Entering the Cosmic Birth Canal

 Don’t let the title of this month’s blog scare you.  It aptly describes the momentous shift occurring now.

An oozy, bluesy Full Moon greets us on September 2^nd.  Conjoined to dreamy Neptune in Pisces, the Full Moon opposes the Sun in practical Virgo, continuing the theme of sorting fact from fiction and truth from illusion.  There are those who still adamantly refuse to remove their rose-colored glasses, trapped in a web of nostalgia for days gone by and defiantly resisting changes here to stay; for others, the rose colored glasses were ripped off by stark reality of circumstance; then there are those who chose to take off the glasses and see with pristine clarity the facts of what is actually happening.

Let’s be clear:  the way of life we knew before March 2020 is gone. 

The blessing of this Neptunian Full Moon is gentle encouragement to accept what is, so helpful in these divisive times.  The Moon-Neptune in Pisces (feelings, inspiration and compassion) align with Generous Jupiter in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus (reality based goals and values).  It spotlights what is truly valuable in our lives, what works vs. what most decidedly what does not work.  For some, opportunity abounds.  For all of us, the Sun in reality based Virgo helps us stay as grounded and centered as possible to gain perspective. 

Notice that the pace of life is decidedly slower now.  There is good reason:  Five planets are retrograde at the onset of September along with Motivating Mars crawling to a halt soon enough.  It will become harder to gain traction on any project or relationship.  We are now fully in the midst of a collective re-set.  The Old is rapidly deconstructing to make way for the New.  This process has been underway for some time. We are now entering the final stage with the onset of cosmic labor pains about to be in full swing as September is rife with planetary gear shifts.

The preamble to these occur on Sunday, September 6^th as Messenger Mercury shifts into Libra and Venus into Leo.  Our mind and communication (mercury) and relationships and values (venus) have been working collaboratively for much of August.  This dovetail continues into September, yielding creative partnerships, pursuits and messaging.  A good thing, too, as we can use all the help we can get as Motivating Mars turns retrograde on Wednesday September 9^th for the next two months!

In its own fiery sign of Aries, Mars the Great Initiator will push our buttons as it rewinds.  Mars and Aries are all about the forward thrust, getting on with it and moving ahead.  To say as humans we are supremely uncomfortable with Mars’ reverse motion is an understatement.  This period is notoriously rife with frustration.  So let’s take a look how to best manage this passage by remembering Mars retrograde Dos and Don’ts:

Between September 9 and November 14^th, AVOID:

Purchasing anything mechanical, with an engine or motor:  appliances, cars, laptops, cell phones, electronics such as TVs, etc. 

Wait until after November 14^th to launch a project, product or relationship. 

Mars and Aries are all about new beginnings, the BIG LAUNCH…so if you do try to push forward with an endeavor between 9/9-11/14, you may find yourself spinning your wheels and stuck in cosmic mud.

The Dos of Mars retrograde include the RE words:  Review, Research, Reflect, Relax, Renovate, Restore, Renew, Repair, etc.  Mars and Aries are all about ACTION so apply your energy toward all that needs a solid gut job – whether reviewing and getting a handle on your finances, clearing out a neglected space and refreshing it, revisiting a relationship or possession and repairing it.

A major cautionary note with this Mars Retrograde in Aries:  the red planet has been challenging the three heavy hitters Pluto-Saturn-Jupiter in Capricorn in August and now with its reverse gear, will continue to butt heads with the trio for the rest of 2020.  This, along with the extraordinary number of planetary transits, has sparked upheaval this year.

Ordinarily, Mars moves through a sign in 6-8 weeks; being 2020 of course, Mars will linger in Aries for six months, from June 2020 to January 2021, due to its retrograde cycle.  Its back and forth motion boxing with the big gun trio results in the New (mars in Aries) clashing with the Old (Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto in Capricorn).  In every possible way, any established tradition, custom, mindset, way of life is challenged by Mars in Aries, representing brand new energy.  The current period of history is akin to the early 20^th century when agrarian way of life gave way to modern industrialization and monarchies collapsed like dominoes into rule by and for the people via democracy and communism.

We are not just witnessing history; we are each living history.  2020 marks the Great Shift when the old is disassembled to birth the new.  Mars retrograde from September 9^th to November 14^th marks the arrival of the train in the station.  You have just over two months to decide if you will climb aboard.  Some who long for the old ways will refuse to get on the train.  But the Train of Change is here and you can either get on and ride into the future or you can stay stomping your feet on the station platform.  Will you let life pass you by or will you venture into the unknown, uncertain yet promising?

A few days later, the first of the two titans turns direct motion.  Generous Jupiter  moves forward in Capricorn and gradually rejoins Pluto and Saturn through the rest of the fall season.  Over the next week, September 13-18, the Virgo Sun aligns with the three heavy hitters, all in earthy, practical energy.  The potency and power of this week abounds.  Planning and preparation (Virgo) team up with the goal and results driven Capricorn trio.  It is incredibly industrious, focused and realistic, boots on the ground energy.  Anything you are working on:  keep your eyes on the prize.  Do not let Messenger Mercury in Libra distract or second guess you from your purpose as it challenges the Power troika.  Especially, as in the midst of this week, the New Moon in Virgo occurs on the 17^th.

This is one healthy, vibrant work horse of a New Moon. Both the Sun (our will and Self) and Moon (emotions) in humble, down-to-earth, responsible Virgo collaborate beautifully with the heavy hitters in Capricorn.  Wow.  This is a CAN DO New Moon; a feeling of there is nothing we cannot do.  Six out of ten planets are in pragmatic earth energy.  It is time to gather yourself together, get a handle on your resources, make a plan…more like a business plan, for your hopes, dreams, your life.  Prepare action steps.  If you ever asked yourself exactly how you were going to get from point A to point Z, this New Moon spells it out for you.  Again:  it is a matter of focusing on your outcome.  Think streamlining.  Eliminate the unnecessary and unwanted and stock up on what will move you closer to the finish line. On the 17^th or 18^th, hand write 3-5 intentions and plant them in the ground. 

The following week the Sun rolls into Lovely Libra.  Art, beauty, collaboration draw our attention as well as what is fair and just for everyone involved.  Libra seeks balance in all she does:  work/life balance, relationship peace and harmony.  So remember your own self-care and well-being in equal measure to your devotion to others.  Messenger Mercury in Libra opposes Mars in Aries and both challenge the Power Trio in Capricorn…resulting in a slow burn.  Resentment can build if you forget to pencil yourself into your own life.  Better to save a slice of cake for YOU or walk around the block to step away from a heated situation.  Fresh air breathes new life, ideas and momentum into tricky relationships and helps to pivot discussions.

The final week of September, Messenger Mercury shifts into Scorpio and opposes Radical Uranus in Taurus on September 27^th.  VALUES anyone?  What are yours?  Who and what do we value in ourselves and others?  What is the right use of money, power, our skills and talents.  Mercury and elder sibling Uranus raise our consciousness about how we earn a living and spend or share our time, energy and resources. 

The next day, Saturn turns direct motion.  Within two weeks, both cosmic titans Jupiter and Saturn, have shifted gears.  In achievement-oriented Capricorn, the giants crack the whip as they challenge Mars.  We feel the weight of Responsibility, very much with a capital R.  Watch your frustration,  It may surface as others grind your gears…provoking, antagonizing, triggering.  These are Cosmic Labor Pains birthing a new consciousness.  How will you respond?  With the same old, same old replies or…new tactics?

Hard as it may be to do so, step back and step away.  Let nature take its course.  We are full on inside the Cosmic Birth Canal now.  Prepare for individual and collection change, emergence, elevation.  Remember:  out of chaos comes creation.  Out of chaos comes order.  But first: the mess, the dark and the dissent.

 

Of special note:  I am now offering coaching for those clients who seek on-going counseling.  My rate for this is $75/hour.  In addition, I am pleased to now offer mentoring services to those exploring Lightwork.  To learn more about Lightwork or whether you are already a Lightworker, you may book a 30-minute free discovery call.  Last, I want to highlight a special service I offer:  if you have a quick question or imminent decision to make and don’t need a full astrology session, I am available for short-term readings.  The rate for this is $2/minute for a minimum 20 minute session.  You may explore all of these new offerings on my updated website:  www.hilaryharley.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burning Down the House

A feisty full Moon on Monday, August 3^rd opens the final month of summer.  It certainly sets the tone for the weeks to come.  In avant garde Aquarius, the Moon opposes the Sun in Leo and both challenge Radical Uranus.  If used well, this troika affords incredibly creative energy; however it may also highlight how stuck and stubborn many of us really are.  All three of these planets at the Full Moon are in fixed signs, meaning, we can be very dug in, entrenched and resistant to change, not budging from the particular opinions and beliefs we hold. 

Yet, this is precisely what we are called to do this month.

Engrained programming and conditioning that we have inherited, passed down through the ages, or reflexively adopted to which we may cling are being questioned and tested now.  In response, its best to ask:  what are you holding so fast to that needs to be shifted or released altogether?  As Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.  We know what does not work.  It is time to try something else to see if that works. 

If you face a dilemma or decision, ask:  are you using your beliefs as a litmus test for others?  Are you sacrificing family and friends for your unbending opinions?  Or as a wise man once asked:  Is this the hill you want to die on? Or is it something you can let go of?  One thing is for sure, anger, discord and conflict are not going anywhere.  Fiery emotions will be with us through early 2021, yes, for the next six months, due to Motivating Mars extended tour through Aries.  So check yourself and monitor your responses.  Words and actions are not easily retracted or rarely forgotten.

As with all Full Moons, the energy leading into it increases the week prior to culmination.  In this case, during the final days of July and through the first weekend of August.  At hand, we have wildly inventive and ingenious energy built into this Full Moon…if we can move past ourselves and try new solutions. Be open minded and willing to listen to others.  We may be surprised how similar we are to our fellow man and how easily problems are solved when working together.

Groups are at play with this Full Moon in Aquarius as it challenges Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius; expect radical, rebellious, shocking and surprise events.  And DRAMA…with the Sun in “Look at ME Leo”, lots of drama.  This exponentially increases two days later when Messenger Mercury enters Leo.  While our minds overflow creatively, really keep an eye out for ego-based maneuvers…your own and others.  Know your motives.  Are you trying to make a splash and call attention to yourself?  The higher use of the Sun-Mercury in Leo is generosity, bravery and creativity.  Discern the difference between making drama and behaving with dignity.

At the end of the first week in August, on the 7^th, Venus enters Cancer the Crab for the rest of the month.  Our love of family, home and nation shines with this placement, helping to sort out what is best for our welfare in the wake of the pandemic. What is best for our children, parents and teachers (who also have families) as the school year approaches?  How do we govern with care and compassion for the greatest benefit of our nation?  Remembering our own self-care, Venus in Cancer helps us factor our personal needs into the equation.

A week later, on August 14^th, Uranus turns retrograde.  This is a big deal and requires a warning label especially with all of the national discord now.  Uranus’ reverse gear occurs at the same time Mars challenges its elder sibling Pluto.  By itself, this angle provokes and instigates.   The window of August 14^th-17^th is particularly dicey.  Take extra care with your words and actions.  If you need to launch a project, idea, collaboration or event, aim to do it before August 14^th or after the 17^th.  Over that weekend, expect surprises, the unpredictable and unexpected.  Move and drive slowly, with deliberation; use caution as these planetary shifts occur during the darkest phase of the Moon cycle.  You may not know what hit you.  Know that you may be caught completely off guard or flat-footed. In hindsight, you will realize you never saw it coming.  You aren’t supposed to with these cosmic coordinates.  Think lightning from a clear blue sky…  It may be a game-changing few days.

Life eases up with the New Moon in Leo on Tuesday, the 18^th.  Conjoined to Messenger Mercury and helpfully aligned to Mars in Aries, this is one powerful New Moon.  You will feel energized and ablaze with ideas.  Set your intentions.  Hand write 3-5 goals, prayers or wishes you seek to accomplish in the next month or season.  Alight these in a fire pit, set adrift in water with an outlet or plant in the ground to grow.

A few days later the energy noticeably shifts as the Sun and Messenger Mercury both move into Virgo.  From fire to earth, feel your energy, mind and thoughts turn toward the practical, healthy and useful. The Sun-Mercury gradually align with Uranus in Taurus and heavy hitters Pluto-Saturn-Jupiter in Capricorn over the remainder of August.  Avail yourself of realistic solutions and pragmatic opportunities arising from this earth energy alliance.

For all of the difficulties 2020 has presented, calling upon us to re-prioritize our lives and our values, the final ten days of August bears invaluable ingenuity.  Grab hold of what comes to you now and take advantage.  Because when September rolls in, the final quarter of 2020 will not be so kind.

Getting Our House in Order

We spend the balance of July recovering from the cosmic whiplash of the past two months or more.  There is notably less planetary activity this month giving us a chance to take a breath, catch up, and take stock.  We are still mid journey through these tremendous energetic shifts, learning how to navigate the new terrain.  Like being a visitor to a foreign city, it will take us a while to get the lay of the land, our sea legs if you will, and figure out what is where.  Above all, be patient and gentle with yourself and others.  One thing we can all agree upon:  this is an extraordinary and unprecedented time in our lives.

As July opens, we are in the home stretch of eclipse season.  This past month has been a really tough time.  A particularly rough patch in a very difficult year.  And while we are not done yet, or rather 2020 is not yet done with us, July and August do offer a bit of a reprieve. 

First, we must pass through the final eclipse of the summer series.  A lunar eclipse, the Full Moon bears culmination, fruition and endings.  It occurs on July 4-5^th depending on your locale.  It is indeed significant for this eclipse to occur on the birthday of the USA, our Sun.  We are closing chapters on our history that are better left for the record books.  Done and gone but not forgotten.  In no nonsense Capricorn, this is one tough love Full Moon as it joins Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn in tight formation.  Opposite the Sun and Messenger Mercury in Cancer the Crab, we are pushed to get our house in order. 

A repeating, notable theme pervades July:  we are being shown exactly who we are in no uncertain terms.   The question is:  will we respond to what we see?  If so, how?

For many, this is a time of restructuring Cancerian domain:  your home, family unit, our nation, how we feed ourselves – literally, both individually and on the whole.  With our identity and will, the Sun, and our mind and thoughts, Mercury, in Cancer, we focus on everything related to how we nurture.  Opposite the planetary heavy hitters, our awareness rises:  do we nurture?   How exactly do we take care of our bodies, minds, spirits, each other?

This Lunar Full Moon Eclipse puts front and center the level of our care, compassion and concern for loved ones, our country or Mother Earth herself.  It shows with unmistakable clarity what must be addressed.  The heavy weights Jupiter-Pluto-Saturn demand we get back to basics, fundamentals and the rudimentary structures of our lives.  For the second time this year, Gigantic Jupiter joins Transformer Pluto while Saturn has returned to its home sign for one last pass.  Opposite the eclipse, the trio mandate deconstruction of old systems that no longer function and rebuilding from the rubble what will work well going forward.

If you know your astrological chart, you can see how this lunar eclipse impacts you by the house, or life sector, in which it occurs.  Remember:  eclipses are neither good nor bad, but draw into focus what demands our immediate attention.

In the days that follow, Motivating Mars joins healer Chiron in Aries, aligning to Venus in Gemini.  The troika invites us to heal our deepest wounds, including those we have carried for generations, in brand new ways.  You may opt for a brand new therapist, become involved in community activism for the first time, try alternative healing modalities such as acupuncture or Reiki.  This urge to experiment, at least one time, what you thought you never might, is exactly what we are called to do now.  In the wake of three eclipses, we cross through gateways and thresholds to new ideas, people, opportunities.  In a year of utter upheaval, this aspect affords us one of the most helpful and useful to find our way with clarity and to heal.

Then Sunday, July 12^th, what we have ALL been waiting for:  Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.  Hooray!  Anything you have put on the back burner is cosmically blessed to proceed.  Sign the documents; make the big purchases; commit to the deal, relationship or pursuit.  For the next two months, a period of clear cosmic energy graces us.  Take advantage.  If you have key decisions to make, the second half of July and all of August afford calm to move forward, claim opportunity.  These summer months are a time to invest in ourselves and all we deem worthwhile.

The days leading into the New Moon on the 20^th highlights a continuing theme of the summer eclipses.  The Sun still opposes the planetary big guns, Jupiter-Pluto-Saturn in Capricorn, testing our will, even our identity (…who we are or, who are we?) within the context of our family, profession, home, our nation.

How do we want to structure our lives, beginning with basics of self-care, such as the food we eat, the quality and type of nourishment, how often we eat…overindulgence or not enough?  Our care ripples outward – to the residence we live in, or not, as some are homeless or on the verge.  What kind of home do we live in or want to live in someday?  Our psychological roots – consider your conditioning from childhood:  can you let go of outdated belief systems or shape them to more a more relevant framework that suits you current life?  As well as stewardship for our country and Earth:  how do we revise and restructure our care for, or lack of, both of these essential homes?

The New Moon on Monday, July 20, 2020, is the second New Moon this year in Cancer the Crab.  This is highly unusual, particularly in the same sign.  Along with Messenger Mercury’s extra-long tour through this sign, Cancer dominates the early summer landscape.  In the final degrees of the water sign, the Moon, our emotions, the very essence of Cancer, pairs with the Sun, our identity as an individual and global whole; while Mars-Chiron challenging Mercury catalyzes us to heal our deepest wounds, feelings and psyche.

Cancer is ruled by the Moon, a gigantic planetary mirror reflecting the Sun’s light.  The prevalence of this water energy gives us a prolonged reflection, shown in pristine clarity exactly who we are.  As Maya Angelou said, “when people show you who they are, pay attention.”  Will you pay attention to what you see in the cosmic mirror?  Do you like what you see?  If not, will you do anything to change the image?   Jupiter-Pluto-Saturn opposing this second New Moon in Cancer gives us yet another chance to deconstruct, purge and re-order what is outdated, dysfunctional and in need of overhaul.  Beginning with our SELF.

With each of the interior planets now in direct motion through Labor Day, Venus-Mercury-Mars, take small steps toward building what you most want to be in this world, how you choose to live from day to day.  Be the change you want to see in the world – Mahatma Ghandi taught.  The rest will flow from there. 

Two days later on July 22^nd, the Sun enters festive Leo firing up our creative energy.  The Sun gradually aligns to Mars-Chiron in Aries during the remaining days of the month.  Our motivation to source new methods of healing overflow.  We may even create our own healing modalities from scratch through art, movement, sound, and more, from skills and talents we discover or recover.  Necessity is the mother of invention indeed.  What will you create?

June BUG: Eclipse season and Mercury retrograde

As we ease into “reopening” our world, eclipse season greets us this week of June.  Eclipses are neither good nor bad; rather, they are markers of significant events depending on whether they impact your astrological chart.  If they do, eclipses offer gateways and thresholds for you to cross:  sometimes we go willingly by choice; often we struggle with events at hand.

June marks the opening of an eclipse series, three over the course of one month.  Two occur at Full Moon and one at New Moon.  We barely scratch the surface of June when the first eclipse happens on the Full Moon of June 5^th at 15 Sagittarius. 

It is important to note other planetary positions during any eclipse as the energy they carry impacts us.  If you have planets near the middle of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo or Pisces, you will feel the ripples of this particular Full Moon eclipse on June 5^th as Neptune and Mars in Pisces challenge both the Sun and Moon.

Whether or not you have planets at these points, how will you feel and what does it mean for you?

First, all Full Moons are laden with emotion.  In Sagittarius, we yearn for freedom.  Most of us understandably yearn to be free from quarantine restrictions, to simply get routine errands done such as our car washed and haircut.  We also seek truth and honesty both emotionally and factually, especially as the Moon opposes the Sun and Venus in communicative Gemini.  We are wise to watch ourselves, our thoughts and words through this stretch.  Challenging both Moon and Sun is Neptune in Pisces.  An unbridled pursuit of freedom, illusion, fantasy, and escapism, caution may be tossed to the wind and substance use or abuse let loose.

The open end of the eclipse (no planets) always holds the key to what we are to learn.  In this case, the open end is Virgo.  Health, work, diligence, routines, service are the answer.  Yes, we are all tired of monitoring our behavior and understandably want to be free of limitations.  But the clear message of this eclipse is applying effective systems that serve our wellness in all we do as we dip more toes into life with Covid.

With Neptune challenging both Sun and Moon, spin doctors and con artists are working overtime.  Watch where your thoughts travel…  What you choose to believe and how you gather information.  Ask:  what are the sources?  Are you learning what you want to hear, selecting only that which fits your narrative?  Or are you open to differing angles of knowledge?  Nothing less than your health and that of your loved ones, friends and co-workers is at stake.  So don’t hesitate to look under the hood.

The virus is not going anywhere and it is not done with us by a long shot.  The open end of the eclipse in Virgo says: do not forget the lessons already learned this year. Pay attention and stay vigilant.  Be mindful of health and work precautions.   The Full Moon in Sagittarius exposes and demands the truth as well as demands honesty in our actions and speech.  Sagittarius is the law, both earthly and cosmic.  We see the law for all it is now, for good or ill.  This includes the law of ourselves:  honoring our own truth, our own path, what we know to be right, honest and true.

The Gemini Sun continues to tangle with Mars-Neptune in Pisces through mid-month.  The positive use of this clash is versatility, creative imagination, inspiring flexibility and adaptability.  Meditation, yoga, silence, peace, listening to integrate collected information must be done in equal measure to talking, opining and sharing information.   BEING in balance with DOING.  Singing, music, water activities (including showers and bath) swimming, boating are perfect outlets for the first half of June.  These steer us mindfully away from fear, negative thought spirals, substance escapism, scapegoating or being victimized.  You can try to run but there really is nowhere to hide from yourself under the glare of this Full Moon eclipse. Remember:  wherever you go, there you are.

This message is driven home like a red flashing light as Messenger Mercury slows down and turns retrograde on Thursday, June 18^th in Cancer the Crab.  Our thoughts turn inward now through July 12^th.  For the next three weeks, practice the RE words:  Review, Rest, Restore, Research, especially as it pertains to the home, our nation, family and food sector of your life.  Your mother or how you mother/nurture yourself and others, house/residence, cooking, ancestry and heritage (including psychological and genetic) draw our focus thru early August.   Our thoughts will be more intuitive, empathetic and sensitive.  This gives us plenty of time to cautiously consider our next moves.  Hopefully we will take a cue think how our words might land on others’ ears.   In short, we think like a Crab moves:   deliberately.

Acutely imaginative, our Cancerian mind drifts gently, daydreams and fondly reminisces.  Allow for this especially during Mercury Retrograde:  practice radical self-care equally to the care you devote to others.  Three days later on June 21^st, dream time is underscored, as the Sun enters Cancer for the annual Summer Solstice.  This is no ordinary solstice. 

The second of the three summer eclipses, the New Moon occurs simultaneously as the Sun shifts into Cancer, both at a strong, attention-getting degree.  Cancer the Crab also rules our homeland, the land of our birth, as well as life endings.  First: our nation. Our country.  Deeply divided it is.  Wounds in need of healing for sure. It is time to tend to long-standing divides and solve them once and for all. Second:  Life endings.  These include the definitive end of an era, people passing out of your life by choice/moving/divorce and yes, by physical death.  ALL are natural passages.

As it is, Messenger Mercury’s retrograde in Cancer during the time of the June 21^st New Moon solstice eclipse, along with the third eclipse on July 5^th in Cancer-Capricorn, there is tremendous emphasis on our feelings, how we care and for whom, including ourselves.  The pace of life downshifts into low gear now and you will notice the change.  It is unmistakably softer, quieter and contemplative.  From the beginning of June to month’s end, we have evolves from Gemini’s frenetic mental energy to tenderness. 

On June 23^rd, Neptune turns retrograde in its home sign Pisces, accentuating the ebbing tide we feel.  With three planets now in water signs, Sun, Mercury and Neptune, our will, mind and soul are in absolutely no hurry about much of anything, to go anywhere or make decisions.  Instead, the last week of June and first two weeks of July, we feel like drifting, perhaps on a float in a pool or a kayak on a lazy river or simply resting upon your imagination at home.  We crave soaking up, steeping in serenity, floating to nowhere in particular, watching time and space fall away with our worries. For just a moment, we forget the world, any universe but the dreamy one we inhabit.

Two days later, Venus rolls forward motion in Gemini on June 25^th.  For the past 40 days and nights, after reviewing our relationships and finances, we resurface.  What were some of the key lessons learned?  Hopefully, you emerge with greater insight and awareness of yourself and significant relationships.  Ordinarily, I would say proceed with large purchases and investments; however:  Messenger Mercury continues its retrograde through July 12^th. 

Helpful to note as we are in the middle of three eclipses, it’s best to hold off on signing major contracts and documents of significance until mid July.

 If you do need to buy big items of value (car, home, boat, etc) be sure to read ALL of the fine print, understand the warranty and return policy; in short, know your rights as a consumer and buyer.  If you can hold off on these purchases, use the next two weeks to research and review your options.

You may find yourself chomping at the bit to get going; especially as Motivating Mars moves into its own sign of Aries on June 28^th.  Giddy up!  Feel that fire under you?  We want to go-go-go now.  Taskmaster Saturn aligns to Venus-Mars these last few days of June and our ingenuity cranks higher on all engines. If you find yourself backed into a corner, plenty of solutions abound.   Look around and ask questions.  Consider new tactics and methods.  Talk to people relevant to your situation.  In such unprecedented times, it is the wise who understand there is nothing to lose and possible success waiting round the bend.

Venus retrograde in Gemini

VENUS:  she’s a real beauty.  The Goddess of love, money and relationships.  Who doesn’t want more of that?!

Venus is one of two beneficent planets in our galaxy, the other being Jupiter.  She rules Taurus and Libra, one earth and the other an air sign.  Both cultivate beauty in all forms imaginable, whether the flowers you plant in your garden, songs you write and sing, or the table you set for a dinner party.  Venus is grace, style and elegance.  But most especially, Venus is Values.  She rules our skills and talents, how we earn money through the application of these, our relationships, self-esteem, possessions, our worth.

Next month, Venus turns retrograde motion.  Most of us are familiar with Mercury retrograde as it occurs three times a year.  However, once every eighteen months Venus turns retrograde as well. From Tuesday, May 12^th to Thursday, June 25^th, Venus reverses gear in the sign of Gemini. 

What does this mean for you? 

First let’s look at Gemini.  The air sign of intellect, Gemini rules the mental realm:  thoughts, language, communication, speech, cause and effect…no small thing.  It is the Information Gatherer in Chief, along with disseminator of said information.  Think of a radio, which Gemini rules, giving and receiving messages constantly.  Thus, Gemini rules our rational, conscious mind, what occupies our thoughts presently, in the now, at this very moment.  It is the great connector, so ground transportation:  cars, buses, trains and the rides we take via these modes.  

This is also the arena of our immediate environment, our neighbors, neighborhood and community and the extent to which we are engaged in it.  Last, the sign of duality, Gemini the Twins, rules siblings and pairs of any kinds. In Gemini, Venus has an intellectual bent.  She wants to know, engage, discuss, read, write, be informed and share information.  She attracts smart people and wants to be in the thick of their knowledge. Venus in Gemini encourages us to be conscious of our thoughts, words, and language. She understands the cause and effect of thoughts and speech:  that kind words sooth and inspire; that insults hurt or do worse; that our thoughts affect our emotions which affect our actions.

If you know where Gemini occurs in your natal chart, you will find Venus going back and forth across that sector of your life this Spring.  For 40 days and 40 nights, she reverses gear to mark her shift from super bright evening star to the first to rise before the Sun as morning star.   That bit about 40 days and 40 nights….sound familiar?  Hmmmm, yes it does. 

Jesus wandered through the desert for this length of time.  And the Sumerian goddess Inannna descended into hell to meet her wanton sister Ereshkigal.   As did Ishtar and Isis, the Babylonian and Egyptian versions of Inanna, all forerunners of Venus.   Each relates a dark night of the soul we do not associate with Venus.  Whether it is the story of Jesus’ confrontation by the devil in desert or Inanna crossing through seven gates of hell to redeem and own her shadow sister side, the mission remains the same:   We are invited to pause and dance with pieces of ourselves we either do not know or acknowledge.  Emerging on the other side of this period, we will know who we are better than we ever did before.  No matter the sign it occurs, Venus retrograde is reflective and thus deeply psychological.

Enter the “Re” words.  As with all interior planet retrograde phases, the Re words are ready for prime time and take precedence.   In the case of Venus, because she rules relationships, this really means RElationship REview, including and especially with our primary relationship:  our Self.  Reflection:  Who are you?  Have you checked in with yourself lately?  Given the extraordinary time we are living through now, most of us have been forced to hit the pause button and consider exactly how we conduct our lives, who we’ve become and most importantly, do we want to continue living the way we did before Corona virus?  

Reflections of self-worth are as much about our wallet as they are how we feel about ourselves.  Between May 12 and June 25^th we take stock, conduct an in-depth inventory of our skills and talents, both those we acknowledge or barely acknowledge or even perhaps, have yet to be discovered.  The virus has sparked necessity, the mother of invention.  If you find your bank account rapidly dwindling, Venus retrograding through Gemini has us thinking on all cylinders about new ways to apply skills and talents to earn money.  Have you been working a dead end job (which maybe no longer exists) simply to make ends meet?  Venus retrograde has you considering more soulful pursuits.  In alignment with yourself, your purpose, your confidence lifts.

In Gemini, we review information, journal, reconnect with neighbors and our community in ways that harken to days gone by, in a simpler time.  Take car rides and let your imagination flow, to local destinations, state parks and recreation spots.  Watch the conversations unfold along the way.  Expect heightened involvement with siblings, perhaps those you’ve become distant or even estranged; at a minimum, ponder your sibling relationships.  Others from earlier in your life may also REsurface:  old partners, friends, relatives.  

The caution of Venus retrograde is temptation.  Enter mythology or biblical parables:  this is where the Devil comes to entice us.  Hit the pause button:  do you really want to indulge in an affair with your ex boy/girlfriend?  In Gemini, there is also the temptation to misuse of language, either thought or spoken.  It is vital to understand the power of your words, both positive self-talk and the information you share.  Watch, in particular, your thoughts and where they lead.  Are you mentally spiraling into hollow pits of negativity?

Covid 19 has sparked fear mongering of the worst variety, triggering all manner of psychological hijacking.  The great news is that now is a perfect time to REtrain your brain.  Use affirmations, mantras, meditations, positive people, books and conversations to REdirect your thoughts. Along the same line, gossip is never a good idea but especially this May and June, your words may come back to haunt you.  Information exchanged and shared during this period must be based on proven facts, evidence, science and NOT magical thinking.   It is essential that you speak the truth as best you understand it.  The words you speak represent who you are, your character and your worth.

By the same measure, since Venus rules the stock market, our possessions and how we earn a living, May 12-June 25^th is not the time to invest in things we cannot afford, whether cars, luxury items, or pipe dreams.  Gemini is the salesman of the zodiac and its versatility with language is also its biggest vice:  avoid deals and situations that seem too good to be true.  Hit the pause button and sleep on it.  In the morning, check in with your gut.  What does it say?  Mid-May through June is not an optimal time to start a new job either, but for anyone receiving unemployment now, new work is best begun this summer.

In brief summation, some brief Do’s and Don’ts of Venus Retrograde in Gemini:

DO:                                                                                                                                

REconnect with siblings, neighbors, community, old friends, family and relatives

REflect on your relationship with yourself, your life, especially on a car drive

REview  information, messages, your spending habits, finances, mental/thought processes to REtrain your brain

DON’T:

Fall for temptation  

Be seduced into negative mental spirals, sexual affairs, purchasing luxury items/cars/homes

Engage in gossip

To read more about Venus, her cycles and connection to your life, I highly recommend the works of Ronnie Gale Dreyer and Arielle Guttman.

To book an astrological consultation with Hilary, please contact her: hilary@hilaryharley.com or www.hilaryharley.com   to enroll in her on-line beginner astrology course, please visit:  www.spirituallifepathinstitute 

And a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to John Marani for inviting me to guest blog on his marvelous site:  Metaphysical Meanderings.  Find him at:  johnmarani.blogspot.com; to book a professional tarot reading:  hierophant@cox.net; or to enroll in his on-line tarot course:  www.spirituallifepathinstitute.com.

Winds of Change

May brings a head spinning number of cosmic gear shifts:  3 retrogrades, 4 sign changes, and the lunar node shift bearing changes of mind, focused communication and connections.  Where April found us making small steps forward, May offers completely new perspectives as we adjust to living with Covid-19.   This is exactly the point:  we need all the help we can get.

To be direct, Covid-19 is not going anywhere.  It may morph and shape shift but it will be with us for some time.  It is we, human beings individually and collectively that must change and change now.  This is no small task as humanity resists change small and large, with all its might.  We tend to go kicking and screaming into any new routine or system. 

Since our refusal to save the Earth from humanity’s destruction, we are now being given no alternative via global pandemic.  The Earth is alive and well and has bounced back remarkably fast with cleaner air and water since the onset of the virus.  Now, this very month, we will have no choice but to shift how we think and approach our lives going forward from the simplest tasks and beyond. 

Leading the charge to change is a lunar node shift on May 5^th.  Every 18-20 months, the nodes of the moon (which draws our attention toward our true north directional calling) shifts from one astrology sign to another.  On Tuesday the 5^th, the north and south lunar nodes move out of Cancer the Crab and Capricorn and into Gemini and Sagittarius, from water and earth to air and fire; from nurturing, home and practicality to communication, flexibility and adventure. 

Think of this as a pivot point – reaching the end of one road and picking up the thread of another, totally different one.  With it, our attention switches direction, from emotional to cerebral.  The North Node that calls your name through the end of 2021 is mental energy:  thought, language, connection.  You will also notice a decided uptick in areas ruled by Gemini:  siblings, neighbors, community, cars, car rides, conversations in cars, and your conscious, present mind.  In other words:   what is on your mind right now.

Gemini is the “salesman of the zodiac” known for its powers of persuasion.  Talkative, versatile, adaptable, Gemini gathers and shares information.  Over the next year and a half, watch for a deluge of information, overload perhaps, coming your way.  Gemini connects the dots and serves as a link by disseminating the knowledge it gathers.  As we begin this energetic shift in our attention, we may find it challenging to discern between what is essential, necessary, information, and what is not.  Remember:  less is more and KISS:  Keep It Simple Stupid.  This is particularly true all month long as Venus in Gemini challenges Neptune in Pisces.   How will you know if someone is pulling the wool over your eyes or full of mullarkey?  Ask questions.  Trust your gut.  Speak up if you are uncertain.  Question to discern fact from fiction, truth vs. illusion.

The intensity of both the lunar node shift combined with the smoke and mirrors effect at the start of May is amplified by the Full Moon on Thursday, May 7^th.  Intense is the word, too, as the Full Moon occurs in Scorpio opposite the Sun in Taurus.  I call this the money and magic axis.  Scorpio and Taurus rule the money houses:  Taurus (2^nd house) our daily bread, how you earn it through applied skills and talents opposite Scorpio (8^th house):  inherited/found money, death and realms beyond the veil, power, regeneration/sex.   May 7^th is the show-me-the-money Full Moon.   Watch for power plays especially regarding economics, bread and butter kitchen table issues of how to make ends meet while states and nations debate when to “re-open” businesses.

A few days later marks a series of planetary gear shifts:  the first of the two titans turns retrograde.  Taskmaster Saturn reverses on Sunday, May 10^th followed by Jupiter on Thursday, May 14^th.  In between, Venus, goddess of love, money and relationships turns retrograde on Tuesday, May 12^th.  What does all of this retrograde activity mean, especially in such close proximity? Let’s unpack it one by one:

Saturn:  Planet of dharma and karma, taskmaster Saturn first dipped its toe into Aquarius earlier this year; now, for the remainder of 2020, it will back into its own sign to finish some lessons we may be failing to learn, namely, austerity, personal responsibility, integrity, sound structure, honor.  Saturn and its sign Capricorn rule the bare bones (literally the skeletal system), the basics and basic functions of life. In its last, final sweep through its home sign, we are pushed (or given the opportunity, depending on your point of view) to get it together and focus on what really matters.  If you haven’t gotten the message by now, or by the end of 2020, chances are you will not and there will be a price to pay.

Venus:  from May 12^th to June 25^th, for 40 days and nights (sound familiar?), the planet of love turns retrograde motion.  An interior planet closest to the earth, we feel Venus’ reverse motion the most of these three planetary reversals.  Forty days is the period of Lent, marking the same time frame that Jesus wandered in the desert where he was tempted by Satan.   Not coincidentally, similar lessons apply to us over during these six weeks:  our shadow side emerges for reckoning, old relationships resurface, seduction and temptation, both financially and inter personally come into play. 

The best use of this energy is to take stock of yourself.  Conduct relationship and financial review; assess your values, skills and talents and how best to make use of them to earn a living going forward; evaluate your spending and saving habits and how to bring your financial house in order; discern whom and what you value in yourself, others, and in life.  As Venus retrogrades back through Gemini:  watch your tongue and limit gossip; siblings, neighbors, community and automobile concerns emerge; watch your stream of consciousness and thought process; practice awareness of your thought spirals and how to steer the direction of your mind.

One thing is for sure – how you spend your time during this period will either be filled with relief or regret on the other side of it.  This is NOT the time to make major purchases (car, boat, house, etc) luxury items or otherwise, gamble or invest in the stock market or business ventures.  Romances begun in this window will likewise fizzle over the summer and fall.

Jupiter:   turns retrograde motion on May 14^th.  Generous Jupiter, the titan of abundance, rolls back into the sign of Capricorn for the next several months.  The planet of education and expansion, taking chances and adventure, is not at its best in restrictive Capricorn.  Our life experiences continue to be limited.  Boundaries are strictly enforced and our growth potential curbed.  Jupiter will join Pluto a total of three times over the course of 2020.  This intense pairing pretty much sums up our year:  back to basics, fun and travel curtailed, bolstering or creating fundamental foundations.  If we concentrate on getting the structures right, we will have solid basis on which to stand and progress from in the future.

In the midst of these major planetary shifts, Messenger Mercury and Motivating Mars change signs.  Mercury moves into Gemini on May 11^th and Mars into Pisces 13^th.  While Mercury will be in its home sign, Mars is not at its best in spiritual, fluid Pisces.  During the major cosmic gear shifts between May 10-14, these two interior planets will clash, prompting overthinking, spin doctoring and deception.  This stretch of May is dicey indeed!  Really use caution with your words (Mercury in Gemini) and managing your expectations (Mars in pisces).  The best use of energy this week is to focus intentionally on what you DO want to happen, not what you don’t want.   Water, creative endeavors, music, yoga, meditation are KEY positive outlets at this time.   Avoid distractions such as negative mental spirals, binging on food, substances, TV or video games. 

This continues to be vitally important through the following week as Venus prolongs challenging Neptune through May 22^nd.  At the same time, the Sun turns into Gemini on May 21^st right before the New Moon on Friday, May 22^nd.   Take care during this very slick and slippery passage.  Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury and the North Node square off with Neptune or Mars in Pisces.  Really watch for relationship and financial delusions, fantasies, deals sounding too good to be true.   Be cautious of those wheeling and dealing, proclaiming to have cure-all solutions, or easy and quick fixes.  Remember to ask questions to learn more, especially if you have doubts or are uncertain.  One thing is for sure:  your word is your bond.  If you make a promise, nothing less than your good name is at stake.  The heavy hitting planets in Capricorn (Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn) remind us now:  reputation is everything. 

If you are uncertain about a direction to take, hit the pause button.  Take time to contemplate, meditate or pray about your dilemma or intentions (Mars/Neptune in Pisces).  Draw or write your musings with pen and paper.  Look beneath the surface of matters at hand, what is easily seen.  There will be more to something than meets the eye.  Once you discern your needs, focus precisely on what you want to manifest in the coming weeks and months.  Hand write 3-5 intentions and plant them in the Earth.  The power of FOUR planets and the North Node in communicative Gemini offers us a tremendous magnetic force.  Use this energy wisely as it is highly potent.

In the final few days of the month, Messenger Mercury changes signs again, for the second time this month.  On Thursday, May 28^th, Mercury moves into nurturing Cancer, mindful of family, home, food and devoted self-care.   Mercury in Cancer focuses on essentials, what is of utmost importance during this time of steep, radical shifts:  your personal health and well-being – body, mind and soul, as well as those you love.  It is the core of our existence. 

Here is a mantra I find very helpful when my mind jumps to a negative track: 

All will be well 

And all will be well

And all manner of things will be well.  – Dame Julian of Norwich

Of Special Note:   Consider the unique gift of an astrology reading for Mother’s Day.  Gift certificates are available by contacting me at:  hilary@hilaryharley.com or www.hilaryharley.com.

Wrecking Ball

How I wish I had gentle and encouraging words to share in this forecast!  However, April opens fraught with energy hungover from March.  Jupiter and Pluto are virtually neck and neck now for the next several months.  Jupiter magnifies and teaches us Pluto’s intense and harsh lessons in cold, calculating Capricorn.

Together they are taking a gigantic wrecking ball to our routines, customs, and established systems.  With humanity so deeply divided, a single solution settled upon us to completely deconstruct what is in order to start over from scratch: the coronavirus.  Like death or divorce, nothing will ever be the same afterward.  What unfolds next from the rubble will inevitably be an improvement. In bringing us face to face with unrelenting facts of Biblical proportion:  who shall live and who shall die, and the realities of Social Darwinism, the virus prioritizes our lives. 

In the reality of life or death, the virus shows us in stark terms, classic Capricorn black and white no nonsense, what actually matters.  Some may remember grandparents talking of equally difficult times in days past; the wise listened and took their stories to heart to recall in the present moment.  No, this is not fire, flood or famine.  Yes, we have electricity and technology to connect and entertain us.  But self- isolation reveals how health, love and personal human connection are indeed all that matters.

In taking us down to ground zero, Capricorn planetary heavy weights ask:  So how does the pursuit of power help you out now?  Ego has no place here in the land of life and death. 

I am not one to sugar coat anything and there are surely brighter days ahead; but first we must wade through the slog before us.  April begins with Taskmaster Saturn distancing itself from the intensity of Jupiter-Pluto, having moved into Aquarius.  Here, it is joined by Motivating Mars.  Both challenge Uranus in Taurus.  You may very well feel the chafing, something like gears grinding against one another caused by the uncomfortable friction of this troika. 

The purpose is to awaken us through fluctuating resources, alternative allocations of our supplies, and applying our talents differently to earn income.  Restaurant workers and those on health care’s front lines now are feeling this deeply.  The troika squeezes us to find new sources of money as well as inventive ways to connect.  How many of us sequestered in our homes are using FaceTime and Zoom like never before?  Even the good old fashioned telephone is getting a workout.

The challenge to innovate and come up with other means to survive, work, exercise, and yes, play is strong through April 8^th.  Helping us problem solve, Venus shifts into Gemini on Friday, April 3^rd, helpfully aligning with Saturn-Mars in Aquarius.   Wide open communication, versatility and flexibility rule all month long.  This alignment evokes Darwin’s Survival of the Fittest:  it is those who are most adaptable who survive hard times, not necessarily the smartest and strongest. 

We feel this reality more intensely building toward the Full Moon on Tuesday, April 7^th.  The Aries Sun barrels onward, all guns blazing opposing the Full Moon in gracious Libra which seeks appeasement and peace.  Balance is key now:  finding common ground somewhere between economic disaster versus keeping the public healthy and safe and reducing the viral spread.  The struggle is real indeed.

The scales may very well tip in favor of putting the economy ahead of public health concerns as Messenger Mercury shifts into fiery Aries joining the Sun on Saturday, April 11^th.  Our will aligns with our mind; our thoughts jump forward regardless of the results.  Aries is I AM energy, focused on self rather than others.  The caution here is making impulsive decisions that you will later regret or cannot get out of.  If ever there was a time to heed the consequences, this would be it. 

While Mercury, Sun and healer Chiron in Aries are terrific for courageous advances on the healing front in the battle against the virus, it is also critical that we continue using safe health practices until the spread diminishes.

The days to really watch out for occur at mid-month:  April 12-15.  You will feel the conflict between exercising caution and throwing caution to the wind.  This will be magnified on a collective level as the Moon joins Pluto-Jupiter in Capricorn challenging the Aries Sun.  Our will chafes against the forces that be.  It is essential to balance your personal well-being and pressing on with the work at hand.

Violence will be an option for some as friction erupts, so expect it this week.  For the rest of us, when used well, this can be an incredibly productive time.  You’d do well to find the in-between mindset of Aries I AM and Capricorn I USE.  The possibilities are endless.

Cooler heads will prevail on or after April 20^th as the Sun enters Taurus and joins change agent Uranus.  With all great shifts such as this period now, key opportunities abound for the savvy and ready.  Taurus offers us a time to plant, sowing seeds waiting to grow.  The New Moon in Taurus wedged between the Sun and Uranus on Wednesday, April 22^nd invites us to till the soil of our lives.  This is not a time to rest but rather invest, to dig deep and develop.  What do you want to grow?

Three days later, Transformer Pluto turns retrograde.  An outer planet, we may not immediately feel the effects of Pluto’s reverse gear.  However, it affords us an opportunity to review our desires, what we want and want to accomplish.  In Capricorn, Pluto steers our desires back to basics – meeting the rent or mortgage, putting more effective systems in place, refurbishing fundamental structures from which to operate.  This isn’t sexy or glamorous work; rather, it is akin to repairing a leaky roof or replacing the hot water heater in our homes rather than redecorating the living room or building on a new addition.

As Bill Gates recently said, “Whereas some see the Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, I prefer to see it as a *great corrector*.  It is sent to remind us of the important lessons that we have seemed to have forgotten and it is up to us if we will learn them or not.”

We are guided that much further to realign with elementary pieces of our lives on Monday, April 27^th as Messenger Mercury turns into earthy Taurus.  Over the final few days of the month, the messenger planet joins Uranus and the Sun.  Communicate, awaken and identity are three words associated with Mercury, Uranus and the Sun.  In Taurus, simplicity, authenticity and resources rule.  Combined together they form our guideposts:  communicate simply, awaken authentically, resourceful identity, to usher us into May and more peaceful, healthy days.

Of Special Note:

I am again offering mini readings at Soni Masur’s Spring Show, April 30, May 1 and 2, in Dover, MA.   If you are interested in a mini reading, please contact Soni at Sonyamasur@gmail.com with your birth data:  exact time, date and location of your birth.  Soni will confirm whether her event is on or not given public health recommendations.