Author: Joan Porte

What payment will Pluto Demand of the US

I have written extensively on the transit of Pluto through America’s second house – that of our values and fiscal priorities – and the coming Pluto return. Pluto will “return” to where it was when we were created in 1776.  In the process he brings up hidden secrets and the dirty little lies we tell our selves. As a point of illustration, I tell my clients that if someone has Pluto going through his sixth house, that of health, and has been sitting on the coach for years eating pork rinds and soda then he can expect that heart attack the doctor has threatened for years. If he has been taking care of himself then Pluto rewards him by having his good habits kicked into high gear.  In other words, if you haven’t been doing the work, Pluto will force you to face the consequences and exact some sort of payment.

What is the payment for America pushing our racism, financial inequities and class warfare under the covers for years? Some say it is Trump. He, however, is a tool of Pluto – to force those issues to the forefront. How will it all end? Some say that faced with Mueller’s facts, he will just resign. That does not jive with this Leo rising and Mars in the first house chart, however. Will it be war with North Korea, or in the Middle East or a Constitutional crisis that will shake us to our core? Whatever it is, Pluto will demand some sort of payment for our neglect. He just always does.

 

Full Gemini Moon – With Mercury in Retrograde. What Needs to Be Said?

Did you see the supermoon or “Full Cold Moon” last night? Supermoons is a full moon occurring when the Moon is at apogee, or is closest to the Earth. This is not something that happens often and it makes the moon appear about 14 percent larger and a lot brighter than a normal full Moon.

This can also be a double Gemini Moon. For the next few days the Moon is in Gemini. Mercury, ruler of Gemini, went into retrograde on November 14 and will remain until December 22.

Astrology concept. Constellations on night sky. Silhouettes of astrologers observing zodiac constellation.

Gemini has domain over all forms of communications – especially the exchange of data and intimate conversations and discussions. Use this retrograde to your benefit. Mercury was the ancient messenger of the Gods and when in retrograde, it allows us to unearth buried truths or thought patterns that may be blocking you from moving forward. It is a time to assess what you need to say but may be too afraid to. At this time of the supermoon, think of emotional responses you are blocking.

Don’t be afraid of the retrograde – use it to your advantage.

Neptune Goes Direct and Saturn Moves into Capricorn

Neptune finally turned direct in its ruling constellation, Pisces, on November 22. On December 19, Saturn will move into Capricorn, the place it too is most compatible. For most of 2017, when Saturn was in Sagittarius, these two planets were square to one another. In their debilitated state, Neptune caused confusion and misrepresentation from news and authority figures (Saturn and Sagittarius.) This is finally over!

Now it is time for truth to come out and to lift the veil of confusion. This will be a slow and somewhat painful process. The piper exacts a strong fee especially when he dances with Pluto still demanding change in authority figures and structures. More secrets will find their way to the surface as will more painful and embarrassing revelations.

This is a great time to assess how honest you have been with yourself and others. Put your honest and authoritative self out front and center and put the games away. This is not a time to fool around. The games are over.

The Astrology of the First Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving was held over a period of several days starting on October 16, 1621. The conjunction of Neptune, the Sun and Mercury in the socialized sign of Libra and in the diplomatic ninth house were good signs that a compassionate meeting of the minds was possible. In addition, the Moon Venus conjunction in Scorpio in the ten house of government brought deep emotional connections among the participants. A cold winter was coming and this was a time of true gratitude for the abundance that would hopefully see them through.

The one rather ominous setting would be the retrograded Pluto and Juno down in the fourth house of home and roots. Sadly, this feeling of brotherhood and sharing would be violently shattered in the New World. Still, we celebrte the essence and hope of this first Thanksgiving every year. Hopefully, we can live up to what it represents.

In the mean time, Happy Thanksgiving.

Joan 

Somewhere Pluto is Smiling

I sent that text to some close friends last Wednesday, the day after the elections here in Virginia. Why is Pluto feeling so good? The answer is simple. We are finally doing what he wants.

I have written at length (https://joanporte.com/tag/pluto-in-capricorn/) about the effects of Pluto, the change planet in the constellation of Capricorn, which controls government and authority structures.  To make matters more interesting, America is coming into our Pluto return. Pluto is coming back or returning to where it was in 1776, at our birth. Pluto is in our second house of values. The question couldn’t be clearer – what do we want our values to be?

Pluto just doesn’t want change, he demands that we look deep inside of ourselves and ask, who we are and what we need to throw off so our better selves come through. If we fail to heed the demands of Pluto, he forces us to hold a mirror in front of our faces.  He makes us face our worse selves.

Donald Trump is Pluto asking us to look inside ourselves and ask what kind of country we want. He has made his goals very clear to us. Last week, voters in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maine and Washington State responded with what they want.  Virginia now has a transgender delegate along with two Latinas and one person of Vietnamese heritage. That is quite a change from the old white men they replaced! Hoboken, NJ elected a Sikh major and Maine voted to extend Medicare.

If we continue this “voter revolt,” stay engaged and remember who we are as decent people we will have answered Pluto’s call. Pluto isn’t an easy task master. There are detriments to his lessons but we can come out better people.  Will we stay the leaders of the free world? I am not sure. Will we have values for which we can be proud? I hope so.

SOUL CAKES – HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Often served at Halloween, these muffins symbolized of the souls of the dead releasing to the other side. In some Catholic countries they were symbolic of a soul leaving Purgatory for the glories of Heaven. While they have fallen out of favor they are a delightful memory from Halloween’s past.

 

Makes 12 cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two cookie sheets.

In a small bowl, cut the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or a large fork. In a separate mixing bowl beat the eggs well, then beat in the sugar until the mixture becomes a light yellow. Stir in the rest of the spices and then add the milk. Combine the wet mixture with the flour. Turn onto a floured board and knead until the dough becomes stiff. Roll out until the mixture is ¼ inch thick. Cut into 4 inch rounds with a floured cookie cutter or glass and place on cookie sheets. Prick the top gently with a fork three or four times.

Bake for 20 minutes, cool on racks and then place the currants in a cross on top.

 

 

Keep Your Eyes on Uranus

Even though it is in retrograde Uranus is right now as close to Earth as it can be. We know from mythology that Uranus has trickster energy – completely unpredictable and somewhat destructive.

Because Uranus rules electricity, lightening and many astrologers are pointing to his hand in the devastating wild fires in California.

I prefer to work on the more personal level, however. Where Uranus is transiting in your chart right now is an area is one that can use a jolt. It is always best to come out ahead of Uranus – you want to make the change that you may have been ruminating on for seemingly forever – don’t allow Uranus to make that change for you. He can cause quite the shock! For a quick review of your current chart and how Uranus will impact you in the next few months – click here – only $25

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P.S. One of the many reasons this summer has been so unpredictable is that every New Moon we have had has been conjunct Uranus – He is just having a ball causing all of this agitation!

 

 

If You Want to Work on Yourself Now is the Time

This week is the time to do some “fall cleaning” – on yourself.  Right now huge Jupiter which has just moved into Scorpio, the sign of deep and sometimes difficult transformation, is conjunct the Sun and Mercury. What have you been wanting to say – what words and thoughts are bottled up and causing you angst? This is the time to unplug the cork and let your true words fly.

While this is happening, Venus and Mars are also dancing together – doing their traditional male/female salsa – trying to seek balance. Not to be outdone, the highly emotional Moon is nearing focused Vesta.

This all could be a recipe for disaster if people just start laying bare every buried emotion and thought in every direction especially at partners! I mentioned Jupiter first for a reason. You need to do the work he is demanding right now – to think and go deep, organize your thoughts and then release.

In This Season of Balance – Understand Your Venus/Mars Energy

Last week – Mars and Venus made a rare conjunction in the sign of Virgo. Virgo transmits the energy of the sacred divine in the most practical of forms. Virgo, the Earth goddess, has a direct line to the divine but she can only utilize it here on Earth. Mars epitomizes masculine energy and Venus is the sacred feminine.

This conjunction address the need to balance the opposites in your life – sacred/mundane, masculine/feminine. This comes at a time of earthly balance between summer and winter – life and death.

Find 19 degrees Virgo in your birth chart to learn how you can apply this balance to your life.

 

Jupiter Enters Scorpio on October 10 – What Secrets Will She Reveal?

There is nothing better than Scorpio loves than a good secret – or should I say, how to ferret out a good secret?  With the power of mighty Jupiter, Scorpio is primed to reveal those hidden unknowns that we all do our best to keep from the world. Don’t be surprised if people seem a bit too nosy. There will be attacks on your privacy and interpersonal relationships will become more intense. This is a great time to define clearly your personal boundaries. Be careful too that you are not being too intrusive of others.

 

Scorpio is the sign which dwells in the areas of death, rebirth, taboo and the money of others. It loves to push boundaries and desires to make us go in areas that make us uncomfortable. By the time it leaves Scorpio, in November of 2018, we will see these subjects going public to degrees that might stun some. Scandals and shocking murders may shake us.

 

It is not all terrifying, however! This is a good time to reach in and clear our deepest fears about money, death and even sex. It is also a perfect opportunity to embrace your physic abilities or just hone your “gut” instinct. Scorpio isn’t all about scary things! It is a good to get those secrets off your chest and we erase fears!