Tag Archives: Aquarius

Friends, Benefits, and the Leo Full Moon

By Amanda Painter

We’re heading toward a Full Moon on Feb. 9, and Mercury stations retrograde one week later (on Feb. 16). That would be more than enough provocative energy on its own, but there are additional elements of the sky that will be sparking up the weekend.

Disco lion's mane or crystallized moonlight? Photo by Amanda Painter.

Disco lion’s mane or crystallized moonlight? Photo by Amanda Painter.

One of those elements gets cooking tomorrow: Venus enters Aries at 3:02 pm EST (20:02:17 UTC) Feb. 7. Venus in Aries (the sign of Self ruled by Mars) tends to be lusty and assertive, idealistic yet impulsive, charming but sometimes inconsiderate without realizing it.

So remember your empathy, especially if any interpersonal situations get confrontational or intense as the Full Moon builds.

Yet it’s the conjunction of Venus to Chiron and the object Salacia that really focuses the qualities of Venus in Aries. Salacia appears to relate to sexual maturity (particularly the lack thereof) and to the kinds of sexual activity that get people all flustered.

In the U.S. media at least, that seems to be anything taboo or ‘scandalous’. In your personal life, it might mean the same things — or simply your perception that certain facets of your desire and sexual activity could be seen that way. But aren’t those always the hottest fantasies?

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Ceres in Aquarius, and a Vesta Quarter Moon

By Amanda Painter

Tomorrow (Friday), Ceres becomes the next planet to leave the Capricorn stellium. It enters Aquarius at 2:59 am EST (7:58:45 UTC), and immediately bumps into the surprises offered by Uranus in Taurus.

Dewi Sri, the Balinese goddess of rice and fertility. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Dewi Sri, the Balinese goddess of rice and fertility, watches over a home in Ubud. Photo by Amanda Painter.

What does Ceres in Aquarius describe? Ceres is the planet of literal food (specifically grain) and feeding, as well as metaphorical forms of nourishment. Aquarius is the sign of groups.

Automatically, we get an image of the social facet of eating: all forms of breaking bread with others, perhaps especially potluck dinners. Things like volunteering at soup kitchens and food banks bring in the humanitarian facet of Aquarius.

Less literally, we can see the theme of socialness itself being nourishing. Our friendships feed our hearts and souls, and at times offer the kind of nurturing that families of origin were not able to provide. Being accepted by a group can feel nourishing (though its shadow side includes peer pressure, social hierarchies and tribalism).

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Photo by Amanda Painter.

Not Your Typical Aquarius New Moon

By Amanda Painter

Tomorrow is the Aquarius New Moon, exact at 4:42 pm EST (21:41:52 UTC). Aquarius is a curious sign, at its best when blending the structuring abilities of Saturn with the liberating impulses of Uranus.

Photo by Amanda Painter.

Photo by Amanda Painter.

In that sense, it seems a perfect sign to host the first lunation after the Jan. 10 eclipse: eclipse periods generally feature a process of liberating oneself from some facet of the past, in order to take greater authority in directing the next steps forward.

The slowly separating Saturn-Pluto conjunction underscores these themes, connecting them to long-term processes. Whatever ‘new start’ Friday’s New Moon represents for you should be familiar, perhaps even expected.

Chances are you’ve been involved with some form of drawing something to a close this week, or resolving one phase of a process. Today and the first part of tomorrow still carry that signature.

Yet life is not simply ‘business as usual’ right now, thanks to a couple of factors. The first is that the Aquarius Sun is square Uranus in Taurus, exact today.

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Fire Engine Abstract #4. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Harnessing Those Bright Ideas

By Amanda Painter

How are things shaking out now that we’ve concluded the eclipse period, and Saturn and Pluto have made their famous meeting in Capricorn? True, Saturn-Pluto is still working out, and Pluto is not at all done with Cap yet. But has anything shifted? Do you feel like you’re in recovery? Are you facing a brave (or scary, or shiny, or intimidating) new world?

Fire Engine Abstract #4. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Fire Engine Abstract #4. Photo by Amanda Painter.

It may take a good while yet to see the effects of choices you’ve made in the last two to three weeks. Chances are good, though, that you understand something about your world, and your personal agency in it, in a new way.

Right on cue, Mercury — the planet of intellect — is leaving the Capricorn herd and entering Aquarius at 1:31 pm EST today (18:30:42 UTC). Mercury is strong here, blending the steady persistence of Saturn (traditional ruler of Aquarius) with the intuitive inventiveness of Uranus (modern ruler of Aquarius).

Mercury in Aquarius also tends to be a communicative, friendly placing, likely related to the association Aquarius has with groups. It can be iconoclastic with its ideas, but there’s also a reminder to beware of inflexible thinking once the brainstorm has offered its insights. Aquarius is, after all, a fixed sign, describing the repeated crystallization of new patterns after old ones have been interrupted.

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Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, shines above Bear Lake, Alaska. Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Cosmic Breath that Quickens Capricorn

By Amanda Painter

I was thinking recently about how, each year, the Sun moves from its alignment with the Galactic Core in late Sagittarius (today) to its ingress of Capricorn (Saturday) within the span of a couple of days. I’m fascinated by this juxtaposition of energies, and what it might mean.

Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, shines above Bear Lake, Alaska. Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons.

Aurora Borealis (northern lights) above Bear Lake, Alaska. Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons.

Even though our Milky Way galaxy and its center are far from the most massive things in space, they’re still too huge and too far away for most of us to comprehend.

How do you relate something like that to your job or your breakfast, or your life’s goals, or even how long it takes you to fly on a plane from one continent to another? You can’t. And yet we’re part of the Milky Way.

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The Day of Measured Attack: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Nov. 30
The Day of Measured Attack | 2019-20 Sagittarius Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

You’ve discovered more about what you’re capable of, and this year that learning process will continue. Education and self-expression, perhaps in writing, can prove helpful to others while furthering your own self-development. Deep psychic exploration can lead to healing wounds you’ve carried from the past, and impact your self-worth considerably.
— by Victoria Emory

Please note: Written in the Planets is on a brief hiatus this holiday week, and will resume on Monday, Dec. 2. The “Birthday” reading portion of these posts will continue to publish this week. You’re invited to review your November Monthly Horoscopes by Eric Francis here (scroll down).


In 2020 we have not one but two conjunctions that mark the turn of a generation, and of an era in history. On Jan. 12, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn form their once per 33-year conjunction. Then on Dec. 21. 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, both now in Aquarius, form a conjunction in the first degree of that sign. Read more here…

The Day of Actuality: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Nov. 5
The Day of Actuality | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for pre-order | All Other Signs

A birthday square between your ancient and modern planetary rulers signals creative friction around desires. This might register as anxiety or anger that bubbles up without apparent cause, but you’re a natural detective and the instinctual realm is your specialty. You can harness tremendous energy this year by following intuitive trails and tracking your dreams. Buried emotions might trigger either confusion or profound insight, depending on your ability to integrate unconscious and conscious input. Psychic exploration can lead to enhanced self-expression and artistry.
— by Victoria Emory

Do you ever feel like your Scorpio Sun, rising sign or Moon gets a bad rap from astrologers? Eric Francis understands the potential held in your depths — and can walk you through how the planet Uranus in your relationship zone might be stirring things up. Pre-order your 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio reading (offered now at its lowest price!) to move past the stereotypes, and meet your life at full strength.

Written in the Planets

Today’s square between Mars in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn should offer a good deal of energy to get a lot done — especially creatively, or to transform some facet of your immediate environment. Yet this energy could also provoke power struggles, or may signal tripping over loose ends you’ve been disregarding. Whatever you encounter and however you feel today, just don’t behave ruthlessly or underhandedly. Even if you seem to get away with it now, chances are it will come back to bite you down the line.

During most of the day, you may feel yourself somewhat at odds with group endeavors, as the Moon continues to move through Aquarius, which is square the Scorpio Sun. A little after 6:00 pm Eastern, the Moon will slide into fellow water sign Pisces, signaling greater inner (and hopefully outer) harmony. Immersion in the arts, entertainment, or quieter pursuits (anything from meditation to sex, no matter how loud you tend to be in bed) could feel especially good. If you have not had a chance to tune in to subtler realms or to honor deceased loved ones in this time when the veil is thin, the next couple nights appear especially suitable for that.
— by Amanda Painter


In 2020 we have not one but two conjunctions that mark the turn of a generation, and of an era in history. On Jan. 12, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn form their once per 33-year conjunction. Then on Dec. 21. 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, both now in Aquarius, form a conjunction in the first degree of that sign. Read more here…

The Day of the Provocateur: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Nov. 4
The Day of the Provocateur | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for pre-order | All Other Signs

Most of creation is invisible — outer manifestation only occurs after immense activity behind the scenes. By the time a seed breaks ground, for example, its hardest work is done. Some of your most profound achievements over the coming year may likewise be internal. You’ve much to gain from honestly examining how emotional imprints from the past, perhaps involving your family or relationships, impact your freedom to be yourself. You’re both courageous enough to open those doors and ready to take more creative agency over your own life.
— by Victoria Emory

Do you ever feel like your Scorpio Sun, rising sign or Moon gets a bad rap from astrologers? Eric Francis understands the potential held in your depths — and can walk you through how the planet Uranus in your relationship zone might be stirring things up. Pre-order your 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio reading (offered now at its lowest price!) to move past the stereotypes, and meet your life at full strength.

Written in the Planets

Today’s first quarter Moon is a signal to begin moving deliberately (or slowly) into gear with a new project, or with the next stage of a process. Mercury is settling out of its storm phase and into its three-week retrograde through Scorpio. So rather than approaching anything from the zippy perspective of, “gotta get it done!” and multitasking, try maneuvering with as much focus, precision and patience as possible. Get things in place from the bottom-up.

Even though the Sun in Scorpio can be secretive, the square from the Aquarius Moon suggests you may need to work with a group to move things forward. Remember, you can include others in the process and still keep certain opinions to yourself. If that creates too much tension within you, see about making your comments to others as impersonal as possible. Correct small problems as soon as they arise. A Mars-Pluto square in the works emphasizes the need to use your energy constructively, and to beware power struggles — especially with authority figures and groups. Keep everything above-board in such situations.

The asteroid Juno, newly in Libra, makes a square to Pholus in Capricorn today. If you need to bring a relationship of any kind into better balance, small moves are going to count for a lot — meaning, you don’t need to push. In fact, the more frustrated you are at things not being ‘equal’, or the more competitive a situation has become, the more you may need to temper your urges. By all means, take initiative — gently. Then, see how the other person responds. You may find that your modest words and action plus any gestures of theirs in kind are more than enough to smooth things out.
— by Amanda Painter


In 2020 we have not one but two conjunctions that mark the turn of a generation, and of an era in history. On Jan. 12, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn form their once per 33-year conjunction. Then on Dec. 21. 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, both now in Aquarius, form a conjunction in the first degree of that sign. Read more here…