Help if you need it

To my dear clients near and far:

This is a defining and challenging time we are moving through.  For those of you who may feel the need for extra counsel, I offer options for as-needed guidance.  Beyond regular natal/birth chart, solar return and current forecast readings, I am also available to clients for as-needed sessions by phone, FaceTime or Zoom via draw down account or fee for service.

If you prefer the draw down account, the amount of time used will be drawn against advance payment by either Venmo, Paypal or check.  

The second option is fee for service; the minutes used for a session are then charged accordingly.

My rate for as-needed guidance is $2 per minute, so $30 minutes is $60, etc.

Please know that I am here to help you navigate through this time.

Blessings be,

Hilary

Reward or Ruin?

Very few of us believe that current times are ordinary.  We suffer no such illusions.  To say that monumental shifts in our national, global and personal landscapes are underway is far from an understatement.

As we are in the midst of Mercury Retrograde in mystical Pisces when March opens, with the Sun gradually joining dreamy Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, reflection about our lives and the current state of affairs is apropos. 

The balance of March finds FOUR heavyweight planets in bare bones and businesslike Capricorn.  Thus our reflections take into account the structure of our lives:  what works and what does not work. Capricorn is deadly serious; its planet Saturn rules dharma and karma.  Both work to eliminate anything or anyone that does not fit into the emerging framework on which our lives will operate going forward.  What and who does not fit into this framework becomes more glaringly obvious as we move through the final ten days of Mercury’s retrograde review.  We cannot help but perceive essential changes to be made if we are to pursue healthy, and ideally peaceful, meaningful lives.

As Saturn begins its final tour through sign of Capricorn in 2020, the first few weeks of March it tightly conjoins transformer Pluto, Generous Jupiter and Motivating Mars, in a crescendo of energetic emphasis.  You would have to be dead not to feel this cosmic power play.  WOW.   Wherever these 4 planets cycle through your chart Responsibility is the name of the game.

Game?  Who said anything about games?  Saturn and Capricorn limit our fun, ability to play, times infinity conjoined to the above mentioned planetary trio.  Responsibility, honor, duty, integrity:  we rarely if ever associate these words with fun and games.  The fearsome foursome in Capricorn underscore the gravity and gravitas of our Times.  Serious Saturn leads the charge; Pluto intensifies while Jupiter magnifies and Mars drives the seriousness of our work ahead. Wherever your life is out of whack or alignment, if you are not actively working to bring order to that sector, life circumstances will force your hand.

Capricorn and Saturn do not mess around:  you either get it or you don’t.  The current Coronavirus epidemic and possible burgeoning pandemic is a key example of how this energy works.  Health is based on science which is based on data and facts.  With disease, there is no room for illusion or spin.  Either take precautions or get sick.  Governments take heed.

The great news is that for those who are ON path, keeping their intentions focused on soul lessons and doing the work, this same planetary foursome in Capricorn brings rewards and honors.  At a minimum, if you are working responsibly, expect a smoother road with resources available to you. Capricorn is an earth energy and is master manifesting energy.  For those living and working honorably, Saturn delivers.   In short:  do the work and be rewarded; avoid the work/game the system and face the consequence.  Reward or Ruin.  Life doesn’t allow for much room to game the system.

A few days into March, Venus shifts out of feisty and fiery Aries and into her home sign of Taurus on March 5^th.  Our focus sharpens on what we value:  in ourselves and others, our skills and talents to earn income.  Over the next few weeks, gracious Venus, planet of love, money and relationships gradually aligns with the powerhouse planets in Capricorn.   As this strengthens, practical solutions overflow to grow viable opportunities.  Venus takes the harsh edges off of the Capricorn foursome and points out our gifts and potential, how best to apply our existing resources and multiply them.  Under the waxing moon, Venus asks, “do you see your blessings?  Here’s yet another way to use them.”

The Full Moon on Monday, March 9^th occurs in efficient Virgo opposite the Sun-Neptune in inspirational Pisces.  This is one highly industrious Moon as it aligns with Mars and Jupiter in Capricorn, keeping our feet on the ground while we set our dreams in motion.  The timing is especially key as the very next day on March 10^th, Messenger Mercury turns direct.  Take complete advantage of this robust energy!  For the next six weeks (until April 24^th) all ten planets are pushing forward in direct motion.  I cannot emphasize how helpful this six week phase will be.  Truly, it is time to seize the day as winter gives way to spring.  While you crawl out of the darkness and into the light, roll out all of those plans and preparations you’ve stored up over the last few months. 

Sign the documents and contracts, book the travel plans, and invest in major purchases.

The stretch between March 11 and the end of the month gains momentum.  We feel it build like a steam engine until the Spring Equinox on Friday March 20^th.  The Sun enters fiery Aries.  As it does so, it challenges the lunar north and south nodes, catalyzing our push forward.  The Cancer-Capricorn lunar nodes caution the impulsive Aries Sun:  make sure to cover all your bases.  Know your projected costs, both in your home budget and at work; ask questions to fully understand possible outcomes; gather the necessary people and resources to tackle your vision and plans.

Two days later, on March 22^nd, Saturn shifts into avant garde Aquarius, giving us a taste of this non-mainstream and inventive energy.   For the next three months, our focus turns toward groups, networks, alternative ideas, concepts, as well as what connects our lives together, what goals serve a broad spectrum and a greater good.  An air sign, Aquarius seeks to advance our world, often by breaking barriers and existing thresholds.

The Equinox tees us up beautifully for the New Moon on Tuesday, March 24^th in warrior Aries.  Ladies and gentlemen:  start your engines.  With both Sun and Moon in fearless Aries, you may feel on fire as both our will and emotions are galvanized by this self-starting energy.  Winter is done and over.  The reflection and introspection of Mercury retrograde has finished.  What do you want you 2020 to look like?  Outline 3-5 goals or wishes you seek to accomplish and cast in a moving body of water with an outlet, plant in the softening spring earth or gently burn. 

The final week of March, Generous Jupiter and transformer Pluto combine for a once- in-twelve years pairing.  The duo is joined by Mars now, all in Capricorn, intensifying and flexing our manifesting potential:  if you do the work, you will realize your goal.  Venus aligns with this powerful troika March 25^th into April.  This is premier construction and constructive, built-to-last energy.  Where do you want to lay a firm foundation?  How will you construct your platform and structure given your available resources?  Choose wisely.  For those who are willing, the world and reward await you.

Of Special Note:

*Please enjoy my recent interview with Michael Zildjian on his podcast Zilosophy as we discuss the benefits of astrology and reiki:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zilosophy-podcast/id1450947099#episodeGuid=tag%3Aaudioboom.com%2C2020-02-12%3A%2Fposts%2F7502797

**Learn the basics of astrology in my on-line Astrology 101 course OR give the gift of my introductory course to another:  www.spirituallifepathinstitute.com  Enroll or gift my course $99 for three hours with complimentary follow up.

***April 30, May 1 and 2:  I am delighted to once again offer mini astrology readings at Soni Masur’s Big Spring Show in Dover, MA.   Please book your 20 minute reading for $25 in advance:  sonyamasur@gmail.com or hilary@hilaryharley.com

February Break

For countless years, the public schools in New England take a week long February vacation in the midst of the long, cold winter.   When I first moved here, I was skeptical about why.  However, when my children were school age I realized the week off accomplishes several things:  it breaks apart the winter to make it shorter; affords families the opportunity to actually enjoy the snow; and gives schools a chance to air out during cold and flu season.

After the December holiday hustle and tumultuous January, this February offers the same respite for all of the soul weary. 

Just three days in to the month, Messenger Mercury turns into dreamy sensitive Pisces.  Not the most comfortable fit for the incisive communication planet, mystical Pisces softens our words and may  cleanse and clarify our thoughts….or totally confuse them.  We feel drawn toward music, water elements and activities, to trust our intuition, to dream and, yes, to simply, purely believe again.  Piscean Mercury seeks to unify, wants us and our world to be whole, not fragmented, to include rather than exclude.  We may also fantasize about just chucking it all and running away…to a sunny south seas island, somewhere/anywhere to escape the madness of our world.  We imagine what that must feel like until we pause and ask, is that really a solution?

And that’s just it, isn’t it?  We learned over the past brutally honest year:  wherever we run, there we are.  You, me, us.  There is no escape.  But there are endless possibilities everywhere if we apply this energy well to visualize and set intentions.  Mercury in Pisces invites us to be still and silent in solitude, to hear the music of our own imagination, to let it intuitively guide and inspire us.  Will you?  Give yourself a gift, your very own February break:  step into tranquility this month by stopping, listening. 

What do you hear?

Our imagination is in full flow the first week of February as Mercury aligns to the lunar North Node in cozy Cancer the Crab.  Snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book Friday night February 7 before Venus shifts into fiery Aries the next day, when she joins healer Chiron; together the duo seeks all new relationships and outlets for our inspirations, to kindle faith in new possibilities under the Leo Full Moon aligned to Mars in adventurous Sagittarius on the 9^th.  We feel there is absolutely nothing we cannot do – virtually no mountain high enough or obstacle too steep to climb over.  Stoke your Piscean dreams and see where they lead.  We are filled with robust energy and ready to explore.

And just how will you make that happen?  Ask three heavy hitting planets in pragmatic Capricorn?  Slow and steady win the race.  It’s fine to be filled with dreams of glory and all that, but how will you accomplish said venture?  Titans Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto want a plan.  What resources do you have to manifest and conquer?  These three keep us firmly on the ground even as our head and heart float up to the sky on lofty ideas.  The cosmic mixture makes for a viable Valentine’s Day with a new love or old, to propose…something more permanent?

Friday, February 14^th, Motivating Mars shifts into Capricorn joining the above mentioned Big Three.  Mars relishes its passage through business like Capricorn and our attention drives straight to the bottom line.  Empowered by the Power Planet Troika, Mars cuts to the chase:  does it (insert your body, relationship, job, work-life dynamic, etc) function…well or at all?  This powerful foursome demands quality over quantity, efficiency, and definition:  you are in or you are out.  While Piscean Mercury swerves and blurs our mind and thoughts, the Capricorn Combo insists on straight, linear lines.  Connect the dots in the most direct way.  Best to apply this planetary pattern by allowing your mind to wander and dream and our efforts to build that dream.

Because the very next day, February 17^th, Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces for the following three weeks. The engines of operation, doing and building are best directed toward the RE words.  Rest, research, review, reorganize, reset, relax, renovate, restore, renew, etc.  REmember that February break?  Now is about the time for it.  Especially as the Sun shifts into Pisces on February 19^th, joining Messenger Mercury and Soulful Neptune.  This trio draws us to dip our toes in the water, whether a luxurious, candlelit bath in your own home, a romantic get-away, or a more protracted adventure.

The sound of music, sirens of dance and concert call our names this third week of February.  Indulge.  REmember the joy of BEing, not doing.  The next three weeks offers intense clarifying and cleansing energy, to purge all that clogs our thoughts, finances, homes and more.  Surrender and surrender now what you cannot control.  You choose:   Flow do not fight, let go and let God.  This period is definitely not the time to push back; if anything, REsist the temptation to dig your heels in.  Doing so, you may find yourself sinking in a quagmire of quicksand, slipping backward and not gaining traction.  Progress?  No.  Not right now.  That will have to wait until March 10^th when Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.

Until then, use the time to meditate on what you do want, REseach and plan where you want to go. REview why you want certain goals.  Prepare your intentions for the New Moon on Sunday, February 23rd by handwriting 3-5 wishes or dreams and casting these in a moving body of water with an outlet or plant in the ground to manifest in the coming weeks and months.  Focus inward now and breathe out the Light of your Being. 

Give me love, Give me love, give me Peace on Earth  -- George Harrison

Brace Yourself

Wow. Just wow.  January 2020:  a month astrologers have literally been talking about for years in advance and the rest of us will be talking about for years to come.  It is with much trepidation and consideration that I write this message.  I struggle to inform but not scare anyone.  What’s up?  A whole lot. 

There are three, yes 3, significant cosmic events occurring on the same weekend.  The veil is ripped from our eyes, and our lives.  It is a moment of stark, definitive endings to make way for the new.  We stand naked on the other side, stripped of all pretenses and defenses.  Sound dramatic, even melodramatic?  Perhaps.

I’m sure you’ve noticed what is happening in your own life and in those around you.  This is no accident.  There are no coincidences.  The weekend of January 10-11 is the point of no return.  After which, the die is cast.  So let’s break it down.

Leftover from December, a dominance of Capricorn energy crowds our plates:  five planets (plus Ceres if you, like the astronomers count it as a planet) cycle through authoritarian, cold-as-ice, diligent Capricorn.  Get the work done and don’t mess around doing it, Capricorn.  Yes, that one.  Generous Jupiter has now shifted out of its home sign, philosophical Sagittarius and joined heavy weights Pluto and Saturn.  The seriousness of our lives, what is at stake, is gargantuan.  The BIG THREE are joined this month by the Sun, our will, and Messenger Mercury:  we are laser focused on our goals; or for those who cannot afford goals, concerned with simply surviving. 

It is not an overstatement to say this month lays waste to everything unnecessary or non-essential in our lives, whether financially, psychologically, physically, etc.  Capricorn is black and white, or in many cases, black vs. white.  Color wars come to mind.  Definitive and defining, life or death, your team vs. my team:  here we are.

Capricorn takes us down to our most basic, rudimentary elements:  what we have and what we certainly do not have, what works and what does not work.  There is no more goofing off now says businesslike Capricorn.  If you’ve been playing fast and loose with life, ignoring the rules, cosmic laws are here to clamp down and clean house.  No more Mr. Nice guy.  The illusion and pipe dreams of 2018-19 are shattered.

Leading us into the heart of the matter, Motivating Mars shifts into truth telling Sagittarius on January 3^rd.  The Truth shall set you free…as long as you are willing to face the music.  There is no longer any place to run and surely no place to hide.  Increasing light from the waxing Moon now shines into the darkest corners of lives, what we’d rather keep hidden, closeted away from others.

A week later, the cosmic switch begins to flip, starry dominoes triggered one right after another.  Late on the evening of January 9^th, Radical Uranus turns direct motion in earthy Taurus.  Unpredictability is the hallmark of Uranus (the only planet in our galaxy that rotates vertically instead of horizontally).  When it changes gears, anything, and I mean ANYthing is possible:  the good, the bad and the curious.

As Uranus turns direct, it loosely aligns with Generous Jupiter which may be our saving grace as it affords silver linings in otherwise wildly unexpected circumstances born from its quirky angle to Mars in Sagittarius.  These two do not play nicely when at odds with each other.  An agitator, Mars in Sagittarius demands the truth no matter what the cost while Radical Uranus in Taurus breaks apart the status quo.  The question leading into the Full Moon is not can we handle the truth (because it’s there whether we like it or not); it is how do we best handle the truth in the bald face of it?  In short:  where do we go from here?

Uranus direct motion sets the stage for the next two cosmic tricks.  Stand back and behold.

Once every 36-37 years the two heavyweights Pluto and Saturn come together.  Pluto, the god of the underworld, titan of transformation, and taskmaster Saturn, lord of dharma and karma combined in any sign is enormously dense and intense.  The last time this occurred was November 1982 in Libra.  Where were you then and what were you doing?  Libra rules relationship, art and beauty.  The Pluto-Saturn conjunction of 1982 kick started the party that was the 80s.

37 years later, this is very different scene as the two join up in reserved Capricorn.  We can’t help but feel the weight of this moment, with fellow titan Jupiter tipping the scales of immensity.  These three make brutally clear:  if you do not have your house in order, you will be made to get it together, the content, the people, the day to day operation.  And when I say house:  I mean virtually any sector of your life that is out of whack:  your body, health, finances, home/dwelling, family, work, or connection to soul/spirit, and more.

Driving the message home on January 10^th, the actual day Pluto and Saturn meet, Messenger Mercury, the Sun and Ceres pile on top telling us to get real and get on with building your life, or rebuilding in many cases.  Step by step, one foot in front of the other is Capricorn’s superpower.  It may be serious but it gets the job done as the architect of the zodiac, the master builder.  What are you building in your life?  What goal do you desire?  Capricorn’s essence is achievement, plows through our task and to-do lists.  It stands at base camp, viewing the pinnacle of the mountain, then pragmatically gathers all essential resources to make the climb:  the people and supplies necessary to reach the top.

“You can do it, yes you can,” says Mother Moon in her home sign Cancer the Crab.  The same day of the great Pluto-Saturn conjunction, the Moon opposes the Capricorn Sun to create a full moon lunar eclipse, the 3^rd event of this cosmic trilogy. Eclipses are gateways and thresholds marking significant passages in our lives.  The Moon is our only cheerleader during this rather draconian time.  Yes, times may be severe, you may be surviving the harshest of conditions and working through the darkest days of your life, but I promise you, says Mother Moon, you can do this, yes you can.  You’ve got this and I’ve got you.

In nurturing and compassionate Cancer, the Moon empathizes:  “I know this isn’t easy, that it is actually impossibly hard, lonely work you are doing.  But I promise that your investment of time, energy and money will pay off.” Kind words and tough love.  We are in living in uncertain and uneven times, many surviving, not thriving.  Like a new colt getting its legs underneath itself for the first time, we are learning first to stand, then walk.  One day we will gallop.  It takes time, patience and perseverance.  All in very short supply these days.

The convergence of these three cosmic events within 24 hours is a striking pivot point.  A strong lunar eclipse occurring alongside Uranus’ direct motion and the Pluto-Saturn conjunction reminds us we have more character and backbone than we ever imagined.  That we each must stand alone and walk our path by ourselves, to learn for ourselves.  We are always supported in our endeavors.  And the full moon lunar eclipse in Cancer-Capricorn underscores that each of us can do the actual soul work we came here for.  No one can do it for us and there is no escape from the work at hand.  This tough love lunar eclipse says:  no pain, no gain.

The Moon aligns to dreamy Neptune now, so we feel in the flow of life, intuitively understanding the next steps to take.  A few days later, to soften the blow and provide a cushion to life, Venus shifts into Pisces on January 14^th.  A queen in a magnificent home, Venus is supremely self LESS in Pisces, like Mother Theresa and the Queen of England combined.  For the rest of the month, Venus jousts with Motivating Mars.  In Pisces, Venus liberally gives away itself and everything else including the kitchen sink (sharing you too) while Sagittarian Mars says Go Big or Go Home.  You may find yourself struggling to say no, to find the brake pedal to slow down.  Fortunately the three planets in Capricorn, Pluto/Saturn/Jupiter limits our spending and over-zealous commitments.

January 17^th, Mercury shifts into Aquarius where it is most comfortable, naturally networking, connecting and inventing.  Joined three days later by the Sun on the 20^th, we look at life through a humanitarian lens at month’s end.  What benefits the group also benefits each individual and vice versa. Aquarian Sun-Mercury breaks apart old stereotypes, out dated customs that no longer serve a purpose while connecting us to people, opportunities and lifestyle that suits our current and future interests.

The New Moon in Aquarius occurs on January 24^th with Mercury at an eye-popping degree.  Watch for strong messages, surprises, plot twists and particularly keen awareness.  At the same time, Venus, goddess of love, money and relationships makes her annual conjunction to big sister Neptune in Pisces.  The pairing lasts through the final week of January, gently inspiring, flowing around and within us, uniting us and reflecting that we are one, collective body; even as individuals from various origins and customs, a common thread of Light runs through us one and all, belying separateness as merely an illusion.

The Verdict

December opens as Generous Jupiter finishes its year-long tour through Sagittarius, the fire sign it rules.  Freedom, truth, spirituality, travel, education, the law. Each label points to the same thing:  The Quest.  And indeed, in 2009 we have individually and as a whole been on quite a journey, in many cases, life changing ventures.]

In the wake of the Thanksgiving holiday, Jupiter offers up its final lesson, an examination if you will.  It asks:  what have we learned over the last 12 months?  The end of academic semesters are near.  No coincidence there!  Now is the time to demonstrate your knowledge, apply the lessons and show the truth as we experienced it. 

When Jupiter enters Capricorn on December 3^rd, it gradually joins Pluto and Saturn, the verdict (our grades) will be delivered, next month in January 2020.  Will you pass or will you fail the tests of life posed to you now this month?  This is no game or trial run.  It’s nothing less than your life at stake.

How well you integrate learned experiences from the past year is on the line.  Prepare to deliver your defense.   Just after Jupiter turns into Capricorn, Messenger Mercury enters Sagittarius on December 9^th after its extended retrograde cycle through Scorpio in October and November, digging up information and bringing it to light.

The shift in energies is unmistakable now as truth seeking Jupiter turns into cold, calculating Capricorn, black and white energy, what works and what does not.  Check off all boxes that apply:  have you been honest in all of your dealings?  Have you honored yourself and your own path?  Have you practiced live-and-let-live with all others?   True or False:  You either did or did not.

This is not a multiple choice test.  Messenger Mercury in Sagittarius draws up the exam and outlines the questions while Jupiter in Capricorn is the presiding judge and jury.  You know the answers or you don’t.  Jupiter is not at its best in Capricorn, the sign ruled by fellow cosmic titan Saturn.  Jupiter expands while Saturn restricts with set limits and boundaries. In short, Jupiter feels hampered and hemmed in by this restrictive sign. For the next year while Jupiter cycles thru Capricorn, our ability to grow, develop and expand only occurs to the extent we obey the rules.

For much of December, four out of six planets keep us grounded in earthy Capricorn:  Pluto, Saturn, Venus and Jupiter, the two heavyweights and the two benefics.  Capricorn is practical and pragmatic energy, realistic and goal oriented.  At its best it is responsible, honorable and focused on doing the right thing.  At worst, Capricorn is status conscious and overly preoccupied with reputation:  what will the neighbors think? 

In our own lives, we can see how Capricorn draws lines in the sand and says, “you better stay on your side” or “do not cross that line, but if you do ___________ will happen.”  Fill in the blank.  Capricorn is playing its hand in the stark, raving divisiveness of the United States.  This is not warm and fuzzy energy and has a grim reaper quality.  Much like the winter season it governs, Capricorn is reserved and discriminating.  Creatures die out in the icy, raw elements unless they adequately prepared their homes with necessary food and protection.  If not, so be it.  “You get what you deserve,” says Capricorn.  “You had fair notice and warning.  Not my problem, not my job to save you.”  Capricorn and its ruler Saturn deal with the biggest guns of all: karma and dharma.  It is deadly serious.  A matter of life and death:  will you live or will you die?

Hamlet and For Whom the Bell Tolls come to mind.

For most, we are focused not on a physical death but rather the life or death of the spirit.  Your own spirit, not that of any particular religious order.  Have you honored your spirit within the boundaries life afforded?  Or have you tried to game or cheat the system?  It is OK to break the rules if you also do no harm to yourself or others.  So be honest:  have you?  If so, time is up.  It is time to face the consequences.  Capricorn rules both time and consequences:  The Verdict.

The Verdict rolls in on the Full Moon, December 11^th, glaringly obvious to all underneath its spotlight in talkative Gemini.  With Messenger Mercury now in wise Sagittarius, the truth is delivered and the law applied.  The prevailing Capricorn energy dominates this Full Moon with gentle Venus wedged tightly between taskmaster Saturn and powerful Pluto.  Venus rules love, money and relationships.  In the weighty position at Full Moon, she reminds us that time is money and money is power.  Capricorn is all business, all the time, efficient, with no time, money or energy to waste.  Get your facts straight or get out, or get on with it already. 

With Mars in Scorpio at a vital, world-attention getting degree aligning exactly to Neptune, our razor sharp intuition underscores what we know what is real and accurate beyond the shadow of a doubt.  We know what’s up.  BUT: this Gemini Full Moon does challenge Neptune, making a last gasp effort with slippery sleights of hand, smoke and mirror special effects to test our understanding of the lessons.  The test is this:  do you trust yourself more than another?    Or are you giving your power over to someone else to lead the way?  Will you fall for and be tricked by illusion, smooth words and bombastic claims, OR will you trust the facts and reason, based on all you have learned, what you know to be true and underscored by your own intuition?

The most beautiful, useful and effective angle of this December 11 Full Moon is the alliance between Generous Jupiter and Radical Uranus in earthy Capricorn and Taurus.  Jupiter is the Santa Claus of the zodiac, the titan of abundance and blessings while Uranus is the Great Awakener and cosmic Change Agent.  The two harmoniously align only for the month of December but do grant us a magic wand.  In grounded, realistic signs, Jupiter and Uranus afford myriad opportunities now.  Manifestation is nigh and breakthroughs abound.  Want to break through cultural barriers, psychological or tribal conditioning?  Want to break free from what has held you back or confined and say YES to what or whom is knocking on your door, or on your own heart?  Want to follow that PING that tantalizes and excites you? 

In short, this grand alliance invites us to follow our soul’s calling now despite the cost or what others think.  And we are granted abundant support at the same time, December 1- January 4^th.  Use this cosmic magic wand wisely and you will accomplish so much! 

The days leading into Christmas spy several planetary shifts.  Friday, December 20^th, Venus turns into inventive Aquarius.  We now feel inclined to include rather than exclude others, to be part of a group and network.  Aquarius connects us and is the Great Humanitarian.  As much as Aquarian Venus has us marching to our own drummer, it also values those who are a little bit different, those who do their own thing in their own way.  Venus’ placement in this sign is awesome for Christmas gatherings as we can detach from the fray yet still partake in the whole.

The next day, the Sun shifts into Capricorn joining Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter to mark the winter solstice.  This sets the stage for the New Moon solar eclipse the day after Christmas.  As legendary Irish poet wrote his epitaph, “Cast a cold eye, on life, on death,” we now feel every icy inch of this deadly serious Capricorn energy. 

We are heading into the Great Saturn-Pluto conjunction in a few weeks, later in January. These two meet up only once every 36 years.  There is no margin for error now.  The dye has been cast.  Closing out 2019, Messenger Mercury joins four other planets in Capricorn on December 29^th.  It renders the verdict we have been waiting for, or, trying to avoid.  There is still time to change course.  How do you want your verdict to read?

Of Special Note:
If you are looking for a gift for the hard to buy for relative or friend, consider giving a gift certificate for an astrological reading.  Please visit my website:  www.hilaryharley.com to purchase.  Happy Holidays!

Speak Truth to Power

November sneaks up on us like a stealth bomber.   With the Sun, our will, and Messenger Mercury just turned retrograde, both in secretive Scorpio, our mind and our actions go undercover.  Together, scouring for information, they assemble discordant puzzle pieces like the finest sleuth.    While we may be preoccupied with what we find, do not be fooled.  Keep your eyes wide open says Sun-Mercury; be aware and awake as possible.  This month is exceptional for investigating and prying to bring to light the unseen.

Messenger Mercury rules communication and just turned retrograde motion on Halloween (trick!).  For the next three weeks, the ultimate trickster will be diving crazy deep to source answers.  With Mercury reverse gear until just before Thanksgiving, it is best to hold off on any major purchases (appliances, cars, homes and ANY technology device).  Avoid signing documents of significance until November 21.  Use this time to your advantage to REsearch products and deals under consideration.  The great news is that Mercury turns direct motion a week before Black Friday and key holiday shopping days.

As the messenger planet plunges into Scorpio, the deepest zodiac sign, it pairs with the Sun and acts like a forensic accountant or psychologist.  Please know that if you go searching for something between November 1-20, you will turn up all varieties of information:  the good, the bad and the ugly.  Ask yourself then, what will you do with what you find?  Scorpio rules power, sex, death, shared resources, joint finances, inheritance, (taxes too!), transformation and the metaphysical realm. 

All facets of Scorpio are at play for the first three weeks of November.  With retrograde Mercury, we are reviewing the above sectors in our life.  REmember, this is the perfect time for any RE words:  research, review, revisit, renew, relax, renovate, repair, rework.  It is helpful to know that Scorpio is known for its darker, vicious side and with Mercury reversed in this sign, words once out of the mouth cannot be put back in or made to go away.

Just as we are stepping into November, Mars in Libra challenges its big brother Pluto in Capricorn.  This catalytic energy prompts us to ACT.  Motivating Mars stirs the pot with relationships and partnerships of all types, including to yourself and people or groups we do not like, as Libra rules open enemies (al qaeda and ISIL); while transformer Pluto demands the responsible overhaul of the status quo and how we respond to others.  Behavior.   Behavior, what we do even more than what we say, matters very much now.  Our behavior shows who we are.

November 2^nd in particular looks dicey as the maternal moon is tightly wedged between heavyweights Saturn and Pluto in practical Capricorn.  Where do you need to take action and make changes at home or in business?  With your family, diet, the dwelling you live in or business practices?  The Capricorn moon is notoriously detached and removed; packed between taskmaster Saturn and powerful Pluto, it can be downright cold and calculating.   Capricorn’s phrase is “I use”, which helps when you need to distance yourself and act responsibly in any partnership or collaboration.  But DO expect to be pulled into a relationship dynamic, business, family or otherwise this first weekend of the month.

At the same time, Venus shifts into Sagittarius on November 2, broadening our interests with love, money and yes, partnership.  For the next month we seek people who will expand our worldview, are adventurous, educational and above all, honest. This is REfreshing to say the least!  A breath of clear air amidst all the intense Scorpio and serious Capricorn energy.  Just when we need it, Sagittarian Venus gradually joins Jupiter in its own sign, the two benefic planets inviting us to explore, travel and learn.

The beginning of November is a defining time.   Speak your truth.  Speak Truth to Power.  As Messenger Mercury in Scorpio uncovers new information and Saturn-Pluto pushes us to use what we find, Venus-Jupiter prompts us to be honest in all of our dealings; to learn from what we discover (definitely grow from our mistakes) and apply the law as needed.  Like tough-love parents, Jupiter-Venus in Sagittarius says the truth shall set you free AND knowledge really is power.  In our search for truth, remember the Rumi phrase “what you seek is seeking you.”

If you are going on vacation the first few weeks of November, you will learn much from your travels.  Even a staycation at home is beneficial and will bring adventure and growth.  Sagittarius Jupiter-Venus maximizes the beneficial effects of Mercury Retrograde:  deep, deep rest and relaxation combined with new frontiers, knowledge, mindfulness, meditation and yoga flourish during the first 2-3 weeks of the month and may produce exceptional mind, body, spirit connections.

At mid-month the Full Moon in Taurus opposes Messenger Mercury in Scorpio yet helpfully aligns with Capricorn Saturn-Pluto.  The Taurus-Scorpio axis is about money and resources:  how we earn, spend and invest our income and joint finances.  Flowing beautifully with Saturn-Pluto, this Full Moon curbs frivolous spending and prompts solid, wise investment in ourselves, ventures or products that are built to last.  Unlike many Full Moons, this one is not so intense or fraught with conflict.  The Moon is exalted (especially honored) in gentle Taurus:  think Mother Earth.  Enjoy the fruits of your labor, the harvest of all that you planted.  If you do need a reminder, she says remember:  what you sow, so shall you reap.

Two days later on November 14^th, Messenger Mercury delivers some very strong messages, deep and potent, that which we may not want to hear but do need to know.  Secrecy, the forte of Scorpio abounds right now.  You may be privy to powerful information or asked to keep key facts in confidence.  

Our intuition is heightened ever more by the 19^th when Motivating Mars enters Scorpio.  Our spidey senses are off that charts accurate now, so pay attention to your inner knowing as it is correct; above all, use caution with whom you share any details.  Mars flexes its power in Scorpio for the next 6 weeks. Our interest in sex, how to transform a situation we find ourselves in or search ever deeper for solutions really flows.  From November 19^th through year end is an excellent time for artists and scientists alike.  The caution is the dark side of Scorpio:  addiction, cruelty and misuse of power. 

The very next day Mercury turns direct motion on November 20^th.   Go ahead and sign the contract and buy the big ticket items you have been holding off on or researching.  Hooray!  Just in time for Thanksgiving travel and the holiday shopping season.  Our mood expands as the Sun (our will) moves into optimistic Sagittarius on Saturday, the 23^rd followed by the New Moon on the 26^th.  It aligns with healer Chiron in Aries as we gather to share gratitude for all we are and all we have.  This New Moon sets the table for us, offering fresh attitudes and approaches to healing old wounds.  Perfect timing especially as we mix with family members over the next several days.  The New Moon invites us to be a student and a teacher, to look at life through a generous, big picture lens, to know that we are part of something grander than alone individually. 

Venus enters Capricorn at the same day as the New Moon, keeping our relationships grounded and real.  This is a very business-minded Venus as it aligns to Uranus in Taurus through the end of November, urging us to make necessary changes in partnerships.  Business collaborations and deals present themselves and afford distinct advantages.  All that Scorpio energy earlier in the month, our deep dives into the underside of a problem or situation turns up answers and solutions we have long sought.  Pay attention to key messages and information on November 26-27 as Messenger Mercury returns to the notable degree it passed over around the Full Moon.  What was revealed then under the spotlight at mid-month?  Are you offered another, second chance, to speak up, to say yes to opportunity?  Did you hesitate earlier as you did not feel the timing was right?  Well, the time is now!

Your intuition is spot on.  At month’s end insightful Neptune turns direct motion aligning to the super strong Mercury and the messages it now delivers.  In short, we know with 100 percent assurance what is up, what is right, what we must say and do.  We feel in the flow.  Thanksgiving indeed overflows with abundance.  Opportunities envelop us. Say yes and seize the day!

Of Special Note: 

Holidays are fast approaching.  Make it easy on yourself and give the gift of an astrology consultation for the hard-to-buy-for people in your life!  Please visit my website www.hilaryharley.com to request a gift certificate! 

Putting All of Your Cards on the Table

Libra is known for peace, negotiation, art and beauty. It strives for balance, equality, and reconciliation between differences.  But this sign of order is lesser known for ruling open adversaries.  Libra represents opposing views and those who hold them.

 Open adversaries.  Think about that.  No one is hiding, plotting or planning to undermine you, but rather is out in plain sight, sitting next to you, telling you quite plainly that you are wrong and why. All is fair in love and war. This month we feel all may be so very unfair.  How do we reconcile inequality?  Libra’s effort toward justice, however, may bend over backward for concern with the other (your co-worker, partner, relatives, children).  So be aware of completely forgetting yourself.  Focused intently on making the fairest decision for everyone, the right and best choice, watch that you hesitate way too long and another, quicker, more decisive person swoops in and suddenly, you no longer have any choice.

Planetary gear shifts crank into place from the outset of the month.  On Thursday, October 3^rd, Messenger Mercury rolls into Scorpio while Transformer Pluto, ruler of Scorpio, turns direct motion.  Hello!  Our minds, thoughts and words now take a deeper look, pause to examine every single fact, observing each carefully.  We pay critical attention to ALL of our senses, not just what we see and hear; but also our emotions, intuition, gut instincts feeding us vital details.  Directly opposite Uranus, the Great Awakener, Messenger Mercury points out what we may have missed earlier.  If you are searching for answers and solutions now in any area of your life:  finances, work, relationships, Psychic Scorpio delivers. 

This first ten days holds a particularly sweet spot for artists and scientists, researchers in any field.  Eureka?  Yes, EUREKA!  Meanwhile, Pluto’s direct shift in practical Capricorn moves the Real Deal wheels and gears forward.  The God of the Underworld in structured Capricorn asks:  are you towing the line?  Doing the work, living honestly and with integrity?  Neither Pluto nor Capricorn are warm and fuzzy.  Both deal in cold, stark terms:  the black and white, no nonsense and yes, unforgiving.  If you do not make the effort, don’t expect to be rewarded, much less achieve your goal.  Pluto is now moving into the final third of Capricorn where its emphasis is felt even greater.

Capricorn is an earth sign.  The youth movement to save the planet wants to know, “Will we even have an Earth on which to live in the future?” Their plain battle cry begs our attention.  Pluto direct motion in Capricorn churns up our most basic survival needs.   Capricorn is an action sign.  DO. We now act on what we have mused about for the past few months.   Where we have dragged our feet, or worse, refused to budge, Pluto pushes the inevitable upon us.  And it often isn’t pretty.

The immediacy we feel to act increases as Mars shifts into Libra the very next day on October 4^th.  Talk about opposites!  Motivating Mars rules Action Aries, God of War.  Here now in the sign of peace, equality and balance.  How is that going to work, you ask?  Or not work…  Remember, Libra rules decisions and open enemies.  Mars is our drive.  Ideally, this combination would drive us toward peace in our relationships or between nations.  

Guess what?  With Mars in Libra, this is more often not the case.  Mars agitates, annoys, aggravates.  He is THE disruptor.  His agenda is to incite, wants us to get going.  Enough of Libra’s quest for calm and order.  And so, when tipping the Libran scale of decision-making, Mars votes for conflict and war.  Don’t just sit there:  do something.

October will not go gently into that good night.  Oh no.  On a macro level, the world stage is set for strife.  Think Presidential Impeachment in the United States and Iran vs. Saudi Arabia globally.  And what about your personal world?  Where are you negotiating?  For fairness, for an equal share or equal rights?

Several days later, Vibrant Venus moves into Psychological Scorpio joining Mercury, both opposing Uranus in Taurus.   Expect ah-hahs, surprises and shifts in the arena of resources which both Scorpio and Taurus rule.  We are taking a hard look at ours:  what we have and what we do not have.  Change agent Uranus says it’s time to earn money through alternative applications of our skills or develop new talents to increase income and revenue.  Opposite Mercury-Venus, it also has us consider dipping into a joint savings account, asking a relative for money or taking out a bank loan.

Scorpio deals in secrecy so just remember if you “inadvertently” don’t share information or live by omission, you will be revealed later on.  Hiding behind the on-going Jupiter-Neptune smoke and mirrors effect only digs us deeper into an unnecessary ditch.  While the Sun and Mars sit on Libra’s fence deciding which way to go, remember it always serves you well to choose truth.  You benefit in the long run to be honest with yourself and others even if there is short term pain.  So tell it like it is.  Have the hard conversation.  Make the difficult choice.  Inner peace is invaluable.

Under the glare of the Full Moon on Sunday, October 13th, we won’t be able to hide anyway.  In fierce and fiery Aries, the Full Moon opposes the Sun in Libra.  Talk about a trigger point, or trigger happy.  Wow.  This Full Moon is combustible.  Pluto swings exactly at the midpoint between Sun and Moon.  The Sun, our will, seeks harmony, asks what happened to the days of compromise where each party gave a little for the greater good?  This Full Moon could care less.  It rules our impatient emotions spoiling for a fight.  In the middle, Transformational Pluto in calculating Capricorn asks, what do I get out of peace OR conflict?  It says everyone loses when you settle for peace at any price, so better go big or go home.  This Full Moon means business. 

Where you face decisions in your life, remember:  there are no wrong choices, only learning.  Yes, sometimes the hard way.  The good news is that this same stretch at midmonth offers plenty of flow:  Mercury-Venus align with Neptune and the North Node, our directional calling.  The troika calls our soul, invites us to surrender and flow, to follow our purpose and path.  When we flow with our personal truth, we always win.  Even if it takes a while to realize it.

The following week, the Sun shifts into Scorpio on October 23^rd, joining Mercury-Venus.  Our will matches our words and resources.  The wisest way to harness this energy is through right use of power, shared resources and joint finances for the benefit of all. We are drawn toward deep dives, prolonged/investigative research, mystery and looking under the hood in all aspects of life.  We search for answers not readily obvious.  Messenger Mercury is slowing down now preparing to turn retrograde on Halloween, October 31^st. 

Make like a detective, asking thoughtful questions, use keen observation skills to penetrate beneath the surface of matters.   Three interior planets in Scorpio heightens our intuition, gives us X Ray vision.  We know what’s up.  Follow your vibe.  It is correct!  Use the time from October 23-31^st, the final week of October, wisely and well.  Do not be afraid to ask the hard questions that may ruffle feathers, or to stand up for yourself and what you know is right.   Especially around the Scorpio New Moon on October 28^th.  ALL will be the better for it when the truth is revealed to be dealt with in the open.  No more hiding in the shadows, duck and covering.  Put all of your cards out on the table now.  Then let the chips fall where they may.

Of Special Note:

Please join me at the Fall Artisans Show in Dover, MA.  I am offering mini readings (please book in advance) along with many wonderful artists showcasing a variety of unique work for sale.  Event dates and location:  Thursday, October 24, 6-9 pm; Friday, October 25 10 am-2 pm; Saturday, October 26 10 am- 4 pm.  6 Turtle Lane, Dover, MA   To book a 20 minute mini reading with me for $25, please contact host Soni Masur at 339.225.1389.  Hope to see you there!