We’ll do anything not to deal with the unpleasant and the outrageous; it seems smart to just ignore things, but at the same time we’re aware that can’t possibly be a good idea–in fact, we know it inclines the mind to fantasize–we just can’t help but fill in the blanks! Though normally we want flow with the grain of the day, so to speak, today it might be better to stay neutral, to accept our desire to avoid and just put our heads down and do what needs doing–no confrontations, no dealing with the messy or the hard to face, no going against the grain–and with any luck taking this approach will mean we’ll get something useful, but not especially splashy or definitive, done.

(Mars contra-parallel Black Moon Lilith, Sun contra-parallel and sesq Pallas, and parallel Neptune)

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 14 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!) Consciously or not, you’ll spend the year measuring, weighing, re-assessing to what and whom you’re committed. It may seem too low-key, but the reality is you need this time, a kind of retreat, in order to know what really matters, and so know what to honor, make promises to, and work to secure in the future, when you’ll be called upon to answer the hard questions. Until then, embrace the fact that you are closer to manifesting your ideals than you may think, and it’s a life filled with what you envision that all this prep work is for. Stay strong, don’t expect easy or definitive answers right now, and know that you’re aligning yourself with what you will become, no matter how modest the current circumstances or how far away it all may seem to be.

 

What happens to the atmosphere when Venus enters the coolly intellectual sign of Aquarius? Maybe we ought to inspect what that Venusian energy is coming off of: a square to Uranus which is at 29 stressful degrees, suggesting sudden surprise, crisis, revelation, or accident that pushes a Love, Money, or values matter ‘over the edge’; then Venus moves into Aquarius and contacts Chiron, freshly into Aries–and that suggests hurt, maybe in the form of a challenge to the Self-concept, the ‘I Am’–but it can also suggest rapid healing, as Mars noviles Chiron, offering brilliant ways to address hurtful matters. What does Venus end up with, then? Understanding, another Aquarian watchword, a sensibility that sees how power within situations isn’t always fair, and that what we dedicate our energy to must bend to what’s wise, what’s practical, and this is the way we identify the obstacles in our way forward, and handle them.

(Juno contra-parallel Zeus, Vesta sesq Pallas, Mars nov Chiron, Venus squares Uranus, then enters Aquarius and sextiles Chiron, Sun sesq NN)

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 11 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!) What is it you want this year? It seems that, more than anything, you want to know what the future holds, how to move forward most effectively, how to make your best life, as they say, happen. That’s reasonable, but truly difficult for you to master this year. Too many things cloud the vision: you know there are problems with the Love or Money situation, and yet you can’t seem to get a handle on them; you’re questioning your own wisdom, as things aren’t panning out quite how you thought they would; and it seems to be some kind of stand-off telling you there’s a choice to make: be original and daring, or be smart! That’s no choice at all, is it? Do your best, this year, to listen to instinct, to work as directly as you are able with circumstances that may involve your ‘blind spot’, and be willing to act on what you ‘know but don’t know’. As long as you’re truly following instinct, and not the mind or emotions masquerading, you can go farther than you think, as opportunities will come that you never would’ve seen, if things had gone as you’d hoped.

There are power struggles, and then there are power struggles; the key is figuring out which are worth engaging in, and which will only frustrate, lead no where, or be, in the end, inconsequential. Hints for success in claiming your ‘day in the sun’: don’t take on authorities–at the moment they have the advantage; make the effort in areas you would describe as your ‘territory’, and then listen, both to instincts and to what surfaces in consciousness that you ‘know but don’t know’; and make sure what you’re showing the world reflects your true ambitions and desires–it’s only if we ‘own’ these that we have any real hope of fulfilling them.

(Juno parallel Sedna, Mars qnx Ceres, Venus sq Pallas, Sun contra-parallel Juno and Sedna, parallel Zeus, sq Ceres)

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 10 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!) Love or Money hits an extreme this year, with sudden accident, surprise, or innovation causing the extremity, or arising from it. You may even see a related pattern, a roller coaster of ups and downs in some Venusian arena. What’s causing this? Truth is uncovered, things ignored or denied come into the open, and then new, unexpected opportunities arrive from having the facts in evidence. What can you do to have the smoothest, most profitable (in all senses) year possible? Don’t insist on having your way–sometimes, to paraphrase the saying, the highway is actually better; be aware that the most difficult things you face are the things that will actually shape your future; and seek counsel from wise others–your inner guidance may be a little off, right now.

The things that bother us about our relationships and/ or our finances are simply pointing to what we need to fix, do something about, pay attention to, or (here’s a novel approach) fight with, for, or against. What draws our attention is the way this Venusian subject violates our Highest Values, and action, defense, or making a choice is called for. Luckily, we have the pluck, energy, and Will to tackle it as we need to.

(Venus semi-sq Vesta, Sun sxt Mars)

Because a single degree doesn’t fall evenly within each day, every so often I have to list more than one degree. If you’re ever looking and the degree you’re searching doesn’t fall on the day you expect it to, look to either the previous or following post.

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 08 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!) This coming year, visualization powers are strong, and you have the inner harmony to act and make what you see a reality. Reaching for what you ‘see’ is key, as your vision serves to stimulate all power you or others hold, and so make obvious who wants what, who can actually make things happen, who to take seriously (hint: this year, it may be you!) and who could be destructive, possibly without even realizing it. The more you actively use your energy, the more you’ll understand the power structure in your life, the more you’ll be able to command and transform, and so the more you’ll be in control of things, and your own talents and abilities, by your next birthday. And remember, exaggerating your emotions won’t have the effect you think it will–instead, use feelings to make solid contact with what you ‘know but don’t know’.

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 09 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!) This year, through to your next birthday, may feel like it’s all one big test of your autonomy, of how well you can stand on your own two feet–and yet it’s much more than that. If you look closely, you’ll see that you’re being offered a promotion, of sorts, one that puts you in charge of a distinct territory where you’ll call all the shots. Does that sound exciting? Then go for it–you’re more than ready. Does it sound a little scary? Don’t say no immediately–you may be surprised at how you’re equipped to handle more than you think you are. In any case, communications surrounding love and/ or money are key this year, defining one or both of these areas in significant ways, and offering support, some of it quite surprising.

What’s smart today is whatever fosters your own authority and power (and by power and authority I mean those areas where you take full, and I mean full, responsibility–not the ones where you like to think you do, but those where you carry the entire load–sometimes it’s a fine line, but you know, right?) From this comes perceptive thinking that builds a positive future and lets us know through our own instincts and what we ‘know but don’t know’ what will be worthy, payoff, bring rewards, or gather love. It’s a choice, really, between being our ‘best Self’ (even if we aren’t really ‘feelin’ it’ or if we balk at faking it–go ahead, the attitude will ‘fit’ in no time!) or succumbing to those troublesome qualities that cause chaos (rebellion, erraticism, hypochondria, pessimism, and a refusal to cooperate or ‘be there’ for others, comes to mind). Eyes on your own autonomy, plus the vetting of original impulses and ideas against one’s Highest Values, guarantees a positive outcome.

(Pallas nov Ceres, Uranus contra-parallel Vesta, Venus trine Sedna, Mercury sxt Sedna and trine NN, Sun contra-parallel Hygeia)

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 07 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!)The energy, Willpower, and focus available to you this year is outstanding, and is best used in a disciplined way that is mindful of material consequences. It’s not a time for pushing forward, but for moving in a considered way–and that may, on occasion, be hard to do. You may find some of your biggest challenges around the need to test and discard outmoded ideas regarding personal power; you need to take a good look at who you are, and what territory is really yours, and ask yourself, Is this where I want to put my energy? An honest answer brings emotional illumination and good intuitive guidance.

We may get tangled up in our own ambitions, finding that it’s difficult to exercise the power we’ve gained, and to profit from past effort and investment, with so much of our attention on holding on to status or catering to those who seem to hold our fate or well-being in their hands. It seems things are rushing by, out of our scope of influence to an alarming degree. That’s the operative concept really, seems; the most productive thing we can do today is to look at each and every place where we are telling ourselves it’s someone else’s doing, they’re holding us up, and suss out just exactly how, where, and why we’ve contributed to, even orchestrated, the current situation.

(Juno sesq Zeus, Venus conj SN, Sun semi-sq Pluto)

Happy Solar Return to those born with the Sun at 06 Pisces! (See your birth chart for your Sun degree!) You’re really focused in this coming year, dear Pisces, on being all you can be, so what’s holding you back? It may be all the old social programming you’ve up to now been able to ignore or deny; all that suppressed material is leaking out, marring social situations and even infecting your beliefs, and until you purge the system, intentions won’t line up with actions. Answers to how to handle this are found in the past, in what you’ve learned from what you’ve already accomplished. Hints toward success: intuition and sensitivity support creative efforts–those qualities inform all your tasks and projects with especially perceptive sensibilities at this time, and deep inquiry into health matters and particularly into the environment you surround yourself with are vital to making progress at this time.