March 2014: Changing lives, changing times

As Uranus, Pluto, Jupiter (and retrograde Mars) approach a grand cross in April, look for events in March to show us the direction we are headed with this major configuration. March 2014 is a volatile month of change leading up to one of the most important transits of the year and the decade. The grand square of April affects roughly half of the people I read for, so events will be happening this month at a faster than average pace, leading to ultimate change in many directions both for society as a whole and us as individuals. The world will change, and if the grand cross affects your chart what you can count on is personal change in your life one way or another. It is important to realize that all change is not bad, rather inherent in the nature of the universe and in life, and it is the one thing we can always count on to be consistent. It is up to us to be flexible and adaptable, understand the nature of what the planets are showing us, and remember that all knowledge is power.

The first March new moon occurs March 1, at 2:59 a.m., at 10 degrees of Pisces. Pisces is the natural ruler of the twelfth house of things secret and hidden, our subconscious mind, and is the ruler of all things of a spiritual nature.

As this new moon falls within 5 degrees of Neptune, Pisces ruler, look for issues to take on a confused or foggy nature, but this may be good for creativity, spiritual and compassionate  ventures, psychics and an interest in mysticism of any kind. Also look for weather conditions to be extreme once again including more snow or rain around this time.

The first half of the year we will be dealing with many retrograde planets, and March is the pivotal month.

Situations/issues may come to the surface you have been unaware of as Mercury goes stationary direct February 28-March 4, at 18 degrees of Aquarius. The stationary retrograde and direct period are most often the time situations are revealed for what they are, glitches occur, and we feel more strongly the energy of the retrograde energy. Projects may start to move forward now, but proceed with caution over the next week and do not assume things will be back to normal instantly. Mercury will go through its post retrograde shadow period until it reaches 3 degrees of Pisces on March 21. At this time Mercury will conjunct Neptune for the second time March 21-24 creating confusing or discouraging energy. If the period of February 5-8 was significant to you, this time may be as well. Retrograde Mercury is actually a much longer period or cycle than people are led to believe.

The first of the month is packed with astrological events and also on March 1, Mars goes stationary retrograde at 27 degrees of Libra. Mars retrogrades every 18 months or so, and this is often a period of low energy, frustration and passive aggressive behavior by some. This is not the time to start a new business, and new ventures may fall apart under this transit. Mars rules men, action and war-strife. If you have cardinal planets-Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn, Mars will aspect your chart more than once during this period. Often we retrace our steps and reconsider previous actions, commitments with this transit. Mars will remain in Libra until July 25, and will be retrograde until May 19. Retrograde Mars will play a major role in the Grand Cross of April

March 2, Saturn goes stationary retrograde at 23 degrees of Scorpio. Saturn retrogrades every year for approximately 4-5 months.  Issues related to the foundation of things especially business, finance and money may become more internalized during this time. There can be delays in moving projects forward and solidifying material issues. Any business that is started with this transit will have to deal with the limitations a retrograde Saturn naturally brings, and now will be the time to shore up your financial situation and structures, and get your ideas flowing in the correct way about money. If you deal with the public in some way it is best to present ideas for public scrutiny after Saturn goes direct on July 20.

March 2 Venus squares Mars and this transit deals with issues between the sexes. As Mars is retrograde issues will be more pronounced, and we may even see evidence of this on the news! Venus rules love and money and Mars rules men and sex. Issues can become extreme if this is aspecting a personal planet at 25-27 degrees of  the cardinal signs in your own chart.

March 3, Venus finally leaves its post retrograde shadow period, and enters Aquarius March 5, after four month stay in Capricorn where it took on a more practical tone. Venus in Aquarius will take on a lighter energy sometimes described as quirky, open minded, and less reliable. This will be a major shift in love energy and will work well for Air and Fire signs.

March 6, Jupiter goes direct at 10 degrees of Cancer at 5:24 a.m., EST. Jupiter is the financial planet and generally associated with gain and expansion, but it expands whatever it touches-good or bad. In this case, Jupiter is square Uranus (exact 2-26) and this is an unstable influence prone to market swings, changes in governments, and growth of human potential. Astrologer Nicholas Champion wrote,' in a society in crisis it can cause highly volatile situations to erupt without warning and an atmosphere of actuate tension. In this state it has a particularly war-mongering potential.'  Jupiter is also the significator of the Republican party and we may see theatrical politics during this time. Uranus rules rebellions, aircraft, electronics and weather to name a few.

March 11, Mercury squares Saturn for the third and final time. This is generally a negative, constrictive influence. Mercury squared Saturn February 19, and January 25. If these time periods were significant to you personally, this day may be as well.

March's full moon occurs March 16, at 26 degrees of Virgo at 1:08 p.m., EST. Virgo is the natural ruler of the 6th house of health, service and work and to some extent we will all be focused here. As the moon sextiles Saturn, this is a time of getting down to business, reality and not looking at things through rose colored glasses. Full moons are generally about finishing up thing or endings, but in this case, not a bad time to start a diet, although I would wait a few days to begin.

March 17, Mercury enters Pisces for the second time, having started its retrograde here in February.

March 20, the Sun enters Aries at 12: 57 p.m. Spring begins, and it all starts over!

March 29, Venus squares Saturn and trines Mars. Saturn-Mars energy is generally heavy, and this day could coincide with some type of ending if it is aspecting something important in your chart, especially falling just before a new moon in Aries. Otherwise, not the best day for social or romantic activities.

March 30, a second new moon occurs at 9 degrees of Aries at 2: 45 p.m., EST. Aries is the natural ruler of the first house of self, and the first house governs our personal desires. Not just our desires, but others as well, and the companion full moon in April will be a lunar eclipse in Libra, thus the new/full moon fall on the 1st/7th axis of relationships. Relationships of all types will come into focus during this period that include, but are not limited to romantic situations.

This new moon may feel more like a full moon as it sets off a grand square between Uranus, Pluto and Jupiter. Events will be large and situations will occur worldwide that affect us all in many different respects as a society, and this moon will affect you personally if you have cardinal planets between 8-13 degrees. We will see a desire for change in many instances leading up to revolts, rebellions and explosive situations both on the world stage and in our personal lives if this moon is aspecting personal planets. In past situations involving the U-P square have dealt with the US governments secret wiretapping and spying on American's and I would not be surprised if issues around this come up again, but this will be only part of the bigger picture.

At 10 degrees of Aries the Sun is part of this square opposing Uranus at 11 degrees over the next several days. Sun-Uranus events are sudden, often unexpected, shocking and Sun-Uranus is associated with revolutions, separations, explosions, and shocking turns of events.

The Sun squares Pluto April 2/3 and this energy deals with agendas, power struggles, situations that are hidden and break downs of all kinds. This is a volatile full moon, but all change is not bad. With Pluto involved change can sometimes lead to a better situation in the future.

This new moon will be the tip of the iceberg as we enter April, and the eclipse season. Stay tuned for my next blog about the Grand Cross titled Rock Our World: The Grand Cross of 2014 and its effects

 

Astrology is all about timing

Timing of events is a question I am often asked. For example, 'when will I get married, make money, get a new job meet the next boyfriend, when will he call,' etc.

In predictive astrology timing is everything. As a matter of fact, you can't make predictions using astrology without timing events. Predictive astrology interprets current and future cycles or periods of life utilizing placement of the planets or transits which result in events of all types that are part of the ongoing cycle of life. Many tools are utilized in this process.  A simple question may be answered such as 'when will we communicate', or a much more complex one like, ' when 'will I achieve professional status in life.'

A great deal can be discovered by looking at an individual natal chart. This chart is created using the day, year and time of birth, and each chart is unique. The chart shows what sign each planet is in as well as which house, and the signs ruling the houses and planets.

Each house of the chart is like a stage upon which the play is set and in this case the play is called life. For example, the fourth house rules home and family, the fifth house rules friends, children and love affairs, the sixth house rules  work, and the seventh marriage and partnerships and on and on. Each house rules a different area of your life, or a different segment of the play of life. The planets are like the actors in the play and the zodiac signs tell us the personality of the actors and what their psychological leanings and tendencies and traits are.

As the planets move (transit) through the sky-the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, they interact with the planets in your natal chart, and as these planets interact with your personal chart they create aspects (degrees of separation to the natal planets) and events in your life occur based on the timing of the transit!

So, timing is natural to astrology, and without it there can be no predictions.

The major aspects astrologers use are the trine, sextile, conjunction, and opposition.

Traditional astrology has been dated to the 3rd millennium, with roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communication with man. Until the 17th century, astrology was considered a scholarly tradition, and it drove the development of astronomy and was commonly accepted in political and cultural circles. Mundane astrology was often used which predicted events pertaining to countries, kingdoms and groups of people as a culture, and timing was piece de resistance, as it is today in all traditional/predictive astrology.

 I use predictive and traditional astrology most of the time, the focus of which is outer events and predictions that will occur in our lives, as opposed to psychological astrology, which became common in the 20th century. You cannot understand traditional astrology fully without studying the concepts of psychological astrology, however. Many of my blog predictions are based on Mundane astrology.

Psychological astrology which came to vogue with Carl Jung, reached a heyday in the 1960's- 1980's, and is excellent for character analysis and psychological insight, but cannot predict events like traditional astrology. Many of those engaged in this form of astrology don't make predictions, rather focus on character analysis or compatibility, mental, emotional and psychological attributes and development.

From 1700-1900  traditional astrology had few serious practitioners, but with the advent of and interest in the esoteric sciences made popular by groups as the Theosophists,  traditional astrology came to be studied and welcomed again.

Timing is all important in electional astrology and horary astrology as well.

Electional astrology encompasses the art of perfect timing by choosing or electing the best time to begin a particular event or start an activity such as getting married. Every event including marriage has a chart!

Horary astrology answers a question by constructing a chart based on the time and place the question is asked and answers questions on timing.

Timing is important and is utilized in all forms of astrology except psychological astrology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham Lincoln: his mystical life and the night that changed history

Abraham Lincoln, The Great Emancipator,  was born February 12, 1809, 6:54 a.m., in Hodgenville, KY. 205 years ago. Ironically, he was born less than 100 miles from the birthplace of Jefferson Davis, perhaps his greatest adversary in life, the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.

While Lincoln's chart shows a man of high ideals with a spiritual bent, Davis' chart shows a man with very definite ideas, often fraught with misconceptions, unrealistic viewpoints and confused actions.  His view of slaves, or servants (6th house) shows strongly in his chart as an ideal he went to war with the US government over (and has a similar configuration like that of present day Edward Snowden). His chart however, is not without compassion and greatness and like Lincoln, he was said to have worked to avoid civil war and secession before the fact.

Lincoln is a 23 degree Aquarius Sun with a 22 degree Aquarius ascendant, the sign associated with a 'world view,' and people in general. Aquarius is a fixed air sign, that is often found in the natal charts of politicians.

Lincoln's moon is 27 degrees of Capricorn in the 12th house square Mars at 25 degrees of Libra in his 8th house. This configuration describes the loss of his Mother at age 9 to milk sickness:, she drank milk from a cow who’d grazed on poisonous white snakeroot and the subsequent grief he suffered at her loss. It was said he never got over her death and was often quoted as saying, ' all that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to her.' Lincoln helped his Father make her coffin.

The moon describes the wife in a man's chart, and as it squares Mars, this would represent friction in his domestic setting and disagreements and upsets in his tempestuous relationship with Mary Todd Lincoln which is well documented.

The 12th house is considered the house of the subconscious mind (and institutions), and those with planets placed here generally need a certain amount of solitude and reflection. It is the 12th house where our shadows play out, often fraught with pain and secrets we do not reveal to the public. Lincoln called himself the 'loneliest man in the world.' With a debilitated moon in Capricorn he would have sought to control his emotions, resulting in his often perceived somber appearance. Underneath, this would lend itself to much inner turmoil, many upsets and sorrows in life, and  secret passions, good or bad that he kept private.

Moon-Mars individuals lead lives fraught with upsets and  and this transit is far from lucky or conducive to harmony or personal happiness. Melancholy was a part of Lincoln's life and he suffered traumas and losses that began with his Mother, included siblings and eventually several of his own children. Death was a big part of his life before and during the Civil War.

The 12th house is considered the house of karma, and his Moon square Mars in the eighth house of death would point to a violent ending in a position as exposed and public as his.

The 12th house shows danger, clandestine affairs, and secret enemies while the 8th house has a Scorpio connotation and shows death.

Mars (along with intercepted Uranus in Scorpio) in the 8th shows us an individual whose goal was to reform, or transform his surroundings and world. Mars  Libra tells us he was a people pleaser and someone who would prefer to avoid confrontations. His personal motivation toward conflict was expressed in the  Libran statement "Am I not destroying enemies when I make friends of them."  He was known as a story teller who often drew a crowd during nights when we was traveling as a circuit lawyer.

Four US Presidents have been assassinated in office beginning with Lincoln. Each of them had adverse configurations from their 8th house that include Mars the ruler of guns, and Uranus the planet ruling explosive situations and explosions, chaos and upheaval.

James Garfield and William McKinley both had Uranus in the 8th house square Mars, and JFK had a stellium of planets in his 8th house including Mars, Mercury and Jupiter, all square Uranus in the 4th house, that shows end of life conditions.

In our time Ronald Regan survived a assassins attempt, but he had no planets in his 8th house, nor did he have a Mars-Uranus aspect in his natal chart.

Lincoln's Neptune-Saturn conjunction  lies at the top of his chart next to his Sagittarius  midheaven at 6-3 degrees of Sagittarius in the ninth house, which is the realm of ideas, religion philosophies and worldviews. The midheaven describes your reputation, what you are known for in the world and career.

Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion, laws, government, big ideas, justice and fairness and this configuration shows us the driving force, and basic outlook or world view that drove his dreams and hopes of freeing the slaves, as it was just, and fair. There is a spiritual connotation to this transit that shows deeply held views and the belief his ideas can become practical reality.

Lincoln's own Jupiter falls in his first house in Pisces, the sign of its dignity, increasing his luck, spirituality and compassion for others. It also makes him intuitive, psychic and an attractive figure who was elected President twice.

Other well known figures we are familiar with who have this transit include Nelson Mandela (Saturn-Neptune in Leo) and the current Pope (Saturn opposing Neptune Pisces-Aries).

Both Neptune and Saturn trine Venus in Aries in his first house, giving him luck, an attractive appeal, and a major planetary boost that would help to achieve his goals, along with luck and brilliance.

Saturn-Neptune represents the law he studied, (Jupiter and Sagittarius rule lawyers, judges and politicians) passing the bar with less than a year of formal schoolroom training all told. He had a brilliant legal mind, and spend most of his life as a practicing attorney and was a 1 term US Representative before becoming President. He held many jobs in life but most dealt with politics and the law, which is exactly what his chart shows him suited for.

With Saturn-Neptune in Sagittarius he knew how to transform dreams and ideas into practical reality based on justice, and this was his life accomplishment as well as the reason for his assassination three months after the passage of the amendment abolishing slavery.

Abraham Lincoln never joined a church, but sometimes attended Protestant services with his wife and children. As a young man he was a skeptic, but after the deaths of his children he became concerned with God's plan for mankind. He was private about his beliefs and respectful of the beliefs of others. Lincoln's friend Jesse Fell stated, that the president "seldom communicated to anyone his views" on religion, and he went on to suggest that those views were not orthodox: "on the innate depravity of man, the character and office of the great head of the Church, the Atonement, the infallibility of the written revelation, the performance of miracles, the nature and design of...future rewards and punishments...and many other subjects, he held opinions utterly at variance with what are usually taught in the church."

While Saturn-Neptune gave him a broad world view, tolerance, and a career in the legal field,  the same transit lent itself toward depression, which he referred to as 'melancholy" in his lifetime. Saturn-Neptune individuals often suffer from depression and anxiety.

Three planets in his chart lie in Pisces, the sign ruling spirituality and 12th house matters showing mystical traits and abilities. Mercury, Pluto and Jupiter formed a stellium of planets at 10, 13 and 22 degrees of Pisces in his first house. Mercury-Pluto gave him an intense mind seeking ideas based in spirituality and compassion and Jupiter in Pisces, falls in the sign of its rulership making this stellium of planets very powerful in his first house.

Pisces is the most mystical of signs and Lincoln is said to have been able to 'go to the other country, 'in meditation, and had significant dreams before big events in his life occurred. He attended at least one séance in the White House with his wife after his son died, but there are conflicting views as to what happened. One account stated he investigated the medium to discover he was a fraud.

In I would still be drowned in tears, author Michelle L. Hamilton wrote, "A product of their Kentucky childhood, the Lincolns shared a belief in dreams and omens which they incorporated in their Christian faith. The impressions of the spirit were not lost on Lincoln either, whose sensitive nature, eager mind, and depression-ravaged psyche made him tender to-even eager for-invisible realities. During his lifetime he experienced dreams, omens, visions, and revelatory occurrences of nearly every kind and they did not decrease with age."

 The most famous of his dreams occurred just before he died. Mercury square Neptune can symbolize an intuitiveness and Neptune rules dreams. In his most famous dream that was recounted to friends days before the end of his life he stated that he heard mourning and crying in the White House. Upon hearing it he asked a soldier what was wrong, to be told the President had been killed by an assassins bullet. A few days later he was dead, killed by John Wilkes Booth, as he sat in the Presidential box and the Ford Theatre on the night of April 14, 1865 as the Civil War was winding down, only 5 days after General Lee surrendered the Confederate Army.

April 14, 1865

Lincoln's chart clearly showed an attempt or attempts on his life, and subsequent death, and his chart played out as it was written, as all our charts do.

On the night of the shooting the main planetary influence aspecting his chart  was Saturn conjunct his 8th house (death) Mars at 27 degrees and square his moon in the 12th house(secret enemies), and this shows danger of death for an extended period of time. On April 14 however,  the Sun at 25 degrees Aries began an opposition to his Mars/Saturn in the 8th house square the moon in the 12th forming a powerful T-square- a transit involving 3 planets that would set off this catastrophic event aspect, resulting in death  as it showed in his natal chart.

Neptune was conjunct his Venus (at its detriment) at 7 degrees Aries, showing us a Venusian  pleasure (theatre) and Aries is ruled by Mars, while Neptune is the planet of trickery, deception and theatre and actors. Mars was at 7 degrees of Cancer square his Venus /Neptune where action would be expressed in an emotional-even patriotic manner, as James Wilkes booth thought himself doing by killing Lincoln. Furthermore, he believed he would be celebrated as a result.

At 10: 15 the time of the shooting, the moon was at 9 degrees Sagittarius conjunct his midheaven, having just crossed his Saturn-Neptune (ideals) becoming the final planet to set off the T-square between Saturn, Mars, his moon and the Sun and ending his life and aspirations.

The Mystic Rectangle of April 14

Casting a chart for April 14, 1865 at 10:15, Washington, DC, the planets were forming a rare celestial event called a mystic rectangle that is in the shape of a rectangle (a pattern of 'practical mysticism' according to astrologer Jude Cowell) that would remain until he passed away the next morning.

This unusual configuration is made up of 4 planets consisting of 2 trines and 2 sextile aspects interwoven with opposition angles. Looking at the most important transits in the mystic rectangle on April 14:

-the Sun was opposing Saturn at 27 degrees of Libra in the 11th house ruling the government and head of state.-the original plan was to kidnap or kill the VP and Secretary of State, along with Lincoln, but the plan failed and only Lincoln died.

-Mars was in the 7th house of open enemies (JWB made clear to others his disdain of Lincoln. Lincoln was alleged to have made an earlier attempt to meet JWB, but was refused ) square Neptune in Aries in the 4th. Neptune shows theatre/an actor and deceptive plan, and the 4th house rules the country or the people of the country-home. Mars-Neptune and can represent death, depression, despair and the country was thrown into mourning.

Jupiter opposed Uranus at 29-26 degrees of Sagittarius-Gemini showing a sudden event involving a known enemy in the signs that rule ideas, ideologies and governments. Jupiter stationed to go direct one hour 7 minutes before Lincoln passed away and Jupiter is the significator of the Republican Party.

Mercury and Pluto were conjunct at 12-14 degrees of Taurus in the 5th house of entertainment. Mercury-Pluto in Taurus shows a younger male with a determined intention. The planets in Taurus would signify wealth, attractiveness. JWB, a Taurus himself, had recently made the equivalent of 500,000 a yr in today's money and was considered somewhat famous/attractive/wealthy by the time of the murder.

The moon at 9 degrees of Sagittarius, in the 12th house shows plots, plans, those who would disrupt society/government.

Venus conjunct Algoal at 26 degrees of Taurus Venus was in the 6th house (ruling public servants) at 25.40 degrees of Taurus conjunct Algoal, the most malefic fixed star in astrology that lies at 26 Taurus. Algoal is associated with beheadings, or 'losing one's head.' The 16th President was shot in the back of the head, the bullet nearly protruding through the temple. He never regained consciousness.

 

 

Valentine's Day: tempering expectations for a positive outcome

A full moon occurs on Valentine's day, 2014, and to an extent this could be a perfect full moon for this day as it falls at 26 degrees of Leo, peaking at 6: 53 p.m., EST. Leo is a fire sign and a full moon in a fire sign tends to produce fiery situations!

Leo is the natural ruler of the 5th house of love affairs, friends and children, but as always exactly how this moon affects you is dependent on where and how it falls in your personal natal chart and what else is going on.

Now, notice I said could be...not that it will be, overall.

Expectations must be tempered as this full moon squares Saturn at 23 degrees of Scorpio, and Saturn relates to obstacles, responsibilities, restrictions, and all in all can be a drag.

Mercury retrogrades back into Aquarius and this creates a Mercury-moon opposition which can be annoying in terms of communication. And Venus in Capricorn is a fewer frills type of love, that is more practical in its approach.

None of this means you will have a bad day, but again, its dependent on what else exists in your chart at the moment.

If you have a positive relationship, don't expect problems. If you have a faltering relationship or one that is just getting off the ground, don't expect miracles.

If you are single, or in a nebulous relationship the most important person to love on this day....is yourself. Remember the old saying charity begins at home, and so does love. Take this concept and run with it and you may have a glorious day!

Mercury retrograde February 2014: a walk between two worlds (the Winged God flies backward)

Mercury entered its shadow period January 23, at 18 degrees of Aquarius, several weeks  before the  February retrograde, that begins on February 6. During the shadow period you will feel the mental energy start to shift. You may float between wanting to move forward with something, or just relax. If you start any long term/new projects at this time or when Mercury retrogrades look to make changes later or the project could fade out. With a retrograde Mercury the usual warnings apply: look for slowdowns, mixed or confused conversation, don't marry, have plastic surgery, or any elective surgery, buy electronics, big ticket purchases, broken equipment may occur, and look for glitches and communication problems in many areas to pop up and have to re-do and re-think. Mercury retrogrades three or four times each year, three weeks at a time, so no need to hide in the closet! But, it is important to be aware of the time we are in.

Much of the retrograde time can actually be a magical period when many situations are revealed and in some way we may revisit the past to deal with situations that are unfinished. Sometimes we can reconnect with people from our past, and often retrograde "themes" occur that deal with past situations that can be resolved. You may feel extra sensitive, or have a heightened sense of things. You may also start to become more forgetful or misunderstand what people say, or change your mind! Now is a time to reflect and re-do.

Mercury in Aquarius is an open minded type of mentality, geared more toward logical than emotional thinking, and taking bold steps forward, mentally. It is an Air sign and moves quickly and with ease and new ideas come out of the blue at times.

Mercury squared Saturn on January 24-25, and this is important because this transit will re-occur two more times during this eight week period, on February 18-19 while it is retrograde and again March 11. This may be significant is it aspects a critical point in  your chart.

January 31, Mercury enters the sign Pisces at 9:29 a.m., EST. Pisces is considerably different mental energy from Aquarius which is ruled by Saturn and Uranus.  Pisces, is the ruler of the 12th house of the zodiac, and its planetary ruler is Neptune, the planet of illusion, delusion and confusion. It is creative, sensitive, and thinking is emotional and intuitive rather than logical.

Mercury in Pisces is at its fall here, meaning the mental energy does not work as well in this sign. Sometimes thoughts can be intuitive, reflective, incorrect or depressing. On the other hand this is the sign ruling psychics and metaphysicians, artists and creative endeavors of all types, and all of these things and senses will be heightened, along with your sensitivity to others. Pisces is also about compassion, spirituality and getting in touch with others in the human race in general.

As Mercury enters Pisces it will conjunct Neptune, becoming within a degree of being exact February 5-8. Mercury/Neptune can be an extremely psychic and sensitive transit that may even seem other worldly to some. You may have vivid dreams and flights of imagination, and feel a desire to escape the ordinary world. Whether or not you do well with this transit depends on whether you are comfortable with this type of emotional based thinking and the intuitive process. As Mercury retrogrades at this degree thinking and feelings can be incorrect, hazy or negative for some.

February 12, Mercury re-enters Aquarius, and we switch back to a more logical form of thinking for the next four and a half weeks. Again, our mental world will change once again as retrograde Mercury takes us on a trip of dealing with situations and perhaps people from the past, fixing, re-doing and re-thinking our plans. Now is the time to review and reflect and take care of past issues!

February 28, Mercury enters its direct station, (Mercury goes direct) having reached its final degree of 18 Aquarius. This is the point where things, situations and plans can change again, equipment breaks, appointments still get cancelled, but within a few days we may start to move forward with plans.

Retrograde Mercury is a cycle that actually lasts much longer than 3 weeks. During this time events that are karmic in nature seemingly occur. Slowly, we will start to get back to where we were before the retrograde, but with more clarity, and with luck, more solid plans. We remain in the post shadow period of the retrograde until March 21.

Mercury re-enters Pisces for the second time March 17, switching the mental energy once again and again we can take a walk between the two world of the rational and the intuitive.

Retrograde Mercury is part of the natural cycle and flow of life. There is a time to move forward with new things and a time to reflect on the old. By following and understanding the natural order of things we can prosper and grow.

 

Venus turns direct: Powerful days - Obsessions, drama and changes in love and money

 

Venus turns direct January 31, 2014 after a six week retrograde period in the sign Capricorn at13 degrees. Venus retrograde periods often coincide with major changes in love relationships. Some relationships end and for others, this means a period of re-thinking and working out issues that need to be resolved to move ahead. The most important part of the retrograde is generally the stationary retrograde period where Venus appears to reverse direction, and the stationary direct period which will be from January 28 until February  5. Venus officially goes direct  January 31, at 3:49 p.m,  EST. At this point further changes can yet occur. Venus will remain in its shadow period until March 4.

Venus rules women, love, beauty and money and during the next several weeks many will be dealing with one or several of these issues. Venus is conjunct Pluto, and this conjunction is opposing Jupiter. I have already written about what this transit will mean on the world stage, but this will also affect us on a personal level.

The next 10 days may be a pivotal point  if Venus, Pluto and Jupiter are aspecting a personal planet in your chart. If so, this means you have a cardinal planet-Aries, Capricorn, Libra or Cancer at 12-15 degrees or so in your personal natal chart. This can be negative or positive depending on how it is aspecting your chart, but situations may change in a powerful way over the next 10 days or so regarding love and money.

Venus conjunct Pluto at its highest can lift you up and empower and motivate you to make positive changes in your life and/or relationship. At its lowest, it can be an obsessive time full of angst, drama, jealousy and even degradation. This transit may also relate to changes in money or job situations.

Venus opposing Jupiter can relate to overindulgence in many forms that can include alcohol, substances, sex or financial matters. You may be inclined to enjoy life and take it easy rather than work hard.

Jupiter opposing Pluto can be the culmination of a long drive to achieve something on the positive side. It can however, result in taking too much for granted or the autocratic promotion of personal beliefs or you can be exposed to others with this attitude. Conflict over money can occur, or you may overreach yourself in some manner if not cautious.

And finally Venus is square Uranus in Aries and this forms a T-square setting off the Uranus-Pluto square once again, and this can be a major point in time of change. Situations are still fluid at this time, and for some major events and changes will occur and we will see situations that play out on the world stage during this period as well.  But, for whatever change that may occur in your life, it could be tested for validity when Mercury turns retrograde on February 6.

 Again, exactly how these transits play out depend on how they are aspecting your own natal chart. These are powerful days that can being major changes in your relationships and money matters. My advice is to try and harness the energy and move forward, especially with the new moon energy which will last until the next full moon on February 14.

A powerful new moon occurs on January 30 at 4:39 p.m. EST, at 10 degrees of Aquarius, and according to Richard Nolle who coined the phrase 30 years ago,  this is one of 5 Supermoons in 2014. This moon will affects the tides more so than others as it is closer to the earth, and in all ways will be more powerful. The days leading up to the new moon are the dark of the moon when there is little light reflected which is the strongest period psychically and our longings and desires may make themselves known and there can be a shift inward.

This moon trines Uranus bringing inspiration and sudden insights with it. Listen to your inner voice and perhaps you will find solutions to old problems along with new answers as the sign Aquarius is about freedom, and looking at all things in a new light.

 

 

 

Jupiter-Pluto: will terrorism raise its ugly head?

 

As we approach months end January 2014, Jupiter opposes Pluto, becoming exact January 31-Feburary 4, and this transit remains within orb (meaning the planets aspect each other creating events) from the time of this post through April, becoming exact the third and final time April 17-24, 2014, when it becomes part of a grand cross that also involves Uranus and Mars.

Jupiter-Pluto transits generally bring to the fore individuals who have an agenda to push and believe they are right about something. They often embody a 'might makes right,' attitude.  This will inspire many people who are not terrorists to find themselves at war as well, in many areas of their life. This transit relates to obsessive or fanatical behavior and makes some unwilling to hear any other viewpoint, and anyone can encounter this type of individual in their life, or react in this manner. They may be inspired by religion or idealistic reasons, and often overlook critical facts. There are many forms of terrorism: internet bullying, domestic abuse, or bullying period, which is a form of terrorism that may not involve police or military actions except in the most extreme cases.

But, on the world stage this transit relates to terrorism, terrorist activities, and the thoughts of war or military actions, often for idealistic or even politically based reasons. (politics are always based on ideology, after all).

Add to this mix Venus, as she conjuncts Pluto at 13 degrees of Capricorn, January 28-Febuary 6 and you add to the scheme of things the possibility of females being either the victim or the perpetrator of crimes and terrorism, as I have published in other newsletters and have spoken about on radio. Pluto-Venus is typically associated with violence toward women or even rape.

At the time of this post authorities are searching for 'black widow,' terrorists,' or women who have been recruited to commit terrorist actions during the Olympics in early February that take place in Russia. According to news reports on January 22, a senior militant leader was killed during a gun battle with Russian security forces as they hunted three Muslim women dubbed “black widows.”.

Astrologer Nicholas Champion relates Jupiter-Pluto to the rise of international terrorism and the development of both political and plutocratic power in the world. The last time this transit occurred July-August of 2013, the US and other Western Countries found themselves at odds over Syria, and the proposed destruction of its vast cache of chemical weapons, and the US considered an air strike.

US embassies were closed across the Mideast as well during this period. January 21, the BBC reported the discovery of at least 11,000 bodies of victims tortured to death and starved by Syria's regime. There will no doubt be more to be reported over this gross act of crimes against humanity.

This transit falls on the Sun in the US natal chart, so the US will be affected by the Jupiter-Pluto configuration. In mundane astrology, the Sun in the US chart represents the President. As the natal Sun lies in the 7th house (Sibley chart) there may be challenges from those considered enemies of the United States. Jupiter conjunct the Sun may provide some measure of protection.

In the other US chart sometimes used (Gemini rising) Pluto is opposing the Sun from the 8th house of death, and international finance. There may also be some swings in the financial markets during this period, and women's health and reproductive issues may  be in focus again. Astrologer Nicholas Champion states this transit also has to do with patterns in economic cycles. In all likelihood this will manifest as a situation/crisis that involves the nation's debt limit.

 

The winter Olympics are held February 7-23 in Sochi, Russia. Looking at Russia's natal chart Pluto (and Venus through 2-12) are within 1 degree of being conjunct Uranus in the 5th house which rules games, pleasures, entertainment, sports, theatres, young people, social functions and high society.  Jupiter is opposing Pluto-Uranus(and transiting Venus) in the natal chart. It is not a question of if the Olympics are safe from terrorist activities: they are not. It is rather a question of can a terrorist activity be prevented from happening during the Olympics. Again, women figure into this configuration.

 In Russia's chart Saturn is conjunct natal Venus-Pluto at 22 degrees of Scorpio in the 4th house-the homeland. Saturn-Pluto is a dark, stealthy and ruthless energy, but can also represent a tight if not repressive security force.

Mercury goes retrograde on February 6, at 3 degrees of Pisces, conjunct Neptune and this will be a confusing transit and period. It opposes the moon in Russia's chart showing a restless, if not agitated population and a focus on women. Events may be unclear at this time as well as communication. This is likely to be a confusing and disorienting few days as the Olympics begin, and a critical first week. Other critical days are February 11, and the days before and after the full moon on February 14.

This cycle will bring an emergence of terrorist related activities or the results of such activities, just as it brought a near attack on Syria by the US in summer of 2013. Attempted terrorist activities are not limited to the winter Olympics. This will be a test of intelligence and security forces, and no doubt a time of high stress that will not complete until after the grand cross in April.

 

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Wednesday sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) warning that the country would likely exhaust the extraordinary measures used to stay beneath the debt limit by late February. In a previous letter to Boehner, Lew had projected the deadline might not be hit until early March.