Tag Archives: Chiron

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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The Day of Flamboyance: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Dec. 9
The Day of Flamboyance | 2019-20 Sagittarius Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Let your touchstone in the coming year be an enhanced ability to perceive yourself objectively. Work-related demands and building financial security will require sustained effort. Yet opportunities seized now can lead to substantial, long-lasting results. If commitments trigger resentment, or the balance of power in relationships impacts your self-esteem, analyze underlying issues. With awareness and focus, you can initiate effective and necessary communication about sensitive topics.
— by Victoria Emory

If you have a Sagittarius Sun, rising sign or Moon and could use some insights on such real-life matters as work, relationships and career, your 2019-2020 Sagittarius Astrology Studio reading by Eric Francis will cover your ruling planet Jupiter’s conjunction to the Galactic Core, a preview of Jupiter in Capricorn, and many other potentially life-changing facets of your astrology.

Written in the Planets

Mercury enters Sagittarius today at 4:41 am EST (9:41:26 UTC). Mercury being the planet of the mind, this activates awareness of what else is happening in Sagittarius: namely, the Sun moving between the Great Attractor (a deep-space phenomenon toward which our region of the universe is moving) and the Galactic Core (the center of our Milky Way galaxy). At this time of year, the Earth and the Sun are facing into the galaxy and into a larger galactic structure, focusing us on the Big Questions of Existence. Can you feel them tugging at the edges of your consciousness?

The natal placement of Mercury in Sagittarius tends to describe focusing on what is far-off and/or broad in scope, sometimes to the detriment of the details. Yet people with this Mercury are apt to be direct and sincere, even if they sometimes speak more candidly than others are prepared to hear.

Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, is making a conjunction to Pholus in Capricorn and a square to Chiron in Aries. Action is the name of the game with squares; in this case, putting your knowledge and spiritual theory to the test with some actual experimentation. How does it measure up against what you’ve learned previously? Notice if someone seems to be meeting you where you are in your experiment, or is showing you something about how to hold space for such a process in tangible ways.
— 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 Abandon: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Dec. 8
The Day of Abandon | 2019-20 Sagittarius Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Draw upon the wellspring of inspiration bubbling up from your psychic depths to help dispel confusion or uncertainty. You’re on the verge of a conscious breakthrough, and clarity will emerge soon enough. Creative work of some kind looks promising, in terms of your quest for greater financial security, just don’t waste time chasing rainbows. Your open heart works best with open eyes.
— by Victoria Emory

If you have a Sagittarius Sun, rising sign or Moon and could use some insights on such real-life matters as work, relationships and career, your 2019-2020 Sagittarius Astrology Studio reading by Eric Francis will cover your ruling planet Jupiter’s conjunction to the Galactic Core, a preview of Jupiter in Capricorn, and many other potentially life-changing facets of your astrology.

Written in the Planets

All week, the Sagittarius Sun and Neptune in Pisces have been in a square aspect, exact today. Neptune, especially in Pisces, is a diffusing and dissolving agent. It can obscure, mislead or embellish. But it also represents the kind of universality at the heart of concepts like agape: unconditional, divine love. The Sagittarius Sun is open in spirit and forward thinking in its most evolved forms.

Generally speaking, Sun-Neptune squares can describe deceit, disillusionment, and an inability to see clearly where emotions are concerned. However, this aspect can also describe something that stimulates your idealism.

With the Sun and Neptune in aspect to the Great Attractor — a deep-space phenomenon that’s pulling everything in our region of the universe toward it — we get an image of consciousness in contact with something too big to comprehend. Yet it’s strangely attractive or compelling. Consider this an invitation to explore some of the mysteries you contain, and how they relate to the greater mysteries of existence.

If that feels too broad or ‘woowoo’, you have another option. Chiron in Aries* is square Pholus in Capricorn. These two centaurs speak of multi-generational patterns — and how you differentiate yourself from them, while owning how they’ve influenced you. A modest step in this process could release more tension than you’d expect. If you think of it in terms of ‘traditions’ that no longer fit, you may see the pieces more clearly.
*(Eric wrote on Chiron in Aries in a section of this essay.)
— 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 Confidence: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Dec. 5
The Day of Confidence | 2019-20 Sagittarius Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Opportunities to generate essential, material support in the coming year are indicated by Jupiter joining the planetary crowd in your zone of resources and security. Understand these will come wearing work clothes. Focus your efforts and practice delaying gratification. You’re playing the long game, here. Discipline is your key to creative satisfaction and joy.
— by Victoria Emory

If you have a Sagittarius Sun, rising sign or Moon and could use some insights on such real-life matters as work, relationships and career, your 2019-2020 Sagittarius Astrology Studio reading by Eric Francis will cover your ruling planet Jupiter’s conjunction to the Galactic Core, a preview of Jupiter in Capricorn, and many other potentially life-changing facets of your astrology.

Written in the Planets

After picking up on some deeper insights from Mercury in Scorpio in the wee hours, the Moon slides from Pisces to Aries this afternoon (around 2:44 pm EST / 19:44:20 UTC). With Mercury nearing the end of its post-retrograde echo or shadow phase, this contact describes some intuitive-level reminder of something you thought about or investigated in late October or early November. Info could come through a dream.

Aries Moons describe emotional impulses leading to action. Other objects in early Aries and Capricorn offer the themes and context for this. Namely, Chiron and Salacia in Aries bring in an element of sexual healing and identity integration; Pholus and Quaoar in Capricorn suggest some familial or ancestral material that you need to push against or integrate. Although the Moon will pass through these aspects fairly quickly, they set the tone for the last half of the day. How does it all connect to the broader project of applying your vision and faith to the practical tasks on your agenda?
— 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 Penetrating Gaze: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 9
The Day of the Penetrating Gaze | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

A particular project has now reached a point where the goal is in sight. You may be feeling some impatience to get there and move on, though it will help you to make sure all of the ground is covered. Rushing may cause you to retrace some steps, and in fact you have plenty of time — enough to take the scenic route and enjoy each stage of the journey. It might even be argued that having something to delight in, at regular intervals, is as important and useful for you as completing your mission.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, Eric has much to say about stabilizing your relationships in the chaos of the internet, getting some traction in your career, and most of all, how to frame your own reality. in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access. Check out the video preview for the reading here.

Written in the Planets

Is anything about yesterday or this morning feeling like someone’s confronting you with some facet of your sexuality that you tend not to show or express? Do you feel able to have the conversation? Or are you responding with defensiveness, or trying to glide over things without getting your hands dirty? With Mars in Libra opposing the minor planet Salacia (and Chiron) in Aries today, something along these lines could crop up.

Once the Moon enters Pisces just after noon EDT (16:05:04 UTC) you may find it’s easier to be introspective about things. Mercury’s making planetary contacts that suggest some complicated emotions could emerge into your awareness. Yet there also appears to be an opportunity to cross a threshold of some kind, in relation to these feelings and thoughts, if you’re willing to be present with them. That opportunity could come in the form of another person mirroring them back to you. The Pisces Moon suggests that art and music could be particularly useful in moving some of this energy in gentle, creative, and maybe even beautiful or soul-expanding ways — especially if you’re very specific about your intentions.
— by Amanda Painter


My autumn readings, called In These Times, offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

In These Times is now available for instant access!

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The Day of High Romance: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 8
The Day of High Romance | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

You have something beautiful to bring into the world, and you need to do so boldly and without apology. There are ways to use diplomacy and tact that don’t involve compromising what is important to you, though in any case your needs, and not other people’s convenience, are paramount. Your determination and passion, along with a little chutzpah, will get you past any significant bumps in the road, and your progress will likely be accompanied by big strides in personal healing.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, Eric has much to say about stabilizing your relationships in the chaos of the internet, getting some traction in your career, and most of all, how to frame your own reality. in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access. Check out the video preview for the reading here.

Written in the Planets

Venus enters Scorpio this afternoon. And though this placement of Venus signifies passionate emotions and at times greater inclination toward possessiveness and jealousy, the Aquarius Moon could offer some stabilization and a slightly detached mood to help balance things — at least, today and tomorrow. Midweek through the weekend could get a little less predictable, emotionally speaking.

For now, just be sure to notice how you’re feeling and why; the more willing you are to track these shifts to their roots, the better you’ll able to keep perspective. With a Full Moon approaching on Saturday, perspective will be useful.

Also today, Mars in Libra opposes Chiron in Aries. With both Mars and Chiron representing a form of warrior energy, consider two things: one, how you tend to handle confrontations; two, how you would like to handle confrontations. Not everything has to be a blowup or have a ‘winner’ and a ‘loser’; at the other end of the spectrum, trying to avoid all confrontation rarely achieves that outcome in the long run.

There is a middle path: determining what you want and how you feel, and then asking whoever else is involved what they want and how they feel. From there, it’s possible to have a conversation to reach a solution. It’s deceptively simple, yet many people get stuck before they even begin, usually out of fear (of an argument, of consequences, of being told “no”). It’s this fear that amps up the tension. So if you’re feeling afraid of addressing an issue directly with someone, what’s that really about? If you can see it for what it is, chances are you can stop it from running the show — and then work some actual diplomacy.
— by Amanda Painter


My autumn readings, called In These Times, offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

In These Times is now available for instant access!

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Action and Resolution at the Quarter Moon

By Amanda Painter

Full Moons and New Moons tend to carry more weight in astrology writing. Yet this weekend’s first quarter Moon happens to connect with one of the more important aspects we’re building up to, as does another event this week.

What's in there? Mercury in Scorpio wants to find out. Photo by Amanda Painter.

What’s in the dark under that rock? Mercury in Scorpio wants to find out. Photo by Amanda Painter.

On Saturday, the Capricorn Moon squares off against the Libra Sun. That’s the quarter Moon, traditionally describing an opportunity to lean into projects and processes you can build some early momentum with.

Yet the Moon will also be conjunct its own South Node and the planet Saturn. The South Node can represent what is familiar, ‘comfortable’ and habitual in a way that does not help us to grow. You can also think of it as karma: repeated patterns that we’re trying to learn from, so we can move on toward a greater sense of lived purpose. Saturn, of course, holds the line of authority, responsibility, limits and restrictions. Its presence also connects this quarter Moon to the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in January.

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The Day of Patient Practice: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Sept. 26
The Day of Patient Practice | Pre-order pre-order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Opportunities to bring healing to old relationship patterns is a signature theme this year. The more willing you are to recognize your role, the more you’ll actualize this potential. Clues can be found in power dynamics, and any obsessive need you may feel to impress your point of view on others. It’s not always easy to observe your thoughts, but doing so is a key to unlocking facets of past imprinting that you’re ready to resolve. Your perception is particularly intense right now, and the more you turn that light inward, the freer you’ll feel.
— by Victoria Emory

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, your sign is directly aligned with the single most significant astrological event beginning 2020. Eric will walk you through the most effective ways to approach your year in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for pre-order.

Written in the Planets

Today’s opposition between the Sun in Libra and Chiron in Aries may offer you a mirror of some kind today. Notice who arrives in your immediate sphere to show you some of your unresolved issues, perceived weaknesses or insecurities. This stuff could relate to your sense of purpose, identity and ability to take action, and could further trace back to what your father did or did not teach you about such things.

Chiron’s conjunction to Salacia potentially brings in the element of sex — especially facets of sex you prefer to keep ‘secret’, but which still form part of your holistic identity. Even if nobody else knows all about your desires and activities, it’s still a part of who you are and how you perceive yourself.

Whether or not the sexual identity theme emerges, pay attention to how you’re responding to those you encounter, particularly if any of these issues crop up. Are you seeing yourself in another person’s behaviors or attitudes? Is someone triggering reactions in you that you’d rather blame on ‘their shit’, but which actually illuminate something you need to address within yourself?

This looks like an important moment to move strongly towards honest self-expression in healing something. Just be aware that a square today between Mercury in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn could describe getting rather obsessive about a single thought; and that obsession — though fleeting — could manifest as trying to coerce someone to your point of view. Think inwardly instead. New depths of self-awareness are possible now, if you’re willing to look beneath your own surface.
— by Amanda Painter


My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

Now available for instant access!

In These Times graphic