Monday, November 28, 2011

Astrological Winds for Week of 11/28/11

This week starts off with 3 very quiet days astrologically, as we sink into the throes of Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius. Two things I'm noticing highlighted with this retro period already: forgetting things you need from dashing off to quickly (only to have to go back and retrieve them, as you need them to complete your tasks at hand), and quick movements causing accidents - so be careful/slow down, seems to be a lesson of this Mercury Retro in Sag - no surprise there! But some deepened spiritual/mystical/religious insight also seems to be percolating to the surface of our conciousness too...a positive attribute of this period...

Thursday, Venus in Capricorn catches up with Pluto. This conjunction can lead to getting deeply serious about some relationship(s) in responsible terms. There's an intensity here, and it can be very narrow-minded in its focus and bossy/manipulative in relation to others. Our insecurities over not having ultimate control over others could chase them away if we take it too far. We may think our way of doing things is right, and it is for you (perhaps), but that does not mean it is for everyone else! This aspect can also find us obsessed/infatuated with someone in romantic/sexual terms.

The weekend should be challenging with Sun/Mercury Retro conjunct and square Mars and all 3 of them semi-square Saturn (Saturn at mid-point of Sun/Mercury & Mars). On Friday, the Sun square Mars can have us very active but also very ego-driven. It will be easy to get annoyed at others and/or circumstances and give someone a good dressing down. With Mercury Retro, remember what I said about moving too fast above: this is the perfect storm day to do so and get in some accident/mess, so be concious of your movements today or you could hurt yourself in some way. This is a good day to get some hard physical work/play in, but it may be best to do it alone, or get into some friendly (hopefully) athletic competition. Be careful if interacting with authorities not to mouth off or you may suffer their wrath. Expect to be challenged by someone or something today - take a deep breath before responding!

Saturday is quieter, but in the eye of this storm of energy above - the semi-square of Sun/Saturn is exact. This is another good day to work on your own projects and expect to be frustrated with others, especially with anyone with any power over you who is using/abusing it.

Sunday, the Sun/Mercury Retro conjunction perfects - this many times finds us retreating within to the depths of our own mind/psyche and assessing/re-assessing all that's gone on over the past few week/months and what it actually means to us/our lives - a reflective/contemplative day. However, with the conjunction in Sag and the square to Mars, it may be difficult to keep it all to ourselves. Heated discussions can easily turn into arguments when everyone feels like they are fighting for their life and the need to elucidate upon their experiences! Defensiveness/touchiness is prevalent, and once again accidents are quite possible. Once again, it might be better to take a hike/bike ride, climb a mountain, play athletic/sports games, take a short rec trip, etc. to deal with this energy.

So be prepared this week to deal with the depths of this Mercury Retro in Sag period. Full Moon/Lunar Eclpise next week in Gemini!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Astrological Winds for Week of 11/21/11

The quieter astrological weather of last week and Sunday's Sun/Neptune square lasts one more day, Monday, before we hit the fronts again.

Tuesday, the holiday season starts to kick into high gear with the Sun's ingress into Sagittarius. Being that it is one of the more religious signs, and that the holiday season of the Age of Pisces has its roots in religiously significant events (supposedly), I've always found that to be one of those amazing coincidences connected to astrology: that the energy of the Archer is what dominates this time of year. Here, people openly display their faiths (lately in the religion of consumerism more than any other) and bring in the new to their lives (many times just through new things they get during this time of year), push their value systems to extremes, become the life of the party, act with zest, etc. Yet, the Sagittarius archetype speaks of wounds - usually ones that are carried inside and covered with things from the outside to keep the pain away. Is this what the reduction of the significance of these religious holidays to the god of materialism has wrought upon us? A hollow feeling inside that has an insatiable appetite for things to cauterize deep pain and raw emotions that we fear, yet must face in order to learn the lesson, so that we may release creativity that we were unable to access before and become the wise ones for the world. With Mercury stationing retrograde in Sagittarius on Wednesday until December 13th, and remaining in its retrograde shadow until January 1st and in Sag until January 9th, it seems we will have much time to contemplate this archetype and where and how it may apply in our life. Tuesday also has a Venus/Saturn sextile: this is a great aspect to stabilize relationships with. People will be open, yet conservative/grounded in judgement, and will be able to work on details of projects well together, which should be mutually gratifying. This is also a good day to seek out advice and business deals.

Besides Mercury going retro on Wednesday and all that usually entails: travel delays during holidays, insert-foot-in-mouth disease, miscommunications, technical issues, etc., there are two very dynamic trines that should have the energy just flying along. First is a Sun/Uranus trine: a time when our pushes for more independence/freedom/individuality are in the flow and do not create the normal backlash they could. Thus, it's a great time to make progressive changes in your life. Most likely we will all be revved up/excited about our holiday plans, parties, chances to connect with others we normally don't see as frequently, etc. Mars trine Pluto is super dynamic energy that goes on and on and can make some long lasting changes/transformations. This is a great day to clear out the old stuff in your life on all kinds of levels: clean the _____ (fill in the blank), psychologically purge, clear the air with others, make sustained efforts and great progress on long standing endeavors. The one danger of this day is the pace of the energy perhaps - with Sun square Chiron we have to be aware of moving too fast and hurting ourselves or others. This shows it will also be difficult to maintain a good balance with all that's going on, so you could tarnish your image a bit.

Thursday, Thanksgiving (Happy Thanksgiving!!!), has a New Moon/Solar Eclipse at 2* Sagittarius. Go back to what I mention above about Sun's ingress into Sag...and continue here: all this energy in Sag now has us personally and Collectively in a state of questioning/re-assessing our value systems/judgements/philosophies/belief systems/culture. This has us asking the deeper questions of what our true purpose is here individually and as a race. The New Moon's quincunx to Jupiter, ruler of Sag, shows that we are misaligned in our judgements and that these areas require some serious adjustments - that we need to re-assess our values and live them more truly and see that when we exaggerate that it only exacerbates situations into endless disagreeable philosophical pursuit - the snake chasing its own tail, so to speak. It's interesting to note that Sag, the Archer, is also Chiron, which this New Moon squares. Thus, the two main planetary connections to Sagittarius both are aspecting the Sun/Moon in Sag. It may seem redundant, but the key to unlocking this archetype is to learn from our wounds so that we may become the teachers - the new leaders on the cutting-edge. This New Moon/Solar Eclipse wants us to wake up! Look to the house it falls in in your chart, and any tight aspects to planets in your chart (1-2* orb) to see where and how it will effect you. Otherwise, there is an ultra sweet Venus/Neptune sextile on Thanksgiving - it doesn't get more fitting than that for this holiday: lazing around eating food and imbibing with close company in thanks for all we have.

Venus is very active this week too, with its sextiles to Saturn and Neptune above, it is also the main event this weekend. On Saturday, it ingresses into Capricorn, where it has very little dignity (just diurnal trplicity ruler). I've always felt that the Goddesses energy is a bit repressed in Capricorn - that relationships become serious and dutiful; that resources must be managed more conservatively; that creativity becomes less inspired; emotions are stifled. It's a good time to spell out details and responsibilities in our relationships however. Venus picks up a square to Uranus Saturday also, so this more conservative/serious stance may be challenged immediately by someone, some surprising event socially, or by exposure to new people. It's easy to get flippant/sarcastic with loved ones if they are irritating you. On the other hand, it may be you who is restless - if so, go out today and do something different that stimulates the mind/your individuality. You need some excitement today, as do others - repressing that can lead to edgy conversation/arguments. Expressing it some other way can be a zesty attitude boost. Venus sextile Chiron should help you out in choosing a postive expression, as it reminds you of your caring side (and how much better you look when you're smiling!).

Sunday, Venus wraps up its aspects of the week with a wonderful trine to Jupiter. This is considered the single luckiest transit there is (if you believe in that kind of stuff!). In earth signs, luck may be measured more pragmatically than usual. The tendency is to be passive when these two benefics meet harmoniously, but if you go out, the Universe should respond to you in kind manners. A great day to socialize, be entertained, romance, resource decisions, harvesting, etc.

Next week, Venus will catch up to Pluto, and the Sun/Mercury Retro/Mars will tussle.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Astrological Winds for Week of 11/14/11

This is a very calm week astrologically - very little to report on, but with the intensity of last week's Full Moon and Mars action, perhaps we all need time to pause and reflect on the roller coaster ride of our lives in these times. Indeed, with Mercury now in its retrograde shadow, a turning to the inner world and some contemplation is in order.

Wednesday has one of the two most significant aspects of the week as Mars, now in Virgo, trines retrograde Jupiter in Taurus. Normally, putting these two together can jack up energy to new highs, but in these two more conservative earth signs and Jupiter moving backwards, actions may be more well-tempered, and thus quite possibly much more effective in the long term. We can make an incredible amount of progress in any endeavor we choose to spend our time on this week, as long as we pay attention to the details and remain grounded in our decisions. A confident mastery of your skills makes you effective in changing/influencing your environment and should give you an optimistic boost. This is a time of working towards goals enthusiastically. Energy is high and lucky breaks can occur if you use this energy well! The only danger is pushing a bit too far in regard to others or finances as Mercury/Venus sesiquadrate Jupiter may have us overextend somehow or get too self-aggrandizing with our statements/decisions.

Sunday has the other major aspect of the week: Sun square Neptune. This could lead to lowered physical energy, being deceived by self or others, being overly idealistic, escapism, alcohol & drug binges, a sense of discouragement/disenchantment with your life. This is not a good weekend to make any major decisions as your judgement is likely to be fallible in some way. This is an excellent day to take a quiet retreat somewhere, even to your yoga/meditation mat, and focus on the spiritual/metaphysical side of your being; take it easy physically/sleep in/lay around and relax. Ambitions will be tempered/dampened, but that's OK for the day.

Enjoy this rather mellow week and prepare for Mercury Retrograde next week, and a Sag New Moon/Solar Eclipse on Thanksgiving Eve, plus a load of Venus aspects all week long!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Astrological Winds for Week of 11/7/11

This week Mars and Neptune/Chiron steal the show - how fitting that it is raining this Monday morning in AZ as Mars opposes Neptune! This aspect can dissipate physical energy having us feel tired/worn down & out/discouraged/confused that our actions are not yielding the results we expect/stuck in the slow lane/etc. However, this is a good day/early week to partake in some slowed down activities physically like hatha yoga/tai chi/choreographed dance, etc. You may find yourself in some conflict with others due to wanting something done now while they resist or vice versa. This is best used for acts of compassion in regard to others instead, or producing art from inspiration in a balanced manner.

Tuesday can be a frustrating day starting off with the Sun sesiquadrate Uranus: if we move fast today, we are bound to trip ourselves up. You may be feeling extremely irritated with others or circumstances and take impulsive actions that just compound the isssues and land you on a dead end street. It's best to give yourself and others space today to be your unique self and to just expect lots of minor issues. The urge for freedom/independence is strong - it may be best to do something alone, but be aware you could be accident prone, so let someone else know what you're up to if it's anything extreme. With both Mercury and Venus semi-square Saturn, it just adds to the frustration level and may get us down mentally/emotionally and frustrated with loved ones/friends/others we interact with regularly.

Wednesday's big event is Neptune going direct at 28* Aquarius. This will be the last 3 months of its traveling through Aquarius for approximately 150 years! On February 4th, 2012, it will re-enter Pisces, the sign it co-rules, and remain there until April 2025. I will get much more into that journey in February, but for the time being, it is time to finalize and start action on any plans you have to join with others who share your vision of equality, brother/sisterhood, spirituality, and inspired creativity in order to help usher in a new world over the next 15-20 years.

On Thursday is the Full Moon in Taurus at 18*. The Taurus/Scorpio axis has to do with material resources and security. The Moon in Taurus has a need for emotional fulfillment simultaneously with a need for material resources/creature comforts. Right now, it is very difficult to satisfy both of these desires for most people in the world, so this Full Moon is going to shine a light on that issue: how do I feel emotionally well and materially secure at the same time?? The Sun in Scorpio says we must confront some very deep issues about money, wealth, power, fear, and our own physical mortality in order to find some answers. It's quite possible the way we view resources will have to die in order to be reborn and rise from the ashes with new creative ideas that could shift our conciousness permenantly. Right now we stand on the brink/cusp of new potential worlds/human developments, but old material attachments must be sacrificed in order for them to be born. A deeper merging with others opens unforseen solutions and possibilities and fosters individual brilliance that collaborates over issues and creates new realities on the ground and running, but it means facing many personal demons that require slaying on the path - ie, a mirror is required! (as is quick feet [thoughts]). On a more mundane scale, be aware of being stubborn or having to deal with stuck others, and don't expect finances to improve. Look to the house this Full Moon falls into in your chart to see where it will most effect you, and see if any other of your planets aspect it to color the flavor for you (1-2* orb).

Also, on Thursday, Mars ingresses into Virgo and Chiron goes direct. This can give us some keys to unlocking the Full Moon issues above. Mars in Virgo says every action should be well-measured and all details must be taken care of first in order to have success. He says we can do more with less if we are careful with the harvest. This is also a good time to get active for some health regime you may be considering, to get involved in projects with others with common values, and to do deatiled work.
Chiron, partnered with Neptune for a few years now in Aquarius/early Pisces, also going direct indicates it is time to act on methods of healing and teaching that we have gained from our own personal experiences/life path that is for the common good and breaks down the barriers between self and others.

Saturday could be challenging with Mars opposite Chiron and quincunx Uranus. Be very careful with your actions being too quick/sudden and getting yourself injured/in an accident. You could very easily overdo it physically, possibly in reaction to strong feelings of needing to do something to alleviate frustrations. There's a very strong need to assert yourself today and you could also end up in conflict with others, especially if mutual decisions must be made.

Sunday's Sun semi-square Pluto can indicate some uncomfortable reflecting on what's going on in your life these days and continuing power plays with others. Things going on within and without can be quite disturbing and you will feel challenge that you may not be able to do much about. There may be breakdowns of relationships or even things/machinery. A good day to keep your thoughts to yourself and reflect on how you got to here and what that can mean.

This is a week to get well-measured with our actions, to eliminate uneeded waste, and collaborate with others on ways to change, so that humanity can move forward on its evolutionary path. Next week, Mars and Neptune continue to be main players.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Astrological Winds for Week of 10/31/11

Happy Halloween/Samhain!

Mercury and Venus are conjunct these days in Scorpio. They have been conjunct by sign and within a 6* orb since October 14th and will remain so until November 25th when Mercury goes retrograde. This week they will both square Neptune and Chiron, ingress into Sagittarius together on the same day, and then trine Uranus on the same day. In addition, Mercury enters the shadow of its retrograde this Saturday in a sign it is quite weak in.

Venus is square Neptune on Monday - this is a blending of higher/spiritual love with mundane/physical love. This usually indicates pleasant times with others, perhaps with a little angst. It's a good day to discuss any issues with loved ones, as it can deepen relationships, merge ideas, etc. This will also spur creative/artistic ideas into actions. We could allow ourselves to be deceived by another by allowing ourselves to be too dazzled somehow however. Also, watch for being overly lazy/passive/indulgent today - don't let the kids get sick eating too much Halloween candy!

Tuesday, Mercury follows suit by squaring Neptune - this may bring some mental confusion, communication misunderstandings, foggy thoughts, deceptions, but also much inspiration perhaps for artistic endeavors and for the study of spiritual/metaphysical matters. Relationships with others may revolve around sharing visions/inspirations and reaching out for diversity to be welcomed in.

Wednesday, they both ingress into Sagittarius together. This is the sign of Mercury's detriment because of the tendency to have big ideas that are not well thought out/with finer details are ignored, and thus we "open our mouths and insert our foot" under this transit quite often, or take actions that can inflict wounds on ourselves or make us look like a fool. Mercury in Sag can make us clownish, but many times it's used as a mask to hide something more painful. Because Mercury will retrograde in Sag, it will remain in this sign of detriment for 9-10 weeks to early January rather than the normal 3 week sojourn. We are under this influence of "overestimating our ideas" during this whole time. The mind is in search of something new and exciting and expansive. With Venus conjunct Mercury and in Sag too, where she/we can get quite vampish/outrageous in our desire to attract other's attention to us somehow. Therefore, relationships are the likely area where our big ideas have not been thoroughly thought out enough and we may end up getting hurt, especially with Mercury/Venus square Chiron this day too. The pay off is we will see how our own actions set us up to be hurt and perhaps now we can learn from that.

Thursday they both trine Uranus and sextile Pallas Athene opening us up to new ideas, people, relationships that bring an air of excitement and electricity to our lives. Collaboration can bring ingenious exchanges that take us to the cutting edge. Any new encounters/experiences/events/people can exhilirate our world. A quick witty mind, the use of technology for rapid communications, flashes of creative brilliance will also all be part of this day. Life is just exciting this day.

Saturday Mercury and Venus quincunx Jupiter and Mercury enters its retrograde shadow so we may get the beginning of a sense of where it is impossible to bridge the gap with others on certain values and feel the need to seperate ourselves from them. Remember that Mercury/Jupiter may have you exaggerating your own ideas/position, and Venus/Jupiter may have you focused on disparities rather than similiarities today especially in relationships. It's best not to make any final decision involving others today, but let it ride out a bit.

Sunday's most notable event is Ceres turning direct in Pisces. Perhaps it is time to open up a dialogue on how we distribute resources and how all must be factored in when doing so.

This week the focus is going to be on relationships/collaboration with a danger of overshooting our mark. Next week, Mars steals the show, and we have a Full Moon in Taurus

Monday, October 24, 2011

Astrological Winds for Week of 10/24/11

This week could start in "fight or flight" mode with the Moon in Libra opposing Uranus and squaring Pluto while the Sun quincunxs Uranus also on Monday. Things will have an edge today for sure, and the way you  react to that will be unconventional and impulsive, and you will tell any one off who is stepping on your toes (you may just however be stepping on your own toes really!).  Minor unexpected events can throw you off and accidents/breakdowns/technical issues are possible. Fortunately, the Moon is in Libra and the Sun trines Chiron too, which may have us be able to navigate this edge by reminding ourselves that there's two sides to every story (at least), and to be able to gain wisdom by seeing every perspective that allows progressive change to enter our lives acting like a breath of fresh air to rejuvenate the soul. One other interesting note is that Juno is ingressing into Scorpio joining the Sun, Mercury, and Venus - this seems like a natural fit archetypically: a deepening of our relationships in any partner-type connections to new emotional bounds and bonding with an ability to communicate on intense levels and to enhance our own Life experience(s).

Venus semi-square Pluto on Tuesday can test the deepening of these relationships and have you doubting or worrying if opening up more was the right move. You may feel exposed in some way or just frustrated by others' reactions. Concerns about your own resources from Sun sesiquadrate Ceres may have you feeling more protective of whatever is your's and wondering how you'll maintain, and feeds the distrust of others that Venus/Pluto brings. Moon conjunct Saturn can just add to this stifling atmosphere. Maintaining objectivity and meticulous thinking before saying/doing may be the best course today.

Wednesday is 1 of 2 very heavy astrological weather days this week that influence the rest of the week with a New Moon in Scorpio, Mars sextile Saturn, and Venus square Mars. Mars sextile Saturn is an excellent aspect for getting hard/physical/mundane work done well. Don't pass this opportunity by from Tues-Thurs to tackle some project at home or work that requires physical work with a discplined approach. Anything like that you've put on the back burner is good to get on now. Venus square Mars blends romance and passion and is an excellent tension and release aspect for lovers. For those not in romantic relationships, you may find yourself attracted to the opposite sex today strongly, or you may get some flashes of creative inspiration that drives some artistic manifestation out of you. The New Moon at 3* Scorpio speaks of deepening relationships, releasing what is dying, the surfacing of the Shadow, the veil being thin between the spirit and physical worlds, passion, deep emotions, and confronting envy/jealousy/fears/vengefulness in order to release them. Scorpio speaks of what we individually and Collectively sweep under the rug, who and what we demonize in our denial by doing so, and having to ultimately confront our fears and mortality in order to gain power over them and emerge from the darkness of judgement with reborn creativity. This New Moon sextiles Pluto, Scorpio's co-ruler, giving us an opportunity to see deeply within ourselves and others and to ride the waves of emotion that surface so that we can begin to transform on all levels. With both Sun and Moon opposite retrograde Jupiter in Taurus, it is truly time to make heavy decisions about resources and value systems. Look to the house this New Moon falls in in your chart to see where your life needs to be reborn and if you have any planets at 3* aspecting the New Moon, thus coloring the energy you receive from it. Pallas Athene's ingress into Aquarius is calling all like-minded warriors of change to gather forces in the name of justice.

Friday is also a busy day astrologically, but most of it is just a continuation and jump up of the octave of the New Moon above, as the Sun perfects its opposition to Jupiter and sextile to Pluto, as the 2 of them perfect their 2nd of 3 trines. This could be truly an exhilirating day where beneficial change and accomplishments are measurable right in front of you. Much has shifted lately and the effects are palpable. The tide of energy is flowing now and its a great time to get in the current of progressive transformation. The danger this day comes in the form of Mercury square Mars - we may fly off the handle with our words today due mainly to the strong emotions that have been coursing through us. Egotistical arguments may ensue, or words can be felt by the listener to be weapons.

The weekend is pretty quiet but with a Sagittarius Moon on Saturday, the expanding energy of Wed - Fri will be strongly felt through this day too.

This is a very dynamic week where we can make much progress on ourselves and deepen many relationships and get much done at same time.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A Lesson on Saturn Returns

Events of the past 2-3 months in the United States have taken a serious turn toward a call for the government and corporations to be more fair/equal/just in the treatment of the People as a Collective - the majority. It is interesting to note that any USA birth chart set on July 4, 1776 has been experiencing its 8th Saturn Return. In any US birth chart dated 7/4/1776 Saturn is exalted at 14* Libra, the degree Saturn was transiting (conjuncting) when the budget talks broke down during the summer and the dichotomy between the Republicans and Democrats reached the widest gap yet. It seemed at that time that the People, as a Collective, lost any or all hope of the economic crisis in the country being able to be resolved by politicians who are clearly in the hands of corporations. That feeling, along with a growing world wide movement of revolution, spawned the OccupyWallStreet movement. When you think about Saturn in Libra being exalted, why would that be? Because Saturn is the judge, and an objective judge seeks what Libra emulates: equality, justice for all. When an entity has a Saturn return, it is reminded of its reponsibilities, and many times, how it's not been meeting them. Thus, this Saturn return is asking the USA to be more responsible with our power/knowledge and to seek equality/fair distribution of resources, exactly what the Occupy movement is seeking...another example of "if you don't work with the transit, it will work against you."...I use the Sibley Chart for USA and Saturn ends up in 10th house in it and squares the Sun - the Executive Branch of the government (Sun/Saturn/10th) has shirked its reponsibility in bringing those who have stolen from the People to justice - indeed, Obama has lost the respect of many of those who elected him. Saturn rules the 2nd & 3rd houses in the Sibley chart: this is all about inequality in resources (2nd) and the way business is done (3rd) - that's the areas that will be forced to change ultimately.