Mirror, Mirror

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Of Special Note:

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

 

 

 

 

Karma Speaks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Of Special Note: 

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

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

                                                                                                                   

 

The Currency of Your Life

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

                                                                                                                                                                          

Audacious Destiny

For a while now, we have known that these are not ordinary times.  I try to avoid hyperbole; but I find myself all too frequently using words like historic and unprecedented to describe the moment.  Most of us are incredibly fortunate to witness the epic current events from a safe distance while knowing many people suffer the consequences of drastic decisions made from afar.

Bureaucracy and government usually churn at a snail’s pace.  Not lately however.  Given technology, impacts are felt immediately.  The ripple effect is stark:   we learn how others are affected and responses are quicker than at any other time.   So too with our personal lives.  We feel the results of our decisions as well as those of others instantly.

Likewise, with a cosmic urgency, the New Moon occurs on Day One of April 2022, offering an opportunity for a clean slate and fresh beginnings.   The New Moon occurs in fiery Aries closely tied to healer Chiron and Messenger Mercury; meaning:  we are in the cosmic emergency room.   It is time to try any and all new strategies.  What is broken must be fixed. Now.  Strap on your warrior gear and get going.  We feel the urgency to be brave and bravely forge into difficult terrain.  We might ask:  how did I get here?  Why oh why is this happening? 

But the time for reflection is done.  And in our deepest heart, in our soul, we know how we got here.   Asking “Why” is useless and doesn’t help matters in the emergency room of life.  All that matters is what are we going to do about the situation now?   How are you going to go forward?  Pondering that:  set your intentions on the April 1^st New Moon. Hand write three to five goals you intend to manifest over the coming month or season.  Be sure to include an intention for world peace. 

Often, when dire need occurs, the best of humanity, our better angels and higher selves emerge. Unifying forces are at hand as Valuable Venus turns into inspirational Pisces on Wednesday, April 6^th.  Over the course of the month, Venus gradually joins Generous Jupiter and Soulful Neptune forming one tremendous angelic wave of love.  Together, this trio spreads and shares compassion and blessings with everyone.  And boy do we need it. 

For the past month, Generous Jupiter has inched toward Spiritual Neptune. These two conjoin exactly on Tuesday, April 12^th.   The last time this pairing occurred in Pisces was 1856… so please take note!  Jupiter is the titan of abundance and Neptune rules faith, trust and yes, pixie dust.  Combined, they form a formidable force allowing all possibilities to unfold when we believe.  The key to unlock the opportunity this force presents is unshakeable faith, belief and certainty in ourselves, our ideas and potential.  So be sure to avail yourself of their energetic boost and guidance.   This is not a time to be shy about asking for what you need.  Look around.  Prayers are answered at such a moment.  Ask and you shall receive.

As Jupiter-Neptune form a tremendous energetic wave, ask, what do you want more of in your life?  What course do you want your life to follow?  Focus on that.  You can create your own personal heaven or hell now. You decide.  Because Pisces rules both faith and fear, aka, False Evidence Appearing Real.   At their best, this duo unifies and showers love over all; delivers joy, abundance of every kind beyond our imagination, and crystal clear insight.  It is incredibly cleansing, artistic, musical, spiritual, and even transcendental.  At worst, their combined force washes away hope and drowns us in ever-deepening spirals of fear and despair.   To be very clear:  how you direct your energy now is key.  Focus on what you DO want, not what you do not want.  Be sure to align your mind and heart with purity, good will and your sacred dreams.  Avoid toxic people, situations and influences. For what you emit grows tenfold now.

There are no coincidences, cosmically or otherwise, as Messenger Mercury enters earthy Taurus on April 11^th, the day before the Great Jupiter-Neptune conjunction.  Its passage underscores what you plant and sow, you will grow.  The big advantage of Mercury’s shift is that it helps to ground our thoughts and mind, otherwise carried away by Piscean fantasy.  Mercury’s passage into pragmatic Taurus helps soak up all of the water energy right now.  In short, our dreams take practical turns.  We look for resources and to our talents supporting Jupiter-Neptune’s inspirations.

Pisces rules water, as mythologically, Neptune is god of the oceans.  Water is of particular concern with four planets in Pisces when Motivating Mars joins Venus, Jupiter and Neptune on Friday, April 15^th.   That’s a whole lotta deep water friends.  For the remainder of April, a big caution is the potential for flooding especially in low-lying and coastal areas.  A heads-up to install safe-guards and protections in advance where possible.  If you do not have flood insurance, even if you think you do not need it, BUY IT. 

The upside of this energetic Piscean foursome is music.  Whether you play an instrument, compose lyrics or melodies or love attending concerts, the latter part of April is a musical wonderland.  If possible, enjoy music when you are on or around water, floating away to your favorite tune is the ultimate use of this energy.  Anyone who has ever attended a symphony or giant concert understands how music unifies otherwise disparate people.  It is a spiritual experience that is both powerfully cleansing and healing. 

Although April is the astrological month of Aries, the dominance of Pisces planets may either inspire us to further our intentions sparked at the New Moon; OR extinguish our dreams in a flood of despondence.  This is the paradox of Pisces…distinct polarities:  faith vs. fear, dreams vs. despair; spirituality vs. mass hysteria/cults.  Water, like Pisces, knows no boundaries.  It seeps through and permeates everything.  Watch that you are not swallowed whole by a spiraling vortex of escapism, fear or grand delusion.

Better to lean into Pisces’ superpower:  selflessness.  Channel your inner volunteer.  What have you done for someone else lately?

Through directing our attention to how we can help, it is particularly useful to have Messenger Mercury, ruler of communication in realistic Taurus to sop up overflowing emotions and bring us back to earth, especially as we head into the Full Moon in Libra on Saturday, April 16^th.  The Libra Full Moon seeks to bring us into balance and strives for equilibrium amidst all the external turmoil.  Get a grip, she says.  Be reasonable.  Aligned helpfully to Saturn in humanitarian Aquarius, this Full Moon reminds us of how interdependent we are.  The trick is to remember where you end and everyone else begins.  Relevant now is the age old premise:  For every action (Aries Sun) there is an equal and opposite reaction (Libra Full Moon); what is good for one is good for ALL.  Or, in case you’ve forgotten:  do unto others as you would have done to you.

The Sun joins Mercury and Radical Uranus in down-to-earth Taurus on Wednesday, April 20^th.   Our focus is drawn toward honing our skills and talents for real world, practical applications, and yes, to earn money.  Sure, go ahead, dream big as the four Pisces planets suggest.  But how’s it going to work down here on the ground?  Can the every-day man put your ideas and dreams to use?  The Iphone was once a terrific theoretical concept.  Just a dream in one man’s mind.  Now, it connects everyone to each other.  That’s real-deal dream work.

Enter the second New Moon of April.  The occurrence of two New Moons within a 30 day period does not happen frequently.  Such are the times.  On Saturday, April 30^th, a New Moon Solar Eclipse in Taurus happens.  If ever there were a moment to seed intentions for harmony and peace to grow, this is it.  This is a particularly auspicious New Moon, not only because it coincides with an eclipse, but also the day before, Powerful Pluto turns retrograde motion.  Since the beginning of February, all planets have been cycling forward motion.  Now, on April 29^th, this uninhibited, free-wheeling pattern comes to an end. 

Typically we do not feel the gear shifts of an outer planet such as Pluto.  However, poised at pivot point in the lunar cycle, Pluto, god of the underworld and shadow side of life invites us to include those pieces of ourselves that we’d rather not acknowledge, the secret, dirty underbelly parts we don’t want anyone to know about.  Dirty is exactly right.  Your ugly bits inform and comprise the whole of who you are.  Out of the mud, muck and mire, rises the lotus flower.  So on this earthy Taurus New Moon eclipse tied to Pluto’s inward journey, a whole new you is only possible when you include equal parts sunshine, water and yes, mud.

Of Special Note:   

Tune into my podcast Mystical Messages on Friday, April 15^th to hear my interview with author Brandon Wainwright.  A former law enforcement officer, Brandon is now a writer and Reiki master.  His book, Tyson’s Gift, reveals how animals awaken our hearts, humanity and greater gifts to be shared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take Me to the River

 As happens cosmically speaking, occasionally most of the planets cluster in just a few signs.  March 2022 is one such a time when eight out of ten planets gather in three signs for most of the month.  The effect of this directs our energy in a particular area of life.  In this case, the final three signs of the zodiac:  Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. 

The last quarter of the zodiac has to with the greater good.  Thus, we find ourselves focusing on concerns beyond our immediate needs, past our jobs and yes, even our families to the collective:   how our actions affect others, perhaps everyone combined.  This energetic thrust is practical, humanitarian, innovative and benevolent.  I think we can all agree, we certainly know what does not work by now.  It is time to try something completely different and maybe even radical.  To reach across what divides us and find common ground.  To achieve greater understanding.  To realize that what bothers and bogs us down, also probably bothers others.  What impacts me, impacts you.

March offers break through, inventive energy, as well as useful and visionary tools to solve long-standing problems.  And we couldn’t have a better cosmic stretch to tackle the BIG stuff in our lives because March is the halfway point of an unusual three-month planetary All Clear:   every single planet is cycling forward motion and undisturbed by even a single eclipse.  What does this mean for you?  It is GO TIME.

March really does come roaring in on day one.

The month opens with Venus and Mars tightly conjoined to Powerhouse Pluto in sturdy Capricorn.  Can you say drive?  We have ambition to spare.  And it’s not all about ego.  This is quintessentially bare bones energy.  Venus governs our skills, talents, and wallet.  Mars is our initiative.  Pluto, Mars’ bigger sibling, triggers our desire.  Packed together, this trio doesn’t mess around.  There’s no time to waste.  In Capricorn, they keep a firm eye on the score and ask:  do you have what it takes to go the distance?   Is this endeavor of yours something that will stand the test of time?  It is it worthy of you? And worth the currency of your life:  your time, energy and yes, money?

Meanwhile, Messenger Mercury pairs with taskmaster Saturn in Aquarius.  Mercury shines in this connective sign, proving that truly anything can be accomplished when we put our minds to it.   Aquarian Thomas Edison, still the record holder of most patents, is testament to this; as are Oprah Winfrey and Abraham Lincoln.  Different as they seem to be from each other, what do they have in common?  They link all of us together in a way we haven’t been before, through innovation, connection and humanitarian efforts.  What benefits them, benefits all.

And then there is Pisces, where Generous Jupiter, the Sun and dreamy Neptune are cycling. Go big or go home, they inspire.  How big can you dream?  What does your soul say?  Time to check in with it.  This is a grand, visionary force.  Music, water, dreams, the collective unconscious connote that we are in fact one and the same body.  Bound by and to each other, the animal kingdom, the elements. 

Together, the combination of practicality (Capricorn), innovation (Aquarius) and vision (Pisces) pull us individually and as a group out of the past and into new terrain.  In short, we progress.  We evolve. We grow.

Enter the New Moon. 

In Pisces, sandwiched between the Sun and Generous Jupiter, this New Moon on Wednesday, March 2nd is an invitation to dream.  Put on some music, maybe something you haven’t listened to in a while, or ever before, and hand write 3-5 intentions you seek to manifest over the coming month, season or year.  What is it you desire?  The Force is with you big time now.   We’re living a landmark moment; nothing is as it was before and anything is truly possible.  The future is ripe with every imaginable possibility.  And imagine is a key word for this Piscean New Moon.  It says we are only limited by our imaginations.

So who do you want to be?  Do that. Become her. Reinvent yourself from the inside out.

Mars and Venus guide the way as they shift into Aquarius on Sunday, March 6^th.   Radically individual, this don’t fence me in energy pushes us to be every inch our SELF, regardless of what anyone else says.  Use this unabashedly unique force to design how you want to live. The only constructs are those you confine yourself to; so it is vital to give yourself permission to live outside of the box.  Venus and Mars rule relationship and drive.  Different, unusual-to-you people and ideas may surface now. Give them a whirl.  Connect to and network with groups.  Try anything once.  You never know what breakthroughs might occur if you do!

Thursday, March 10^th Messenger Mercury turns into dreamy Pisces joining Neptune, Jupiter and the Sun.  We are in the flow now.  You can fight against the tide OR surrender and see where it takes you.  I suggest surrendering.  Ask yourself:  do you really have the amount of energy it takes to hold back the tide, push against the unrelenting current?  Why would you want to anyway?   With seven out of ten planets in either Aquarius or Pisces guiding us toward the answers we seek, curiosity and wonder are key. 

Lately, one aspect in extremely short supply is wonder.  To allow for the element of surprise.  Our divisions sprout from staunch certainty that we are right; that we have all of the answers; that there can be no other way to be or do or live.  Instead, mid-March prompts us to be curious about what’s around the river bend.  That perhaps if we allow time and nature to gently lead us, we might just arrive at an infinitely finer solution or destination than we could ever imagine, much less contrive ourselves.

After all…How big is the ocean?  How infinite is the sky?  How large can you dream?

The days leading up to the Virgo Full Moon on Friday, March 18^th will push our buttons to flow with ingenuity.  We can feel the wheels of innovation churn, grinding against each other sparking solutions.  Venus and Mars in Aquarius challenge change-agent Uranus in earthy Taurus.  This energy poses two alternatives:  to dig our heels in and resist the possibilities at hand, or, … open to greater “what ifs”.  Such as, what if we said yes instead of no.  What if we took a risk, maybe risked being disliked, or worse, thought of being different, instead of always conforming, mostly likely to someone else’s rules.  What if we spent our time, talents and treasure differently instead of shutting the lid on new ideas and resource investment?

Our guide here is the Virgo Full Moon.  She says:  control what you can; while the four planets in Pisces opposite the moon say:  let the rest go.  Let go and let God; Goddess; Source, Spirit. Your soul.  Your soul knows the way.  Step out from behind the curtain of your ego which perpetually and loudly claims to know it all, when actually though… your better, wiser, higher self knows in fact, there are other ways altogether of being.  It’s time to flow with your soul.

Just a few days later, the Spring Equinox heralds the arrival of a new and brighter season on Monday, March 21^st.  In the Northern Hemisphere, we begin emerging from reflective wintertime.  As the Sun moves into fiery Aries, followed by Messenger Mercury on the 27^th, our will, thoughts and words courageously leap to action.  We know now exactly what to do.  We are the architects of our deepest dreams.  Go now and do.

Of Special Interest:

Please join my conversation with multi-talented healer Carol Lee on the next episode of Mystical Messages podcast.  Carol is a Sufi healer who offers an array of modalities for healing resistant physical, emotional and mental health concerns.  Follow our conversation as Carol shares her own journey to health and wellness and helps others find relief.  Tune in on Friday, March 11^th to Mystical Messages to hear our discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shift Happens

 As February begins, we approach the light at the end of winter’s tunnel; although admittedly, some may feel they are approaching the proverbial tunnel of light.  We are living in extraordinary times when anything is possible and relatively little is for sure.

One thing we do know for certain is increasing sunlight in the northern hemisphere is marked by Imbolc, the festival celebrating mid-winter.  We are half way there, moving through the cold, ice and snow.  As Churchill said, “if you are going through hell, keep going.” 

Imbolc occurs at a significant time in the cosmic calendar, a reminder that divine timing is flawlessly accurate.  The New Moon in Aquarius is sandwiched between Venus turning direct motion on January 29^th and Imbolc on February 2nd.   Aquarius marches to its own drum, harkens to another voice:  its own.  The sign of the inventor, Aquarians are innovative problem solvers who undoubtedly coined the phrase “think outside of the box,” because Aquarians live outside of the box.  Considered by others to be radical or rebellious, Aquarians are simply non-conformists, ruled by the planet Uranus, the only planet that rotates vertically instead of horizontally. 

So on Day One of February, the Aquarius New Moon invites us to try something new; something we have not done before; pushes us to push back on mainstream ideas and develop our own guidelines and norms.  Think about it:  by now, you know what does NOT work; so better to try something different even if it seems like a crazy notion. Your outlandish idea might just work!

The Sun (our will) and Moon (our emotions) are tightly conjoined to Taskmaster Saturn at a notable degree of Aquarius, making this New Moon a mandate:  it is time for you to do your own thing, to follow your own inner guidance, regardless of what others think, believe or say.

Sun-Moon-Saturn sharply challenge Radical Uranus, the very planet that rules Aquarius, in one final great heave-ho to awaken and arouse humanity.  Uranus in earthy Taurus has been prodding us for several years now to realize that there is more to life than money.  The Great Awakener asks us to change up our values:  whom and what we value.  How we value.  Where we place our value through the expenditure of our time, energy, skills and talents, all of them equal to money; to decide differently about the currency of our lives, to measure the quality of how we spend our days with a new-fangled yardstick.

The pandemic has brought this into sharp focus. 

The Great Resignation occurring in the global labor force is only one impact of the cosmic heavyweight showdown.  Different uses or approaches to technology, groups and networks, are another facet of the Aquarius-Taurus duel. How can we best use technology to enhance our lives?  What benefits the greater common good?  Are just two questions sparked by this energetic squeeze.   Old tactics such as my-way-or-the-highway, bullying, or dictating orders simply will not work anymore.  We are operating under new guidelines where we act according to our conscience and people are shown for who they really are.  Practice opening your heart to receive.  Listen to your soul.

Then set your New Moon intentions based on your soul guidance; we’ve had plenty of time during January’s sluggish retrograde passages to meditate on what we DO want.  Hand write three to five goals that you seek to manifest in the coming month, season or year.  Then release by setting your goals safely alight.

The wheels of progress begin to churn forward now.  You will feel gears shift on Friday, February 4^th as Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.  It announces:  All systems are GO!!  With Mercury’s switch forward, we are offered a vital opportunity:  a clear cosmic stretch for the next three months.  Yes, you read that correctly.  In a rare clear energetic window, every single planet now cycles direct motion.  Not only that, not a single eclipse will interrupt this planetary push forward. It is like having perfect weather:  sunny skies, warm breezes and low humidity.  This is GO TIME in a major way.  Be sure to take advantage of the next 90 days for we do not often get such a long, clear cosmic stretch. 

Push onward and outward.  It is time now to roll forward.  Take your deep winter reflections, any ideas generated and put these to good use:  Sign significant contracts and documents; make major purchases you may have held off on such as cars, houses or appliances; move forward with big projects.   The unfettered energy from February 5^th through April 29^th smooths the path in front of us.

Helping us to manifest our efforts and ideas is the recent nodal shift.  Say what?  Our directional calling, or true north, just turned into the sign of Taurus.  For the past year and a half, the lunar north and south nodes have been cycling through Gemini and Sagittarius.  Meaning, our attention has been called toward Gemini:  information, communication, getting our message across and yes, listening, processing and integrating information in equal measure too.  

Now, with the lunar north node in Taurus, our attention is drawn toward the material plane: to our values, resources, applied and developing skills and talents to earn a living, our time and energy, and yes:  money.  Cash is king with the north node in Taurus.  This is the original show me the money sign.  Where knowledge was power with the north node in Gemini for the past 18 months, now in Taurus:  time is money.  We have gathered all of the information and done our research.  We know what we need to do.  So For the next 18 months, it is time to plant what we want to grow, and later, to harvest what we have sown in earthy Taurus.

Over the summer, the north node will pair up with Radical Uranus, already cycling through Taurus.  Uranus takes seven years to move through a sign.  In 2022, the Great Awakener will reach its halfway point.  As it does so, Uranus will pair up with the lunar north node giving us a rich and ripe opportunity to grow baby grow.  The cosmic soil is warm, dense and delicious.   Ask yourself:  what do you want to cultivate? 

With all ten planets turning direct motion for the next three months and the lunar north node in sensual, deeply talented and strong-like-a-bull Taurus, it is wise to invest your time and energy in what you want more of.  Unlike flighty Gemini, Taurus has stamina and perseverance to see ideas and visions through to the end result:  where you can see, feel, hear or touch what you have been dreaming about until now.  Taurus is the master manifestor.  Where you point your wand, you will get what you asked for.  So use her energy wisely.

On Tuesday, February 15^th, Messenger Mercury rolls into its happy place:  Aquarius.  The information planet revels being in the sign of ideas and innovation.  Our mind may overflow with connections and solutions as the very next day, February 16^th is the Full Moon in creative Leo.  Both Aquarian Sun and Leo Moon clash mightily with the current Taurus-Scorpio lunar nodes.  Think of four heavyweight boxers in a ring with each one vying for the title, Champion of the World. Each is so certain that their way is the only way and each has a stake in winning.  Sound familiar? 

We see it play out on the global front with Russia bating the United States and NATO.  This is an age-old battle of ideologies (Aquarius) and swagger/drama (Leo) versus resources (Taurus) and power (scorpio).  Watch:  the gloves may very well come off.  Watch:  where is this playing out in your own life?  Ideas vs. resources?

The question is not do you have the goods to realize your ideas and potential.  The question is will you?  Will you put your ideas to work, seed and plant your dreams to harvest and share the bounty down the road?

The bright spotlight of the dramatic Leo Full Moon dares you, throws the gauntlet down.  Leo is the great risk taker, the gambler.  This full moon asks what have you got to lose?

We can dig in and fight, clinging to the old and worn out patterns.  Or, we can follow another path altogether.  Fortunately, we are given a planetary out clause.  On the heels of this heavyweight Full Moon, the Sun turns into unifying Pisces on Saturday, February 19^th, gradually joining Generous Jupiter, magnifying and emphasizing the need to surrender.  To surrender does not mean to give up or give in.  Nor collapse.   Rather, Pisces, the sign of the soul suggests folding yourself into what calls your name, namely:  your dreams and visions.  To surrender means to flow and follow what you already know:  the wisdom of your heart.

Of Special Note:

Tune into Mystical Messages podcast to hear psychic medium Cathy Ripley Greene on Friday, February 11^th.  Multi-talented, Cathy talks about her journey channeling messages from those who have passed.  Cathy also mentors and teaches budding mediums.  If you have ever thought about connecting with a loved one who has crossed over, this is the podcast episode for you! 

We Plan, God Laughs

Occasionally, I feel like a weatherman delivering a forecast that no one wants to hear.  Sorry folks.  Sometimes life gives us rain, snow and freezing cold temperatures, cosmically so to speak. The astrology for January 2022 is somewhat similar.   Not just because we are in the midst of actual winter in the northern hemisphere, either.  Rather, the season of winter does in fact coincide nicely with cosmic forces right now:  the planetary slow-down this month underscores natural cycles of hibernation and dormancy.  Use this time well.

Both the month of January and thus the new year open in the darkest phase of the lunar cycle.  Our New Year resolutions are best saved for the second day of the month as the New Moon occurs in austere Capricorn on January 2^nd.  As you hand write your intentions and goals for the coming season and year, Messenger Mercury guides us to think outside of our customary lanes as it enters avant garde Aquarius on the very same day.  It postulates:  How can you face current challenges differently than in the past?  If you do not know:  ASK.  Asking for help from your guides and the gods is certainly a new way for many of us to overcome obstacles.

Mercury will stay in the non-mainstream sign of Aquarius for over two months, well into March, as it turns retrograde in mid-January.  Messenger Mercury shines in innovative Aquarius.  Here it finds unique ways to solve long-standing problems, something each of us can use.  Innovation and invention often run side by side with rebellion and the radical.  Individuality and being ahead of your time is terrific and all; just note that the caution here is:  knowing when to hold firm and when to make adjustments to your ideas and plans.  We are all in this together; so if you want others on board with your unusual ideas or unheard of tactics, the need for grace and diplomacy will go a long way to procure support.

A word to the wise as we enter a treacherous stretch at mid-month:  Messenger Mercury begins to slow down for its first retrograde phase of 2022. Watch your thoughts, words and reactions between Monday, January 10^th and the Full Moon on Monday, January 17^th.  I cannot emphasize the difficulty of this week.  It is a trifecta of gear shifts with the waxing moon pulling the trigger.  Expect the unexpected.

First, Mercury turns retrograde on Thursday, January 13^th.  Conjoined to Saturn in Aquarius, both planets challenge Radical Uranus, and the message is serious:  change and change now.  Change your thoughts, change your actions, change your life.  Saturn and Uranus dueled all of 2021.  Now, they engage in their final showdown with Mercury driving home the message:  what used to work, patterns, responses, routines, “normal” life (whatever that was) will no longer stand.  

We are in a Darwinian moment.  We feel the gears of survival grinding against each other, internally, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually.  No one alive has ever been through such a time.  Each of us is pushed out of our comfort zone now. A new paradigm is upon us.  Adapt or fall by the wayside. 

It is that simple.

The gear grinding heightens intensely with the culmination of the Full Moon on Monday, January 17^th; while the very next day, change agent Uranus turns direct motion. 

BOOM!

No.  This is not melodrama.  It is real.  As real as life gets.  Energetically, it feels like a massive tidal surge bearing straight down on us.  The Full Moon occurs in sensitive Cancer the Crab.  Family, home, food, real estate, ancestral resources, guidance and psychological conditioning are in major league play as part of this equation.

Very strong messages will be delivered now. 

It is vital to note:  This is not all doom and gloom.  Because the Universe has our best interests at heart.

When Radical Uranus turns direct motion, its signature is surprise.  Yes, shock and awe too.  But this passage may bear unexpected windfalls and awakenings, discoveries and détente.  It is truly a time to hope for the best and expect the worst.  May you receive all good things now.  If you are off track in some facet of your life, you will be course corrected.

So what do we do?  You may ask.  How do we best manage and wade through this difficult strait?

Listen.  Be patient. Pick up the pieces. Swallow your pride. Find another strategy. Admit you don’t have all of the answers.  Admit you might be wrong.  Reach across the aisle.  Apologize. Take the medicine.  Be kind to everyone, not just your tribe. Give the benefit of the doubt.   Practice the golden rule.   

Until you have walked a mile in another’s shoes, you have no idea what their journey has been.

In the immediate aftermath of said tumultuous week, as the cosmic surge wanes and calms down, we may find ourselves reeling.  The Yiddish saying goes, “We plan, God laughs.”   The upheaval is real.  So it is important to remember:  put one foot in front of the other.  Valuable Venus is still retrograde motion.  In Capricorn, she reminds us that haste makes waste.  She asks:  what is REALLY, TRULY important in life?  Is it really climbing up to that next rung on the ladder?  Getting the next bigger and “better” something?  The next shiny new object of our desire?

Or, perhaps, during our wintertime reflections that Venus has so encouraged, have you found there is something infinitely more valuable at stake?  An honest, truer target to have your eye on?   Find some quiet time and tune in.  When interior planets (mercury, venus or mars) are retrograde at the same time, it may feel like we are pushing a gigantic boulder up Mount Everest or spinning our wheels in deep mud.  With Mercury and Venus both retrograde from January 13^th to the 29^th, the best use of the second half of January is to meditate and cogitate; to research, plan and prepare.  It is not a time to push forward with much of anything.

We are in the thick depths of winter.  In days of yore, our ancestors made good use of short, dark and cold time by mending and tending in anticipation of bright, warmer days ahead.  Wise are those who take a cue from our forebears now.  There is still much to do:   the RE words…renovate, repair, renew, restore, relax, reflect, rebuild, rest and far more.  Invest your time inwardly during this dormant phase that nature offers up as part of her ancient cycle.

Gear shifts are on the way soon enough.

Getting the ball rolling, Motivating Mars turns into its favorite sign Capricorn, on Tuesday, January 25^th.  The action planet, Mars commands and directs.  In black and white Capricorn, Mars excels.  It executes directives clearly and unequivocally.   No, this is not warm and fuzzy energy (the opposite of cuddly Cancer the Crab).  And just a few short days later Valuable Venus turns direct motion.  Finally.  We are coming out of the woods. 

Imbolc, the festival marking mid-winter nears.  The sun is brightening more each day.  There is hope; more to the point:  reason to be hopeful. 

With both interpersonal planets Venus and Mars (relationship and action) in practical, sturdy Capricorn, we take stock.  What do we have and, critically, what do we not have and still need to acquire. For as we chart our plans, we must build reserves to get where we’re going, to achieve our goal.  Accomplishment and checking off the boxes of our to-do list are the name of the game now.

Soon, when Mercury turns direct in the early days of February, every single planet will be full steam ahead…for three whole months.   That is an incredible length of time, cosmically speaking, for an unfettered march forward.  Until then, better to lay low and wool gather.  Just as it began, January ends in the darkest phase of the moon cycle.  Last year, 2021 was not for the faint of heart.  Nor so January 2022. 

The Chinese New Year arrives with the New Moon on February 1^st, followed by Mercury direct on the 4^th.  This is one rare time when it is indeed better to collectively celebrate THE New Year, no matter what your cultural origins, during the first week of February 2022.  Forget about December 31^st-January 1^st this time around.  Underscoring our new paradigm, old traditions and customs have little relevance.   Time to adopt new-to-us customs and get used to the word adapt.  ALL of our edges and boundaries are being pushed.  Good thing the Chinese Year of the Tiger is renowned for bravery, strength and confidence.  We will need every single bit.

Of special note:  Tune into Mystical Messages podcast on Friday, January 14^th to hear my conversation with animal communicator and healer, Marcia Zais.  Animals teach us unconditional love.  Whether your pet has passed or has an illness, Marcia shares how she helps humans connect to their pets to ease suffering, both animal and human.  Since animals cannot express themselves with words, Marcia discusses how we can learn mutual communication through the universal language of love.