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.