Mercury Conjunct Saturn | black hole Tuesday, the rising divine masculine, stepping into our responsibility, will the center hold

take the spring by GlareUsy
Today we have Mercury and Saturn meeting up at 27 degrees Sagittarius. Yes, that is the degree (27-28) of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, that houses all the planets in our solar system including ours - the Galactic Center. 

This is the place where time and space were created so you and I would have a place to learn and grow and work and play.

Saturn (security, stability, the patriarchy, the rules, duty, judgement, authority) has spent quite a bit of time on or near the Galactic Center this year - getting a makeover or maybe I should say a make-under. And now he meets Mercury here.

The people and structures that carry the greatest load of the old Saturn archetype have felt this first. Everything that isn't solid as a rock has fallen or is falling. Our big institutions are on shaky ground. Our heroes have fallen from their outgrown pedestals (as they are stripped to their humanity). Our safety net has holes large enough that even our winter backsides, holed up with a hot chocolate and cider donut, can slip through easily.

(think about how the safety net has morphed into the internet as we have moved into the Age of Aquarius and the pros and cons of that)

As Saturn morphs and speaks to/through us via Mercury, as the divine masculine rises (it's not a coincidence Mars is in Libra answering to Venus today), as we are all handed back the stuff (responsibility for creating our own lives) that, through our patriarchal paradigm, Saturn has carried for us - THANK YOU SATURN - we are ready (ready or not) to take back the controls.

The life we begin creating now, the life we will be living in a few months, a few years will be all on us. Does this thrill or terrify us? Did you just scream "BOTH!", smart reader?! Yes, I will second that one!

Astrologers believe that planets are 'discovered' when humans are ready to use their energies. Saturn (limits, time, the father) used to be the farthest planet we knew about because he is the farthest planet that can be seen with our naked eye. Then along came Uranus and Neptune and Pluto. And Saturn became a bridge (along with Jupiter) from the personal planets to the outer planets. Now there are new planets being 'discovered' all the time and humanity is changing at an unprecedented rate! Saturn has been trying his best to hold onto his position during all this time, but he is tired or maybe out-"manned" now or it is just his time to let go of the reins a bit.

This is his final stop before he comes home to Capricorn in late December, whether he comes home a new man or an embittered one trying to hold onto something that is slipping away, is totally up to us.

In our personal lives today's energy - Mercury meeting Saturn - could be felt now as a stepping into our responsibility

(I have been writing about this for years - my Mercury - writing - is in Capricorn answering to Saturn and Saturn is one degree from my natal Sun in my 3rd house - ruled by Mercury - believe me I have felt this, even as I pushed the stuff I didn't want to be responsible for/look at in myself, onto other people anyway)

by having to speak clearly and seriously, come to terms with reality, set firm boundaries, make a verbal or written commitment, hear or say NO.

Something is officially stated here (I am, quite appropriately now that I think about, renewing my driver's license tonight). Something is slowed down. Something hits a wall. How big a something is happening for us depends on how far we need to shift right now.

AND, keep in mind Mercury is about to go retrograde and will walk this same degree next week and then will meet up with Saturn again in mid January when they are both in Capricorn - maybe that is the final, final grade. I wrote about this HERE - check Tuesday.

Between now and then whatever we think is finalized will likely evolve a bit - more choices, more questions, more facts to be sifted through.

And in some way, with whatever situation we find ourselves in now (situations all created by our previous beliefs, thoughts and actions), each one of us is asking ourselves, "will the center hold?"

xo all

let's tend to our words now - they are literally the building blocks of our future lives - and maybe because my natal Venus sits right on the Galactic Center, too - let's celebrate her/us!!

Venus inconjunct Uranus, Mars Square Juno, Mercury Trine Pallas | relationship issues, communicating new plans/ideas, revisions, we change the world by changing ourselves

O+A2 by fridaa-vl
We have three separate exact aspects today all indicating relationship tension/focus - so let's take a look at a way through these.

First we have Venus (ruler of Libra and Taurus, our 7th and 2nd house - relationships, partnerships, love, money, our resources, our values, our self-esteem)

currently in her detriment meaning not all comfy cozy in Mars ruled Scorpio, although not for long and we have Uranus (ruler of Aquarius and our 11th house - the new and unexpected, sudden changes, distant relationships, the internet, the future, technology) in Aries, although not for long either, inconjunct each other at 25 degrees.

Inconjuncts are the 'between a rock and a hard place' aspect. No wiggle room can be found here. Move toward our right hand and our left hand hurts. Move to the left and ... well, you get the picture.

A restlessness, felt within close relationships or possibly financial matters, could be making us or someone else, well, restless.

Maybe we need some space. Maybe they do. Maybe we need greater intimacy. Maybe they do. Maybe we (or they, if we are pushing this energy onto someone else so we can deal with it indirectly) only know we need something else/something more/something different.

Inconjuncts are part of a process. There are no easy answers.

If we are born with them there is a constant seesawing between the two spaces throughout our lives until we learn to maintain some kind of balance there (and even then the balance will probably be fleeting).

In this case, this is a transit so by nature it is transitory. It has something to offer us NOW, but it's NOT the whole story. Remember the charge for real intimacy doesn't need to be our independence - although real intimacy does require interdependence. We can see that right?

If you are feeling this one - this yearning for something that stays out past curfew and tastes like freedom - do something new and unexpected. Maybe something for yourself. But don't toss the baby out with the bathwater just right now (it's cold outside and babies don't like the cold so much).

We also have Mars (ruler of Aries and our 1st house of ourselves, the way we start things, our initiative, our passion, war and anger) currently in his detriment meaning not all comfy, cozy in Venus ruled Libra squaring Juno (marriage, partnership, relationships) in all-business Capricorn at 22 degrees.

Juno in Capricorn likely wants relationships to adhere to traditional rules, limits and commitments. She wants everyone to live up to conventional responsibilities. She wants B to follow A. And Mars in Libra can be rather passive-aggressive. Something here is creating tension. Maybe one person wants a bigger commitment than the other person is ready to agree to. Maybe a "rule" has been broken. There are many ways this could play out.

Squares are the challenges that lead to development, growth and change. Something has to give here. And we can only change ourselves. So what's it going to be?

The last leg of today's relationship trifecta - and yes, I am stretching things a bit to call this one 'about relationships', but I think it could be based on the other aspects - is Mercury (ruler of Gemini and Virgo, our 3rd and 6th houses - communication, ideas, thinking, local environment, siblings, transportation, the way things and ideas move, our day-to-day routine, health, work environment, co-workers, pets) currently in his/her detriment meaning not all comfy cozy in Jupiter ruled Sagittarius trining Pallas Athena.

Now Pallas is currently retrograde in fiery Aries. So the words/plan/communication (Mercury) that will work here (trine) is maybe not a totally new idea. Pallas in Aries blends our creative intellect with our actions and initiative. Maybe a system/strategy can be communicated (Mercury) now in a way that moves something forward, clicks something into place or allows other people to "buy in". Or maybe we are the only one buying in just yet and that is OK, too. Mercury is in his shadow (walking degrees he will walk two more times), so we will be dealing with this again or throughout the next few weeks as we review, re-invent and refine it.

It won't be all tied up with a pretty red bow just yet.

Bottom line for today - pushing other people to conform to our rules/wants is not likely to work, instead work on/communicate (this communication can even be internal since Pallas in Aries is fiercely independent) a revised plan or strategy for the future.

We change the world by changing ourselves.

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of November 27th - karmic shift, final exams kick off, serious conversations, stuff slows down, the "re's" begin, abrupt change, confrontations


Pilot's wife. Prayer. by Natalie Ciobanu

This is a BIG week with lots of twists and turns.

On MONDAY, we should have the energy we need to hit the ground running. Keep busy and on task to avoid any pessimism/judgmental thinking that tomorrow's approaching Mercury/Saturn conjunction could be stirring up. The Moon (in Pisces) is sextiling (opportunity) Pluto, so the root of a problem could be accessible now. Intense feelings could bubble up. Help someone else.

On TUESDAY, Mercury meets up with Saturn (limits, endings, reality, responsibility) at 28 degrees Sagittarius. The things Mercury rules - our thinking/communications, computers, ideas, the fast-moving stuff in our life, siblings, our local neighborhood, our cars (package deliveries - oh my!) slow down. Things get serious. Some things hit a limit/wall.

This is the last leg of our Saturn through Sagittarius journey that started back in late December 2014. This is also the degree where Saturn stationed retrograde back in March and April of this year AND this is the degree of the Galactic Center (the black hole at the center of our galaxy).

We are preparing to graduate, but before we get our cap and gown and anyone tosses flowers at us and hands us a gift card to Olive Garden - we have to get through our final exams.

Mercury in Sagittarius is about speaking our truth. The dark, underbelly of this is speaking exaggerations. Mercury hooking up with Saturn now (commitment, cement, structure) means that what we are saying (out loud and to ourselves) becomes our karmic contract/commitment.

We are literally breathing life into our reality through our words now. Choose carefully. Pretend there is a reporter following you around recording everything you say. No babbling. No gossip. No verbal nonsense. Use serious language and note I don't mean harsh language. Critical words can push things teetering on the edge right over the ledge here. Splat.

Now, there is a heaviness to this transit and for some a tendency toward negative/depressive thinking/language. If you find your thoughts headed in that direction say STOP. Yes, out loud. STOP. Positive thinking (this is all happening in optimistic Sagittarius for pete's sake) can make all the difference.

We could get news of an ending/resolution now or bring this type of news to other people.

Plans get finalized. Commitments and responsibilities firmed up. Signatures get put on dotted lines. Solid decisions are made. This is good energy for long term planning and serious conversations. Conservative ideas move slowly and steadily forward. This exam period will last until early December. Saturn doesn't require us to rush.

Now the fly in the ointment here, is that whatever this situation/story is for us - it could take a few weeks to totally unwind itself. Stuff can flip on us. Maybe we think we are getting an A and we come in with a C- or maybe a D turns into a B+.

Because Mercury is stationing retrograde on Sunday (December 3rd) at the same time as the Full Moon in Gemini (ruled by Mercury). There will be revisions, delays - you know the Mercury retrograde drill by now. With multi-everything Gemini there could be more options on the table. There could be more questions. Facts and information will need to be double triple-checked.

Mercury will conjunct Saturn again on December 6th, so we know this isn't over and it might not be until Mercury stations direct and Saturn is securely home in Capricorn at the end of December when the final, final results/grades are in.

Note the Moon is void until 11:30AM EST.

EXAMPLE FOR PISCES (Pisces Rising) - Mercury and Saturn are meeting in Sagittarius, your 10th house of career and public life. There could be important conversations (Mercury) with authority (Saturn) now. A formalized decision/responsibility/shift/ending is possible. But know that whatever happens may not be the final report card here. The Full Moon next weekend, coupled with Mercury's retrograde station and with the Moon squaring your ruling planet Neptune in YOUR sign, could bring changes and delays.

On WEDNESDAY, the Aries Moon offers us initiative and confidence. The Moon will square Pluto in the late afternoon bringing us focus and ambition - maybe a tendency toward jealousy or obsession. Our survival instincts will be sharp as a tack though.

On THURSDAY, the same Aries Moon is making some good aspects for business pursuits and then moves into Taurus (where the Moon is exalted) after lunch. Maybe get a massage, I think we are going to need to relax. Ha!

By late afternoon tomorrow's Mars/Uranus opposition could be making everyone testy and restless.

Note the Moon is void from 11:37AM to 3:38PM EST.

On FRIDAY, Venus moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius. Sagittarius Suns and Risings become more attractive - both able to attract what they want and easier on the eye. All our Sagittarius natal houses become more attractive, too. I will write a post.

On the same day Mars (in Libra) will oppose Uranus (in Aries). This is an abrupt change or some kind of big push forward into new territory. No one will want to be caged in. People will be impatient and confrontational. Something began at the end of March 2017 could reach a testing/tension point.

This kind of energy also brings the possibility of violence or an argument, so do your best to out-maneuver anything too wild and erratic. Take care with fire, electricity, power tools and driving. I will write a post.

EXAMPLE FOR VIRGO (Virgo rising) - Venus into Sagittarius makes your 4th house of home and family issues more attractive - this is good for a home business during the holiday season! The Mars/Uranus opposition involving your 2nd and 8th houses could push you toward something new/out-of-the-box regarding love, money, self-esteem, values and those of your partner. An unexpected expense, income change or bonus is also possible. If you feel pushed to respond too quickly/radically to whatever is thrown at you than is comfortable for you know that the energies support a step back and a deep breath.

On SATURDAY we have the first of three highly anticipated trines between Jupiter (in Scorpio) and Neptune (in Pisces). This is our dreams on steroids encouraging creativity, spirituality, compassion, romance. The fly in the ointment with this (you can always count on my Mercury in Capricorn to point out the flies!) is Sunday's confusing Full Moon in Gemini.

EXAMPLE FOR GEMINI (Gemini Rising)  - Jupiter in Scorpio trining Neptune in Pisces for you is 'brakes off' regarding your 6th house of day-to-day-routine/health and your 10th house of career and public life. Changes in your daily activities/health could lead you to a "dream job" or public recognition opportunity. Note, the next day's Gemini Full Moon coupled with Mercury's retrograde station and the Moon's square to Neptune could make things look bigger/better than they actually are. The good news if things go wonky - know this lucky aspect is going to repeat itself two more times next year (May and August 2018) and for you will again be about career/public life expansion. Make needed changes to your health routine and day-to-day activities NOW so preparation can meet opportunity THEN!

xo all

Mercury Trine Uranus | unexpected news, new ideas, out-of-the-box converations, unusual answers, freedom of expression

chess by ankazhuravleva

Today we have busy, communicative Mercury (in Sagittarius) trining (brakes off) revolutionary Uranus (in Aries) at 24 degrees.  

We can expect the unexpected now - news, ideas, ways of thinking. Breakthroughs are possible. With Mercury still squaring Chiron some breakthroughs may involve breakdowns.

This might tie in with yesterday's potentially painful conversation/words (and this didn't have to happen yesterday - I just list transits when they are exact - this is still in play now) - maybe an aha(!) moment is created from a painful situation that focuses us toward a new idea or unexpected solution/problem.

The message delivered could be shocking.

It might be painful or trigger an old injury AND it could also be enlightening and move our thinking/the conversation in a new direction. Stay open to your muses - the energies are ripe for NEW IDEAS to be picked like apples.

Now because Mercury is preparing for his upcoming retrograde and walking degrees he will walk again - we have a repeat of this Mercury square Chiron (painful words) and Mercury trine Uranus (breakthrough, unexpected, forward-leaning words) two more times after today - December 10, 2017 and January 6, 2018.

So something isn't over here.

Our words (and the words of other people) can be erratic, unexpected and spontaneous.

The Moon in Aquarius is amplifying the effects now, especially within groups. We will be better able to grasp new or abstract concepts. This is good energy for sharing ideas (don't be too preachy).

Our brains and tongues will be restless. Visit a bookshop - the information you need could literally drop right into your lap.

We will talk more about Mercury's upcoming retrograde in later posts. I wrote some about it HERE. Mercury is approaching Saturn and the two will travel together for many days. Our words will be serious and serious matters will be on the table. Saturn will slow Mercury down. Our thoughts (Mercury) will become solid things (Saturn) more effectively in the coming weeks. What are you thinking about, talking about, reading, learning, teaching? What do you believe, believe is real, believe is possible?

Enjoy your Saturday - this is a good day for news, communications, sales, writing, interviews, local travel, siblings, neighborhood matters. Good energy to upgrade (Uranus) a wonky/nonworking/out-of-date computer, telephone, car (Mercury). Venus is a bit wonky mid-day so there could be a bit of a tussle/headache around money, love, with a woman, beauty or a self-esteem/values issue.

xo all

Mercury Square Chiron | words that hurt, words that heal, don't overthink it, asking different questions, arrows that find their mark

*** by aleksesss

Today, we have Mercury (in Sagittarius) squaring Chiron (in Pisces) at 24 degrees.

With Mercury (words, ideas, communications, thoughts) in bigger-is-better, sky's-the-limit Sagittarius our words already have a tendency to come out with more force/bluntness than we might have intended.

They can fly out like arrows from the archer's bow - too late to take them back or send a warning shot by aiming a little higher. We can also be more forceful in expressing our views - which are the right views because they're ours, right?

Today's square to wounded-healer Chiron asks us to think before we speak. Avoid the temptation to try to convince other people we know what we are talking about. If what we are about to say isn't helpful TO THEM, and maybe even if we think it will be - just zip it. Save that off-color joke for another day.

If we are the ones on the receiving end of a thoughtless comment or sharp remark that stings it will pay to remember the other person's words may have been tossed out quite unintentionally. They don't know we carry an open wound from 1992 just above our right shoulder and damn if their carelessly tossed arrow observation didn't land exactly there

The fact it found its mark is what we want to be paying attention to. Think of the person as an angel with a message (who just happens to be carrying a quiver packed with arrows and looks like our mother, angels don't all show up with soft wings and choir voices). Not because we actually look "just like your Aunt Bertha in those pants", yes, the Aunt Bertha who died of diabetes in 2008 when she couldn't control that sweet tooth.

But because we are still thinking/obsessing about that comment hours later.

If our pain seems out of proportion to the situation asking ourselves - why do these words hurt - what open wound is this activating -  is a good use of this energy. This is a good time for journaling.

On the other hand this could be just the right time to speak (Mercury) our truth (Sagittarius). Someone is probably going to get hurt though. This isn't necessarily our problem, but let's know what our intention is before going public with painful information or snapping back at a thoughtless comment now.

Maybe Aunt Bertha liked to wear red and our red pants had mom remembering that. Maybe the square to Chiron is making mom more nostalgic. Maybe she always secretly coveted Aunt Bertha's booty. Maybe screaming at her that she has always favored our sister and isn't she the one who gave us sugary treats as rewards anyway and we are just sick to death of her rudeness isn't particularly helpful.

We will all be more mentally sensitive now.

This could also play out with a sibling (Mercury ruled) or our intellect. Today's energy could have us feeling we are just not quite up to snuff about something mentally. I have been feeling like this with my memory. I miss the days when the words I needed were right there where I last put them and I didn't have to rummage around in a brain, that feels like an unsorted sock drawer, to find them. Sigh.

xo all

Late tonight Mercury will trine revolutionary Uranus making it a good time to burn the midnight oil for new ideas. Either get to bed early to avoid it or plan to be up for hours!

Neptune Stations Direct | make a wish and open your eyes, drifting closer to solid ground, intuition, compassion, escape routes, truth, lies, the man/woman in the mirror

to make a wish by ESPRIT-CONFUS

Neptune stations direct today at 11 degrees Pisces. Pisces people and anyone with a strong Neptune or planets from 11-14 degrees of the water (Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces) and mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) will feel this change of direction, although maybe not immediately.

Neptune rules our imagination, dreams, spirituality, escape, addiction, art, illusion, delusion, intuition, healing, hospitals, connection, compassion, sacrifice, the things put away, the ocean, the things we do last, the 12th house, the sign of Pisces. Like steam from a hot shower forming on a clean mirror he fogs up whatever he contacts, doubly so when he is moving backward (from our perception here on Earth) which he has been doing since June.

For people touched by this, and for everyone to some degree, especially since he has been very strong in his home sign of Pisces since 2012 (continues through 2025), this retrograde has been a process of something dissolving; fading away. Or maybe we have been what is fading away as we drifted farther and farther from solid land. Loss and gain through Neptune happen over time. The way water erodes rock or slowly creeps higher upon a shoreline. Now that he is direct we could feel rather unstable and uncertain as we regain our sea legs or more intuitively sure about something that isn't totally logical.

His last aspect before his station being a sextile (opportunity) to our Capricorn Moon is a good sign for practical, solid and lasting growth (well, as solid and stable as anything can be involving Neptune!) for our spiritual understanding/collective compassion for the next 6 months (until his next retrograde). Our dreams can become actual solid things. What are you dreaming about?

If you have planets or points near 11 degrees Pisces (Neptune's stationing degree) or a water or mutable sign you might want to take note of what is happening now and make yourself a post-it for the Full Moon in Gemini on December 3rd which will square this degree. Gemini rules information/communication/learning so something could come to light during that Full Moon that reveals something happening now is not quite what it seems.

Now that Jupiter is in Scorpio he will be trining Neptune in Pisces. The first trine (brakes off) will be on December 2nd, 2017, then on May 25th, 2018 and finally on August 19, 2018. This is wonderful energy for healing and compassion and making amazing art; for dissolving barriers and expanding connection. We feel empathy and compassion when the barrier between us and other people is dissolved. We heal when the barrier between us and wholeness dissolves. Our art and imagination come alive when the barriers between us and our muses dissolves. These time periods could also see us obsessed, manipulative and in water "over our head". Addiction, escape tendencies could expand. Truth gets stretched. It's not that we have to take the bad with the good so much as the bad is part of the good.

Remember with transits sometimes all we have to do is survive them. We just have to absorb the energy shifts. We evolve through that. We just have to be still standing or sitting or laying down (just not in a big, old wooden box) when the transit is over.

And with Jupiter in Scorpio for the next year our shadows will keep expanding until we are standing inside them in the dark groping for a light switch.

When I meditated on Jupiter in Scorpio and my own situation I kept seeing those giant fractal mirrors. At first I thought I was seeing broken mirrors, but later realized I was seeing a mirror made up of intentionally placed pieces.

It made me think about how our reality mirrors us very precisely. We all make each other feel exactly the way we feel. So however we make someone feel, whether consciously or unconsciously, will eventually become the way they make us feel. Instead of blindly groping around in the dark (although sometimes groping in the dark can be a good thing) we can choose to see what is really happening.

We can use this knowledge (you are mirroring me) to understand other people, to see/feel our impact on them, to resolve struggles quickly. 

So if someone makes us feel a certain way, we can know that we are either making them feel that way or we have made them feel that way. Or someone/something else has - there is only one of us here. 

With that knowledge we can consciously choose language and take actions with them that supports how we want to feel.

For example, Jupiter in Scorpio is alot about power and control within relationships.

So if someone is making us feel our own lack of power and control we can be certain they are feeling a lack of power and control. If we say and do things to make the other person feel more empowered and in control of themselves - the same will be mirrored back to us over time. It can't not be because we have changed, so what is reflected back to us (us!) through other people has to change, too.

This isn't New Age mumbo jumbo. Try it and see what happens. Think about the way someone makes you feel, conjecture they are feeling the same way and actively choose to make them feel differently via your words and actions - make them feel the way you want to feel. See what happens.

xo all

(Of course let's not do this at our own expense - Neptune rules martyrs, too - but we CAN help other people feel empowered without dis-empowering ourselves - if the action/words we are using dis-empowers us, these are the wrong words/actions. Do it/say it differently.)

Sun into Sagittarius, Venus Sextile Pluto | investing for the long term, taking inventory, making money, love deepens, when bigger is better, avoid overspending/over committing, exploring, having FAITH

What do you wanna by AquaSixio
Today, we have Venus (in Scorpio) sextiling (opportunity) Pluto (in Capricorn) at 17 degrees.

Our ambitions and our values can work together now. This could produce a powerful desire (Pluto) to make/spend money (Venus) or have what we want.

(Caution flag out - with the Sun's move into Sag today we could overspend or over-invest ourselves in something - if you are like me and feeling these energies the week before, you might have done this last week!)

We could be dealing with women, finances, love, birth/death or third party issues. Honest interactions are a prerequisite to getting the most from this transit.

We have been down a long and winding road with Venus this year, mostly reconstructed by and noticing what we didn't get/don't have. This shortage/lack of what we thought we needed changed/set our course or we might still feel we are hanging out in limbo land (we aren't).

This sextile creates a portal for a smooth, cosmic course correction.

Take a real inventory of what you have (money, relationships, self-esteem, values, resources) and a "get real with yourself" look at what you want and why you want it.

What is working here and what needs to shift? Mars is in Libra answering to Venus - take some kind of action. The waxing Moon is in ambitious and structure-building Capricorn now. This helps, too.

The Sun moves into "bigger is better" Sagittarius today.

We have been down a long road with Sagittarius, too, and now Saturn is preparing to leave this sign - hang in there Sagittarians! How many times over the past couple years have I written on this blog the words - travel, places outside our comfort zones, foreign issues or people, education (higher than what we have now), anything we are taking to a higher level, politics, religion, legal issues, weddings, the media and marketing -this is Sagittarius territory, Jupiter territory, our 9th house.

What we believe becomes much more important than what we know now. There is a reason the season belongs to Santa Claus!

With Saturn in Sagittarius our beliefs/faith have been held to the fire the last couple years. What does our truth look like now? What do we really believe? So much has happened on the planet to show us that anything is possible. But is that what we are seeing? Or are we seeing everything falling apart?

Remember so much inside us has changed since 2012 and the outer world has been struggling to catch up with us (yes, I know it looks like it is the other way around, but looks are deceiving here). With the Sun in Sagittarius we will all be needing a little freedom to wander and explore beyond our comfort zones and known places and spaces. The path we find ourselves on during these travels could be inhabited by unicorns and rainbows or stone throwing orks - either way we will need the faith to know that no matter what happens we will be OK. The Sun in Sagittarius (we are all burning Sagittarius fuel now) makes that possible.

xo all

Mars Sextile the North Node | taking action toward our heart's desire, releasing detachment, cooperation, authenticity, our words are our fortune

oil by Marta Syrko
It seems that the weekly was not wanting to be written this week. Something came up every time I sat down with the charts. We'll do dailies!

Today, we have an optimistic, enthusiastic Sagittarius Moon.

She conjuncts Mercury, squares Chiron and then goes on to trine Uranus. All in a day's work!

This is a good time to share an original message. A healing message - remember that square to Chiron. Our words are our fortune here. A Sagittarian Moon could see us focused on Sagittarius themes - travel, places outside our comfort zones, foreign issues or people, education (higher than what we have now), anything we are taking to a higher level, politics, religion (of course politics and religion share a house, right!), legal issues, weddings, the media and marketing.

The Moon goes void at 7:26PM EST.

Mars (in Libra) sextiles the North Node (in Leo) and trines the South Node (in Aquarius) at 18 degrees.

Opportunities (sextile) to take action, likely through cooperative ventures with other people (Mars in Libra), are created as we move toward the North Node

(LEO - our heart, the way we are meant to shine in the world, the theme of the house ruled by Leo in our natal chart and/or the house that holds the Sun in our natal chart).

What we are releasing (South Node) slips out of focus smoothly (trine - brakes off) now.

With the North Node in brave Leo the steps that require a courageous heart will likely be the most correct steps. With Mars in balanced Libra there will be a need to take the needs of other people into consideration here. Whatever the next step is there will be a certain ease involved now. The bottom line with Leo is creating something we can be proud of whether it be a home, baby, business, relationship, product, body, etc.

Working with today's Mars themes and our busy Sag Moon - this is good energy to combine a need for independence or an independent project or an independent way of thinking - into an opportunity with other people. We don't have to give up our freedom/individuality to play well with others. Our original way of being, our authenticity, needs to be part of the process.

It's what we came here to give/share.

Think you don't know what you came here to give/ how you came here to SHINE? You do. What house holds the Sun in your natal chart? What is the theme of that house? What house has Leo on the cusp? What is the theme of that house? If you don't know, ask me. When you find out I can guarantee you will say "oh, I knew that." ♡

Remember the Mars/Pluto square is still in play (Danger Will Robinson). Avoid confrontations. Drive safely. Don't wander down any dark alleys looking for your lost kitty. The kitty will be fine, nine lives and all, you on the other hand ....

*****

Writing about relationships and the things we are taking to the next level is making me think about Jupiter in Scorpio. 

Before Jupiter ingressed into Scorpio (October 10, 2017) he had been in Libra for 13 months. Libra/Scorpio are our 'relationship signs' ruling our relationship houses - 7th and 8th.

Scorpio comes after Libra. Scorpio corrects the inhibitions/imbalances/excesses of Libra. Not the other way around. To go from Scorpio to Libra we need to go all the way around the zodiac. We can see why it is easier to go from friends to lovers than from lovers to friends. Lovers to friends is a much longer journey!

If we have been 'nice' (Libra) to keep the peace (Libra), for example - we will find we are no longer able to do this. Our real feelings are bubbling to the surface and there won't be anything we, or anyone else, can do about it. 

Next year Jupiter will come home to Sagittarius - we will be able to view our relationships (the ones that are still standing and the ones that have not survived) from a higher space. And, yes, this absolutely includes our relationship with ourselves. We will recognize the gifts THEN. 

For now, we just have to feel (Scorpio is a water sign!) what is being dredged up. There might not always seem like there is a resolution. And there might not be. Just work the process. 

The process is what changes us, not the outcome. 

Jupiter in Scorpio will expand the Plutonic themes of sex, power, death, rebirth, taxes, other people's resources, inheritance, debt, gains/losses, atomic energy/war, sexuality, the ways we merge with other people, issues with the parts of our body used to merge - you get the idea.

We can see this happening in the news. In the United States the media (ruled by Jupiter) moved from healthcare coverage to tax coverage like a switch was flipped. Sexual wrongdoings/crimes, issues of power and control - all very Scorpian/Plutonic. 

Whatever is pulling down/weakening the collective here will be yanked out like weeds.

All that is happening in the collective is happening in our own lives and within our own bodies, too. Situations/relationships with unbalanced power structures are not doing so well right now. 

Again, this is a process. Jupiter will be in Scorpio until November 8, 2018.

New Moon in Scorpio | total commitment, nothing half-assed will work now, sudden encounters, using our instincts, arguments, road-rage, our immediate response required, huge change portal

indiana jones by Marta Syrko

Late last night the Moon (in Scorpio) met up with the Sun (in Scorpio) at 26 degrees. The Moon is trining (brakes off) Chiron in Pisces and inconjunct (adjustment) Uranus in Aries.

At the same time we are building toward a very challenging square, exact on Sunday, between Mars and Pluto - Scorpio's ancient and modern rulers.

Scorpio is uber powerful, so be prepared to commit to what you start now.  Actually commit as if your life depends on it ... maybe it does.

We either do whatever it is we are doing 110% or we don't do it at all. There is no middle ground with this Moon.

The trine to healing Chiron will help us get past any anxiety/hurt now - there can be acceptance of something that doesn't feel good. The trine also suggests we will be OK with whatever hand we are dealt now.

The inconjunct to a retrograde Uranus in fiery Aries could push us to respond immediately to unexpected events.

There could be fateful encounters that we look back on later and realize were life-changing.

If we are intending to dip a toe in the water, know that we could very quickly be in over our head - we are carrying alot of weight now! 

If you are a Scorpio or have strong Scorpio/Pluto in your chart you will feel this one. If you were born in the mid-to-late 1950's (Pluto in late Leo) you will probably feel it and since it is triggering last August's eclipse point many more people will feel it.

The more we have buried - the more there is to explode when things get shaken up. Yes, we are like a milkshake being made without a cover on the blender these days. This is very liberating energy if we can avoid going to extremes. 

Our best bet - maybe a talent/skill/passion something long forgotten or left behind, will surge to the top of these restless waters. Our worst bet - maybe this stirs up something not so pretty. 

What will work for us now? Our instincts. Not our intuition. This is more primal than that.

Tomorrow's exact square between Mars and Pluto - see more details about this HERE - is especially treacherous and in play now. This can trigger road rage, arguments, violence. Some of us will feel the pressure. Some people will have difficult relationship encounters. Some people will see this energy just pass them by.

Some people will have a rip-roaring argument (you could have felt this last weekend, too).

As far as this intense square's connection to this New Moon - it will give whatever is seeded now (and something is ALWAYS seeded) a powerful ambition. Maybe this is just what we need to get our ass moving. Or maybe this kind of mostly 'unacknowledged/subconscious' drive creates and moves ahead through destruction/manipulation/obsession. So we need to be aware of why we are doing the thing we are doing now. We don't want to hurt other people to get what we want.

There is the potential for substantial change here. Just stay honest and above board. Keep grounded. Stay aware of where you are and who you are with.

Today's New Moon in Scorpio is an excellent time to commit (Scorpion energy is fixed and committed) to goals that express the positive use of Scorpio energy.

Plutonian Scorpio learns and grows through loss. We go down into the underworld, and in the end, it's not so much about what we have brought back with us as it is about what we have left behind ....

There is a "quality over quantity" depth to Scorpian energy. It rules the 8th house of intimacy - of other people's values, other people's money. Here is where we take the time to understand other people's motives.

It's through the constructive traits of Scorpio - focus, resourcefulness, passion, probing, deep perception - that we experience true intimacy. We merge with other people physically and materially.

Scorpio is our only fixed water sign. It's potent energy for making deep changes.

As always New Moons are excellent times to plant seeds with our intentions - everything starts life in the dark after all.

Setting intentions for "Scorpio stuff" (or the stuff ruled by the house that holds 26 degrees Scorpio in our natal chart) during a Scorpio New Moon can be very powerful. With this year's awkward connection to change-making Uranus the old adage "be careful what you wish for" seems appropriate to think about this year.

NEW MOON INTENTIONS

These intentions can include (list courtesy of astrologer Jan Spiller) - empowerment, change, crisis skills, self-mastery, sex, soul mates, financial partnerships, avoiding power struggles, secrets, psychology, charisma, restoration, forgiveness, obsessions, compulsions, strength, loans, debts, taxes, inheritances, contracts, revenge, jealousy and guilt.

AFFIRMATION TIPS: get into a calm, centered frame of mind - always make affirmations from a  positive (meaning certain) space - write your affirmations down by hand in script, speak them out loud - then release your attention from these things knowing that your intention is known.  

Know these things are already yours.

xo all

Mercury Sextile Mars, Vesta Sextile BML | say what you mean, walk your talk, work together, share your thoughts, tending to what we don't want to look at/tend to makes things more stable over time

246 by DarkGomo

Yesterday we had two supportive trines. Today we have two supportive sextiles!

We have Mercury (in Sagittarius) sextiling (opportunity) Mars (in Libra). There is an opportunity now for our words and our actions to work together. Especially in tandem with other people.

There is support here for saying what we mean and walking our talk. 

Mars in Libra gets ahead through diplomatic, socially acceptable action. But sometimes it is so polite it doesn't get ahead at all. Mercury in Sagittarius makes bold statements and has important things to say. But sometimes it is so bold, it is impolite and the other person tunes out what he/she/we are saying altogether.

We have the ability to benefit from the combination of these energies now. Other people could listen without being offended/overwhelmed. The sharing of ideas creates movement and motivation now. Big, bodacious concepts/thinking meets the people and processes necessary to make it all work. 

Now these planets are still in their detriment so not firing at 100% (housed in their polarity signs and not very comfortable), but we don't need to be comfortable and totally on target to get things moving/done here. With Uranus gearing up for a long transit through Taurus comfort is about to be highly over-rated anyway.

There is also a powerful sextile between Vesta (in Scorpio) and Black Moon Lilith (in Capricorn) - both in new signs within the last couple weeks - I need to do a post about that! BML is in Capricorn now! Look out patriarchy - she's baaaccckkkk!

I will do a full post about both of these females soon!

I have to make today's post a quickie because I have a big order that must ship today.

Just know the opportunity with this sextile comes from a devotion (Vesta) to success within rules/structure as an outsider (Lilith).

And absolutely refusing to feel crappy about ourselves/our dark spaces.

All the women's/outsider's issues blowing up in the news are blowing up in our own lives, too.

With Vesta and BML in signs that naturally support each other the stuff that gets dug up (Scorpio) will create opportunities for long-lasting shifts within societal structures (Capricorn).

For anyone who wishes all this sexual harrassment in the workplace, etc, stories to just go away. They ain't. And we will all be better because of it.

xo all

Venus Trine Neptune, Sun Trine Chiron | intuition, flow, healing, love, peace, embracing weaknesses, dissolving boundaries, smooth and easy, attraction


of simple words by haikman

We have TWO ease producing trines (Venus/Neptune and Sun/Chiron) today plus the Moon conjuncting Jupiter and trining Neptune.

This is good energy. No flies in today's ointment. There could be lots of emotion though with all this water. Maybe that's the fly - sensitivity. Or lack of focus ... or sliding into something unsavory. Damn flies.

The Sun (in Scorpio) trines Chiron (in Pisces). There is healing here. This is wonderful energy to bridge differences and mend fences - reach out.

It could be some big old ugly secret isn't so big and ugly in the light of day. Facing/embracing any situation where we feel a loss of power or "out-of-control" is medicinal now.

If you need help, ask for it. If you see someone who needs help - helping them will help yourself, too.

Venus (in Scorpio) trines (brakes off) Neptune (in Pisces). Yes, more Scorpio/Pisces (!) - deep healing, deep compassion/empathy, deep intuition. This is BOTH love and intensity/passion. Affection is soothing. Intimacy is soothing. Maybe that thing we really, really want slides into place here or moves one step closer to us? Maybe the barrier between us and what we need to attract/receive for healing dissolves?

We can fuse with other people - feel what they feel. How we choose to use this energy is up to us.

Neptune is standing almost still now preparing to move direct next week (retrograde since June 16th) and now that I look at it more closely, Neptune is also trining Ceres. So make that THREE trines today! More healing, mother energy, family, sustenance, food, embracing the seasons of life. Ceres is retrograde, too, so this could be an old issue, but this time there is a reason (that trine to Venus!) to feel better about whatever is happening.

Now, trines are smooth and easy - things won't need to be pushed for or hungered after. You might have to make some kind of move here, but your actions will flow intuitively. Watch what feels (all that water!) like it is sliding in or out of place now. Keep your eyes on that.

This is also great energy to make healing art.

Peace.

xo all

Venus Conjunct Jupiter | Mercury Square Neptune - a thirst, feeling the love, more abundance, going too far, wanting too much, giving too much, in over our head, keep an eye on your valuables

illumination complete by thicktheo

So, today we have beneficial Jupiter meeting up with beneficial Venus (in deep Scorpio).

This could certainly provide an increase or escalation with something Venus rules - love, money, beauty, women, self-esteem, our values and our valuables - or within the theme of our natal Scorpio house - see the list in the weekly HERE.

We could get more.

We will almost certainly be wanting something.

In Scorpio, the need could be intense.

By the end of the week it could even feel like life and death. If this is about an object/purchase we will almost certainly overspend/overpay. This might be something we can live with and worth the price we have to pay. But maybe not. I did say life and death, no? Ha! If this is about romance/partnership/intimacy/business we could get in very deep, very fast. We could easily over-commit or over-promise.

With Mercury (in Sag) squaring dreamy Neptune (in Pisces) at the same time there is a flashing yellow light now.

It's not saying stop. Jupiter/Venus CAN be a very good thing. But if some type of investment is required on our part to have whatever it is we are wanting, let's take a moment here. Think things though - which will be hard with foggy Neptune sitting with Mercury!

Gather your ducks in a row and sit with the facts first. We don't want to miss our brass ring, but we don't want to fall off the carousel and break our ass either.

Of course, our actual ass might have the benefit of extra cushioning and be OK come what may - the things that could really get broken - our hearts and bank accounts mostly - might not have the extra padding.

EXAMPLE FOR CANCER - Jupiter and Venus are meeting in your 5th house of creativity, fun, games, children, romance. Know there could be some kind of payoff/expansion here for you. Your confidence/creativity expands. Yes, go after what you want here. Just keep in mind with Scorpio in your 5th you have Mercury now (Sag) in your 6th and squaring Pisces - so your 6th house theme will be the flashing yellow light. You will still be needing to cross your t's and dot your i's. Your day-to-day duties will still require your attention. Don't go overboard and neglect your health. You get the idea.

EXAMPLE FOR LIBRA - Jupiter and Venus are meeting in your 2nd house of money, your values, your valuables and self-esteem. Know there could be some kind of payoff/expansion here for you. If you desire to buy something big and expensive now, know that with Scorpio in your 2nd you have Mercury now (Sag) in your 3rd squaring Pisces - so your 3rd house theme will be the flashing yellow light. You might not be totally clear in your thinking. You might need to recheck your facts and figures. Information might need to be validated.

You can see where I am going with this - use yesterday's list (and the theme of the house following the house for your sign) and do your best with these energies.

Jupiter and Venus are exact today but will be within orb for most of the rest of the month. The square between Mercury and Pisces won't. Foggy thinking, exaggeration, forgetfulness, addiction could be expensive now.

xo all

(it is possible to lose something of value now, too, to create room for the expansion - if you don't want to lose something like your keys, wallet, phone, favorite scarf - stay grounded and focused - hang up your keys, lock your car, zip your purse, keep your scarf around your neck)

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of November 13th - expanding desires, getting lucky, possible confusion, fresh starts that require a total commitment, danger will robinson

s by marina kochetyga

This is a big LOVE and MONEY week with Venus meeting up with Jupiter (in Scorpio) at the beginning of the week and the BIG New Moon in Scorpio at the end of the week!

On Monday, Venus catches with Jupiter (luck, expansion) in Scorpio. I think we should be able to see them in the early morning sky, weather permitting, at about 5:30 AM EST (google for your local area).

This energy will AMPLIFY what we want.

Do we really want it? YES, we really, really do.

Venus themes (PLUS the theme of your natal Scorpio house) of love, money, our values and self-esteem will be given a boost. These two will be within orb of each other for the rest of the month. This is GOOD energy. Potentially GREAT energy!

The rest of Monday is a bit of a mixed bag. 

We might wake up on the wrong side of the bed with the Moon (in Virgo) squaring Saturn. Is it Monday already? The Moon will go void (10:45 AM EST) and stay that way until she moves into "can't we all just get along" Libra at 6:26 PM EST. Our best bet - don't start anything new or send anything out into the world we want 'something to come of' during the Moon's void.

Mercury (in Sagittarius) will be squaring Neptune (in Pisces) potentially fogging up communications, information or our thinking. Not the best time to sign on the dotted line. We could be a bit unrealistic. Give the facts another go-over.

Coming at the same time as the Venus/Jupiter conjunction this square isn't a stop sign, but it is a flashing yellow light. Proceed with caution. Double check a few things. 

The Venus/Jupiter luck/expansion conjunction as well as the New Moon on Friday will be all about our natal Scorpio houses. Here is a rundown by sign - if you know your ascendant sign check that, too:

ARIES - expansion/new beginnings via 'other people's money', loans, debts, inheritances, partner's income, shared resources, intimacy
TAURUS - expansion/new beginnings within your partnership, equal relationships
GEMINI - expansion/new beginnings with your health, day-to-day work, routine, pets
CANCER - expansion/new beginnings via creativity, romance, children, fun
LEO - expansion/new beginnings via home, family, domestic issues
VIRGO - expansion/new beginnings via communications, information, ideas, plans, sibling situations
LIBRA - expansion/new beginnings via your personal resources, income, values, self-esteem
SCORPIO - expansion/new beginnings via any of the above or below, you could be in the right place at the right time Scorpio - this is YOUR connection to Jupiter and YOUR New Moon!
SAGITTARIUS - expansion/new beginnings through a hidden/background desire/dream taking off, help from behind the scenes, intuition
CAPRICORN - expansion/new beginnings through groups, the internet, your public image, a new friendship
AQUARIUS - expansion/new beginnings with career, public image, relationship with authority
PISCES - expansion/new beginnings with something/someone foreign, travel, education, wedding, legal issues, politics, publishing

On TUESDAY, the Moon in Libra will sextile (opportunity) Mercury (in Sagittarius) - this is good energy to be communicating/socializing with other people. We could have some new ideas now or new, opportunistic information could come in. This is good energy for business and personal relationships and interactions. In the P.M. Mars will be conjuncting the same Libran Moon pushing us to take action or deal with other people's actions. This energy could make us (and other people)  - determined to get something started/moving, feeling brave, feeling passionate or just feeling pissed off.

On WEDNESDAY, the Moon in Libra will square Pluto, oppose Uranus and sextile Saturn before going void at 7:50PM EST. Pluto could have us pushing, maybe dealing with power struggles, control issues. Uranus could offer up a surprise, attract us toward something unusual or just deliver us restless legs (or restless something else). The opportunity today comes with Saturn - we could be making a commitment or solidifying something now. Be responsible. Do the right thing.

On THURSDAY, we have a trine (brakes off) between Neptune and Venus and the Sun and Chiron. Excellent energy to get a reboot/healing through art and meditation and time spent in nature. Brakes are removed through forgiveness, compassion and acceptance now. We'll talk about this stuff in greater detail in the dailies. This will likely relate to whatever the week's Jupiter/Venus conjunction is kicking up. The Moon will have moved into Scorpio favoring research, investigation, financial issues, intimacy issues, death, rebirth and reproduction.

Late FRIDAY into SATURDAY we have a BIG New Moon in Scorpio. I will do a post. This gives our Jupiter in Scorpio year-long theme real OOMPH and demands our total commitment to anything kicked off now. The Moon will inconjunct Uranus (in Aries) so there could be something out-of-the-blue here or maybe the inconjunct gives whatever is happening a greater impact than we expected. The Moon will be trining Chiron. There is something uncomfortable here even if we are getting what we want.

On SATURDAY and SUNDAY, we have a potentially violent square between Mars (in Libra) and Pluto (in Capricorn). This could also have a connection to the New Moon. This is about power struggles and possible confrontations.

Keep a cool head. Avoid dangerous situations. This isn't such great energy for the collective. Hopefully we are able to avoid damage here.

With Mars in Libra this could be about a partner/ally/enemy situation involving (Pluto) financial, death, divorce, reproduction, karma, transformation, sex, other people's resources in a Capricorn setting - something that rocks our 'structure', established authority, etc.

This is very ambitious energy. People will be looking to get ahead and come out on top. The word "ruthless" about sums it up. If this is connected to the expansion of that thing we really, really want - I don't want to think about what we will do to get it!

Stay honest. Keep things above board.

This energy CAN be used to move a mighty big mountain. If we can do it without making any enemies, they will not prove so easy to dispense with later, so much the better.

xo all



Uranus Transit of Taurus | 2018 thru 2026 - OPEN CALL for free chart analysis for blog readers - CLOSED

um, yes - that's a guinea pig ...
OPEN CALL IS NOW CLOSED - thank you to the 25 or so people who responded. We have a nice variety here to talk about. I will get this posted within the next week or so.

*****

So, we haven't looked at individual charts here on the blog in a long time!

Let's do that.

Uranus - the planet of the new and unexpected - is gearing up to move from Aries, where he has been hanging his hat since March 11, 2008 (and if that date sounds familiar, we had the Fukushima nuclear disaster the day Uranus changed signs) into Taurus on May 15th, 2018.

So, the Aries ruled house of our natal chart is about to stabilize - as Uranus leaves - and our Taurus house (the house we naturally seek stability!) is set to rock and roll.

If you want a heads up about what Uranus through Taurus is offering you let me know - this is where Uranus will be when the world totally morphs over the next few years, so this space in your chart is going to be an important part of your transition/contribution and worth taking a look at.

If you are interested in having your Uranus transit analyzed - I just need your birth info (if I don't already have it on file) - date, place and time of birth. 

Send the info to Cat at cativins@gmail.com

The results will be posted on the blog, but your real name and info will not. This is totally private!

xo all

Last Quarter Moon, Mars Inconjunct Neptune, Saturn Trine Uranus - a nagging sense of discomfort, needing to push ourselves, working for change, stagnant stuff gets stirred up, creating the structure that brings us more freedom

rusted wings by DarkGomo

Tonight, we have a fast moving Grand Fire Trine between the Moon (in Leo), Saturn (in Sagittarius) and Uranus (in Aries). Then the Moon moves on and we are left with the 3rd trine between Uranus and Saturn, within the last twelve months, perfecting tomorrow and within orb for the next few weeks until Saturn moves into Capricorn. We also have Mars inconjunct Neptune - 11 degrees - and the Last Quarter Moon in Leo (involved in the Grand Fire Trine) at 18 degrees.

The Last Quarter Moon (Sun square Moon) is a halfway point between the waning and waxing cycles. It is a time of adjustment and tension. There is no resting place here. Something wants to move. Something needs to resist. We are closer to the next New Moon than we are to the last, so we can't see clearly where things are headed. The Mars/Neptune inconjunct says something about wanting to get away from it all, but either no rest for the weary or escaping into fantasy creating disharmony or imbalance here.

Actually all most of November is a bit tricky.

We could be feeling ambitious and fired up, but then maybe can't get our shoes to hit the pavement.

There are multiple inner planets in their 'detriment' now - meaning hanging out in their polarity signs. Mars is in Libra (Mars rules Libra's polarity sign of Aries), Venus is in Scorpio (Venus rules Scorpio's polarity sign of Taurus) and Mercury is in Sagittarius (Mercury rules Sagittarius' polarity sign of Gemini). None of these guys are at their best. No one here is truly comfortable. It's like your office is being painted and you are working in the hallway. Mars and Venus are in mutual reception which is helpful. But if we are going to get anything done, we are going to have to push ourselves.

I was in hub's shop for a couple hours the other day and noticed all the low-level complaining that goes on over there. Politics, the weather, traffic - everyone who stopped in had something to gripe about (maybe this is how men connect? or just Mars in Libra?) while they waited on whatever hubs was doing. No one spoke about anything important (although they do sometimes come to George with important issues at times - he is a bit of a garage guru, plus he is sometimes there at night and they stop in after work - I tell him he's sort of like a dry bartender). There was just a nagging sense of discomfort with everyone. Like they were all walking around with pebbles in their shoes, but couldn't find the time, or strength, to bend over and dislodge them.

That's what these planets in their detriment can feel like. It can feel like failure. It can feel like giving up. There's a kind of inertia we need to push through now. So, let's push on. We are doing important work by pushing through the sludge even though it might look like we are only sweeping the porch.

Saturn is trining (brakes off) Uranus. This has been in play for weeks and perfects on Saturday. This is the 3rd of these trines within the past twelve months. This energy has played a big role in 2017. Saturn rules our past, solid structure and stable ground and Uranus points a finger toward an uncertain future and announces, "THERE!" - then gives us a kick. Saturn rules control and order and Uranus rules change and turmoil.

This weekend's trine (in play until mid-December) tells us these two diverse energies can somehow work together now.

Maybe our goals and firm plans (Saturn) need to stay flexible, so we can pivot (Uranus) when we need to. Maybe our wild and outlandish schemes (Uranus) need to be grounded in something solid (Saturn) to get off the ground.

It reminds me of conservatives (Saturn) working with/embracing Trump (Uranus) in 2017 which at other times would have been impossible. This energy shifts in 2018 as Saturn comes home to Capricorn - limits, rules, traditions and accountability are strengthened. And Uranus moves into Taurus - shaking up the most comfortable/stable spaces of our charts. New ways of surviving/thriving will be needed. Uranus and Saturn will be in trine again next summer though (in different signs than in 2017).

Tomorrow's Virgo Moon (void until lunchtime EST) will draw us toward routine, practical matters. That's all well and good, but keep in mind the Saturn/Uranus trine in play, too - trines are so smooth they are easy to miss. Pay attention to what falls into place now.

(and yes, I know I said we had to push through with so many personal planets in their detriment and we do - but the trine won't need a push - the trine will just be there and we can choose whether or not to put it to use)

This is our last chance with this energy in these signs (Capricorn/Aries) for decades. We have maybe 5 or 6 more weeks to shift into something new or tweak something old - Saturn is allowing us to take our time with this, but Uranus is preparing to (literally- Taurus rules the planet!) shake the ground beneath our feet.

I wrote about tomorrow's trine between Saturn and Uranus HERE - check Saturday and take advantage of this energy in some way.

xo all

Sun Sextile Pluto | the opportunities come from stepping into our power, using our influence responsibly, living our truth, pushing without generating resistance and without falling on our ass, accepting what we can't change

Bridal party by demi2004

Today we have the Sun (in Scorpio) sextiling (opportunity) Pluto (in Capricorn) at 17 degrees.

Sextiles are compatible aspects. So the Sun and Pluto are working well together now. They strengthen each other. And our Scorpio/Capricorn house themes and the archetypal themes represented by Scorpio and Capricorn which naturally support each other are strengthened and activated now, too.

The opportunity with this energy comes from stepping into our power and responsibility.

We are all UBER-influencers. We influence our own lives and the lives of other people. With Capricorn lasting things are accomplished over time.  

There are no shortcuts to respect, especially self-respect.

We will be feeling ambitious. It will be easier to find a passion and pursue it now. This is good energy to get to the bottom of things, focus on important issues and make changes for the better.

Maybe we can push without eliciting the usual "pushback" response. We can be confident without turning people off by being perceived as pushy. The light tossed on power/control warms us and makes us feel safe somehow.

It is important to use these energies wisely. Misuse of power has consequences. This energy is best used to control ourselves NOT to control other people.

We want to be living (Sun) in our truth (Pluto). Planet Earth and its billions of inhabitants need us to be living in our truth.

Today's sextile is a good kick off point for a move in that direction. This "living in our truth" thing gets bandied about, but what does it really mean? It's about real honesty, right? Recognizing that to a very great extent we are the creators of our lives here.

Maybe it's about recognizing -

1. Our suitcases. What has happened to us in the past is not nearly as important as the way we carry what has happened to us. It isn't about what our mother said to us in 1987. It's about why we remember that thing our mother said to us in 1987 when presumably she said a million other things to us, too, that we don't remember. Why do we remember that? Why are we carrying that? Why are we still choosing to own that? It's Scorpio season - the dirty undies at the bottom of our suitcase need to come out to be laundered or tossed.

(and working with this analogy this could be good time to clean our closets - giving away the things we have outgrown - we can shift emotional energies through shifting physical energies, the results are not always long-lasting, but they can get us moving in a new direction)

2. You complete me. Worst movie line ever. This whole looking for someone/something to 'complete us' is an endless search that will always only lead us back to ourselves. No one is coming down into the well to save us. No one has the missing puzzle piece to finish our picture. We are going to have to scale the damn wall and get ourselves out. We might just have to live with an incomplete puzzle. Why is a finished puzzle better than one in process? Where the hell is the fun in that?

3. Hero worship. We can only stand on a pedestal for so long before our legs start to cramp and we lose our balance (and the same goes for the people we look up to). Pedestals are way too small. We will always outgrow them. There's a reason the little silver guys on our trophies are welded on there.

4. You can never have enough money. This isn't about how much you care about money or how much money you actually have, this is about how much money you feel you have. We will never feel like we have enough money to make us safe/happy. The finish line will keep getting moved. This is why doing it for the money or making money our main goal is a great way to make sure we can never win.

5. Taking things personally. This is a major reason we get 'out of our truth'. Trying to live up to other people's expectations. Their crap isn't about us. This doesn't mean it isn't showing up in our life to serve a purpose for us. Other people are our mirrors. They are always showing us a part of ourselves. This doesn't make us responsible for what other people do or want though, even if the situation looks like this is true - we are their mirrors, too. The buck stops with each of us.

We make choices everyday about what we do with our time/energy/resources, what we put into our mouths, what we do with our bodies, what we watch/listen to, what we say out loud and what we tell ourselves. 

Today's opportunistic energy makes this very fertile ground to shift/create something more strong and lasting here. 

We already have shovels in the dirt we might as well dig a foundation.

So take some kind of action today toward shining in a more authentic way - Capricorn is a cardinal sign that initiates. Let's use this power wisely.

xo all

Venus into Scorpio | cravings, control issues, intimacy, passion, manipulations, hidden resources, new financial opportunities, looking under the bed with a flashlight

La passion by Marta Syrko
Venus dives into transformative Scorpio today. Venus themes - women, love, money, our values and self-esteem - become more intense.

I've written some about it in the weekly HERE - check Tuesday. 

Scorpio Suns and Ascendants (Scorpio on the cusp of the first house of your natal chart) become more attractive - making them both easier on the eye and it easier for them to attract what they want.

For all of us, our Scorpio houses get more attractive, too ... and more complicated. 

Although the theme of whatever house is ruled by Scorpio in our natal chart is naturally complicated!

Honesty is recommended for the next few weeks because we will all be feeling our way through everyone's bullshit.

While Venus is in Scorpio (through December 1st) we are charged with figuring out what we really want and why we want it. Much of this work will be done unconsciously. With Scorpio (modern ruler Pluto, ancient ruler Mars) this is alot about power and control.  

Does the other person/situation make us stronger or more vulnerable?

We could be merging our resources (ruled by Venus) with other people's resources (ruled by Scorpio/Pluto) - this could take the form of relationship commitments, sex, reproduction, mortgages, financing, cooperative ventures. Things along these lines that we might not normally consider we could be attracted to now.

These attractions could easily lapse into obsessions.

We could fill hours looking at expensive houses on the internet or other people on okcupid. If something begins to feel like, "we must get this NOW" we will know we have slipped over the edge. It will be time to ask ourselves what we are really looking for. With Venus (and let's not forget Jupiter) visiting our Scorpio house the answers will be available to us if we seek them ... and maybe even if we don't.

A few years back I had a long Pluto transit (conjunction) to my natal Venus. This is kind of like our annual Venus into Scorpio transit on MAJOR steroids.

It turned on like someone had flipped a switch in me as Pluto moved within orb and turned off just as quickly when he moved out. This process took years. You can only have one Pluto transit like this in your lifetime and many people never have one (Pluto moves very slowly and may not contact your natal Venus degree during your lifetime). My Venus being in a fire sign in my 2nd house certainly exacerbated the whole thing.

During that transit - I became obsessed with reading true crime books, sorting out the family finances and renovating my bathrooms. All quite Plutonian subjects.

I also became quite obsessed with my husband.

Strangely obsessed.

Even jealous to the point of concerning myself with what he was looking at (and believe me there wasn't anything of any concern here). This was something I had never even thought about before. We were at least 10 years into our marriage and our physical relationship got crazy intense.

Needless to say this made him a very happy man ... until it didn't. Being an Aquarian Sun with an Aries Moon he needs his space and I was, quite unconsciously and I wasn't studying the astrology then, always there.

When it was all over, and like I said this lasted to a greater or lesser degree for years and stopped on a dime, I had a very real understanding of a kind of passion that I (also being a detached Aquarius) would have never otherwise been able to experience. I understand totally why my soul chose this and am grateful, although at the time it was a kind of agony/ecstasy of vulnerability as I gave my power away.

I understand people's obsessions in a deeper, more personal, way now. Something that even my Scorpio rising with Neptune one degree from my ascendant didn't get (probably my square to Saturn/Sun preventing it from fully manifesting). Sorry for the astro-babble here.

In more recent years hubs has had a Pluto transit to his natal Venus. It just moved out of orb a couple months ago. He did not get obsessed with me - no lessons for either of us needed there I guess - DAMMIT.

But he did get obsessed with the idea of purchasing quite an expensive object. Two of them actually. First a boat purchased at auction (surreptitiously with joint finances, all very Plutonian) after Hurricane Sandy, which he proceeded to tirelessly rehab for a year. We had it in the water for one glorious summer and it has been parked/docked for the last two. He has a million excuses about why this is, but the truth is his longings and affections had moved on to object number two.

Which he proceeded to purchase, again secretly with joint finances, after spending hundreds of hours researching on the internet. This time his "longing/compulsion with having" ended almost instantly upon purchase because the transit ended that very week. We are still sorting it all out. The money, what all these back door deals mean about him/me/us, my feelings of being deceived - all very Venus/Pluto. I almost typed "sniffle" but it's a bit more than a sniffle at the moment.

Anyhoo, I write about these things briefly to give you some idea of the kind of things you could find yourself dealing with over the next month (and even the next year with Jupiter in here).

Venus in Scorpio could uncover some not-so-pretty truths. Things we might not want to see or know about. But like a car wreck on the side of a highway we won't be able to look away.  

We could be amazed by the depth of our feelings now. 

It's also a good time to uncover other types of hidden resources. I would say 'start digging' but with Jupiter in residence your shovel is probably already in the dirt.

xo all

(Venus will conjunct Jupiter in Scorpio on the 13th - keep an eye on that one)

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of November 6th - a long complicated chapter ahead, love and finance issues feel like life and death, ambitions, innovation, itchy feet, we smell smoke

the violinist by andreiciungan

Let's do the aspects first this week and then take a look at the Moons. I may post a bit less this week - feeling a need to get my head out of the clouds ...

On SUNDAY, Mercury heads into Sagittarius for a 2 month stay (he usually stays in a sign for about 3 weeks!).

See my long post about this HERE.

On TUESDAY, Venus leaves her home sign of Libra and dives into Scorpio. Scorpio Suns and Scorpio Risings get more attractive (more physically attractive and more able to attract what they want). Your Scorpio house gets more magnetic, too!

(and speaking of magnetic WARNING SHAMELESS PLUG AHEAD - have you seen my magnetic aromatherapy lockets - handmade by my two hands from a recycled steel car part - you can check them out at aromatherapylocket.com)

Venus rules love, money and women. Getting what we want with any of them becomes an act of seduction. We need to entice. We need to risk our flaws and shadows being visible.  

Venus in Scorpio knows our need for acceptance will make us invisible, so she risks rejection to be seen.

Beauty won't be as attractive to us now as the scars underneath.

Venus in Scorpio doesn't want to be friends - she wants to be soul-mates. We will feel more "all or nothing" with our passions now. Things can crash and burn here. And for better or worse she isn't afraid to manipulate things to get what she wants (and yes, this, and her obsession with secrets and power will be her/our downfall).

People will be drawn to what is hidden; to what we don't show them. Keep this in mind if you sell things for a living. Buyers will want to discover things for themselves.

There will be no place for our secrets (especially women's secrets and love and money secrets and the secrets buried in our natal Scorpio houses) to hide. We draw to us during Scorpio cycles what we have not allowed ourselves to acknowledge in ourselves. So pay attention to what you attract now and see what the person/situation is showing you. There will be lessons about power, playing the victim, jealousy, obsession, compulsion, manipulation, intimacy, truth, other people's money (taxes, loans, spouse's earnings, inheritance, etc), sex, reproduction, life, death and passion.

Venus will be in Scorpio until December 1st.

On THURSDAY, the Sun (in Scorpio) will sextile Pluto (in Capricorn). Since Pluto rules Scorpio we get a double-dose of Pluto making this especially powerful energy for change and transformation. We will be feeling ambitious. It will be easier to find a passion and pursue it now. This is good energy to get to the bottom of things, focus on important issues and make changes for the better.

On SATURDAY, Saturn (in Sagittarius) will trine (brakes off) Uranus for the 3rd time this year. As last week's painful square with Chiron separates, Saturn moves into position to trine Uranus working to bring our lives (and goals) more into alignment with our beliefs and our ideals. This has been a theme all year.

So maybe something old (Saturn) is new again (Uranus). Maybe this is a good time for new (Uranus) structures/boundaries/rules (Saturn). Maybe we work (Saturn) for change (Uranus). Maybe the establishment (Saturn) is shaken up (Uranus). Maybe for some of us structure (Saturn) creates more freedom (Uranus). Whatever this is the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus) are working together. Remember trines are 'brakes off' periods when things flow. They are also easy to miss for exactly this reason. Pay attention.

Also with trines we don't need to push - stuff falls together. With Saturn time is on our side as long as we are doing our job with the energies.

Anything contacting Uranus can give us itchy feet (and unexpected out-of-the-blue situations). Now is a good time to work (Saturn) that itch. Solid plans began now (Saturn rules time) can create big opportunities for change (Uranus). Innovations offer breakthroughs. Remember that North Node in Leo - what does your heart want? Which direction is your natural spotlight? Check your Leo and Sun houses for themes!

Also on SATURDAY, the Sun will square the North Node (in Leo and the Sun rules Leo) and the South Node (in Aquarius). Squares are tension. With the Sun in Scorpio maybe something taboo/secret or involving other people's resources/finances will need to be worked through before we can proceed. The aspects today are creating a Grand Fire Trine, so there is real opportunity here to burn away the old, dead energy and make space for some fresh air.

This may or may not feel good depending on how wedded we are to what is on fire ....

Note all the aspects I have written about above are noted for the day the energies are exact. They can be in play for some time before and after. There are some other aspects we will talk about, too.

xo all

The Moons in the week ahead : there are no Void Moons during work hours. On MONDAY, the Moon is in Gemini, so we will be busy - communicating, multi-tasking, lots of activities and errands. There could be some kind of unexpected opportunity late in the day as the Moon trines Uranus, but first it will square Saturn, so we will need to get through some kind of block/depression there. On TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY the Moon will be in Cancer so we could be focused on home and family issues. Security themes/patriotism - I would bet on a big voter turnout in the U.S. on Tuesday. Nurturing, motherhood - what we need to feel safe. We could find ourselves more emotional with whatever we are dealing with since we now have both the Moon and Venus in water signs. On THURSDAY and FRIDAY the Moon is in Leo focusing us on our creative work, children, recreation and romance. Next weekend the Moon will be in organized Virgo - so the perfect time to do all the fall yardwork, paperwork, closet cleaning, etc.