Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of April 9th - part II

The Storm by Spiegellicht

The forecast for most of the week is HERE.

I thought instead of editing that post to include the end of the week I would just pop up a second post. I try to do a weekend forecast on Friday morning, but I thought this week's storyline, that feeds into the weekend, probably needed to be posted sooner.

I will do a New Moon forecast by sign later in the week.

Let's get back to the week ahead.

We begin FRIDAY with the Moon in dreamy, sensitive Pisces. She sextiles Pluto and then goes on to trine Jupiter (retrograde in Scorpio and answering to Pluto) - all before breakfast.

The Moon goes void at 7:27AM EDT off that Jupiter trine. The Moon is void until 11:25PM EDT when she moves into Aries.

So, Friday is not a good day to start anything new or launch anything into the world we want "something to come of" - maybe a good day to mail that tax return although Mercury is still retrograde so that could be debatable!

It is excellent energy - what better than a Balsamic Moon in Pisces! - for meditation, prayer, forgiveness, release.

It would also be a good day with that last aspect Jupiter trine to do promotional work, media, travel, teaching, deal with existing legal issues - any Jupiterian theme we started prior to March 8th.

Friday's energy starts the build-up toward Saturday's powerful Pluto/Jupiter sextile and Sunday's New Moon in Aries and Mercury's station.

We could be dealing with Piscean themes - healing, art, spirituality, endings - Scorpian themes - finances, loans, taxes, sex, reproduction, divorce, death, rebirth, intimacy - and/or our goals, career, authority situations.

With the Moon hitting Chiron at the last degree of Pisces - there could be something heavy or painful or that has us feeling emotionally vulnerable now. We, and other people, could be very sensitive - keep this in mind. Maybe something here about wounded-women or a mother-wound or something painful around not belonging or not fitting in. This is a transit. It is transitory. Feel it. Thank it for its message. Let it go.

While we sleep on SATURDAY, Jupiter moves into sextile (opportunity) with Pluto. Now we will see what this week's power plays have amounted to.

This is an important three-peat aspect.

We had this first on January 15th at 19 degrees Scorpio/Capricorn, then today at 21 degrees with Jupiter retrograde and then the final sextile will be on September 12th at 18 degrees with Pluto retrograde.

These sextiles will most strongly impact those with planets/points around those degrees.

This is about DEEP change. Fortune favors the bold with this one. Jupiter is expanding Pluto's power. Someone is making a big, bold move. There is opportunity here, but we will have to confidently act on it. This could be about our beliefs about what is possible.

Remember Jupiter is retrograde so this is still re-vision energy. This is about going back over an old opportunity or clarifying/adjusting what has happened since January.

What did you have going on around the middle of January the first time these two mega-energies danced together in Scorpio/Capricorn?

On SUNDAY Mercury stations direct (YAY!) at 4 degrees Aries. What have we learned since he/she stationed retrograde back on March 22nd?

Mercury will not start walking totally new territory until May 4th, but today's station at the time of a New Moon pretty much guarantees that whatever this retrograde has been about for us - NOW WE KNOW.

We have had plenty of time to re-do/re-work any impulsive plans or re-mediate any reckless language. Hopefully this has been time well-spent. We know we are older now, best to be a bit wiser, too.

Keep in mind Mercury still has that final square with Saturn (wall, rule, limit) - this time with Mercury direct and Saturn retrograde on the 25th.

At the same time we have the big New Moon in Aries conjunct "anything-can-happen" Uranus. I will do a post about this one, but wanted to put it into context with the rest of the week because the New Moon's shock and awe will be connected to the Pluto square the Sun we talked about HERE for Tuesday and Wednesday.

We will talk about the New Moon by sign in the next post.

What has changed in your life since Uranus entered Aries in 2011? Probably alot! The next few weeks will be our last push for more of that before Uranus moves into Taurus on May 15th.

Remember I am writing about aspects when they are exact, they are in play as they build and release, so events might not happen exactly on the days mentioned.

xo all

I will get back to our Trump series this week, too. This New Moon is conjunct Uranus (when I write Uranus just think Trump!) so he is likely to make a big move or be a catalyst for something explosive this week. Having a New Moon conjunct Uranus means in 6 months we will have a Full Moon (October 24th) conjunct Uranus, so anything he does now will likely reach a peak/conclusion then.

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of April 9th - transformative challenges, self-created crisis to learn how powerful we are, a darth vader projection, love, opportunity, potential, surrender, slips through our fingers, the run up to the New Moon blast-off

Crystal by asalisinasa

On SUNDAY we had the last quarter Moon - the waning square to the Sun - at 18 degrees in serious and ambitious Capricorn (Sun in Aries). Last quarter moons are different from first quarter Moons. It is still a time of stress/tension regarding choices - but now the seduction is to hold onto something that is ripe for release.

Maybe from habit or a need to stick with what we started - but there is something here now that is 'past its sell-by-date'. Something that has come as far as it can go. The tricky part can be recognizing it. The other tricky part is letting the energies complete and pull you back into yourself.

Capricorn can lure us into the past, back to old ways of doing things - old rules, old judgements, old crutches and burdens. And we have Pluto in Capricorn digging through the sludge, so this is not a comfortable journey. The Moon can shine a light on the discomfort here.

We have a bold New Moon conjunct Uranus in just seven days - we don't want to be carrying this old Capricorn/Saturnian fear into the New Moon's fresh start energy.

What burden can be laid down now?

Pace yourself.

On MONDAY, the Moon (she moved into Aquarius last night) will sextile - opportunity - Mercury in Aries in the late afternoon (3:16PM EDT). This is good energy for business and for communicating with other people including your groups and causes. We should be able to detach, really listen, be a little more articulate and not take things so personally. Diverse opinions/ideas are supported and will advance whatever we have going on.

On TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, the Aries Sun squares Pluto (in Capricorn - we said this month was going to be all about Aries-Capricorn!).

This aspect makes me think of Darth Vader. It makes me think of earthquakes. Challenges and power struggles are likely. With Pluto/Sun squares this is about transforming some aspect of ourselves via tension/crisis. And the crisis is somehow self-created and self-perpetuated. Or maybe we are up against forces greater than ourselves - more powerful. Or maybe we are doing battle with a Scorpio person or situation (financial, sexual, life/death) - this would have to do with the hidden Scorpio in us we are projecting onto them, so we have to deal/work with it!

With Pluto (ruler of the 8th house) there is always stuff happening that we cannot see - so we don't know what we don't know here.

At the same time Jupiter (retrograde in Scorpio) is inconjunct - that rock and a hard place - that same Aries Sun. Mercury is deep in the final days of her retrograde journey through Aries. Whatever we are going 'back over' or re-fining through re-duction requires additional work. Jupiter can make any situation look bigger - sometimes better - than it actually is. Are we taking on too much?

In general we will be dealing with Plutonian situations - fireballs - finances, sex, intimacy, death/rebirth, reproduction, fertility (birthing struggles), 3rd party situations, power struggles, compulsions, obsessions, manipulations and the themes of our personal CAPRICORN and SCORPIO houses.

These energies can bring us into contact with incredible stamina - a kind of all-or-nothing Scorpio resolve. We just need to be sure (and with Mercury/Jupiter retrograde it is hard to be sure) we know what we are really fighting for/struggling with here or we could shoot ourselves in the foot. Win the battle, lose the war kind of thing.

EXAMPLE FOR AQUARIUS/Aquarius Rising - This is about your 3rd house (Sun in Aries) - communication, information, writing, siblings, transportation or some situation in your local neighborhood. There could be a verbal power struggle, maybe an argument. Maybe something contractual. And your 10th house (career/big life goals/public life - Pluto in Capricorn) - and yes, these could be two different things, but they will interconnect somehow. There is something behind-the-scenes you need to adjust to. Keep in mind that later in the week Jupiter and Pluto are going to form an opportunistic sextile as you take another look at something or clarify/re-assess it. This is all about a new public ambition or career goal you are moving forward. Your big dream still needs a few more tweaks. When Mercury moves direct at the time of the Aries New Moon conjunct Uranus at the end of the week you will likely get some surprising new information/decision/answer. This could be about the stuff that is happening behind the scenes earlier in the week. Stay flexible and able to adjust your goals to the facts/what is actually real right now.

Also on TUESDAY, Venus (love, money, women, beauty, self-esteem, our values and resources) trines - brakes off! - her lover-boy Mars. 

Venus is fat and happy in Taurus. Mars is lean and mean in Capricorn. To have these two working together is - how does Martha say it? - "a VERY GOOD THING". 

Our wants and what we do to get what we want are working together. This is good/great manifestation energy. Good for relationships. Maybe that thing we want moves a little bit closer as we attract it/take action. 


The Moon goes void on Tuesday at 12:06PM EDT for the rest of the day.

On THURSDAY, the Moon is in watery Pisces. We are more sensitive now - this began yesterday - and open to more subtle vibrations. 

Venus sextiles Neptune. This is smooth sailing. This is a healing, gentle touch. This is good shopping energy, good for beautification projects. GOOD DATE NIGHT. You could meet a dreamy eyed Pisces who will ply you with flowers and sweet talk. Let him/her.

Something should fall into place now or slip through our fingers.

If something ends now - it is meant to end. 

The blow should be cushioned; the fall into a bed stuffed with feathers. Maybe this is just because we are worn out from the battle (!), but whatever this is, if something ends now - it was always meant to end now. 

The journey to this point has BEEN THE POINT. Let it go. It is time. The 'opportunity' here comes through surrender.  

And, of course, as smoothly as something slips away something could slip into place, too - maybe a financial, relationship dream.

Know that whichever way the waters run for you now we are all playing a long game. We all win in the end. And if we are not winning, it's not the end. We've got this thing.

EXAMPLE for VIRGO/Virgo Rising - your Venus story this week plays out through your 9th and 5th houses - travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking and creative projects, your self-expression, what you give birth to, children, romance and recreation. The trine (brakes off) between Venus (what you want) and Mars (what you do to get what you want) tells you your creative applications geared toward moving your life outside your comfort zone are where you want to apply your efforts now. This is your best chance of success. Your assurance/courage increases as you journey forward through these energies. Neptune's sextile through your partnership house (Pisces) speaks of an opportunity now for a smoother, maybe more spiritual, connection with a partner or a partner's faith in you and their tender support (healing energy) for whatever is happening.

The BIG news and new adventure for all of us kicks off this coming weekend at the New Moon plus the high point of the month is on Saturday as Jupiter sextiles Pluto - for the 2nd of 3 times this year!

I will be back to finish out the week later today (time to make the lockets and I need some acupuncture on my shoulder/elbow this morning) and then will do a big New Moon post by sign later in the week. 

Note the Moon is Void ALL DAY Friday.

This looks like a week with many twists and turns. It is perfectly timed foreplay for the fresh start that begins at the end of the week!
 
xo all

Weekend Astrology Forecast | April 6th thru April 8th - tending to reality, processing what we learned this week, dealing with long term money matters, putting work into our relationships, about to hit some green lights, the check comes through

untitled by Lover-and-the-Wild

On FRIDAY, the expansive Sagittarius Moon goes void at 9:36AM EDT off a trine to freedom-loving and unpredictable (and genius) Uranus.

Time to stretch ourselves. The spaces we have boxed ourselves in become a little more elastic under these skies. Changes made now aren't quite as chaos-producing as they might normally be (their stickiness will depend on our own natal chart though). We could meet someone unusual (or Aquarian) today. Break routine. Home and family situations could play out in unusual ways this morning.

At 2:01PM EDT the Moon moves into Capricorn portending a serious weekend (or maybe something that feels like winter - we are expecting more snow - ugh!) following our very Saturnian week.

This doesn't mean so much that we can't catch a break - as we just continue to be emotionally driven (the Moon) by our goals, authority, our responsibilities and career/work in the world.  

Practical things and earthly affairs will have our attention.

This could be a quieter day as we process whatever has been happening over the last couple days.

The Moon is building toward an early morning (Saturday) square with a retrograde Mercury, so we are re-working, re-thinking whatever we have going on and the tension/stress of the square is continuing this week's REALITY CHECK.

What needs to be decided? What actions need to follow this decision?

On SATURDAY, the Moon continues her journey through Capricorn - now meeting up with both Saturn and trining Venus (in her home sign of Taurus). The Moon is never totally comfortable in Capricorn - her polarity sign, but as long as we are taking whatever we are doing seriously and take our time with it, NONE of the major players want to rush now - she is comfortable enough.

Things start to ease up.

We wake, if we sleep until at least 9:36AM EDT (is this possible for anyone? I would be happy to sleep until 7:36AM!) with Venus (love, money, our values and self-esteem) trining (brakes off) stable Saturn.

This is probably the nicest aspect of the week! And she will go on to trine Mars next week. That is like - "the check we have been waiting on comes through".

Let's make a word salad for some Venusian/Saturnian inspiration keeping in mind both these planets are in their home signs making our use of these combined energies EXTRA POWERFUL:

Getting serious (Saturn) about our money (Venus), putting work (Saturn) into our relationship (Venus), making love (Venus) last (Saturn), making our money (Venus) last (Saturn), buying (Venus) something that will last (Saturn), getting serious (Saturn) about our appearance (Venus), girl (Venus) meets sugar daddy (Saturn - clearly ain't no sugar-daddy, but Venus does often have her way with him) ie our youthful energy meeting something stabilizing, old man (Saturn) meets beautiful muse (Venus) ie our tired energy meeting creative inspiration - you get the idea here.

Trines "release the brakes" between these two energies, so situations can move forward. Including the trine to Mars - which we will talk about on Sunday - this beneficial energy is in play until around Tuesday. There is something here we can take and run with!

It's a good time to balance your checkbook. Plan long-term. Mercury has us looking back, but look ahead for trouble spots. Saturn asks us to take stock of what we have and Mercury will have us re-evaluating the situation.

Where is your Venus (the energy you put into your money/relationships) being drained? What needs to be firmed up? Saturn can help. Now is the time to restructure whatever it is you are doing to make your love/relationships/money longer-lasting.

What does that make you think of? Do some of that now.

This will be felt strongest by people with planets and points around 8-12 degrees Taurus and Capricorn, but we will all benefit from having these energies in our Taurus and Capricorn houses working together.

On SUNDAY the Moon is very active - first squaring the Sun, while we sleep, giving us the last quarter Moon - a point of tension in the monthly cycle, in Capricorn, something about success or loss. Then moving into conjunction with Pluto bringing intensity and ambition (maybe jealousy, manipulation, compulsion) - we could be dealing with a Plutonian issue - other people's money, loans, debts, taxes, inheritance, sex, reproduction, fertility, life/death, transformation, eliminating what we don't need. This is good energy to overcome obstacles - people could be ruthless though. And finally the Moon will sextile Jupiter - good for opportunities with travel, working with foreign people or foreign ideas, pushing boundaries, higher education, media, politics, religion, weddings. And this is all before lunch!

The Moon goes void Sunday evening at 7:40PM EDT off a square to rebellious Uranus. So we started the weekend with the trine (brakes off) and finish up with the square (tension/frustration).

That's "thank God it's Friday" to that moment on Sunday when Sunday starts feeling like Monday.

The Moon moves into Aquarius while we snooze.

*****

Remember we are still in the early days of April. Mercury is retrograde. We are processing. We are re-working things. We are deciding.

We can only do what we can do. We need to be doing something though.

The Sun is in Aries answering to Mars and Mars is very happy and strong in Capricorn where he is exalted. There is support for our actions (Mars) toward what we want now.

But our actions in Capricorn are slowed down  

(and a retrograde Mercury, also in Aries, is supporting this slow-down period by requiring us to go back over things to get it right).

Whenever we have multiple transits/aspects saying the same thing we need to take it seriously - especially when everything is answering to Saturn strong in his home sign of Capricorn! It won't be easy. But easy isn't really what we are going for.

Think of the way a general (Capricorn) proceeds into battle vs a soldier (Aries). The general is in charge. And for her/him to be in charge she needs to see the bigger picture. She needs to think about how one thing will impact the next thing and how the whole thing will be impacted over time.

We are the general now. We need to take it one day and one thing at a time. 

We should start to hit some green lights this weekend and into early next week.

Then around the middle of April - as we reach the New Moon, Mercury stations direct, Saturn goes to sleep, more planets move into earth signs - we will see a bigger push forward.

xo all

Mercury Square Saturn | loose lips sink ships, clause-proof contracts, arguments about the past, preaching instead of teaching, writer's block, focus, determination, knowing what the hell you are talking about

Story for the drowned by Natalia Drepina

Mercury (retrograde) squares Saturn today at 9 degrees - Aries/Capricorn. And Mars is closing in on his square to Mercury, too.

This makes me think we need to know what we are talking about.

It makes me think of loose lips sinking ships and tight lips making our heads explode.

It makes me think of trouble with authority. Trouble with rules. Trouble pushing our own agenda foward via language. Maybe stop signs involving a lack of credentials. 

On the positive side this would be a good time to concentrate. To apply our mental faculties (Mercury) in a focused way. To speak in shorter, more thoughtful sentences. To avoid preaching.

It might not be the best time for a long, important conversation. Things could get easily heated and end abruptly. Words could cut to the meat of the matter, but other things could be cut or cut off in the process. Arguments are likely due to the massive frustration this transit can bring. The right words could be hard to find.

Writers could find themselves blocked.

Now, we can't totally avoid this kind of thing and I am not sure we even want to AND as we talked about in the weekly HERE Mars is going to get past Saturn. But since this is a transit - it might be best to avoid burning our bridges, especially by saying stuff we don't even really mean.

On the flip-side (that whole two sides of a pancake thing) sometimes a bridge has to be burned to totally eliminate any chance of us ever going back that way.

But, on the other flip-side (pancakes have three sides, right?) with Mercury retrograde we will be coming from an unbalanced position and we won't be through with the issue anyway. Best to burn the bridge, if some bridge-burning must be done - when Mercury is direct in a couple weeks and we are on our way out of town.

For now. Treat language as sacred. Mercury/Saturn speaks of karma and contracts and we want to be clear on what we are getting ourselves into. Commitments will not be unwound easily. 

With Mercury retrograde we are re-viewing, re-thinking, re-vising. Saturn will present obstacles. Saturn is karmic so in some way these obstacles are the 'effects' of causes we ourselves set into motion. Maybe recently. Maybe long ago. Maybe long, long ago.

This is NOT the time to make an impulsive decision.

Negative thinking is likely now as well as over-thinking. They work together much of the time and cause tension/frustration.

Something is going to feel like a test because it is a test. 

This is good energy to get clear on our intentions. Saturn will show us the potential pitfalls and dragons ahead. We don't want to get all mired in the muck of it all though, but we can use this as part of our Mercury retrograde process.

Be patient.

We are playing the long game.

xo all

Mercury also rules siblings and transportation - which sounds random but really isn't.

DRIVE SAFELY. Avoid eye contact with that crazy driver tailgating you. Simply pull over and let him pass.

And if you feel an urge to call your sister today ... well .....

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of April 2nd - hurry up and wait, revisions, disagreements, the brakes hold, our untapped potential is getting unearthed, smoother sailing at the end of the week

just a little boy by zznzz

Happy April everyone!

Let's take a look at the upcoming transits so we can better understand the energetic alignments we will be working with.

We start the month with two planets retrograde - Jupiter (thru July 10th) and Mercury. We had a Full Moon this past weekend in Libra - opposing the Sun in Aries - that is beginning to wane.

I hope you had the chance to get out and walk in it. There is still time to do this!

At the same time as this Full Moon, Mercury was retrograding over the Sun and we had a challenging T-Square form between the Moon, Mars and Saturn focused on our Capricorn houses.

We have the planet Mars (ruler of Aries) - the planet of of our personal initiative, activation and determination - the warrior planet - meeting up with Saturn - the great teacher, restrict-er and limiter. This is us learning and re-balancing through karma (cause and effect). Their joined energetic has been in effect since March 10th and continues through April 26th.

Mars wants to go, go, go and Saturn puts the brakes on. With Saturn strong in Capricorn and Mercury retrograding through Aries - the brakes are holding.

We have two more weeks of Mercury retrograde - time best spent getting our ducks in a row, taking care of the details, re-working, re-viewing and getting REAL (Saturn will take care of that one!) - especially with Capricornian matters - physical structure/career/life in the world/your Capricorn natal house theme.

April will be an Aries/Capricorn month and anyone with planets in cardinal signs - Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn - which is pretty much everyone, but some people to a greater extent than others - will be feeling this strong push to get something going meeting some kind of wall.

The New Moon in the middle of the month is the kick off to our new Lunar Year and our explosion out of the gate as Mercury stations direct and Saturn (limits) stations retrograde. Then the HUGE Full Moon at the end of the Month - the most powerful Full Moon of the year in powerful Scorpio will be trining Neptune (more brakes released!) and sextiling (opportunity) Mars and Pluto. We are going to be ready for this one and we are going to make it count!

Alot is set to happen between now and that life-changing Moon at month's end and some of it is going to be in play this week as Mars, Mercury and Venus with some big assistance from Saturn - a new man since passing through the Galactic Center last December and getting re-booted - it's been out with the Brooks Brothers and in with the Nike Airs, offer us some radical honesty with a clear vision of the ways we keep ourselves stuck, accept barely getting by and settle for striving and struggling with these "what do you really want?" conscious contractions, identity crises and structure building/smashing opportunities.

The big aspects for the week ahead are:

Sunday - Mercury conjunct the Sun
Monday - Mars conjunct Saturn, Sun trines North Node
Wednesday - Mercury square Mars
Thursday - Mercury square Saturn
Saturday - Venus trine Saturn

This week looks lopsided from the last couple weeks with things easing up at the end instead of getting harder! YAY - something to look forward to as we plunge ahead!

On SUNDAY, Mercury (retrograde) meets up with the Sun at 11 degrees Aries. This is also pretty much the mid-way point of her journey back through Aries (16-4 degrees), so we reach the heart of Mercury retrograde. Information (Mercury) could come to light (Sun). Maybe we hear/say exactly the right words at exactly the right time. Maybe someone/something from the past reappears now. Mercury rules the details - so let's go back over them. Keep in mind though that Mercury is still retrograde and doing the "re's" - review, revise, revisit, reveal, etc and that Mercury is going to hit Saturn later this week (the wall, limit, authority, the "no"), so pay attention to what is revealed now, but know we are not in the end-zone just yet.

Saturn (ruler of the week!) rewards patience and we are playing the long game.

EXAMPLE FOR Capricorn/Capricorn Rising - Mercury and the Sun are meeting in your 4th house of home, family, your roots, mother, mothering, your ancestry, real estate or a home business. There could be a conversation now that brings something to light, some home-related paperwork that needs to be re-viewed or re-negotiated or maybe a home business/renovation/purchase decision. Maybe someone in your home is going through a big change or maybe someone is coming or going. Working through the details now will bring to light what you need. Keep plugging away, but don't make any huge moves just yet. The bigger news for you this week dear Capricorn (this one is going to play out over time) could be Mars and Saturn meeting up in your sign. You are the boss now. Yes, you. Stuff is going to go the way you go. This isn't going to happen overnight. You (and all of us) are building toward 2020's Pluto/Saturn conjunction when a whole new life cracks open for everyone. In the meantime work that 4th house Capricorn - re-attach those family ties! Get your house in order Capricorn.

MONDAY is a BIG day because Mars meets up with Saturn at 8 degrees Capricorn. These guys connect every couple years and this party happening in Capricorn (is there such a thing as a party in Capricorn? - maybe an office party with cold coffee and stale cake or a paint party where you bring your own brush and go home with sore arms and splattered sneakers), a sign that one planet rules (Saturn) and the other planet is exalted (Mars) makes this meeting even more powerful.

This will be the end of the line for our previous Mars cycle that began back on August 24, 2016 at 9 degrees Sagittarius. Back then we were talking about our big, bodacious Jupiterian dreams (this cycle really helped Trump become President!).

How has that worked out for everyone? (I mean our own cycles here, not Trump - ha!)

That cycle finishes up and a new, more serious (and stabilizing) Capricorn cycle kicks off.

Mars is about action, passion and initiative. Saturn is about our ambitions and growing real things (over time and with some sweat equity) that last. When they meet it can feel like we are being tested. How badly do we want this thing we want? How hard are we willing to work for it? Our actions could be blocked now. Maybe we attained that Sagittarian dream and now we have to work to maintain it. Maybe it is time to let the old dream go and honor something more practical and solid with our time and attention. Maybe this is the Capricorn fuel that is finally going to push us toward our heart's desire. What's it gonna be?

We could need a six pack of one of those near-lethal energy drinks to get through this one. Or maybe that is what we will feel like we had for breakfast!

Our ambition, focus and willpower will be jacked up. This is a WAKE-UP CALL pushing us to get something going. The Moon (in Scorpio) is helping in the morning and is best aspected through mid-afternoon EDT, so the earlier you get moving on Monday the better. No sleeping in.

EXAMPLE FOR Pisces/Pisces Rising - The Mercury Mars/Saturn squares are hitting your 11th house of friendships, groups, causes, the internet, the public, the goals that bring you into relationship with other people, your advancement, technology. Saturn's limit/restriction could narrow your focus with what you can accomplish within a group or public platform. Maybe a friendship is tested now. The situation could involve your public reputation. A goal, work or career related or about your public image - that began around August 24, 2016 has reached a peak or conclusion now. This challenge has been met and you can begin a new chapter where you bring your personal goals into alignment with other people! Venus (what you want, an issue with a woman, financial issue) is going to trine (brakes off) Saturn later in the week in your 3rd house of communication. A conversation could go well then and be re-assuring. Helpful information could come in. Keep in mind with Saturn we are playing a long game and Venus encourages balance and diplomacy.

Also today the Sun (in Aries) is trining the North Node in Leo lighting up a path ahead. So there are some brakes coming off now - the Sun will shine a light so we don't miss it! Something should fall smoothly into place amidst all the roadblocks this week - watch for it.

Remember our North Node - collective way forward - is in fiery, kingly Leo - the best decisions won't come from making a list of pros and cons, but rather through our instincts - is it a great big YES or a great big NO - the middle ground, like the middle class is fast disappearing.

On WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY, Mercury (retrograde) is going to square Mars and Saturn. We had this (Mercury/Saturn) on March 11th - when Mercury was direct and will have this square again on April 25th. This is the square/tension/obstacle where Mercury is retrograde, so likely the most important.

This could trigger disagreements around how to proceed and require something go back to the drawing board for additional revisions. Remember Mercury is retrograde - we are going back over things anyway. Nothing has been firmly decided at this point. We are still digging around. We are still making our voice heard.

These tension points are part of the process. Our rough edges need to be rubbed against other rough edges to get smoothed out.

Be careful (and purposeful) with your language this week.

When Mercury aspects Saturn our spoken/written words, and maybe most especially the things we tell ourselves about what is possible, create iron-clad contracts. Only make promises you know you can keep now because you will be held accountable. If you say you are going to do something, you are actually going to have to do it or it is going to come back and bite you in the ass. We could be really feeling those commitments we made at the end of last year now. too.

Avoid gossip. It has a way of coming back around.

Avoid self-limiting language. If you have a sore neck and keep saying "my neck is killing me", please do not climb a ladder to clean the gutters this week or you could fall and your neck really might kill you - of course, this is an exaggeration - maybe - Saturn isn't to be trifled with. Notice what you are saying/thinking. Notice the song lyrics that get stuck in your head and the things you are ruminating over. Keep things positive - meaning certain and focused on what you want. Especially notice the words you use that follow the words, "I am ...".

If we have been 'doing our Saturn' since Mercury/Saturn met up last December - working the process, being responsible (this doesn't mean killing ourselves, remember that North Node in Leo - oxygen mask on our own face first) - we will be in a better position this week and especially in a couple weeks when Mercury stations direct and Saturn station retrograde.

News could be challenging now. We need to go and stay. We need to start and stop. We need to hurry up. We need to wait. Things could be complicated.

We know, because we have the benefit of astrology, Mercury and Saturn are in the process of a long interaction - this isn't likely to just wrap itself up in a nice tidy bow this week.

EXAMPLE FOR Virgo/Virgo Rising this is happening in your 5th house of creative projects, your self-expression, what you give birth to, children, romance and recreation. Something here is roadblocked. There is tension and frustration. The solution - and remember this is a process, there won't be a quick fix - will be to either apply more focus/effort toward getting what you want here or learning to live with the reality (Saturn) of something that isn't going to show up the way you were hoping. Keep in mind the other things happening this week, too. Mars/Saturn is finishing up a cycle that started on August 24, 2016 in your 4th house - home, family, home business, renovation, etc and Venus will be trining (here's some release!) Saturn from your 9th house of travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking - maybe something here is your next step?

We'll talk about the weekend in the next post - Venus is going to trine Saturn giving everyone some forward movement toward getting what we want - somewhere in our charts - and then Venus is going to trine Mars next week! Maybe we will look at that by sign.

I didn't have time to write about the Moons due to Easter but the week moves from Scorpio (taxes, loans, intimacy, other people's resources) to Sagittarius after Tuesday's void (travel, foreign issues, higher education, weddings, higher thinking) to Capricorn after Friday's void (career, duty, goals, father-energy).

The Moon is void this week - during work hours - on Tuesday from 12:06PM EDT and Friday from 9:36 AM EDT to 2:06PM EDT. These are not times to start anything or launch anything into the world you want 'something to come of', but are good times for self-reflection and practiced, routine work.

The challenges now are geared toward growing us up and teaching us what we really want/need. Saturn is the great teacher and always showing us, by facing our limits, our untapped potential. We are moving through the last couple months with our North Node in Leo (heading into Cancer - home, family, putting down roots) - pushing us to move toward what WE want. If we still do not know what this is - this month's energy will help us clarify.

Sometimes all we get is "no's" and all we can figure out is what we don't want.

That is OK. Headed toward that big Pluto Full Moon at the end of the month either empty of ambitions or angry at life's inequities won't prevent the amazing changes that lie ahead for all of us!

It might even help - nature rushes to fill a void after all.

xo all

Weekend Forecast for Creatives | March 30 thru April 1 - Happy Easter, Happy Passover, the Egg Moon, ruminating on our infrastructure needs and those nasty biting flies

feathers II by Dabadus

We start FRIDAY in the lunar void until the Moon moves into Libra at 1:52PM EDT. Sleep in. The Libra Moon favors connecting with other people. Good for balanced moods and diplomatic efforts. Good for business negotiations, our beautification endeavors and working with women. Just don't start anything in the A.M. or push anything out into the world you need "something to come of".

With the Moon not making a contact with any other planets our efforts won't either.

The Moon squares Mars and then Saturn, very late at night - this is part of Saturday's Full Moon energy, but will be in play on Friday night, allowing simmering resentments to be released and encouraging impulsive actions. The energy is ripe to be 'emotionally attacked' or for us to over-react and lose our temper. We can emotionally hit a wall/reach our limit with Saturn.

This is excellent bridge burning energy and in play most of the weekend, so be aware of your personal infrastructure needs and the fact that Mercury is retrograde - think - is there anyway you are going to need to cross this bridge again? Like - is this the bridge to the mainland (and are you really going to survive without the mainland - without Starbucks, without chocolate, without watching the next season of Westworld?) or is this the bridge to the island and is the island a tropical oasis or swarming with those nasty biting green flies?

At 12:54AM EDT on SATURDAY morning Venus moves home to Taurus. Venus loves Taurus - a sign she rules. After her weeks in Aries trying to be a lover and a fighter, she is quite content to settle into herself again. Taurus suns and rising signs get more attractive (both physically attractive and more able to attract). All of our Taurus houses become more attractive, too.

Taurus is the nuts and bolts of life. She rules our second house of everything important money can buy and everything important money can't. She rules food and nourishment. She rules the sensual touch that feels like love. She rules our resources - our money, the planet. She rules our self-esteem and values. Even though there is still a whole lot of Aries/Capricorn - Venus in Taurus will help settle things down - there will be moments we will want to 'stop and smell the roses' over the next few weeks. This doesn't mean life slows down, but we will feel much better if we make the time to enjoy those slower moments, care for ourselves (and others) in loving and practical ways and appreciate what we already have

On 8:37AM EDT the Moon reaches its fullness in Libra opposing the Aries Sun at 10 degrees. See the Full Moon post HERE.

Called the Egg Moon, the Grass Moon or the Seed Moon - it is a time when things come to light (seeds sprout, answers are illuminated), to culmination or completion. The peak lunar power of our monthly cycle makes it excellent energy for breaking through our coarsened winter inertia (think seeds through the ground again here - invoke the energy of those sprouting weeds!) and get moving/evolving.

With squares from both Mars and Saturn (both uber strong in Capricorn) whatever we are doing will not be without obstacles. The Sun's connection with Mercury (our mental processes) at the middle of her retrograde cycle tells us Mercury's retrograde theme - information, a decision, a conversation, a sibling interaction, the theme of your natal Aries house - will play a part in whatever this Full Moon shakes loose/brings into the light.

This is excellent energy to re-new some type of collaborative or creative effort. I wouldn't try to fight those Capricorn squares head on at this moment, but rather to use the warrior energy (cold and calculating as it is in Capricorn) for a worthwhile cause using Libra's diplomatic skills, cooperative abilities and fair-mindedness. Libra will help strengthen any bonds that are mutually beneficial. If something is out of balance now - we will feel it through that pit in our stomach and everything that isn't working.

Also remember with Mercury sitting with the Sun, that means that Mercury is opposing the Moon. This means our head (Mercury, and remember our head is kind of on backwards now looking behind us) and our emotions will be out of whack. Our communication and our impulses are working at cross-purposes and with Mercury in Aries, this makes the energy ripe for misunderstandings and miscommunications. Expect someone to go off on an "intellectual tangent". Hope it's not us. Bring popcorn.

By SUNDAY morning the Sun's connection with Mercury continues (the Moon's opposition has moved on) should make everything a little brighter and lighter. Our creative energy (Sun) merges with versatile and communicative Mercury. Easter breakfasts should be lively. This would normally be a good time to start a commercial venture, but with Mercury retrograde it would be best if we are "re-starting" something or going back over previous efforts.

The Moon goes Void at 2:29PM EDT (through 6:57PM EDT) off an opposition to Uranus. That opposition could lead to emotional upsets and unpredictable behaviors/events. We won't want to be tied down. No one else will either. This could present us with something unusual, unexpected or even shocking. The best laid plans can go awry. I know someone born with his Moon opposite Uranus and he has spent his whole life opposing his mother. His whole life. This is how this energy feels when taken to the extreme. We could just feel a bit detached.

At 6:57PM EDT the Moon dives into Scorpio. The Moon likes being in Scorpio - we will be more passionate and intense for the next couple days. A water sign, Scorpio makes us more emotional. The second water sign, Scorpio makes us more aware of our partner's emotional needs and makes them more emotional in reaction to us.

At 11:17PM EDT the Scorpio Moon will oppose Venus (strong in Taurus). There is something here about us not getting the affection we want. We will be more sensitive and moody. This is the energy of the martyr/mother. "I do so much for you and then you do this to me!" ... and the violins play. Or just being torn between being a loving mother and being a romantic partner. Maybe the kids want to sleep in the bed with us which might not be such a good idea because on Monday morning Mars will meet up with Saturn favoring our Capricorn ambitions. Get some sleep.

xo all and Happy Easter and Happy Passover everyone!