Welcome to the Underworld

Compared to the cosmic roller coaster of October, I am thrilled to say that November is much calmer.  We are now working out the kinks stirred up by the planetary dust storm last month. The dust hasn’t completely settled. And it will not for a while yet. 

Many clients and friends have remarked that 2021 has been much more difficult than 2020.  In many respects, it has been for sure.  Last year, life came to a screeching halt.  Most of us didn’t make a move or many decisions either.  We confronted, then stumbled through what is called “a new normal”.  Much as we hoped, 2021, however, has proven that there is no normal, in fact.  This has shown to be a year of fits and starts, beginning with to vax or not to vax, of resuming travel and work, of friends or even family falling away, making continual adjustments as we try to find a pace, tempo or rhythm to life again.  And most challenging for all of us is facing some very clear, hard truths.

Which brings me to November:  the month of Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, god of the underworld.  We have arrived, in the underworld, that is, each of us wading through muck and mire we’d much prefer to turn a blind eye on.  With both the Sun and Motivating Mars in Scorpio, and Messenger Mercury joining on Friday, November 5^th, our energy, thoughts and words intensively dig down deep beneath the surface of life.  We become detectives and psychologists searching for answers, root causes, to get to the bottom of matters. 

This is Scorpio.  It leaves no stone unturned.  And the stones it does turn over reveal treasure of all kind:  some which you may take to the bank, some that you can use to understand the great riddles of life, and some to build a new foundation upon after spending quality time in the dark night of the soul.  Because Scorpio and its planetary ruler Pluto govern the shadow, our shadow.  Both sign and planet say, “ignore your dark side at your own peril”.  Meaning:  if you continue to deny, cover up or ignore what lay underneath the surface of yourself, it will only grow larger, thicker and more troublesome. 

During this month of November, when we pause to look at what is revealed, we may address the source and cause of repeating patterns, then move forward unencumbered.  Freer. Healthier. Purged and cleansed.

Which is what 2021 is all about:  the big purge.  To think that we were going to come to a grinding halt via pandemic last year and simply paper over our behavior then move right along as before, is just not real.  2021 forces our hand.  Makes us deal with the dirty stuff, down under, below. Says:   you will look at this whether you like it or not. Some of us will do the work, repairing damages and making necessary changes.  Some will whine and complain.  Some will resist and deny with all their might. 

Either way, the former paradigm is DONE.  The old structures and previous programs are over:  Deconstructed.  This is Scorpio’s heyday.  Can you say transformation?  There is no turning back now. For any student of history, the period we are living through now is similar to before World War I and afterward.  Gone were the monarchies and dynasties to make way for new industry, technology, art, lifestyle and super powers democracy, autocracy and communism. 

We are deep in the midst of deconstruction now; we have yet to know what will emerge from the cauldron and crucible of transmutation.  What I do know for certain is that this is an incredibly fertile and creative time. Literally:  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE NOW.  This is Scorpio:  deep, dark, delicious.

The same day Messenger Mercury turns into Scorpio, on November 5^th, Valuable Venus shifts into Capricorn where she is not especially comfortable. Venus is sensual, relatable, and well, cozy.  Everything the stern sign of Capricorn is not. What is notable about her passage through Capricorn is that she will be here until next March 2022!   Why so long you may ask?  Well, next month in December Venus turns retrograde for 40 days thus protracting her cycle in Capricorn.

So let’s take a closer look at Venus in Capricorn.  First, Venus rules love, money and relationship; art, beauty and balance as well.  Venus doesn’t just want to relate, she IS the art of relationship.  Whereas Capricorn, is stark contrasts:  black and white, linear, limits and boundaries:  you stay on your side of the fence and I will stay on mine.  Capricorn and its ruler Saturn govern hard work, responsibility, integrity, honor, and the great ledger of life:  debits and credits.  You either did the thing or you didn’t.  Capricorn never blurs the lines. 

So you can see how soft and sensual Venus would feel on edge in such a literal sign.

And here we have this combination for the next FOUR months through March of 2022.  So, how do we manage this energetic mix? 

Getting real.  First with ourselves.  Taking that long, hard look in the mirror.  Finding what works and what does not work in our lives.  Then eliminating what does not work so we can focus on and grow what is working.  Venus is good at that: investing in and growing more of what we do want.  This reductive process offers an outline for your life.  For it is easier to identify what is not functional, what can be purged in this month of Scorpio, in order to distill the good stuff.  The parts that you want to keep, that work well and efficiently.

With four whole months ahead as Venus passes back and forth through Capricorn, 120 days and nights, we buckle up to get a handle on our primary relationship with our SELF.  Once we get a firm grip on exactly who we are, our other relationships will follow suit.  Enter Capricorn.  Its formal, linear, black and white, no nonsense quality determines IF we still have anything in common with our friends and loved ones.  Who shall stay and who shall go.  It’s that simple. Note:  I did not say easy.

Venus’ protracted journey through Capricorn (during the winter season of course) goes hand in glove with our Scorpio deep dive.  Elimination is the watch word for both.  And both Venus and Scorpio rule finances:  one personal, the other shared/joint.  In addition to getting serious about meaningful relationships in our lives, we also scrutinize wallets and bank accounts now.  Have you checked your credit score lately?  Are you living beyond your means, racking up expenses faster than you can pay them off?  Not for much longer.

Just as Venus gets going in hard-nosed Capricorn, while the Sun, Motivating Mars and Messenger Mercury are deeeeep into Scorpio territory, the Moon enters Taurus…ruled by, you guessed it:  Venus!  A Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is upon us now on Friday, November 19^th.  Tied to the natal north node in communicative Gemini on one end and Mercury on the other end, the message is crystal clear: get your priorities straight, beginning with your finances. 

This eclipse says:  You either have the money or you don’t.  If you do, this eclipse assures you freedom, as it is tied to the south node in Sagittarius.  There is no shading the truth with this eclipse.  If your financial house is not in good shape, you are made to do the work.  If your bookkeeping is in solid order, then you are free to develop your skills and talents as you see fit (Venus/Moon in Taurus).  To spend your resources, be they time, energy, talents or resources, as you like. 

The Truth shall set you Free:   The hallmark of Sagittarius, where the Sun now enters three days later on Monday, November 22^nd.  Conjoined to the lunar South Node, the Sagittarius Sun pursues truth with all the fire we can muster.  We seek to understand; not because we DO understand; but rather to learn, just for the sheer adventure and exploration afforded by the journey.

Good to know, also, that Sagittarius rules the law, both cosmic and earthly.  As above, so below.  Tell the truth now.  Don’t shirk it.  Otherwise, face the consequences says Messenger Mercury entering Sagittarius on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  With the Sun and Mercury straddling the lunar South Node all in honest Sadge, we get the message loud and unmistakably clear.  Do the right thing. 

Live honestly.  Follow your path.  Live your truth, not anyone else’s.  As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself.  Everyone else is taken.”

Of Special Note:

Discover the uber-talented Allison Chamberlain Jones on my next Mystical Messages podcast.  Allison is an astrologer, yoga teacher, life coach specializing in financial development.  We discuss her journey as a metaphysical practitioner, how she shifted her monetary perspective from one of lack to abundance, and now trains others to manifest healthy lives, both physically and financially.  As Allison illustrates, just because you are an artist or healing practitioner, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, or cannot build wealth.  Allison and I talk about why the two are not mutually exclusive.  This episode of Mystical Messages will air on Friday, November 12^th.

                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retrograde Renovations

 October opens with no less than 6 planets (out of ten) retrograde motion.  A number of my clients have asked why the energy is so sluggish.  Here is why:   Retrograde, or reverse gear, isn’t a negative thing. Rather, it is part of the natural cycle of life patterns.  It involves reflection, turning inward, and thinking rather than acting and pushing forward.  Think of it similar to the season of winter, and it is upon us cosmically now. 

The outer planets spend nearly half of the year retrograde.  Because of their distance from Earth, we normally do not feel this; however, the overlapping cycles of the three outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) along with titans Jupiter and Saturn, from the end of August through mid-October has the effect of slowing life to a crawl.  Interior planet Messenger Mercury added to this on September 27th when it also turned retrograde. 

Little traction is gained now.  Instead, tune in.  Meditate.  Listen.  What do you hear? 

The paradigms and constructs we have known are falling away for sure.  The old and out dated are dissolving (Neptune in Pisces).  The unknown and yet-to-be are gradually taking their place.  And the unknown often engenders fear.  But while there is chaos all around everywhere we look, it is also a wildly creative time to be alive. 

October affords us bountiful deliberation and consideration of how to proceed.  Out of our retrograde reflections we will gain a clearer understanding of our values, what is important to us, how we want to spend our time, energy and resources.   The importance of this cannot be overstated.  We are given the chance to craft a mission statement for our future.

Libra energy dominates the first half of October, with the Sun, Motivating Mars and Messenger Mercury leaning our actions and words toward what is fair, balanced and yes, beautiful.  Libra recognizes that each person deserves to be treated equally and is entitled to beauty, to feel it, experience it, live it, know it.  Libra is grace; something we can all agree is in very short supply these days. 

Use the first week of October wisely and steep yourself in as much beauty and grace as you can manage.  Create a work of art; purchase a finely tailored article of clothing; visit a museum or gallery; host an event or dinner party.  Give of yourself by sharing your talents and knowledge willingly and liberally with others, all the while carefully weighing your choices and possible directions.  The tide begins turning soon enough. 

The New Moon on Wednesday, October 6^th is a force to be reckoned with.  The impact of this New Moon is tremendous.  Four planets are in Libra:  Sun, Moon, Mars and Mercury.  Libra is known as the Velvet Hammer.  She gets what she wants through a charm offensive, and by applying finesse and grace.  She is a master of design: including human, cultural and product.  The trick for Libra is decision making.  To choose.  Therein lies the quest for balance, which is Libra’s key phrase:  I Balance. That in making a choice, there is compromise and consequently not everyone ends up happy.  REMEMBER to always factor in your own needs and agenda. Because Libra’s Achilles heel is often forgetting about themselves when meeting everyone else’s demands.   

Libra can sit on the fence debating pros and cons until opportunity has passed her by. Especially where relationship is concerned.  So it is a healthy idea to take the first five days of October to make up your mind.  Then at the time of the New Moon:  CHOOSE.  Set your intentions carefully.  With all four Libra planets aligned to Generous Jupiter in Aquarius, the Force is with you now.  Underscoring this powerful energy, Pluto the transformer turns direct motion the very same day as the New Moon.  Pluto challenges Messenger Mercury; our choices weigh heavily.  We realize the consequences no matter what side of the fence we come down on.   Here’s a word to the wise:  There are no wrong decisions, only learning.

We realize, though, we have only one choice:  to embody, to live, to be our Truth; especially with Venus, ruler of Libra, at the final degree of Scorpio at this New Moon conjoining the Lunar South node in Sagittarius. Meaning:  exercise the full power and might of your being with every choice and decision.  The imperative here is getting crystal clear about your relationship to yourself.  To be absolutely 100 per cent yourself.  If you don’t know who you are, now is the time to get to know YOU.  Because there is no more faking, pretending, or going along to get along anymore.  The veil is wispy thin now and each of us is seen for exactly who and what we are.   Do yourself a favor and simply live your honest truth.  Others may not like the real you; but the upside is that you will be able to look yourself in the mirror. 

The next day, Valuable Venus moves into Sagittarius. For the remainder of the month we explore what life has to offer, open up to adventure, feel more spiritual and philosophical and enjoy people who expand our reality.    Given what faces us nationally and globally, this is a very good thing.  Greater understanding and learning only leads to broader empathy for our fellow man.  That we are not so very different from one another after all. 

Giving us a few days to allow the magnitude of these cosmic events to fully settle upon us and integrate, or perhaps ingratiate itself, Taskmaster Saturn then turns direct motion on Monday, October 11^th.   Two planets down, two more to go, in terms of direct gear shifts this month.  (Uranus and Neptune stay retrograde for a while yet to come).  Saturn is serious.  Never frivolous.  Its direct motion underscores the gravitas of the moment.  In Aquarius, Saturn directs us toward the collective benefit, what will help the greater good, and connecting ideas to groups via technology.

As it turns forward motion and picks up steam, Saturn aligns with the Lunar North Node in Gemini, conveying our thoughts and facilitating communication.  In short, this alliance takes the edge off Mercury’s retrograde.  We have one week yet to go until Monday, October 18^th, when Messenger Mercury moves forward again.  But we can feel the momentum of life beginning to pick up steam.  We are given one more week to dig deep, research, renew, review, etc. key plans and decisions before we act on them. 

Use every ounce of time to finalize details because Messenger Mercury turns direct motion on the very same day Generous Jupiter moves forward as well; and, their combined thrust ahead occurs only two days before the Full Moon on Wednesday, October 20^th.  Mercury sends the message while Jupiter magnifies it; together, we can expect to receive very large messages.  Think Times Square BIG.  Under the light of the waxing moon, information is unmistakably clear. 

To make things more interesting, this will be a highly combustible Full Moon.  So fiery that it should come with a warning label and wrapped in yellow CAUTION tape. This Aries Full Moon brazenly challenges Powerful Pluto and opposes Motivating Mars conjoined to the Sun.  One clear meaning:  Out with the Old and in with the New.  Watch for explosive relationships, situations, information, or desperate people who will use just about any tactic to make their voices heard.

It is not hyperbole to say that we stand, individually and collectively, on the brink of a historic paradigm shift; the immense sort of cultural pivots that mark distinct BEFORE and AFTER periods, such as those we have heard our forebears talk about…like, before World War II and after; before the fall of Rome and after; before Christ and after, and, before or after the Covid Pandemic.  Yes, we are on an immense threshold.

Some may feel as though they’re being observed or watched, not in a paranoid way but rather due to an increased awareness that their language, actions, thoughts and intentions actually have consequences and impact.  Well, they do!  Increases of heightened awareness may be symptoms of spiritual ascension.  A fuller understanding that each of us is truly connected to the other, even if we don’t personally know the other person or group, indicates growth, expansion and development. We are learning that we do in fact create our reality from our thoughts, and our realities ripple out in waves touching all other lives. Such is the magnitude of this time. 

Saturday, October 23^rd the Sun turns into Scorpio, excavating and turning over what needs to be seen, revealed and dealt with.  During the final week of the month, a test of wills, stamina and fortitude emerges as the Scorpio Sun gradually boxes with Saturn in Aquarius.  Watch for a “my way or the highway” attitude, a digging in of heels and stubborn resistance, belying much personal inner work yet to be done.  Helping us reach across what divides us, including getting over ourselves, Messenger Mercury assists greatly in its alliance to Aquarian Saturn and then Jupiter during October’s last days.  Not only does Mercury relay messages but it wants to relate while finishing up its tour through Libra while a stark Darwinian reality stares us down:  Adapt or die. We can adamantly cling to the old. But change is a-comin’ whether we like it or not.  Best to shake the hand of the future and face it squarely in the eye.

Of Special Note:

Friday, October 15, 2021

Please tune in to Mystical Messages podcast on Friday, October 15th to hear my conversation with Mariah Riess, MSW.  Mariah is a certified death doula and End-of-Life specialist.  Learn how our greatest transition may be handled with grace, dignity and yes, even celebration.

SONI MASUR'S BIG FALL SHOW

Thursday, October 21, 6 pm - 9 pm

 Friday, October 22, 10 am – 3 pm

 Saturday, October 23, 10 am – 4 pm

Come check out all of the artists and vendors!  And I am so thrilled to offer mini readings again this year at Soni Masur’s Big Fall Show at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 18 Springdale Avenue, Dover, MA.  BOOK YOUR astrology forecast with me now as these slots fill up fast!  I’m offering a special show rate of $30 for 20 minutes, either in-person or via zoom.

Planning and Preparation, not Perfection

 As autumn sets in, four planets in earth energies, two of them in practical Virgo, keep us grounded and real.  Humble and hardworking Virgo is perhaps one of the most misunderstood zodiac signs.  So it’s helpful to better understand what she’s about.  I say “She” because Virgo is a feminine sign.  Her glyph is the Virgin, which some may misconstrue with the Virgin Mary or the mythical Vestal Virgins. But this second earth sign isn’t about religion; rather, she strives for purity, of health and wellness.  She rules, routines, systems and practices.  In short:  habits.  Virgo asks:  what are yours?  Are your daily habits working for you? If not, consider re-evaluating them and implementing new ones.  Thus, Virgo is a mutable sign, meaning flexible and changeable.

Virgo rules animals, work, health, our routines and most of all service.  Virgo is here as a servant and to serve.  Whenever I see a chart laden with Virgo energies, the client has a bent toward service.  This may take on many flavors:  public service such as the Queen of England or regular postal worker, any health care and wellness professional in the medical or metaphysical fields, or day laborers in construction, hospitality or childcare industries and more.

Virgos are notably humble.  They do not actively seek the limelight like “Look at Me” Leos. Virgos often work and work hard, behind the scenes making sure life runs smoothly.  Efficiency, cleanliness, detail-oriented and diligent work ethic are their watchwords.   “Practice makes perfect” says Virgo.  And if there is any downside to this earthly sign, it is the quest for perfection; for the polarity or sign opposite Virgo is Pisces which rules illusion, delusion and disillusionment.  So it is wise to remember that perfection is an illusion.  Try not to lose the forest for the trees by getting so caught up in the nitty-gritty details or trying to make yourself “perfect”.  Remember:  you already are!  Take a breath, change up your routine, and stop beating yourself up…for along with perfectionism, guilt is another useless trap for Virgos.  For every problem there is the solution and herein lies the outlet for Virgo.  Routine.  Virgo rules routine.  When you find yourself spiraling on a mental merry-go-round going nowhere, YOU have the keys to change.  Even micro changes to your practices will help.  All you need to do is try.

Which brings me to the astrology message for September:  planning and preparation are Virgo’s super power.  When we make a plan and stick to it, we accomplish our goals.  One foot in front of the other and 60 days later, voila! Your new routine sticks!   Then, one year later, look back and see how your life has changed for the better.  Sometimes we pinch ourselves when we reflect on how different we are a year later on after embarking on our self-improvement efforts. 

With all FIVE of the outer planets retrograde this month, and Mercury slowing down for its last retrograde cycle of the year, September is an excellent time to review and revisit what works and does not work in our lives. We want to understand why, too, some facet of our life does not work and how best to make effectual improvements; to cleanse and purge that which does not serve us in order to streamline our daily lives, bringing us to our fullest potential and healthiest well-being on all fronts:  body, mind and soul.  This is Virgo.  She works diligently behind the scenes keeping each part operating smoothly.  Think of your body and soul like a car running at maximum efficiency, a well-oiled machine.  For each of us is a physical instrument, a container for our soul. Virgo gets this.   She wants us in peak condition for the job and journey ahead.

If you are ready to improve your life in any sector, September is your month!

From the beginning of September, a grand earth trine, creates a flow between heavy hitters transformer Pluto, motivating Mars and radical Uranus to shift our narratives, in attitude and approach. We are grounded, revved and ready to do the thing.  These Earth energies supply our needs, whether people, finances, support, or otherwise.  We also catch a break and bit of a breather this month as titans Uranus and Saturn distance themselves.  They’ve been boxing all year; but this month, they retreat into their own corners for a rest.

The first week of September lays the ground work for our re-set.  We approach the New Moon in Virgo in the wee, small hours of Tuesday, September 7^th…wouldn’t you know, the very day after Labor Day.   So like Virgo, planning to perfection, we head back full steam to work, school and life following summer; both Sun (our will) and Moon (emotions) align to the Uranus-Pluto-Mars trio already in place.  Remember to hand write 3-5 goals you seek to accomplish over the next month, season or year.  During this earth sign New Moon, I suggest planting your intentions into the ground.

By week’s end, Valuable Venus enters seductive Scorpio. Our spidey senses and intuition kick into overdrive as well as our libido, since Scorpio rules lust, sex and desire.  We also want to know what we are getting for our hard earned money.  Think worth.  What investments of our time, energy and resources worth?  This attitude rules through the end of the month.  As Venus helpfully aligns to the earth planets, Sun, Uranus and Pluto, pay attention to how she directs your relationships and evaluates how to spend your invaluable skills, talents, time and finances.  Venus in Scorpio says:  These are not to be taken advantage of or given away.  She reminds us that there is a price for everything.  Do NOT sell yourself short!

Evaluation and weighing are the operative words.  They play even stronger roles when motivating Mars enters Libra, the sign of balance and equality on Wednesday, September 15^th.  For the next six weeks, through the end of October, we ask:  what is fair and right?  We focus on peace and harmony, art and beauty.  Combative Mars is not comfortable in Libra which so concerned with relationships.  Others.  When used well, this energy is driven to establish order from chaos, peaceful solutions and artful environments.   It often forgets to factor our SELF into any equation.  Libra’s key phrase is:  I Balance.  So it is vital to remember our own needs, desire and agenda along with the others we are so concerned about.  Remember to save a slice of pie for yourself!

With Mars in Libra, the trick is not to alienate others on our quest for fairness and equality. Mars is not graceful nor gracious.  If we offend others doling out equal slices of pie, we risk missing our goal altogether and potentially lose ground, support and resources. Again, carefully weigh your options.  Libra is about decisions and choices.  Choose wisely.

Helping us select from our buffet of choices is Messenger Mercury, also cycling through Libra. It also softens our words and smooths the ruffled feathers Mars stirs up.  The caution with Mercury in Libra is endless mental debating. Which side of the fence is better? Just remember to avoid the “disease to please” or forgetting about your interests while trying to create harmony for everyone.  Peace at any price invariably ends up disgruntling all involved, especially ourselves in the end.

Our balancing act becomes more evident as Mercury prepares slow down for its final retrograde cycle of 2021, especially as we approach the Full Moon in Pisces on Tuesday, September 21^st.  All Full Moons are laden with emotion as they mark culmination.  This particular Full Moon is rife with potential confusion or pristine clarity, depending on your efforts and focus leading up to it.  Visionary Neptune (or Nefarious Neptune as some may call it) conjoins and rules this Full Moon in Pisces, opposite the Sun and Mars.  Known as the Harvest Moon, it is vital to ask:  what is it you want to harvest, yield or release?  It is worth spending time to contemplate and meditate on this.  Clarity may be difficult to come by as Messenger Mercury makes a wonky (inconjunct) angle to Moon-Neptune and challenges powerful Pluto during this Full Moon.  So it takes mental elbow grease to discern what is real, what is illusory and discern the direction to take.  Invest time to understand the various perspectives in order to make fully informed decisions. 

With the Sun in the final degrees of Virgo (health) this applies to how you respond to Covid as well.  To mask or not to mask?  To vaccinate or not?  That is the question.

We may continue sitting on the fence considering this question and many others as Mercury turns retrograde the following week on Monday, September 27^th.  Due to its retrograde cycle, the messenger planet has an extended tour through Libra for two months.  As a result, we continue weighing vital matters under consideration. Mercury’s gear shift brings six planets into reverse gear the final days of September into the first week of October.  As a RE minder, retrogrades are best used for:  RE flection, RE view, RE search, RE visit, RE member, RE pair, RE store, RE new, etc.  During the stretch between September 26^th and October 18^th it is particularly wise to engage in any RE activity. 

Given the magnitude of what faces us individually, nationally and globally now, this is a particularly helpful retrograde passage.  We have A LOT to think about and reflect on that is for sure.  It is also best to avoid major purchases and signing significant contracts or documents.  With three planets in Libra (Sun, Mars and Mercury), weigh your options carefully.  It is definitely NOT a time of “he who hesitates is lost” but rather “know thyself”.  Understanding the motive behind any decision, the “why” and not the “how”, leads to better self-awareness and wiser choices.

Of Special Note:   

Jody Levy, founder of Hopespring Holistic Institute joins me on the next episode of Mystical Messages podcast.  We discuss the cutting edge approaches to health and wellness offered at Hopespring. Through a combination of traditional allopathic (western) medicine and eastern or alternative techniques, practitioners at Hopespring bring a unique healing modalities to those seeking complete wellness. Please join us for this inspiring conversation on Friday, September 10^th on Mystical Messages, wherever you find your podcasts.

I am also offering astrology mini readings at Soni's Masur's Big Fall Show, Thursday-Saturday, October 21-23 in Dover, MA.  Check out all the amazing vendors AND find out what's up with you cosmically. Special show reading rate $30 for 20 minutes!  These spots fill up fast so book in advance:  sonyamasur@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Creating Your Own Reality

Leo the Lion rules August.  It is a creative, festive and generous energy.  After last year, we are soaking up every drop of gatherings, concerts, sports, art, family and friends.  Peak liveliness of summertime playfulness heralds us as the month opens.  The Sun and Messenger Mercury are tightly paired opposing Taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius on Day 1 of August.  Creativity and innovation abound.  The first week of the month is an excellent time to start work on creative pursuits or launch projects already underway.  Or, perhaps you are at a cross roads with any endeavor and don’t know which way to turn, including stubborn relationship issues.  Well the good new is:   answers and solutions envelop us this first week of August to solve conundrums that arise.

Earth energies temper our giddy-up.  Radical Uranus aligns with Valuable Venus all week to help us prepare, plan and execute our go-get-em ideas.  Grounding, real deal flow continues for the balance of August as Motivating Mars joins Venus in Virgo.  While ideal for getting $#!T done and making things happen, the duo can level guilt like a caustic grandmother to incite feelings that you never quite measure up.  Rest assured, YOU DO.  So pay not mind to the critics.  Virgo rules habits, practices and systems.  Do not allow overthinking or a critical mindset to dominate your head space. Rather, harness this humbling energy to begin healthy, new practices:  positive affirmations, exercise routines, clean eating habits.  It takes 60 days to instill a habit so that it becomes automatic.  I analyze is Virgo’s key phrase.  Hit the pause button to scrutinize what is not working in your life and how you can clean up what should be purged, whether your residence or routines. 

Knowing what needs to stay or go in your world going forward, as well as what you want to bring more of to integrate, is key as we approach the New Moon in Leo on Sunday, August 8^th.  This is a WILDLY innovative, romantic and festive New Moon.  Be sure to hand write 3-5 goals that you aim to accomplish over the next month or season.  Plant in the earth or set safely alight.  Leo IS leadership.  Fierce, generous and game for anything.  If you have been contemplating taking a chance or leap of faith, now is the time with this New Moon!  GO FOR IT.  

Messenger Mercury loosely conjoins the Leo Sun and Moon, strengthening our resolve and emboldening our minds and hearts with bravery we didn’t know we had.  You do have it in you to live your dream.  What reality do you want to create?  The planetary combination of Leo courage and Virgo skilled planning pave the way. Especially from August 8^th to the 11^th as Valuable Venus aligns to powerful Pluto.  Grab hold of this practical force to build what you want to grow.  It is as ingenious and inspirational a time as we’ve had in a while.  So make the most of it.

The next day, Thursday, August 12^th, Messenger Mercury continues enhancing Virgo precision.  Our minds and words are laser sharp.  Mercury and Mars gradually align with change agent Uranus over the next week, through Friday, August 20^th.  Have a particular goal in mind?  Seek to implement a new system?  Want to change your life for the better?  This troika is it!  Mercury-Mars-Uranus give us the raw material to plan, create and execute exactly the reality we want.  Afforded to us now is:  work horse, data oriented, hands on, not afraid to get its hands dirty, and ethical to boot energy.  It is a streamlined force to create effectual change.   

Gears begin shifting on Monday, August 16^th as Valuable Venus turns into her own sign of Libra.  She graces our relationships with a gentility and eye for beauty; softens our interests and knows how to attract and appeal to others, whether family, business or romantic relations.  Venus invariably helps wherever she cycles through your life, bringing resources, talents and just the right people to smooth our path forward.  Over the next week, she gradually aligns to Taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius, culminating on August 23^rd.  Together, they network like crazy, solve technology problems, design innovative décor, devices and strategies, particularly well with groups and teams.  Use this flowing connective energy of Venus-Saturn in air signs to your advantage.

We will need all the help we can get as we enter one of the trickiest passages of 2021.  On Thursday, August 19^th Radical Uranus turns retrograde motion.  Its function, the very purpose of Uranus is to change.  This outer planet is known as the Great Awakener, but also, the Great Disruptor.  Often, human beings only awaken when life is interrupted.  Get stuck in a rut?  Things going a little too smoothly?  Enter Uranus to break things up.  When we are thrown off kilter, most likely we hit the pause and re-set button.  What just happened?  We ask.  Then, why?  In the course of exploring why our lives are disrupted, we discover the new.  New approaches, aspects and facets that may have remained unknown and unused had we not been pushed a different direction.  The term happy accident is very Uranian.  SURPRISE! 

Whenever the unpredictable planet Uranus shifts gears, either direct motion, or in this case, retrograde, life can take some pretty unusual turns.  It’s not called Radical Uranus for nothing.  What makes the August 19^th Uranus retrograde shift particularly notable is that it occurs three days before the Full Moon on Sunday, August 22^nd.  Any Full Moon brings heightened awareness and sensitivity.  August’s full moon occurs at the final degree of Aquarius (sign ruled by Uranus) and the opposing Sun in dramatic Leo.  To say the third weekend of August may be filled with shock and awe is an understatement.  Brace yourself.  Any rebellious elements fomenting underneath the surface may explode unexpectedly between the 19^th and 23^rd. 

Take care and take it easy.  If you can, lay low that weekend.  I’m not one, by personality or by astrological counsel, to lean toward pessimism.  But I would be remiss if I didn’t call for caution when necessary.  August 19-23^rd is one such time.  So help yourself and others by choosing gentle words and actions now.

Frenzied energetic waves tossing us about like toy boats gives way to calmer frequencies by the 24^th.  Thank heaven!  We may very well have some clean up to do in the aftermath of the Full Moon-Uranus Retrograde cyclone.  As we return back to school and work toward August’s end, Messenger Mercury moves into lovely Libra.  Our minds and mouths now seek balance, consideration of others.  We take into account the impact and consequences we may have on the lives of those around us.  Never a bad thing in my estimation to gauge how our loved ones and those we rely on may experience the ripples we create.  Minding our words and estimating how these fall on others’ ears, how another receives our message, is the first step toward wisdom.   Step lively.

Of Special Note:

Have you heard of the Akashic Records?  Yes?  No?  To learn what exactly the Akashics are and how they work, please join me for my interview with Akashic Records expert Patty Collinsworth on the next episode of Mystical Messages podcast.  For ten years, Patty has been reading the Akashics for clients as well as teaching students on-line and in person. My interview with Patty will air on Friday, August 13th on Mystical Messages podcast available via Google, Apple or Spotify.

 

 

 

 

July: The 2021 Cosmic Choice Award

If months were awarded annual “Cosmic Choice Awards” the month of July would be the astrologers’ pick for 2021.  After the galactic tumult of June, we now welcome much calmer stretches and even super fun energy to boot!  July affords us time to let the star dust settle; all that stirred up drama will dispel and disperse so take advantage of the coming cosmic tranquility.  After last month, we can use all the peace and quiet we can handle!

The first week of July, please note that distortion, or the effect of being inside of warped fun house mirrors is still in place as July opens.  It has been pushing us to discern what is real and what is projection from others, that which does not belong to us.  Now, however, the advantage in July is that Messenger Mercury is moving forward motion again.  We’ve seen this rodeo of projection before, twice actually, over that past two months as Mercury jousted with dreamy Neptune.  Chances are, we learned a thing or two and won’t get fooled this time around.  We know what’s up.  Through practice and experience we can tell what is phony baloney, spin and fancy wordsmithing.  Use your knowledge to carefully direct your thoughts and energy rather than getting caught up in naysayers’ noise.

Underlying all of this, there is a jailbreak feeling to the beginning of July.  Our pent up energy from 2020 covid rules and restrictions are ready to pop.  Feel the release?  FEEL the release!  With the Sun in nurturing Cancer the Crab now, it feels so good to feel again…to hug each other, to touch, shake hands, rub elbows at gatherings once more.  And with July 1^st falling on the cusp of our beloved Independence Day in the USA, joy is ripe and ready to be shared.

The July 4^th weekend has all the makings for one fabulous holiday affair as the star coordinates emphasize:   Motivating Mars and Valuable Venus are joined at the hip in festive Leo aligning to healer Chiron in Aries and the Lunar south node in adventurous Sagittarius to form a grand fire trine.  Meaning:  Get your party shoes on!   We can just about taste the freedom this July.  Let the good times roll. You do not want to sit this one out.  Whatever gives you JOY:  do that.  It is no accident that the holiday itself falls squarely on a Sunday, giving many the Monday afterward off from work.  Prepare for a long weekend of play, relaxation and good eats.  What are you bringing to the picnic?

Whether you decide to take the following week off and continue to play or quietly return to work, the week after the 4^th is low key heading into the New Moon in Cancer the Crab on Friday, July 9^th.  In fact, this is one gentle New Moon.  The kindest one I have seen in a long while.  Soft and sweet, both Sun and Moon align with dreamy Neptune. Our intuition is unusually accurate so pay attention to those twinges and vibes you get.  Hanging out on, in or around water is deeply soothing.  Listen to, play or dance to music.  The more water and music you do now, the better. 

Sun and Moon loosely oppose Powerful Pluto in Capricorn at the time of the New Moon, giving us some structure and definition, and reminding us to set boundaries to protect ourselves and loved ones.  You may very well find yourself sticking close to home, vacationing with family, getting those projects done around the house or practicing some very long-overdue self-care.  It is not indulgent to pamper yourself.  Body and soul benefit from the healthy care and keeping of you.  Consider it money well spent.

Be sure to set your New Moon intentions over the second weekend of July, on the 10^th or 11^th, by handwriting 3-5 goals that you desire to manifest over the coming month or season.  Plant in the ground or set safely alight. 

Nurturing Cancerian energy continues by extension on Sunday, July 11^th when Messenger Mercury joins the Sun in Cancer.  This planetary change of sign is most welcome as Mercury, ruling our minds and mouth, toured through communicative Gemini for over two months due to its retrograde cycle.  Now, however, our will, energy and thoughts pair up in imaginative Cancer.  You will feel life downshift into the slow lane. It’s like taking the back country scenic road.  Cancer likes the languid life, to feel its way along. So don’t rush the Crab!  She’ll get everything done, in her own time, in her own way, far more imaginatively than her conventional cosmic cousins.  Her creed is live and let live; let go and let God.  

If you push or rush any Crab, the end result will be spoiled.  The process is not unlike a cake baking in the oven.  If you keep opening the oven door to check on the cake, it will never bake properly.  This principle applies to each of us regardless of our zodiac sign now.   The tender, careful days of summer finds us developing in the universal womb now; it is not a process to be messed with.  So hands off and back off.  Let nature take its course with yourself, your goals and others.  Less is really more now.

You will know when it will be time to act as there will be tests of will, or, whether to jump in and take action especially around Saturday, July 17^th when the Sun opposes Powerful Pluto.  Of course, if the situation warrants, act accordingly, particularly involving setting limits and saying no when necessary.  Planetary oppositions raise awareness regarding how we respond to life and our role in any outcome.  The awareness we gain around July 17^th parlays into the rising energy of the full moon in avant garde Aquarius the following Friday, July 23^rd.  This Full Moon is wedged between heavy hitters Pluto and Saturn. 

Practiced detachment and observation are the watch words with this Full Moon.  The more you remove yourself from emotionally loaded situations, the better as the Sun has now shifted into dramatic Leo on July 22^nd.  Of course it’s easier said than done to detach when you feel people and circumstances are testing you.  And they are.  The Aquarian Full Moon opposite the creative Leo Sun pushes us to invent and innovate our way along, through or out of the quandaries and problems we find ourselves in.  So avoid blaming others as that will only add misery to complexities.

Helping us just before the full moon is Valuable Venus’ shift into analytical Virgo just two days earlier on Wednesday, July 21.  Down-to-earth, practical and pragmatic, Virgo Venus brings all the facts and figures to illuminate better understanding.  More importantly, she keeps our heads level and our energy grounded.  As momentum and emotions invariably build toward the Full Moon, use Venus in Virgo to break apart and break down matters into smaller, more manageable pieces.  The phrase “small steps for self-esteem building” comes to mind this third week of July.  Take each piece and master it, fully grasp its purpose, use and place before moving on to the next part.

On the heels of the Full Moon, Messenger Mercury turns into Leo on Tuesday, July 27th.  We find humor (heaven knows we need it!) and fun creative outlets wherever we look; the optimistic and bright sunny side appears.  In short, we see the glass half full heading into August.   Two days later, Motivating Mars joins Venus in Virgo.  While our minds may be full of mischief and how to have fun, we are imbued with a killer work ethic.  When used well, this energy gives us a global, big-picture outlook combined with applied efficiency and attention to detail for any endeavor you are brewing.  Not a bad way to end the first full month of summer!

 

Of Special Note:

Tune into my podcast Mystical Messages on Friday, July 16^th to hear my conversation with intuitive artist Toni Carbone as we discuss sacred painting, moon cycles, and the spiritual roots of creativity.  You may find Mystical Messages wherever you follow podcasts.

Getting Clear

The month of June begins like a hangover from the end of May.  We find ourselves gulping for air left by May’s wake.  We are smack dab between two eclipses in Gemini with Mercury retrograde having kicked into gear two days before June begins.  With the Sun, Messenger Mercury, Valuable Venus and the Lunar north node all in Gemini, the air is thick and rife with communicative energy. So let’s talk Gemini.

This first of the three air signs, Gemini and its planet Mercury rule communication.  Its glyph is the TWINS, a dominant and passive twin of information exchange.  The dominant twin we know and love. It rules information sharing or dissemination:   the talker, speaker, social media maven posting multitudes on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  The passive twin, however, we have a less developed relationship with (at least in western cultures).  This twin deals with information gathering and collection:  listening, hearing, meditating, cogitating on and processing all the data that crosses our awareness, which the dominant twin shares.

When managed well, Gemini energy is like an electric switch with which we take equal turns, on and off. Equal parts listening and integrating to sharing and posting.  Given that Mercury is retrograde until June 23^rd, it is especially vital that we slow down and take our time processing and reviewing what crosses our radar.  I cannot emphasize enough the trickster energy at play during the first ten days of June. Miscommunication leading to misunderstandings are at peak torque this month.  So be very clear in your messaging; and if you are uncertain about another’s intent or meaning, ASK.  Do not hesitate to check twice if you do not fully understand what you are getting into. Last, by all means, if you can hold off on signing major contracts or significant documents, and delay purchasing big ticket items such as cars, homes, appliances as well as technology devices like phones and laptops, try to wait.

Between June 1^st and 10^th is as much a cosmic dead zone as there could be.  The stretch between the first eclipse on May 26 and June 10^th, coupled with Mercury retrograde is a red flashing light:  stop, look, review, wait, research, think and think again.  This is NOT a time to advance or proceed with much of anything.  As I advise my clients:  you have to live your life.  Because life does not come to a screeching halt, each of us must continue with our day-to-day decision making.  Live your life.  But for anything of key importance now, it is best to do so on or after June 23rd to sign on the dotted line or run the credit card.

While otherwise dicey, we do have help during this stretch.  From Tuesday, June 1^st to Friday the 4^th, the Sun and north node duo in Gemini align with Saturn in Aquarius.  Use this time for connecting the dots, ideas, experimentation, networking, knowledge building, research and data collection, reviewing and writing.  On a positive front, this is a HIGHLY creative and innovative time.  Think of the eccentric artist or scientist working in their studio or laboratory.  Breakthroughs R-US.  Meditation, journaling, as well as employing all of the retrograde RE words:  rest, restore, review, reclaim, renovate, research are your guideposts.

On Tuesday, June 2^nd, Valuable Venus enters nurturing Cancer the Crab, where she draws us to dote on our loved ones and practice radical self-care, what FEELS good and emotionally accurate.  This is the time to invest in yourself, your home and family (whether blood relatives or those who feel like family).   With all the sound and fury generated by planets in air signs, you may be very well want to withdraw into Cancer’s nurturing energy and cuddle up under the covers with a good book.

Withdrawing entirely from life is usually not an option for most of us; but as much as you can, take a beat and hit the pause button especially as Mars in Cancer opposes Powerful Pluto on June 5^th and 6^th.  We are shown in stark contrast boundaries that must be set within our household, family and diet.  Planetary oppositions poke our attention to raise our awareness.  If you have been giving and giving and giving and not saving any time for yourself, THIS dynamic will make you stop, stand up and take note.  Wherever your feelings, home life, family or food related relationships have run amok, Mars-Pluto draws a line in the sand and says:  stop in the name of love, for yourself and others.  It is high past time to get a grip on food, house, home, and family matters.  Mars in Cancer is also concerned with the homeland, our country or nation where we live.  Issues involving our nation’s border are keenly highlighted, the families being reunited or those still yet to be and how to create an immigration policy the majority can agree on.

Honest, clear messaging is all important as we head into the second eclipse of the year on Thursday, June 10^th.  Messenger Mercury is closely tied to both the Sun and Moon, all in Gemini at the time of this New Moon Solar eclipse.  Gemini is known as the “salesman of the zodiac”; our minds, emotions and energy each challenge dreamy Neptune at eclipse time, making for one super slippery smoke and mirrors effect.  Things seem not to be as they appear; something doesn’t quite add up but you may not be able to put your finger on exactly what it is.  Think of this as a test:  to trust yourself, your intuition and gut feelings rather than being swept up in the moment or popular thing to do.  It is imperative now to say what you mean and mean what you say.  If someone is pushing an idea or product on you, or to get you to commit before you are ready, do not be afraid to stand in your power and hit the pause button.  Ask for more information and definitely more time to make your decision.  Time is on your side. 

Be sure to harness the power of three key inner planets, along with the north node aligning to Saturn in communicative air signs, to set your New Moon intentions on June 10^th.  Hand write 3-5 goals you desire to manifest over the coming month or season.  Either plant in the warm spring earth or set alight and release their ashes to the wind.

Two days later, on Saturday, June 12^th, Motivating Mars shifts into Look at me Leo for the next six weeks. The planet of action is much more comfortable in this creative and festive sign.  Mars in Leo is ready to ROAR.  It wants to get the party started already; especially as many people are now vaccinated against Covid 19 and most of us are now living more outdoors with warmer temperatures.   Over the next month, gregarious Mars in Leo gradually aligns to the lunar south node in Sagittarius and healer chiron in Aries.  Time to let your freak flag fly.  Let loose and let it all hang out.  Pick your pleasure. 

After a looonnnng cooped up and pent up year of pandemic rules and restrictions, the healing afforded in this grand fire aspect abounds.  Take advantage.  It’s time to play again, to plan gatherings with friends and family; think about fun activities like music concerts and indoor events, sporting or otherwise.  Summer upon us now, as the Sun makes its annual passage into Cancer the Crab, marking the longest day of the year via the summer solstice on Monday, June 21^st.   The star coordinates make for one lovely solstice as Valuable Venus aligns with its elder sibling dreamy Neptune.  Our feelings, emotions and intuition guide us accurately.  Follow your internal GPS as it knows the way and will never steer you wrong.

The very next day, Tuesday, June 22^nd, Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.   Thank goddess!  Time to proceed with any plans you have been brewing.  Go ahead and put money down on travel and entertainment.  Buy the tickets, sign the contract and seal the deal.  Mercury conjoins the lunar north node in Gemini aligning to Aquarian Saturn.  Our words pack a heavy punch especially under the spotlight of the waxing full moon in Capricorn on Thursday, June 24^th.  If you have a message to get out, June 23^rd-25^th are THE days for heightened visibility and impact.  You will be seen and heard.  Connections are made and ideas exchanged, accepted and even acted upon. 

The final Sunday of the month, June 27^th, Valuable Venus joins her brother Mars in Leo.  Our energy AND our values now seek creative outlets through fun and festive engagement, relationships romantic and otherwise, as well as how we apply our skills and talents to earn a living.  For the next month, the passage of these two interpersonal planets in fun-loving Leo, mark a distinct gateway through which we say hello to enjoying life again and goodbye to Covid confinement.  We certainly learned a huge amount over the last year or so.  Most certainly, we’ll never take for granted the ease of walking out the front door without a mask, having dinner with others inside, or hugging far-flung relatives.  I know I’m more than ready to travel and play.  I bet you are too.

Of Special Note:

Enjoy my interview with Reiki Master and writer Liza Lentini on my next episode of Mystical Messages.  Liza specializes in animal and distance Reiki as well as teaching the modality via zoom.  Tune into our conversation on Friday, June 11th.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking?

The balance of super strong, sturdy earth energies greet us at the gates to the Merry month of May.  We feel anchored and grounded.  Six out of ten planets cycle through earth signs, four of them in cultivating and sensual Taurus.  The ground is warm, soft and fertile.  The first week of May is prime planting season.  Any seeds, whether your thoughts, words, ideas or actions will grow into exactly what you intend now.  Choose wisely.

Taurus is primal building block energy.  The first earth sign of the zodiac, it offers endless possibilities to cultivate and shape our lives.  From outermost Uranus to interior planets Sun, Venus and Mercury, we are invited to play with opportunities.  For Taurus rules value, worth, our skills and talents.  She asks, how should we make the most of our talents when opportunity comes knocking?  Will you recognize it?  Seize it?  Or refrain, fearful of what might happen if you dare say yes?  If you say no, will you regret your decision later on?  What is the worst that could happen? 

The only constant, guaranteed for sure thing in life is change.  The ongoing challenge between Radical Uranus and Taskmaster Saturn pushes us out of our comfort zone.  Uranus rules Aquarius, the sign Saturn currently cycles through.  Their message is clear:  change and change now.  If you refuse to change, or grow, the alternative is stagnation, like a flower wilting on the vine for lack of water.  So better to tend to your garden.  If you are uncertain, stick a toe in.  Check the water temperature.   Try gradual shifts.  Experiment.  Observe what does not work; then pivot.

Adaptability is just around the corner. On Tuesday, May 4^th Messenger Mercury shifts into its own sign of Gemini.  Our minds flip a switch, become quicker, wittier and increasingly versatile over the next three weeks.  Flexibility is heightened that much more a few days later on Sunday, May 9^th when Valuable Venus joins Mercury in communicative Gemini.  We meet arising problems arising with every variety of solution as we succinctly connect to ideas, people, and resources.  Anything we planted in late April or the first days of May are skillfully tended with ingenuity and alacrity.  The base is established.  We are ready to go and grow as the New Moon occurs in Taurus on Tuesday, May 11^th.  

Aligning to Powerhouse Pluto, we are afforded prime time, heart-centered structural energy with which to build.  Capricorn Pluto asks:  what do you desire?  What are your goals, aims, hopes for achievement?  For this is THE New Moon to plant your intentions in the earth, water regularly and watch them sprout and blossom.  Messenger Mercury tied to the Lunar North Node in Gemini align with airy Aquarian Saturn, also making this a highly innovative and inventive New Moon.  We are blessed with materials (money and more) from the prodigious planets in earth signs as well as sharp-as-a-tack communications connectivity from the air sign planets.  Meaning, we have at our disposal a master manifestor wand.   

There is a magician like power to this New Moon.  The question is, will you use your magic manifestor wand wisely, take it for granted or misuse its power?  Think Harry Potter.  It is vital to focus clearly on your New Moon intentions, to understand your reasons, motivation, the WHY far more than the how, of your desires.  If your reasons are unclear, hit the pause button and contemplate precisely why it is you want to achieve a certain goal.  If your answer resonates with a ping of truth in your heart center, proceed.  Hand write 3- 5 goals and plant in the softening, rich earth.  Eleven is a master number and the May 11^th New Moon means business.  Achtung!!  Be ready to go when it arrives.  You do not want to miss this ripe chance for growth.

Growth and abundance of a different kind surface three days later when Generous Jupiter rolls into inspirational Pisces on Friday, May 14^th.  For a few brief months of 2021, the titan of abundance gives us a taste of its upcoming 2022 cycle through dreamy Pisces.  Water, water everywhere.   You can either surrender to the flow or swim against the tide and get pulled under.  Believe, trust your intuition or drown in fear laden woe. Maybe you will paddle back and forth between the two.  Oceanic Jupiter in Pisces seduces us to dream BIG.  Music and water in ANY form will be of great benefit with this placement.  Use both generously.

For the next two and a half months, until the end of July, Jupiter floods us with divine guidance.  Tune in.  Listen.  Is it your imagination or reality?  Perhaps, a bit of both.  This window of late spring through early summer affords us a peak into how we may craft our dreams into reality.  For if we have learned anything from our pandemic reflections, we create our own reality forged from our imagination and intent.  Necessity is the mother of invention.  Look back for just a moment.  Where were you one year ago?  How has your life changed?  What was your state of mind?  How did you spend your days? 

I know my mind and situation last May were dramatically different than this year.  Have you stayed the course, steered the boat of your life carefully, harnessing the winds in your sails. Or, have you run aground?  Pisces is imagery, visualization, a camera and film projector.  Jupiter cycling through Pisces projects the movie of our life on to a larger than life screen.  It reflects back to us all that we were, are and could possibly ever be.  Use this ten week stretch from mid-May to July’s end to dabble and dip into what might be as we resurface from the pandemic. 

One week later, the Sun joins Mercury and Venus in Gemini on Friday, May 21^st.  Through the end of May, the Sun gradually aligns to Taskmaster Saturn, which turns retrograde motion on Sunday, May 23^rd for the next several months.  This is the first of two planetary retrogrades as we wind down the month of May. There is a noticeable gear shift as we head into June, a turning of the tide and mood swing of energies. 

While we may not feel it so much with Saturn’s retrograde, we surely will when Messenger Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday, May 29^th.  Expect communication and technology snafus galore especially as Mercury’s retrograde occurs on the heels of the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on early on Wednesday, May 26^th in Gemini and Sagittarius.  Mercury-Venus in Gemini challenge Neptune, making this one very slippery eclipse.  Pay particular attention to your thoughts, words and language in general.  Say what you mean and mean what you say. Use language carefully and LISTEN intently to others’ messaging:  not just what they are saying but how they are speaking and even more critically, pay attention to what is NOT said.  Read between the lines.  Watch for body language and facial cues. There is far, far more than meets the eye than what you see or are aware of now.

The end of May is really tricky and chock full of prankster energy.  Smoke and mirrors, spin, spin doctors and con artists.  You may be stunned at manipulative twists from otherwise above board people; double talk is rife now.  Use caution and care.  THIS is the time to ask for more information and time, time to think about a prospect overnight, or longer; to do more research, to ask a trusted partner or friend for their opinion. 

Given the signs involved with both Mercury retrograde (Gemini/communication) and the Lunar Eclipse (Gemini/Sagittarius), you may very well experience prolonged delays or difficulties with products and travel plans purchased at the end of May.   If you need to make buy electronic, technical devices or secure travel plans, be sure to do so no later than May 16^th or prepare to wait until late June. 

And as with all Mercury retrogrades, REmember to practice the RE words:  reflect, revisit, restore, renew, reclaim, review, research, etc.   From the May 26^th eclipse through the end of Mercury retrograde on June 23^rd, make the most of this nearly month long period by clearing out the old to make way for the new.   This is an excellent time for a thorough, top to bottom spring cleaning as well as taking a vacation.  Schedule a grown up play date.   Take a few days off, an afternoon or staycation, simply to get a change of scenery.  The prevalence of Gemini energy shines with variable uses of time; the more you take time to BE, the more you will DO.

Of Special Interest:

Please tune into my podcast Mystical Messages on Friday, May 14th to hear my conversation with  Certified Tarot Master and Astrologer John Marani.  We dive into John's depth and breadth of experience with the Tarot and how it may be used for guidance and direction.  John is the author of In Their Own Words: The Major Arcana of the Tarot and lectures widely on the subject.