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Category Archives: Retrogrades + Directions

16 November 2018 Flow

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‘Men in an Outrigger Canoe Headed for Shore’ By Arman Manookian 1929 {{PD}}

Will it be a riptide, pulling you out of your depth, pulling you under, or a gentle current carrying you to shore and depositing you carefully on the beach like a coconut floating in a tropical surf? Venus’ direction restores our aesthetic, relationship, and value norms (the standards we hold, not the actual state of matters to pre-retro dimensions), and we may look immediately to ‘the Other’ for feedback or reassurance (Libra), even as Merc’s retrograde in Sagittarius withdraws sharpness and focus from the mind–and at this point we were likely centering reasoning on either ‘the facts’ or our personal beliefs–so that the need to feel that comes forward during any Merc retro shows us the way out of our suddenly fuzzy thinking. The mind expands, and probably begins to traffic in images, sensations, big concepts, and ideas we might label ‘foreign’, as these are what’s accessible at this point of the cycle. Be prepared to spend the next three weeks in feeling mode–and as always, delay signing, agreeing, or formulating rules or conditions until Mercury’s turnaround, 6 December.

Today’s word image is a person holding a key, with no idea what it opens. We have the answer–the only way to use it, though, is to figure out which question it’s the answer to.

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14-15 November 2018 No Straight Line

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‘Composition V’ By Wassily Kandinsky 1911 {{PD}}

Though the 14th may seem like a quiet day, big change can occur almost without our realizing it. We act with the future in mind, with goals and our highest priorities and values as guidelines–but what we’ve been ignoring or denying, or matters that have enraged us or forced us into a proactive stance, come forward and, in some amazingly clever and inspired ways, alter the terrain. Even if we don’t see the shift, it happens–and factors we couldn’t have anticipated (indeed, we make our choices only from what we start the day knowing) will spring up, appear, or (in a sense) reach out to us, and transform what lies before us. But, because we’ve used our values and commitments as a guide, we end up with things better aligned with our goals and priorities than they were when we started. That’s progress, as long as you don’t demand it unfold in an absolutely straight line.

Be ready for Mars to sextile Uranus tomorrow, the 15th, then move into Pisces–choices and actions, our own and others’, are unexpected, shocking, surprising, radical, or flow from Higher Mind–and leave us either confused or inspired. Keep in mind that the ‘Big Reveal’ of Venus going direct occurs the 16th, as does Merc’s retrograde in Sagittarius–that means what happens on the 15th may be a ‘pre-reaction’, as we feel the approaching shifts but are not yet conscious of them–more on both those changes later.

(Sun sxt Vesta and parallel Black Moon Lilith, Mars qnx NN and nov Pluto)

By Angelo Dall’Oca Bianca 1876 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a death that’s not a death but a kidnapping, instead. That’s a vague way of saying something we think is dead isn’t dead at all, it’s just been moved to another ‘location’–and that means we’re operating in a bit of Neptune’s territory (or is it Pluto’s?), as we’re actively being deceived about the viability of something important. What dream have you given up on (deceiving yourself), or have you been convinced by others or circumstances is dead, that might fit this image? Consider that it may, yet, be resurrected, and watch what occurs at the double turnaround of Venus and Mercury on the 16th–but don’t make up your mind just yet, wait for Merc’s direction on 6 December–that’s the earliest point at which all pieces of the puzzle become clear.

Venus Retrograde 2018 Experimental Passions

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‘Femme nue’, 1889 By Jean-Léon Gérôme {{PD}}

Venus currently appears stationary, and will begin apparent backward motion on October 5th at 10 Scorpio 50 (and a skosh), 12:05 PM PDT. Every 8 years Venus retrogrades at just a few degrees less in the same sign; last retro in Scorpio began October 7th 2010 at 13 Scorpio 13. We look back to what happened at that time for clues as to what will appear this time; the House of the natal chart where the retrograde falls will tell you what subjects, individuals, or groups will potentially be prominent. These issues may be the same as last time Venus went retro here, they even may pick up exactly where they left off, or another topic represented by the House may come forward, and there’s the possibility that the Venus retro effect may spill over into the matters of the Houses of the natal chart ruled by Venus, as well as Venus’ usual themes of ‘Love & Money’.

Venus’ turnaround prompts us to pull back on aesthetic choices, to reconsider friendships, partnerships, or love interests, to review investments of all kinds, to experiment in these areas. Suddenly we wake up one day and long to try something new in one or another Venus ruled arena; as this retro is in Scorpio, we are likely to dig, excavate, research, our need to find ‘the Truth’ urgent and emotionally stirring, with all the consequent (and probably predictable) upset this brings to relationships, values, or financial situations. We’ll be drawn, one way or another, into a Venusian ‘cave’–how and how deeply we choose to explore it is the retrograde journey.

During the retrograde we may decide to resuscitate some Venusian interest. We could go back to making Art, making money, or making Love, reconnect with an ex-, reach out to a lost friendship, dabble in new income sources, or look to handle our funds or interactions differently than before. What we cherish or find rewarding comes into focus–though we could say it loses its usual focus, giving us a different viewpoint than we are accustomed to–and we may see temporary circumstances that turn as much on finding what doesn’t work for us as by locating what does.

The retro period frees us from the usual Venusian constraints we apply (indicated by the natal Venus placement by House and most especially by sign), but caution from the get-go is necessary: what we may not see is that our judgments made under the influence of the retro may not hold, may in fact revolt or upset us when Venus is once again direct. We need to remain cognizant of the experimental nature of a Venus retrograde–the trick is to venture out of our comfort zones, try new things, but to do so without destroying what already is–though that judgment may come later, once the goddess goes direct.

Who holds emotional power within relationships may be at issue, and the choice to regenerate contacts that may have withered may come before us. Passions of all stripe may be re-ignited, and passion may be the measure against which we judge all things at this time. Does it fire us up, does it move us, does it reach us deep inside? Venus in Scorpio will let us know if it does–or maybe even more important, if it doesn’t–and one thing we can know is that our experiences now will reach into our emotional depths. Feelings that may have been hidden could see the light–and of course, once released that djinn can’t be shoved back into the bottle.

By Max Slevogt 1896 {{PD}}

What we must remember, though, is that our tastes and preferences change shape during the retro; tried-and-true preferences give way to the exotic or strange, or especially with Scorpio, to the dark impulse or forbidden, the urge toward complete obliteration, transformation, or change, the seduction of the extreme. What we fall in or out of love with may or may not better reflect who we really are–it all depends on so many things.

What have you always wanted to try, in line with subjects of the House placement of the retro within the natal chart, but it crossed a line for you? You may be presented with that very thing (or go out seeking it!) between now and 16 November–and add to that Mercury’s retrograde in Sagittarius as soon as Venus completes her apparent backward motion, suggesting that out from under the altered tastes of Venus retro we must immediately re-think our actions or what we’ve learned (Merc in Sagittarius, a Fire sign). Take the hint: during this Venus retro we are likely to do some things we later question; that means changes should be easily un-doable–dying the hair pink, yes! Getting a tattoo, no! Dating someone new, sure! Getting married spur-of-the-moment, nope!

Aspects made soon after the retrograde period begins, or aspects occurring at the turnaround point, often clue us in to the nature of the retro itself, and certainly to the circumstances early in the period. This time, other than a sextile from the Moon once she changes sign, Venus’ first aspect will be a square to Mars in Aquarius. That occurs 10th-11th of October and is accompanied by a conjunction from the Moon to Venus. This suggests that we likely meet at least some consequences of our actions during the retro–and these may show too much of a tendency to intellectualize the Will, perhaps divorcing it from the raw want that Venus can stir, and possibly underestimating the emotional impact our choices will have, on our own egos, or on our ability to continue to exercise our Will.

The retro period offers situations and circumstances that allow us to reconsider our values, to reassess where and on whom we spend our Venus energy, where we give or invest our Love, our cooperation, what we are willing to do in exchange for life giving material support or Soul-enhancing affections.  Happening in Scorpio, we need to remember during the retrograde that what we’re ultimately aiming for is better discovering or understanding the Truth that drives each of us forward–and from there, how well we receive and process and make use of that information is up to us.

Winter is coming! Photo by me

I’ll be taking some time off, so no daily reports for a while. I will pop back in randomly and do plan on reporting on New and Full Moons, and of course will be checking mail and orders. Hoping to finally finish my Moon book–right now I’m working on the Lunar relationship between Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, and just finished a Juno-heavy Lunar look at Mary Shelley and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Thank you to all my readers, to those who offer support in all forms, and to my clients–you keep me hopping!! and I love you for it 🙂

26-27 August 2018 Stirred Up

26 Sunday Aug 2018

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Winslow Homer ‘West Wind’ 1891 {{PD}}

Interesting to note for today, the 26th, as Venus perfects a square to Pluto, she also conjoins Zeus (and this will bleed over into the next day or two). So, the discord that a square can stir (and one to Pluto can easily spin up into a riot, a ‘You can’t fire me, I quit!’ kind of destructive fit) combines with a kind of heart’s desire energy, and the mix may result in a lashing out when we aren’t getting the prize we desire. Just be aware–a lack doesn’t translate as you never getting what you want, so why not use the energy to delve into what you might need to change in order to get it?

For the 27th the big event is Mars going direct. Is that gust of wind the combined sighs of everyone who’s been holding their breath over this? Because if so, their relief is premature. Mars does his about-face as major body of latest degree–meaning his energy is out there, swingin’ all on its own–and that can make for precipitous action as people sense the ease up and believe that’s a ‘Go!’ signal. Instead it’s more of a ‘look around and consider what you might want to do, once you get your bearings.

All other aspects simply amplify these major chords, with the addition of effects from Mercury sesquiquadrate Chiron and square Jupiter. This suggests thinking, reasoning, and yes speaking from the wound, likely without our realizing it–and what comes out may challenge our own beliefs about life, and certainly may pinpoint our disillusion with the social sphere–but does that help anybody? Only if it makes us more aware of what we can do to make things better–otherwise it may just kick up a lot of complaint, and fuel actions with badly mixed motives. But, if we can hold on to a gift from the 26th, where our thinking was able to disown or ignore the worst illusions and so show us our best power position and our most effective way of affecting the world, we can take that stirred up energy and point it in the ‘right’ direction (Merc qnx Neptune and nov Ceres)

Full Moon in Pisces 26 August 2018 The Effect of Fairy Tales

25 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Finger of God, forecast, Full Moon, Pisces, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols

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The Full Moon is sesquiquadrate the close conjunction (only three minutes apart) of Venus and Zeus in Libra, making me think maybe this is about coming to some realizations as we try to find the ‘set point’ for relationships, earnings, ambitions, passions, or some matter ruled by Venus in the natal chart. Falling in Pisces, the Full Moon brings a conclusion, ending, or shift to a new emphasis, one flavored by the imagination, delusions, deceptions, ideals, and what they have (or have not) created in the life. We look at relationships, desires, and ambitions in that ideal form we’d hoped for, and with the culmination energy see what has come about in real-world terms. The Full Moon allows us a window into the effect of our own personal fairy tales, what they’ve actually wrought, and how far from (or close to) the dream we hold they actually are.

The distance may not be all that far–or relationships, desires, and ambition considerations may all fall behind a more pressing concern, related to matters of the natal House in which the FM falls. An ending here could push the state of interaction or want to the back burner–where it could simmer through the coming month, perhaps arriving via the unconscious as it orchestrates things behind the scene in anticipation of the next New Moon.

The Full Moon may wake us up by ending some illusion. ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ By John Collier 1920 {{PD}}

The Full Moon in Pisces perfects on the 26th at 4:56 AM PDT at 3 Pisces 12. It seems to me that all the contact to Uranus and Saturn, with the Full Moon hovering just between at the rough midpoint, suggests a kind of measuring of action v. stasis, revolution v. what’s established, being original or following tradition (and this measuring probably started as early as the 22nd, as every day since has felt like one where our character and conduct was weighed in the balance). In looking at ourselves, we’ve laid the groundwork to look out at what we value, at our relationships, and at what we want–and the Full Moon delivers a conclusion, realization, or makes obvious an ending–then it’s up to us what we do with it.

The artist’s daughter, Effie, as Red Riding Hood. By John Everett Millais 1863 {{PD}}

The Full Moon’s sextile to Saturn catches the Black Moon Lilith point at the midpoint, and the Full Moon sextile to Uranus catches Chiron more-or-less at the midpoint, and this suggests a lot of peripheral influences on what manifests at the Full Moon–or is that a chain reaction, with wounds and those things we’ve ignored or been in denial about exerting a distinct but hard to pin down influence on proceedings? In any case, the energy of change and stasis each occupy the far ends of a fulcrum made up of the Full Moon point, with matters of hurt, rage, denial, and the demand for Self-respect tipping the scales toward either keeping things as they are, or throwing them into chaos.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘Heavy Car Traffic On A Narrow Isthmus Linking Two Seashore Resorts’. This speaks of the difficulty and confusion, the sheer stress and polluting presence, of communications and the interests that drive them. We’re all trying to have a good time, but it’s not going so well as everyone strives to have her or his message reach its destination.

For the opposing Sun the Sabian is, ‘Black And White Children Play Together Happily’. The origin of all this tension is the ideal of having everyone, no matter how contrasting the individuals seem on the surface to be, getting along and enjoying life. So, all the turbulence caused by the Full Moon influences have their roots in a wish for harmony and equality–not such an impossible dream, at all.

Michelangelo Buonarroti {{PD}}

These ‘peripheral’ energies do form a Finger of God, providing us with an answer, when we wonder what the point of having our fairy tales washed in a stark dose of reality really is: it’s found in the sextile of Chiron to Black Moon Lilith, as base of the Finger, apex the Sun. Our wounds and our denials must be abandoned, if we’re to find a way to interact successfully; harmony (the Sun Sabian) is, in the end, something we must deliberately create ourselves.

It’s worth noting that Mars will go direct just a little over 24 hours later, suggesting that what we learn at the Full Moon must be ruminated on, just a bit, before we take action. Consider that 27 hours or so a ‘cooling off period’, allowing you to process, and to look carefully, before you leap.

17-18 June 2018 Negotiating the Fog

16 Saturday Jun 2018

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John Leslie Breck – ‘Morning Fog and Sun’ 1891 {{PD}}

The 17th could be an amazing day, especially if we put our attention on the life we want to create, and draw inspiration and creative juice from past successes. Employing creative energy is really where it’s at, today; those seeking power, rather than expression, won’t be nearly as happy with what they encounter. If you’re feeling like an all-seeing god or goddess, you may be in for a shock: you meet your power equivalent, and in order for either of you to get even part of what you want, you’ll need to negotiate. Some things to remember: those things that are normally your strengths will be useless in working out who gets what–and respect for ‘the Other’ is necessary, no matter how different from you they may be (Pluto contra-parallel Ceres, Neptune novile the SN, Sun novile the NN)

On the 18th Neptune retreats, and we may pull back in some Neptunian area, in the creative or in spiritual work or stepping out of ‘the flow’, temporarily losing our footing as the world shifts a bit around us. We have our commitments, those things to which we’re dedicated or that we find sacred, and we want to act on them, for them, put our energy toward them, which may be easier said than done as Neptune withdraws its imaginative optimism. Instincts are clouded by a desire for power and worse, are funneled through the mind, which is uneasy with the primal nature of instincts in the first place. Tip for navigating: keep your moral compass in hand as you move forward–it’s the only way to know if you’re heading in the right direction (Saturn qnx NN, Mars nov Vesta, Mercury at the midpoint of Sedna-Ceres)

The Last Days of Uranus in Aries

26 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Retrogrades + Directions, Uranus

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By Illustratedjc – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60648788

By the 28th of April Uranus enters that tense 29th degree of Aries, and remains poised to stir up panic until its entry into Taurus on May 15th. What fears might this stir? Being alone, being abandoned, having to lead (if we’re more comfortable anonymous in the crowd) or having to follow (if we feel we must lead), as well as various cautions around what to do, what to choose, how to act, and whether asserting oneself is a good idea, and with that latter I can say, it may not be a good idea, but it may be one we feel compelled to do! Sort out what and who you’re really mad at (there are at least a few objects of outrage, if you’ll only admit it), for best (and least destructive) results.

Also of note today is the Mars-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, a no-frills kind of wallop that will appear in some form as two angry, vengeful, insisting-on-change, or bent-on-destruction parties meeting head-on, with one insisting on forward progress of a Cappy nature and one determined to roll back the clock or go down in flames trying. Ugh, avoid this smoldering train wreck if at all possible by keeping the focus on manifesting your ideal and most Self-reliant Self (Juno in 29 tense degrees of Pisces). You have the mandate to be your best, now go be it without being distracted by the wreckage nearby.

Right around November 7th Uranus is in apparent retrograde and returns to that  final degree of Aries, for old times’ sake, I suppose–why else would we fling ourselves back into such a stressful position? We also see at that point that Uranus forms a massively tense T-square with the transiting Nodal axis and will stand quincunx Jupiter in Scorpio. And in just a few days this is followed by an opposition from Ceres and a sextile from Mars in Aquarius. To me this looks like the most incendiary point for Uranian upset, making the current conditions look quaintly tame in comparison. In contrast to the present single, easily-controlled-by-us fear we may wrestle with, November offers a do-or-die scenario where some of us may indeed choose the wrong option–we’re worried about the future, maybe fearing it won’t come!–likely out of fear of death, fear of obliteration in a more mundane sense, an insistence on vengeance or ‘teaching x a lesson’, or out of a deep, dark desire for more than our fair share (Jupiter in Scorpio). Not all of us will succumb, but we’ll certainly all be tempted, and the results will be a real-world check on the limits of our power (the opp from Ceres) and a more reasoned line of thinking, possibly arriving too late, to guide our actions (Mars in Aquarius).

Issues may linger (causing, among other things, a final push to do what’s right or resolve things, especially hurts–Chiron semi-sextile–as Mars passes conjoined Uranus mid-February 2019) until Uranus finally lets go of Arian concerns, around 6 March 2019. So, we’ll likely re-visit all this in a hopped up form late next winter-early next spring; once Uranus enters Taurus, get to know the ‘new’ way the planet will work in the sign, and be prepared for impact if you have early degree natal placements (especially if that placement is Mercury, which influence from Uranus may cause surprising things to shoot out of your mouth until you steady the impulse).

If you haven’t visited lately, you should: Jude Cowell’s Stars Over Washington is jam-packed with illuminating articles, mostly of a political or US history bent. Check it out!

Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘Down Deep’ Scorpio + Saturn Retrograde

17 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by in astrology, Retrogrades + Directions, Saturn Retrograde, Scorpio, The Ascendant

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‘Deep Art Photo of Etno Histria violins’ 2009,
By Ekke from Durham, United Kingdom Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Scorpio is so often misunderstood, especially when it sits on the Ascendant. Others are just naturally afraid of someone who’s dark, deep, powerful, mysterious, and who feels inaccessible, no matter how open and transparent they try to be. When others receive you with vague suspicion, no matter your behavior or motivations, you’re bound to get involved in a feedback loop that more often ends up supporting observers assessments (from their point of view) than refuting them, under the same principle wherein even sane utterings from a sane person sound crazy once you’re labeled that way. This is the burden Scorpio bears—along with a reputation for vindictiveness—but is that deserved?

Not at all; I think what happens is that Scorpio is so deeply, almost violently, emotionally perceptive and receptive, and yet prone to bury those feelings, that when they do let them show they have an overwhelming power of expression that impresses onlookers—and imprints these tempestuous feelings on observers as ‘the way Scorpio is’. Others feel and behave with the same ideas of passion, revenge, love, remorse, and so on that Scorpio does, but they do it sneakily or unconsciously or passive-aggressively or manage to manipulate others to do it for them, and so avoid the kind of reputation Scorpio has—so their reputation is much more about appearances than reality, in this regard.

Scorpio is also known for wanting to destroy or change what they encounter—but this is simply a mechanism for getting to the Truth, which is the Scorpion’s Holy Grail. Scorpio on the Ascendant suggests the individual is on a quest of sorts, something that compels them to restlessly research and dig and uncover until they reach what they’re longing for (and this is often described by what aspects to personal energies Pluto makes in the natal chart: Sun, who they truly are or what they’re here for, Moon, how they feel or developing trust in their own intuition, Merc, connection or communication or the feeling of ‘brotherhood’, Venus, love or reward as determined by their own values, Mars, a leader or protector or a role as leader themselves, Jupiter, knowledge or a philosophy of life that has ‘the answers’). The intensity of their quest and the laser-like focus that just comes naturally to the Scorpion can give others the impression that they are withdrawn, not interested in human contact, or angry all the time—but they’re not—it’s just Scorpionic concentration!

From the inside looking out, Scorpio may be overly responsive to the environment, but learned to hide it—it just didn’t feel safe having others know how Scorpio felt. In early life, Scorpio was probably in a highly reactive, threatening, or even dangerous milieu and/ or around such persons—but we must remember, from the viewpoint of a child, there’s much that we take for granted or even find amusing as adults that could be traumatizing for the inexperienced. This is why it’s important to remember that the Ascendant viewpoint is a reaction that feels to the individual like it’s a necessity; it doesn’t reflect reality so much as the individual’s idea of reality. What we can state with certainty is that Scorpio found the environs intense (and for Scorpio on the Ascendant this could be doubly so, and is also true for any individual no matter the Moon or Ascendant’s sign, who is also born with a Void-of-Course Moon). Just keep in mind that with Scorpio on the Ascendant you’re dealing with someone who just wants the Truth—and though there’s no guarantee that you and Scorpio will see the truth in exactly the same way, it will establish trust—and once this Ascendant trusts you, you have an ally for life.

Saturn’s that guy at the party who stands in the corner and whispers about how he just knows the cops will be there any minute. Photo By Yamen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56401192

See a little on the atmosphere created by Merc’s direction, and take a peek at the recent New Moon. See more of my work here, donate to your favorite astrologers, and chin up! The retro of Saturn this evening (the 17th Pacific time) happens at 9 Capricorn 08, with first contact (other than Lunar contact) a race between Merc and Ceres moving toward the retrograding Saturn, with Ceres winning by a nose, forming a quincunx that requires real-world adjustment to our ideas of what constitutes our territory, to our personal authority expression and sense of empowerment, within negotiations, or in any maternal or nurturing roles we fulfill. See, we just have to be more realistic in our interactions–and really, that’s a good thing, as we can’t get ‘there’ without knowing where we’re coming from ‘here’. And have a great week!

Mercury’s Post-Direction Journey: 10 Days in April 2018

14 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by in astrology, Astrology and Communication, Consciousness Explored, Dreams, Mercury Direction, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols

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By © 2017 Jee & Rani Nature Photography (License: CC BY-SA 4.0), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58519377

Though Mercury has already stationed for turnaround, it hasn’t happened yet; we have to wait until 2:21 AM Pacific time of the 15th for a technical shift in direction. Merc’s direct motion starts at 4 Aries 46, with Mercury’s first post-direction contacts (other than ones received from Luna) coming on the 25th-26th close together: a square to Saturn in Capricorn and a trine to Ceres in Leo. That leaves a relatively long stretch when Merc is picking up speed and unimpeded (as well as not imposing its own agenda) on anything else. Merc in Aries is about communicating who we are, and what we want, as individuals–so expect a spate of realizing just what it is we want or think, then speaking up, speaking out, followed after ten days or so by giving those ideas solid form, or stopping something we’ve found objectionable (Saturn) in a perfect (that is, balanced) expression of our identity, essence, and authority (Ceres, in all her glory in Leo).

Just hours after technical direction, we see the New Moon in Aries, and in the run up to Merc’s first contacts we see Chiron enter Aries, Sun conjoin Uranus then enter Taurus, and Venus sweep over Sedna and then enter Gemini, from which it sextiles Chiron, both still in 00 degrees–and at that point we see Mercury poised to make his statement. This should bring a kind of progression, a building of energies, that starts with a re-focusing on the sense of woundedness from a Universal one to a personal and individual one. This may prompt unusual revelations about the Self and the identity; things we’ve not seen as wounds before suddenly are, while other hurts we’ve assumed may be exposed as nothing at all. Attention shifts, then, to the material, to nurture, to tending those wounds (and in worst-case scenarios, to feeding them!) Meanwhile, relationships, finances, and our values all take it deep, dipping into instincts, things we ‘know but don’t know’, and into our own ‘blind spot’, in order to reveal the wounds, the ‘true’ state of the identity, and to organize and make sense of what transpired during the retrograde phase. Only then, just before Mercury makes its first aspects post-direction, will we know with any certainty what we should do, and how we should proceed. And that’s the essence of my advice at this time: in spite of the direction, wait–you’ll learn a great deal in those ten days that will have a significant impact on your perspective.

Albrecht Dürer – ‘Wing of a Roller’ 1511 {{PD}}

The Sabian symbol for the direction point perhaps offers a formula: ‘A Triangle With Wings’=elevated balance–not a bad goal, at all.

And now for an update on my dream life. I was in what seemed to be the lobby of an old department store, and as people came through the revolving doors I took it upon myself to decide who could come in and who was turned back. Even in the dream I thought I might be overstepping, but everyone supported me in this role and there were no arguments–everything was decided with my intuition, and everyone seemed to see this as valid. Then I toured the building, which was immense, filled with innumerable rooms, and as I moved through the corridors more and more people came along with me. I returned to the lobby as it seemed that’s where I was ‘needed’. A man sat on an elevated platform; he was in intense pain. I knew him from ‘before’ (which I took to be earlier in the dream). He was Indian, had been a soldier, and had been tortured in the Middle East; he was now severely deformed, with part of his spine sticking out of his back, his entire mid-section twisted. I sat before him and cupped my hands around one of his knees. Between my palms appeared a flow of what looked like deep golden marigold petals, and these somehow took away the man’s pain. Then I woke up (or as they say, did I go to sleep to dream my ‘real’ life?) This seemed to be along the same lines as that last dream I shared, so thought it might be of interest to some.

‘Marigolds and Tangerines’ By Félix Vallotton {{PD}}

Now the astrology. Last night around the time of the dream, the Moon and Mercury were conjoined in Aries in my communication 3rd=intuited information on my role or the actions I should take–communication through emotion (or perhaps empathy). Neptune and Hygeia were closely conjoined in Pisces and smack on my Black Moon Lilith=through dreams what has been ignored or denied is explored, the healthy way shown. t Jupiter trine natal Moon and natal Ceres, forming a Water Grand Trine=a glimpse of my ‘natural’ role/ authority, at expressing a personal, nurturing role, or was it a wee peek at the afterlife (Jupiter is now so strongly associated with death). And t NN is sextile my natal Jupiter, and Ceres sextile and Pallas trine my natal Mars, with t Saturn still within orb of a square to that Mars=addressing the Will, Self-actualization, the life direction; it’s the smart thing to do, though difficult to bring into the reality. t Vesta is square my natal Mercury, and this catches natal Neptune at the midpoint=I must face how I think about what I honor–this message is delivered through the dream life. t Sedna closely opposed my natal Venus=time to treasure what I ‘know but don’t know’, what the instincts reveal, and perhaps to find the value in what has, possibly just until the present, been hidden in my ‘blind spot’. And or all of these interpretations could be followed by a great, big question mark 🙂

Of course, these are just guesses, but it’s fun to look at the astrology and see what it might reveal (or, more often, obscure!) Have a wonderful week!

New Moon in Pisces March 2018 A Goldilocks Moon

14 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by in astrology, forecast, Horoscope, Jupiter retrograde, Mercury retrograde, New Moon, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols

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Jessie Willcox Smith – ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ 1915 Illustration for a soap company {{PD}}

The New Moon occurs at 6:11 AM Pacific Daylight time at 26 Pisces 53. Both bodies (Sun, Moon) are applying conjoined Chiron, sextile Sedna and catching Uranus at the rough midpoint, square Vesta, and widely square Mars, the latter two together in Sagittarius, with Mars at the stressful 29 degree mark. The New Moon is also headed toward a sesquiquadrate with the North Node, and is in wide separating trine to Jupiter, which suggests what was recently promised by Jupiter is now in the rear-view mirror, not exactly gone, but at least temporarily losing relevance and certainly making connecting with that Jupiterian potential impossible right now (and we might ask ourselves, what ‘new’ do we need to learn, related to that Jupiter possibility, that will make actually obtaining what we want possible? Look to matters of the House where the New Moon and retro Jupiter fall in the natal chart. The NM Mars could make us feel as if we must act on it–but the time’s not right, yet)–the sesquiquadrate to the North Node only adds to this, making the road ahead appear particularly bumpy from our current vantage point.

Forming so close to Chiron suggests the New Moon brings potentials for hurt or healing–but which? We get a clue in the sextile to Sedna, which finds Uranus at the midpoint; this promises that something prompted either by the instincts or the ‘blind spot’ (that is, that we stumble into, rather than deliberately choose) will bring something unexpected or shocking, will garner the input of the group, or will foster understanding, not just intellectually, but emotionally, even intuitively. We must also consider that the knowledge, opportunity, or belief ‘withdrawal’ suggested by Jupiter may be the source of the wounding or healing. Whatever it is, it challenges our commitments, our priorities, or our highest values, with responsibility one way or another falling back on us and our own (possibly) poor decisions or potentially arising from aggression or conflicts sparked by others. This New Moon gives us the opportunity to reckon with our own and others’ ego urges and assertiveness, and to do so via our capacity for creative thinking, or through applying ideals to the imagination (Pisces); like Goldilocks, we’ll need to ask: Are we too aggressive and Self-involved, or are we giving our own needs too little attention or regard, or are we just right? The NM lays the emotional groundwork to successfully deal with this question, and when Mercury retrogrades in Aries on the 22nd, it will be prime time for reviewing and changing our actions (retro in Fire), particularly the way we act out or express the ego and action urges (Aries); we’ll have this New Moon to thank for a least a portion of our insights.

With Mars at its current position (29 Sagittarius) we may feel we’ll have to act in order to learn, but that would be premature–wait for Merc’s turnaround, as more will then be revealed–at this New Moon point, it’s all about feeling, intuiting, and communing, to discover our precise relationship to the Universe–modifications come later. One thing we may have to face at this time is that there is no difference between our woundedness and our ability to heal–and that in response to that awareness, action need not and often should not automatically be our answer to what’s revealed. Hints as to what follows are found here–

Utagawa Hiroshige – ‘Cuckoo Flying Under a Full Moon’ 19th century {{PD}}

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon in Pisces is, ‘The Harvest Moon Illumines A Clear Autumnal Sky’. This suggests opposites, through the imagery of a Full Moon, and autumn rather than the spring that’s soon to come (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere–for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the message may be simple: in the beginning is the end, and it is now). This could imply for Northerners that New Moon events play out through the summer and come to some sort of peak in the fall, or that what is born with the New Moon has the seeds of its completion, its ending, built in. That suggests not only that if we look carefully we will see the outcome to events already implied in their beginnings, promising a ‘harvest’ proportional to our efforts now, but that what happens now may also bring endings–that is, that the New Moon beginning has arisen from the completion of other cycles, that it’s time for other efforts to naturally terminate, conclude, or die. The imagery may also suggest we note Virgo at this point, in any or all of its guises within the personal life. That means subjects, qualities, and even people we associate with the sign may hold one or more keys to the meaning of events. Earth sits in Virgo, and that means those symbols will be literal, or at least tangible; check also the subjects of the House in the natal chart that holds Virgo for clues as to what may inform the New Moon event. ‘Discernment’ may be a key concept–also ‘criticism’, ‘accountability’, ‘results’. The ‘Circle of Life’ may be extraordinarily apparent right now–embrace this as a natural part of things, and appreciate what you have, in the present.