Tuesday, November 9, 2010

November Blessings

November is the month for giving thanks. This year, November began with two beneficent planets, Venus and Jupiter, in retrograde motion. Retrograde periods are often perceived as negative; however, these are natural phases in life that occur, even for planets. Such phases provide a chance to rest and review wherever they occur. Many people have heard of Mercury Retrograde simply because of their frequency along with warnings or points of blame: "no wonder the computer broke..."

In the case of Venus and Jupiter, these planets typcially bear blessings and bountiful energy in our lives. Venus rules love, money, art and beauty. The expansive planet of Jupiter brings abundance to whatever it touches, ruling higher learning, spirituality, publishing, and freedom. These two planets have been in retrograde motion and both will turn direct within two days this month.

Venus has been moving backward through the sign of Scorpio, touching areas of deep psychology, money, sex and death. We are now witnessing the trials of Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper as well as the verdict for Connecticut's Petit family murders. Both of these trials involved issues relating to Scorpio. Now as Venus is about to turn direct in Libra on November 19th, we see a balancing of the scales of justice.

On November 18th, Jupiter turns direct in the sign of Pisces. Like Scorpio, Pisces is a water sign, infusing life with crystal clear, murky or stormy waters. Since Jupiter is an outer planet, it has been moving backward for a longer period of time. Its titanic energy coupled with Uranus, planet of change and upheaval, that have been traveling together for several months, has brought us tsunamis, hurricanes, and the recent cruise ship debacle. Uranus rules electricity. A massive power outage on a Carnival cruise ship stranding the passengers at sea is a prime example of these energies bumping into each other.

Next week both Venus and Jupiter will once again be moving forward, spreading their beneficence and abundance during the season of Thanksgiving and the holidays. Look at your life patterns for examples of how these magnificent energies work to help you.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Full Harvest Moon!

The full moon on Thursday, September 23 is indeed a Harvest Moon!



Every full moon brings heightened sensitivity and awareness. Projects and life experiences come into complete flower and fruition during the brightest light of the moon. However, the potency of this Thursday's full moon is especially strong.



Contributing to this moon's intensity are Jupiter and Uranus, planets of expansion and invention. The combination of these three are potent in and of themselves. But this troika also falls directly opposite the Sun and Saturn in Libra. Libra rules relationships and art. So expect the unexpected from those you know and love. People you may have thought would never budge on certain matters will make surprising shifts, catching you off-guard. These shifts occur seemingly overnight and may not feel beneficial at the moment; but in time are realized as the necessary push for soul growth. The symbol for Libra is Lady Justice holding her scales. Injustices or legal matters resolve, find their way into court or erupt.

Your inner artist might truly be sparked now; ideas and interests put off for years are finally committed to action. And artists of all stripes may find that projects seeded long ago are suddenly drawing long-awaited attention. Reap what you have sown during this abundant harvest moon!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Saturn in Libra

Today marks the planet Saturn's move into the sign of Libra. Among a number of things, Saturn rules karma, dharma, and time, therefore, current events. So for the last two and a half years as Saturn passed through Virgo, our focus has been on work and health. Now, with the planet's passage into Libra, our attention will turn toward the arts and relationships, specifically partnerships, both business and romantic.


Libra is ruled by the planet Venus. Think of the goddess Venus in Boticelli's painting, springing to life bearing beauty, charm, grace and L-O-V-E. And money. Libra is the great decorator and Saturn feels more than at home in Libra. Not only does it have time to focus on the people dwelling inside, it gets to decorate that home too!


Also occurring in the next few weeks is a major aspect of several planets, forming what is called a cardinal cross. This is an exacting time, one for truth telling, of coming completely clean. All hands on the table. And with Uranus conjoining Jupiter, long-kept secrets are revealed. More like suddenly popped out into the open. There will be some BIG surprises.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Lunar Eclipse June 26, 2010

The eclipse on Saturday heralds the "summer of transformation". Major planetary forces are afoot. Jupiter, planet of expansion conjoins Uranus, planet of change and rebellion, and both oppose Saturn, ruler of responsibility and karma. All three of these make stressful angles to Pluto, the transformer.

Wherever these angles happen to fall in your astrological chart, you will feel surges to do away with what no longer serves your best interests. This might include relationships, careers, belief systems, possessions, etc. The cycle this summer is one of: out with old, in with the new, in a clear cut, uncompromising way.

Eclipses are trigger points and this Saturday's lunar eclipse finds the moon conjoining Pluto in Capricorn, so emotional transformation is the watchword. Especially look out for deep-seeded matters involving your honor and integrity, responsibility, long standing tradition, career/professional life, authority, and prestige as these are keynotes of Capricorn. Because the eclipse includes Pluto, significant power struggles or hidden maneuvers may occur with family members, particularly mother-child relationships. Other areas also touched at this time are house/home, biological inheritance, food and/or psychological roots. These are all areas ruled by the moon and Cancer the Crab.

Best to take a few deep breaths before acting or answering!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

ch-ch-ch-changes!

With mercury, planet of thought and communication, now in full forward motion as of May 11, you may find tasks and projects easier to accomplish and fewer glitches arising, especially technical ones. It is OK to go ahead and sign contracts and give the green light to those areas of your life that you may have been holding off on or gathering more information about.

The universe is never static and certainly not our own planetary system. Along with the direct motion of mercury, the next few weeks will see a major shift for two planets: Jupiter and Uranus. On Friday, May 28th, Uranus, outer planet of change and ingenuity, will shift signs. For the last seven years, Uranus has been swimming through the watery sign of Pisces, an imaginative, dreamy and sometimes foggy, chaotic sign. With Uranus' dramatic move into fiery Aries, your motivation to initiate change into areas of your life affected by this planet will literally light up. Uranus rules electricity! Areas where you may have found yourself drifting or confused will now shift forward into overdrive, for Aries is all about action with a capital "A".

Joining Uranus at OO degrees Aries on Thursday, June 6, is the beneficent titan Jupiter. This is the planet of blessings and expansion. So whatever Uranus is seeking to change in your life, often suddenly and unexpectedly, Jupiter will greatly maximize this. In some cases, the combination of Jupiter and Uranus will bring massive abundance (winning the lottery comes to mind). Other situations involving areas of stagnation, places where you have been stuck in a rut, may find you blasted into change, any change, like it or not.

The watchword Uranus is: surprise. Combined with the enormous effect of Jupiter, this summer, get ready, get set for it!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

With Mercury, planet of communication, now turned retrograde until May 11, you may deal with missed connections between you and others. Often there will be glitches with anything related to forms of communication, such as verbal disconnects or lost or delayed messages. Look out for snafus with telephone, TV, mail or newspaper service in particular.

Travel reservations are best booked after Mercury turns direct so that any mishaps during vacations or business trips are lessened or avoided altogether. You may also want to hold off on major purchases or investments until communication is once more moving forward.

Monday, April 12, 2010

The transformer, Pluto, recently turned retrograde. What does this mean for us? Individually or collectively? As god of the underworld, Pluto can mean that there can be change, sometimes significant and perhaps unforseen for us. Incidents underground or inside the earth can occur. Take for instance the recent mining accident in West Virginia. This involved much loss of life deep within the earth, very plutonian.

Underground pipes, gas, water or electric can rupture or require repair. Or situations long "buried" in relationships will surface, demand to be noticed and dealt with once and for all.

How can you best manage through Plutonian times? Pay attention. Self awareness is always key. How does this person or situation make me feel? Honestly? If you find yourself going along just to get along, Pluto will eventually "undermine" this behavior and insist you be true to yourself.