Ask Archie

Margaret,

That’s a very big question, that can’t really be answered with a yes or a no. Though if you want a candid answer, the short-term picture is a little rocky, the long-term picture is excellent. Once your son gets his results, and starts looking for a job, you shouldn’t expect things to happen as quickly as you’d like. There could even be a big of anger. Your son is currently feeling rather indecisive, and not too sure of himself, and like many of us, the issue of money is difficult for him to avoid. However from later July onwards he’ll become a lot more determined, and he’ll slowly but surely get what he wants. As far as the job is concerned, there is something coming his way, though it might not be quite what he wants. This job might entail travelling, and might perhaps be teaching abroad – this would be a good stop-gap. By the way, his long-term job prospects can be improved if he masters a second language, assuming he isn’t already a linguist.

Please bear in mind that my answer has been written quickly. I looked at the horoscope for the time I read and understood your question, and I didn’t look at your son’s horoscope. Though I notice he’s a Leo – so over the Summer it’s essential that he isn’t too proud!

Manoj,

Thanks for the question. I think that Pluto’s transits through any house is going to be pretty general. After all, Pluto transits last a long time! I suppose once could say that you might be obsessed about home, security and family, and you might become a rather private person during this transit. On a more positive note, you might find buried treasure! Or rather, you might find something valuable in an unusual and hidden place.

However from what you’ve written, I assume you’re saying that Pluto is still in your Third house, and is about to move into your Fourth House. The point in time when Pluto crosses the IC (I also assume you are using a quadrant house system, such as Placidus) could be significant, and might have specific relevance to your home.

The earlier conjunction of Mercury could give you deep thoughts, that you might not want to discuss. Though this transit can make you very persuasive.

Sam,

Planets are going to be retrograde fairly often, so I don’t think one needs to be overly worried about them.

Once way of conceptualising retrogrades is simply through strength and weakness. In traditional Western astrology there is a method for scoring the planets, and if a planet is retrograde it will lose points. This means that other factors might compensate. So if you had Mercury in Gemini retrograde, exactly conjunction Jupiter in the First House, this would, overall, be a well-placed Mercury.

One might also conceptualise retrogradation as a being a certain hesitancy. So Mercury retrograde mightn’t say what it means, while Mars retrograde doesn’t want to assert itself, etc.

Melissa,

Thanks for the question. You’re only eighteen, and you’re perhaps taking this relationship too seriously. And your boyfriend is only seventeen!

I couldn’t look at your horoscope, because you didn’t give me a place of birth, but looking at the chart for when I read and understood your question, I think it’s time to be honest about where you’re both going. My feeling is that your paths are beginning to diverge, and that it’s time to look for new pastures.

Of course I may be wrong, and whatever happens, it’s important that you’re honest with yourself.

Serena,

I almost set up a horary chart for your question, but I didn’t. And I really didn’t! At this very early stage in a relationship, or potential relationship, I believe that it’s important NOT to look at astrology, and especially horary astrology. Just let the thing happen, and don’t think too much about the future. Horary charts for this kind of queston very rarely indicate a good outcome – but you don’t have to worry about that, because I never set up the chart.

Allison,

I’m glad you like the site! I do read everything that’s sent to me, unless the spam filter picks it up. I don’t reply to everything – it’s difficult to comment on a complex life history, often with a couple of charts, in a couple of sentences!

If you’re an Aquarian with Saturn in the first house in Pisces, then you have probably got a rather serious approach to life.

However don’t get too hung up on your Aquarius Sun. In a female chart the Moon is more important. Women/girls often grow out of their sun signs by their early 20s, and start identifying with their Moon signs. So you might be very Aquarian now, but in seven or eight years you could find yourself becoming much more Cancerian – because your Moon is in Cancer.

Sorry about Argentina!

Ronni,

As I said to Serena, when she asked about her love life, it’s probably best to live for the moment. I feel that it’s not a time for you to be looking at things astrologically, because there’s a danger that by making forecasts, either positive or negative, I could damage the very think you’re looking for. Relationships are very subtle, and they don’t take kindly to astrological examination, especially when things are fragile and unseen.

Shalini,

It’s difficult to say much about your horoscope without a place of birth, but I did set up a chart for when I read and understood your question. Right now it really does seem that nothing is happening, that an old stage of your life is drawing to a close. I suspect this means that your approach to finding a job hasn’t been right, and needs to be changed. And on the plus side, there is certainly going to be a favourable movement, and by the end of the month you should feel yourself to be in a much stronger position. But will you find a job? If you can handle the transition, and understand the mistakes you’ve made in the past, then the odds are in your favour. There is only particular person coming your way who I think can be very helpful. But in the first instance it’s work that matters, any work. Save the status and the big pay cheques for later.

kashca,

Thanks for the question. I assume you’re planning to have the operation in the afternoon or evening of August 19. The Moon moves into Capricorn at 3.17 pm London time.

I’m fairly sure your rhinoplasty will be fine, whatever date you go for, provided you’ve got a good surgeon. However I am an astrologer, and I do believe that some dates are better than others…

I would therefore suggest that you don’t go for August 19.

Using Reinhold Ebertin’s principle, that you shouldn’t have an operation on a day when the Moon is in a sign connected with the part of the body being operated on, then you shouldn’t have a nose operation with the Moon in Capricorn. I know that Capricorn isn’t specifically connected with the nose, but it is connected with the overall bone structure. Furthermore the Moon is making 90–degree aspects to Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and is also making a conjunction to Pluto. This isn’t the end of the world, and it’s nice that Venus, the planet of beauty is in Libra, the sign of its rulership, but overall I would look for another date.

Pramod,

You’re right, the Western and Indian zodiacs are different – in fact they are 24 degrees apart, with the Indian Zodiac being behind the Western one. So when Saturn is at zero Libra in the West, it’s at 6 Virgo in the East. And using the Vedic approach, Saturn will remain in Virgo until November 2011. Though I am not saying that one Zodiac is better than another – they’re just different, with different uses.

I wouldn’t get too worried about Saturn transiting any particular house. It always has to be in one house! Yes, the Eighth House has unfortunate connotations, but one in 12 people will have this happening at any particular time. What perhaps you need to look at is what particular planets Saturn is transiting as it passes through the Eighth House, and whether these planets are a ruler of an ongoing dasha or sub-dasha.

Simone,

I’ve had a quick look at your horoscope, and it seems to me that you’re using the symbolism of your horoscope in a new way.

Sorry about the jargon if you’re unfamiliar with astrology, but you have Gemini on the Midheaven, and the Midheaven has a special relationship to the career. Gemini is a sign that’s connected with communication, so both teaching and writing are entirely appropriate.

The ruler of your Gemini Midheaven is Mercury, which is in the Third House. The Third House, in Western astrology, is connected with teaching, communication and writing. Furthermore, you have the North Node conjunct Mercury, so as a writer and a teacher you’re doing the right thing.

However in terms of your teaching career there might be a missing ingredient… and it’s perhaps not what you think. It’s anger. You have Mars in Cancer in the Tenth House. In your career you need to show some edge, and perhaps some outrage at what you perceive as being the injustices of the world. Clearly being a science teacher is not giving your a full outlet!

Through writing you can burn off some of your anger, and maybe because your Mercury is in Scorpio (along with your Sun), you can do it in such a way that allows you to preserve some anonymity.

As far as timing is concerned, I would guess that over the last few years there have been some big changes, that may have taken place on a largely inner level. Powerful feelings getting released, that need expression. And writing is possibly the best way of releasing them.

Also, you have Mercury 25 degrees 35 minutes Scorpio. If we move Mercury forward, by a degree for a year, Mercury enters Capricorn at the end of April 2010. Zero degrees Capricorn is an important point, and certainly over the last few months you may have felt a burning need to communicate.

To conclude, your foray into writing is entirely appropriate. I would recommend, through, that in terms of your written work you shouldn’t be afraid of showing your anger.

Proserpina,

Maybe you’re being a typical Virgo, and you’re getting overwhelmed by the astrological detail? I wouldn’t worry about Pluto going through your Fifth House – Pluto has always got to be transiting some house. And while it will make a conjunction to your Moon, that’s not for a few years.

Saturn and Uranus have been making a run of aspect to your horoscope, though that’s now over.

As far as your personal life is concerned – and I assume you are talking about relationships – then the culprit is perhaps your Mars, from an Eastern perspective. You started your Mars dasha on May 20 of this year. Your Mars is in the Twelfth House very close to the degree of its Fall (28 degrees Cancer) and this gives you kuja dosa. I think you’re Mars needs to be appeased – for example by making Tuesdays special and wearing red gemstones such as rubies. Remember also, with your kuja dosa, that if you want a happy relationship you should choose someone who also has kuja dosa.

Is there a priest you can consult, to work out the best way of dealing with Mars?

I’ll reply later today.

Julie,

Thanks for the question. Well… you’re obviously enjoying the relationship, as you’ve hung around long enough to have two children!

It sounds as if, in your family, there are big issues with pride, and getting enough attention. Leo doesn’t like being in the shadows, there’s a lot of Leo in the family, and I would guess that you (second person plural) are quite demanding. Sun in Cancer has strong likes and dislikes, and with your Moon in Sagittarius you don’t mince your words. Your husband is probably not completely typical of his star sign – the Moon in Cancer provides plenty of sensitivity. And i would guess, with the Cancer link-up, that there’s plenty of scope for mutual nurturing. It’s interesting that both your children have the Moon in Pisces. The Moon is the mother, especially in male charts, so the Moon is you. Sensitive, artistic, sacrificing?

anita,

On May 7 in New York Leo starts to rise at around 11 am. The 1950 date would put the Moon in Aquarius. The 1951 date in Gemini, the 1952 date in Libra. So I am afraid none of these three years fits!