Okay, I have a career question of my own, and I'd appreciate any advice, astrological or otherwise!

Natally I have Jupiter in the 9th, so I *love* university, but I also have Neptune smack-dab on the Midheaven, so I can't seem to ever make up my mind what to do with myself, career-wise.

Apropo of Neptune in Scorpio on the midheaven, I've been floating around for YEARS in the medical sphere (started a master's in public health, didn't finish; got certified as an emergency medical tech. but didn't go for an ambulance job, did medical records clerk, etc. ad nauseum). Being that Pluto is now *exactly* over my 11th house sun (and with Jupiter back in Sadge) I've determined that THIS IS THE YEAR I choose something and stick with it.

I've narrowed it down to two fields: go back to finish my public health degree, or do a nursing degree. Both of these careers have benefits and drawbacks. I could do public health with my eyes closed and still love it, but the thought of being a nurse both terrifies me and fills me with a sense of excitement. So a month or so ago I did a chart, like thus:

Should I do a nursing degree? (I left public health out of the equation).
15 December 2006
09:11 hrs
Cambridge, ENG
0E08 52N13

Venus day, Mercury hour, Capricorn rises.

I'm not in good shape. I'm in the 8th of fear, Rx, and in detriment. This might just show my real anxiety about choosing the 'right' career as I'm no spring chicken and am feeling very nervous about my path.

The ruler of H9 of higher education is Venus, in Capricorn in the 12th. I can't decide if this signifies 'nursing' or not; the 12th certainly rules hospitals, and this is where I'd work.

The moon is fortunate and apt in the 9th, conjunct fixed star Spica. POF also lies in the 9th, under medical (surgery?) ruler Scorpio. Luna applies by sextile to my ruler Saturn, dispositor by exaltation. The moon also disposits 9th ruler Venus by sign, although I note that dignity is only partially exchanged as the moon is detrimented in Capricorn. Does this mean that I would find no emotional fulfilment in nursing, even though I might be 'good' at (Moon with Spica)?

So I get:

My ruler: not good
H9 ruler: benefic but in questionable house.
Moon: very good.
Aspects: applying with 'easy' aspects

I note with curiosity that the moon is in EXACT sextile with the Sun, which rules the 8th, placed in the 12th. This is very curious as I was considering either doing geriatric nursing or HIV/AIDS nursing; both of which, let's face it, have 8th and 12th house implications. The Sun also applies with a favourable, disposited trine to my ruler Saturn.

So. I am stumped. Is this good? Is this bad? Does it matter?



Thanks!
AG

Why have you not considered psychiatric nursing .

Neptune, scorpio, MC, 12th house, Moon.

you can be a community liasion nurse !!

Best of both worlds :-)

I haven't analyzed the chart yet.

PD

two suggestions for you, if you do the nursing degree go into Clinical trials, its like being in school all the time, OR, get the Masters in One of the sciences and get into being a research associate. YOu can make a fair living in the commercial world and it is like being in school all the time AND it is about Idealism, so the Neptune should be helpful. (currently hot topics are BBB transferance and antibody behavior)

And since you are in Cambridge UK, might I suggest you put an application or three in to Amgen, great benefits, and They are also doing quite well.

As for your Horary question, Saturn in Leo in 7th, makes me think that Nursing school is not the best idea. Possibly consider the research / lab role. may be more to your liking and a better fit with that Neptune. Possibly take a better look at your natal with vocation in mind. (you know Bernadette Brady was a microbiologist, I wonder if there is some kind of connection here witht the mindset or something?) research also leaves you witht he time to do your own thing and gets regular holidays where as nursing, unless you really dont mind dealing with irritating people, tends to have crappy hours and less ability to do things in your own time and way. (in my experience anyway)

in horary the Venus, ruler of 9th on asc, does look promising, but I dont like how the malefics are all in agreement and the benifics are all distressed. Possibly look at some other options?

Granny

Granny, thanks for the suggestions, but truthfully I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out than do clinical trials or research. I like dealing with people in a hands-on, help-em-out-of-bed sort of way: I don't mind the blood and guts (I have Pluto/Uranus conjunction in the 8th and Mars in the 1st, so I'm rather a blood-and-guts person myself ), although someone did suggest once that I become a psychologist (PDs suggestion of psychiatric nursing is intriguing). My step-dad's a nurse; he gets paid 50k a year for a two-day work-week and pretty much sets his own hours. That's what the draw is; I could avoid the 9-5 and afford a vacation (important for Sadges) two or three times a year.

As far as the chart goes, I got Saturn in the 8th using Regiomontanus, although it's cuspal with the 7th. Not in good shape, regardless.

I dunno. I'm very confused.

well, all the more reason to do a vocational of the natal and have a good chat with a good career councellor, yes there are a few, try some different ones at school see who listens and who talks over you till you get one that is interested in working with you. Its a lot of work trying to find your niche in the world.

Granny the promoter...

Honestly I'd rather just get a 'yes' or 'no' answer from the chart as I've already narrowed down my options to the two things I'd really like to do! There's really nothing stopping me from doing either of these things apart from my own indecision, and I suppose in reality I could do *both*, but I'm weighing the positives and negatives of both job choices (plus doing a chart or two) to narrow it further.

Hello Archergirl,

I get 7 degrees Capricorn rising. Is this correct? If so, you could easily read the Venus at 5 Capricorn as conjunct the ascendant.

Are you still planning to move to the USA? If so, then your RX detrimented sig in the 8th could be an indication that you are powerless to begin a nursing degree at this time. The 8th could be read as marital finances (temporarily stressed by the move) and/or student financial aid (ineligible at this time until a USA resident again).

Then the question becomes is that lovely Moon strong enough to translate light from your sig to Venus by sextile, changing signs along the way (sign change could be the major move and current sign barrier). Moon's sextile to Venus is quickly followed by a simultaneous sextile to the ascendant and conjunction to POF in the 9th.

Christina

Hi Christina,

Yes, we're still moving back to the US. I hadn't considered the 8th as 'joint' finances, but you're right: we're strapped for cash right now, and one of the primary motivations for nursing school as opposed to public health was the possibility of a decently-paid job immediately after training. With public health, I'd have to look around more, and there's no guarantee I'd find something right off the bat. So nursing is sort of pragmatic choice, much like moving back to the States is. Whatever will pay me (and thus, the family) the most in the quickest amount of time, and still keep me happy/occupied in the sphere I love (health). The financial aid aspect had concerned me, as well, as I'm already up to the gills with the last lot of loans!

Hi archergirl,

I think the chart is pretty positive, especially with the moon being in such a good position. Venus isn't in too bad a shape in Capricorn, and as others have said, she sits on the ascendant. I think with all the applying sextiles from pertinent houses, this means it might be a good opportunity for you. With grumpy, hypersensitive retrograde Saturn as your ruler, however, you might not be too inclined to believe it! The fact that the moon will sextile Venus, then conjoin Fortuna must mean something, although the moon will be in fall then, so I don't know if they mitigate against one another. Maybe someone else with more skill would know this?

Sorry, logged back in to add that Venus has dignity by term, so that must also say something, yes?

Cheers,
piglet

Hello again Archergirl,

I agree with Piglet, it looks positive should you choose the nursing degree.

On another thread you said the move to USA is planned for June. The Moon is 7 degrees from change of sign. June is 7 months from the date of your question. The sign change seems to coincide with your move date. The chart is on track.

One of the problems is that the Moon at 23Libra is not within orb of Venus (nursing degree) at 5Capricorn therefore cannot translate from your sig to Venus.

The Moon will come within orb of Venus (within 9-10 degrees) in 2 or 3 ?somethings?, probably months (depending upon whether you choose the wider orb). Until then there is a period of confusion while the Moon is out of orb of any applying aspect. You will have more clarity in 2 to 3 months from the date of the question (pretty soon!) when the Moon comes within orb of Venus.

The yes is from the Venus going to you (the ascendant) and sextile PoF in 9th (as has been pointed out by others). Venus has dignity by triplicity and term.

The fact that the moon will sextile Venus, then conjoin Fortuna must mean something, although the moon will be in fall then, so I don't know if they mitigate against one another. Maybe someone else with more skill would know this?

Hi Piglet, I am not the "someone else with more skill" however, I also am wondering about the Moon losing dignity by going into the sign of its fall, plus sextiling Venus from the sign of Venus' detriment. If it were not for PoF I would be more concerned. Perhaps the signs reflect what Archergirl said about choosing geriatrics and HIV/AIDS nursing, or its just medical?

I note with curiosity that the moon is in EXACT sextile with the Sun, which rules the 8th, placed in the 12th. ?..The Sun also applies with a favourable, disposited trine to my ruler Saturn.

Archergirl, This could be something in place at the time of the question. Is it a stretch to think this Sun is a universal sig for your husband? He is receptive to you (disposited trine, partile mutually applying). The Sun will also change signs in 7 months, you both will move.

Since your goal is ultimately financial income after earning the degree, does anyone see the money? Could be PoF involvement comes shortly after the Venus (degree) sextile.

I hope this is helpful. It is a big decision. I'm always hearing about shortages of nurses in the USA.

Christina

Hi all,

Thanks very much for all your input (whether I listen to it or not! ).

I was thinking about the moon-moving-into-fall aspect you guys were talking about; certainly for me the idea of nursing is a much *harder* choice, I mean in terms of the work involved: long hours, difficult situations, stress and sorrows, whereas a cushy public health desk job would be a piece of rather boring cake. Nursing's not a job I imagine myself doing for the next twenty years; I'm sure I would burn out before then, but that's not necessarily a disincentive to take the job.

I recall a chart I did for a job I was offered doing casework for newly-arrived refugees. The moon was soon to conjoin Saturn (at that time in Cancer), and the astrologer who was helping me with the chart said, "I wouldn't take a job with that aspect." I took it anyway, and sure enough, it was bloody hard work as befits a debilitated Saturn: long, odd hours, not much pay. But my gosh, it was the best job I ever had in terms of emotional satisfaction, although it too burned me out in the end. So my inclination is to think that 'negative' aspects (such as the moon in fall) don't always mean a negative experience, only one that tries and tests you, or saps your energy in some way. But that's to be expected with nursing, isn't it?

It's probably no coincidence, but I just did a chart for the other question, "Should I do the master's in public health", and got a 29-degree ascendant with the moon in Via Combusta again, only not conjunct Spica! So it seems that I may have already chosen...

I shall take away all the very helpful advice you've given me (although I'll always accept more, should there be any takers... ), put it in my pipe and smoke on it until the summer, when the real decisions have to be made!