinity with someone who understands them with no explanations needed. They desire to be finessed by a partner who is able to all at once remember, appreciate and utilize every aspect of her inner being. This is a tall order, to say the least, and problems arise because Psyche in Virgo often takes her own special talent for granted. Natives typically do not understand why this sensual clarity isn't present in others, leading her to feel as though she is merely not worth the effort.

Psyche in the 4th indicates an individual who longs to root themselves in something real and lasting, a "home" for their soul. They long to find a place where they can relax and be themselves without feeling self concious or anxious, and will often use the physical body (through sexuality, caring for a sick partner, etc) to cement themselves in this. They will attempt again and again to make their desire for a perfect, accepting atmosphere a reality, often cycling through many marriages or cohabitating partnerships.

Similar to my Psyche, my Eros in Leo is the only source of Leo energy I have in my chart. It is inconjunct my moon (emotional nature) in Capricorn and is directly opposite my midheaven (success, fame). In lamens terms, this would imply that my emotions in general have difficulty connecting with my sexuality and that my sexual impulses work against my success- also very true statements (for better or worse). I've struggled to define my sexuality my entire life as it seems foggy and elusive to me, and also tend to be most sexually attracted to those individuals who care the least about my ability to succeed (and some have gone to great lengths to see me fail). As is often the case, the desires of my Psyche are very similar to the desires of my Eros- both yearn to be understood and adored completely.

Eros in Leo has an overwhelming longing for attention and adoration. Aspected individuals desire devotional attention and unwaivering love from those who touch their lives, needing to feel extraordinary and distinctive to their lovers. They long to be muses and often are, inspiring heartfelt homage from their partners. Sexually, they tend to be larger than life and unapologetically hedonistic. So long as Eros in Leo feels they are being sufficiently worshipped, their sexual appetite will be insatiable. Astrologer Dane Rudhyar describes Eros in Leo as "the magician caught in the glamour of his own magic, a leader resonating to the needs of his followers who nonetheless needs slaves to prove his mastery to himself." Although they are faithful partners, they are also hopelessly addicted to passion. At the first sign of wavering devotion from their partner, Eros in Leo will seek it elsewhere through flirtation and infactuation. There is an overwhelming compulsion to being desired by others, which they need to feel alive and potent. It's for this reason that they can't help but collect "followers"- individuals who desire (but are not sexually involved with) them as a way of reinforcing their worth.

With Leo Eros in the 3rd house, communication becomes a focal point in the erotic experience. They're vocal lovers who will want to talk their way through the sexual act, pointing out what feels good and reminding the partner of his/her beauty. They're most turned on by a partner who will reciprocate; a silent sexual partner will only make them feel as though they aren't being appreciated (sending them into outside flirtation & infactuation as mentioned above). This erotic communication expands also to writing, and 3rd house Leo Eros individuals are often most able to collect their "followers" through their written words.

Where are your Eros & Psyche? How do they factor in with what you know about your deepest desire?

Sun Opposition Pluto - Bitchy? Who, me?

Sun Opposition Pluto is a natal aspect indicative of deep psychological tension. It causes the Sun (the self, conscious will) and Pluto (upheaval, transformation) to work against each other and create conflict "behind the scenes" where the native is not fully aware. The Sun and Pluto are both tremendously powerful energies, so it naturally follows that this aspect will be exceptionally difficult. It suggests that most of the problems and challenges that arise for the native will concern their interpersonal relationships and be created or stimulated by their own unconscious expression of control.

Sun Opp Pluto natives possess a fierce, iron will that often leads to an aggressive, forceful, extremist temperament, particularly against those they feel are trying to control them. It is difficult for them to allow situations to unravel slowly and naturally, so they often "jump the gun" and spoil things in their haste to gain control over a situation before it gains control of them. There is a pattern here of taking ownership of situations before they are fully realized and a penchant for acting on impulse without fully considering the long term ramifications of their actions. Once the damage is finally done, Sun Opp Pluto will often stand back and truly not understand where that damage came from.

There is almost always a perceived inability to express or reveal their true personalities to others. They experience a simultaneous urge to express themselves (Sun) and to hide themselves (Pluto). Internally, they are especially sensitive to criticism and so feel the need to "redo" themselves often. Their intense fear of losing control typically stems from childhood, which may have been crisis-ridden or emotionally-charged due to the father figure (Sun). As a result, natives go through great pains to protect themselves by attempting to control every part of their lives in order to ensure they are never taken off guard again.

To others, the will and personality of Sun Opp Pluto natives seems overbearing, provocative and dominating. Natives will go to great lengths in order to steer every situation which touches their lives themselves, an obsession which stems from an intense fear of what may happen if they let go of control. This is why they are compelled to always be in the position of authority and are so cruelly rebellious when roles are reversed. For individuals with this aspect, a lack of control in outward situations translates directly to a lack of control of the inner self. Although they appear on the outset to be untouchable and even cruel, the main theme of this aspect is actually deep fear.

Since their conscious and unconscious mind are feeding them opposing information, it may seem to others that the native is undergoing constant identity changes. These shifts are merely an expression of dissatisfaction with the self they are projecting, as they are fearful of and uncomfortable with their evolving ego. These changes coupled with their fear of exposing themselves causes problems with others, who see them as both insincere and untrustworthy. Others presume the great legnths they go to in order to preserve their privacy proves that they have something sinister to hide, which becomes even more problematic when taken into the context of Sun Opp Pluto's powerful forcefulness. The truth is, their fear of being exposed is truly a fear of being vulnerable, as well as a manifestation of their own ongoing identity crisis. Though internally the native may be aware of these fears and the pure vulnerability behind their changes and obsession with privacy, others who have experienced their rough exterior will not recognize it's root and regard the native as callous, manipulative and cruel. These conflicts with others will repeat ad nauseum and cause the native much distress, leading them to become overly attached to things, habits, and their past. Being surprised or unsure can lead to vulnerability and misunderstanding, so why not return to what you already know?

If you're an Aries Sun who was born between 1971 and 1983 you have this aspect. If you are a late Pisces/early Taurus Sun, you may as well. The degree to which the opposition takes place will determine how strong an influence the aspect has on your life. In my case, the opposition is a tight 0°39.

Since Pluto is a "generational planet" (most people in your peer group will share your Pluto by sign), an individual with this aspect natally will also share it in synastry with virtually everyone they come in contact with. In this way, Sun Opposition Pluto says just as much about the how the aspected individual treats herself as it does about how they interact with the world around them.

Chiron in 12th House Taurus (note: asteroids are heavy, btw)

The asteroid Chiron is the Wounded Healer, an entity which exists to unlock, teach and heal through suffering. By sign, Chiron infers where we most suffer throughout life, the area where we tend to have the "worst luck."By house, it shows where this suffering tends to manifest. Although it seems dreary, Chiron brings with it's suffering the possibility for profound growth once the patterns which cause so mcuh pain are acknowledged and dealt with.

Chrion in Taurus has a constant pain of neglect, often feeling that what they have is never enough- materially, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. They lack solid value structure, and feel that they are never quite "full." Their hearts seem to need consistent re-filling as they quickly and constantly empty themselves. There is a propensity to deny true happiness as a result, and natives instead opt to collect material things that will never change or leave them, and also tend to hold on to experiences and memories of pleasure long after the point of pleasure has left their lives. They long for love but devalue it, fearing that they may someday lose the ability to sustain themselves emotionally.

Chiron in Taurus is, above all things, a preserver of value. It's easier, and hurts less, to hold onto objects or memories because they cannot change. Their value to the native thusly stays the same, instead of shifting, increasing or decreasing. Taurus concerns itself so heavily with protection and safety that Chiron in Taurus natives will seem to go to great lengths to preserve their wound, deeply terrified of the risks they must take in order to heal themselves.

Additionally, natives with Chiron in Taurus typically have bizarre sexual habits because of the strong influence of Chiron on Venusian energy (Taurus is ruled by Venus). There are deeply complex (sometimes subconscious) issues of sexual dominance/submission, and fantasies of rape or bondage may be present. The Chiron/Venus influence also makes natives particularly receptive to kundalini energy, which can be as damaging as it can be beneficial- depending on how mentally prepared natives are for the changes it brings.

When Taurus Chiron is found in the 12th house, natives are experimenters and are often multi-talented. They are not easily able to ignore what they don't understand, and so are driven to uncover the hidden truths behind apparent reality in order to protect themselves from all angles. They are in constant fear that a door will open to them when they are unprepared, and so feel they must learn as much as they can on every possible subject. They have an almost obsessive interest in the past, and thusly a talent for bringing things from the past into the present to make them once again useful.

12th house Taurus Chiron typically has a very strong awareness of the unrealized potential (wounds) in both situations and people, which only further complicates their disordered value structure. They will invest an almost obscene amount of time and effort into helping others realize their hidden potentials, only to receive little to no appreciation for it in the aftermath. In fact, they may even experience harsh judgments and false accusations from those they guide, mentor, and help. This is one of the most frequently experienced traits of this position, but at the same time natives have an almost unnerving lack of concern for it. There is a very strong awareness here of a greater power (be it a God, karma, fate, or some other manifestation of what is arguably the same energy) which tends to both constantly humble individuals with this placement and also prevent them from demanding the recognition they deserve for aiding in the success of others.

Quite frequently they are known for their intellectual arrogance, and quite probably enjoy taking on the role of dissenter. It is also quite common for them to not realize how they hinder themselves by holding maverick views. Their maverick nature often takes them into areas that are not properly appreciated or recognized by society. This may cause them some disappointment or emotional damage, as they (perhaps oddly) have a very real need to belong to the society in which they find themselves, even as it continues to fail to make sense to them.

Most are moody, and may seem to attract grief magically. They are confronted time and time again by curve-balls, which only adds to their impossible obsession with complete understanding. After a time, isolation tendencies appear as natives look for healing in retreat. There is a high risk for substance abuse for people with this placement, as intoxicating conditions both comfort and make sense to them. At their deepest possible level they may feel they are caught in limbo between the material and the spiritual world, at times not knowing which is truly real.

When Chiron is found in the 12th house, natives are bestowed a strong physic, intuitive gift which sets them apart from most. This gift could include psychic healing abilities, clairvoyance, and/or a talent for spiritually guiding others. Their early expressions of these talents were likely looked down upon or ignored in childhood, causing natives to hide or deny them. For this reason, there is a danger that natives will commit themselves to "gurus" or Christ figures throughout life, as they will admire and envy their lost talents when seen in others, forgetting that the magic still exists inside of them.

Many of these issues will be brought to a head during the natives first Saturn Return, and they will be forced to either work toward healing or give themselves over completely to another's spiritual leadership. There has been discussion between professional and student astrologers that those 12th house Chiron individuals strong enough to come out of their Return intact will be instrumental in the rebuilding of a (some would say inevitably forthcoming) new social renaissance, as their perception of how the world should be is more correct than they have ever been given credit for.

Exalted Venus in 10th House Pisces

When Venus is found in the sign of Pisces, it's considered to be in it's purest form and is referred to as being "exalted." These individuals are capable of a deep and profound love, with a unique understanding of the interconnectedness of all life. Accepting of and open minded to the faults and strangeness of others, they are also hopelessly romantic and can be very idealistic about partnership. They often struggle to remain committed, falling in love often and for a variety of profound reasons. This universal loving gives them an underlying, seductive sweetness that can be intriguing, as others are captivated by how freely and completely the native is able to love. Theirs is an elusive charm; they are playful, a little moody, and a little irregular. Venus in Pisces seems to offer an escape from reality to their lovers, a kind of story-book departure from the drudgery of daily life. It is this promise of escape that helps Venus in Pisces natives to passively but powerfully attract the object of their affections to them, sweeping them off their feet.

Seduction for Pisces Venus is virtually effortless. Natives possess a vivid, poetic imagination that can at times seems divinely inspired. There's something mystical about them that appeals to the dreamer in others. They see the experiences of life on a symbolic level, which creates an abundance of magic in their relationships. Though they may try, they won't be able to linger long around harsh, abrasive people, or those wrapped up in the mundane. They belong amongst the artists and dreamers of the world, and will inevitably return to them if they're ever to stray.

Unimpressed by status, material wealth and success, Venus in Pisces loves the underdog and is attracted moreso to wayward folks. With their glossy, romantic view of the world, natives become unreasonably attracted to states of suffering and martyrdom, so they too easily fall into the roles of saving someone or being saved. Natives can be rather confusing and hard to pin down as they feel their way through their relationships, and will often change partners while still fully loving the one they've left behind. In fact, it can be argued that Venus in Pisces never falls out of love at all if the feelings were sincere, and not just situational, to begin with.

Love for these individuals can be a mystical, nearly religious experience with the right person, wholly overwhelming and endlessly inspiring them. It is difficult for them to set personal boundaries for themselves in these situations as they find that their devotion is endless and enveloping. Believing their lover to be a rare, kindred spirit, they risk losing hold of their self-identity attempting to merge with them.

However, when Pisces Venus is found in the 10th house, the house of Capricorn, the Venus energy becomes frustrated. The 10th house is the most visible point on a natal chart, and anything found there will inevitably be public and obvious to others. Venus is, at it's essence, a very personal energy, as it represents a host of intensely intimate responses- like jealousy, insecurity, the desire for human contact, and envy. The result of these reactions being seen so publicly is that the native is wholly unable to achieve true, emotional privacy. Their feelings of and approach to love, which is beautiful and mystical throughout, is at the same time constantly visible to all.

For all of the attention Venus naturally and rightly craves (Venus always wants to be admired, in it's natural state), 10th house Venus can become worn with the task of these feelings always being so obvious and easily exploited. These individuals may feel like all eyes are on her all of the time, and the part of Venus that desires private, profound intimacy may feel this can never be accomplished. The primal reaction to this can vary, but most likely the individual becomes a kind of anti-Venus who publicly eschew all pretenses of beauty. They may treat relationships as disposable or feel as if they are in some way unable to give or receive love, sometimes not realizing those feelings are merely defense mechanisms. This is a particularly intense struggle when the 10th house Venus is found in Pisces, as the native truly needs profound love in order to feel whole. 10th house Pisces Venus goes against her true nature, making it seem as though she is incapable of, or doesn't need, the love she feels with her entire being.

Any energy found in the 10th house is directly connected to the reputation; they become ingrained in the image that others, even those who don’t know the native directly, have of them. When Venus is placed there, there is a strong tendency for others to project their own Venusian beliefs and values onto the native. Others (particularly those who form romantic relationships with them) will feel and insist that they "just know" how the Venus person is feeling about the relationship, when in actuality those feelings are their own. This causes inevitable chaos for 10th house Venus, as natives struggle to sort their own feelings from the ones that others merely insist they are experiencing. Natives eventually develop a strict, authoritative reaction to these situations in relationships, which is so contrary to their other expressions of love that their partners often feel that the soft, playful, accepting love they were earlier shown by the native was a front. Their feelings of love are often misunderstood as a result, sometimes harshly, and they may find that those they become involved with remain weary of them even as the relationship develops.

For Pisces Venus in the 10th house, there is a danger that their anti-Venus persona will also inevitably become so publicly known and accepted that it will be difficult for her to stray from it. Relationships will develop with individuals who crave the rejection of Venus influence they half heartedly flaunt, when in actuality the only way the native truly knows how to love is Pisces Venus' profound, mystical way. Many disappointments in love will result, over and over again, if Pisces Venus in the 10th doesn't learn to both cultivate the more positive aspects of her placement AND express them publicly, regardless of any pain, humiliation, or judgment it may bring her in doing so.

Sun Trine Neptune: Alive in Magic

Individuals born with their natal Sun trine Neptune have a natural gift of imagination and a sense of magic that greatly enhances their lives. They are artistically dominated people, feeling most like their "true selves" when indulged in music, poetry, art and literature. However, to make the most of their considerable (if somewhat mysterious) talents, they must struggle to find some practical goal to channel them in to. This will be difficult for Sun Trine Neptune, who learns early through experience that reality rarely accepts the fruits of their grand imaginations. It will be tempting, and very easy, for them to retreat into laziness and daydreams, but if this temptation is overcome, natives will find they can almost work miracles.

Sun Trine Neptune individuals are precocious learners, quickly absorbing ideas and concepts with deep comprehension. However, they are easily bored. Natives of this aspect learn so easily that there is virtually no challenge or stimulation to be found in traditional education. As a result, natives are not typically good students in spite of their natural, curious intelligence. It is during these times that Sun Trine Neptune first turns to their imaginations to challenge them, developing a pattern of escape they retain throughout their lives.

It follows that their strongest vice is procrastination, born from their early disappointments in education and the rich, accepting atmosphere of their imaginations. Sun Trine Neptune is very talented, but is not often motivated to do anything about it. Many promising, exciting projects will be started, but few will be finished. Natives quickly learn and take what they need from each endeavor before rushing on to the next shooting star, making it difficult for them to find the motivation to see their projects to completion.

They are comfortable spending much of their time in solitude, as comfortable in the world of dreams as they are in every day life- often preferring the dreamworld to reality. In fact, they will spend a great deal of time and effort attempting to converge the two in vain. Their desire to live in a perfect world of dreams is so strong that they will pursue jobs, relationships and other experiences that appeal to them regardless of warnings given by those around them. As a result, they are easily disenchanted by the object of their idealization when it can't compare to their initial, dreamy perception of it.

While Sun Trine Neptune is almost always faithful to their romantic partner, they also demand a certain degree of personal freedom for both parties to explore life and it's experience as they wish. They are fluid beings who operate best when kept off a leash and allowed to move and experience life freely. Thusly, shared dreams and complete trust are highly valued as components of ideal romantic love.

Psychic abilities, premonitions in dreams, and intuition are often part of the native's everyday life. These individuals are difficult to shock as almost nothing is unusual to them. Much of Sun Trine Neptune's personal stregnth is garnered by it's intuitive grasp of things; native's are highly perceptive emotionally and easily able to tune into "atmospheres", giving natives a mystical quality. It's important to note that this mystical air is not a front or illusion, as the abilities Sun Trine moon possesses in the way of perception are undeniable. Natives may notice they are often in the right place at the right time, saying the exact right thing to the right people. This is not a coincidence. Individuals with this aspect should always pay close attention to messages received through their dreams or in channeling trance states.

Ceres in 6th House Scorpio, the Exacting Sexual Mother

The dwarf planet Ceres in the natal birthchart is our "Inner Mother," a powerful archetype which concerns itself with our nurture behaviors and needs. In the signs, Ceres shows our nurturing style- both how we help other's grow and what we need to develop ourselves. Ceres' placement in the houses tells us the ways in which we express these behaviors to the world outside of ourselves.

When Ceres is found in the 6th house, the house of Virgo, all nurturing behaviors are expressed in exacting, precise ways. The native is very realistic about the wisdom she imparts, both on herself and others, and will only help those who are willing to take an active role in their own growth. She will always feel she is either giving too much or too little, and will rarely be satisfied that she has done what she should to care for herself and others.

When Ceres is found in the sign of Scorpio, the native's urge to connect becomes deeper than merely skin-deep. They prize strong emotion, regardless of the variety, above all things. Nothing less than full disclosure and intimate bonding will make the native feel confident in her connections, and others will notice that she tends to "pair off" with one partner or friend at a time. In their minds, the "true" depths of understanding, of both themselves and those who are dearest to them, can only be reached through intense, emotional experiences.

In addition to intense emotional bonding, Ceres in Scorpio transforms themselves and others through their robust affirmation of their instinctive and sexual needs. They nurture others through the confident sharing of their strongest energies: emotional, sexual, and shamanic. They can effortlessly combine the three if conditions are right, and thusly are sometimes referred to as "sexual mothers." Sexual encounters may at times feel like religious rituals, healing and changing both partners in the process.

Others are transformed either through such sexual experiences with Ceres in Scorpio, or through their penetrating psychological insight into others' problems. Lack of this kind of intimate nurturance and emotional affirmation in their own upbringing is usually the catalyst which helps natives to heal their own inner emotional wounding, making them more able to help others in this way. Their methods of caring are not always gentle: referred to as "shock treatment," being nurtured by Ceres in Scorpio can be wildly successful for some and painful for others. Friends and lovers will learn a lot about themselves through these "shock treatments," although the process may be difficult.

The people and places in the native's life that have denied them access to these inner recesses will continually haunt them, bringing back oppressively sad memories and griefs not dealt with. The intensity of their bonding is often too much for the object of their affection, which grieves the native as it is their highest form of caring, reserved only for a select few. For Ceres in Scorpio, another's disinterest in her willingness to "go deep" is simply the hardest thing for her to accept. Depending on the circumstances, it's quite possible she never will.

However, Ceres in Scorpio is no weak momma. She knows precisely when and how to take her revenge, and does so swiftly. As easily as she gives, she can take a way. Although she may feel deep pain on the inside, her need for full disclosure and to segregate herself from dishonest influence is still greater. Depending on how deep the connection between the two once was, the absence of Ceres in Scorpio's presence in one's life can leave a deep mark.

Personally, rites of passage concerning life via sexuality such as childbirth, death, sexual experimentation, illnesses or conditions related to the reproductive system, etc could be profound experiences that change Ceres in Scorpio's life in powerful ways. These trials will constitute an initiation for the native into the lessons of loss and return, transformation, and letting go.

Mars Retrograde : The (Backwards) Way You Do The Things You Do

When a planet in a natal chart is found in retrograde (Rx), the native's experience the energy of that planet in a more subjective, internal way. Thus their interpretation and expression of the planet's energy is very unique to them personally. There is almost always a somewhat unusual or obsessive concern with the past where the energies represented by the planet (in Mars' case: action, passion, sexuality and aggression) are concerned. Some karmic astrologers believe that retrograde planets indicate a link to a past life. If this vein of interpretation is to be believed, it can be said that natives with their natal Mars in retrograde had aggression used improperly by or against them in a former life. Their conceptualization of Mars energy is closer to the heart in their current incarnation as a result, and now comes from a different, deeper place than those around them.

Mars Rx is unusual; only Venus retrograde is more rare. Mars turns retrograde only once every 26 months for a period of roughly 8 weeks. Mars Rx individuals need to turn their desire energies inward before they can define the motivations behind their actions. They may do damaging or chaotic things over and over again before they understand why they are doing them to begin with. They often alternate sharply between periods of feeling very stagnant and going to extremes. They almost always have either unusual sexual aversions (a distaste for sexual acts which most consider tame and/or normal, instead maintaining a "risky" or "shocking" sexual lifestyle with no concern for it's "abnormality"), or fickle, constantly rotating sexual tastes. They may find they are more fascinated with sexuality in general than their own, specific feelings on the subject. Mars Rx women in particular are often attracted to partners who are very dependent, particularly those who are sick or physically handicapped in some way and/or unpopular social misfits.

What is usually seen in a Mars Rx person is someone who has particular difficulty finding direction. They rarely act in their own best interest, although this is unintentional. Their passions/motivations, which are always at least slightly out of the ordinary, are difficult to spark. But - and this is a very important point - when they do find something or someone that stimulates them, their drive and passion will be endless where this focus is concerned. This is because this motivation has been properly internalized, which happens rarely to the Mars Rx individual, and so becomes a very personal, important subject to them. A pattern of abusive and/or co-dependent relationships often arises, typically leaving the Mars Rx individual feeling used or as if they had been taken advantage of. There are several reasons for this. It typically takes natives longer than most to internalize that abuse is truly abuse, particularly if the abuse is not directly physical. Also, when a relationship manages to ignite the Mars Rx individual's nearly impossible to spark passion, she will find that her energy for this relationship is endless, and that she is willing to give more than most, and work harder, in order to make it work. As you can imagine, a situation like that is easily taken advantage of by the wrong person, and given their attraction to unwell individuals, this happens to Mars Rx native's often.

When people with natal Mars Rx do not have a stimulating outlet for their passion, they often become afraid of the sheer power of their urges and will often refrain from expressing them, to their detriment. They often must cope with periodic depressions of energy and operate mostly in sudden spurts of revolutionary activity. In fact, they are a contained revolution simply waiting for inspiration. Because of this revolutionary containment, this can actually be a fine natal position to have, but requires a tremendous amount of effort and focus to express it positively.

(My Wildly Afflicted) Capricorn Moon in the 9th House

Plainly speaking, the natal placement of the moon in Capricorn is not an easy one. Astrologers consider Capricorn moon to be in detriment, since the sign is in opposition to the ruler of the moon, Cancer. Capricorn, concerned primarily with authority and security, doesn't typically play well with the moon, which concerns itself with emotion and sentimentality. When the two attempt to somehow move in cooperation with each other it produces interesting results, to say the least.

Capricorn moon natives are emotionally solid at the very core, and others usually sense this. They almost always maintain a certain degree of emotional distance from others, even (or especially) between themselves and those they care for most. As a result, they may seem cold and unfeeling at times. They eschew weakness and emotional dependency, expecting capable and strong behavior as standard- both from themselves and others. They find it difficult to be involved in increasingly dramatic situations, and find petty melodrama to be virtually unbearable. They can be highly demanding, perhaps most so of themselves. Capricorn moon's constant struggle is to remain in control of their emotions, which they (for one reason or another) have learned to view as a detriment to their success.

While it's often erroneously referred to as an unfeeling moon, the actual issue with the Capricorn moon native isn't that she is devoid of feeling- it's that her feelings are intensely serious business to her. When hurt emotionally, the pain can be so great that the native loses the control over herself that she so highly values. As a result of this, she learns early to fear the expression of softness, neediness, and vulnerability. As a reaction, the inner world of Capricorn moon is dark and musty more often than not. They often feel burdened by the heavy emotions they deal with in solitary and often appear weary as a result. Viewing the world, particularly the emotional world, with such stark realism inevitably leads to a certain degree of pessimism. Instead of being a negative, this pessimism typically blesses natives with a hilarious, dry wit which is possibly their greatest asset.

They are happiest with a dream in process- a goal (job, relationship, new undertaking, etc) that they sense is worth the effort to build up brick by brick. They pride themselves on being emotional builders and creators, and so learn early how to put on the perfect show. They easily can read, and then play off of, the emotions of others and so can effortlessly influence them. Unless aspected to the contrary, it doesn't take long for Capricorn moon natives to convince others to promote them, rally for them, respect them, or love them. At the core, they are influential, shrewd and persevering people, while also being slightly calculating and manipulative. The constant curse of this moon placement is that while the native knows the difference between what is created and what is real, those around them are naturally suspicious of their intentions. As a result of it's very nature, Capricorn moon often loses what it loves most honestly.

The placement of Capricorn moon in the 9th house produces a person who is loyal, above most things, to intellectual interests which can expand their understanding of the world, such as travel, exploration, politics, philosophy and religion. This interest in a variety of cultures and belief systems enables them to understand and identify with many different types of people. It's likely that, in childhood, the native's mother encouraged her to question all ideas and beliefs before accepting them, a habit that soon became a rule.

9th house Capricorn moons are almost always drawn to things which are far away and foreign, with a constant craving for things they have never experienced before. H9 Capricorn moon natives feel most at home when a "stranger in a strange land," and will consciously seek this experience out. They want to do everything within their power to completely immerse themselves in the feelings and tastes of a new person, place or thing, rather than simply have facts or an intellectual appreciation. This urge makes them emotionally restless, and a wanderer in more than a few ways. They are difficult to pin down, since they have constantly rotating devotions. This commitment to passion and discovery at times can be darkly overwhelming to others, but their dedication and self discipline has the power to move mountains.

Sun Square Moon : Pater/Mater conflicts

The Sun Square Moon aspect occurs when the Sun is found at a 90 degree angle to the Moon in an individual's natal chart. In general, this aspect reflects emotional issues and a strong inner restlessness which acts as a driving force. Individuals with this difficult natal aspect will find that what they want and what they need are constantly at odds with each other. There is a tendency to attract or be attracted to challenging or impossible situations as an unconscious attempt to recreate the tension of early childhood, causing the individual to effectively become his/her own worst enemy.

For whatever reason, individuals born with this aspect in their natal chart didn't feel needed or accepted as children. The clash between their parents or role models, if there ever were any, made them feel as if their very being was unacceptable. As a result, the native had to learn to find fulfillment and balance without much support or guidance from their primary teachers. The parents did not have simply opposite personalities, as is the case with Sun opposition Moon. It is more likely that their relationship was a continual struggle which they may or may not have known their child was aware of. This tension existed as a constant, underlying current within the domestic atmosphere which affected the native deeply. Sun square Moon individuals internalized the tension they were born into and always feel out of place as a result. Their inner dynamics have been distorted, resulting in personal frustration and difficulties in joining their will and feelings to co-operation.

The ongoing struggle for these individuals is between their need for nurture and their need for independence. When they get the autonomy that they crave, they feel unsupported by others. When they receive the support they crave, they feel smothered. This internal clash is most apparent in the relationships they form: confrontations and challenges are frequent, not just with romantic partners, but also on the job, with friends, and so forth. However, these natives often have a lot of drive and moxie. They are resilient creatures who have faced conflict and survived it many times, giving them an inner strength that attracts many. They will thusly be given many opportunities to learn and work through these issues, though they may leave a trail of heartbreak (theirs and others') behind them.

A stressful Sun-Moon aspect seems to imprint the native with the (often unconscious) expectation that all relationships (be it romantic, friendly, or job related) will eventually fail and end. Though the desire to form lasting, beneficial connections with others is very strong, the native will be acutely aware of conflicts in partnership, taking them to heart. These powerful, contradictory emotions are so overwhelming to the native that she will constantly battle to control their release. The accumulating pressure inevitably bursts from time to time, and the native will periodically display spontaneous argumentative, provocative and belligerent tendencies as a result.

The upside of this natal conflict is found in the fact that these individuals are more than willing to work out problems in a relationship due to their acute awareness and sensitivity to them. They will want to deal with issues quickly, frankly and thoroughly in order to make them "go away." However, if they face a partner who denies that problems exist in the first place they easily become frustrated and intolerable. This is because learning and growing through relationships is a basic urge for these individuals - so basic that it becomes a need. These natives learn the most about themselves through their relationships, and need partners who are willing to be a part of that process. This aspect also tends to add a protective and valiantly caring side to the personality. The person will be remarkably passionate about the people they love. They tend to be strongly loyal to their roots and, perhaps ironically, usually make excellent parents.

Circumstances will eventually force the native to either overcome their own ego, aligning themselves with their own true potential or fall into a state of self pity, resentment and bitterness. When committed and aligned, the isolated and lonely child has the option of using the power of the square to become what she truly wants to be. Which she chooses is entirely dependent on the path she chooses.