Fate and the Furies

To say that these are extraordinary times is undoubtedly an understatement.  No one alive has ever seen the seismic shifts now occurring on planet Earth.  The depth and breadth of changes occurring are indeed difficult to find comparison in the history of mankind. A colleague of mine captured it best when she said, “we are evolving from homosapien to homoluminous.  It is the equivalent of going from Neanderthal to Cro-magnon” stages of human development.  No small feat that. Simply put, this is an immense heart opening.  Man shall now lead from his heart rather than his mind.

This month, the gateway to this evolution swings wide open marking a distinct closure on the old.  November drops us in the crucible of Scorpio time, ruled by Pluto god of the underworld. Life’s layers peel back from the surface with an intensity that is hard to pierce. We see the underbelly and dirty crevices lurking beneath whether we want to or not.

Thus opens November. 

Day One gives us a taste of how the month will unfold, a preview of coming attractions.  What gives?  On November 1, the moon pairs tightly with Taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius.  On its own, this is not an easy duo, as the soft and nurturing moon chafes in detached Aquarius and even more so up against hard-nosed Saturn dictating the rules and calling the shots.  Together they challenge Radical Uranus and the lunar north node.  In short:  the huddling masses will be heard.  Now.

Deepening the intensity of the moment, the planetary trio challenges Venus in Scorpio, making for one ugly love triangle. The usually lovely Venus is not so kind in seductive Scorpio.  Here, she’s more like a woman scorned and bound for ruthless revenge.  Feel the burn?  If things weren’t dicey enough, Motivating Mars just turned retrograde on October 29^th.   In Gemini, we Rethink, Revisit and Reflect on the decisions we’ve made that brought us to the present day; we also stew about the decisions of others that impact our lives.  The proverbial rubber hits the road, searing the scalding pavement and churning up acrid smoke.

“The Furies that under earth take vengeance on men, whosoever hath sworn a false oath,” – Homer, The Iliad.

When we tune into our self, stop and quiet the invasive noise in our minds and all around us, we feel our truths.  But this takes some effort. It may feel like bumbling around in the dark, as the Moon-Jupiter-Neptune trio in Pisces duel with Mars, creating an enormous smoke and mirror effect.  So practice discernment during the first week of November, because a cosmic Spin Doctor is hard at work.  It is up to us to decipher who and what is real.  Take care that you don’t fall for any con artist and flim-flam scam.

How to manage this energy?  Ask questions.  No matter how uncomfortable the questions are to ask or how you think your questions makes the other person feel, the time for politesse is over.  Your questions reveal volumes of information.  Sit with the answers you uncover. Check how your new knowledge resonates with your soul, because your soul never lies.  Do you feel content, honorable, clean?  Or heavy, stagnant, unclear?  Remember:  Truth does not mind being questioned; while a lie does not like being challenged. Follow your conscience accordingly.

By Friday, November 4^th, the Moon enters fiery Aries and she’s looking for a fight. The Aquarian masses stewing under the Scorpio Sun are triggered by the raging Aries Moon makes for one troubling cocktail. We are primed and teed up for the Full Moon lunar eclipse on Tuesday, November 8^th which also happens to be Election Day in the United States.   If all of this sounds dire, it is.  Pluto’s daughters, the Furies, are ready to roll.  Consider laying really low the weekend of November 4-6^th.  Definitely plan to be home before midnight. Nothing good ever happens in the wee hours stoked by such cosmic energy. 

Then KABOOM!  Around breakfast time on Tuesday, November 8^th, the Full Moon in Taurus opposes the Scorpio Sun, conjoining the north and south lunar nodes.  On its own this eclipse is very strong, getting the whole world’s attention at nearly 15 degrees of Scorpio and Taurus.  Anyone looking for revenge, to send an unmistakable message, or to have their day, will. 

Why?

The Sun (our will), Messenger Mercury (communication) and Venus (relationships, values) oppose Uranus (rebellion, change) and the Moon (emotions). Shaken and stirred, the ingredients energetically push the eclipse over the top. Every one of us is put on notice at a minimum; many are deeply triggered.  Mr. Putin may have his say and the women of Iran, not to mention the United States, certainly will at the ballot box. 

Tangible values and intangible rights are front and center, dominating what is up for grabs.  Scorpio (intangible, the unseen) rules sex and sexual organs.  Venus rules women. Taurus (tangible, money) governs kitchen table concerns, fomenting heavy issues at our polling stations:  the government inserting itself into our private parts, inflation raising thecost of living, mortgage rates through the roof, and a flailing stock market diminishing retirement funds. Vote Your Conscience or Vote your Wallet do not have to be mutually exclusive; BOTH ARE TRUE especially when long-term consequences are factored in.

Scorpio and Pluto rule death and regeneration, the veritable phoenix rising from the ashes.  There is no escaping this transformative process as death is the great equalizer, either physically or psychologically. In the aftermath of a storm, there is an inevitable wasteland to be faced and eventually cleared away. It has taken a very long time to reach this day, and here we are.  Whether a career, our home, a relationship, or treasured endeavor, what is done, is now totally over.

We may feel at an utter loss the week after the eclipse between November 9^th-16^th.  During the immediate time rolling in its wake, self-care is essential.  At a minimum, try to follow basic maintenance:  sleeping and eating right.   Do what you can, when you can, even for just 15 minutes a day to revive and refresh yourself with exercise, meditation, music, hydration, or being in nature.  When we allow for this, it fosters a necessary soulful cleansing and clearing to occur.  We can hear our own beings as we have not before, or for a very long time. 

Then, following a rhythm older than time, the light dawns.  The night is over; whether the trial of hard learned life lessons or the dark night of the soul (or both), light breaks on the horizon, heralded by the planets. First Venus, then Mercury, move into Sagittarius bearing truth and knowledge on November 16^th and 17^th.  The torch by which they shine allows us to see, perhaps for the first time, what has been kept from us or we’ve intentionally ignored.  The resources that Venus and information that Mercury bring remind us that we are free.  We always have been and will be.

Sagittarius rules freedom and truth born from all knowledge, both book learned and hard-earned experience.  As the light of dawn grows stronger through mid-day, watch for an unmistakable expansive understanding while the Sun joins Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius on November 22^nd.   

It is no accident that the New Moon in Sagittarius occurs on the very same day that Generous Jupiter, titan of abundance and knowledge and ruler of Sagittarius itself, turns direct motion on November 23^rd.  We live, we learn.  The storm has passed and we survived.  We gained a remarkable and unforgettable education from our experience.

Be sure to take a moment to reflect on your incredible journey, especially given that the timing occurs on the day before Thanksgiving.  On the surface of it, your Thanksgiving travel plans should be smooth.  On a broader, deeper level, use the pause afforded by the extended holiday to realize and acknowledge all you have accomplished and yes, what you have to be grateful for.

New Moons signify new beginnings. Find a moment over the holiday weekend to set your intentions. Hand write three to five goals and wishes to work on over the next month, season or year.  What we think, what we say, what we intend, we do indeed become. It is never more important to take care with the words we use now.  For what you put out into the cosmos, you inevitably receive back.  We didn’t create the laws of the universe, but we must surely live by them.  As above, so below. Sagittarius season reminds us if not guarantees that.

The more we consider ourselves modern and beyond the rules of natural order, the more we come to terms with how alike we are to the ancient mariners of old with only the stars to guide our way.

Of Special Note:

Tune into Mystical Messages podcast to hear my conversation with spiritual guide and teacher Laura Joseph about her new book Secrets to Healing.  Laura shares her wisdom about root causes of illness, including physical, mental and emotional and how to successfully resolve pain and suffering for good.  The episode is available Friday, November 11th wherever you listen to podcasts.   To learn more about Laura, please visit:  www.laurahealingwithspirit.com.  Mystical Messages is available wherever you find your podcasts.

                                             

 

 

 

Nobody's Right if Everybody's Wrong

October is the polar opposite of September. Last month was sluggish at best, slow, arduous, and often stagnant due to most planets cycling in retrograde motion.   Meanwhile October is another story altogether.  This month is rife with planetary gear shifts. Like dominoes falling over, the planets now turn direct motion one right after the other. The fast and furious cosmic activity catalyzes, or in some cases, catapults our decisions and deeds. October kicks off with Messenger Mercury turning direct, then capped off month by an eclipse and Mars turning retrograde to boot.

So to learn more about what’s in store, let’s dive in. Ready, get set, here we GO:

Nothing says get a move on quite like Day One of October when Messenger Mercury turns direct motion. BOOM.  It is time to move forward with life in a major way. Proceed signing any significant contracts or documents; book travel plans and purchase large ticket items such as cars, homes and appliances.  Anything you have held off on over the past few weeks is now fine to commit to, including the really large aspects of life:  job opportunities and relationships.

After all, October is ruled by Libra, sign of balance, art, beauty, peace and yes, relationships.  As the Sun entered Libra last month, September gave us space and grace to evaluate our relationships including our primary relationship:  to our SELF.  Now in October, we seek balance in all of our relationships in concert with our own being.  In other words: without forgetting our own well being.  Any routine or practice to center yourself will be especially useful this month to bring order from chaos:   use exercise, being in nature, journaling, meditation, music, whether listening, singing or playing it.  Centering ourselves, we organize and align our other relationships:  our partners, family, children, business colleagues, and friends. 

The value of centering practices in October cannot be overvalued.

We will need all of our wits about us, as we carefully balance the various aspects of our lives.  We tread the proverbial tightrope now, a taught high wire, heading into the second week of October and the Full Moon. 

All full moons are emotionally laden since they mark culmination, fruition and release.  This month’s Full Moon on Sunday, October 9^th in the fiery sign of Aries is highly charged as Powerful Pluto turns direct motion on the very same day.  The significance of this timing is key. For the past five months, Pluto has been cycling in reverse gear churning up what has been buried and reconnecting us to our power.  Now, under the glare of the Full Aries Moon, Pluto shifts forward, showing everything to everyone.  Nothing and no one is hidden now.

The Aries Moon is fierce, a warrior and trailblazer.  Opposing the Libra Sun-Venus duo, this moon takes no prisoners.  “Out with the old.  No more Mr. Nice Guy.”  This is raw, red meat energy.  Any dangling, indecisive, wishy-washy tactics or tidbits get trounced.  Not for the faint of heart, there is a brutality to this Full Moon and the week leading up to it.  As if the stakes weren’t already high enough, Taskmaster Saturn and Radical Uranus form their last, exact square during this window.  Think of two heavy weight boxers duking it out and you get the picture.

These two have been going at it for months now and this is their final showdown.  We feel the push to change more than ever regarding:  our values, strategies, principles, talents, toolbox, techniques and more. The more resistant you are to change, the more pushback you will get.  The Change-Is-A-Comin’ Choo-Choo is leaving the station. Better get on board. Because in a deeply polarized nation, the battle lines are indelibly drawn. The old Buffalo Springfield song comes to mind:  “Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong”.  Myriad choices are offered as to how we proceed.  Align with the Light and frequency of love and you cannot go wrong.

Choice is indeed the operative word as two days after the Full Moon, Messenger Mercury turns into Libra, on Tuesday, October 11^th, joining the Sun and Valuable Venus.  Libra notoriously wavers, sitting on the fence pondering “should I or shouldn’t I?  Yes or no?  Black or white?” Endlessly debating decisions at hand.

A timely Public Service Announcement:  there are no wrong choices.  Only learning.

Try as we might to have it both (or all) ways, we cannot.  We must choose for ourselves and our wellbeing; especially as the Libra planetary trio has us so focused on others that we tend to forget our own needs and agenda.  So remember to factor in your own desires.  A grand air trine, aligning Saturn-Sun-Venus-Mars-Moon occurs October 14^th. The power of persuasion is immense.  Use your thoughts and words wisely; and pay very close attention to what others say.  Ask questions.  Do not be afraid to dig deep and ask for more information.  Knowledge is power.  The old adage:  Think for yourself is never more relevant than now. 

The effects of this grand air alliance last well into the following week. So a word of caution here: we can be easily swept up in the energy of another, whether one person or a group now.  Think peer pressure. In this moment at mid-month, is VITAL to step aside, take a breath and remember what is important to you.  If need be, make a list or notes that you can refer to. Because if you haven’t decided, by mid-October:  you will now.  Or if you haven’t yet cared about exercising your right to choose:  you will now.  Remember to vote for yourself!

The moon enters its waning phase.  Within its darkest days, a trio of planetary gear shifts occur on Sunday, October 23^rd, only two days before a New Moon solar eclipse.  The Sun and Venus enter transformational Scorpio while Taskmaster Saturn turns direct motion in Aquarius. Talk about a change in mood, flavor and atmosphere!  BOOM.  Scorpio Sun-Venus work behind the scenes flexing their power and resources while Saturn connects the dots. Together, they lay the ground work for the New Moon eclipse in Scorpio on Tuesday, October 25^th. 

Time to seed your intentions during this energetic updraft.  Hand write three to five goals you desire to manifest in the coming month, season or year. Focus on what you DO want rather than what you do NOT want or cannot control.  Either plant your goals in the ground or set them safely alight in a fireplace or firepit. 

On Friday, October 28^th, Jupiter reverses into Pisces joining mystical Neptune.  Both challenge Motivating Mars to create one massive smoke-and-mirror effect.  You may feel like you are walking around in a carnival Fun House with warped mirrors and uneven, slippery floors.  So it is critical now to look beneath the surface of matters.  Go ahead:  ask the hard, uncomfortable questions.  If you need permission to make someone uncomfortable, here’s your invitation:  You have permission.  Wouldn’t you rather know the truth and gather all the answers than stay in the dark? 

The question then is:  what will you do with the information that you collect?  Share it? Sit on it? Lord it over another?  Hide it?  When in doubt, check in with your internal GPS, otherwise known as your intuition.  You have it for a reason. You will know what to do with your knowledge when the time arises.

The next day, Motivating Mars marks the final gear shift of October on Saturday, the 29^th, turning reverse gear. Over the next two and a half months through mid-January, the Great Initiator Mars prefers to Research, Review and Revisit rather than launch.    In Gemini, Mars gathers and disseminates information.  Retrograde, Mars can reveal unexpected truths.  More information becomes available during November, December and early January to fill in blank spaces and black holes. 

So if you have significant projects and relationships waiting to fly, best to wait until after January 12^th if possible to roll out anything new. Otherwise, your life may feel like endless re runs of 50 First Dates or Groundhog Day.  Think of spinning your wheels in the mud.  Speaking of which, if you need to purchase ANYthing mechanical or motorized (laptops, cars, phones, appliances), plan to purchase between October 2-27^th.  If you need to purchase one of the above during Mars Retrograde, make sure you do your due diligence and research and be sure to buy the extra warranty.  This is one time you will be very glad you did!

                                                                              

 

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Only Way Out is Through

We do not often think of September as a month to re-set or re-charge; we are usually returning to steady routines and rhythms of school and work after summer holidays. Yet re-charging is exactly what we are called to do this month.  What presents as a somewhat cosmically calm month belies essential deep dive inner work to be done.   If your efforts are not moving projects forward now, there is good reason.   Six out of ten planets are fully retrograde in September.  Retrograde is not a negative term; rather, it a natural part of the life cycle.  It is the cosmos’ way of saying:  stop, look, listen; or, think of it as a sleep cycle.  If we were always in forward, action mode and never slept, how productive would we be?

So how do we make good use of our time this month?  Employ the RE words:  Research, reflect, review, renovate, recharge, recycle, reuse, etc. 

Day one of September is a jolt to our senses:  the Radical Uranus and North Node duo opposes the Moon and South Node.  As we head into Labor Day weekend we hear September calling:  hello?  Is anybody there?  This should ease up Saturday, September 3^rd when the Moon aligns to Jupiter in fun fire signs Sagittarius and Aries, making for an enjoyable holiday weekend.

On Monday, September 5^th, Valuable Venus moves into practical Virgo, joining the Sun to keep things real:  especially our work and relationships.  Venus asks, “who is minding the store?”; she is the designated driver.  For the next two, weeks, Virgo Venus and Sun ensure that we do the right thing, are responsible and accountable.  This grounding energy is especially helpful as we approach the full moon in Pisces on Saturday, September 10^th.

Grounding practices and routines are essential leading into the second weekend of the month. Exercise, particularly walking, gardening, bicycling or simply being outside in nature helps our body, mind and soul immensely.  Why?  Messenger Mercury turns retrograde AND the Full Moon occur on the same day.  So let’s break this down to understand the energetic impact:

First, the Full Moon. In Pisces, this Full Moon is tied to Neptune.  Can you say, escape artist?  Many are looking for a way out, to avoid the work that the Venus-Sun pair opposite call us to do. You can run but you cannot hide.  The work, whatever it is on your plate now, must be attended to sooner or later.  So, better to surrender to the moment.  Surrender is the other side of Pisces; the spiritual side of the coin opposite the escape artist. 

Use music and water to soothe and ease your way through this stretch.  Listening to or playing music; swimming, fishing, kayaking, even a simple shower or foot bath helps to take the edge off the frenetic energy September 5-11^th; made that much more chaotic by Messenger Mercury shifting retrograde on the same day as the Full Moon, September 10^th.

If possible, sign major contracts and purchase big ticket items prior to September 9^th; otherwise, plan to hold off until after October 2^nd when Mercury turns direct motion.  Life may feel like it has come to a virtual standstill or moving at a snail’s pace for the remainder of September given that six planets are now retrograde:  Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.  Pick your analogy:  pushing a boulder up a mountain, moving through sludge, cutting dense, tough material.  Life isn’t happening now at a clip we humans prefer. 

Time to deploy the aforementioned RE words! 

The energetic downshift is noticeable. It’s like the world called out, “stop, I want to get off.” You may want to as well.  Use the planetary slow down to take a breather, re-set and recharge.  As they say in computer language: control, alt, delete.  Power down so you can power up more effectively next month when the planets move forward.

For the meantime, I cannot very well sugar coat the cosmic news.  2022 has been that kind of a year.  We are in the proverbial crucible now, where chemical and alchemical processes converge at high speed and temperature.  There is no escape from upheaval other than to move directly through what envelops you now.  The only way out is through.  We have signed up to be in this exact time and place, to do this precise soul work.  It is our soul contract.  We are here to do the very heavy soul lifting upon us now.

Underscoring the energetic density, Uranus and Saturn move toward their final challenge in early October.  These two titans have been battling it out for the past eighteen months, prompting notable divisiveness readily apparent in the United States and globally. Both planets are just past the mid-point of their cycles through fixed signs Taurus and Aquarius, urging us to get to it.  Get to what exactly?   

Change.  Admittedly, humanity resists change.  But we are called to change now, and to address the changes occurring in our lives whether we like or agree with them or not.  Because change is going to happen despite our resistance.  Change is the only constant.  Either get on board with change, step aside, or get mowed down.  These are our three choices. Yes, it really is that simple.

Uranus is the Great Awakener.  In earthy Taurus conjoined to the lunar north node, we are called to pay attention to our values:  to whom, what and how we value….ourselves, each other, our skills and talents, how we earn a living and spend our time, and yes, to Mother Earth and its altering climate.  Uranus and the north node demand change in these arenas. 

Meanwhile, Taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius demands innovation, invention, a different approach altogether.  “You know what doesn’t work; so it’s time to try something else: A new path, method, way,” says Saturn.  The Uranus vs. Saturn clash results in major pushback, standoffs and grandstanding.  Expect questions and exclamations like:  How are we going to pay for it all?  What you want (or value) is not what I want (or value).  And, we need to find a better way.

Current events are always a good indicator of how we are doing.  Guns, abortion and inflation now dominate the news cycle in the United States.  Essentially:  moral values versus our wallet.  It will be on the political menu this November.  What will you have to eat?  There is still time to decide.  Our RE-flections usurp the balance of September.  So use the prevailing retrogrades to contemplate your values, what must change in your life and how to go about making those changes. 

Planetary gear shifts are upon us the third week of September.  The Sun turns into Libra on Friday, September 23^rd seeking a balanced approach to our pursuits even as Messenger Mercury reverses into hardworking Virgo the very same day, joining Venus.  What can be reasonably accomplished pervades our thoughts, how can we tackle our to-do list and in what time frame.  Make a plan.  The caution here is worry and anxiety about aspects we cannot control.  A good thing then that Neptune in its own sign of Pisces opposes Mercury-Venus suggesting that we:  control what you can, go about your business, surrender the rest.

As part of your plans, remember to hand write three to five intentions or goals for the New Moon on Sunday, September 25^th.  Focus on what you seek, rather than the how.  Be as detailed and descriptive as you like; then leave the HOW it will all happen up to The Force or Source, whatever you choose to call it.  This New Moon occurs at a very early degree of Libra.  The Sun (our life force and will) and Moon (our feelings and emotions) gravitate toward peace, beauty, art, relationships.  Libra rules balance. Not because she is balanced; but rather, in pursuit of balance.  Since the pandemic, the need for greater work-life balance has dominated our national and even international landscape.  The giant re-set of 2020-21 in the United States resulted in countless numbers moving residence, quitting jobs, and choosing remote work, all in pursuit of greater personal freedom. In short, we valued our time more than ever.

By comparison, the contemplative stretch of September 2022 is a mini version of this longer and larger cultural pivot.  When Valuable Venus turns into her own sign of Libra on Thursday, September 29^th, she joins the Sun and Messenger Mercury.  Together, the three cultivate harmony at work, home, community and school.  The trick is to remember your own needs in the equation.  Libra x 3 planets often has us forgetting about our own agenda as we are so focused on others.  So the end of September comes with a reminder to pencil yourself into your own life and schedule; whether self-care or individual work-related goals, it is more than OK for you to do you. 

As Katharine Hepburn said, “If you always do what pleases you, at least one person will be happy.”  This isn’t selfish.  It is survival.

Of special note:

Kerrin Kuntzman, owner of Harmonic Life Dallas joins me on my next guest episode of Mystical Messages which drops Friday, September 16^th.

My webinar “Creativity and Moon Cycles” for National Council for Geocosmic Research is now available via Youtube.  To view it, please visit my Facebook Page:  Hilary Harley Astrology.

                                                                                

 

 

 

 

 

Where there is a will, there is a way

When you are able, schedule time for play this final month of summer.  Turn August angst into August audacity before hectic September days arrive.  Whether you watch the news or not, or, though you may not be directly affected by the dire events occurring daily in our nation, we cannot help but feel the weight of the current times. It is essential for our health, both physical and mental, to release pieces of the burden we carry. 

Mindful of this, August opens with a particularly challenging aspect.  Astrologers are agog trying to describe the potency of this energy.  And it is not ALL bad. Just super strong.  Like a double espresso, this energy is guaranteed to wake everyone up. The planetary combination began forming at the end of July, making the final week of last month more than prickly.  Now as August rolls in, we feel the full impact. 

What’s up?  For the first half of 2022, the lunar north node in Taurus and Radical Uranus have been inching closer.  Each factor on its own exponentially energizes what it contacts; so together now, this is a force to be reckoned with.  Adding to the mix, Motivating Mars conjoins the north node and Uranus at the end of July well into the first week of August, forming highly charged and combustible energy. 

So there is no way to sugar coat the energetic effects of the first week of August.  Before you rush to worry about what this initial week may portend, it is vital to consider where this combination impacts your chart.  First, let’s pull the three planetary players apart to better understand the energy at play.

First, Uranus rules electricity, earthquakes and lightning.  The planet is called The Great Awakener because it shifts and shakes us when we stray off our soul path. Anything sudden, shocking or surprising has Uranus’ fingerprints all over it.  It is the only planet that rotates vertically instead of horizontally. Likewise, Aquarians (whose ruling planet is Uranus) march to their own drummer and are notoriously independent and innovative.  Famous Aquarian Thomas Edison comes to mind.

If Uranus is THE change agent, then the lunar North Node is our evolutionary calling, drawing us toward a certain sector of our lives to focus on, while Motivating Mars IS our energy.  Like the gas pedal in a car, Mars is our drive or get up and go.  These three are cycling through Taurus, primal earth energy:  ruling our values, worth, self-esteem, and resources both tangible, (land, money, possessions) or intangible such as our skills and talents from which our income is derived.

Together at the outset of August, the troika awakens us with tremendous jolt.  You may be shaken and stirred out of routines now.  The impact is to change what, how and whom we value, in ourselves and in life.  It may very well not be pretty.  Others, may experience key ah-ha moments, windfalls or long overdue reckonings to even out the karmic slate and make them whole.  However you experience this first week of the month, please remember your own self-care and well-being, to practice gratitude for all you do have; to focus on what you do want to create more of in your life and where you can have a positive impact rather than adding to the chaos of this time.

Amidst the sturm and drang this energy stirs up, we receive big help as Messenger Mercury turns into practical Virgo on Thursday, August 4^th.  In its home sign, Mercury analyzes, categorizes and compartmentalizes information and how we respond to what comes to us now. Our minds are efficient and clear, grounded and realistic.  We do not bite off more than we can chew; because we are busy planning next steps.  So it is essential to guard against worry and anxiety which Mercury Virgo leans toward.  Focus on what you can control and surrender the rest.

Worrying is like praying for something you do not want to have happen.

Not making anything easier, Valuable Venus now opposes Powerful Pluto during the same stretch from Sunday August 7-11^th.  Venus rules our values, money, love and relationships.  Her nurturing and compassionate nature as she finishes passing through Cancer the Crab is pointedly opposing Powerful Pluto in Capricorn.  Venus is called now to say the word NO more often, to watch her expenses and refrain from overextending herself helping others.  You may find yourself bristling at limitations put upon you or your wallet. Due to this, your power may feel particularly pressed, squished or squashed as we approach the Full Moon on Thursday, August 11^th. 

This Full Moon also tightly conjoins Taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius carrying weight and gravitas regarding the collective whole.  What affects you, affects me says this moon; so let’s offer what is best for everyone, rather than just the privileged few.  Opposing the Leo Sun, this is one very creative and innovative Full Moon highlighted by Venus’ shift into Look at me Leo only a few hours prior to the Full Moon.   

We feel the old adage come to life:

Where there is a will, there is a way.

And no planet understands that more than Motivating Mars, especially as it turns into Gemini on Saturday, August 20^th where it will stay until next March 2023.  So it is imperative to make friends with this energy.  To do so, involves remembering that communication is a two way street.  Gemini, where Mars begins its cycle for over six months, rules all forms of communication.  The glyph for Gemini is the twins, the dominant twin and the passive twin.  In Western cultures, the dominant twin is information sharing:  the talker, speaker, reporter, journalist, social media influencer and more.  The passive twin is information gathering.  It is better regarded in Eastern cultures life:  listening, hearing, thinking, contemplation, meditation. 

Together, the twins form something akin to a radio, delivering and receiving messages.  When Motivating Mars, signifying our drive, enters Gemini, we will experience all manner of communication, healthy and not.  Gemini also rules siblings, cars, trains, buses as well as neighbors, community, and tribe.  Expect more involvement with all of the above.  Need a new car?  In search of your tribe?  Irritating neighbor?  Becoming more community active?  Mars in Gemini pushes you in these directions.

For the next several months:  You also want to pay particular attention to information exchange with siblings, community and neighbors, especially repeating messages while in cars, trains or buses.  This is the universe trying to get your attention.  Information may arrive in different modalities such as advertisement, word of mouth, animal messages, lyrics in songs, and much more. 

Verbal and written information is what distinguishes human beings from the animal kingdom.  In such a polarized and divisive time, we can all agree that the source of our problems now is lack of or unwillingness to communicate.  For better or worse, Mars in Gemini makes sure we use our words.  Watch that you use language with particular care now.  Never has the old adage, think before you speak (or before hitting send on texts and emails) been so critically important!

Tricky days ensue.  Tuesday, August 23^rd, Uranus turns retrograde.   The change-agent planet shifting direction never affords smooth sailing.  Expect the unexpected from August 22-24^th.  If possible, lay low and practice self-care.  Less is truly more this week. 

We do have cosmic assistance two days later, on Thursday, August 25^th, Messenger Mercury enters Libra, aligning with Gemini Mars.  Grace and consideration soften our words as we keep in mind how our messages land on others’ ears.  This is especially helpful when the New Moon in Virgo occurs on Saturday, August 27^th.  Virgo is the master craftsman, detailed and analytical.  As you hand-write your New Moon intentions, the more specific your descriptive language, the better.  For example, if your goal is to meet a new romantic partner, describe the qualities you desire or seek; or to increase income, outline business growth opportunities to pursue rather than simply asking for more money. 

As part of your New Moon ritual, I invite you to include setting intentions for collective healing, peace and unity.  Virgo rules health and wellness.  Our families, nation and planet could surely benefit from deep healing.   Many people ask me why the current time is so difficult. In part, the answer lies with cosmic passages our nation is enduring.  It has taken 248 years for Pluto to travel around the birth chart of the United States.  We are in the midst of our nation’s Pluto return and we are collectively feeling every inch of the underworld journey.  The darkest sides of life are surfacing now, the ugliest bits that have been buried or swept under the rug.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going,” said Churchill.

Wounds are messy and we are feeling their pain now.  To heal, wounds require time.

So while Pluto rules the shadow, addiction and death, it also rules regeneration, rebirth and transformation, mystery and magic.  Within chaotic darkness, creativity and healing brew.  As dire as these days feel, they are also infinitely imaginative.  Goals have a 60 per cent greater chance of manifesting when we set intentions and follow through.  Time to pick up your pen; point mind and heart toward the possible. Then let visions fly!

Of Special Note:                                                 

Please tune into Mystical Messages podcast on Friday, August 12^th to hear fellow astrologer Jill Jardine and me break down the cosmic activity through the end of 2022.  We will deep dive into the who, what and how for happenings between August through December.  Not an episode to miss!  Mystical Messages is available via:  Google, Apple and Spotify.

ALSO:  want to learn what sparks creativity?  My "Creativity and Moon Cycles" webinar will be available August 10th through the end of September on YOUTUBE.  Visit NCGR webinars on YouTube/Creativity and moon cycles.

Mirror, Mirror

The Moon rules the month of July and Cancer the Crab.  The moon is a great big, gigantic reflector of light, the Sun’s rays.  Cancer is also a water sign and water reflects.  Likewise this month, each of us has our reflectors on, mirroring back to others all that we perceive.  If you have ever done a mirroring exercise, or simply taken a good hard look at yourself in a mirror, we do not always like what we see.  And sometimes, too, we are happily surprised at our reflection.  Our eye catches the reflection and we pause, seeing calm, strength, grace, or perhaps a certain power that we did not expect.

It is no accident that during the first full-fledged month of summer, July finds us moving slower and pacing ourselves differently than during the rest of the hurried and harried year. And while none of the inner, personal planets are retrograde in July 2022, we’re now moving on Moon Time, a definite shift to lower gear.  Cancer saunters and glides, dives deep for delectables beneath the surface.  She rarely races around or rushes.  She takes her time collecting and integrating what she comes across.  Her magic moonlight bathes us invitingly in warm, delicious rays that form our most cherished memories: creating sandcastles with children on a beloved beach; snuggling under the covers with loved ones; baking sugar cookies with grandma.  Memories that surface in private, hidden moments, and surely before we take flight to heaven.

July unfolds just after a New Moon.  Fresh energy develops to grow what we want more of in our lives. Generous Jupiter aligns to a festive Leo Moon to kick off the July Fourth weekend, on Friday, July 1.  Time to get your FUN on.  We’re game for anything especially as Messenger Mercury connects to Saturn in Aquarius. You are connected and The Connector!  Pay attention to who and what comes your way over the weekend.  It might be a holiday but precious people and information may land in your lap.  File away what crosses your radar until you are ready to explore and fully vet potential possibilities as Neptune challenges Mercury during this same time.  You will need to do your homework and learn whether opportunities are the real deal or just smoke and mirrors. 

Speaking of mirrors:  Messenger Mercury joins the Sun in reflective Cancer on Monday, July 5^th.  It connects to Motivating Mars which shifts into earthy Taurus the exact same day.  This is a much needed grounding and practical alliance after the epic violence of June when Mars moved through fiery Aries. Now working together, our minds and motivation imagine and deliver practical solutions.  We can certainly use all the help we can get.  Take advantage of this useful energy during the week after July 4^th. Not only can you get a lot accomplished; but you will find answers to long-standing questions or problems.

Solutions and answers abound as long as you are open to try new paths and strategies.  The Sun challenges healer Chiron while Mercury boxes with Jupiter, catalyzing us to do something, anything to get to YES.  The Old Days of the Old Guard refusing to budge are rapidly ending.  We can all hear the kicking and screaming of those being dragged into the future.  However Taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius demands for change for the greatest good, the collective benefit, as it duels with Uranus and the North Node in Taurus:  personal values. 

Whether over gun rights, gun control, right to life, the right to choose, a stolen election or a government coup, the struggle is real.  The national push and pull showdown is ON this July.  Often forgotten, Cancer rules the homeland:  our nation.  Your personal values are the nation’s values.  As the individual and family goes, so goes our country. 

Our struggle gyrates to peak torque by mid-month.  The Full Moon in Capricorn on Wednesday, July 13th is tied to Powerful Pluto opposite the Sun-Mercury in Cancer.  Get it in gear people is the message of this Full Moon.  The time for fooling around is now long over.  This especially includes unnecessary power plays and drama.  Any back room or back handed manipulations are reflected in Cancer’s gigantic mirror, witnessed by all.  The Sun and Moon represent our respective father and mother astrologically and boy, these parents have had enough. This is one tough-love Mother Moon, and she is deadly serious.

Pluto is Power.  The Capricorn-Pluto Full Moon is ruthless:  cuts losses, shores up resources, sets stiff limits and boundaries and doesn’t care who it offends.  Whining and crying will do you no good. If you are not towing the line, minding your business and doing the work, you will be shown in unmistakably glaring terms what must be done to get your house in order.  Cancer rules the home, family, and yes, our national family.  You either are an example or you will be made an example of.

The great news is:  for those invested in love and right over might, Pluto bestows tremendous power. Those who show up and on path will shine now.  Loosely aligning to the lunar north node and Uranus, Pluto bears heavyweight windfalls for otherwise invisible people who put their nose to the grindstone, do the right thing day in and day out with no expectation for award or reward.  Will you be one of them? 

Reverberations follow in the wake of this immensely strong Full Moon.  You may feel as though you’ve been through the spin cycle of your washing machine.  Take some time the weekend of July 16-17 to let the dust to settle.  We are in the final days of the Sun’s tour through Cancer, when she sends her strongest supportive energy, helping us to stand on our own two feet.  Think of the baby bird being pushed out of the nest and you get the sense of the stretch between July 13-18^th.  We know it is time to evolve and grow.  With that comes trepidation and for some, fear.  Remember:  F.E.A.R is False Evidence Appearing Real.  Time to fly one and all.

Easing our transitions great and small, Valuable Venus turns into Cancer the Crab on Monday, July 18^th.  Gear shifts are afoot.  As though passing a runner’s relay baton, the Sun concludes its cycle in this sign of comfort and compassion then hands it off to Venus, who picks it up and begins her passage.  Here, Venus extends Cancerian warmth and care toward our relationships, especially family.  Family matters now take precedence, including relatives, house and home, food, nurturing (including our own self-care).

The next day, Messenger Mercury shifts into Look-At-Me Leo.  Creative and festive with mouth and message, Leo Mercury is the child (or inner child) who will be heard.  He also intends to have a really good time while he’s at it.  He’s joined by the Sun entering Leo on Saturday, July 23^rd.   The party is ON the third week of July.  We are game for anything as Mercury aligns to Generous Jupiter in Aries.  Step aside caution:  here comes the FUN.  Try anything just once.  You may surprise yourself at how much you enjoy whatever it is!  If you are planning a wedding or other happenings the weekend of July 23-24^th, the energy is ripe for joy.  Try paying in advance for activities, as you want to wake up the following Monday full of fun afterglow, rather than facing a sizeable bill. 

The cost of life weighs heavily on us all.  It is meted out at the New Moon in Leo on Thursday, July 28^th.  Although the Sun and Moon align to Generous Jupiter, it is worthwhile noting here that Jupiter turns retrograde at the time of New Moon, suggesting that we use the power of intention with particular due regard.  Especially as Messenger Mercury opposes Taskmaster Saturn and both challenge Uranus, Mars and the North Node in Taurus.  Our ideas and agenda may be waaaay bigger than our pocketbook. 

There is real work to do now.  We’re required to buckle in and take a deep dive into our priorities:  focus on common ground (Taurus) and build a plan from there.  It is all visible in the mirror Cancer the Crab holds up for us to reflect upon, that which unites us:  shared love for our children, safe homes, secure schools and peaceful neighborhoods.  Look in the mirror now. What do you see?

 Of Special Note:

Tune into Mystical Messages podcast to hear my conversation with Leah Goldman of FIKA Coaching.  Leah is no ordinary life coach! A certified life coach, Leah offers a holistic and nature-based approach with equine facilitated learning.  Together with her horse Saint, Leah leads clients to create deeper connection to themselves affording more joyful and creative lives.  Not to be missed, this episode drops Friday, July 15^th and is available via Spotify, Google and Apple podcasts.

 

 

 

 

Karma Speaks

Following May’s cosmic maelstrom, June begins with an abundance of grounding Taurus energy and the Moon in her own sign, nurturing Cancer.  After being tossed about like a toy boat in a hurricane, feel the soft landing, like crashing on a giant foam pad after being hurled over the pole vault bar.  Wow. Soak up the kind, if momentary, energetic waves offer.

It only gets better.  Friday, June 3^rd, Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.  Unleash all of your pent up energy.  Sign contracts, book travel plans, purchase big ticket items, namely cars, boats, houses or appliances.   It’s GO time!  Take advantage of the forward thrust to move projects ahead and plow through your to-do list.  Not often a well-known aspect of Mercury, the messenger planet rules commerce:  exchange and trade.  I’ll give you this for that.

Mercury is transactional.  For the past three weeks we had the opportunity to reflect on the value of our transactions, the ROI (return on investment) for our time, energy and money. With its turn forward in earthy Taurus tightly joined to the lunar north node, Mercury makes one powerful statement.  We take a stand. Dig our heels in. Speak up, loudly. This is no pushover moment, in no minor way either, especially as Mars and Jupiter are bound together in fiery Aries.  No holds barred. Think of someone who has been sidelined, dismissed or overlooked (possibly abused) for way too long.  Three-two-one:  BOOM!  Another voice is distinctly heard from now.  Your time to shine has arrived. Enjoy.

Watch impulsive moves and rash behavior.  We are rarin’ to go now after the energetic slog of May.  But check yourself.  Look before you leap and think before you speak.  Also:  use caution with fire.  Take care with engines, stoves, fire pits and fire places, smoking materials, barbecues.  Make sure any fire or heat related matter is extinguished before heading out or turning in.

When used impetuously, the energy at the beginning of June is explosive. Truth bombs abound as well. Hopefully these are the only kind of bombs dropped as Taskmaster Saturn turns retrograde on Saturday, June 4^th.  Most of us do not feel the gear shift of planets beyond Mars.  However it is worth noting that the Lord of Karma shifting direction the day after Mercury turns forward underscores the importance of this moment.  For anyone off track or not doing their soul work, the impact of this one-two gear shift makes them go sit in the corner and think about their actions, words and deeds. 

You can hear the wails seeping from every quarter but particularly from those who do not understand the law of cause and effect:  that actions do indeed have consequences.  “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” states Isaac Newton’s third law of physics, whether physical or metaphysical,  So...what have I done to deserve this? Why me? And woe is me statements during the first week of June will not supply easy answers; rather, in response, age-old sayings come to mind:  the chickens have come home to roost; and, most certainly:  what goes around has definitely come all the way back around.

As Saturn continues to challenge the lunar nodes, pushing and pulling our attention (in fixed signs no less, stubbornly dug in), each of us is called to reach deep, and deeper still than we have ever allowed or wanted.  Aquarian Saturn demands focus on what is needed, what is best for all.  What has the greatest beneficial impact for the most?  While the Taurus north node asks:  how are we going to pay for it all, are we getting the best bang for our buck and is it aligned with our current values? OR especially:  what exactly are our values now?   Meanwhile, the Scorpio South node purges what is no longer relevant, including power struggles of a sexual or financial nature.

We bump into truth at every turn.  It waits for us around each corner as we head into mid-month and the full moon in Sagittarius.  Sagittarius rules truth, freedom and the law. It is no accident that the Supreme Court of the United States (the law) always renders its rulings during the month of June when there is a Full Moon in Sagittarius. Earthly and cosmic law are the same; even if they are known by different names, the meanings and definitions are identical.  As above, so below…  If you think you can out run the law, any law, think again.  And the glaring spotlight of the Full Moon on Tuesday, June 14^th shines everywhere; the Sagittarian moon light gets behind the darkest crevasse.  Emphasizing communication, Messenger Mercury enters Gemini precisely on the same day as the Full Moon.  Even if you want to contain (or hide) information, chances are that around June 13-15^th, whatever wants to be known will find a way out through leaks or mishaps.  

Mercury rules Gemini, its home sign of information gathering and sharing.  We know Gemini by its glyph, the twins but I tend to think of this glyph also as antennae: such as on a radio or old television set with the “rabbit ears”.  What often gets lost in modern, western living is the equal duality of Gemini.  Information sharing, talking, and especially social media, dominates our culture, often to our detriment. Whereas Eastern cultures place more value on the information gathering aspect of Gemini: listening, hearing, thinking, and contemplation. 

A gentle reminder that words once spoken can never be retracted.  Even the deepest, most sincere apology may not undo words that cut like a knife. So it is vital under the bright light of the June 14^th Full Moon that we actually think before we speak. Think about your audience, who exactly will hear your message, whether one person or a cast of thousands.  Think about how your words might land on their ears or in their hearts.  Be especially mindful of vulnerable listeners:  children, elderly, the sick, infirmed or disabled.  Tip the scales toward listening and paying mindful attention rather than speaking.  Follow radio talk show host Bernard Meltzer’s advice:

“Before you speak, ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful.  If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.”

The Summer Solstice and the longest days of the year are upon us Tuesday, June 21^st, marked by the Sun’s passage into maternal Cancer the Crab. Within her embrace, those in the Northern Hemisphere lap up warmth and extra hours to play or make hay.  Two days later, Valuable Venus shifts into Gemini, loosely pairing with Mercury for the rest of June.  The duo gives us maximum versatility and adaptability to what life brings. Our messages and relationships are on point, especially for those in the sales, marketing and media fields. 

The tide turns on Monday, June 27^th when inspirational Neptune turns retrograde.  Generally speaking, we do not feel the gear shift of such far away, outer planets of our galaxy. Although, it is worthwhile to note that you may feel more soulful around the end of the month.  Water and music activities (any) are helpful.  The shift of Neptune always sparks a reminder that we are not in fact our jobs, nor our assigned or chosen roles in life either; but rather we are souls who have come to learn and hopefully master lessons in the school house called Earth.  In the crush of running around checking off our to-do list items and climbing the ladder of accomplishment, Neptune’s gentle ebb says there really is, actually, far, far more to life.  Ask yourself, what that might be.

Carefully hold potential possibilities close to you as very next day, very late in the day is the New Moon in Cancer.  She invites us to set intentions on Wednesday, June 29^th.  Hand write three to five thoughtfully considered goals, then plant them in the softening earth; or set safely alight and scatter the ashes to warm summer winds.  Nurture your dreams, your soul goals.  Neither tough nor fluff but rather, dreams are the actual stuff of which life is made.

Of Special Note: 

I am thrilled to share that SPIN Magazine invited me to write their first astrology column.  Included each month is your personal astro-sign forecast.  Check out:   www.spin.com;

Tune into my conversation with the inimitable Cathy Ripley Greene on Mystical Messages podcast, Friday, June 11^th.  Cathy returns for another insightful discussion; on this episode we discuss the higher octave of our physical senses:  touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.  Better known as the clairs, our metaphysical senses: clair voyant, clair audio, clair cognizant, clair sentient, may be developed and used to navigate our world in much the same way as our physical senses. Cathy and I talk about how to recognize and cultivate the clairs. 

                                                                                                                   

 

The Currency of Your Life

May opens the day after the first eclipse of 2022.  We are now deep into Taurus the Bull terrain, the first primal earth sign of the zodiac, with the Sun, Uranus, Moon and its north node tightly clustered together in this sign of value.  Since the lunar nodes moved into the money signs of Taurus and Scorpio back in January, we are drawn to evaluating and learning what we value, in ourselves, others and life.

Whole tomes have been written on actual currency and how it originated from barter systems…I’ll give you this, that I value for that which I need or want.  And in many ways, humanity is back to the drawing board in this class, reviewing and remembering what constitutes worth.  I could recite many adages here:  time is money, money is power and you can’t take it with you….whatever the proverbial IT is that you value so much:  that treasured jewel, that beloved home, that car, motorcycle, or fill in the blank.

For some, the whole lesson here on earth is there is more to life than money.  For others, their whole lesson is learning to manage, wield and control money.  Neither end of the spectrum is bad or good; rather, the direction we are called, the spiritual or the material each serve purposes.  And 2022 guarantees one thing:  each of us is being deeply schooled in our relationship to worth, its meaning and role in our lives.

All four eclipses of 2022 occur on the Taurus-Scorpio axis.  Taurus rules our individual skills and talents, how we earn a living, thus both our inner and outer resources; while Scorpio rules shared resources and joint finances such as with a spouse or the taxes we pay.  Taurus is tangible assets.  Scorpio is power derived from joint assets.  Or not, as the case may be, if the resource meter is on empty.

The world bears witness now to how those with tremendous power and position choose to wield it such as:   Mackenzie Scott (formerly Bezos) underwriting life-changing scholarships at historically black colleges; Vladimir Putin invading and destroying neighboring Ukraine; Vladimir Zelensky standing up to Putin’s unwelcome invasion rather than fleeing for personal safety.

The entire year of 2022, the eclipses and the month of May in particular ask us:  if we were in their shoes, had their riches or power, what would we do?  How would we spend the currency of our life:  our time, energy, talents, and resources.  In philanthropic circles, this is known as the Triple Ts:  time, talent, and treasure. In the wake of the first eclipse, with the second eclipse still two weeks away, Messenger Mercury steps gingerly into its home sign of Gemini on May 1^st.  Our minds click into overdrive, connecting ideas and concepts with alacrity.

Valuable Venus greatly assists Mercury with fearless leaps and initiatives as she shifts into fiery Aries on Tuesday, May 3^rd.  Venus unabashedly links people and resources to our efforts….the right helpers and tools appear at exactly the moment we need it.  Take advantage of the seamless connectivity between mind and matter during the first week of the month!  You will be glad you did as Mercury shifts gears shortly thereafter on Monday, May 9^th.   The Messenger planet spins in reverse for the next three weeks until Friday, June 3^rd.  So any major purchases or contracts that you need to implement are best done prior to Sunday, May 8^th, before Messenger Mercury turns retrograde motion. 

A particular stretch to avoid buying big ticket items or signing significant documents is from May 9^th to Monday, May 16^th.  That week is an energetic black hole as it is both the period between two eclipses and retrograde Mercury to boot.  The best use of our energy that week is exercising the RE words:  research, review, renovate, restore, renew, etc.  You also want to hold off on booking and paying for any travel plans if possible in that time frame.

Getting our attention, Generous Jupiter turns into warrior Aries on Wednesday, May 11^th.   Planet of expansion, growth and development, Jupiter is particularly at home in Aries.  We feel now that anything is truly possible.  Our customary fears or inhibitions subside as we aren’t afraid to try activities, people or things new to us.  Jupiter in Aries may serve as the breath of fresh air we so badly need.  It emboldens and empowers.  The caution here is impulsivity and leaping before we look.  Good thing, perhaps that Mercury is retrograde, slowing our trigger hand a bit.

We feel the energy thicken heading into mid-month as the second eclipse occurs on the Full Moon, May 15 or 16, depending on your location.  Not a light and frothy time harkening back to past springtimes; this time around, the current May of 2022 bears down, signifying a time of gravitas and import, the densest, thickest part of primal Taurus earth, as the strongest and heaviest Bull energy levels us dead on.

Both change agent Uranus and Gigantic Jupiter are at attention-getting degrees (15 Taurus and 00 Aries) at the time of the second eclipse.  Events stop us in our tracks.  You are seen and heard. Pay special notice to what you do and say on or around May 14-16^th.  If you are off path or out of alignment in any sector of your life, you will be made to course correct now.  The Full Moon in Scorpio reveals it all and shows everyone for who they really are.  Don’t even think about hiding or trying to sweep anything under the rug.  It is a waste of time and energy.  You can run but you cannot hide; and anyway, why would you want to?  For wherever you go, there you are.

This energy works both ways as it is raw, powerful and deeply karmic.  It is a psychic roto-rooter to beat all.  So anyone who has been victimized or unjustly persecuted for anything, your time has come.  Prepare to be made whole and made good in a profound way.  The Jupiter-Neptune in Pisces during April cleared the way and washed clean any past residue.  Now, with Jupiter’s move into a whole new cycle at the initial degree of Aries, we start completely fresh. 

By the end of the week, the Sun, our will and how we engage with the world, enters Gemini on Saturday, May 21^st.  We seek to get our message across now but it is equally important to listen and hear what others have to say; particularly as two days later, retrograding Messenger Mercury, re-enters Taurus. When the communication planet reverses back into Taurus, our thoughts become more cautious and careful.

Taurus Mercury slows our impulse; we are not so quick to the draw, especially when it comes to spending our hard earned dollar.  We muse a bit more over the cost of things, both material and immaterial.  We ask:  what investment of our time, energy and money is required by any person or proposition?  With Mercury still retrograde for yet another ten days, do your homework and ask the hard questions.  You will be glad you did!

A slower hand helps to counterbalance Motivating Mars’ shift into its home sign of Aries, on Wednesday, May 25^th.  Joining Jupiter, these two fire up our engines, both literally and creatively.  Use Mercury’s mental deliberation to temper any rash decisions.  A big caution here is to watch your use of fire or anything mechanical.  Make sure to turn off any heat-born appliances, including the washer-dryer, before leaving your house.  Any outdoor fires or barbeques over the holiday weekend should be extinguished when turning in for the night.  Take care and use common sense with any electrical devices or anything with a motor. 

Plan on a lovely Memorial Day weekend as Valuable Venus enters her home sign of Taurus on Sunday, May 29^th just before the New Moon in Gemini the next day on Monday, May 30^th.  Ready, set, write your carefully considered intentions and either plant them in the warming earth or safely burn alight in a safe container.  In only a few days, on June 3^rd, Messenger Mercury turns direct.  Reflect now, during the final days of May.  Contemplate and prepare.  For soon enough it will be time to set your dreams and desires into motion.  

Of Special Note:  I am so pleased to share that I am now the official astrologer for SPIN magazine!  Click on the link below to read your individual zodiac sign forecast for May:

https://www.spin.com/2022/04/rock-star-astrology-may-2022/

AND:  please tune into hear my conversation with numerologist Ronnie Shaffer, on the next episode of Mystical Messages podcast, Friday, May 13th, available on Spotify, Google or Apple podcasts.