Why do I have financial difficulties?

I took a look at your upcoming Solar Return for 2011. The first thing that caught my eye was the presence of Mercury Retrograde. That will continue to follow you a bit like a stray puppy all year. Sadly, Mercury may frustrate you to no end since that lovely Sun-Mercury Rx conjunction in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius in the 9th house, Jupiter’s natural home, this time is squaring SR Mars in the 6th. At least Mars is in Mercury-ruled Virgo!

Transiting Jupiter is in your natal 12th, offering you something along the lines of an angel on your shoulder—not something that you can absolutely count on to pull you out when the going gets rough (you know what “rough” is already!), but it’s there enough to surprise you with some of those last-minute perks of “omg, thank you thank you for saving my hide again!”

When we talk about finances, it’s important to look at what’s going on with the 2nd house—income, values, anything that focuses on things of value; the 5th house if you’re involved in the stock market; the 6th house in your earnings through work; the 8th house as an extension of values on your own if you’re single or through those of your life partner if you’re attached, but even there, it will still play a key role in your finances, as well as this also being the house where we take gambles; the 10th through career, and the 11th through your potentially being a part of a team if only as a member of a group of colleagues. Most people don’t see all of these things when they consider finances, but they need to be considered.

To your credit, you’ve held no less than 3 part-time jobs to keep going this year. That’s good. It’s certainly indicative of your Mercury-ruled Gemini rising. I can talk about the SR for this coming year and point to SR Neptune’s rulership from inside the 12th house and natal Neptune’s positioning in the SR 8th house. SR Pluto’s presence in the 10th and SR Mars' conjunction to natal Pluto in the 6th just tells me that you’re going to need to remain flexible and be willing to go along with the budgetary issues from the hiring end. Mars is selfish desire; Pluto is for the good of all. I know it may be difficult and more than a little challenging even, but it seems to be something you’re just not going to escape easily.

The Eastern hemispheric domination remains strong this year although you’re more open than you might have been in the last year. That tells me that you’re really going to need to remain creative. The Cardinal square between 1st house intercepted Uranus in Aries and Pluto in the 10th house just cautions that you’re going to need to stay on your toes with a lot of flexibility and understanding. I know it’s rough. For now, despite your personal financial challenges, you’ll probably find yourself becoming more aware of others' needs. Avoid being indecisive, rigid (although I don’t see rigidity as your issue) or unmotivated. Consider what you can do to pitch in even when it seems like nothing is happening. Basically, I’m telling you to reinvent yourself. How much…well, you’ll probably be a better judge of that than I am since you know the situation with budgets where you’re working.

I’m reminded of when we look at a prism, and we don’t stop to turn it to examine each edge and point as it’s struck by the sunlight. We miss so much of the beauty. But by turning it ever so slightly, we have an ability to see new opportunities for even more beauty. While I’m speaking poetically here, of course, it’s really what you’re going to need to do to stay on top of ways to make this work. The biggest objective for you will be to think outside of the box, to move the prism to see new ways of looking at what you’re considering as the challenges. Will it be an overnight move back to workability? Probably not, although there will be sudden, spontaneous, even unexpected perks as you go through the year. Such perks may come like flashes of genius. Just don’t get too used to it, remember. After all, Mercury is still retrograde, and that will be the case throughout the year; it’s probably best not to look such a gift horse in the mouth. View this as an adventure. If you had mentioned the subjects you teach, I might have been able to fill in some pieces for you, but perhaps this will give you some additional thoughts.

I hope so.