The planet of passion moves in reverse: Mars retrogrades

Mars is the action planet of the zodiac. It rules our actions, drive, energy and passion, men, sex and even war. The 'red planet" speaks to and of the confidence of an individual and how they act out their lives.

Mars energy can be positive or destructive, depending on how it is used (and what it aspects in your personal chart). By looking at the sign your Mars is in an astrologer can determine how you act (and react) and in a woman's chart it describes the men in her life.

Mars enters into a square with Neptune April 5, through the end of April. While this influence may be subtle, it may be not so subtle, especially when Mars retrogrades on the 17th. This is low energy, discouraging, tiring and draining.  This energy coincides with suppressed anger, secret intrigues, deception and lies, exhaustion, fraud, devious actions, inefficiency, and an increase in drugs or alcohol if those tendencies exist. 

You will be affected to a greater degree if you have a mutable planet-Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces- at 8-10 degrees in your personal chart. If that is the case you need to be self aware, aware of others, get plenty of rest, and guard your health at all times.

This will play out in the world as well. Expect  to see confusion, disorientation, issues surrounding water or gasses (potentially chemical weapons), lies and deception, scandals, negativity, and issues surrounding same sex couples. Unfortunately, we are at risk of seeing terrorist attacks related to religion, or that which cloaks itself under the guise of religion.

On the other hand as Mars in connection with Neptune denies the ego, we may see selfless actions, great compassion for others, a rise in spirituality or religious activities, interest in psychics and mediums and an interest in service to others less fortunate. There may be those who gain great spiritual insights during this period and personal creativity may be high. This is the best and highest use of this energy, and my advice is to direct this energy in these ways. Dreams may be vivid and prevalent during this time.

Mars turns stationary retrograde on April 17, at 8 degrees of Sagittarius. It will be in its stationary retrograde period until April 30, when it continues to retrograde for the next two and a half months. Mars will move back into Scorpio May 28, and turns direct at 23 degrees of Scorpio June 29. The stationary retrograde and direct periods are the most important times.

Mars actually entered its shadow period of the retrograde on February 19, and since then has been moving slowly. During March through the first half of April, Mars has been moving at a crawl, creating havoc, as those who have experienced a Mars transit during this period will attest to. There is a reason Mars is called the 'God of War,' and typically we all get a Mars transit or two most months. Generally, this is a day or two of frustration or agitation, but as Mars retrogrades and moves so slowly any Mars transit becomes much more significant at this time and during the retrograde.

As the stationary retrograde/direct periods of Mars are the most important, this is even more so the case if Mars aspects any of your planets in your own personal natal chart. This will aspect your personal chart if you have a planet in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces at 6-8 degrees. If this is the case, significant events can occur, and combative situations may crop up or you could experience health related issues-typically not serious, or even accidents. What exactly will happen depends on what it falls in your own chart and what else is occurring at the time.

Mars is stationary retrograde April 17-29, and stationary direct June 29-July 11. As a result of the retrograde this year, Mars will remain in only 2 signs-Scorpio and Sagittarius nine months out of the year, until September 28.

When Mars retrogrades people seem to accomplish more if they are in a crisis state. I have seen this with people born with a natally retrograde Mars or a Mars that goes retrograde by progression. Many people complain of low energy during this time, and plans can be delayed. Sometimes, people need to back up, reassess, and slow down some for a time. I would advise people not to start important projects during this cycle if it can be avoided.

Mars rules men, and sometimes men 'go retrograde.' Relationships can change during this time, slow down or take a different turn, one way or another. Retrograde planets become like a wild card, but I believe the karma of the situation can play out at this time as well. Whenever you feel karma-or the final resolution of a situation is involved, retrograde planets are typically involved.

As Mars will be in only two signs over this long cycle, Sagittarius we will be concerned with ideas, concepts, justice and law, education, foreign affairs, people and travel. While in Scorpio, the concerns will be around money, credit and taxes, other people's money, change and transformation, and to some extent sex and death if other significators in your chart point to this. But, death is not typical of this, and there would have to be other more serious transits, or it could be the death of a situation as opposed to the literal term, but rather personal transformation and this is generally the case.

Sharp tongues and unexpected news

This week, Mercury squares Pluto and conjuncts Uranus, in essence setting off the Uranus-Pluto square which means events can be large in our lives and in the world.

Mercury squares Pluto, exact March 30, at 10:52 AM (est) but the effects of this energy will be felt before and after. Mercury-Pluto transits lean toward obsessive thinking, uncovering secrets and arguments. Typically, this energy lends itself toward propaganda or someone trying to convince you of something. It could go the other way.  If you strike out at someone expect them to strike back..perhaps like a rattlesnake. Sometimes secrets are uncovered with this.

 Mercury conjuncts Uranus March 31, and this is indicative of 'mind all over the board' energy, sudden mental changes, and unexpected news, along with trouble with or through communication. You could hear news of or from relatives or coworkers or neighbors. There could be problems with communication. As a matter of fact this is the second time I wrote this post as the first time my computer crashed and I hadn't saved it!! The energies always become apparent a few days before the transit becomes exact.

Use caution while traveling or driving. We will hear of major events in the world that could involve unexpected news, explosions, or problems with travel.

These transits will affect those born under Virgo or Gemini more harshly, or those with planets in these signs.

Relationships, the eclipse and Venus squares Saturn (retrograde)

Today we have a volatile and angry eclipse in Libra, as evidenced by the terrorist attack in Brussels.

The eclipse in Libra focuses on relationships, both romantic and otherwise and as it opposes the Sun and Mercury, this is an argument waiting to happen, or some will hear unexpected news. The best thing we can do today is keep a calm demeanor and not act rashly or say or do things we may regret. The effects of this energy will play out over the next number of days and even weeks.

Saturn turns retrograde March 25, and this will be a powerful planetary movement as it squares Venus at 16 degrees of  Sagittarius-Pisces.

If this aspects a planet in your chart this could be a powerful event that changes the course of things in your life. It will aspect your personal chart if you have planets in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces at 14-17 degrees. Some relationships will end, but typically it is those tottering on the brink that can't survive any more stress.

To an extent this transit will affect us all, some more than others.

Saturn retrogrades every year for a number of months and as it does action can become more internalized than outward.

This square from Venus to Saturn will be very powerful as the planet astrologers call the taskmaster (to name a few) retrogrades on the same day.

The Venus transit actually creates a T square involving Jupiter/Saturn, and Venus. A T-square involves the energies of all three planets. Venus-Jupiter transits lend themselves to overdoing or overindulgence which can be good or bad. Jupiter-Saturn can involve restrictions and changes in your life, and in certain cases things may come together you have been working on.  Venus-Saturn can be negative and depressing, but if you are in a solid relationship it can be about responsibilities, limitations and duties or obligations. As this is a mutable T-square change will occur, especially if it aspects your own personal chart.

As Saturn retrogrades it defines the sign it is in. As Saturn is in Sagittarius, it concerns, education, travel, ideas, foreign people, relations and ideas, and in some cases legal or medical situations. The 9th house defines the way we look at the world.

The house Saturn is transiting through in your personal chart will also be defined. For example if Saturn is moving through your second house of money, during the retrograde period you will define what you are doing with your money. Income, savings and future financial plans may be defined, it all depends on where transiting Saturn is located in your chart. During the retrograde cycle we re-evaluate. People become more disciplined with their undertakings.  As Neptune is also in the picture we may learn to transcend certain things, and our viewpoints about many things may change in the long run.

Venus square Saturn (retrograde) will be another powerful transit in the world. We could hear more about the terrorist attacks, women and even finances and laws. We are in a period of intense and volatile energy now, and can expect much change and news.

As always my advice is to be aware, self aware and control your responses to the situations that may occur in your life now. 

Decisions can be made in a more solid way as this energy passes on and things calm down in about a week.

Terror attacks in Brussels: the astrology

                                          (terror suspects from police file)

"Three explosions, including at least one suicide bombing, shook Brussels during the morning rush hour Tuesday, injuring nearly 200 people and killing at least 30.

"We dreaded an attack, and it has come," Belgium's prime minister, Charles Michel, said at a news conference, adding that there were "many killed, many injured"

The death toll from both attacks combined is at least 30, according to Belgian authorities, and is continuing to rise, with reports of nearly 200 people injured."--Vox

Looking at the chart for 8:00 AM, Brussels, Belgium, the ascendant is Taurus, and Taurus's ruler Venus is approaching a square to Saturn which lies in the 8th house of death.

Three planets lie in the 12th house of things secret and hidden and those considered subversives-Uranus, The Sun and Mercury, at 2/0 degrees of Aries. Aries ruler Mars lies in the 7th house of open or known  enemies. Sun-Mercury transits are aggressive, angry and can concern  situations that involve travel.

Jupiter squares Saturn from the 6th to 8th house of death and Jupiter rules religion, or that which cloaks itself under this disguise. The Moon is conjunct Jupiter showing young foreign males, and the Moon trines powerful Pluto in the 9th house showing a foreign connection. ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The attack occurs on the eve of a powerful eclipse in Libra which opposes Mercury, which rules young people and travel. Two explosions occurred at the airport and the subway station.

The last eclipse on March 9, clearly showed that we should have concern over religious extremists, and the possibility of such an attack, and I wrote " Then, there are those who cloak themselves in religious disguises. These are the fundamental extremists who commit murder in the name of their religion, and I fear we will hear news again of atrocities or threats."

The attack appears to be a result of the capture of terrorist ringleader Salah Abdeslam who was connected with the Paris attacks last year.

As Saturn squares Jupiter this week, and several more times this year, look for terrorist alerts to be on high around the world, and military and police forces to clamp down on suspicious activities.  In some respects our very freedoms are being threatened, and personal freedoms around the world may suffer as a direct result.

Venus conjucnts Neptune: dream a little dream of me

Venus conjucnts Neptune on March 20, amping up the Pisces/Neptune energy, and this energy will be very strong Saturday night. We are in the Pisces season now with four planets in the sign that rules dreams, visions, creativity, psychics, theatre, and all things mystical (as well as illusionary, secrets and substances).

Venus-Neptune can go one of several ways. This could include romance, vivid dreams, and a feeling of telepathic rapport with others or the greater universe. There can be an intuitive sensitivity to beauty, mystical or religious experiences, and enormous creativity and compassion.

On the other hand, Neptune transits coincide with lies, illusions, and insecurity or feelings of abandonment. There can be a tendency to bestow affection on the wrong people. Those who are inclined to turn toward substances may do so at this time. Sometimes as Venus crosses Neptune previously unknown secrets can be revealed.

My advice is to go with the creativity, compassion and love, which can be selfless under this transit. If there is ever a time for mystical revelations and dreams that can come to the surface from the unconsciousness, the time is now.

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in a sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say nighty night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you
And in your dreams
Whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me   -Ella Fitzgerald