SUSAN'S CHART

GRAND TRINES

I've received emails from people who also have a grand trine in their astrology chart. A grand trine indicates a good life of ease and harmony.

But just what is a grand trine? A grand trine is the most harmonious balance of elements. (More info about elements is on my tarot page.)

A grand trine exists in one of four elements. The four elements are Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. These four elements compose our universe, and are the structure of Astrology and Tarot.

All three Fire signs are most harmonious: Sagittarius, Aries, and Leo. Fire people excel by doing things in a big, fiery, dynamic way. They do not like restraints or being told what to do.

All three Water signs are most harmonious: Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. Water people excel by following their intuition, or doing what just feels right.

All three Air signs are most harmonious: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Air people excel by doing things in an problem-solving, innovative way that includes many points of view.

All three Earth signs are most harmonious: Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus. Earth people excel by doing things in an grounded, solid, practical, and realistic manner.

I'm the Water person who follows her intuition and does what feels right. It is not always easy for us humans to trust and following intuition. To do that can feel like an irresponsible aspect of The Fool card. But following feelings is made easier for me because of the grand Water trine.

See the big triangle leaning to the left in the inner circle of the chart above? That's a grand trine in the Water signs Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. A trine can involve any planets in a group of three or more planets.

PLANETS IN A GRAND TRINE

Life is good in this incarnation due to that four-planet grand Water trine of the planets Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. People often ask me if I'm "psychic" because I read tarot cards. Being a Pisces with a grand water trine -- of course I'm psychic! And communication planet Mercury in Aquarius trines Neptune in Libra, making an Air trine so I can articulately communicate from the unseen Water world of inner knowing, wisdom, dreams, and the subconscious realm. Do the same in your birth chart; look for where you have natural good luck and ease with trines and sextiles.

WATERY SUN, JUPITER, SATURN and URANUS

The SUN in a chart symbolizes the self, your ego and identity. I'm a Pisces. JUPITER is the largest planet and symbolizes opportunities, expansion, and good fortune. My Jupiter is in the Water sign Cancer. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, meaning that Jupiter's expansive generosity is best expressed through the motherly and compassionate Water sign Cancer. Sun trine Jupiter indicates luck in life, opportunities for travel, and a quest for knowledge. For knowledge, I enjoy studying mythology, astrology, and Chinese medicine. And I've had many fortunate travels, including doing tarot readings in Mexico.

SATURN is the planet that symbolizes hard work, duty, and discipline. But Sun trine Saturn indicates maturity, the ability to accomplish tasks, and acceptance of responsibilities. I don't mind hard work. And I am interested in what I am doing so it does not feel like a struggle.

URANUS is the planet of change, rebellion, and freedom. Sun trine Uranus indicates inspirational ideas, creativity, and an avant-garde approach. I'm glad I live in San Francisco where every day I see all types of self expression, where people are accepting and open minded, and where Goddess spirituality and Buddhism are common.

Jupiter trine Saturn indicates common sense -- which isn't so common -- and good abilities to plan or organize. This has really helped me stay grounded and pragmatic. And it helps me do feng shui,and helps me apply the organized structure of the universe to how we live day to day. Most people don't know that I am a slow foods chef, aided by inspirational Jupiter trine practical show-me Saturn. I make up recipes based on what is in season, but the practical reward is the good meals.

Jupiter trine Uranus which indicates expansion through and interest in many types of people from all walks of life. Love of travel and adventure is also shown in this Jupiter trine Uranus. I'm planning a trip to Saigon in Dragon year 2012 to become more involved with the web site www.onlinechineseastrology.com. In this way, I can apply the expansive lucky gifts of Jupiter with the Aquarian technology of Uranus.

Saturn trine Uranus indicates blending teachings of the past (Saturn) with sensibilities and values of the future (Uranus). Ideas are progressive yet realistic. This has really saved me from being a too- subjective Pisces, and I can receiving unconventional Uranian ideas that can have a practical application through Saturn. I love fellow Pisces Anais Nin who wrote, "We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are." But my strong Saturn in Scorpio, part of a big Water trine, can distinguish the difference.
 

EXALTED MERCURY

People ask me how I wrote all those books. The answer is in the placement of Mercury. Mercury in the tenth house is conjunct the Midheaven so communication is my career. Mercury exalted in Aquarius trines Neptune in Libra which indicates ease with writing. (Mercury trine Neptune also helps with intuition.) Mercury is opposite Pluto so I'm fascinated by ancient cultures and the history of religion. Mercury squares Saturn hence a strong memory and love of languages. But I can be too serious at times because of that Saturn square. Squares are the teachers in your birth chart, showing you challenges to claim and overcome.

THREE SQUARES

Every birth chart offers both gifts and challenges. Not so easy are squares, which can indicate challenges in life. But it is through our squares that we learn and grow. MARS, the planet of power, passion, and strength squares VENUS, the planet of love, beauty, art, and pleasure. Mars is in strong steady Earth sign TAURUS which squares Venus in innovative Air sign AQUARIUS. Venus is stronger in this relationship square; I'd rather be an independent traveling Aquarius than financially secure and stable Taurus. Also, Mars is in its detriment in the sign of Taurus so I labor steadily to accomplish goals. Every book was written word by word, page by page, over many years. Time is on my side.

Now in life I enjoy SATURN in Scorpio squaring PLUTO, the planet of death and rebirth, because I can empathize with clients when they experience face-of-death situations such as incest, miscarriage, cancer, and AIDS. My hard-knock life growing up in Chicago is indicated by Saturn square Pluto; but those experiences strengthened me and made me who I am today.

I specifically avoid the problems of URANUS square NEPTUNE, illusion and artifice, by not drinking and not abusing drugs -- especially since Pisces is the sign most susceptible to addiction and escapism. I can appreciate food parings with wine or beer, and fine with me if medical marijuana is legal, but I am not a party girl. On a broader scale, Uranus square Neptune influences me to not be part of the status quo. That wouldn't work out for me anyway due to the square.

A FUTURE NEPTUNE TRANSIT

The planet NEPTUNE just entered the Water sign Pisces for the next 14 years until spring 2025, a perfect pairing of the Ocean God in a Water sign: creativity, intuition, spiritual connections. This sets the tone for an entire generation, the new Piscean Neptunians!

As Neptune travels through the sign of Pisces, it will join my Pisces Sun in spring 2022. This can be an inspiring, creative, and spiritual time but it can also be a fatiguing time, hard to cope, or not clear about direction. But Neptune will trine Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus; the grand trine is luckiest for transits. Neptune trine Jupiter makes for optimism, confidence, and fortunate travels. Neptune trine Saturn brings a balance of idealism and reality. This is very good because when Neptune and Saturn are not well configured there is can be veil of confusion and deception. Neptune trine Uranus brings wide interests and a very heightened intuition.

2022 will be a Water Tiger year. I became a professional Tarot reader and Astrologer in 1996 in a Fire Tiger year. I took the risk in Tiger year because if it did not work out, I knew I would have good luck in the following Hare year and be able to create or find other work. This is because I follow my Taoist transits as well as my Western transits.

TAOIST ASTROLOGY 

I have a grand trine in the Asian astrology too!

Life is good due to a three-planet grand trine in my Taoist Four Pillars chart. The Four Pillars are the Chinese zodiac animals of your birth year, birth month, birth day, and birth hour. My birth year is Sheep, my birth month is Hare, and my birth day is Pig. Sheep correlates to the Western water sign Cancer, Hare to Pisces, and Pig to Scorpio but Scorpio without the sting. So I have a grand Water trine in both astrological systems.

I'm content and balanced if I stay true to the ways of the peaceful and gentle Sheep, the artistic Hare, and the kind generous Pig. I'm content reading Tarot cards in my little home, casting horoscopes, being creative at Feng Shui consultations, quietly studying and writing, and living simply. I prefer working behind the scenes and being supportive of others, which is all in accord with the gentle ways of the Sheep.

TAOIST TRANSITS

Some animal years are more lucky than others depending on your Taoist Four Pillars animal signs and elements. Clearly I have luck in Hare, Sheep, and Pig years! But a general guideline is to cultivate the specific qualities of each animal during that animal's year. Strive to match the chi of each year so you will have fewer problems and life can flow more easily.

So in a Rat year be smart, clever, and invest your money. In Ox year work hard, stay focused, and don't complain. In Tiger year take risks and pounce on new opportunities. In Hare year be peaceful and develop your artistic ability. Dragon year is a time for extremes, grand passions, and drastic successes -- or failures. Serpent year is time to be wise, plan, contemplate, and not show your intentions. In Horse year explore, travel, and be as free as possible. In Sheep year cultivate spirituality, kindness, and gentleness. In Monkey year pull off all kinds of wild and crazy schemes. In Phoenix (Rooster) year be reborn and transformed. In Dog year be loyal, honest, and speak the truth. Integrity is key in a Dog year. During a Pig year be kind, open, and honest. Pigs like a good time so eat, drink, and be merry.

Each month correlates to an animal sign. February is Tiger, March is Hare, April is Dragon, May is Serpent, June is Horse, July is Cancer, August is Monkey, September is Phoenix, October is Dog, November is Pig, December is Rat, and January is Ox. But each month does not start on the 1st day of the Gregorian calendar. It starts on the first new Moon in that month. Animal month dates are listed on my Astrology Updates page on this web site. Please scroll to the middle of the page to find where I have listed the animal months and elements.