The Sun now begins to move through the mystery of SCORPIO. It is ‘the season of the witch’!

When I was just beginning my journey into astrology, I encountered a fellow who authoritatively informed me that as a Scorpio, he was a ‘fiery’ sort of guy. I wrinkled my brow as I tried to understand how this fixed water sign could be viewed as ‘fiery’. I was just starting my beginner courses so I had to stop & think about what he was saying. Then, suddenly, I got it! He was actually zoning in on the Mars side of Scorpio since that planet ‘co-rules’ this energy. Mars is also linked with the sign of Aries, a cardinal fire sign. That is the energy that he felt within himself, impulsive, instinctive, passionate, intuitive, artistic & independent. It’s there, for sure. The Mars side of Scorpio makes this complex energy even more complex than first imagined. In fact, if the Mars side of Scorpio is not properly integrated into the whole of the energy, it can really mess things up. A developed Scorpio will know when to access the primal thrust of Mars without becoming a victim to its potential chaos. An undeveloped Scorpio will suffer the consequences of that potentially chaotic energy at a far deeper level than any Aries ever will since Aries is much better equipped to instinctively push & thrust his way into manifestation! Scorpio, on the other hand, needs to clearly understand his instincts if he is to successfully manage his Mars side.

The planet associated with Scorpio in modern times, since about 1930, is Pluto, now designated as a ‘dwarf’ planet. Most astrologers rolled their eyes when the secular world decided to downgrade the 9^th planet to this status. Call it what you wish, Pluto opens up centers within the self as nothing else can. When Pluto comes into contact with any of your personal energy (& this happens in a multitude of ways!!!), the only thing you can do is take a deep breath & enter the darkness in the cave of your soul to meet your core self, full-frontal…Keep those eyes open, little flower…lol!

That may sound like a scary prospect but it doesn’t have to be. The scary part occurs if you have been living an inauthentic life. Worst case scenario is that the dishonesty upon which you have based your reality structure will begin to tremble & ultimately explode before your very eyes. (Pluto is linked to the atomic bomb—get it?) That, indeed, is scary. What the ego-self seeks is security, safety, a sense of place. Thus, truth-telling can be earth-shaking if your so-called sense of security is based on something that is NOT REAL or even worse, downright deceptive. However, the happy side of this story is that once the lies have been swept away in the tidal force of Pluto’s ‘devastation’, a new day can begin. Gone are all of the old soul-denying elements of your former life. It’s almost like having a blank slate (not quite) to work with. You can begin to fill up the empty places of your SELF with authentic representations of who you are.

An example of this could be something as simple as suddenly realizing that your primary relationship is not an expression of your ‘real’ heart impulse. Maybe you went into it for reasons other than love. Maybe you pretended to be the person you thought your partner wanted. Maybe you had just come out of another relationship that had left you vulnerable & confused. It could well be any number of reasons but the bottom line is that you come to realize that whatever the impulse that led you into the relationship was, it was NOT AUTHENTIC. If you choose to work with the Plutonic energy of TRANSFORMATION, you will have to make some hard choices in regards to your relationship & those choices will inevitably transform your reality. This is not easy but it is always exhilarating.

A real-life example is as follows: A young woman found herself in a ‘dead-end’ relationship even though she desperately wanted to be with someone she could love. Because her motivation was idealistic, (Sagittarius Ascendant), she had overlooked various troubling characteristics that her ‘ideal’ partner displayed. For several years, she worked hard to ‘change’ him (broken wing syndrome), but, of course, that never works. Finally, Pluto began his approach to her ascendant degree & moved into her first house. Suddenly, she reached the end of her rope. The relationship ended (badly). The interesting thing in this experience is that leaving the relationship also triggered further self-assessment which led to her switching careers. Over a few years, she completely altered her public persona through the sheer force of her will (1^st house) to do so. Instead of limiting herself to a 9-5 office job, she became a self-employed entrepreneur & eventually gained a reputation solely by word of mouth. Today, though the journey has not been easy, she is well-known and sought after in her ‘new’ field of enterprise. And, just to drive home the point, this all happened when she was well into her 30’s since she had already created a successful career for herself in her prior incarnation. The point is, that it was not easy, it was damn hard, for her to take the leap into re-invention but after the challenges she endured, she came out the other side, less conflicted & more aligned to her own truth. That’s what the combo of Pluto & the 1^st house can look like if you just resolve to follow your gut.

Mythologically, Pluto (Greek, Hades), is the God of the Underworld, a member of the pantheon of Gods but happy to dwell in his dark mysterious realm rather than with his brother & sister deities. The mythic stories all center around potential loss, reparation, and action & consequence. The stories can be uncomfortable, dealing with core survival issues & taboo subjects. In one of the primary narratives, the story of the abduction of Prosperina (Greek, Persephone), Pluto is a manipulative conniver, kidnapper, & (horrors!), rapist. And yet, in that same story, he appears to win over his victim & come to terms of agreement with his accusers. Now that’s ‘restorative justice’ at work!!!

And, so it is with the astrological Pluto. When Pluto interacts with natal energy, the effects can be devastating, unthinkable, and seemingly irredeemable but ultimately, rejuvenating, if one holds to one’s inner truth through to the end.

Pluto takes about 250 years to get through all of the 12 signs of the zodiac or, in astronomical terms, to orbit the Sun. Since 2008, he has been transiting the sign of Capricorn & will enter Aquarius in the next few years. Because of the elliptical nature of the Pluto orbit, he can spend from 12-20 ish years in any one sign. He will transit Capricorn for about 16 ish years, (& Aquarius for another 20 ish years). Capricorn refers to everything that holds our current reality together, the overlords, the governments, the laws, the monetary systems, the supply chains, …yes, everything that we have come to know & accept about our current social system. Pluto, however, uncovers the flaw, the lie, the UNTRUTH. Over the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that our current social system with all of its hidden & overt power structures is struggling to maintain itself. People have become both increasingly disenchanted with their ‘overlords’ & strangely, more compliant to those same overlords’ demands. The economic grid is in disarray and yet we, in the so-called ‘first world’, continue to cling to the idea that it works. Over and over, it is revealed just how corrupt the political systems, worldwide, really are. Most of the world is under authoritarian control while the so-called ‘democratic’ countries are increasingly shown to be playing at an ersatz democracy. How many times have we heard about rigged elections in the second & third world? Do you really think it is any different here in the first world? And, even if you still have faith in the electoral process that YOU participate in, who, really is running the government. As an example, there are bureaucrats behind the scenes who ‘advise’ each subsequently elected government who have held their positions for decades though not through a democratic process but rather because of powerful union advocacy that prevents them from losing their jobs. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the man who has, for the last 2 years controlled the U.S. response to the so-called Pandemic, is the highest-paid Federal employee in the U.S. and who controls a budget of over 40 BILLION dollars. In many cases, it is his sole privilege to dispense those funds according to his preference. That is the power to influence and yet he has NEVER been elected by the people for the people. There are many like him in all democracies in the Western world.

Finally, democracy can only work if the people actually go out & vote, not because of an aggressive media campaign but because they have actually informed themselves of the critical issues & arrived at a conscious, logical conclusion in terms of who to elect. This is not a particular partisan statement. If you vote left, do you know why you vote left? Can you make a reasonable, clear argument for your position? If you vote to the right, can you do the same? And, even more importantly, are you willing to sit down with someone who holds opposite views from you? Are you willing to actually have a debate about issues with those who disagree with you? Do you have it in you to look for areas of compromise & agreement rather than focusing on difference & dispute? Sadly, most voters (a fraction of those who actually have the privilege to vote: last Federal election, 62% of the population voted here in Canada), cast their vote based on minute-long ads & 15 second sound bites. And, even more sadly, most voters vote for the candidate who is promising them the biggest entitlement, rather than taking the LONG VIEW & choosing what is best for the collective as a whole. No wonder our leaders continue to lie their way into elected office. One can only hope that there are still some honest politicians who will eventually swell in number.

The transit of the God of the Underworld, when secrets that are held can be suddenly & even violently exposed, through the establishment energy of Capricorn, has forced all of us to re-examine the fundamental construct of the society that we have collectively brought into form. Are we living authentic HUMAN lives? Is this really the way we, as HUMANS, should be existing? We have built cities of steel that reach up into the heavens. Some of us NEVER touch the earth with our bare feet. Some of us have never seen a natural living ecosystem, a FARM, that generates our food. We have to ask ourselves if we are satisfied with this state of affairs. What is the future we are creating as we continue to perpetuate this artificial way of life? That is the question that Pluto is asking as he slowly trudges through the social artifice that is our current reality.

There’s a story in Genesis about a TOWER that a mighty hunter, named Nimrod, built to challenge God himself; to demonstrate his power & superiority over God’s creation. His assertion was that he could live in the heavens just like God. The end of that story was that GOD, (the Divine), intervened & totally undid what Nimrod had been attempting to do. By confusing the language of the people, communication was disrupted & the famous TOWER came to naught. Because they could no longer communicate with one another, the people scattered to the far corners of the earth & had to start all over! Nimrod passed away into oblivion leaving behind the morality tale of what can happen when hubris is demonstrated by one who does not have the capacity to actually follow through on his egotistical claims.

Is this what that old story was talking about? Was it a warning that separating ourselves from NATURE would eventually lead to destruction? The Tower of Babel was a monolithic structure that could also represent the singular systems that have been developed in these dystopian times. The global overlords control all aspects of society from distribution of both natural resources & information dispensation to political/economic systems and even to spiritual disciplines. Their control of these various social constructs ranges from the overtly obvious to the clandestine, secretive & manipulative. It is only now, as Pluto nears the completion of his transit through Capricorn that we are beginning to realize how coordinated & complete this control really is. This is the battle that has been raging for millennia, the little man against the big machine. That ‘big machine’ has morphed throughout the centuries, changed its face, altered its delivery system. What has remained constant is ‘the little man’—you, me, us. Nothing can prevent the force of love & goodness which resides in the heart of the ordinary human being. In the end, LOVE WILL PREVAIL. That is the promise that Pluto makes for his transit of the AQUARIUS/ LEO polarity. If we send LOVE out, we will receive LOVE in return. Of the MANY, for the ONE. The ONE for the MANY. May it be so…

Pluto stationed Direct on October 6, 2021, @ 25* Capricorn. He will remain direct until April 29, 2022, when he stations Retrograde @ 29* Capricorn. These are the last few degrees of the Virgo decanate of Capricorn where the final analysis can be made of all that has been uncovered, brought to light. What shall we hold onto? What is now worthless? Can we really make a fresh start with what is left? Is Transformation possible? Think about it.

If Pluto has activated any of your personals during his transit through Capricorn, you are being asked to re-evaluate yourself.

Pluto/Sun: This is the complete transformation of the ideal self. A re-thinking of your core impulse to re-create yourself. What are your hopes & dreams & how can they better reflect who you have become? Can you be the best version of your potential self?

Pluto/Moon: You have been turned inside out & outside in and over again. Are you in touch with your authentic feelings? Have you been to your confessor (your higher self) & laid bare your sorrows & your grief? Can you touch your inner place of JOY? Are you still confined to inauthentic heart-based expressions? Have you found forgiveness for yourself & for those around you?

Pluto/Mercury: Do not be afraid to think the unthinkable. Step outside the box that has held you a prisoner. Be bold in your thoughts & in the expression of those thoughts. Be a FREE thinker! Go where you have not gone before.

 

Pluto/Venus: Do not be startled if you suddenly realize that what you want is not what you have been trying to get. Give yourself permission to love as you will rather than as you must. Be brave & be true to the values that most accurately reflect who you have become.

Pluto/Mars: Accidents happen to those who take a so-called wrong path. Check your map to be sure that you are heading in the right direction. Stop pushing that square peg into that round hole. They do not fit together. If you are currently in the midst of chaos, hang on tight & carry on. The one constant is change.

As we move into this mysterious & magical ‘season of the witch’, the Sun’s transit through Scorpio, we should take the time to look within, go deep into our secret selves & unearth what lies beneath. Self-assessment is never pleasant, even for those amongst us who appear to have succeeded. There is always more work to be done in the struggle to ‘ascend’, and particularly so during these strange, dystopian times when it appears that many in our human family have lost their way completely. Stand steady. Stay the course. Keep searching for your own authentic expression. Only show love to those who show you hate. Forgive them. Love them to the best of your capacity to do so. And, always, stay close to the divine that keeps you safe; she is your constant protector.

From the  THE WAY OF LIFE: ACCORDING TO LAO TZU

translated by WITTER BYNNER

VERSE 18

When people lost sight of the way to live

Came codes of love and honesty,

Learning came, charity came,

Hypocrisy took charge;

When differences weakened family ties

Came benevolent fathers and dutiful sons;

And when lands were disrupted and misgoverned

Came ministers commended as loyal.

 

HOW I CHOOSE THE VERSES THAT I ADD AT THE END OF THE BLOG:

After I have written my blog, I focus for a moment & pick up my copy of the book that I have chosen to use. In this case it is the one translated by Witter Bynner. I hold it lightly, close my eyes & begin to shuffle through the pages until I feel that I have come to the appropriate one. In every case, once I open my eyes & read the verse, I am astonished at the synchronicity that is evident. So far, this process has yet to disappoint me. Other times, I am moved to do some free flow writing & a poem might emerge.

As one of the inner planets, Venus represents aspects of the psyche that are overt or conscious. What we love, how we love it & why we love it are all a part of the Venus function within the self.

Traditionally, astrologers regarded Venus as a ‘benefic’, an energy that was positive. Today, we moderns understand that any energy has both proactive & reactive elements in its make-up. Venus can certainly enhance anything that it touches but, as with anything, there is a dark side to Venus. Love can become obsessive, manipulative, all-encompassing. Desire can turn into militancy if not consciously understood.

Venus is connected to two zodiac signs, Taurus & Libra. The Taurus side of Venus focuses on the internal dynamics of this function while the Libra side externalizes it.

In Libra, Venus seeks to create comfort with others. There is a need for balance which, in the area of inter-relationships often involves negotiation & compromise. When executed successfully, peace is the end result. And so it is, that Venus is often linked both to earthy pleasures, (Taurus) and cooperative conviviality & aesthetic refinement (Libra).

The mythology of Venus, as we understand it, is centered around love, passion, sacrifice, loss & reconciliation for the most part.  We can dip into the Inanna stories, the Demeter/Persephone stories, two of the most commonly known extrapolations of the Venus journey to get a sense of this. However, we can also dig a little deeper & discover a very different understanding of Venus within the Aztec mythology. It’s worth the time & effort to do so. The Aztecs understood the darker side of the Venus principle & regularly made blood sacrifices to this fearsome deity. Ponder that. How is sacrifice, death & sorrow connected to pleasure, love & satisfaction? As mentioned previously, all energy is dualistic in nature. Nothing is all good or all bad.

Part of the Venus cycle, as with most of the planets, involves a period of time when the planet is understood to be moving ‘retrograde’. We have all experienced the sometimes irritable conditions associated with the planet, Mercury’s retrograde movement. That occurs about three times every year. Venus, on the other hand, goes retrograde once every 18 months. This year, in December, we are due for a Venus retrograde!

When Venus retrogrades, the focus on values & deep heart-based impulses is turned inward. We can experience ‘buyer’s remorse’ in regards to established relationships. We might reconsider the essence of our value systems & might reflect on how we could amend our values to better reflect our current state of mind. The most successful humans are those who understand that the only constant is change, & if realized, transformation. After all, the end of the journey is the greatest of all transformations, one so profound that the great thinkers of this reality have spent countless hours pondering it & attempting to articulate it. No matter what your own thoughts on this final transformative process are, you, & for that matter, all of us, will not be able to avoid it. It is one of the two common elements that we all share & experience, birth to life & death into transformation.

The retrograde of Venus can also signal a time when something, either material, emotional, mental, or spiritual may be rekindled; when something ‘lost’ might be found. On the densest of levels, this could be an object of personal worth that resurfaces after a long absence. Emotionally, it could be the rekindling of an old love that heals & completes an unfinished personal drama. Mentally, the cognitive mind might be re-infused with clarity about some long-held but overlooked idea. Spiritually, we might re-dedicate ourselves to an old ritual of worship or service that has been neglected or absent-mindedly laid aside. It’s always interesting to track ourselves & see what it is that we, individually, may have misplaced or forgotten!

Venus begins her retrograde through Capricorn on December 19, 2021, & stations direct on January 29, 2022, covering Capricorn 27-Capricorn 12. Let’s take a lyrical journey through these degrees of the zodiac by examining the Sabian Symbols associated with each degree as Venus retraces her steps.

December 19, 2021 (RX) March 2, 2022 (D)

27* Capricorn: The path we take is our choice to take & in the highest of expressions, it is like “a mountain pilgrimage” where the path, at times, might be steep but the goal is clarity & freedom standing at the top, able to view the grand vista below. Make your feet humble & take the ‘holy road’ into the heart.

December 24, 2021 (RX) February 28, 2022 (D) Venus conjunct Pluto exact (12.24.2021-12.27.2021)**

26* Capricorn: As we follow our path, we must strive to connect with the natural world, with raw energy, with the essence of life. We must polish our intuitive selves so that, just like “a water sprite”, we can easily connect to true knowing, innate wisdom that springs from source & not from man-made artifice.

December 28, 2021 (RX) February 27, 2022 (D)

25* Capricorn: We should surround ourselves with precious things that reflect our values & reinforce what we hold to be dear & true. Just like “an oriental rug dealer”, we must attempt to determine the worth of everything in our lives, test out whether what we hold to be dear is authentic & holds real value or not.

December 30. 2021 (RX) February 26, 2022 (D)

24* Capricorn: There is always a need for times of retreat so that we can refine our senses & draw healing energy. The self needs respite on a regular basis so we must be like “a woman entering a convent” and take time for ourselves, to reconsider, to reflect, to refine, to reinvent all that we are & all that we can be.

January 2, 2022 (RX) February 24, 2022 (D) Venus conjunct Mars in Capricorn exact ***

23* Capricorn: The journey of LIFE can be both fulfilling & arduous in that fulfillment. We can walk with ease when we recognize that any challenge can be met if we cultivate courage & bravery in the face of that challenge. We can then expect “two awards for bravery in war”, one that comes in an external form through victory and honour & one that is realized privately deep within the realized self, an inner sense of having fought the good fight & run the race to the finish.

January 3, 2022 (RX) February 23, 2022 (D) Venus conjunct Mars in Capricorn exact***

22*Capricorn: There is a time for all things under the heavens, a time for victory & a time for defeat. We must refine our inner understanding of where we are in the stream of time. If it is necessary, we must be like “a general accepting defeat gracefully”, knowing that the wheel of circumstance will inevitably turn yet again & our position will also inevitably change from one which acknowledges defeat to one that rejoices in victory. To be humble, to have humility is one of the greatest lessons this life teaches us.

January 5, 2022 (RX) February 22, 2022 (D)

21* Capricorn: In truth, we are running “a relay race”, not a sprint. We must always consider the consequences of our actions, not only in this current lifetime but also in subsequent lifetimes. All actions have equal reactions and so the karmic promise is fulfilled. Do your best to pursue peace & goodness & peace & goodness will follow you & keep you safe. Do wrong & evil will pursue you relentlessly.

January 7, 2022 (RX) February 20, 2022 (D)

20* Capricorn: We are not alone. Whether we subscribe to the knowledge that there exists a spirit realm or we are focused only on this mortal realm, we are many, surrounded by others. For those of us who sense the presence of the spirit realm, we can be assured that support is available; that there is “a hidden choir singing” in the background & the song that they are singing is one filled with blessing for us. There is more to life than merely that which we can see with our physical eyes.

January 9, 2022 (RX) February 18, 2022 (D)

19* Capricorn: We must never become down-hearted with the burdens that we bear. Yes, it is true that at times we feel like “a child of about five with a huge bag of shopping” to carry so that we are overwhelmed with our load. But if we pause and ponder the mystery that is life, we realize that we are never burdened with more than we can bear at any given time. So, whatever the challenge, the sorrow, the difficulty, we can overcome it, we can endure it, we can work through it. In time, all things pass & the path is taken, one step at a time.

January 10, 2022 (RX) February 17, 2022 (D)

18* Capricorn: All in all, we are not alone in this journey called LIFE. How important it is to ‘find our tribe’, like-minded folk who can support us & join us. We humans have always banded together under banners like “the Union Jack” to celebrate alliance, togetherness, commonality. It is a good thing, a thing to be sought & found, this commonality of perspective, principle & purpose.

January 12, 2022 (RX February 15, 2022 (D)

17* Capricorn: Pure & unrefined honesty can be a fearful position for some of us. It’s hard to speak the truth, to be naked in the eyes of others, just as we are and yet, anything less can leave us feeling cheap & deceitful. Perhaps, we need to exercise some judgment, like “a girl surreptitiously bathing in the nude”, and exercise a bit of judgment before we allow others who might not understand our truth to hear the whole of it. Let us be cautious as serpents while still retaining the innocence of doves.

January 14, 2022(RX) February 13, 2022 (D)

16* Capricorn: The self is made up of a variety of layers of being, the physical, the mental, the emotional & the spiritual. We must care diligently for all of these various levels of being since they form the pathway to the soul which is the element that exists both within them all & more importantly beyond them all. We must be like “boys & girls in gymnasium suits”, always at the ready to exercise wisely, to maintain health & well-being on all of these levels so that the channel of energy can flow from soul to self & self to soul unhindered.

January 15, 2022 (RX) February 11, 2022 (D)

15* Capricorn: As we walk this pathway of life, we should cultivate the demeanor of kindness, grace & peace. Say a silent blessing to all who cross your path. Who knows the suffering of any other? Does that other know our own suffering? If we keep in mind that we all have burdens to bear & challenges to face, we will certainly look kindly to those who we encounter. We will be more generous with both our forgiveness & our effort on their behalf. It is the giving spirit that can contribute “many toys in the children’s ward of a hospital” & it is the giving spirit that can exercise itself on behalf of those less fortunate. How can we meet the needs of those who cannot help themselves? There is no one or right response. Each of us must look deep within ourselves to find our own unique answer.

January 17, 2022 (RX) February 8, 2022 (D)

14* Capricorn: Each of us carries within us a lasting legacy that has been built over numerous lives. Or, at the very least over the course of the life that we are all living. It is like “an ancient bas-relief carved in granite”, enduring, impervious to rapid change. What is the theme in our personal ‘bas-relief’? Are we content with this representation of all that we have done, that which we leave behind? In the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

                “Lives of great men all remind us

                We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time”

January 20, 2022 (RX) February 5, 2022 (D)

13* Capricorn:  The universe is a powerful ally. We are powerfully allied to this awesome force. Each one of us must be like “a fire worshipper”, passionate, dedicated, focused on that which we know to be authentic, true, just, right. Nothing should deter us from our path; our eyes must stay fixed on the undying flame of creative self-expression. If we choose to deny our inner truth, we will be burned by the very fire that we seek to embody.

January 23-29, 2022 (RX) January 29-February 4, 2022 (D)

12* Capricorn

The end & the beginning of our journey into our deepest nature. What have we discovered from our inner meditation on all that we value, all that we love, all that we pursue with passion & determination? Our journey into the very heart of our being should lead us into a greater understanding of ‘natural law’, of the organics of everything, of how to live in harmony & holistically with NATURE, herself, our mother who gave & gives us life. We must be like “a student of NATURE lecturing” to any & all who would listen. It is imperative that we all seek a better way to be alive in this critical time of shift. What is ONE THING that YOU can do to align yourself more closely with authentic human existence? It’s a question we should all seek the answer to. (Note that Venus lingers at this degree while she is ‘stationary direct’ for several days. Take the time to get your portfolio of wisdom organized & at the ready. We all have a lot of work to do to reset the damage done over the last few years by those who have no regard for honour, truth, or spirit.)

The “homework” you can do based on the above descriptions is to meditate on the Sabian Symbol connected to each degree of Capricorn on the days noted. How does the essence of that lyrical symbol demonstrate itself in YOUR life? Can you concretize any of the ideals contained in each symbol? It’s a fun self-developmental process that can open up the various chakra centers of your being.

** These days (and the weeks or so before and after the specified dates) can be transformative on a spiritual level. You could experience breakthroughs in regards to self-understanding, re-alignment of core values, a deeper understanding of your own inner moral compass & how it operates in the world of material reality. Be tender with yourself during this time period & especially be forgiving of those around you. Turn the other cheek instead of putting up your fists!

***These days & a few on either side can be rocket charged when it comes to passion & love. Give yourself permission to let your hair down. Take a leap into a new relationship or re-ignite some passion in an old one. Be sexy, be loving, be willing…have some fun!

 

 

The Venus Affirmation

I embrace the goddess of love

In every way

On every day

And my heart is healed & happy

Blessed Be

 

 

As the ruler of Gemini, Mercury oversees the data gathering process. As the ruler of Virgo, it’s all about the analysis of the data that has been gathered. As the function within the psyche that governs intellect, it is vital that when we take in information (Gemini), we have the capacity to also scrutinize the data (Virgo) so as to coherently understand what we have taken in. These two aspects of the intellectual process must work hand in hand for any semblance of sanity to be attained. Imagine if all you did was absorb data & you never organized it into some sort of holistic form. Eventually, you would be like the mind-sick hoarder living in a heap of rubbish that made no kind of sense. It would be as if you had a filing system that had no logical order; as if it was just a random collection of file folders with no name tags to differentiate one from the other. Another word for this kind of system is…CHAOS. And that’s what the energy of Virgo provides to us…an antidote to CHAOS.

As the Ruler of Virgo, Mercury systemizes & makes coherent how & what we think. He becomes the ‘great analyzer’. Everything gets cleaned up & put into order under the firm hand of Virgo. Information is carefully honed so that ideas can be transmitted efficiently & clearly; essential for good communication. Critical thinking is possible under this powerful energy. It is through critical analysis of incoming information that we can make some sense out of the seeming randomness of the universe we live in. There is a tremendous ‘healing’ component to this process. The mind is calmed as data is analyzed. Lies are uncovered. Logic displaces emotionalism. The self becomes settled, able to face the challenges of existence as order prevails. Thank you, Virgo!

At the highest of levels, the Mercury function under Virgo is similar to the Tarot cards, THE MAGICIAN & THE HIGH PRIESTESS. The power of the intellect when it is operating fluidly & in an organized manner is present in both of these two archetypes. The Magician is Virgo at its analytical heights while The High Priestess magically infuses intuition into the data-processing function. Never discount how important the latter is. Einstein, no mental midget by any means, ‘DREAMT’ his Theory of Relativity. While napping, after some hard analytical work, he allowed his intuitive, creative, so-called ‘right brain’ to collate what he had analyzed and woke up to the ‘theory’ that rocked the scientific world!

Mercury also plays a big role in the relationship process.  One could even argue that without good flow between two individual’s Mercury function, relationship is doomed to failure. The Virgo side of this archetype facilitates evaluation. First, we ‘take in’ (Gemini) what our partner is saying & then we make sense (Virgo) of what we have heard. As previously stated, it is not enough to just listen to information. We need to make it relevant. What we hear could be false, could be distorted, could be misleading. How important, then, to disseminate, to evaluate that which we hear. In relationship, if a reasonable level of understanding cannot be reached, all else begins to fray at the edges. However, when both sides of the Mercury function are operating well within the psyche, we lay down the foundation for success in our inter-relational activities. We stay open & non-judgmental & we take the time to understand the words that we hear. The Virgo side of Mercury does not like to jump to rash conclusions without first examining the subject carefully.

After the Moon, Mercury is the next most rapid transiting celestial object. Never more than 28* from the Sun, this archetype either intensifies or enhances & expands the solar force. If you were born when the Sun was transiting Virgo, your Mercury is either in Leo, Virgo, or Libra.

Following are some suggestions as to how the three combos could manifest within the psyche of someone born under Virgo:

Virgo/Leo:  The Creative Analyzer; The Flamboyant Healer; The Executive Assistant

Precision in Self-Expression

This is the ‘balsamic’ connection & could bestow upon the individual a great deal of creative insight & intuitive prowess. Fire energy with Earth energy.

Virgo/Virgo:   The Ultimate Analyzer; The Precise Healer; The Diligent Servant

An incredible Attention to Detail

This could be a ‘balsamic’ aspect (see above) or a ‘new’ aspect which brings much focus to the area of self-expression. Earth energy with Earth energy.

Virgo/Libra: The Diplomatic Analyzer; The Kind Healer; The Attentive Servant

A focus on the Healing Dynamics of Relationship

This will always be a ‘new’ aspect. At its maximum separation, it borders on the semi-sextile which can be likened to a ‘building’ energy somewhat like a step ladder. The core Virgo energy is supplemented, enhanced by the addition of Libra. Air energy with Earth energy.

(Whatever Sun Sign you have, Mercury will always be within 28* of your Sun. The general principles discussed will apply.

eg:  Sun in Aries: Mercury in Pisces; Aries; Taurus

Sun in Taurus:  Mercury in Aries; Taurus; Gemini

Sun in Gemini:  Mercury in Taurus; Gemini; Cancer

Sun in Cancer:  Mercury in Gemini; Cancer; Leo

Sun in Leo:  Mercury in Cancer; Leo; Virgo

Sun in Libra: Mercury in Virgo; Libra; Scorpio

Sun in Scorpio: Mercury in Libra; Scorpio; Sagittarius

Sun in Sagittarius: Mercury in Scorpio; Sagittarius; Capricorn

Sun in Capricorn: Mercury in Sagittarius; Capricorn; Aquarius

Sun in Aquarius: Mercury in Capricorn; Aquarius; Pisces

Sun in Pisces: Mercury in Aquarius; Pisces; Aries)

 

Mercury Aspects contribute to the personality in a variety of ways. Track your own Mercury to see what kind of ‘dialogue’ is going on between the Messenger & the other planets. Any aspect indicates an energetic connection between the two archetypes. The so-called ‘hard’ aspects (dynamic) indicate that the individual can gain much via the connection but usually through challenging experiences & hard-won battles. Alternatively, the ‘soft’ (receptive) aspects indicate past life experiences now coming to fruition. If your Mercury is making a lot of so-called ‘hard’ aspects, your soul force needs you to fight for your intellectual sovereignty. If you have soft aspects involving Mercury, be diligent & use your acquired skills in your day-to-day life! Don’t waste them!

Mercury with the Sun: Clarity of mind & the ability to express oneself; keen articulation. As noted previously, Mercury never strays far from the Sun, so the most dynamic aspect that it can make here is the conjunction, either balsamic or new. Nevertheless, do not underestimate the almost semi-sextile which can facilitate elasticity & objectivity in the intellectual process. When locating the semi-sextile aspect, use very tight orbs to determine if it is viable. (The closer that Mercury is to the Sun, the individual is more inclined to subjective perspective.)

Mercury with the Moon: Emotional expressiveness. The nature of the aspect will indicate the way that this emotional expressiveness might manifest. Dynamic aspects lend energy & verve while passive aspects enhance & facilitate.

 

Mercury with Venus: A focus on the finer things in life; a sensitivity to values; an ability to calculate worth.

 

 

Mercury with Mars: Potentially, the ability to act thoughtfully (conversely, NOT!) & with some kind of a plan of action.

 

 

Mercury with Jupiter: The brilliant thinker; expansive; visionary & creative. The ‘left brain’ working with the ‘right brain’.

 

 

Mercury with Saturn: The ultimate managerial energy. The ability to make concrete any idea that arises. Organized, detail-oriented; methodical & thorough.

 

Mercury with Uranus: The Genius. The ability to step right outside the box & see things uniquely. Sudden & unexpected solutions to seemingly unsolvable issues could easily occur. This is a mind that is like no other.

 

Mercury with Neptune: The dreamer. The psychic. The Seer. There could be an uncanny ability to ‘walk between the worlds’ when these two archetypes combine. The caution is that one must maintain very clear boundaries at all times.

 

Mercury with Pluto: The Psychologist; the Therapist; the Healer. Incredible insight is possible with this combo. Often able to sense the truth even when there are a plethora of untruths being promoted. Others might be uncomfortable around these folks due to this.

 

Without the Virgo side of our Mercury function, we are merely monkeys playing at life. With the Virgo side operating well, we shift into observers (sometimes of ‘the monkeys’) of life, able to maximize what we experience into something useful & long-lasting.

The next Mercury RX period is coming up on September 26, 2021-October 18, 2021 in LIBRA. Be willing to revisit ALL of your partnership & relationship situations. Rework, re-establish, re-create the energy between you & your ‘other’. Re-invest in healing old wounds & resolving outstanding issues. No matter how you have been hurt or how you may have hurt another, it’s NOT WORTH HANGING ON TO TOXIC EMOTIONS. In the end, all that remains is the LOVE that we share.

 

MEDITATION FOR THE MONTH

I STAND IN SILENCE & WAIT

FOR THE BLOOMING DAWN

IT COMES

UNEXPECTED

YET FORESEEN & FILLS

THE VELVET DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT

WITH GLORIOUS LIGHT

 

 

 

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun transits the zodiac sign of Leo at the height of the summer season. Everything is about the light! Nature seems to have no end of bounty to bestow upon us, the little humans who enjoy her gifts. And so, it is more than fitting that the ancients who first began to recognize the relationship between the Sky and the Earth designated that the glorious Sun should become the ‘ruler’ of LEO since this is the Zodiac sign that co-relates to the July/August monthly time period.

In terms of the role that this celestial body plays within the human psyche, it’s all about holding to center. It is by virtue of the sheer power of the magnetism of the solar force that all the elements of the persona are united. In the horoscope, the Sun can be said to be the BEST representation of who you are (not always attained, by any measure!); it can be called the driving engine or ‘horse’ of the chart (this from the Shamanic School of Astrology); it could be equated to the LIGHT of the persona, as opposed to the SHADOW, (this in psychological terms); I think of it as the integrative energy that holds all else in perfect harmony. Just as the Sun is the magnetic center of the solar system, so is the archetypical Sun the magnetic force that all else refers to in the persona.

In a sense, the Sun represents the PHD thesis that you came here to pursue. Whatever the sign it is in, it is imperative to understand the call to action that is described by that sign. We all want to exemplify the majesty of the SUN. We want to shine. We want to give that which is within us to those around us, just as the Sun of the solar system provides the energy required for life to exist.

So, very, very, very briefly, here is a list of key thoughts for the Sun through the signs. This list is meant to be a trigger that you can use to create more key thoughts. And, of course, there are countless articles, books & podcasts out there that explore the nature of the Sun. They are all useful as well.

The SUN in:

ARIES                   

 

The call for Leadership

 

 

TAURUS              

 

 

The call for Security

 

 

GEMINI               

 

 

The call for Intellectual Diversity

 

 

 

 

CANCER              

 

 

The call for Supportive Nurturement

 

 

 

 

LEO                       

 

 

The call for Creative Self-expression

 

 

 

VIRGO                 

 

 

The call for Analytical Understanding

 

 

 

 

LIBRA                   

 

 

 

The call for Balance & Cooperation

 

 

SCORPIO             

 

 

 

The call for Self-empowerment

 

 

 

 

SAGITTARIUS    

 

 

The call for the Search for Truth

 

CAPRICORN       

 

 

The call for Personal Autonomy

 

 

AQUARIUS         

 

 

 

The call for Vision

 

PISCES                 

 

 

 

The call for Compassion

 

 

Now, get yourself a piece of paper & brainstorm other thoughts for the Sun through the signs that resonate with you. Start with your own Sun Sign & turn this into a bit of a soul-searching exercise.

 

 

It is also necessary to understand how the house, or at the very least the quadrant where you find the Sun in the natal horoscope figures into the journey into self-actualization. The houses of the horoscope demonstrate the various areas of life where we play out our personal dramas. With the Sun located in a particular house, this will be a strong driver within the psyche in terms of setting goals, creating intentions & framing the boundaries of the reality. Where your Sun is, there you will find your heart’s desire! Remember, The Sun co-relates to the HEART anatomically. More and more we discover how critical a role the Sun plays in the structuring of our daily lives, both physically & emotionally. If the heart is troubled, the body is not well.

Another exercise you can do is to go through the 12 houses & brainstorm what it means when the Sun is located in each one. As previously recommended, it’s useful to begin with your own chart, find where the Sun is located & get going.

The Sun in house:

1:                            Me First

2:                            What I Desire

3:                            I Question & Explore

4:                            I Protect & Nurture                        

5:                            I Express & Create

6:                            I Serve & Heal

7:                            I Create Commonality & Peace

8:                            I Stand in my Power

9:                            I Search for Meaning & Truth

10:                          I Manage & Keep Order

11:                          I Imagine & Envision

12:                          I Connect to That Which is Beyond Me

 

The next step is to put the two descriptions into something that makes sense TO YOU. For instance, if you have a Virgo Sun in the 1^st House, you might make the following amalgamated phrase:

I create the rules for the kind of Service that I am prepared to offer to others.

Notice the emphasis on ‘I’ & being the boss of the process.

 

Here’s another one for the Sun in Sagittarius in the 10^th House:

I am in control of my spiritual condition.

 

By extracting the essence of both of the descriptions, you can then develop them into one statement.

 

It’s a lot of fun to play around with the Sun in this way. It is useful to do it with charts of folks that you know. You may even get dramatic insights into the nature & action of the Sun through the signs & houses as you do this highly personal exercise. You may find a hidden element that no astrological cookbook could ever give you by looking at real-life people in real life situations.

 

There is SO much more that could be explored about the Sun & the role that he plays within the psyche! But, at the very least, the previously mentioned little exercises can get you going on the journey into a deeper level of awareness about this very important planetary archetype.

May the SUN always shine upon your path

May you be blessed…

 

 

 

As we enter into the summer season, we find ourselves surrounded by the energy of Cancer, ruled by the night-time luminary, The Moon. The Sun’s ingress into Cancer signals that we have arrived at the Summer Solstice, that point in time when, in the Northern hemisphere, the light has stretched out to its maximum length. The farther north that we go, the longer the light lingers. No wonder this time is referred to as the long days of summer.

The Moon is the most magical &, in some ways, the most mysterious of Celestial Objects. Imagine that you are a ‘long-ago’ person who is watching the night sky. You see, over the course of several days, this luminescent sphere of light that continually changes its shape before your very eyes. As the days follow one another, it expands until it fills the night sky with its glow & then, just as rapidly, it begins to shrink until you can only see stars twinkling above you. Imagine how you might have felt as you watched this transformative process pattern itself in the skies above your head! Today, much of the magic & mystery has been stripped away from this truly amazing monthly event. We ‘moderns’ take it for granted because we have all learned about the prosaic aspect of orbits & rotations, but just imagine, if we knew nothing about astronomy. Magic, indeed!

Astrologically, the Moon is one of the primary archetypes that we look at when we are attempting to understand the dominant drivers within the persona. It informs us about the individual’s security mechanisms, instinctive reactions & essential personal needs, to name just a few. It is the Moon that reflects the solar force & it is through the fluctuating nature of the Moon that the personality reveals itself. No one is the same all the time, are they? Just as the Moon changes in terms of shape & luminescence, so do we, as individuals, shift according to the various influences that we experience on a daily basis. In Roman times, the emperors identified themselves by their Moon signs rather than their Sun signs since they understood that the Moon was a much more personal indicator of the psyche than the Sun. After all, as the earth orbits around the fixed star, The Sun, it resides in each of the 12 signs of the Zodiac for about 30 days. On the other hand, the Moon rapidly transits the entire Zodiac in each of those 30-day monthly periods spending only about 2 ½ days in each of the 12 signs. What is more personal to you, the month that you share with a whole slew of others or the day that you were born which you share with far fewer persons?

The archetypal placement of the Moon through the 12 signs of the Zodiac gives us a great starting point as we begin to unravel our essential natures. Much work has been done in this area of Lunar Archetypes. Following is a partial list of some of them. Find your own Moon sign to see if you can relate to the essence of what the archetype is suggesting.

Moon in:

Aries:                    THE WARRIOR: 

Here we find a need for action, autonomy & immediate gratification. Moon in Aries people are assertive & in most cases pretty independent. Good in a crisis because their default is to take action.

 

 

Taurus:                 THE FLOWER CHILD

These people are usually comfortable in their own skins; calm, reliable & practical. They have the ability to create the reality that they most desire. They make solid companions & are easy to be around.

 

 

 

Gemini:                THE TRICKSTER

Moon in Gemini folks are adaptable emotionally. They are eternally youthful & inquisitive about the world around them. Never give a party without some of these folks on your list. Witty, sometimes caustic but always engaging.                               

 

Cancer:                 THE CAREGIVER

These people have a great capacity to give comfort to others. They need to have a quiet & stable personal environment that they can escape to. The absolute best when you are ailing. They know exactly how to make you feel a bit better.

 

Leo:                       THE HERO

Moon in Leo people are the children of the Zodiac. Always needing lots of affirmation & an equal amount of fun in their lives. Because they so need to be loved, they have the ability to give BIG love in return.

 

Virgo:                    THE WISE ONE

These folks need order in their lives. They have an innate ability to research whatever they need to & the more that they organize themselves, the better they feel. It’s always a good idea to have one of these folks if you are needing to get something done. Love to work? Absolutely.

 

 

 

Libra:                     THE LOVER

Moon in Libra people love to love. When they are able to provide others with elegance & beauty, they feel fulfilled & accomplished. When it comes to the ‘companion’ experience, there is none quite like a Moon in Libra.

 

 

Scorpio:                THE MAGICIAN

Nothing is taboo for these edgy folks. If it’s hidden, they want to uncover it. If it’s scary, they push forward right into it. Brave. If you are in crisis or having a traumatic experience, these are the people who will most understand your pain.

 

 

 

 

Sagittarius:         

THE ADVENTURER

Moon in Sag does not want the grass to grow under its feet. No matter where they are, these intrepid folks are always ready for the next big quest, whether actual or imagined. Fun to be around. Big personalities.

 

Capricorn:           THE BOSS

Competent, efficient, self-contained & no-nonsense. It’s all about getting down to business. The reason they are such good managers is because they know how to keep it from getting too personal.

 

 

 

Aquarius:             THE REBEL

These quirky folks see the world in a way the rest of us just can’t. Able to come up with new approaches to old problems. Once they are done with you, they are completely done with you. Good friends to all and any.

 

 

Pisces:                  THE MYSTIC

Poetic & dreamy, these tender ones are the children of the goddess. Their love for humanity & all things natural knows no bounds. Be prepared to venture to magical places when they are around.

 

These are merely a sample of the archetypes that we can apply to the various signs of the Zodiac. You can do your own research to find others that are equally applicable. When working with the archetypal method, the key is to discern how that universal energy might apply in your own day to day life.

 

Another way to dig deep into the Lunar energy of your own natal chart is to determine what phase the Moon was in when you were born. In astrology, we attribute 8 phases to the Moon & each one adds nuance to the persona. You will have either a waxing type phase or a waning type phase. The waxing phase if a growth phase, assimilative, increasing in both experience & application, ACQUIRING assets in its quest for selfhood. The waning type phase is integrative, with an emphasis on adjustment, refinement & understanding, now busy in the process of ALLOCATING the acquired assets to complete the quest for selfhood.

New Moon:  Waxing (0*-45*):    This is the SEED stage. At this time of the month, the Moon goes from invisible to barely visible. New Moon people are eager to learn, interested in all that is new, ready to start things. Lots of ideas & lots of desire to get those ideas off the ground.

In the natural wheel, this phase cover ALL of Aries & half of Taurus. Think about the excitement & zest of Aries & the groundedness & potential growth of Taurus. The idea is born & begins to take form.

 

The archetype for this phase is THE PIONEER.

 

Crescent Phase: Waxing (45*-90*): The SPROUT stage. In the sky, the Moon is a crescent shape & by the end of this phase is a half Moon shape. These people love to “do”. They have a natural vitality & take the ideas of the ‘seed’ stage & run with them. In the Natural Wheel, this phase cover half of Taurus & all of Gemini suggesting both concretization & investigation.

The archetype for this phase is THE ACTIVIST.

 

First Quarter Phase: Waxing (90*-135*):  The ROOT & LEAF stage. The Moon moves from half to humped in this phase. Things begin to fill out. Growth abounds. These are the folks who must act on their principles or die. They can often find themselves in conflict situations because they are so passionate about what they are beginning to believe. Their job is to face their inner crisis & then to take deliberate action to overcome it. In the Natural Wheel, this phase covers all of Cancer & half of Leo suggesting both the internalization process & the outward expression that can result from the inner struggle.

The archetype for this phase is THE HERO.

 

 

Gibbous Phase: Waxing (135*-180*): The BUD stage. The Humped Moon becomes Full in this phase. Things are coming to fruition but not entirely. There is still work to be done; to refine, to analyze, to adjust; to (hopefully) perfect. These folks are more restrained, less impetuous & able to integrate the experience into the enterprise. In the Natural Wheel, this phase finishes the Last half of Leo & takes in all of Virgo. Personal effort leads to refinement of ability.

The archetype for this phase is THE SCHOLAR.

 

Full Phase: Waning (180*-225*): The FRUITION stage. The Moon begins this phase as FULL & gradually wanes to Reversed Humped. A personality on full frontal review. There is a need here to be seen, to speak out, to demonstrate the ‘fruits’ of the self to others. These people have an inborn magnetism that can either draw others to them or, conversely, cause others to be repelled after the initial interaction. Usually, they know who they are & have a strong need to externalize that knowledge. In the Natural Wheel this phase covers all of Libra & half of Scorpio. Interaction & compulsion.

The archetype for this phase is THE PERFORMER.

Disseminating Phase: Waning (225*-270*): The HARVEST stage. The Moon visibly shifts from Reversed Humped to Reversed half in the sky. Here we can discover a deliberative & considered personality. There is an air of stored wisdom, the ability to instruct others, a sense of generosity of self along with a powerful presence of integrity & truth-telling. The certainty of this stage can calm & inspire at the same time. In the Natural Wheel this phase covers the latter half of Scorpio & all of Sagittarius suggesting power & wisdom & incredible ethical conduct but this must be linked to a clearly defined personal mission that one can commit to.

The archetype for this phase is THE PILGRIM.

Last Quarter Phase: Waning (270*-315*): The DECOMPOSITION stage. The visible Moon now shrinks from Reversed Half to Reversed Crescent. Here is a personality in flux. The crisis of the First Quarter phase was all about the need for action but in the last quarter phase the crisis involves one’s essential consciousness. Everything is now being reviewed & questioned. All formulations are held up to the harsh light of day & released as necessary. Whatever is no longer relevant is discarded. Personal transformation is not only possible but, if the self is developed, probable. Out of the fullness of previous wisdom a whole new protocol can be formed.  This phase covers all of Capricorn & the first half of Aquarius in the Natural Wheel.

The archetype for this phase is THE REFORMER.

Balsamic Phase: Waning (315*-360*): The FALLOW or REST stage. The visible Moon now shrinks back into darkness by the end of this phase signaling that a cycle has been completed & that a new cycle is about to begin. There can be two stages within this phase, the first being the Waning Crescent stage, 315*-345* & the second being the ‘true’ balsamic phase covering the last 15* from 345*-360*. In the first part, the surrender of all things begins. There is a sense of completion with a need to spend much time in meditative thought. Whatever needs completion will now be completed. This could result in a life of ‘cleaning up’ of unfinished business. Whatever the case, a key element in this phase is an intuitive body of knowledge that lends itself to great insight. As this phase progresses, there is a distillation of this energy so that the individual could present themselves as one with tremendous psychic ability, either in the area of prophecy or channeling. The transition that is occurring is in preparation for a whole new cycle of becoming that begins in the New Phase. In the Natural Wheel this phase covers the last half of Aquarius & the whole of Pisces.

For the first part of this phase the archetype is THE CONTEMPLATIVE.

 

In the last 15* we encounter THE PROPHET.

 

 

 

 

Once you determine what phase you were born under, synthesize it with the sign that your Moon occupies. You will find, as you meditate on it, that it will reveal subtleties of persona that may even surprise you.

If you do not know what phase you were born under, feel free to send me an email with your birth data & I will send you your information. First name is more than sufficient for this process.

Birth data: day, month year, time of day & geographical location.

 

 

 

 

You have seen the iconic mythic depiction of a capped youth with winged shoes. He is the Messenger for the Gods. That gives us a clue in understanding the Mercury function within the psyche. Its how we connect, understand, relate & communicate.

Often regarded as gender neutral, Mercury operates through both the masculine & the feminine, and at the highest of resonances, in the realm of spirit. If we can make a meaningful connection with ‘the other’, it matters not who or what that other might be. Mercury teaches us that all true connection begins in a place that supersedes difference & rather, focuses on what we can find in each other that is similar. Whatever gender or sex we might be or choose to be, the thing that makes us human is our ability to understand each other beyond the different choices that we make.

The Mercury function, when refined & operating positively, facilitates our interactions. When doing relationship analysis & counseling, look at the two Mercury placements first. The mode of data processing & communication protocols is critical when two people are attempting to make a connection. The key is that each one must understand the preferred mode of communication in the other. As an example, if your Mercury is in a watery sign & your partner’s Mercury is in an airy sign, you must be mindful of not overwhelming your partner with emotional responses to his/her intellectual & often detached queries. On the other hand, your partner needs to ‘hear’ your words & not just shut down when faced with emotion rather than intellect.

Good communication skills begin with a clear understanding of the communication process of the person to whom we are communicating. How many times have you thought that you were saying something obvious & the person who was supposedly listening to your words got it completely wrong? More than once, I bet.

Mercury also has a lot to do with DEXTERITY, both mental & physical. The synapses are sharp & swift in a highly functional Mercury-ruled individual. Have you ever noticed how clever & witty your Gemini friends are? They can be, that’s for sure! And this applies to Gemini Moon & Gemini rising folks as well as those of you who have Mercury, itself, in Gemini or highly focused. Words can flow fast & furious & perception is clear & bright. Physically, hand-eye coordination is on the mark. Balls flying through the air are caught easily & deftly. Reflexes are sure & accurate. Mercury rules the hands as well as the nerves of the body, the lungs, speech, mouth, tongue & digestive system. These are all parts that play a role in getting things moving, ingesting, making connection & intaking, both on a physical & mental level. Notice that all of these body parts play a part in the FILTERING process. It is via filtering that we begin to sort & allocate; put together the things that work together & ‘filter’ out what does not contribute. It is necessary on a physical level to have a smooth working filtering system; strong lungs, sensitive nerves & mouth & tongue, a good digestive system that is not easily upset. Similarly, we must develop a good, strong filtering system on a mental level; thus, the importance of refining the Mercury function within the persona. Teach yourself to THINK CRITICALLY about EVERYTHING, and especially about those things that you think you know for certain. Train yourself to explore alternatives even when the solution might appear to be obvious. Nothing new is ever discovered if we become complacent in our knowledge & understanding. De-sensitize yourself to combative opponents or critical observations. Understand that opposition is useful so don’t take it personally. Rather, examine it & prove it to be true or untrue. By polishing your mental faculties on an ongoing basis, you will optimize your Mercury function, become a discriminating but open-minded individual who is sensitive to the ‘other’s’ point of view.

Like Venus, Mercury hangs close to the Sun so there are only so many Mercury placements that a Gemini born soul can have. The maximum degree from the Sun either way is 28. So, for you folks born under Gemini, its one of three placements: Mercury in Taurus, Gemini or Cancer. The earthy placement, Taurus,  will give you a firmer grip on reality; the airy placement, Gemini, will augment your fluidity & agility, & the watery placement, Cancer, will soften your sometimes caustic wit.

You have often heard of Mercury Retrograde. It has become a rather common phrase in popular culture. This strange phenomenon is not actually suggesting that the planet itself moves backwards in space. Rather, it refers to the illusion of backward movement that occurs when one object begins to move more rapidly than a parallel moving object. Think: train & car moving side by side with the car seeming to move backwards in relation to the train.

When Mercury ‘goes retrograde’, it’s a time to pause & review on the broadest of levels. Think of all the ‘re’ words for any given situation. The best strategy, no matter the sign in which Mercury finds itself when turning retrograde, is to double check all of your activities & maybe even triple check just to be sure!

There are usually 3 Mercury retrograde periods every year, more or less evenly spaced across the 12-month period. They never last for more than a few weeks at most so it is fairly easy to micro manage life decisions when coming up against a Mercury Retrograde. This year Mercury will retrograde mainly in the Airy energies so the focus is on the intellectual & communicative process. Rethink your decisions. Review the reason for your actions. Re-focus your intentions. Re-affirm your commitments. Re-entrench your connections.

An interesting & sometimes overlooked aspect of any retrograde period is the ‘shadow’ of the retrograde. Look ahead & make note of when the retrograde actually ends. This degree denotes the start of the ‘pre-retrograde’ or FORE SHADOW portion of the entire retrograde period. Start being extra mindful around this date. Then, look ahead & make note of the date when the planet moves BEYOND the degree when it turned retrograde. This degree denotes the end of the ‘post-retrograde’ or SHADOW part of the entire retrograde period. This usually extends the retrograde by a few weeks which is why, in some cases, folks can experience glitches or snafus in what appears to be outside of the actual retrograde. In the following list for this year’s retrogrades, make note of the dates that demarcate the shadow periods.

Mercury retrogrades this year: 

Aquarius                                                                            

January 15-30: FORE SHADOW  12*-27*

January 30-February 22: RETROGRADE  27*-12*

February 22-March 13: SHADOW  12*-27*

 

 

 

GEMINI:

May 15-29:                          FORESHADOW  17*-25*

May 29-June 22:               RETROGRADE  25*-17*

June 22-July 7:                     SHADOW  17*-25*

 

LIBRA:

September 7-27:                             

FORE SHADOW 11*-26*

 September 27-October 18:          RETROGRADE 26*-11*

October 18-November 3:              SHADOW 11*-26*

Locate these energies in your own chart & note what areas of life are under review for you. Be mindful when making plans around these dates but please, DO NOT STOP LIVING! We do not want to become ‘helicopter’ caretakers of our existence. Some risk is unavoidable. Just think twice before making the slice!

Some simple Mercury retrograde ‘must-do’s’:

• check all of your electronic equipment several times; back it all up
• check every single outgoing corresspondence before hitting ‘send’!
• track all parcels both outgoing & incoming
• confirm & re-confirm all pre-made appointments
• pause & think before opening your mouth to speak
• give yourself extra time to get to your time-sensitive appointments
• make a list of ‘re’ words & use them
• be ready to re-adjust or re-do
• forgive
• make an effort to clean up unfinished business

Mercury expresses itself positively & negatively. Our job is to augment the positive expressions & minimize the negative expressions. Following is a mini list to get you started brainstorming how Mercury could manifest within your own psyche. If you do not know where Mercury is located within your own birth chart, look at the three descriptions around your Sun sign, the one just before, the one that coincides with your Sun sign & the one immediately after your Sun sign. If you do not have a birth chart, I can send you one via email. Send me your birth data with name (first name & initial is acceptable) & I will send you a basic mandala with legend attached. Day, month, year, time of day & geographical location. Please indicate which house system you prefer to use. Send your request to:

christinaraiw@gmail.com

 

Some KEYWORDS to get you started:

 

MERCURY CAN EITHER BE A SUPERLATIVE COMMUNICATER OR A FORMIDABLE COMBATANT. SCAN THE FOLLOWING KEYWORDS & FIGURE OUT WHICH METHOD OF INTERACTION DESCRIBES YOU BEST!

ARIES:

confident 

impatient

direct

impulsive

original     

insensitive

inspirational

aggressive

 

Taurus:

thorough

limited

deliberate

narrow

Clear  

stubborn

Practical

immovable                                                                              

 

Gemini:

articulate

superficial

perceptive 

inattentive

Clever 

deceptive

                                                                                                                                   

 

Cancer:

intuitive

overly subjective

nurturing

evasive

sensitive to others 

suspicious

 

Leo:

confident 

boastful

Charismatic 

self-serving

Expressive   

dominates conversation

 

Virgo:

logical

practical

critical thinker

Methodical 

skeptical

Analytical

precise   

intolerant

anal

 

Libra:

rational   

indecisive

Diplomatic

charming 

duplicitous

two-faced

Fair

strategically manipulative

 

Scorpio:

Probing

secretive

Deep  

sarcastic

Insightful  

obsessive

observant

focused

 

Sagittarius:

humorous  

opinionated

Intuitive       

incoherent

direct  

Exaggerating

’foot in mouth’

honest

blunt

 

Capricorn:

organized 

dogmatic

Realistic

restrictive

Focused   

inhibited

Shrewd     

dour

 

Aquarius:

individualistic   

erratic

Innovative 

rebellious

inventive    

verbose

 

Pisces:

perceptive

delusional

Poetic      

muddled

Imaginative 

not grounded in reality

holistic   

magical thinker 

creative  

convoluted

 

Are you born with Mercury Retrograde wired into your psyche? You are one of the deep thinkers of the zodiac. Generally, you will tend to be INTROSPECTIVE with the need to first think things through in your own head before blurting them out to the general public. The analytical part of your process is emphasized but the way that you arrive at your analysis is more aligned to the ‘right’ brain way of processing, more comfortable with creative thinking, than the more usual left-brain mode of logical analysis. Conventional schooling could be challenging for you with its focus on data intake & rote learning. Today there are many more options in this regard with schools that implement a more creative & intuitive learning process that is more suitable for Mercury Retrograde kids. When given the appropriate instruction you can grow into the most brilliant amongst us. Whatever the challenge might be in conventional schooling, know that your strength lies in the more fluid approach to learning. These days, educators are much more equipped to deal with the unusual ‘wiring’ that exits in your brain.

Another important feature to make note of is the phasal relationship that Mercury makes to the Sun. If Mercury is in a New Phasal relationship with the Sun, your psyche is primed to innovate, create & lay down new tracks. If Mercury is in a Balsamic Phasal relationship with the Sun, you have the potential to be prophetic, to foresee, to lead the rest of us into the future that you already have imagined.

Mercury rising ahead of the Sun indicates the Balsamic Phase; the Sun is following Mercury into the future. Mercury rising after the Sun indicates the New Phase; the Sun is leading Mercury into the future..

The Mercury function within the psyche is critical when relating to that which is outside of our subjective reality. To grow, we must understand & be understood. Get to know the nuances of your preferred mode of communication. Identify what method of data intake works best for you. Become comfortable with the way in which you process the data that you take in. If you know & are comfortable with this part of yourself, you have a greater chance of developing useful & meaningful relationships; you are more likely to develop clarity of thought; you will be understood & you will more likely understand.

 

One of the loveliest objects in our night sky is our twin planet, VENUS. As the closest planet to Earth, Venus is easily observed without the aid of telescopes. Along with the MOON, she has occupied a prominent place in our ongoing mythological narrative. The orbit that Venus makes is one of the most regular that can be tracked. For this reason, there is a whole sub-school of astrological research that centers primarily around Venus & her connection to Earth. It’s a beautiful orbit that creates both a 5-pointed star & over a longer period of time a blossom that resembles a rose. Everything about this planet whispers love, beauty, order, balance, peace, goodness. Truly, she is the Queen of the Heavens!

In mythology, one of the most celebrated stories is the one about the Birth of Venus. Most of us have seen the painting where a beautiful Venus (Aphrodite) rises up from the waters on a seashell. One of the stories says that she was born from the foam that came from the severed genitals of Uranus (Ouranos) when Saturn (Cronus) flung them into the sea. This adds layers of symbolism to the mystique of Venus. Creativity, life, and regeneration are all suggested as we ponder this somewhat terrifying and yet, restorative narrative. As we sort through the multitudinous stories involving the Goddess, we witness her passion, her creativity, her often fickle nature, her loyalty, and her unrestrained generosity. It’s worth the time it takes to make a deep dive into the various Venusian myths. They provide us with a deeper insight into how this archetypal energy operates within the psyche.

As I mentioned previously, Venus has an absolutely gorgeous orbital pattern when viewed from the Earth. Even though she is understood to be an Inner Planet with a seemingly rapid singular orbit around the Sun, her extrapolated orbital path is much more complex. Personally, I do think it is useful to examine where Venus is located within each Solar Return chart but to get a deeper sense of our personal timeline, the 8-year Venus Return chart is incredibly useful. Tracking the developmental journey via this 8 Year cyclical vantage point allows us to stand back & view how our values evolve as we mature & hopefully grow in wisdom. Think about it in terms of the real-life developmental path. Who are we at the age of 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88…and so forth. How do these ages coincide with other astrological thresholds? The Jupiter Return cycle? The Saturn Return cycle? The Chiron Return Cycle? The Uranus Return cycle?  Number co-relationships are fascinating & the more that we work with them, the more we will understand the rhythm of our lives on this planet.

Because of the symmetry of her orbit, Venus represents herself in the Earth sky either as the ‘Morning Star” or the ‘Evening Star”. An elaborate narrative based on the Inanna, (a Sumerian deity), myths developed over time. These myths told a story of loss, betrayal, passion, jealousy & ultimately redemption & re-birth. Inanna descended into the underworld where she moved through a series of personal trials until finally, she found her own re-birth, though not without the help of others. This same theme, the play between loss & survival, the long descent into a dark, forbidding ‘underworld’ & the subsequent ascent & renewal of life is found in the myths of many & various cultures. The Greeks retold this story in the Demeter (Ceres)/Persephone (Proserpine)/Hades (Pluto) myths. (Roman names in brackets.) It is well worth the time to dive into these stories & ponder how they might reveal the nuances of the Venus energy within the psyche. Are we caught in an ongoing cycle of re-birth that is tied to our deepest expressions of love? How do we move between grief & healing? Does the nature of our heart energy sustain us as we divest ourselves of all that we thought was dear to us? How do we express our Venus energy? On the broadest of levels, ‘Morning Star’ people externalize their Venus energy, while Evening Star people are more internalized in their process. It’s fairly simple to determine what ‘STAR’ type you are if you have your natal chart. If your Venus falls in a lesser degree or BEHIND the Sun, zodiacally, you are a Morning Star type & if Venus is in a greater degree or AHEAD of the Sun, zodiacally, you are an Evening Star type. There is, of course, much more to it than simply externalization or internalization & a truly wonderful exploration of the Venus cycle from this one perspective is the research done by astrologer Adam Gainsburg in his book, THE LIGHT OF VENUS. In his study of this complex area of astrology, Mr. Gainsburg delves into the nuances of the Venus cycle, her relationship to the Moon by conjunction & the symbology of Venus Retrograde. If you want to get to truly ‘know’ your inner Goddess, go find his wonderful book!

 

The Glyph for Venus is comprised of the circle & the cross.

The circle represents spirit & it sits upon the cross of matter. At the highest of expressions, Venus points the way into the eternal being of the divine from the finite expression of the physical.

 

 

Astrologically, the highest expression of the Venus principle within the personal psyche is functional discretion; that is, what we value & how we express our values. How deeply ingrained is our own inner moral compass & in which direction does it point? Today, we live in a reality where it is more common to express ourselves through the lens of ‘situational ethics”. Objective standards have given way to subjective ones. The challenge woven through this shift is that, if our subjective standards are not based on ethical premises, it can lead to decisions that are less than appropriate; that is, the discretion that we exercise can be less than functional, even dysfunctional. As we move from the Piscean age of rules & regulations (embodied in the polarity of Virgo; using systems to access the divine), into the newly forming, Aquarian Age, we must be diligent in ensuring that our individual inner moral compasses are attuned to the highest principles, in service of the greater good (Aquarius) so that we do not fall victim to self-serving ideologies (the Leo polarity), as a result. When we know what we love & why we love that thing, we can make decisions from a place of clarity. How important it is to refine ourselves in this area; to learn to love that which is healing, that which creates wellness both in ourselves & in those around us. Many of the global problems that we face today are a direct result of nebulous standards of ‘righteousness’. If LOVE is not the absolute to which we attune all else, then our inner moral compass becomes muddied. When we allow base urges to dominate, then the absolute of LOVE cannot prevail. Only purity can beget purity. One of our challenges as conscious beings is to strive towards purity & the absolute of principled LOVE.

Interestingly, traditional Astrology ascribes the exaltation of Venus to the zodiac sign of Pisces. When our basic inner values are aligned to the divine (Pisces), we can more confidently make important moral choices even when in the grips of ‘situational ethics”.

Venus has long been viewed as one of the ‘benefics’ by astrologers. Simply put, she is considered to be a source of blessing rather than one of warning. However, even Venus has her dark side. Unrestrained Venusian energy could demonstrate itself in indulgence, a self-serving persona, pleasure-seeking & hedonism. Dark Venus can overtake the senses so that one spends all of one’s time searching for the ‘next fix’ to sate the hunger within. Passion can masquerade as love, consume the heart and just as suddenly, burn out to leave the person unfulfilled and hungering for the next passionate experience. All of these kinds of demonstrations of the Venus “Principle” stem from unrefined energy, an energy that flows from selfishness rather than altruism.

Just as we discussed last month with Aries & Mars, anyone with the Sun in Taurus should carefully investigate their Venus energy. Let’s take a quick peek at how the various zodiacal placements of Venus, within the natal chart, might interact with the Taurus Solar force. There will only be a limited number of signs where Venus can be located for someone born under the Sun sign of Taurus because of the intersectionality of the two orbital paths. Venus is never more than 47 degrees away from the Sun in either direction, so she might be anywhere from mid-Pisces to mid-Cancer for the Taurus Sun person. In future blogs, we will run into Libra people who are also ‘ruled’ by Venus & explore that connection.

Sun in Taurus/Venus in Pisces:

Your ability to accept the impossible knows NO limits. Sweet, loving, forgiving, tolerant, you can overlook the warts of others without a second thought. The softest of all hearts out there…Your gift is your ability to embrace without censure.

 

Sun in Taurus/ Venus in Aries:

You add passionate commitment to an already loving nature. There is a spring to your step & you aren’t nearly as patient as people might think you are. Eager & irrepressible rather than staid & solid. The fire within your soul burns brightly. Your gift is a zest for life.

 

 

Sun in Taurus/Venus in Taurus:

What a lover! Solid to the core; you bring comfort & stability to everyone around you. Touchy/feely, you like to give & receive physical kindnesses. Your gift is your constancy.

 

Sun in Taurus/ Venus in Gemini:

You have the mobility that other Taurus Sun people would love to acquire. Your loving nature is supported with a ready wit & an even readier smile for everyone you meet. Your gift is laughter.

 

Sun in Taurus/Venus in Cancer:

Absolutely unstoppable when it comes to compassion. The light in your eyes makes everyone feel cared for. It never occurs to you that you have any other choice but to nurture both body & heart. Your gift is your kindness.

Finally, when Venus is retrograde, yet another layer of complexity is added into the persona. Venus Retrograde folks are rare & a group unto their own. The relational aspect of Venus is turned inward & the focus must be on developing a full & mindful inner relationship with oneself before all else. This does NOT mean that one can never have meaningful relationship with ‘the other’, but it does suggest that one needs to have inner harmony before meaningful relationship with the other can be attained.

On a mundane level, when Venus goes retrograde, that which is forgotten, hidden, lost could be re-discovered. Old friends reappear, precious objects are re-located, old emotions resurface. I always look forward to Venus Retrograde periods because I never know what treasure might be waiting for me!

Next Venus Retrograde period? December 18, 2021, at 26°29’ of Capricorn to January 28, 2022, when she stations direct at 11°5’ of Capricorn. So, get ready for some big reveals!

 

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HAPPY VERNAL EQUINOX !!

It is Aries time: March 20-April 19! Let’s go!

 

 

Understanding the general import of the 12 signs of the zodiac is the beginning of all there is to know…in astrology! LOL…

But…there is SO much more to it than just taking a magical mystery tour of the zodiac from Aries to Pisces!

Each individual ‘sign’ (read: energy), is associated with a specific planet, (sometimes more than one), in the solar system. The planets of the solar system are representative of fundamental ‘drivers’ within or facets of the personal psyche. Simply put, they are aspects of the self, viewed through the lens of archetypes & mythology. Astrology is probably the longest-running lab experiment in human history; that is, through the process of OBSERVATION & CORRELATION, we have compiled a vast amount of data about the workings of the human body, mind, heart & soul. Over millennia, this data has been investigated, applied, tweaked, and otherwise worked with so that we can, with a high degree of certainty, make some pretty accurate observations about human behaviour by looking at the birth chart (SOUL MANDALA) of any given individual. This process is so uncannily accurate that even the hard-core skeptics have to do intellectual gymnastics to deny its often eerie pronouncements. YIKES!

Exploring the planets of the zodiac provides us with a deeper look into the workings of the persona, and often, it explains why we don’t resonate with the description of our ‘sun sign’ when we read about it in a piecemeal astrology cookbook. Suddenly, when we start to uncover the planetary connections to the signs, we are not just Astro scavengers scratching around the surface dirt of the astrological ‘dig’, we have gone to the next level of meaning for any given energy that is featured within the mandala of our soul—the birth chart.

I want to keep this blog short enough that I don’t lose your interest so I’m going to be as brief as possible. What I am trying to say here is that there is no way that I am going to cover EVERYTHING about MARS. But I’ll make a start. As always, do your own digging. Get a lot of different perspectives. We are so fortunate these days that we have this seemingly infinite storehouse of knowledge literally at our fingertips. Get those fingers moving & discover, unearth & learn!

So, what’s this planet, MARS, all about? Here we go!

Astrology drew on the myths of many people to construct the archetypes that are currently understood to represent the planetary energies. I believe that we are in the midst of a shift of perception in this regard but still, to create the future, one must draw upon the past. With that in mind, here are some mythological keynotes on ARES or as the Romans knew him, MARS.

Ares was the offspring of Zeus & Hera but, it appears that he was not overly liked by his parents; too impulsive, headstrong & unpredictable. Often confined and left alone, we moderns would most probably assign some kind of psychological abandonment disorder to poor old Ares (Mars). Some of the stories tell us that it was Hermes (Mercury) who eventually forged a relationship with Ares. Priapus, Hermes’ son, became his tutor and taught him the art of dance & movement. Eventually, he acquired great prowess as a warrior, thus the sense of power & might that we often feel around folks with highly focused Mars energy. And the elegance of movement! Have you noticed that? That is the dance part of the process. Interestingly, war (the domain of Mars), has often been likened to a dance or an art.

Ares (Mars) grand passionate love affair was with Aphrodite (Venus), with whom he had several children and though Ares was not faithful, their relationship endured despite the infidelities. The Romans, who named him Mars, believed that the twins, Romulus & Remus, were his offspring. These two, born of a woman & suckled by a wolf went on to found the great city, Rome. Mars energy is co-related to the SOLAR PLEXUS chakra, the source of creativity. Truly great artists are often unrestrained, passionate, uncontrollable, even aggressively so.

Mars is most often known as THE GOD OF WAR, but that is not all. Mars is associated with Birth, the Vernal Equinox, or Spring, thus reinforcing that sense of initiation, beginning, renewal.

As we ponder these various stories, we get an insight into the energy of Mars. This is the energy of eventual self-determination, strong will, singularity born of necessity & passion. Ares (Mars) learned how to stand on his own two feet early on. He took matters into his own hands despite obstacles put in his path. He loved fiercely. He avenged wrongs brutally. His actions were not so much calculated, but rather, born of impulse & emotion. Thinking was not his strong suit. It is interesting that early on he was tutored by Priapus, the son of Hermes, (Mercury), suggesting that it is via the intellect & reason that we can learn to manage our passions & impulses.

As I said earlier, I believe that our understanding of the archetypes shifts as our collective experience evolves. We moderns have developed many strategies to manage this primal energy within our psyches. Mars energy is the energy of survival so it is not surprising that when survival depends on immediate response to life-threatening situations, it can often be deployed in an aggressive & even violent fashion.

In the so-called lesser developed parts of the world, we can still see the unsubtle, raw energy of aggression & assertion demonstrated in the name of sheer survival while in the so-called advanced societies, we have learned to mask our primal urges and even repress them.

Mars is considered to be the lower octave of Pluto. Pluto is the most distant of the outers & along with Neptune & Uranus, Pluto represents the deepest part of our psyches & even beyond that, the soul, itself. Mars, then, as the lower octave energy represents the deployment energy of the soul force energy. It is through the auspices of our individual Mars energy that we enact the needs of the SOUL. If we can align our Mars functionality to a higher vibrational resonance, it is far more likely that we will eventually align to our individual soul purpose. It is for this reason that most major spiritual practices have exhorted their followers to refine, control, manage their desire body.  If desire is left unchecked, spirit cannot be served. Aligning desire to spiritual pathway then channels these base impulses into a higher form of expression on this earthly level.

So, in the birth mandala, Mars tells us a lot about how we make things happen in our life; how we take action; our ‘M.O.’, modus operandi. Whatever energy you have, overall, your Mars placement informs your STYLE, the way that you present yourself out there in the world around you. Let’s look briefly at how Mars might function in the 12 signs with the qualification that this is merely a superficial peek into this complex & essential energy. All observations will be modified by the inter-relational aspects of Mars, as well as the area of the mandala that it occupies. However, a good starting point is Mars through the 12 zodiac signs. Once you look over these initial descriptions, your homework is to brainstorm more descriptions based both on your ongoing study & your personal experience. Keep your brainstorm lists & keep adding to them. You will be truly amazed at the depth of your own understanding as it is right at this moment, & at the manner in which it grows if you keep at this process.

Let’s consider that Mars is our INNER WARRIOR, showing us, through the symbolism of the zodiac, how we fight for what we want, how we enact our basic impulses, not only for survival but also for advancement & improvement. And let’s look at both sides of the picture, the light & the shadow side. Keep in mind, Mars in the chart symbolizes our warrior energy while the sign it is placed in DESCRIBES the flavour of that energy. We all have an INNER WARRIOR but he deploys himself uniquely for each one of us.

 

When Mars is found in:

ARIES:

DIRECTLY, FORCEFULLY

OR  

INCONSIDERATELY, RASHLY

 

TAURUS:

PERSISTENTLY, THOROUGHLY

OR:

STUBBORNLY, IMMOVABLY

 

 

GEMINI:

FLUIDLY, WITH VERSATILITY 

OR:

WITHOUT FOCUS, INCONSISITENTLY

 

 

 

CANCER:

PROTECTIVELY, COMPASSIONATELY

OR:

IRRATIONALLY, DEFENSIVELY

     

LEO:  PASSIONATELY, AMBITIOUSLY

OR:        

SELFISHLY, EGOTISTICALLY

 

 

VIRGO: DELIBERATELY, ANALYTICALLY

OR:

ANALLY, OVERLY CAUTIOUSLY

 

 

LIBRA:  WITH FINESSE, HARMONIOUSLLY

OR: 

INDECISIVELY, DUPLICITLY

 

 

 

SCORPIO:   INTENSELY, WITH DRIVE 

OR:     

RUTHLESSLY, MANIPULATIVELY

 

SAGITTARIUS:  

ENTHUSIASTICALLY, OPTIMISTICALLY  

OR:       

RESTLESSLY, UNREALISTICALLY

 

CAPRICORN:  

CONSTRUCTIVELY, MEASURED

OR:

CONTROLLING, OPPRESSIVELY

 

 

 

AQUARIUS:

UNCONVENTIONALLY, INCLUSIVELY  

OR:

ERRATICALLY, REBELLIOUSLY

 

 

PISCES:

PEACEFULLY, GENTLY

OR:

IN A CONFUSED WAY, MUDDLED

 

The key to working with these types of brainstorming lists is to be very fluid when compiling them. Do not be overly critical of your list. You can add or delete descriptions at will. NOTHING is ever written in stone. Reason? The birth mandala is a living thing. It represents YOU, a complex pattern of energy that is always in flux. As you move through life, so does the energy around you move through a variety of expressions which then interact with your natal energy resulting in a beautiful breathing living being. Delightful!

 

So now we come to the last bit of this current blog, and that is the bit about what, in astrology, is called RULERSHIP. Mars is the ‘ruler’ of Aries & the co-ruler of Scorpio. Everyone born under the Sun Signs of Aries & Scorpio will have their basic solar energy MODIFIED by whatever sign of the zodiac their natal Mars is occupying. Simple, really & oh boy, several lights switch on once we see this connection! That is the next level of delineation that I mentioned previously; the reason why some have questioned the validity of astrological description. The chart is like a complex woven cloth. The individual strands of energy weave in and out of one another creating a unique pattern that cannot be duplicated. Its magical & mysterious all at same time. This month we will stick to Aries as it is the birthday time for solar Aries folks. Later, we will look at Scorpio as well. So, if you were born under the Sun Sign of Aries & know where your Mars is located, consider the following:

Mars, ruler of Aries in:

Aries: You will be a true Aries type for the most part. Direct, impulsive, unrestrained, headstrong & absolutely certain you know what you are doing. Be careful to manage that exuberant fire energy so that you do not burn everyone around you!

Taurus: You are an unstoppable force, much less flighty & way more grounded. You have the capacity to put your ideas into concrete form because you have the back up of determination & constancy of action. Be careful that you do not crush everyone in your path because you definitely have the ability to do so.

Gemini: You clever monkey! Fire & air combine here to give you incredible versatility & the ability to multi-task your way into success. Ideas come fast & furious for the most part. Intuitive to the extreme. Be careful that you manage your organic self as you have the capacity to run on empty without realizing it.

Cancer: Your fighting spirit comes in a sweet & nurturing package. You can be a fierce fighter for those who are in need of a champion. One of the nicest things about this combo is that you can make people feel really safe when you are around. Be careful to monitor your emotions as sometimes you will act defensively when there really is no need to do so. Sometimes, the monsters in the closet really are merely clothes on a hangar.

Leo: Fire energy is supported by Fire energy to create an ongoing creative explosion of self-expressiveness. You have big energy, big ideas, big, big big. If you want the support of those around you, stop & notice who they are. They have big ideas too!

Virgo: You are blessed with the ability to sort your way through any initiative. Able to see the eventuality before it actually arrives, you can make corrections to your strategies as you need to. A good inspirational planner, your presence in any group provides thoughtful leadership. Learn to honour both your analytical & intuitive sides. If you feel irritated by others’ failings, count to ten before flying off the handle. Remember, perfection is an illusion.

Libra: You are fierce when it comes to equality, justice & truth. You will stop at nothing to create peace. Your courageous leadership is facilitated by a finesse of implementation. You understand conflict on a gut level & thus make one of the best conflict resolvers. Try hard to be as brutally honest as you can be so you don’t lose the respect of those around you.

Scorpio: Your passion is supported by an intense drive to succeed. You have twice the courage, twice the stamina, twice the commitment to your initiatives. Be aware that not everyone has your single-mindedness of purpose or the amount of sheer forceful energy that you have. Try to be gentle with those around you. You are the Supreme General; they are your foot soldiers.

Sagittarius: Your enthusiasm for adventurous initiatives knows no bounds. Always eager to get to the next project, start the next enterprise, you can be tireless in the pursuit of your vision. Your presence in any group can be inspirational to its members so make sure that you follow through & don’t leave them in the lurch. Slow down so you don’t trip over your feet.

Capricorn: This is EXECUTIVE energy. Your capacity to manage & lead can result in ongoing success for you. You have a keen eye for planning along with an innate ability to know when to take action & when to delay action. This gives you a firm grip on that exuberant Aries energy from a deep inner level, the gut. Used appropriately, this is manifesting energy. Don’t overlook the heart in any situation. Consider how others feel from time to time. It’s never all about the bottom line.

Aquarius: What do you want to accomplish? It’s your choice. You are the Master of many trades if you choose to be. Able to fit into any group & contribute to it, you are passionate about your ideals. If what you are doing does not align with those ideals, you can become cynical & ruthless so make sure that you are working in harmony with core values. Learn to respect other peoples’ principles so that you can find a way to work with rather than against.

Pisces: This placement will add an element of compassion & sensitivity to a sometimes insensitive, uncompassionate energy. You have the ability to tune into what others are feeling & then to modify your behaviour to facilitate progress. Just your presence in any group will lower the temperature if it gets too hot. On the highest of vibrational levels, you are a transformer for other’s chaotic emotions so make sure that you regularly ‘debrief’ by clearing your aura after being immersed in conflict, discord, or anger. Best way? Salt baths that replicate the oceanic environment. Salt scrubs to cleanse your skin & etheric body. If you feel overwhelmed, leave the environment you are in. Don’t be a hero at your own expense.

 

As I have said more than once, everything here is merely a starting point. There is so much ingrained in the beautiful thing I call THE BIRTH MANDALA. Every layer we reveal leads us to another layer yet to be revealed. Take some of these descriptions & then brainstorm your own. If you cannot think of anything for a particular combo, let it go & move on to the next one. This is an unfolding process and there are no rules except the ones that work for you.

So, Happy birthday, all you Aries folks! It’s your month; March 20-April 19…Happy SPRING EQUINOX!

 

Next month, goddess willing, we will look at Venus, ruler of Taurus & Libra.

 

By now, if you have been keeping up with this ongoing exploration of the energies of the zodiac, you can anticipate what I am about to say.

Pisces energy is somewhere in EVERYONE’S psyche! This is the energy of all that is mystical, dreamy, imaginative & for some, spiritual.

 

Pisces is one of the 3 water signs, the other being Cancer & Scorpio. In Pisces, emotion is expressed in the least personal way of all three. This is the broad brush of emotional energy, far-reaching, altruistic, principled. Let’s use a watery image to attempt to capture the nature of Pisces. It’s like the ocean; vast & seemingly without end, deep & hard to penetrate, mobile & with sudden shifts of directional flow. The ocean can inspire but it can also overwhelm. Pisces emotion is best described as compassion devoid of attachment to the object of the compassion. It is universal love rather than individual love. It is the place of peace in the left hand of the divine, that most exalted of positions. 

 

It is a mutable energy, one that is adaptable, malleable, and shiftable.  Like the ocean referred to previously, the waves can move in numerous directions all at the same time. And so it is with Pisces; this energy flows instinctively where it needs to flow. In the natural wheel of the zodiac, Pisces finds its home in the 12^th house, a sector of the horoscope that co-relates to the unconscious mind, and to the formative period in human development. In the first few hours after birth, much is absorbed by the newly manifested being and it is a time when the soul of the being is very close to the surface of the skin. The infant science of psychology has only just begun to scratch the surface of the intricacies of emotional and mental development but I think that most thinking individuals will agree that what happens to a person in their early years forms the foundation for all that follows. I would add that what happens in the first few hours after birth is critical to later development, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Pisces provides the self with a template for all of this. So, understand that this is the part of the psyche that absorbs stimuli and processes these stimuli, assimilating information into the most interior areas of the self. This absorption is multi-faceted, organic, sensate, emotional, ethereal, of the heart, of the mind & of the soul. Obviously, this process continues throughout the life journey and so we can co-relate Pisces to that part of the self that intuits, senses, ‘knows’, without the need to prove or substantiate, as opposed to Virgo, the partner sign to Pisces, which absolutely needs to disseminate & analyze in order to absorb data.

 

The symbol for Pisces is the dual fishes but note that they are fashioned as if pointed in opposite directions. This is usually understood to represent the dual nature of human existence, the pull to spirit and the pull to flesh. But another way to understand the movement of the two little fish is to see them chasing each other’s tails, creating a circular movement. A circle of being is thus suggested and more than anything else, Pisces is the place where we can connect to the eternal, the infinite. Pisces flows through life (water) in a continuous, unbroken way. What a beautiful affirmation of the constancy of being—always the same, though always different.

 

 

So, Pisces is spirit, the yearning to find the divine, the place of understanding that supersedes any mental process, the ‘aha’ experience that makes sense of the chaos and brings light into the darkness. Pisces is intuitive, gentle, yielding, forgiving. Anyone with an emphasis of this energy in their psyche must learn to listen to their inner sense. And I will say here that not all Pisces types will ‘hear’ their inner voice in the same way. What is universal for these types is that there IS an inner sense of some kind and that often, these types will have early life experiences that result in a sense of alienation, aloneness, and separation from others. They are often misunderstood and even shunned by those who cannot as easily connect with the ethereal world. It is essential that these sensitives find their own place of ‘ground’ or security within their own selves. They must create their own criteria of relevancy because often others will not ‘get it’. Nevermind, little Pisces, what you know is what others aspire to know. What you feel is that which is true so hang on to that truth about yourself.

 

As with all energies, Pisces has a Shadow. Confusion is one such manifestation. Pisces types must work hard to stay clear. Think back to the image of the ocean. There’s just too much water! So it is, with Pisces. Depending on the rest of the chart, of course, the Pisces like person is acutely sensitive to all forms of incoming energy, whether positive or negative. Because of this, the Pisces-like person must be rigorous in her attempt to develop discernment & maintain healthy boundaries. This is a steep process so until a level of hard-headed analysis is reached, confusion can be the result.

This can lead to another shadow—a lack of focus. Often described as dreaminess from a positive perspective, lack of focus can rob the individual of ever finishing what she has started. Again, this is a broad-brush commentary; every Pisces-like person is unique. The rest of the energies in the birth mandala will be instrumental in how the Pisces part of it actually concretizes in the form of characteristics & proclivities. As an example, you may be a solar Pisces with the Moon in Capricorn or your Ascendant might be in Capricorn. Your so-called lack of focus will be much less in evidence than another solar Pisces with the ascendant or Moon in Gemini. Gemini will contribute to a personality that is much more casual & fun-loving while Capricorn will give you the tools to turn your dreamy power of imagining into something tangible & useful. Happy you, if you have been blessed with the Geminian love of fun & lightness! Lucky you, if you happen to have a good dose of Capricorn in you!

Another Shadow is a tendency to form addictive behaviors. Pisces can easily fall into varying degrees of dependency, different forms of compulsion & a pattern of seeking escape from a sometimes-harsh reality. Again, the positive side of this problematic shadow is a brilliance of artistry. Pisces has the ability to imagine the unimaginable & if the shadow is avoided, it is in Pisces that we find the POET, the ARTIST, the DREAMWEAVER.

An example of a Solar Pisces who was able to use the positive side of the shadow, was Albert Einstein, born March 14, 1879. His Pisces Sun was firmly grounded by Neptune in Taurus & provided him with a high degree of dispassionate objectivity by Jupiter in Aquarius. His Moon in Sagittarius was similarly ruled by Jupiter in Aquarius, providing him with a capacity for fearless adherence to principle, albeit ones that he considered to be of prime importance. With both Mercury & Venus in Aries, ruled by an exalted Mars in Capricorn, he had the inherent capacity to be a fearless thinker & apply values that were founded on individualistic experience. He was not a follower by any stretch of the imagination. That Capricorn Mars, in mutual reception to his Saturn in Aries, provided him with the focus & drive that he needed to ride his solar Pisces energy right into the heart of matter & energy, and in a way that had never been done previously. He was a “one of a kind” independent & fearless thinker. A famous story often told about Albert was that his theory of relativity came to him in a dream. What an absolutely perfect Pisces process! And he, with all that enterprising & uncompromising energy concretized that dream into the foundations of our modern world. Amazing!

To see Albert’s chart, just click on it.

 

Here are some possible descriptions for Pisces through the personals.

 

Moon in Pisces: Sensitive to the extreme, you can ‘feel’ others just by being in their vicinity. Sometimes, this is not even necessary since you have the ability to IMAGINE being in their vicinity! You are constantly adjusting yourself to the changing environment around you with an innate ability to go with the flow once you get the hang of it. Compassionate to the core, you are a heart-based giver to all. You may find yourself ‘alone’ but you will never be lonely since the interior of your mind is filled with engaging ideas & dreams. Take as much personal time as you need. Seclusion recharges your batteries. Make it a habit to commune with the Moon. Just go out into the night when Luna is shining bright & breathe her in!

 

Mercury in Pisces: The potential for so-called ‘psychic’ ability is high. The nature of your thinking is, at the best of times, dimensionally creative. ‘To imagine is to create…’ could be a mantra for you. Able to make connections that others marvel at, take the time to explain how you got to your conclusions. We all wish that we could leap from mountain peak to mountain peak the way that you can. Love is your natural language. Use it. Develop your own unique vocabulary by allowing the words to rise up in your consciousness uncensored. Not always easy but once you get the hang of this process, you will find that your language will inspire those who hear it.

 

Venus in Pisces: Universality in the expression of divinely inspired LOVE is your strong point. Able to love without judgment, you are the natural healer of the zodiac. You can be moved to the very core of your soul by an inspiring piece of artwork as by another individual. It’s how it impacts you on that most intimate of levels. Practice discrimination from time to time so you don’t get lost in the depths of your feelings & keep on the watch for all those ‘three-legged dogs’, whether animal or human. Your non-judgmental ability to accept the most broken amongst us could, if not monitored carefully, lead you into problematic situations. Remember…BOUNDARIES!!! Practice therapeutic touch because you have the capacity to relieve others of their stress.

 

Mars in Pisces:  The potential to find one’s path instinctively by following flow is high. Conversely, because of the fluid nature of this placement, one must be mindful about setting boundaries & establishing protocols for action taken. All initiatives are linked to the feeling nature so to succeed, one must believe in one’s goals, be they material or spiritual. Romantic to the core, the sexual nature can only fully express itself if Love is included. One of your objectives is to develop DISCRIMINATION. You get so many messages that you need to discern which are valid & which are merely background noise. Remember, not all intuitions are founded on objective reality. A LOT of what you sense is coming from the emotional centers of ‘the other’, many of whom are unconscious, living in fear & muddled up. Learn how to separate the ‘wheat from the chaff’ & once you have mastered the art of discernment, throw the chaff quickly into the fire so that it does not contaminate the wheat. How to develop discernment? The very first thing is to maintain an attitude of skepticism & once a message comes through, either via a dream, a sensation, or a download, take the time to sit quietly with it and feel it in your entire body, organic & etheric. Read the signals methodically. How does it make your body feel? Is there a specific sensation somewhere in your body & if so where? What is your heart saying? Is your spiritual self nourished or depleted by the incoming message? In what way? Using a filtering process can tremendously improve your ability to discern if your intuition was valid or merely at the mercy of collective chaos. Especially now, we are living in a sea of chaotic energy, and those of us who are sensitives MUST become adept at discrimination. Otherwise, we will surely drown in a sea of tumult.

 

Ascendant in Pisces: Like Mars in Pisces, your spidey senses are like radar & if you learn to interpret them accurately, you will always find your way through any situation. Trust your gut response but first learn to understand what your gut response really means. Depending on the rest of the mandala, your messages may come in the form of body signals, including auditory ones, mental messages, a holistic type of simple ‘knowing’ or visual images either through omens or dreams. Your job is to figure out what your messaging protocol is. You can sense your way into any situation & your ability to MERGE with those around you is both a blessing & a curse; a blessing because this allows your exquisite empathy to provide others with comfort but a curse because you absorb the emotions of others so easily. Boundaries are of the utmost importance for you. You may find that you are most comfortable with friends who provide you with stability and grounding and who are able to translate what you nebulously ‘feel’ into understandable language. Keep developing boundaries & keep them strong so that you are not inundated with meaningless sensations. Also just like those with Mars in Pisces, you must cultivate DISCERNMENT above all. If you are having challenges in managing your personal boundaries, look at the placements of both your natal Jupiter & Neptune to develop strategies that help with this.

If either of your ruling planets is in FIRE:

–meditate regularly

–create rituals to connect you to your spiritual center

–visualize a flaming ring of fire that surrounds you at all times & disallows unwanted intrusion into your personal space

EARTH:

–spend time in nature daily

–engage in drumming which syncs your heartbeat to GAIA

–visualize yourself protected by trees, rocks, or any other representation of nature, somewhere in a safe, protected place where only those you permit can find you; & imagine you are barefoot!!!

AIR:

–practice deep breathing techniques

–chant healing mantras, either your own or ones you have learned from spiritual teachers; sing loudly & often

–visualize yourself surrounded by an electric web that none can penetrate without your conscious permission

WATER:

–fortify & guard your heart by focusing on it during a meditation; (place both hands across your heart while meditating)

–be selective about who you engage with organically; purge yourself regularly with saltwater baths to rid yourself of others’ emotional plasma

–visualize yourself in a large fluid egg (womblike) laced with gold thread that stops all negative energy from permeating your personal space; (my colour of choice is pink; use your own inner guidance to find the colour that suits YOU best)

 

 

 

 

Star Crossings: What’s in the soup right now?

 

Two planets are associated with Pisces, Jupiter, and once it was observed in the sky, Neptune. Jupiter co-relates to the intuitive mind or what has sometimes been called the right brain, that part of the self that can dream, vision and create. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, representing love universal, love divine. Jupiter, as the sub-ruler, demonstrates Pisces’ connection to spirit via the avenue of creative, left-brain process. Neptune as ruler shows Pisces’ connection to spirit via alignment to the collective consciousness; thus, the reason why so many Pisces types have that famous ‘spidey sense’. Here’s a look at these two planets in current transit.

 

Jupiter takes about 12 years to move around the Sun and spends about 1 year in each sign of the zodiac. In the personal horoscope, Jupiter is considered to be bridge energy, that is, it links the more personal and external impulses with the deeper, less obvious impulses. In working terms, Jupiter can demonstrate our sense of meaning, our level of faith or belief, our need to understand, and the drive to succeed as we do so–the reward factor. The more that we can develop this part of our psyches, the more we will be ‘in the flow’ or ‘lucky’. Currently, Jupiter is at the front end of its journey through Aquarius. Collectively this is a great time to envision our future as a human race & set the goal, collectively, to reach that reward.

 

 

Jupiter is one of the planets that helps us to understand our life in cyclical terms and most of us will experience at least 5 or 6 (often up to 8 or even 9) Jupiter Returns. ( A planetary return is when that celestial object revisits the exact degree that it occupied at a given birth.)  So, for all of you who have Jupiter in Aquarius natally, you will be experiencing this ‘return’ over the next year or so.

Following is a listing of dates going back to 1949 for Jupiter’s transit of Aquarius. If your birthday occurred within the scope of these dates, then you are currently experiencing a Jupiter “RETURN”. And, obviously, dates indicate the time periods when anyone with Jupiter in Aquarius experienced a Jupiter Return. Note the time elapse between the sequential dates. An interesting exercise is to go back to any records that you might have as to what was going on in your life around those dates. This will provide you with real-life data as to how your own Jupiterian energy operates for you and, even more importantly, how it has changed in terms of operation. Remember, the way energy works within us individually is directly co-related to the level of our own personal vibration. This vibratory level can alter depending on our egoic reactions to our life experiences.

 

 

 

April 13-1949-June 27, 1949

(the planet’s retrograde takes him back into Capricorn)

December 1, 1949-April 14, 1950

(the planet moves into Pisces & then retrogrades back into Aquarius)

September 16, 1950-December 1, 1950

ruler: Uranus in Cancer

 

March 15, 1961-August 11, 1961

(the planet retrogrades back into Capricorn)

November 4, 1961-March 25, 1962

ruler: Uranus in Leo

 

February 23, 1973-March 7, 1974

ruler: Uranus in Libra

 

February 7, 1985-February 20, 1986

ruler: Uranus in Sagittarius

 

January 22, 1997-February 3, 1998

ruler: Uranus in Aquarius

(some of these souls had Jupiter conjunct Uranus–wow!!)

 

January 6, 2009-January 17, 2010

ruler: Uranus in Pisces

 

Note that some of the dates are interrupted by a span of a few months. This is due to the regular retrograde cycle that the planet follows occurring near the 0* point. 

 

Anyone with Jupiter in Aquarius will have the potential for incredible uniqueness. She will more likely be open-minded rather than rigid. The Uranian element within her persona will lead her in new directions, give her the appetite to explore new concepts, philosophies, ideologies, and spiritual protocols. There is a real possibility of genius on some level. (look to the house placement & aspects that Jupiter is making, especially to Mercury, the 3^rd & the 9^th house.) In Aquarius, Jupiter will be ‘high-minded’, particularly in areas to do with equality, equity, social action, community activism. Again, depending on the rest of the energy of the natal mandala, this could be a person who innately understands technology and particularly pursues scientific understanding. Sudden insights can take place so look at the ruler, Uranus, to determine the subtext of the “Jupiter in Aquarius” person. This individual is the big picture person; the one who can see beyond the single tree of a forest. She prefers to view the forest in its entirety. The need for ‘reward’ is most likely linked to these same broader social issues, the furtherance of social justice, the establishment of community equity, the application of objective morality in the context of human interaction. Able to see far beyond the current social condition, the idealistic Jupiter in Aquarius can envision a future utopia even when dystopia appears to be the prevailing circumstance.

 

In Esoteric Wisdom, Jupiter is powerful as the soul-centered ruler of Aquarius. The heart & mind unite to serve fellow humans via the auspices of society. Truth can flow from an individual who attunes to this level of expression & she can become a beacon to others in their spiritual search for meaning. Used in the most light-filled manner, this energy can become a ‘loudspeaker’ that dispenses inspirational ideas. Communication of positive concepts can fill the ‘darkening void’ with the light of wisdom.

 

 

Neptune, the modern-day ruler, takes much longer to transit the zodiac, having a cycle of about 165 years or, spending about 14 years or so in each sign. Currently, Neptune is transiting Pisces, having entered that energy back in 2011. He is about 2/3rds of the way through the energy of Pisces @ 20*, finally entering the third (Scorpio) decanate. The transit will conclude in 2025 at which time, Neptune will move into Aries & the two other outers, Uranus & Pluto will have shifted into the energies of Gemini & Aquarius. These next few years will be a signatory period in terms of the re-making of the current structure of the status quo. The shift into airy energy collectively, along with a fiery Neptune in Aries which will be ruled by Mars, will then provide us all with the opportunity to re-imagine (Aquarius: Mercury exalted) & explore (Gemini: Mercury ruled) new collective initiatives (Neptune in Aries). Society will not disappear but the way society operates will undergo a massive re-birth & the re-imagining of the social structure will be initiated & concretized by Mars, the warrior energy in us all. Fasten your seat-belts, kiddos, it’s going to get interesting!

 

But, back to Neptune in Pisces, boundaries disappear during this transit & that certainly appears to be the case quite literally as demonstrated by the so-called pandemic. Watch the messaging carefully over the next few months. Neptune in Pisces is also about illusion. We are already beginning to experience a shift in the prevailing narrative about the current global “pandemic”. Open your eyes wide to get the full picture.

 

I could also talk about confusion, fog, co-dependency, addiction, deceit, and so forth when exploring Neptune but I prefer to default to the more positive expression of this nebulous energy. If we think negatively, we will live negatively. So, if you start feeling muddled, just let go and seek peace. If you don’t feel the flow, take some time to check your own inner ‘truth meter’. Often, we lose that sense of connection because we are lying to ourselves. Especially the Neptune in Libra generation, (1942-1957, now mostly entering their so-called ‘golden’ years), you guys just have to take those rose coloured glasses off and call a spade a spade. Okay? Lifestyles may radically alter; relationships may suddenly fall by the wayside and any number of elaborate shams may suddenly be revealed. The key is to have the courage to admit what the truth really is. Continuing the ‘illusion’ (Neptune) is not an option and will only result in more confusion, denial, and even a downward spiral into addictive behaviour. After all, addictions are merely mechanisms that are masking some inner sense of lack or even loss. Sometimes, you have to lose it all to gain it all. That’s where the practical, hard-nosed energy of Virgo comes in. As the partner sign to Pisces, Virgo yanks the wild flights of fancy of the Pisces motif back to earth. Virgo encourages Pisces to base speculation on some cold hard data. Imagination is fine as long as it is fully understood that it is, in fact, IMAGINATION, & not a proven, peer-reviewed conclusion. It’s truly beautiful how the various energies complement each other and never more so than in the Pisces/Virgo polarity partnership, currently at work & embodied in Transiting Neptune!

 

There’s a lot to dig into with Pisces energy. It’s subtle, complex, inscrutable, mystical, magical, inspirational in a gentle yielding sort of way & lovely to be around when present in the psyche of others. When I think of Pisces, I find myself singing that little ditty:

 

“Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily merrily, merrily

Life Is But A Dream…”

 

Dream on, little Pisces, dream on…