Mercury turns retrograde: Life changing decisions

Mercury is stationary and turns retrograde Thursday, September 17

All of the typical Mercury retrograde warnings apply: expect delays. glitches, and changes. Don't buy large ticket items, sign contracts or start new projects. If you pursue these things during a retrograde, it likely won't work out as planned.

As Libra rules the 7th house of marriage and partnerships, relationships can come into focus and will. This does not just mean romantic relationships, but relationships of all types.

As Mercury is within a few degrees of squaring Pluto and opposing Uranus, you may hear completely unexpected news. It could be exciting, or intended to change a current situation, good or bad.

Mercury-Uranus typically relates to  communication that may seem to come out of the blue, or you or someone else could suddenly change their mind about something suddenly. As Mercury rules travel and automobiles use caution while traveling or driving. And be careful when sending emails who you are sending them to! You will probably experience a great deal of communication over the next few days.

Mercury-Pluto typically relates to getting to the bottom of a situation, obsessive thinking, arguments, propaganda, and you or someone else could be trying to convince someone of something.

Major changes in thinking can occur at this time in many areas, depending on where Mercury lies in your personal chart. This can be liberating (Uranus) or bring healing, or total breakdown and change (Pluto) that could ultimately be in your best interest.

As Venus is still in its shadow period and moving very slowly, Venus and Mercury will be in a sextile (positive) bringing much conversation, and politeness is a key attribute of this transit over the next week.

Mercury goes stationary direct October 9, at 0 degrees of Libra and will repeat the entire Libra cycle, and remain in this sign through November 1.

Solar eclipse in Virgo September 13

                               Don't sweat the small stuff and its all small stuff...

A solar eclipse occurs at 20 degrees of Virgo September 13, peaking at 2:41 A.M., EST.   Virgo is an earth sign, and this sign rules the 6th house of work, health and service.

Eclipses have a way of revealing situations, and as this is a new Moon, it can be connected with new beginnings of many types. Eclipse energy can be experienced as positive or negative, and how this eclipse works out personally depends on where it falls in your own chart.

An eclipse of this nature can reveal situations and changes at work, in diet and health as well as the level of service we provide others in many different ways and areas.

Many will be focused on work rather than pleasure, and this is a perfect time for organizing the important matters of our life, establishing priorities, and utilizing our talents in the area of re-organizing our houses, thoughts and plans, and getting down to the business of life.

The shadow side of this sign is critical, judgmental, and sometimes brings feelings of self unworthiness. The positive side of the sign is practicality, management /leadership ability, and discerning thinking.

Venus and Mars are trine Uranus within a few degrees and these are positive, upbeat energies. But, this moon will oppose Neptune (discouragement, delusion, compassion, deep spiritual understandings), trine Pluto (determination), and sextile Saturn (security, stability).

                            Lies, Self-deception and lack of clarity

Jupiter opposes Neptune during this time,  at 7-8 degrees of Virgo-Pisces and this is a transit of confusion, lies and deception, trickery, smoke and mirrors and illusions, and you must discern what is truth and what is not.

As Jupiter is in the sign of service/work and Pisces the sign ruled by Neptune/12th house (lies, illusions, distortions of truth) deceptions may come in the areas of work/service, or through our ideas, concepts and communications, religion, or philosophical beliefs or beliefs at the time. It could also come through something being presented to you: an idea, promise, business opportunity, or in some other way a distortion of the truth that can include self deception.

This is a transit of lies, thievery and trickery, and as a collective we must guard against illusions that hit some chord making it seem real, yet it is not.

On an individual level we are also subject to lies, theft and personal self deception. It is important to question all propositions made to you during this time.

Situations could also arise through something being presented to you: an idea, promise, business opportunity, investment or even a new relationship that seems too good to be true.

If this is the case you should research the idea clearly leaving no stone unturned. It is not advisable to jump into a new business, investment or relationship at this time, or give your heart away to an attractive stranger that may seem too perfect to be true. Time is on your side, and if someone pushes you to act quickly, it is advisable to wait.

Religion comes to mind and may well be front and center in some way, or that which poses as religion but is in fact lies and deception and trickery. We could in fact hear news of religion or religious figures.

You should be cautious in all personal, legal, monetary and personal exchanges at this time, and the Virgo moon should give you the discernment to ferret out the truth from lies and self deceptions.

Addictions, yours or someone else's, can also be a theme at this time, and there are all kinds of addictions that can include relationships. There could also be a desire to escape from the world in some way.

If you can find balance in your life and not fall victim to illusions you can experience this transit as spiritual awakenings and compassion, creativity of the highest of personal insight and awakenings. But knowing what is a spiritual awakening versus the wrong path or madness (Neptune) itself may be hard to discern.

Dreams can be very prominent at this time.

Jobs, job security, auditors, discernment, analyzing, work, dieting/health, service to others, enlightenment, organization and practical decisions are all keywords for this eclipse in Virgo and a positive use of the energy.

This eclipse will play out in the world as well.

Looking at the US chart, this eclipse conjuncts Neptune in the 9th house. Neptune relates to oil, oceans, water, possibility of issues or accidents at sea, religion, spirituality and concern with the masses. The ninth house shows us issues abroad, with religion and churches, and certain religious sects.

As this eclipse squares Mars, we can see issues with those who are known enemies to the US, and the potential for military movement and violence concerning young men.

The Jupiter-Neptune opposition will play out for months to come and during the eclipse falls from the 3rd to 9th house (Sibley chart) and this concerns foreign affairs, communications, laws, neighborhoods, and  religion.

In the US Gemini rising chart the Jupiter-Neptune opposition falls from the 1st to 7th houses concerning enemies and US partners.

As I have written in past blogs Jupiter-Neptune concerns religious wars, and this is a shady, questionable transit that I think of as a time of scamming, fleecing and lying to the American public. The words false prophets come to mind very strongly.

In the Sibly chart Jupiter and Neptune create a T-square with Uranus (8 degrees Gemini, 6th house) and this will concern workers, the health of the country, internet-electronic media, and unexpected events.

Congress is hurtling toward another government shutdown by the end of September if an agreement is not reached and and as Jupiter is the financial planet this shows us lies, deception and trickery related to money, and situations and deals that can be false, misleading and not what they appear to be. H.S. Green wrote, " This introduces confusion and misunderstanding into religious and political affairs: it disturbs peace and order. Some sort of struggle between the classes and the masses may take place, either socially or politically. New mystical religious ideas may arise and disturb orthodoxies. Mysterious crimes may occur, and changes of secret enmity, treachery and double dealing may be made between nations and political parties."

On another level this may awaken deep seated feelings of compassion and spirituality, and this appears to be playing out in terms of resettlement of the many refugees fleeing civil war in Syria and other hot spots.  Also, The Pope makes his first visit to America in September.

Jupiter opposes Neptune: Dreams, philosophies, fantasies and lies

Jupiter opposes Neptune and this transit becomes exact September 17, at 7 degrees of Virgo-Pisces, but the energy is powerful several weeks before and after the transit is exact.

This transit will be especially significant in your life if you are a 7-9 degree mutable sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces) or have mutable planets in your chart at these degrees.

This energy can stimulate your interest in philosophies, religion, helping others and becoming aware of those less fortunate. Creativity, psychic ability, compassion, a desire for justice, and an interest in foreign cultures may be at an all time high during this time.

Dreams and premonitions will be common, and it can be experienced as an idyllic period in many areas of your life that could include finance, relationships, travel, philosophies, religion and ideals.

You may have a desire to make the world a better place or simply desire it to be so. This is a transit of idealism, and it may be a time that common and ordinary experiences do not satisfy you.

Religion, religious concepts or philosophical ideas will be front and center at this time. 

You may experience extreme religious feelings or a desire to be of service to others, or feel a deep connection to the infinite. You could feel that you are accessing knowledge that at other times would not be possible.

Your perspective could broaden in many ways but you may find it hard to distinguish fact from fiction and herein lies the problem.

Jupiter is the planet of expansion and it expands whatever it touches.  Neptune is intrinsically idealistic, but it is also the planet of confusion, delusion and lack of clarity.

Jupiter rules money, men (especially younger men), religion, education, law and lawyers, doctors, and expansion of all types.

Any ideas you become interested in at this time that can include religion or philosophies must stand the test of time before they can be considered a valid  part of your being as you could change your mind, or you may not be seeing the big picture clearly.

On the other hand this transit can be experienced as very deceptive energy and what appears on way, may not actually be what it appears at all.

Situations could also arise through something being presented to you: an idea, promise, business opportunity, investment or even a new relationship that seems too good to be true.

If this is the case you should research the idea clearly leaving no stone unturned. It is not advisable to jump into a new business, investment or relationship at this time, or give your heart away to an attractive stranger that may seem too perfect. Time is on your side, and if someone pushes you to act quickly, it is advisable to wait.

 As Jupiter is in the sign of service/work and Pisces the sign ruled by Jupiter and Neptune/12th house ( secrets, lies, illusions) the deception may come in the areas of work/service, or through ideas, concepts and communications, religion, or philosophical beliefs.

Facts you were not aware of may be reveled at this time.

It is no coincidence the Pope visits America for the first time during this transit, nor is it surprising that Kentucky Court Clerk Kim Davis is in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. Astrologer Nicholas Champion wrote, "This cycle has a strongly idealistic, humanitarian and ideological quality about it. It seems to be related to the enfoldment of idealistic and religious belief systems, and such as its hard angle aspects can often relate to sectarian quarrels, political differences, and religious wars.

This transit is very questionable for financial matters, investments and the world financial markets. In my September blog, I called it this the perfect 'suckers market,' and you should exercise extreme caution with your money at this time.  Nicholas Champion wrote, "Economically, it (Jupiter-Neptune) can produce periods of boom and optimism, but also 'pie in the sky' plans and rampant inflation if not well earthed."

Andre Barbault considers this transit to be related to the destiny of France.

Addictions, yours or someone else's, can also be a theme at this time, and there are all kinds of addictions that can include relationships. There could also be a desire to escape from the world in some way.

At its worst this can prove to be a transit of absolute lies, thievery and trickery, and as a collective we must guard against illusions that hit some chord making it seem real, yet it is not.

Religion and philosophical ideals can be suspect, or that which poses as religion but is in fact lies, deception and trickery. I am referring to situations that could involve terrorist groups, or others who are out to manipulate, sway and convince others of something they hold as a high ideal, that others may not view in this way at all.

The jailed Kentucky clerk, is a perfect example of this and is no coincidence she is in the news at this time. She is imprisoned because she feels that granting marriage licenses to same sex couples violates her religious freedoms, when she is in fact violating the freedoms and philosophies of others by refusing to grant marriage licenses which same sex couples are entitled to by Federal law. To these couples, Kim Davis is in fact violating their liberties and America is not a theocracy. I expect we will see much more of this and possibly other situations, as I wrote about in my September blog.

Compassion for others will also be a theme at this time, and I believe we will see  a great deal of news concerning the massive refugee problem that exists in Europe as people flee Syria and other war torn countries.

You should be cautious in all legal, monetary and personal exchanges with others at this time, and the Virgo eclipse of September 13,  should help you have the discernment to ferret out the truth from lies and self deceptions.

If you can keep your feet on the ground this can be a time of high creativity, new ideas and insights into things you never considered possible.

This transit will repeat itself next May (2016) but the two planets will not be exact at 13-11 degrees, but this doesn't mean the same energy will not repeat itself again.

Dissolving realities/changing times

Saturn enters Sagittarius September 17, at 2:59 AM, EST where it will remain until 2017. Saturn changes signs about every two and a half years, and as it transits through our personal chart it generally shows us the areas we will see both challenges, and gains. However challenging, it can also represent some of our most concrete realized goals as well. Saturn gives us structures and boundaries in our lives on the positive side, and challenges on the negative end. Saturn affects us personally, and as a collective.

Saturn first dipped its toes into the sign ruled by Jupiter on December 23, 2014 for the first time in 30 years, having last transited this sign 1985-87. It  remained here until June 16, 2015 when it transited back into Scorpio for a final three months,  to enter Sagittarius again September 17, 2015 until December 20, 2017.

Sagittarius is the sign ruling the ninth house of education, foreign affairs and world view. Many of our views  and viewpoints will change with this Saturn placement both on an individual and the collective level. Of course, how it affects you personally will depend on which house of your personal chart it falls in.

Sagittarius' planetary ruler is Jupiter, and Jupiter concerns money, ideals,  education, the medical field, religion, churches, young men, governments and laws and foreign associations. Ideas will change and evolve in our own lives during this cycle of Saturn,  and on the collective scale and in the world. We will see changes in education, churches and political scandals and issues over laws and boundaries.

Religion and government views, laws, education and our world views  will come to the forefront, and this transit will represent a conflict between extremist religious viewpoints, and those of others. This conflict will not be limited to ISIL and the sharia law they embrace, but can include extremely conservative Christian groups and others, and we will see many conflicts.

Saturn squared Neptune for the first time late January-early February 2015 at 4-6 degrees but it did not become exact. For a moment we got a feel of what this transit would/could bring. The person that stood out to me at that time was TV personality Bill Cosby.  During this period many woman came forward accusing him of rape that goes back many years.

Cosby has a Venus at 4 degrees of Gemini, so Saturn opposed his Venus during the first few months of 2015, and Neptune squared it. As this transit fell directly on his Venus, (women and money) news from his past (Saturn), or alleged news (the rapes are not proven) continued to multiply along with the number of women stepping forward with allegations. Prior to early 2015 as Neptune squared his Venus there were women who accused him of the same crimes, but it took Saturn (and numerous other women) to hammer the point, so to speak. As Saturn and Neptune fell on his Venus he has lost a great deal of money in endorsements, and his reputation is ruined, along with his career. Saturn and Neptune in combination have a funny way of bringing up past misdeeds. As we approach the end of the year I look for more news concerning Cosby to come to light. I can say with certainty this TV icon will never be viewed in the same light as he was in the past. This is just one example of the way this transit can bring change, but this is an extreme example, he is a known public figure and this is not the only transit in his chart.

As Saturn moves back into Sagittarius mid September it will begin its square to Neptune  becoming exact at 7 degrees Sagittarius-Pisces November 27-December 4, 2015, changing circumstances in the world and our lives once again. This transit will also re-occur in June 2016, and at this point it will become a T-square involving Jupiter. A T-square involves the energies of all three planets. Saturn and Neptune will be at 12 degrees Sagittarius-Pisces, and Jupiter at 14 Virgo. This will be a powerful transit.

You will be affected by this transit in 2015 if you have mutable planets (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) in your chart at 4-9 degrees. In 2016, this will affect those with mutable planets from 9-14 degrees.

September of 2016 Saturn and Neptune will meet up again at 10 degrees of Sagittarius-Pisces, and this will be the final swing of this transit.

While Saturn rules our structure, Neptune transits tend to dissolve situations over time. Structures, situations and even relationships  may begin to dissolve into something else if this is aspecting your personal planets. As Neptune dissolves that which we consider our structure some things may come to an end, especially if this aspects a personal planet in your chart.

During this period we could experience an uncomfortable time where situations, ideas or even people dissolve from our lives and the new has not yet emerged. The old will fade away to make room for the new but it will not happen overnight.

The resulting change  can cause confusion and lack of clarity, depression and discouragement for a time until the new replaces the old and you regain your clarity and confidence. The thing to do is to remember that life is ever changing, evolving and growing, and if something or someone you consider of value disappears, its time had come, and there is better ahead. Typically this does not happen out of the blue, but there are warning signs all along. If you pay attention to the signs, this becomes a period that can be seen as the inevitable conclusion to an ongoing situation that was riddled with problems to begin with. If it is meant to last, you will go through a period of discouragement followed by renewal on a stronger level.

This transit can bring to the fore issues with addictions of all types, and the time may be at hand to get control of unhealthy impulses that deny real happiness and growth.

Sometimes Neptune transits coincide with lies, deceit and even false accusations. If this is the case, know this energy will not last forever and keep your faith in yourself, and there are time that it is good to remember that from a spiritual standpoint what is happening now may end a situation and lead to bigger possibilities with something else in the future that you couldn't have envisioned.

On another level this transit may help to give concrete realization to long held dreams and during this period they may take form after a period of time and through a great deal of hard work  and effort.(Saturn)

That said, Saturn and Neptune don't easily mix. Saturn builds structure through hard work, while Neptune dissolves. Saturn tells us to work hard while Neptune dissolves situations and says take the easy way out or find an escape, and the two planets are in conflict. So, my advice, if you are trying to build something is to stick to the work, which will pay off in the end without cutting corners. Personal sacrifice is generally in order with Neptune transits

Some of those most affected by this transit will be those born February 24-28, May 27-31, August 29-September 2, and November 28-December 2. Others affected will be born in the Neptune in Sagittarius  generation,  1973-74, or anyone with a mutable planet between 5-9 degrees this year.

On the collective many ideas will dissolve, change forms or prove ineffective. Solutions that prove to be ineffective or less than ideal may crop up, and politicians and leaders will have a hard time coming up with solutions that fit the problem. We will see scandals and probable misinformation.

Politics, governments, and laws will all be affected and we may see changes in the legal status of marijuana, water shortages and problems with water and the ocean, scandals in the church, and the spread of disease among other things, that could become an issue during this cycle, but with Saturn in the picture many cures may be found to existing and future diseases.

Religion will come into focus, especially of the fundamentalist types and this will be a global issue. Many people may feel spiritually bankrupt at this time and religion may take on new meaning for others whose delusions can lead them down a path of no return. Of course I am speaking primarily of terrorist groups.

In Mundane Astrology, Nicholas Champion pointed out this transit in the past has benefitted democracy, and governs the development of socialism-communism. "In1846 the (transit) was followed by the publication of the Communist Manifesto, and the main phases of this cycle trace the development and establishment of the main European Socialist parties around 1882 and then the Russian Revolution in 1917 immediately following the next one in 1952 saw the death of Stalin and the beginning of expansion of Soviet Communist influence out into Africa and the third world." He continues, "It coincided with formal conclusion of peace treaties following WW11, the explosion of the first hydrogen bomb, and the death of Joseph Stalin. It also coincided with the death of George VI of England and the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II., and the beginning of an important new phase of the evolution of the British monarchy."

The Saturn-Neptune square will bring many more changes in a world that has been rapidly changing for some time. As Saturn governs the principal of reality, boundaries, discipline, responsibility and restrictions, he will clash with Neptune (in Pisces) which governs dreams, illusions, spirituality, addictions, creativity and dreams. If you polarize toward Saturn this transit will be heavy and depressing, and if you polarize toward Neptune things can be depressing, unreal, delusional or hopeless. The key is to find middle ground with both planets while maintaining your identity, hopes and dreams. Some of the dreams may evolve into something different, but in the end we usually end up where we are supposed to be.