Category Archives: Mercury retrograde

Mercury Retrograde April 2010

15 Thursday Apr 2010

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Mercury retrograde

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The Leaves of Hermes' Sacred Tree artist unknown 1577

So I thought all the Martian energy I’ve been seeing was just a spike amped up by the New Moon in Aries, but now I’m looking at the chart for Mercury’s retrograde (April 17th 9:06 PM PDT) and the only exact aspect is Merc’s quincunx to Zeus in Libra. The point of retrogradation sets the tone for the cycle, illustrated by whatever aspects are made at the time; having an exact quincunx to Zeus suggests that Mercury will be speaking loud and clear about Will and ambition, though what we’ll all be trying to say may suffer the distortions of a typical retro period–so we’ll try to send one message but our Will and desires will shine through, the admonition inherent in this being that, as long as we are open about what we want, there won’t be any discord, or sense of duplicity, about our messages during the retrograde. This energy will likely be very similar to the Aries New Moon energy, with ambitions and egos leaking through no matter what the overt message, and so a time when our honesty, with ourselves and with others, will be on display.

If the removal of the typical message, intents, and thought privacy barriers we carry the rest of the time makes you uncomfortable, then no doubt you will suffer under the retro period. The fact that Merc turns around in Taurus does, of course, focus matters in the arena of the material world and possessions, but I think the real challenge will be to admit what we want. Considering the exact aspect to Zeus, and the heavy Martian energy of the pre-turnaround period, the stage is set for an expose of what we all long for, desire, lust for, and materially require, and the challenge will be to have the courage (ah, that Martian vibe again!) to admit it. The only other two close Mercury aspects are a sesquiquadrate to Saturn and a semi-square to Uranus, and these hint at what impediments may exist in reaching understanding of and admitting the truth of our desires. The difficult aspect to Saturn implies that we may feel external restrictions (rules or boundaries, especially traditional or long-established ones, or the fear of the disapproval of authorities) that inhibit us, as well as those internal impulses to repression we all have. The semi-square to Uranus states that, as with any moment of truth, rebellion from what’s expected (in this case the confluence of energies that requires we admit our wants) is a possibility; we could find ourselves resistant, intellectualizing our ability to outthink and outwit, and thus avoid what everyone else must endure. This ain’t gonna happen. The Trickster may try to convince us that the rules apply only to others–always a mistake to buy that one.

Instead, tap into the Saturn energy to give your Mercury confessions (because the more private these wants have been, the more it will indeed feel like we’ve entered the confessional) restraint and form that doesn’t violate others (utlizing Saturn’s boundaries); use Uranus to tailor things uniquely to you and your needs, to make things very specific to your point of view–in this way admitting those things you desire in life becomes a badge of the Soul’s essence, of what you need in order to flourish, a statement of what you have earned and deserve, rather than a sad list of gimmes. Remember that the strength of the retrograde period is that our feeling sensibilities come to the fore; they aren’t hampered by the mind, which typically insists on processing everything. We have an uncommon opportunity to connect with our desire nature through a kind of sense and sensory feast–embrace it and enjoy!

What You’re Asking: Dream On, Time Travel, and, Bare-Naked etc.

28 Sunday Feb 2010

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Dark of the Moon, Dreams, Earth, Juno, Mercury retrograde

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Jean Lecomte du Nouy 1842-1923 A Eunuch’s Dream {{PD-Art}} Wikimedia Commons

I’m back with another set of search terms found in my stats; sometimes illuminating, sometimes creepy, puzzling, or weird, and sometimes confusing. I bring you the best of them.

dream interpretation of marrying yourself

Shorthand for this would be, perhaps, Oneness, a unity of spirit, the resolution of some internal schism, or making a commitment to honor and care for yourself–all excellent, so the dream is likely an indicator of superior internal (mental, emotional, and spiritual) health. In the natal chart we might see dreams like this when either we have been facing an internal divide, typically between ideals and values (Vesta, Neptune, Venus) v. what our external world, the group, or our role, calls for (Sun, Jupiter, Uranus), with one in one set making hard contact (conjunction, square, quincunx, opposition) to one in the other set, though there are a number of other players that, under the right circumstances (sign or House placement, or natal relationship to a stellium or other complex) would fit the bill; or we may see this kind of dream when one’s attitude toward oneself changes significantly for the better (potentially shown in the chart by Solar Arc contact to the Sun or chart ruler, or contact from a transiting body such as Pluto), and likely triggered as the Moon transits the 12th House, or contacts Neptune.

dream symbol Solar eclipse

This seems a warning, and a call for questions: are you being eclipsed in some sense, with someone or something ‘blocking your light’ symbolically? Is someone coming between you and your material needs or goals, your prosperity, your sense of groundedness and reality, and secondarily, might they be using emotional manipulation to do it (the scenario of Moon coming between Earth and Sun)? Are your own emotions blocking the connection of Soul and Material Purposes (represented in the chart by the Sun/ Earth axis)? Are you being kept from enjoying your chance to shine? There is the chance that you may be observing someone or something else in the life being eclipsed, but this is likely only if there are other aspects of the dream (perhaps you are riding as a passenger on a bus when you witness the event, or are gathered with others in a crowd, and all are pointing and commenting). Certainly this is a dream image that calls for Self-questioning, and the courage to see what you may not, to this point, have acknowledged or admitted.

when the eye is very badle blood shot

Not astrologically oriented, really, but I loved the spelling, which made me think someone had Googled from the Middle Ages. All I can say is, maybe something very Arian, or Neptunian, happened the night before.

mercury retrograde + people don’t mean what they say

Putting it this way is really wishful thinking, because there’s no reason someone wouldn’t mean what they say during Merc retro; what you’re thinking about, though, may be the tendency people have to later regret or otherwise wish they could take back what’s pronounced when the Trickster’s at work. So, it’s really something the speaker must conclude after the retrograde is over, not something we as listeners should count on to negate something we’d rather not hear spoken during Mercury’s backward motion.

his Juno on my Ascendant

If you’re looking to partner with a guy whose Juno falls on your Ascendant, then this is pretty good news: the way you present yourself is just what he’s looking for. Trouble comes if the way you present yourself is considerably at odds with your most characteristic energies, for example, if your Ascendant is in Capricorn but your Sun is in Cancer, the essence of who you are may vary wildly from who you seem to be on first meeting. Whether this works out well in the end is a question of many other chart interactions, but with his Juno on your Ascendant you’re off to a good start.

Aries Moon in child’s natal chart

Though it’s a time honored tradition in many cultures to draw a horoscope at a child’s birth, I no longer work with children’s charts except in very special cases. My feeling is (and I’ve observed this often) that when we introduce the chart to the parent (and the parent likely has some astrological knowledge or they wouldn’t have sought out a chart in the first place) there is too strong a tendency to read the chart and then read those traits they think they see into the child. I feel it puts a filter on a parent’s perceptions that shouldn’t be there, not if they want to meet their child with an openness to who they are, and a fresh perspective that doesn’t search for or attempt to squash what they feel is negative, or superimpose something they see as positive that may be astrologically recessive, or take a form other than the one the parent visualizes. But, by about the time the child turns fifteen, I would urge every parent to have a look at that chart, especially with the guidance of a competent astrologer who is versed in child development–it can answer a lot of questions, and explain some mysteries, right at the time when the parent needs a little more perspective, and the child needs a little more understanding, in order to collaborate successfully.

location of starry mirror

I have no idea, but when you find it, please let me know.

young boys sleeping nude/ ‘dark of the moon’ nudity

These two searches came up within days of each other, and I found it unsettling that anyone was looking for anything on young boys etc. I don’t have any idea how the first search came to my site, but the second is obviously connected to the Dark of the Moon, those three days preceding the New Moon (conjunction of Sun and Moon) that begins a new lunar month. The Dark period is one for retreat, contemplation, meditation, and a pull-back from action–but associated with nudity? Maybe, if we see the turning inward called for by the period as one of spiritual nakedness, wherein we put aside our social trappings in favor of personal, bare-souled introspection. But, are we more prone to take our clothes off? I have no idea!

Get a gander at my books here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com

 

The Medium is the Message

04 Monday Jan 2010

Posted by in astrology, Mercury retrograde, Sun/Mercury Inferior Conjunction

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Marshall McLuhan posited this: that what delivers the information is a vital part of the message itself, inextricable from the content and meaning of the communique. (Communique–great word! Last time the Collective received one, I believe it was from the Symbionese Liberation Army–that was back when revolutionary spirit showed some panache–now it’s split between people willing to wear explosives in their underwear, and those waving teabags. I not only kid, I digress.)

So, the medium being an integral part of the message is what we may face today, on the meeting of Sun and retrograde Mercury at Inferior Conjunction. This occurs at 14 and change of Capricorn; the Sabian is ‘In a hospital, the children’s ward is full of toys’ This image suggests that, in an arena of life that is redolent of sadness, pain, and discomfort, we find the opportunity for lightheartedness, for play, and the release and renewal these bring. Notice, though, there is no mention of people within the hospital; it’s as if we are presented with the scene, and must populate it ourselves–and in this way we’ll be offered a ‘vessel’ for the message of the Inferior Conjunction, where the meaning is found as much in the way and means of the offering as in the actual content–and it will be up to us to ‘populate’ what’s brought forward with meaning particular to our own circumstances.

Vague enough for ya? Here’s an example: this morning the lawyer for the man who attempted to extort talk-show host David Letterman is now claiming what he calls ‘The Tiger Woods Defense,’ wherein we are supposed to believe this: that if it’s okay for Tiger’s paramours to ask for money from him, then it’s okay for his client to ask for money from Letterman. Quoi? you might reasonably ask; what is this guy thinking? Here’s where we must notice that he’s floating this theory (that the whole extortion attempt isn’t criminal, it’s capitalism at its finest!) on morning television–and he knows it has no validity. What’s our clue? He’s bringing this assertion to television, not court–and what is television but entertainment, in the final analysis, and a means of building public opinion. Dan Abrams put it best (and I paraphrase): “It’s like saying that getting a loan from a bank is the same as robbing one.”

You get my drift. The only aspects to the conjunction within two degrees are a square from Zeus, and a conjunction from Venus. These suggest that the message and its medium will be a power play, a Zeusian attempt to control or intimidate, and that this will bring something Venusian to the fore: reward, an awareness of love, relationship realities, a knowledge of the worth of something.

Have a great one! And check here for some relevant and inspiring material http://planetaryapothecary.com/2010/01/astrological-insights-january-4-10-2010/

Alice’s Matrix, Logos, the Upcoming Merc Retro, and ‘In Consultation’

03 Thursday Sep 2009

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, future events in the sky, Mercury retrograde

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It seems you can take the astrologer off-line, but can’t stop her from thinking about astrology (and life, and synchronicity, and people) with any reasonable ease; so I’m back with a few odds and ends that have been rattling around in my brain, and this is where I want to thank everyone who sent me such wonderful good wishes for my cyber pseudo semi-retirement–your kind expressions, encouragment, and support give me excellent incentive to (eventually) return.Alpine hare

Last week my husband, John, and I were walking along a street in Seattle–and this is an especially cement-y and high rise-y street–and suddenly we spot a rabbit as it scoots across the sidewalk, out into traffic, and safely to the other side, where it disappears down an alley. John said, “Hey, there must be a glitch in the matrix,” meaning we’ve seen an inconguity that suggests there is a reality that is more ‘real’ than the one we’re experiencing, that there is a bleed through, a glimpse of what does not belong but, somehow, does; apparently it’s an Alice in Wonderland world, filled with bunnies. We laugh a little at this, a facetious, ‘oh yeah, we’ve just seen something we weren’t supposed to’ moment, when the pay phone just to my left rings. Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the movie ‘The Matrix,’ which is a story that proposes the world we are experiencing is simply a mental construct, as our true reality is that our bodies are sitting in a gelatinous soup, hooked to multiple obviously uncomfortable hoses, acting as human batteries for the evil . . .well, you get the picture. And the way the enlightened, freed people who are trying to free the rest of humanity from their liquid captivity move ‘between the worlds’ is by means of a ringing telephone which must be answered in order to facillitate the move from one consciousness to the other.

So here I am, after just seeing something totally out of place (and in the movie the implication is that incongruities and deja vu are indeed signs of glitches, which means you are being given a ‘hint’ toward consciousness) and there is a ringing pay phone, and no one else nearby, not even on this block. The first ring and we both stop in our tracks; the second and we look at each other; the third and I reach over and answer the phone. Somehow I assumed I should be the one to answer, either because I was closer to it, or because I’m an ego maniac who believes the Universe is always trying to communicate with me (which means I should probably ditch my aluminum foil hat).

I lift the receiver and put it to my ear; I’m really, strangely, excited, believing that I am going to get some kind of synchronicitous message. I don’t speak, and neither does the caller; then I say, “Hello?” and there is a very gentle but deliberate sound of hanging up. I’m disappointed; I was expecting a revelation of sorts–but maybe I got one after all, if I look at this episode in the context of the way I’ve been hearing the term ‘logos’ frequently–it seems to stand out in bold relief against the background of my life–and the unlikely synchronicity caught my attention, as I’m just not acquainted with a lot of Greek speakers or theologians. Whenever some idea, word, or phrase suddenly crops up in venues and conversations unrelated to one another, I look at it with the idea that there’s something for me to become aware of in the concept, something I need to think about, ruminate on, and sometimes write about, because I’m assuming that this idea contains a message from the Universe, a whisper that carries a world in a single word; and ‘logos’ does.

Typically translated as ‘the word,’ ‘logos’ carries a meaning both deeper and having a wider compass than does our concept of ‘the word,’ even when we use it to designate a creed, philosophy, or rule of law. If the intellect had a spirit, we might describe it as logos, as there is referenced in the term the concept of intelligence and reason applied to and embodied as a life energy. Logos is a living philosophy, and in some cases a philosophy of living. My attention, then, has been drawn to the very thought-fabric of life–an awfully big subject.

The ringing phone, though, may have narrowed the focus for me. I had a choice: ignore the call, or take it. And I took it, so perhaps the message, that revelation I was waiting for in words, is coming in logos: pick up (or maybe become) the receiver, be willing to hear the message, be open to life’s conversation. 

And this leads us to what is traditionally seen as a rough time for communication, the upcoming Mercury retrograde, on Monday 7 September at 9:45 PM PDT at 6 Libra 10. Almost immediately Merc will contact Vesta by sextile, suggesting that our mentality will be poised to consider what’s truly sacred to us, what we need, particularly companionship-wise (Libra) on the home front, and the sex life may be featured as well. We will become aware of what we want to change, transform, or perhaps destroy (square to Pluto), then Merc’s opposition to Juno makes us actually want to move forward, with the change from Air to Earth, and 29 degrees of Earth for Merc, at that–as we know, big decisions or the instigation of something important shouldn’t be undertaken during the retrograde (and this has only a few exceptions). We feel the urge to rearrange the material reality even more with the stress inherent to 29 degrees, and Juno at 29 of Pisces only serves to point out our ideal empowerment situation, likely making us feel we mustmake the considered changes; but no! Even with the trine to the North Node that follows, Mercury is still in retrograde, and so are our capacities for reasoning and judgment–and remember, in the early part of Merc’s retro period we are particularly clueless, cast adrift from our usual ways of processing and perceiving. This cautionary chain of events takes us through to the Inferior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, which is a ‘seed’ time, perhaps literally with the conjunction falling in earth; in any case it will be one corner of a Mystic Rectangle that includes the Nodes and the Earth/ Juno conjunction. This may allow us a very special extended moment within the retrograde cycle, beginning in terms of inclusion of Mercury energies, on the 18th of September. The Mystic Rectangle can act as its own energy matrix, pulling energies together, and reconciling opposites, in a surprisingly harmonious mix. We all may get a tremendous boost in terms of material empowerment, and we’ll possibly see the light at the end of the tunnel regarding the direction we’re currently headed. Is there a chance we’ll have to course-correct, that everything won’t be rosy? Yes, there is, but the best thing about the Mystic Rectangle is that it musters the energies for our use; so the real question is, will you step up and take what’s revealed at this point under advisement, with an eye to improving your material situation, or will you pretend that destiny is already laid out, and you’re at the mercy of forces greater than yourself? Your choice.

For a while now I’ve wanted to address some issues with consultation as they play out for both astrologers and clients, and I’ll be doing it through a once-in-a-while feature called, ‘In Consultation.’ I used to wonder, when I’d look at astrological offerings on the Internet (this was back in the day, well before I had a presence here) at the way astrologers were very strict in their time allocations, and very adamant in saying, “You’re buying this, and that’s all.” I just didn’t have their problems; my clients were all co-operative, sessions were always face-to-face, no boundaries were ever crossed. Now I know what they’re talking about; there’s something about the nature of contact in cyberspace that can definitely cause some problems. My thought is this: if you value an astrologer’s advice, then you should be willing to pay for it–there is no such thing as “just a quick question”–and you must recognize boundaries. Would you waltz into your physician’s office and insist on a quick rundown of your symptoms “just because you’re curious”? No, you would regard this person as busy, with a schedule, and you would expect to have to make an appointment and to pay for his or her expertise and experience, which is reasonable considering you expect to benefit from it. All this applies to approaching an astrologer, as does the idea that you are contracting to receive specific services; asking for, pressuring for, or angling for more is a little like going out to dinner and asking them to throw in an extra entree, just because you want it–we love our jobs, but we expect to get paid for them like everyone else. Would you show up at work, do lots extra, and then be okay with only getting paid for some of it? I thought not.

As for astrolgers, we must remember that no matter how friendly we become with someone (and it’s true, we often develop friendships that flourish after consultation) we are the ones who have the responsibility to keep things professional any time we are in consultation–and everyone involved must make the distinction. And please, if your astrologer says, “No calls after 9 PM my time,” or “one question at a time,” don’t think you’re the exception! If rules are stated for the consultation, the expectation is that you are an adult and can follow them. Does that sound harsh? The tendency is for all of us to play a little fast and loose when we’re not seeing each other in person–and that means that some who wouldn’t think of being inappropriate in person feel safe doing so by computer. Long ago I had a client (not actually a paying client, but someone I volunteered to help with a situation) and this person, after receiving the promised material, wouldn’t stop asking for more–going on and on about “my gift.” When I pointed out to her that this was not a gift, but the result of years of hard work and study, she became angry–because she told me, if it was a gift, I was obligated to give it away for free to anyone who asked for it–and it was clear that if she were forced to recognize that it took work, then she would recognize she needed to pay, as she would for any other service. Both sides of the consultation should keep this in mind: the client needs to remember he or she is paying for expertise that took years to develop, and the astrologer should remember that too–we aren’t hooked in to some special ability that elevates us to guru, prophet, or cult leader, so we shouldn’t pretend we are–we’re just hard working professionals who want to be treated that way.

Now, back to my cave!

See my books here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com

Lemons

25 Monday May 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky, Finger of God, forecast, Mercury retrograde

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Apparently I’ve been nominated for a ‘Lemonade Award,’ presented to sites with great attitude or gratitude–a big Thank You to lovely ladies Neith and Pat over at Real Astrologers http://realastrologers.com/ who put me on their list of 10–and that’s part of the deal, you pass along a list of 10 favorites, which is very tough for me to do–have you seen my blogroll? I love them all, for a variety of reasons! So, here’s 10 of my favorites (or at least, the first 10 who come to mind!) Many congrats to Pat and Neith on their nom, too–I’ve tried repeatedly to comment on their site, but am told I have an invalid user name (no matter how I modify it–and obviously I have a wordpress presence)–hope that’s just Merc retro talking, and not a Universal message! lemonadeaward_thumbnail

1. Jude Cowell at Jude’s Threshold http://judecowell.wordpress.com/ and Stars Over Washington http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/ and several other outstanding creative venues–she’s got an incredibly deep knowledge, a strong sense of history and politics, some of the best use of astrological degree symbolism around, and an excellent bs detector–her insights are phenomenal!

2. Love the insights of hitchhiker72–she’s “Unwriting the I”– at A Question of Mindfulness http://questionofmindfulness.wordpress.com/ She’s a thinker and observer in the best sense, commenting on the heart of the matter, whatever it may be, with just the right balance of knowledge, honesty, and personal reference.

3. Deeply thoughtful and well-realized astrological philosophy and meaning are the province of Chirotic Journal http://chirotic.wordpress.com/, definitely a favorite for its thorough, dimensional examination of natal placements and configurations.

4. aello at Dream Orpheus http://dreamorpheus.wordpress.com/ offers perceptive, sensitive, and enlightening dream interpretation–always fascinating reading!

5. Prolific, with a wide-ranging slate of topics and some of the sharpest astrological analysis around, Twilight at Learning Curve on the Ecliptic http://twilightstarsong.blogspot.com/ never disappoints, and always gives the mind something fresh to ponder.

6. The application of astrology to Self-analysis is first rate at Lucy Watch the Sky http://lucywatchthesky.com/, and she has the capacity to state things in such a way that we can take the core of the observation and apply it ourselves–and that’s a gift.

7. One of the most useful and well-done sites ever is by serennu http://www.serennu.com/ Loads of hard to find info accurately presented–and follow her on Twitter, as she offers excellent Tweets that are truly enlightening http://twitter.com/serennu

8. Urania’s 9th House http://www.uranias9thhouse.com/blog/ offers succinct snapshots of current aspects, plus always fine commentary on conditions–greatly informative, in the best sense.

9. Found What the Astral Fog http://astralfog.blogspot.com/ very recently–love the tone and sheer utility, while still being imbued with poetry, of the advice. Added bonus is ‘birthcards’ (using a regular deck) of famous individuals for the day.

10. I’m cheating here; imaginative and fun is the astro info found at Wisestars http://wisestars.wordpress.com/ but I also want to note a new site that offers something different: advice for the day based on both Tarot and the Mayan systems at Stargates54 http://stargates54.wordpress.com/ Check both of them out!

It’s requested that each nominated site also do its own noms, include the logo shown here, and notifiy each nominee at their own site (something I’ll do in a few hours). And good luck to all, readers and nominees, as with such ‘tude this week, and bull on the rise, we’ll all need to make lemonade from life’s lemons!

A Trick of Memory

27 Tuesday Jan 2009

Posted by in astrology, Mercury retrograde, relationship astrology

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Recently a good question was asked by April in the comments section on another page, wondering about the return to conscious consideration of a friend from her past during the Mercury retrograde. April had mixed feelings about whether to contact her, and wanted to know what the impulse might mean, in light of the way the Mercury retro period spurs us to re-visit events, efforts, and contacts; and when those elements come from what feels like a distant past, stirring up uncomfortable emotions, we rightly question their deeper meaning.

As I said to April, these impulses to contact those from our past, or the actual re-appearance by those with whom we’ve previously been involved, seem consistently to bring with them conflicting emotions, and present us with a choice: do we want to step back into a relationship that makes us on some level distinctly ill at ease, beginning mid-stream, so to speak, with issues already present between the parties, or do we want to ignore the past, and the way it has become reinvested with life?

It seems that the person and situation presented, whether from one’s own memory or by the appearance of the individual, carries with it a kind of challenge, one that makes us uncomfortable because of the way we handled the situation with this person in the past. We harbor guilt, or shame, or resentment, or in some way felt misunderstood or helpless, and are still carrying the psychic shadow of this harm to our spirit; it is still there, and we have carried it and layered it over with time and new experiences and relationships and haven’t realized or acknowledged that the wound is still there, still present and sensitive beneath its many covers.

So when it comes to the surface, no matter the source, we must at the very least re-observe the wound; we must inspect it for what it really is, what we really were at the time, and see the true responsibilities of all parties involved. This is how the retrograde serves us: it brings us this matter at precisely the right time–we are now matured, wiser, more experienced, in the very way we needed to be to bring this issue to conclusion in the past–but at the time we didn’t have the emotional and spiritual resources that would allow us to understand the situation in its true light, and to see what our real part in it was; and this is always something that would not rightly shame, or sadden, or wound us at all. Instead, in the now, we see how the past, and this relationship, mislead us into believing that there was something wrong in who we were, that we were inadequate; and the gift of the now, during the retrograde, is to see that we were not inadequate at all, that we only needed to discover our own Self-worth, and to measure it correctly.

The retrograde period will come to an end this weekend, and with it the chance to clear the ghosts from our memories. So let go of the feelings of shame, inadequacy, upset at less-than-optimum responses, guilt, and anger. Forgive the involvement of the other person; see, without distractions or blinders, exactly who they are–this is an assessment, not a judgment, so we lay no blame at their feet. And then we forgive the person we were then; we see that we were injured, that there were things we had yet to learn or process, that perhaps we had not experienced or accepted the love that would have given us the proper tools for response. And perhaps most important, we must see that if we truly forgive ourselves, there’s no need to renew this contact at all; the wound heals, the issue resolves itself, and we lose the impetus to meet the circumstance again. The pull is gone and, at least momentarily, we know and love precisely who we are.

Another Installment of ‘What You’re Asking’

12 Monday Jan 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Capricorn, Jupiter, Mercury retrograde

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There were so many great topics this week, I’m going to be doing this in two parts, and keeping answers brief (at least for me!) First up:

Is it okay to travel when Mercury is retrograde?

Excellent question, the kind of thing we think about when we try to apply astrology to real life, and find that sometimes it gets in the way! Why would travel be prohibited? Chiefly because Mercury rules movement, transportation, and in retrograde hitches are common, so we have a smaller chance of things running smoothly at this time, in a mechanical sense, and the electrical systems of vehicles can be more testy than usual, as well. But I think the real difficulty lies in the planning and communication aspect of things; inevitably, we think we’ve planned carefully for our moving day, only to find our route is blocked by a three-hour parade, or we agree to be at that place by the thing where we went that time, for lunch, and we think that means 12, and our meetee thinks lunch starts at 1. Where mechanical hold-ups can be addressed, and even anticipated, with a little care, it’s the thought processes behind our travel that may suffer, and upon which we can have least conscious effect.

Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend travel, particularly the kind where we’re at the mercy of a form of transport where we are not in charge (such as an airline or train) or where we’re at the whim of someone who may speed along well ahead of schedule and miss us (like a bus). Of course, there’s no reason to stop living life, just be prepared to deal with glitches and difficulties as they arise; typically the biggest problem is delay, and in this case, a little flexibility in expectations goes a long way. Best methodology for coping during travel on Mercury retrograde: use your intuition (Venus) in the moment; where the mind is muddled on the retrograde, the intuition is right on, and can, if accessed, make the trip an easy, and sense-filled, delight.

For more on activity during Mercury retrograde, see this https://juliedemboski.wordpress.com/re-examining-mercury-retrograde/

What is the combust degree for each planet?

Since we measure combustion from only one source, the Sun, all planets and bodies are considered combust within the same frame: 17 minutes from exactitude to 8.5 degrees, and other bodies cannot be combust each other–if we say “Mars is combust Venus,” well, we’re speaking gibberish! Closer than 17 minutes to the Sun is cazimi, a condition of fusion that is believed to greatly strengthen a planet. For more on the whys of all this, see https://juliedemboski.wordpress.com/mercury-combust-and-retrograde/

What are the likely health effects of Jupiter in Aquarius?

This question is highly individual, depending on how Jupiter and Aquarius are hooked into the health picture of the natal chart. We can venture a few guesses, though, mainly on what may be more susceptible at this time; for example, Jupiter rules the liver, and Aquarius is a fixed Air sign–under the ‘right’ circumstances in an individual’s chart, this could signal a hepatic embolism, or CNS damage (Aquarius) that comes from or causes liver damage; we might even see the pain of the intellectual situation spurring some toward drink; or when we look for society-wide effects, with Aquarius ruling the higher functions, and Jupiter symbolizing expansion and the social order, advances in autism studies and therapies are possible, or perhaps we’ll see a resurgence of interest in ‘remote viewing’ experimentation, or in good old mental health programs, and we may see fads in the direction of outdoor recreation, perhaps involving Jupiter’s big animals, such as equestrian events, or for international events, such as chess–or, Mathlympics, anyone?

How do I seduce a Venus in Capricorn?

Hey, is this the same person who asks about Capricorn every week? Haven’t you given up on Cappy yet? Or are Capricorns the latest irresistible sign, with their frowns and rules and big bulging wallets. Well, no matter, let’s see what we can do here. Venus tells us what appeals to someone; it explains their tastes in a sensual way, what’s pleasing, what’s appealing. We take a chance when we look only at Venus’ sign, though, as contacts can tell a much more effective story: Venus in Scorpio says they want a little mystery, but if that Venus is connected to Pluto, we might see a preference for dangerous sex (sex with strangers, sex on cliffs, sex in public), a taste for S/ M, or just someone who associates (sadly) pain, punishment, or destruction with love (and not even with sex, at that). So, Venus in Capricorn suggests the appeal of security, of rules and ‘safe’ words (in bed, or at a party, like when you say in the presence of your partner, “I love cupcakes!” when you desperately want to leave) and Cap finds the beauty in order and constraint–you can flirt with Venus in Capricorn by simply lifting an eyebrow, crisply serving a summons, or folding his or her laundry, really really neatly.

Seduction, however, is another matter; since seduction is about persuading, in essence gaining control of another, or at least drawing them to do your bidding, it is the antithesis of what Venus in Capricorn is about: he or she is in control of the sensual, of love and sex, thank you very much, and the goaty Venus will resist (and resent) mightily any attempt to connect that smacks of you having more control than they. So, the seduction scenario of Venus in Cap isn’t promising, because if they even get an inkling that they’re being seduced, they will bound up the rocky ledge of indifference and cold shoulder you until you go away. So, I’m sending all who are interested over to the experts at Sasstrology http://sasstrology.com/2008/09/astrology-of-kink-complex-capricorn.html  Or, for relationship analysis that gets into the whys and wherefores of attraction http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com  Happy goat herding!

More to come!