No one is entirely conscious within a relationship; there is always something about ourselves or the other person that we’re willing to ignore, look away from, tacitly accept, or pretend we don’t know. This is part of civilization, an agreement not to read each other’s minds, to embrace the pretense that we can’t know the other person immediately. I think I was first introduced to this concept in Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin (during my brief turn as a midwife), and ever since first reading of it I’ve observed human interaction with that in mind: if we want to, we can see the other person whole, for precisely who they are, at any time.
Now, it’s not just the rules of civilization that facilitate the creation of such boundaries; our own psyches need particular experiences, we might call them lessons or interactions or a deepening of our understanding of human nature or of ourselves, and this leads us to ignore what we could know, to put ourselves into interactions that may be, on the surface, damaging, or cause our victimization, or that are some kind of relationship ‘wrong turn,’ at least when seen from the finite, earthly, want to get from point a to point b as quickly as possible, perspective. This is why we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves when we make, despite our best efforts, what we judge to be a misstep; even the less than perfect experience, relationship, event offers something that shapes us, or that gives us an opportunity to respond differently than we may have in the past, to grow (and it very often offers both).
So, we might want to know which times are best for getting the clearest view possible of our relationships. The upcoming Venus retrograde period will be a prime time, at least in terms of getting an alternative view of relationships, love, and assets as they figure in your life, and this is particularly so if the retrograde occurs in your 5th, 7th, or 11th–this focuses the spotlight on those significant relationships represented by the Houses, with activity in the 8th emphasizing the significant other or a partnership in terms of what’s being shared, while retrograde occurring in the 1st, 2nd, or 12th makes your own internal workings most prominent. Colleagues, teachers, bosses, other authorities, and those with whom you must work get a once over when Venus retros in your 6th, 9th, and 10th, and family relationships are at the forefront with retro in the 4th, and specifically relationships with siblings and neighbors (or those around whom you grew up) are important with the retro in the 3rd.
Other transits that may facilitate clarity include Saturn, which brings reality home to roost, the Sun, which shines a bright light on whatever it touches, and the Moon, which offers fleeting illumination that is at once more subtle or gentle in tone than the Sun’s, but also carries a tinge of the emotional reality, which may or may not aid perceptions. These planets and lights in contact by Solar Arc and Secondary Progression bring the same opportunities but over a much longer term.
Now that we’re all basking in the light of this Full Full Full Moon, it’s time to publish the NEW Fall issue of ECLIPSE! The good news is it’s bigger than ever, with an expanded, almost day-by-day forecast for August, September, and October, special sections on the upcoming Mercury retrograde, advice on the effects and best way to deal with Venus retrograde, the direction of Merc and Pluto that’s almost simultaneous, and so much more!
The bad news is, 1) I’m still the only astrologer writing it, so you may suffer a slight overdose of me, and 2) I’ve decided to raise the price, as these past ten months (the time I’ve been putting these issues together) have shown me that I want to continue to do this, but my client time, and thus my income, has suffered dramatically. Now that I’m sure I’ll continue to make the investment of time and energy, I feel like I need to change things up, and get in for the long-haul–and a hike in the price will allow me to make it, along with the blogs (especially Been There, Done That, which I’ve neglected) the focus of my daily efforts.
Jean Lecomte du Nouy 1842-1923 A Eunuch’s Dream {{PD-Art}} Wikimedia Commons
I’m back with another set of search terms found in my stats; sometimes illuminating, sometimes creepy, puzzling, or weird, and sometimes confusing. I bring you the best of them.
dream interpretation of marrying yourself
Shorthand for this would be, perhaps, Oneness, a unity of spirit, the resolution of some internal schism, or making a commitment to honor and care for yourself–all excellent, so the dream is likely an indicator of superior internal (mental, emotional, and spiritual) health. In the natal chart we might see dreams like this when either we have been facing an internal divide, typically between ideals and values (Vesta, Neptune, Venus) v. what our external world, the group, or our role, calls for (Sun, Jupiter, Uranus), with one in one set making hard contact (conjunction, square, quincunx, opposition) to one in the other set, though there are a number of other players that, under the right circumstances (sign or House placement, or natal relationship to a stellium or other complex) would fit the bill; or we may see this kind of dream when one’s attitude toward oneself changes significantly for the better (potentially shown in the chart by Solar Arc contact to the Sun or chart ruler, or contact from a transiting body such as Pluto), and likely triggered as the Moon transits the 12th House, or contacts Neptune.
dream symbol Solar eclipse
This seems a warning, and a call for questions: are you being eclipsed in some sense, with someone or something ‘blocking your light’ symbolically? Is someone coming between you and your material needs or goals, your prosperity, your sense of groundedness and reality, and secondarily, might they be using emotional manipulation to do it (the scenario of Moon coming between Earth and Sun)? Are your own emotions blocking the connection of Soul and Material Purposes (represented in the chart by the Sun/ Earth axis)? Are you being kept from enjoying your chance to shine? There is the chance that you may be observing someone or something else in the life being eclipsed, but this is likely only if there are other aspects of the dream (perhaps you are riding as a passenger on a bus when you witness the event, or are gathered with others in a crowd, and all are pointing and commenting). Certainly this is a dream image that calls for Self-questioning, and the courage to see what you may not, to this point, have acknowledged or admitted.
when the eye is very badle blood shot
Not astrologically oriented, really, but I loved the spelling, which made me think someone had Googled from the Middle Ages. All I can say is, maybe something very Arian, or Neptunian, happened the night before.
mercury retrograde + people don’t mean what they say
Putting it this way is really wishful thinking, because there’s no reason someone wouldn’t mean what they say during Merc retro; what you’re thinking about, though, may be the tendency people have to later regret or otherwise wish they could take back what’s pronounced when the Trickster’s at work. So, it’s really something the speaker must conclude after the retrograde is over, not something we as listeners should count on to negate something we’d rather not hear spoken during Mercury’s backward motion.
his Juno on my Ascendant
If you’re looking to partner with a guy whose Juno falls on your Ascendant, then this is pretty good news: the way you present yourself is just what he’s looking for. Trouble comes if the way you present yourself is considerably at odds with your most characteristic energies, for example, if your Ascendant is in Capricorn but your Sun is in Cancer, the essence of who you are may vary wildly from who you seem to be on first meeting. Whether this works out well in the end is a question of many other chart interactions, but with his Juno on your Ascendant you’re off to a good start.
Aries Moon in child’s natal chart
Though it’s a time honored tradition in many cultures to draw a horoscope at a child’s birth, I no longer work with children’s charts except in very special cases. My feeling is (and I’ve observed this often) that when we introduce the chart to the parent (and the parent likely has some astrological knowledge or they wouldn’t have sought out a chart in the first place) there is too strong a tendency to read the chart and then read those traits they think they see into the child. I feel it puts a filter on a parent’s perceptions that shouldn’t be there, not if they want to meet their child with an openness to who they are, and a fresh perspective that doesn’t search for or attempt to squash what they feel is negative, or superimpose something they see as positive that may be astrologically recessive, or take a form other than the one the parent visualizes. But, by about the time the child turns fifteen, I would urge every parent to have a look at that chart, especially with the guidance of a competent astrologer who is versed in child development–it can answer a lot of questions, and explain some mysteries, right at the time when the parent needs a little more perspective, and the child needs a little more understanding, in order to collaborate successfully.
location of starry mirror
I have no idea, but when you find it, please let me know.
young boys sleeping nude/ ‘dark of the moon’ nudity
These two searches came up within days of each other, and I found it unsettling that anyone was looking for anything on young boys etc. I don’t have any idea how the first search came to my site, but the second is obviously connected to the Dark of the Moon, those three days preceding the New Moon (conjunction of Sun and Moon) that begins a new lunar month. The Dark period is one for retreat, contemplation, meditation, and a pull-back from action–but associated with nudity? Maybe, if we see the turning inward called for by the period as one of spiritual nakedness, wherein we put aside our social trappings in favor of personal, bare-souled introspection. But, are we more prone to take our clothes off? I have no idea!
Hi Julie,
I don’t really know how to begin this question, so…I’m just gonna lay out my concerns.
I want love, I need love, I crave it; but I’m just so SCARED!
I have Venus Square Saturn, Venus Square Chiron, Venus Square Midheaven, Venus Square the North and South Node’s, Venus Semi-Square Moon, and Venus is also in my twelfth house. Actually, I have very few “good” aspects in my chart…I must have some major karma baggage or something.
It feels as if I’m just not meant for love, that it’s just always going to be a losing battle.
Consultations I’ve had with some astrologers just drive home this fear, one woman told me I’d be in my sixties before I found love, and another actually pointed out to me that I also have Ascendant Square Saturn, which he says indicates a delay in love, for the fact that the vibe I put off means nobody will want to start a relationship with me…great, something else to obsess about.
And, not to get too personal here, but I haven’t had the best relationship’s with men…none I could depend on.
An absent father (Sun Square Saturn), and an extremely authoritarian grandfather (Pluto in the first), so I know that adds to the fear.
But, when I do seem to finally get in a relationship, I sabotage it..and I have no clue why!?
The same thing happens every time, I start to feel guilty, start thinking that this guy deserves better than me, that I’m not worthy, why am I being selfish keeping this guy committed to me when he can find someone who’s better.
So, inevitably I break it off…and I’m back to my lonely self.
With all the square’s to my Venus it’s gonna be work concerning love, I know that much…
Your Venus Square Saturn post was really helpful and probably the first encouraging thing I’ve read concerning that particular aspect, so any help on the other ones? Or just any advice at all?
Sorry for rambling and writing such a long post.
I know I’m still pretty young, so please don’t think I’m foolish for my concerns, notice all that Saturn in my chart, I’m an old soul. 😉
Thanks for your time.
Hi O,
I think you’ve laid the actual, real-life problem out in your letter, as your chart suggests you’ve been sold a bill of goods by astrologers who’ve been playing a little fast and loose with orbs, and who may have found it easier to whip up your fears than to tell you the Venus and Saturn pictures are not what you think they are–in fact, difficulties lie elsewhere entirely. Let’s talk about the chart first, then we’ll see how you’ve been shaping your relationships, one withdrawal at a time.
First, Saturn is not square Venus, and it’s not square the Ascendant, either; sometimes it’s tempting to make orbs bigger than we should, in order to support the client’s expressed reality–but if we look elsewhere, which is really our job, we always find the source of the client’s upset–and a correct vision of reality (or at least something close) is the only thing that equips us to change that reality to our liking.
Venus semi-squares the Moon=some dissonance between your concept of love (which, with Venus in Libra, may be overly romanticized according to society’s idea of love and relationship) and your emotional perceptions and needs–you may be aware of the friction here, and I think you are–but it appears you may have decided that your needs are overblown or out of whack, rather than that your idea of what constitutes love needs re-vamping–and I would say it’s the opposite. Venus, in Libra in the 12th, closely conjunct the Ascendant, the Sun in the 1st, and Mercury in the 1st, both also in Libra=this places the concept of love in the subconscious (where it may not be understood or examined consciously, because it’s difficult for you to grasp–and this is where that societal image of what it should be comes in, so that you may substitute that for your own concept of love, and thus neatly shoot yourself in the foot), and this also unites love and values, communication and thought, and the Soul urge, identity, and personality very tightly, so that it may be almost impossible for you to distinguish these concepts from you–they seem to be who you are–and the Sun and Mercury so close ushers in a difficulty in perceptual accuracy and clear thought–there can be a tendency for someone with this relationship between the Sun and Merc to see his or her thoughts as constituting their Beingness, and words and concepts can powerfully form the identity and influence the Soul’s expression.
Venus sextiles Pallas=this exemplifies an idea that’s echoed throughout the chart, that as a woman you are wise, confident, and skilled, with much to offer–if you can access that positive Libran ideal of yourself. Venus is conjunct the ASC=beauty, grace–you are somehow a shining example of these, with a lovely personality–and this too is echoed throughout the chart–so no, you are not giving off a nasty vibe of ‘stay away’! Quite the opposite.
Venus also makes one other aspect, a square to Chiron–I think we’ve got a winner! Here’s a big part of the problem–you perceive yourself to be severely wounded in the love area, and if we see ourselves a particular way, we tend to act that out–so despite your having had any number of suitors, you, by your own testimony, dump them before they can dump you (and it’s very egotistical, by the way, to follow a train of thought that says “I’m not good enough for this guy, I feel so guilty taking up his wonderfulness so that someone better than me can’t have him, I’ll spare him my bad Self and break up!” Huh? You are desperately hoping to receive love, but won’t participate in a relationship? Listen up, young lady: Others get to decide their relationship to you, and also what they think of you–you can’t control that and shouldn’t try–to believe you can and should is grandiose.
Chiron is also involved in a T-square with the Sun/ Earth axis, Mercury and Venus, is sesquiquadrate the Moon, semi-square Mars, trine Juno, and opposed Saturn, as well as sitting at the midpoint of the trine between Vesta and Ceres. All these feed that concept of wounded Self into vital life energies, gumming things up and making you doubt the veracity of your emotions, making you feel you can’t get along with males (a little friction, in your case, is normal and good, as it will help you focus on who you are and what you need), and a word about Chiron opp Saturn–it is likely manifesting for you as swinging between denial and suppression of hurt, and total indulgence in it. The goal is to connect to reality and express the Chirotic gift (Cancer) in the world, possibly in a communication or educational capacity (3rd/9th involvement).
That’s the heart of things, as I see it. With all that Libra, I know finding partnership is very very important to you (I know, I have four planets there)–but you are young, and to fret about not having found your life companion before you’ve even reached twenty is impractical–you aren’t ‘cooked’ yet, you’ve got many things to do, see, and learn, especially about yourself–you don’t want him to come along and not be interested in you, which is a distinct possibility if your focus is on nothing but finding a partner–so get your life going, take your mind off love, and it will come to you (and you can’t fool the Universe, don’t just pretend to busy yourself–really set some goals and go to work!)
A couple of hints: Sedna, the body that represents our ‘blind spot’ in life, is placed in your 7th (partners!) and is exactly square Jupiter (the social arena). You may tend to look in the wrong places for mates–and your use of the word ‘obsess’ with obvious familiarity with the obsessive state, might suggest that Pluto is a stronger force in your life than you may think–reaching out to destroy and cause obsession when held subconsciously or when we try to repress what should come to light, but powerful in its ability to transform when accepted as a positive ally–just sayin’
You come across as a truly lovely person, with a bright, effervescent spirit and many gifts–love will come to you, and you won’t have to wait until your 60s! Just take a step back, deal with the world as it is, and let go of the notion that you are so flawed you’ll never find love–because when you say that, you’re talking about romantic love, and the reality is that actual, sustaining, nurturing love is all around us all, all the time–let that in, know you are worthy of it, and romantic love won’t be far behind.
Thank you for your letter, O, and best wishes!
jd
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Hello Julie
Help me to understand the Juno of my boyfriend, because worries me: Juno in twelve house in Libra (Libra is the ascendant too and the Sun in Virgo 11 house) and with the following aspects: trine Moon, conjunct Venus, Mercury, Mars and Pluto, semi-sextile North Node, semi-square Ceres and square Vesta. Too many planets in twelve house (all in Libra)and Juno to. North Node is in Scorpio, first house.
Please help me to understand.
Hi R,
I don’t know exactly what you’re concerned about, though it seems you’re focused on the fact that there are many 12th House placements, and that one of them is Juno–and you need to understand that that isn’t necessarily bad at all. It may mean that your boyfriend naturally is secretive, or at least contains himself, his thoughts and intentions, as a matter of course, and this can make others, especially those who don’t have a 12th House affinity, very uneasy. Without a full chart I can’t really say too much, though I would suggest this: I would guess that his energies (subconscious and conscious) are very much deployed into the partnership/ mate arena (Juno conjunct Venus and Mars, Libra involvement)–and that the goal might be his own personal power ends (Scorpio NN in the 1st). That implies that if you’re a more submissive sort, you may be a sought-after mate for him, and a possible victim, at least in terms of autonomy and exercise of your own power. With Juno conjunct Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Pluto, your boyfriend may be very Self-contained, in many ways, and it seems this raises alarm bells of some kind for you. So much, in fact, depends upon your own personality make-up, your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, that to say whether this is a good relationship for you is impossible. I wish you well, R, and urge you to listen to your intuition, and let it be your guide.
jd
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Hi Julie!
My son has always said he wouldn’t have many girlfriends, as most young people do, but he would be the man of one woman. And indeed, being serious and slow in everything he does (Sun conjunct Saturn, I guess), he waited till he was 25 to find HER. Now they live together and things seem to go well. Yes, his Venus-Mars conjunction in Virgo falls exactly on her Ascendant and her Moon is in his 7th house.Yet I have a query: can love last when it is based on contacts between one person’s planets and the other’s axes? Is it as dynamic and fulfilling as contacts between the 2 persons’ planets?
Many thanks, K
Hi K!
This is an excellent question–yes, contacts to the angles from planets in another person’s chart, and vice versa, can be every bit as dynamic and binding as planet to planet contacts, provided the birth times are completely accurate. Since angles are dependent on the local time at the point on Earth where someone was born, it’s extremely important to have as accurate a birth time as possible. When the Ascendant and Midheaven, especially, seem to be responsive to transits and Solar Arcs, with corresponding life events sometimes correlating, then we can be sure that the timing is very close to perfect.
In looking at the two charts, I see why you’ve asked this question, as the contacts are not as compelling as we might typically see between lovers. If you’d like to know what I think, K, please email me and I’ll give you a brief rundown.
Thank you for your question, and my best to all three of you!
jd
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And finally, what makes you vulnerable? An experience I had last evening made me start thinking of this, as I became deeply emotional as the Moon passed over my Ascendant (I had the experience, then later found this was so–I’m not one who is living my life with a ticking clock and transit chart in my head–not that there’s anything wrong with that!) So I wanted to ask
We’ve got a lot of ground to cover; let’s get started with a couple of topics, rather than questions:
5th House and employment astro
When I saw this as a search combo I wondered what led someone to link these together; was it an idea that creativity has something to do with finding a job, or perhaps that they were looking for a job that features creativity? Many people make the mistake of believing that a strong (much occupied, holding the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant ruler) 5th House or transits to the 5th promise a career in the Arts–and though someone with a strong 5th House may indeed find a profession of a traditional creative nature, I see the 5th House as actually signifying one’s store of intangible creative energy, a spark much more potent and broad than is the intent to make Art (though this can certainly be the urge behind it), a life energy that must come out somewhere in one’s circumstances and activities. It’s this same energy that fuels romance, and the conception of a child, both topics also located here (and think of how we tend to see each as coming just a little bit from out of the blue–this is the unconscious organizing and drawing to us that reflects the nature of our 5th house energy), and my theory is that this energy will find a way to express; if we don’t use that creative energy consciously, it leaks out through contacts to the 5th, showing up as action in other life areas. (I once wrote an article on this very subject, the emphasis being on the way the energy tends to express through the mechanism of the unconscious, and the oh-so-helpful magazine editor went through and removed the ‘un’ from every mention of consciousness, thus effectively neutering the meaning of the piece. I had the distinct feeling she didn’t actually grasp my point.) In terms of employment, there are other items we would inspect in the natal chart first, but the 5th can offer clues as to the kind of energy that may be pushing pushing on the unconscious, and that can serve us well, professionally and in life, if channeled, and harnessed to our Will.
Sun in the 12th House
This is a Sun location that really baffles people, especially early on in their study of astrology. It’s tough to define as a placement because the House itself is hard to explain, but we can think of Sun in the 12th this way: the experiences of those with a 12th House Sun will feel ‘once removed’ from the flow of life. By this I mean, the individual will thrive in private–this doesn’t mean he or she won’t be well-known or popular, but instead that the identity development and Soul expression will take place within, and much of this will occur in the subconscious and/ or in large, Cosmic experiences (such as happen in meditations or dreams) that are impossible to share. This can make for a rich imagination and a profound connection to the Universe, as well as an ability to empathize to a depth no other Sun placement can; it also makes for some frustration in communications (though if the individual can turn to images they can communicate directly to others’ Souls). Often, these people will find themselves working behind the scenes, or in a capacity of support for others, or that, even if they gain fame, their attention will remain largely on their inner vision. It’s a unique placement in the way it brings the internal world above the horizon of the chart and links it so directly to the Collective energy, and those with a 12th House Sun have the unusual opportunity to live quite successfully with one figurative foot in the World and one foot planted firmly in the vastness of the Universe.
We have four possibilities here, and each one is significantly different in terms of meaning–why? Because it’s all-important what the sex of each individual is in interpreting this combo. We’ll go one at a time: male Juno square female Venus= dynamic and possibly very promising in a relationship, as we see the male idea of who he wants as a partner contact the female’s ideal of herself as a woman. There could be some basic conflict (the square), but this puts the placements (likely) in the same modality, and if so a harmony can be worked out that can include the spark that comes from just the right amount of friction. female Juno square male Venus= here we have the female’s concept of Self-empowerment squaring off against a man’s aesthetic nature, anima, and asset/ values picture, likely creating a perpetual problem over what receives priority in the relationship, conflicts in spending and values, and these will be felt by the female as undermining her sense of Self and her ability to affect things–not a good combo. male Juno square male Venus= with a same sex male couple the split of animus and anima energies becomes key to understanding effects: if the person with Venus has assumed slightly more anima, then this will read very much like male/Juno female/Venus, above; if it’s the Venus of the animus dominant individual, then we may see a clash over values and relationship standards that could be in conflict with the Juno male’s idea of good partnership. With two females sharing this synastric aspect, we see something intensely competitive, as the two women work out a clash over feelings of empowerment (for one) and the sense of female identity (for the other).
I connected spiritually during sex with
That’s all there was–but there sure are a lot of ways to finish that sentence, aren’t there?
Now, on to questions:
Why do passive-aggressive men sulk?
Because they’re passive-aggressive! Next! No, really, sulking is a passive-aggressive act–no one bothers to sulk when they’re alone, do they? It’s a surface-passive demand for attention that has very aggressive roots. Remember, passive-aggression is both angry and an attempt to manipulate–it’s as if the individual refuses to see themselves as angry, or refuses to acknowledge their own anger and their own wants–instead they combine the two and expect others to jump. The answer? Ignore him. This will eventually infuriate him enough that he’ll actually act, which is something he wants to avoid, because the one thing passive-aggressive people want to do is avoid responsibility. For anything. Ever. They see claiming actions, desires, or even thoughts as an opportunity for others to blame them–and Mr. Passive-A likely grew up in a blame culture. So, while ignoring him, also provide a blame-free environment into which he might, someday, wish to emerge, and if the relationship can survive his not-so-subtle sabotage, he might one fine day lay down his blame stick, take your hand, and actually tell you what he wants to do after dinner.
This can be tricky, as an Aquarius man, though typically a bit on the cool side, loves the clinical nature of an experiment–and what is a better human experiment than flirting mildly even when he’s unavailable? With this guy, you may need to take a direct approach (especially because withdrawing in order to see if he pursues won’t work–even if he is interested, as he may not notice a growing distance between you!) Asking him if he’s interested is one way to go, but more effective (and less damning, as you won’t look like you’ve been sitting around wondering) is, the next time he makes a remark along these lines, you should turn, look directly at him, and say, “What exactly do you mean by that?” He probably won’t balk at having to explain himself, and you’ll have the advantage of hearing firsthand precisely what he was intending to convey. Mystery solved! Warning: this method does not work with any other sign, with the possible exception of Capricorn.
How long till a man realizes he’s in love?
Unfortunately, a man may not realize he’s actually in love until he’s faced with losing you–it seems it often takes a little scare, a reminder that time marches on, and that he’s mortal and you may be ready to stamp your relationship potential with an expiration date, before he admits to himself that he cares. I’m not advocating the time-worn ‘make him jealous’ idea; instead, you may need to think of it this way: men are hunters by hormones and instincts, and you are the hunted (at least in their symbolic vernacular). The hunter will realize you’re escaping when he sees a flash of your lovely, slender hindquarters (relax, I’m thinking of a deer!) as you bound away, innocently off to graze elsewhere (and, he’ll naturally think, be ogled by other hunters). If he’s truly interested, it will spur him to take aim and pull the trigger (stay calm, symbols, symbols, that’s all they are!) And if he doesn’t, if he’s willing to let you move off to greener pastures . . . then you’ve found out he wasn’t in love, after all.
Is Scorpio Moon misanthropic?
Of course not! What Scorpio Moon hater told you Scorpio Moons hate people? Not only is a single placement unable to delineate such a trait, it would take quite a pile-up of negative inclinations to safely declare someone a misanthrope using only the natal chart. Scorpio Moons can seem a little hatey to those of us who like things psychotically cheerful 24/7–but that’s more a failure of perception on the observer’s part than an indication of a true dislike of humanity by Scorp.
Lastly, and encompassing one of the major questions we will ever face–
Why can’t we see our divinity?
The short answer is, because we don’t accept the entirety of ourselves as we exist in the moment, and it’s impossible to accept as divine that which we perceive to be flawed. Now, some of us will see this question and confuse seeing the divine within with calling ourselves ‘God.’ That is not what’s happening here; we are instead challenged to recognize that we are made of Creator-stuff (for what creation does not carry the shape, form, and essence of its creator?) and that means that we are, indeed, modeled on the divine, and out of divine-stuff–and so it’s up to us to accept ourselves, imperfect as we may feel we are, as innately divine, and thus to love ourselves, and to accept our perfection and our flaws, which are in their own way their own perfection–we just don’t see the wholeness, the beauty of it, yet.
Who better as an example of Juno’s influence in relationship than in the now-kaput affair between the ersatz royalty of the Folkie-Protest movement, balladeers Bob Dylan and Joan Baez? Their birthdays are only a handful of months apart, so to delineate meaning we must look at what’s different, rather than what’s the same, but we must also note that a mirror effect occurs; sometimes a Juno aspect in the chart is echoed cross-chart, because the Junos are conjunct, and this suggests that these partners acted to externalize for each other some of the Juno dynamic that was also an internal dynamic for each.
In Dylan’s chart (24 May 1941 9:05 PM Duluth MN USA) his Juno (28 Leo 49) fills in a T-square to his Gemini Sun/ Sagittarius Earth axis (he may feel that empowered women, as well as his own anima, clash with his Soul and Material Direction); Juno also squares Pallas (which is conjunct Earth, and so involved in the T-square) and this suggests that for him the concept of wisdom is at odds with the idea of partnership, as if he cannot accept that a partner can be wise! Juno squares the Jupiter/ Uranus conjunction (again, a threat, this time to the freedom and individuality); and Juno quincunxes the South Node (in this case, a ‘never goin’ there with a woman again!’ position). All these perceptions are really cemented in place, as Juno is conjunct Vesta, signifying that his internal ideas about partnership/ the mate are sacred, and will always trump reality. If you know Dylan and his work, you know his persona is notoriously hard to pin down, a ramblin’ man in more ways than one, and his Juno in Leo suggests he wants a woman/ partner who ‘shines’ with strength and purpose (the Sun)–a tough thing for a woman to fulfill, when his Juno aspects insist that she will, in the end, be fallible and unreliable. Dylan plants the seeds of the end of the relationship before it even begins, in an inability to trust, or accept the wisdom of, a partner.
Dylan’s beliefs about women as shown in his natal chart are perfectly reflected here in his song, ‘Don’t think twice, it’s alright’
It ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don’t matter, anyhow
An’ it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don’t know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I’ll be gone
You’re the reason I’m trav’lin’ on
Don’t think twice, it’s all right
It ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An’ it ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe
I’m on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin’ you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin’ anyway
So don’t think twice, it’s all right
It ain’t no use in callin’ out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It ain’t no use in callin’ out my name, gal
I can’t hear you any more
I’m a-thinkin’ and a-wond’rin’ all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I’m told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don’t think twice, it’s all right
I’m walkin’ down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I’m bound, I can’t tell
But goodbye’s too good a word, gal
So I’ll just say fare thee well
I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don’t mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don’t think twice, it’s all right
While for Dylan the Juno interactions are in essence challenges to his idea of himself as a man, Joan (9 January 1941 10:45 AM Staten Island NY USA) Baez’s Juno (7 Virgo 16) presents a quandry concerning her internal workings: empowerment threatens the emotions and the intuitive and feeling nature, and vice versa. Baez’s Juno also creates a T-square, this time with her Mars/ Moon opposition (the feeling nature at odds with the action/ ego/ animus, and both threatened by her own empowerment); Juno also happens to be square Ceres, which is conjunct Mars, and this speaks volumes on the conflict between the natural creative energies of Ceres, their ‘alliance’ with the ego and action urges (as well as with her idea of the ‘ideal man’) and the need for empowerment–and it spells out the idea that Joan may see the man in her life as the elementally creative one, and that this doesn’t support her own empowerment situation. Juno also trines the Jupiter/ Saturn conjunction (empowerment assists reaching out, feeling free, and building something meaningful); and Juno trines the Midheaven (empowerment aids the career) and quincunxes the South Node (in this case, suggesting that past experiences have not given her the impression that empowerment is a positive thing). If you know Baez, then you know she built her career on the image of being a strong and capable woman, and her Juno in Virgo is the epitome of just those qualities–we have to wonder, though, what toll it took on the feeling nature, and on relationships with men, considering the chart indicators. And there’s something else here, and that is that Baez’s Juno, though embroiled in an internal struggle, measures its effectiveness as does any woman’s Juno, in its interactions with the external world and relationships; it’s an outward-looking energy, and her work based on the relationship with Dylan reflects this.
The state of Joan’s Juno and its attention to the partner is well-illustrated here, in ‘Diamonds and Rust’ (notice the references to the Madonna, the Moon, and the girl on the half-shell, obviously Venus, all of which are traditional female symbols and all of which in this instance seem to support the mo-jo of the male caller from the past).
Well I’ll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that’s not unusual
It’s just that the moon is full
And you happened to call
And here I sit
Hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I’d known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall
As I remember your eyes
Were bluer than robin’s eggs
My poetry was lousy you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the midwest
Ten years ago
I bought you some cufflinks
You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Well you burst on the scene
Already a legend
The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond
You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed
Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling around
And snow in your hair
Now you’re smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel
Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there
Now you’re telling me
You’re not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You who are so good with words
And at keeping things vague
Because I need some of that vagueness now
It’s all come back too clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
And if you’re offering me diamonds and rust
I’ve already paid
Cross-chart there are many echoes that actively externalize the internal. The differences, though, tell the story: Joan’s Juno opposes Bob’s Pisces Mars, telling us her state of empowerment is directly at odds with who he is as a man; and his Juno trines her Venus, suggesting that who she is as a woman is in keeping with his idea of an appropriate mate/ partner. However, when you’ve got both Junos square her Moon/ Mars opposition, you’ve got not only her internal discord but his interaction creating a similar dynamic, adding the idea that anything he views as empowered behavior will be at odds with her emotional and assertive/ ego nature, as well as being in disagreement with her vision of the ‘ideal man.’ As well, with her Juno opposed his Mars, every time she exerts her own empowerment he would likely feel wounded as a man, especially so with Mars in Pisces, as this Mars would likely see itself as all lovey-dovey and peace, man, and her Juno would be at the very least demanding accountability, and perhaps bringing criticism into the mix.
The two most telling contacts are probably his Juno square her Moon–what woman can pair with a man whose anima would continually be challenging her emotional viewpoint?–and Dylan’s own Juno, as well as Joan’s, square his Jupiter/ Uranus conjunction; with this aspect he might as well wear a sign that says, ‘Women will take your freedom and tie you down!’ So, despite his Sun conjunct her Moon, a classic mating indicator, along with his Venus (his idea of the ‘ideal woman’) in Gemini in wide conjunction with her Moon, Juno tells us that there are too many upsets inherent in her empowerment, both internal and external ones, and too many beliefs on his part that a strong woman will somehow restrict him, to let these two remain in intimate relationship for long. This is actually an extended version of the 5th and final part of the Juno series that would have appeared at sasstrology. See my book on Juno at http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com excerpts from it here https://juliedemboski.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/excerpts-from-juno-in-the-natal-chart/ and follow my blog on relationships here http://askjulie.wordpress.com My other books (on Chiron and on relationships) are also available at http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com
If you’ve got a relationship dilemma, you might want to check out my new blog, Been There, Done That http://askjulie.wordpress.com that features reader submitted questions, polls, articles (with special attention to the asteroids) and reader comments.
Who better as an example of Juno’s influence in relationship than in the now-kaput affair between the ersatz royalty of the Folkie-Protest movement, balladeers Bob Dylan and Joan Baez? Their birthdays are only a handful of months apart, so to delineate meaning we must look at what’s different, rather than what’s the same, but we must also note that a mirror effect occurs; sometimes a Juno aspect in the chart is echoed cross-chart, because the Junos are conjunct, and this suggests that these partners acted to externalize for each other some of the Juno dynamic that was also an internal dynamic for each. 
Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY 
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