Venus Retrogrades-The Goddess of Love Ponders the Question...

Venus retrogrades on October 5, and this phenomenon can have a big effect on our love lives. Venus retrogrades every year and a half, and I always tell clients that during this time, the ‘karma,’ of their relationship often plays out. Retrograde planets often have to do with events that are ‘fated’ to some extent, or otherwise outside of our ability to control. During a retrograde period a planet appears to be moving backward in motion and many things can change, especially in relationships that are unstable or not fully committed.

A retrograde Venus is not the time to get married, have plastic surgery, or buy expensive products related to beauty, or even art as you may not be satisfied when the planet goes direct. Women driven businesses may see lower sales during this time.

Sometimes during a retrograde you can re-connect with those from your past, and other relationships may end during this period. Love energy seems more difficult and with Venus in Scorpio, which is considered at its detriment the worst qualities can manifest such as obsession, secretively, revenge, suspicion and mistrust.

Relationships that are tottering on the edge may end completely at this time. Situations become revealed for what they are. Other couples however, will reunite or take things to a deeper level.

If you begin a new relationship during a retrograde Venus the love energy may never be totally expressed. The relationship could survive for the duration of the retrograde then shift to another level or end when Venus goes direct. I always liken a retrograde planet to throwing a wild card into the mix.

Venus retrograde is a process. The shadow period when we first began to feel the effects of the retrograde began September 3, when Venus was 25 degrees in Libra. Venus officially retrogrades on October 5, and goes direct on November 16. Another shadow period follows where things are not quite back to normal until December 18.

Venus goes stationary direct at 25 degrees of Libra November 16. If this is aspecting a personal planet in your natal chart you may meet a new love during this time, see an increase in your social life or benefit from some type of Venusian activity: love, beauty, art or money!

Retrograde Venus can affect not only romantic relationships, but other relationships and situations as well, along with money, sex, and other 8th house related activities such as joint finances, lawsuits, insurance, credit, change and transformation and the way you feel in relationships.

Full moon in Aries: Blocks, limits and overcoming fear

The full moon in Aries falls on September 24, at 1 degree of the sign. The lunar peak occurs at 10:52 PM, EST. Aries rules the first house or the self, taking initiative, and moving forward. But, this Moon squares Saturn and opposes the Sun/Mercury. Saturn asks that we be real, face reality, and deal with matters at hand. Saturn can also create fear, negativity and tiredness.

Many will experience this as some kind of a block, slowdown, limitation or even ending. This can be a depressing influence on emotions and emotionally bashed relationships, and it will be a challenge to overcome this. Some things, relationships and situations may end, especially if they appear headed in this direction anyway.

Aries is a fire sign and its being reined in by its square to Saturn and Mercury. This forms a tight t-square between the Moon, Sun/Mercury and Saturn which is a difficult transit and we may be pulled in several different directions at the same time.

Chiron conjunct this Moon can relate to deep seated emotional wounds  that may come back up which may have occurred earlier in life, even childhood.

Another t-square is still present in the sky involving Mars, Uranus and Venus. We have been dealing with this several weeks now and with Uranus involved, events and situations can be unpredictable and unexpected.

If you can move beyond or not encounter emotionally based issues and tiredness, this can be a time to accomplish a great deal of practical work, as Saturn deals with work and responsibilities.

A full moon like this calls for us to work on removing limiting and fearful thoughts, and dealing with deep-seating unpleasant memories so we may move forward in a more positive manner.

Mars squares Uranus: Unexpected change!

The Mars-Uranus square finally becomes exact at 7:00 PM, EST, September 18. This will be the peak of this volatile energy, that began last week as Venus, Mars and Uranus formed a t-square, or major clash in the sky. This is the third and final pass of this volatile transit this year.

So, far we have seen a  hurricane hit the US East coast, and Typhoon Manghut has created major disaster in Hong Kong and China. It will be days before we know the final damage with any of these storms.

A significant gas line explosion occurred in the Boston, Ma area forcing hundreds to flee their homes, and the damage here is not all known at this time, either.

US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will face his accuser on sexual assault charges in a public hearing September 24, reminiscent of the Anita Hill hearings in 1991. These are a few of the unexpected and explosive incidents we have seen since this powerful transit began, not to mention the unexpected and changeable situations that have occurred in our personal lives.

You will feel this transit more if you have fixed planets (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius at 1-2 degrees in your personal chart.

While the peak of this transit occurs September  18, this energy will continue to be with us through September although events may not be quite as dramatic.

 If you have a fixed planet at the above degree, as Mars continues to move forward things should begin to lighten up, but you also have a Uranus transit.

Uranus is in Taurus and will clash with fixed planets at 0-2 degrees between now and early November. Uranus is the harbinger of change, often unexpected, freedom, and it shakes things up, in often unexpected ways. Many people seek freedom from something when Uranus enters their chart, or others around them seek freedom or unexpected change.

Uranus will remain at 1-0 degrees until early November when it will re-enter Aries one last time. Next spring it will move back into Taurus for the next 7 years.

Sun/Mercury, New moon oppose Neptune: The perfect storm

This week we have the Sun, and Neptune (along with the New Moon of September 9) opposing Neptune.

In addition, we have a powerful T-square involving Uranus, Mars and Venus at peak energies this week and next, making this one of the most significant weeks of the year, astrologically.

The New Moon, Sun and Mercury in opposition to Neptune points to water related issues as Hurricane Florence approaches the US East Coast. If you are in affected areas, I wish you luck and hope you are seeking shelter as evacuation calls are underway. From an astrological standpoint, expect this storm to be a major event with massive damage.

The Sun/Mercury opposition peaked September 7, but is still within orb, and the Mercury-Neptune opposition is exact September 13, but the energy will last the rest of this week.

Oppositions to Neptune can relate to confusion, lack of clarity, misunderstandings, melancholy, tiredness, lies and deception and coming to the wrong conclusions. Things can seem worse than what they really are, although at times new information can be revealed. It is best not to make important decisions at this time, as you may not have all pertinent information.

Dreams may be vivid, and compassion can be given or received.

We often hear news of the Vatican when Neptune transits are involved, and according to published reports Cardinal Weur of Washington, DC will discuss his resignation with the Pope over alleged reports of allowing Priests who participated in child molestation to remain in the ministry.

The T-square involving Uranus is very powerful and its affects tend toward sudden, and volatile if not violent events. Many situations will change in the world and our personal lives. This will be the third and final pass of Uranus in Taurus square Neptune in Aquarius. This square (now a T-square involving Venus) occurred May 17-21, and again early August. Each time this has occurred we have seen ecological disasters with the Kilauea volcano in May, and massive wildfires in California in July-August.

Can you see a gossip in astrology?

It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it - Maurice Switzer

Can you see someone who would be considered a true gossip in astrology? Absolutely.

Mercury rules our communication, so this is the first thing to look at.  Jupiter expands whatever it touches, so Jupiter is typically part of the equation, especially in a square or opposition with Jupiter. And if Mercury is retrograde this could add to the tendency as well as retrograde planets can misbehave.

Add Neptune to the mix and the stories could get more distorted and bizarre each time they are told, if not completely misrepresented. Add Pluto and they could get more intense with a touch of revenge added.

The signs the planets are in make a difference as well.  For example planets in Cancer could make the gossip more emotional. Sagittarius could make the stories bigger and wilder.

Of course we are all born with a brain and get to choose when we open our mouths. This is where free will enters the picture. And some people were raised to believe gossip is wrong. Conditioning factors can enter the equation as well. So these people don't have to gossip even if they have this tendency. But, the conditioning not to gossip would show in the chart as well.

 All human idiosyncrasies show up in the natal chart.

Mars, Uranus and Venus form a T-square: Upheaval and change

A T-square forms the week of September 9, involving Venus, Uranus and Mars. It is a complex transit and the results will be change in many areas of life, the potential of attacks personally and in the world, relationship changes, and money/finances can be impacted as well.

A t-square is an astrological pattern that involves three planets and includes an opposition (difficult transit involving other individuals or oppositional forces) and two squares (obstacles). These transits inevitably bring change through difficulty as opposed to ease, and many situations reach a peak during these times.

In this case the T-square involves Venus (women, money and values), Mars (men, action, aggression) and Uranus (unpredictable or unexpected change), and Uranus is considered the planet of rebellion, and there is an urge to break free of something.

September 9, Venus enters Scorpio where it is considered at its detriment. When Venus or any other sign in its detriment, this means it is challenged to learn and refine the energies symbolized by that planet. Additionally, Venus will have entered it's shadow period of the retrograde (Venus retrogrades October 5-November 17) This will make aspects to Venus very powerful.

Mars re-enters Aquarius September 11, and this creates a t-square with Venus and Uranus.

At this point Venus is opposing Uranus, square Mars, and Mars is square Uranus!

The peak of this energy occurs between the 10th-14th of September, but the energies will be with us all month.

As Uranus is involves events will unfold suddenly and unpredictably. Mars is in the sign ruled by Uranus, which concerns freedom.

We may well see violence, upheaval, and unexpected change. Some relationships and alliances will end, other will form, most of it unexpected.

My advice is to give people a wide berth, and avoid explosive or controversial subjects. That said, many things will still change. In our personal lives we can experience sudden and abrupt change, or a desire to break free of some situation that has seemingly held us back whether it is a job, relationship or something else. Uranus is often called the planet of 'freedom at any cost."

Mars squared Uranus May 17-21, and again the first week of August. We saw many events and situations change during these times.

Many events will play out on the world stage involving politics, scandals, new and old alliances and potentially the financial markets. Expect anger in the world and this is a dangerous time. We could also see disastrous earth related events such as volcanoes and the like, accidents or airplane crashes.

If you have fixed planets (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) in your chart at 0-3 degrees, you will be affected more than others.

A Grand trine in Earth signs

Mercury entered Virgo September 5, and this becomes part of a grand trine in Earth signs over the next few days.

Mercury in Virgo is more analytical, grounded, critical and worrisome, and it will remain here until September 22.

A grand trine is a positive planetary configuration that involves three planets in a particular element (Earth), that work together harmoniously.

In this case Mercury (communication) trines Saturn (structures, stability, past situations) which trines Uranus (new approaches, sudden, unexpected events). This can bring about opportunities for creative thought and expansion building upon new or existing structures or ideas.(Saturn)

This will also bring some positive energies to the forefront and for a while things may seem easier. This can spark progress, peaceful or easy change and openings for communication and change. This does not however, negate Venus's square to Mars, or the Sun's opposition to Neptune on September 8, but may help navigate the harsher energy and find solutions.

This will affect those more so who are born under or with Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) at 0-3 degrees in their personal chart.

If you were born with a grand trine in your personal chart, (or those born on this day) this is typically associated with 'luck,' although it can indicate inactivity or a lack of drive if energy isn't exerted in making these energies work.