This is my Scorpio Mom, Rose Dawn Scott with my Aries Stepdad, Dennis Helios. Ask her a question -- she won't sting! (Much. Heh heh!)
What are you waiting for? Send an e-mail to my Mom, Rose and be the beneficiary of Mom's age wisdom.
A Note From "Mom:" Greetings, and Namaste! Many thanks to those of you who've written with questions. One of your e-mails helped us realize that we hadn't previously set any real guidelines, beyond giving the e-mail address and inviting questions.
If you e-mail with a question, our "default status" is to assume the question and answer were intended for publication. This week, I received a question that was extremely personal in nature, and at my discretion replied via private e-mail, rather than making the Q&A public.
If your question is featured in "Ask My Mom," no identifying information about you will be made public -- not your name, not your e-mail address, not your chart info. However, if you have a question of an intensely personal nature, it's perfectly acceptable to request a private, rather than public, response. Also please note that there is no guarantee I'll be able to answer all private requests, but nor will I feature the questions publicly if you've asked me not to! Ok, that should oughta do it -- let's get to the Q&A!
Hey, y'all! I received an e-mail from one of our friends in the astrological community, the specifics of which I've decided to keep confidential. However, the gist of the question dealt with an important matter: The Chiron Return, which has not yet been addressed by this site. It seems that many of our regulars are closer to my daughter's age than to mine, so we've had questions regarding relationships, the first Saturn Return, and the like, but with the Chiron Return (arriving just a few years prior to the individual's second Saturn Return), we delve into the "astrology of maturity," so to speak, and learning more about the astrological cycles throughout the individual life span is important for younger folks as well -- things often work out better once you can see 'em coming!
Discovered while Sol was in Scorpio in 1997, Chiron was originally classified as an asteroid or large comet, but has now been granted Minor Planet status (around the same time Pluto was "demoted" to same). While astrologers vary in the importance placed on Chiron in the natal chart, I'm among those who believe that Chiron and Pluto -- both now deemed "minor planets," and both packing one powerful whallop astrologically! -- are approximately "equal" in importance, work together quite nicely, and have much to teach us, about ourselves and the world we live in.
Chiron's orbit takes approximately fifty years to complete, making an orbit between Saturn and Ouranos, with an occasional foray into Jupiter's turf. Named for the famous "good centaur" Chiron, the healer and mentor-figure who acted as foster father to Hercules and archetype of the "wounded healer," the celestial Chiron has absorbed many of the attributes attributed to the centaur of mythology. Astrologically, Chiron has associations with wounds and healing. These wounds and the healing thereof may be literal and physical, and/or psychological and metaphorical. Some actual physical injury or disability may be indicated, but not necessarily. Your attitudes toward illness and wellness will show up in Chiron's House placement and aspects to other celestial bodies, as will the ways in which we deal with weakness or disability in others. Chiron may also indicate where one's abilities as a teacher or mentor to others lie.
Sign, House placement, and aspects formed to Chiron in the individual natal chart are all part and parcel of indicating the area and manner in which the individual may become "wounded." Now, please note that this astrological "wounding" speaks to something more hardcore than the normal slings and arrows of life, the disappointments or occasional hurt feelings that most of us must deal with from time to time. The type of "wounding" Chiron implies is one that leaves a mark, and may involve the perception of a betrayal of some sort. It's the type of wound that leaves an individual feeling shaken to the core, and is likely to center around fundamental life issues, and points up an area or areas where the individual has been truly damaged in some way.
In the words of the Kularnava Tantra, "One must rise in the same manner by which one has fallen." In other words, Chiron offers, not only cues as to the areas in which one is wounded, but also the way by which one heals from those wounds. Again, aspects and house placements are as crucial (sometimes more so) than merely knowing the Sign in which Chiron is located.
A brief example: Chiron in Aries indicates that the wounding, and need for healing, is likely to be a very fundamental matter of self. Aries is the I am! sign of the zodiac, strongest and most joyous when reveling in the simple, WYSIWIGiness of proclaiming who and what one, well, is. Chiron in Aries may reveal an individual with a "Who am I, and where am I going?" type crisis. Chiron in Aries in the Fourth House, with harsh aspects to Saturn brings more clarity to the picture. This "wounding" of the psyche probably stems from such individual's childhood, restrictions being placed on what feelings are acceptable and which are not, a rigid attempt to form a specific kind of person by outside influences (very possibly one's biological father, or childhood father-figure), rather than allowing the young soul to grow and unfold on its own.
Now, let's be clear, I'm not talking about normal parental restrictions, imposed for the child's own well-being, such as "Don't you dare run into the street without looking both ways!" or "No candy before dinner." For an individual with this placement, the restrictions would be more along the lines of "Don't you dare cry when your beloved pet dies -- only sissies cry!" or "Don't play with boys! If you think it's more fun to climb trees than to sit quietly playing with your dollies, you're not a bad girl." It could indicate outright abuse during childhood, or simply an overly-rigid, stringently disciplinarian type of parenting, but what it boils down to astrologically, is that at some point during your childhood, things happened that interfered with your natural development, and you've got problems with your self-image.
Well and good so far...now what? Now, it's time to "rise in the same manner by which you've fallen." You've got about fifty years to do it. Ready? Go! ;->
Ok, the first step to healing from any wound -- literal or metaphorical, emotional or physical -- is obviously, to acknowledge that the wound is there. All the treatments in the world will be ineffective if you don't use them! Rather than passivity, Chiron indicates action. Action taken by you, for your own benefit. Does it seem selfish? It shouldn't! How can you help others if you're bleeding out yourself? Get your own wounds bound up first, before taking on the EMT role for others, or the end result is more likely to be ambulances hauling off multiple parties, rather than your heroically saving someone else. The time and energy you expend on finding, and healing, your own inner wounds will teach you plenty about how to help others on their own journeys toward health and wholeness.
There are, as always, different methods for bringing about the healing you need in your life. If you have a medical condition, by all means, seek treatment. If the wound is to your psyche, seeking counseling with a professional can be a big help, and in this day and age, there should be no stigma attached to that course. You can also heal through action, if you're the kind of person who excels at doing more than pondering. If you were hurt as a child, let go of self-blame, and work to assist other children, through volunteering, donating money, or political activism. If you were wounded by societal attitudes: racism, classism, sexism, any sort of pre-judged bigotry, then make sure such attitudes within yourself are sought, acknowledged when found, and weeded out of your life (it's an ongoing process), and again, work in whatever way, with the talents you possess, to remove such bigotry from your personal orbit, and the wider world at large.
If you were betrayed by a trusted friend, make sure you do not similarly betray others who depend on you. If there is a specific person, or set of people, who seem to stab you in the back every time you turn around ... why are they still in your life at all? Cut 'em out, cut 'em loose, then move forward! (I know, easy for me to say, bridge-burning Scorpio that I am! ;-> )
Falling just a few years before the individual's second Saturn Return, the Chiron Return offers a major opportunity to revisit the past in order to create a more meaningful future. I would recommend checking out Cathy H. Burroughs' excellent article Chiron at 50: Return to the Scene of the Crime most highly for those interested in more information on the Chiron Return, as well as Elizabeth Spring's comprehensive look at The Astrology of Menopause, which covers the Ouranos opposition, Chiron Return, and second Saturn Return in the lives of human females. There's plenty of interesting and applicable info there for males as well!
No study of Chiron would or could be complete without taking in Zane Stein's thoroughly awesome and awe-inspiring page Chiron and Friends.
--Happy healing! and Namaskarams, Rose.Hi Rose,
I've been reading the Monthly Forecast section on your website, and it's kind of a lot of information to take in, because I'm pretty new to astrology. I wanted to know if you had any plans to add in Monthly forecasts for the different signs, like the month for Aries, Taurus, etc. Just curious! --Curious
Hi back atcha, Curious. ;-> The idea behind the general Monthly Forecast is to give everyone an idea about planetary movements and aspects for the month that will affect anyone of any Sun Sign to some degree. Our thought had been that the basics remain the same, while each individual would be able to read and see where their own sign fits in; ie, a Mars-Pluto Opposition would obviously have a greater impact on a Scorpio than on other Signs, with the Co-Rulers butting heads with one another, and that sort of thing.
However, it would certainly be easy enough to add in smaller, sign-specific Forecasts, which would of necessity be on the brief side -- perhaps a couple paragraphs. If there's interest in such sign-specific forecasts, we could definitely add them, although the basic, general overview Monthly Forecast would also remain. I wonder how much interest there is in monthly "Overview for the Signs" addition? If it's something you'd like to see, kite me an e-mail and let me know! Namaskarams! --Rose
Dear Rose,
I like this column, and read it about once a month. I was just wondering, how come it's not always updated? The same questions are there. I'd like to know more. --Lurker in the Darkness
Hi, Lurker! Thanks for your kind words; I'm glad you enjoy the column, and we appreciate your praise of the website. :-)
The reason there are times when you check and find no new questions is quite simple: we don't make the questions up for the purpose of showcasing the replies. We only run letters that we've actually received. If you'd like to know more, please, feel free to ask away! Anything I can help you with? ;->
Namaskarams! I hope to hear from you soon. --Rose :->
Hi, Rose! I really like you guys's site, and I like the section on "Astrology and Physical Appearance." The practice game to guess people's Ascendant or Sun sign sounds like a lot of fun, but I noticed that you didn't include any of the physical characteristics for each of the signs on there. Where can I learn more about what the different signs are supposed to look like, so I can play the game and practice? --Curious Leo.
Hey there Leo! You're absolutely, positively 100 percent correct. Sometimes, when we are familiar with something, we forget that not everyone may be, and for that I apologize. You will (hopefully) be happy to know that we have now updated our page on Astrology and Physical Appearance to include the most common physical traits associated with each sign. Please do keep us informed of how your practice if going, and I hope you have great fun attempting to discern the Ascendant and/or Sun Signs of your friends and associates! :D
Namaskarams! Rose
Dear Mom,
I read about Saturn in the Planets section of your website, and it makes sense what you say about needing to be disciplined and stuff. Except for I'm having a Saturn Return, my 1st one, and it seems like a really really bad time in my life is happening all at once! It kind of seems like a Saturn Return is supposed to be hard on you, I guess. Am I going to be stuck in problems for the next 30 years?!?!? Help!! --"Return to Sender."
Dear Sender,
Most people's first Saturn Return is a little on the, well, difficult side! But fear not, you won't be stuck in a rut for the next 30 years. You and Saturn have just started a conversation, and sometimes Saturn will holler in your face early on, to make sure you're paying attention. ;->
As you know, a "Saturn Return" is the time when the transiting planet Saturn returns to the same place it occupied in your birth chart. Slow-moving Saturn will do this approximately every 28-30 years, twice or thrice in most of our lifetimes.
An individual's first Saturn return represents a sort of astrological coming-of-age: you've had some time under your belt to begin figuring yourself out, who you are now, who you want to be, and how to get there.
What transiting Saturn is "doing" when it returns is akin to yanking the rose-colored glasses off your face without asking permission first. Saturn's job is to strip illusions and point out limitations -- out with the old, so that the new has room to grow. In no way is this "bad," but it can definitely be painful!
It's a natural human tendency to want to avoid pain, but if you can "cowboy up" at the early stages of your Saturn return, you'll be saving yourself a lot more pain in the future. This is a time for you to look back over your life thus far, and see where it's heading. From your e-mail, it sounds like it may be heading somewhere you don't consciously want to go, but this realization is actually incredibly valuable!
You do hold the reins to your own life in your hands. Push aside emotion for a moment, to the extent possible, and try as hard as you can to be dispassionate. Pretend you're reading someone else's biography. See if you can tell what that "other" person wants from his life, and if you can pinpoint areas where the progress is smooth and where it's bumpy. Look at the decisions you've made and ask yourself which ones contribute to your becoming the person you want to be ... and which are hindering your goal.
If you're feeling a bit lost or unsure about your life's direction, Saturn will tell you it's time to start figuring out what you want, what you need, what satisfies you, and the best ways to go about achieving your goals -- your True Will, in New Aeonic terms. Believe me, I do know how hard this is. I also know how valuable it is!
If it seems like everything in your life is going haywire at once, just take a few deep breaths, remind yourself that this return is intended to point out limitations and missteps, so that you can focus on weeding them out, in order to leave plenty of room for the new growth that is, even now, beginning to take root.
It does take work, but if you do the work now, your next Saturn Return is likely to find you looking back over your life with satisfaction ... and even joy. :->
Namaskarams, and many happy Returns! ;-> "Mom."
Dear "Mom,"
You seem a lot cooler than my Mom. =D I have a question. I was born on a day when the sun changed signs, and had always heard that I was born on the cusp, and would have characteristics of both signs. Then I read other astrologers say there's no such thing as being born on the cusp, your sign is either one or the other.
The explanation about astrological dual citizenship was a really good one, and I felt like I finally understood the cusp question. But it seems like I do have characteristics of both signs, even though my Sun is definitely in one and not the other. How come this happens? -- "Cusper's Last Stand."
Dear Cusper,
Thanks for writing, and for your kind words. I'm sure your Mom is plenty cool, in her own way! ;-> I'm glad you enjoyed the analogy of being born close to the border of one country and another; for whatever reason that explanation seems to really click for lots of folks! ;->
Without knowing your birth data, it's impossible for me to give specifics, but my best guess is that the reason you have many traits that seem to "fit" the other sign is that you've got other planets in that sign. Fast-moving Mercury, for example, will frequently be one sign "off" from your Sun. You may have other planets, or your Ascendant, in the "other" sign as well.
Finally, the Houses in your chart, and the Aspects formed between various planets, will have a large influence on your chart as a whole. I highly recommend your obtaining a copy of your own natal chart, which is likely to give you more on the big picture. If you're not interested in ordering a paid chart from a professional astrologer, my personal recommendation for obtaining a free birth chart online is Astrodienst. Their calculations are extremely accurate, but if you run into anything confusing, please don't hesitate to write again and ask about it!
For further info on the first and last degrees of signs, I recommend having a look at this excellent short article from Dr. Z, the Zodiac Master. You'll be glad you did. ;->
Namaskarams, "Mom."