venus and the north node | our values will determine our future - the huge energies of late July and early August are already in play

 

We talked about Venus and the North Node in the weekly HERE, but this is REALLY going to matter in a few weeks, so let's dive a little deeper.

 

As I write this on Monday, June 13th, Venus is at 18 degrees Taurus. 

 

She is sandwiched between Uranus at 16 degrees and the North Node (our best path forward) at 22 degrees. This is all happening in Taurus, so Uranus and the North Node are answering to HER. 

 

On August 1st, Mars will meet the North Node AND Uranus at 18 degrees, so he will be then where Venus is right now. 

 

(Uranus will meet the North Node on July 31st) 

That Mars/Uranus/North Node conjunction will be speaking to Black Moon Lilith in Cancer (she will be conjunct Venus and squaring Chiron) - our wounded child/family/tribe - and Chiron in Aries - our wounded masculine. Ceres will be with the Leo Sun. The Sun will be trining Jupiter. Mercury will be opposing Saturn and squaring the conjunction, so we'll have a T-Square pointed at the Mars/Uranus/North Node. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Big things will be happening. The next day, August 2nd, Venus will sextile - opportunity - the North Node AND Uranus from 18 degrees Cancer.

From Cancer, on August 2nd, Venus will be sextiling (opportunity) the North Node. In Cancer, she will pull in home and family situations and be answering to the Moon. The Moon will be in Libra so pull in relationships/partners, fairness, justice and balance issues and she will be answering to Venus. This mutual reception (both in each other's signs) will give both energies access to themselves, strengthen them, but they have to go through the other feminine energy. 

 

This will all be happening while Mars is merged with the North Node and Uranus in Taurus and answering to Venus, too. And Venus and Mars will be sextiling each other! Whew! We really want to be in the right place when all this is happening.

I don't know what is going on in your own life, but the summer blockbusters and our future security is being set up NOW. 

OK, so back to the present. Venus has already passed over Uranus. Changes with our finances/our stability. Sometimes this will bring chaos/disorder. Sometimes good opportunities come out of the blue that bring change/anxiety. Remember Venus is in her own sign. She is strong/stable. And even though Uranus in Taurus is answering to her, Uranus has shaken her up. This doesn't have to be a bad thing and with Uranus in Venus's sign, unless we had something totally stuck in the mud and needing to be liberated by any means possible, it really shouldn't be.

Then, Venus meets up with Pallas - our wise warrior/justice energy. 

 

Everything happens for a reason. So, we NEED Venus to meet Pallas (merge the seductive Venus and the strategic Pallas) AFTER she has been shaken up and BEFORE she merges (as us) onto this NEW ROAD.

What this means to us is we need to strategize, recognize patterns, figure out what will make the most sense/cents. Picture the smart and savvy general at the war table making his plans. Now, this isn't just any Pallas, this is Pallas in TAURUS. So, these strategies should be grounded in reality. This is about making real moves and not just having big ideas. Plans/solutions should be simplified and based on ESSENTIALS. This is about real things we can TOUCH. Taurus is fixed and fertile earth - this is about what we want to GROW. 

Pallas meeting Venus tells us we need to SMARTEN UP!

(and note what Venus does this week, Pallas is doing next week)

Also in order for Venus to meet the North Node of Fate - she has to square Saturn and sextile Neptune. 

 

There is no way around this stuff. 

 

Even with travel restrictions lifting, she can't just sneak off to a Motel 6 and meet up with the North Node on the sly.

Both Saturn and Neptune are retrograde, so there are connections to old responsibilities/old limits/old paternal story-lines and old dreams, old ghosts, old needs for forgiveness/compassion/connection. All three of these planets - Venus, Saturn and Neptune are in their home signs, so they are all strong, able to function as they intend to. The kings of their castles. There is a reason for this, too. Life is HELPING US.

The square to a retrograde Saturn speaks of tension/frustration coming through our Aquarius natal house. Rules. Limits. This is Venus/Saturn, so what we want is RESTRICTED. We might have to work within certain limits/boundaries/rules. We might have to step into a responsibility we have been avoiding or let go of an old goal or lose something that used to stabilize us. We might have to work hard. Have patience. Venus can't beat Saturn. To get on the NEW ROAD we might have to change what we want. 

 

Maybe whatever this is, we are somehow strengthened - made ready for the path ahead, by WHAT WE CANNOT HAVE.

 

For Venus, the way onto the NEW ROAD/best path forward is the Neptunian sextile. This one isn't a problem. This one is an opportunity, but it NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.

Sextiles are active aspects and require action.

Now, Neptune is retrograde, so this opportunity has its roots in the past, too. 

 

So, maybe this is an old dream. 

 

When Neptune goes back, he can go WAY BACK, so maybe this connects to a past life dream or an ancestor's dream. And now here is an opportunity to integrate dreams with reality. We might have to return to a situation that asks for our forgiveness or compassion. We might be using our intuition/prayer. There could be some undefined need/longing here that we won't want to ignore. Dissatisfaction with what we have/can't have or maybe an inability to acquire more material resources - can awaken us to something BIGGER THAN OURSELVES, something more healing, more spiritual, more CONNECTING. 

 

Taurus (where Venus is) is fixed earth. Pisces (where Neptune is) is mutable water. These are very different energies, but are magical together. Reality and the dream. Making the dream real. An inner journey. 

 

This opportunity is coming through your Pisces house. 

 

What is the theme of the house Neptune rules in your natal chart (the house with Pisces on the cusp)? What is going on there? What needs to happen that is more simple/more sustaining? What needs to be forgiven? What is the unfinished business? What is the old dream?

Saturn rules karma and Neptune what is behind us, our ancestors, past lives - there are alot of old chickens coming home to roost over the next two months. Old books are being balanced - some of them long ago burned, lost to time, gathering dust on even dustier shelves. 

 

Bottom line - this is all about the ending of the old complicated sh*t "THAT WE JUST CAN'T DO ANYMORE" and the flourishing of a newer, more simple way of operating. Neptune is past Saturn - a space beyond limits and boundaries. This is like heaven and earth working TOGETHER to guide the shape of things to come, to make the solid world more ethereal and bring the ethereal realms down to Earth. There is something really important, a whole lots of somethings, personally and collectively, we need to get right.

Anyhoo, I wanted to pop this up since I am going to say something quite different in the Full Moon post, but these aspects, with their connection to late July's and early August's HUGE energies are something we want to pay attention to.

 

I hope this is helpful.

xo all

artwork by the talented NomeEdonna

weekly astrology forecast | June 13 -19th, 2022 - Full Moon in Sag, Mercury comes home, the seductive meets the strategic, slaying the dragon to enter the castle

 

This is a BIG week!

 

We have TWO major alignments including a BIG Full Moon in Sagittarius, Mercury coming back into his own sign - prepare to be BUSY - and Mars meeting up with Chiron - OUCH.

The Full Moon in Sagittarius is on TUESDAY. Expect a BIG post! 

 

We have the Sag Moon (at 23 degrees, remember all those 23 degree NEW Moons last year interacting with Eris?) opposing the Gemini Sun while sextiling Saturn, squaring Neptune and trining (brakes off) ... you guessed it, Eris.

And we have Venus in her home sign of Taurus, meeting up with Pallas, crossing the North Node of Fate, then squaring Saturn and sextiling Neptune. Whew! BIG week for relationships, finances, our resources, values, self-esteem (and, of course, natal Taurus house themes).

Also, let's notice, once Mercury returns to Gemini on MONDAY, we will have FIVE planets moving through signs they rule/co-rule. This is highly unusual. Mercury in Gemini, Venus in Taurus, Mars in Aries, Saturn in Aquarius and Neptune in Pisces. This line-up,

 

(we also have a planetary line-up in the sky, from our view on Earth talked about HERE and a whole different thing, but maybe things are lining up or need to be)

 

strengthens those houses in your chart, since the natural ruler is HOME. There is no additional dispositor/planet/energy we need to be dealing with to get the house energy to its natural ruler, so  the energies can be most effectively themselves/function at their best and will make things SMOOTHER/more polished. The kings are in their castles.

 

This starts to unwind next week as Venus leaves Taurus and then unwinds more in early July. In the meantime - with our Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Aquarius and Pisces planets all home to their rulers right now there is not only significance to this ie a need for high functioning energies in multiple areas of life, there are surely also ways we can take advantage of this extra fire-power/wind at our backs!

Let's unpack the week.

 

MONDAY - Mercury enters Gemini

TUESDAY - Full Moon in Sagittarius, Venus conjunct Pallas

WEDNESDAY - Mars conjuncts Chiron

THURSDAY - Sun trine Saturn, Sun square Neptune, Venus conjunct North Node

SATURDAY - Venus square Saturn 

SUNDAY - Venus sextile Neptune

On MONDAY, Mercury returns to his/her home sign of Gemini. He first crossed into Gemini on April 29th and then again, moving backward, on May 22nd. If we have been back and forth over something - reviewing, rethinking, etc - we should have a much better/clearer idea of where this is all going and what we need to do. We are moving on.

 

We will feel a difference in the days ahead as information and communications switch from turtle pace (fixed earth) to rabbit (mutable air).
 

Increased choices, conversations and ideas will start to flow. We won't put everything to use, Gemini can be rather chatty, so some stuff will just move in and out, but the change in momentum will be noticeable, especially with the Sun in Gemini, too, so answering to a more Mercurian Mercury now. Keep in mind with Gemini there are more questions than answers and the information can sometimes be unreliable. But easy, adaptable conversations, new facts/information suitable for the moment, can pull everything forward now.

 

Mercury will start covering new ground in a few days and will be in Gemini until July 5th.

On TUESDAY, the Sagittarius Moon opposes the Gemini Sun at 23 degrees giving us this month's Full Moon, our annual Full Moon in Sagittarius. The Moon is sextiling stable Saturn (the Sun is trining) in Aquarius, squaring Neptune in Pisces and trining Eris in Aries. 

 

Expect a BIG post!

 

(this Moon is on the NRA's South Node 10th house, the Sun on their North Node, Jupiter on their Chiron, so let's hope some serious 'gun responsibility' legislation is in the news and not another freaking tragedy) 

This is also the day Venus meets up with Pallas - our traditionally feminine energy and our female warrior. Pallas's smart strategies, ability to recognize and get the most out of patterns, having the courage to fight certain battles as necessary - how to succeed/how to win - are merged with how we go about attracting what we want. This is a rather unstoppable combination, although having said that, Venus will square Saturn later in the week, so there will be stopping (the way through will be intuitive/Neptunian). Still, Venus conjunct Pallas - the seductive and the strategic - working together feels like a good thing. Stay away from anything manipulative/too complicated here, this is Taurus, keep things above board. Keep it simple. Venus/Pallas in Taurus attracts when we focus on what is best for us, what makes the most sense/cents.

On WEDNESDAY, Pallas's brother, warrior Mars, at 15 degrees Aries meets up with wounded healer Chiron. Very old wounds are triggered around men, masculinity, our ability to take care of ourselves/to be ourselves. Painful actions might be necessary. Situations can force us to confront a wound/weakness/vulnerability. We might be pushed to assert ourselves. It won't be comfortable. We might need to find constructive ways to deal with very old anger this week. 

On THURSDAY, the Sun, at 25 degrees Gemini - this is all part of the Full Moon story - trines Saturn and squares Neptune while Venus meets up with the North Node.

 

Here is the Sun's exact trine and square after he is opposed by the Sag Full Moon (something coming to light/to a fullness or culmination around our personal Sag house theme or the collective themes of legal situations, foreign situations, travel, educations, media, publishing, religion, our hopes/beliefs).  The trine points us toward what is stable/can be counted on, but is also an aspect where things might move too quickly, so be a bit extra cautious with conversations with authority, for example. The square to Neptune could mean words/conversations/information is confusing, exhausting, even misleading. Everything won't be quite as it seems. Or maybe we are seeing what we want to see. Stay frosty. Serious. Big girl/boy pants ON. Double-check. Slow down.

 

Since the Moon is doing all this FIRST, we will talk about this in the Full Moon post.

At the same time Venus, maybe in a preview of July's Mars/Uranus/North Node - offers us a vision of the FUTURE. She squared the Nodes at the end of March from 23 degrees Aquarius - a relationship, finance, resources, values crossroad. Now, she merges with our path FORWARD, in her own sign, so at her best, via what we are attracting/attracted to. This can be subtle, so pay attention to what comes to your attention. What makes you feel good/comfortable. The North Node (path forward) is in fixed earth Taurus. This won't be some 30" puzzle with 1000 teeny-tiny pieces we are doing on a 24" table. This will be more simple/stable. There is a directional arrow here somewhere - THAT WAY. Find it. Feel it.

 

And remember our seductive energy (what we want/attract) is working in combination with our strategic/game-plan/courage energy (Pallas!) and there is likely a reason we need all this firepower now, things might be challenging - be brave!

Note, Venus meeting the North Node happens just before she squares Saturn (exact on SATURDAY) and sextiles Neptune (exact on SUNDAY) - the reverse of the Moon this week who is squaring Neptune and sextiling Saturn. 

 

What does that mean?

Well, for one thing, these are two different houses of experience - Sagittarius (which we'll talk about in the Full Moon post) and Taurus - so two DIFFERENT areas of life.

The Taurus story-line shows us a path forward BUT is challenged by reality or a limit or the group or age/resource/responsibility/authority/finances/time - some Saturnian red light. Something that feels like a "no", something we are going to need to work through, probably can't be ignored. THIS is very quickly followed by an opportunistic sextile to Neptune, the dream (and keep in mind both Saturn and Neptune are retrograde, so both the challenges and opportunities have their roots in the past). So, the way through the challenge will be through Pisces - our intuition, imagination, escape, healing. Maybe Venus/Pallas (through us) recognize what can't be changed and need time to rest/return to an old dream. After her sextile to Neptune, Venus's final aspect in her home sign will be a smooth trine to Pluto next week. 

 

So, something is going to end well here! 

 

Keep moving. Move through the challenge, be smart, use your intuition, reconnect to the dream. This will be about your Taurus house theme and the collective Taurean themes - money, resources, values, self-esteem and Venus's other traditional themes - relationships, partners, balance, fairness, women.

I hope something here is helpful. 

 

I think after I work out the Full Moon post, this, and the next couple weeks will all make a great deal more sense!

Back with the Full Moon in Sagittarius post next.

xo all

artwork by the amazing Duy Huynh

today's astrology forecast | Wednesday, June 8th, 2022 - saving the pink paint for the unicorn

 

 

The Moon moves into Libra today. Now we are nurtured/nourished through other people, our relationships, through balance and fairness (we will also feel all the ways these things are lacking in ourselves/our lives/the world). She opposes Mars and Chiron (in Aries) this morning/today and trines the Sun tonight. 

The oppositions to the planets in Aries can bring up pain/disagreements/anger/old wounds. Libra, in an effort to maintain peace/balance, can bring out any tendencies to pouring pink paint over problems and calling them a Barbie's dream house. Let's avoid that passive-aggressive crap and the 'projecting/exploding all over people' stuff. Libra/Aries is together vs alone, women vs men, collaboration vs independence, peace vs war. 

 

These things can feel very far apart, but they are just the other side of the same coin. We need to find the middle ground here.

The Moon's trine to the Sun will help/gives us a way through any trouble spots. 

 

Libra/Gemini. Keep things light. Use humor. Offer choices. Mercury (ruler of Gemini) is recently direct and Venus is all comfy in her home sign - this is good energy for new ideas/conversations. There are ways to feel good/comfortable. We don't have to pour the pink paint, can save that for the unicorns we might be needing at the end of the week. 

 

Talk. Write. Listen. DO something together casually. Be flexible/adjust. The Libra Moon/Gemini Sun can open up our thinking. We can see other points of view, maybe even that other side of the coin ...

 

As always, keep in mind the BIG picture. 

 

Our inner planets are all direct now. The Moon is waxing (growing). This IS a time for forward movement. If something that started/went to sleep back in April/May has WOKEN UP, our attention will likely go THERE. Collectively, this is Gemini season - time to talk, write, socialize locally, try new things/a little of this and a little of that, flirt, take care of your car/your tech, call your sister.

xo al1

 

artwork by the talented Olechka

Today's astrology forecast | Tuesday, June 7th, 2022 - honing our focus, what needs to be fixed, what is most helpful/healthful right now

 

 

Now the Moon is in practical Virgo. We are nourished/nurtured by being of service, dotting our i's and crossing our t's, a well organized closet, being helpful, being practical, being right/critical (ouch), taking care of our physical body, taking care of our pets, taking care of our employees/co-workers, prioritizing quality over quantity, doing good work, fixing something.

 

She trines Venus at 12:05AM EDT, Uranus at 10:25AM EDT and squares the Gemini Sun at 10:48AM EDT.

That square to the Sun is this month's Waxing Square - pushes us to get something FIXED. 

 

This is an important obstacle to last week's New Moon in Gemini. Won't be overlooked. The Sun is in Gemini and the Moon is in Virgo. Both Mercury ruled signs and Mercury is direct in Taurus on transformative Sedna.

We talked about the square in the weekly HERE. 

 

The Moon in Virgo needs to FOCUS/be productive. Sometimes a square to the Gemini Sun brings something to our attention and then we change our mind. Virgo is excellent for spotting that fly in the ointment/problem and for problem-solving. Also for helping pull our scattered Gemini attention back to something THAT MATTERS.  

 

Again, what needs fixing? What will be helpful/healthful?

The Moon is trining both Venus and Uranus in rock-solid Taurus. If this is something about our stability/our money/our values - the smooth trines will allow something to fall into place if we take some kind of action. Today is part of the Venus/Uranus journey to each other that is exact at the end of the week that could bring financial/relationship shake-ups, but ALSO unexpected new connections/new money/new resources/new love. 

For today, let that Virgo Moon move you toward something pure/practical - maybe something postponed with Mercury retrograde, that now needs to be focused on/fixed. 

xo all

artwork by the amazing AaronGriffinArt

Weekly Astrology Forecast | June 6 - 12, 2022 - talking about the bottom line, shocking clarity, changes with love and money, plots twist

 

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! 

 

Hang in there. Summer is COMING!

 

So where are we now? Mercury is direct and Saturn is retrograde. Something might have/might be about to TURN AROUND on us. 

On Friday we have the final perfection of April/May's repeating Mercury trine Pluto (this is the one with Mercury direct and Pluto retrograde, new conversations/information, old truths/intense situations). TRUTH, deep excavations, intimate conversations, intensity around money, sex, taxes, resources, values, inheritances, careers/goals, third party situations, health situations. 

 

Thinking/talking about 'life and death' matters, actual deaths or situations that feel like 'life or death'.

 

This has been in play for a few weeks, is exact again on Friday and then will wrap up a few days after that. This is transformational energy, is what Eclipse season was really all about. We aren't the same people we were a few weeks ago. How will we use these transformed energies?

(when we fight Eclipse 'upgrades', and believe me I understand, I have multiple middle-degree fixed placements that are getting hammered since I like things TO STAY THE SAME - we get as glitchy as our tech when upgrades are not made)

On Saturday, Venus will meet up with Uranus (this is really in play all week as it applies, strongest at the end of the week) - unexpected money, love, values. 

Money can come in or go out. Relationships can CHANGE. What we want can change. 

We don't want it anymore or we suddenly want SOMETHING ELSE. People can come in or make an exit. What we own can turn out to be more/less valuable than we thought it was. 

Something we thought we could count on might be shaken loose, and, yes we can't count on it anymore, but at the same time we are somehow freed up. 

 

Combined with the Mercury/Pluto feels like this week could bring some kind of SHOCKING CLARITY.

MONDAY - Sun sextile Chiron

TUESDAY - First Quarter Square (Gemini/Virgo)

FRIDAY - Mercury trine Pluto (3rd of three)

SATURDAY - Venus conjunct Mercury

 

MONDAY - Sun sextile Chiron, Uranus conjunct Pallas, Mars squares Ceres

 

Uranus reaches the degree of Pallas in Taurus (heads up - Gemini and Cancer season will both have oodles of Taurus energy this year). Out of the box insights. Sudden wisdom. New, even sudden/shocking strategies. Old patterns/routines, etc gone. New patterns start in an instant. This is about physical/real-world stuff, not pie-in-the-sky imaginings. In Taurus (fixed earth) stuff gets SIMPLIFIED. Does it makes sense/cents? It's a go. This isn't about some fancy/decorative thing. This is about SURVIVAL. Our security. Our resources. Our values. Our self-esteem. Our money. New plans. New strategies. Maybe something is stuck and gets a reboot.

Keep in mind Uranus has been in our Taurus house, "shaking stuff up", since the middle of 2018. Now, here's Pallas, a change agent, too, stripping away illusions.

At the same time, Mars, at 9 degrees Aries is squaring Ceres in Cancer. This is tension/frustration. Mars in Aries wants to GO/do and he (as we) runs into this challenge with mama-bear Ceres. Maybe this is our/someone's personal needs vs home/family. Maybe a situation forces us to take action to protect ourselves or someone else. Maybe we are forcing nurturing/mothering on someone or some situation that doesn't need it/want it. Maybe this is about a change of life/season of life issue that needs a kick in the ass, so here comes Mars to do just that. 

 

Rather than down a half gallon of Ben and Jerry's we can use today's third perfecting aspect as a way through the scuffles - the Sun, at 15 Gemini sextiles Chiron in Aries. 

 

Ask questions. Don't be afraid to discuss what hurts. Creative opportunities come as painful issues/wounds are talked about. Although the subject matter may be deep/important this is Gemini, so KEEP CONVERSATIONS LIGHT. Consider your options. There is more than one answer/way through here. Or maybe this is about seeing two sides to the story. Be brave. Everyone's weak spots/fragile spaces/vulnerabilities are being exposed with a Sun/Chiron and that's ok/that's what HEALS. What did Rumi say, "the wound is the space where the light gets in"? Look for options. Be willing to adjust. Keep words light.

Gemini season (Sun in Gemini) requires flexibility. We can plant that flag on the 'hill we will die on', but even if the flag gets to stay, we might still be dead. Do some yoga. We want to live.

On TUESDAY, the Moon in Virgo squares the Sun in Gemini (16 degrees) giving us this month's First Quarter Square - challenge to whatever started at last week's New Moon in Gemini. With both Virgo and Gemini ruled by a newly direct Mercury trining Pluto (and unwinding a square to Saturn as they move away from each other) - this is IMPORTANT. The Moon in Virgo wants us to focus on one thing/stick a pin in something/DECIDE. This is a square, so won't be comfortable. This is Virgo, so the best choice will be practical, helpful, healthful and sensible. The Sun in Gemini, who wants to move from one fast thing to the next NEEDS to adjust to the Moon here and so do we.

On FRIDAY - Mercury trine Pluto, Mercury, at 28 degrees Taurus, trines Pluto, retrograde in Capricorn.

 

This is the final hit of a three-peating aspect we first had back on April 28th. We are getting to the truth/the bottom line. This will be about your Taurus house theme or the collective themes of money, resources, values, love, self-esteem, Pluto in Cappy can pull in career/reputation situations, too. Trines are smooth aspects, this makes deep/intense words/information easier to discuss. The 'keep conversations light' thing is so four days ago. Now, information is intense, BUT the smooth connection allows something to click into place. Pluto/Mercury speaks of transformational ideas. Powerful words. People speaking their truth. It will be easier to manipulate/be manipulated, too, so keep this in mind. Some might take advantage of this energetic flow for their own agendas. Both planets are in earth signs, so there is something practical here. This has been/is a long transit. Reality is transformed.

NOTE - the Moon is in Libra. She makes a nice trine to a retrograde Saturn at 8:27AM EDT, but by 1:36PM EDT she is going void off a challenging square to Pluto. So, although Mercury has the smooth trine, the Moon is making a tense/frustrating square. Whatever this Mercury/Pluto trine has been about for us - it's been in play for weeks and wraps up in about another week - it is likely challenging our partnerships, tossing something out of balance or just feels unfair.

 

On SATURDAY - Venus conjuncts Uranus. Venus, at 16 degrees Taurus already meets up with disruptive Uranus. People with planets/points near the middle of the fixed signs are already feeling the quaking and shaking of this one.

 

Collectively here is where our love, money, resources, values, the planet/weather, self-esteem, Taurus house theme is DISRUPTED/changed/innovated.

What we want can change. We don't want it anymore or we suddenly want SOMETHING ELSE. What we own can turn out to be more/less valuable than we thought it was. Something we thought we could count on might be shaken loose, and, yes we can't count on it anymore, but at the same time we are somehow freed up. PLOTS TWIST. Hearts are OPENED. Sometimes broken opened. 

 

Venus in Taurus wants ease/comfort, but here Uranus is merging with the Goddess, SHAKING THINGS UP. There is no telling what we or someone else will want right now.

 

On Monday, Mercury will be back in Gemini and the pace/communications will pick up! 

 

Back with some dailies and a big picture about next year.

xo all

artwork by the amazing Harkale-Linai

the astrology of friday and the weekend | June 3-5, 2022 - decisions, a change of direction, a Leo Moon weekend so have some fun

 

We begin FRIDAY with the Moon wrapping up her journey through her home sign of Cancer. She trines Neptune at 5:04AM and goes void off an opposition to a retrograde Pluto (power struggle, home vs career, family responsibilities - Neptune is the way through this one - chill out a bit, pray/meditate, listen to music, get yourself to the ocean) at 11:14AM. 

 

The Moon is void until 2:38PM EDT when she moves into Leo and trines Jupiter - making late Friday afternoon/Friday night a good time for adventure/to shine. Good for date nights, fun with the kids. A time to be generous. Have some fun.

This BIG news today is Mercury stations direct! 

 

We talked about this HERE. 

 

Delays, revisions, etc - whatever has been holding us up since about May 10th will begin to move forward. Decisions will be made. Some things that BEGAN during the retrograde period will begin to unwind. But, Mercury is still in grounded/stable, but fixed earth Taurus, he won't get fully up to speed until he gets back into Gemini (his/her home sign) on June 13th. 

 

With Mercury in stable Taurus what moves forward now will need to make sense/cents.

On SATURDAY, the Moon continues her monthly journey through Leo. We are nurtured/nourished by fun, romance, children, attention, THE WHITE-HOT SPOTLIGHT. She trines independent/action oriented Mars at 6:15AM EDT, squares Venus at 6:46AM EDT (some relationship/financial tension possible), sextiles the Sun at 7:22PM EDT and squares Uranus (tension/frustration/surprising developments) at 11:46PM EDT.

The sextile to the Gemini Sun is this month's Waxing Sextile. 

 

This one is all about strutting our stuff. Information, choices, following our heart. Here is some of the 'potential', the creative opportunity of the May 30th New Moon in Gemini. The Moon is waxing/growing and so is our NEW IDEA/CHOICE/WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED.

The challenge today is the Sun's square to Juno, bringing a light on a relationship/contract tension or frustration. We could be having trouble deciding/committing or with Juno in Pisces, the terms of the agreement/relationship can be too unstructured, loosey-goosey. Maybe one party is distracted. The way through this one is that Waxing Sextile - Gemini/Leo - talk about it/deal with facts and details/follow your heart. 

 

There IS a creative solution here.

This is also the day Saturn stations retrograde until late October (25 degrees Aquarius). We talked about this, too, in the weekly HERE. We are reviewing our careers, goals, responsibilities, obligations/relationship with groups and authority. Saturn's retrograde can see us letting go of certain restrictions/obligations or stepping into them. Situations with authority can turn around. This can be a second chance to do the right thing. 

 

We will talk about this more as we move through it.

On SUNDAY evening, the Leo Moon steps into some tension/frustration - an opposition to that retrograde Saturn at 5:03PM EDT, followed by a square to a direct Mercury at 7:12PM EDT, so both planets stations are challenging us emotionally. Maybe through work/responsibilities/authority/group situations/financial situations. Maybe we just don't want the weekend fun to end and it's time to get serious. She goes void off that Mercury square (disagreement/argument/challenging information) and is void the rest of the night. So, enjoy Sunday before that opposition to Saturn might rain on your parade and use the void of course moon at night to rest/relax/prepare for next week.

xo all

artwork by the talented Sylvia Demers

weekly astrology forecast | May 30 - June 5, 2022 - decision time, change of direction as mercury stations direct, daddy takes a powder giving us a cosmic second chance to get something right, attracting the right kind of care

 

We start the week with a New Moon in Gemini. New conversations, New ideas. Decisions are LOOMING. With the ruler of Gemini (Mercury), retrograde, this may be more about re-vising/re-deciding something we started to do/think about/discuss earlier this year. 

 

(remember this New Moon, and we talked about this HERE, is well-aligned with Neptune : trust your intuition, meditate/pray for guidance, get enough rest, the Moon is also well-aligned with Jupiter and Mars in Aries, and although this can add volatility/arguments, this will also add courage, energy and the super-power of EXPANSION and LUCK to whatever we are starting)

Our thinking/the conversation/plans might flip around on us toward the end of the week as Mercury stations direct and Saturn retrograde AS THEY SQUARE EACH OTHER. For some, restrictions will come off, others can expect delays. 

 

It might be until Mercury gets back into Gemini on June 13th (a great travel day BTW) or Mercury reaches the degree of Monday's New Moon (June 23rd) when New Moon beginnings can really TAKE OFF. 

 

Don't sit around waiting though - keep moving - but do keep this in mind if things feel stuck/slow.

We have no planets changing signs this week, but we do have two planets changing direction. Something in our lives will be, too.

 

Let's take a look at the week!

 

MONDAY - New Moon in Gemini

FRIDAY - Mercury stations direct

SATURDAY - Saturn stations retrograde

SUNDAY - Venus sextile Ceres

On MONDAY - the Gemini Moon meets the Gemini Sun at 9 degrees. We talked about Monday's New Moon HERE. The Moon is Gemini has a better closing aspect than the following Moon in Cancer, so I would get your New Moon intentions done on Tuesday when there's a nice trine to Saturn to close things out. 

GEMINI NEW MOON AFFIRMATIONS

This is a great time for affirmations for Gemini themes - movement, flexibility, wit, communication, logic, writing, social graces and ease, siblings or cousins, local community issues, teaching/learning, mental anxiety, areas of life where you are seeing double or doing two things at once or need to choose between two things, our nervous system, hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and our lungs.

 

AFFIRMATION TIPS: get into a good frame of mind - always make affirmations from a  positive place (meaning both happy and certain) - write your affirmations down by hand in script, speak them out loud - then release your attention from them knowing that your intention is known. Know what you seek is seeking you (Rumi). Know these things are already yours.

 

On FRIDAY - Mercury stations direct! 

 

This will be at 26 degrees Taurus, yes, right on malevolent fixed star Algol, so activating last year's BIG Taurus Lunar Eclipse from mid-November 2021 and the HUGE Solar Eclipse in Scorpio (life and death) from mid-May 2022 that we talked about HERE.

 

Born 23 years apart, BOTH, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have their natal Venus (Goddess of Love) at 26 degrees Taurus on Algol (wth, is it any wonder they fell head over heels in love - lost their heads - and then chopped off each other's heads!), so I would expect their trial to be winding up this week. Her birth time isn't known, but he has some nice 9th house (legal) transits that will make him hard to beat in a courtroom. Going to get a post up about them this week. It's fascinating.

Mercury is stationing direct in a square (which will not perfect) to Saturn, who will station retrograde tomorrow. So, even as something moves forward, it is possible to still be dealing with delays and limits for a while longer. 

 

Still, choices/decisions WILL BE MADE. And Mercury is moving forward, so are we.

 

On SATURDAY - Saturn stations retrograde at 25 degrees Aquarius (until late October). People with planets points from around 25-29 degrees Aquarius will feel this easing off, as daddy Saturn takes his annual sabbatical. Saturn will get back to 22 degrees Aquarius before stationing direct, so those of us with planets/points from around 19-25 degrees Aquarius might feel restrictions/limits increase or something tighten up as Saturn makes his three-peat (first pass has already happened and that's usually the biggie) over our planets/points. This will also apply to our other fixed planets placements (Taurus, Leo and Scorpio) as he squares and opposes them. 

 

And, if we were born with Saturn retrograde, and so the need to face up to certain responsibilities in this lifetime we have previously avoided, we will feel his retrogrades more intensely, too.

For everyone else, and for all of us collectively, Saturn's station will either:

1. ease restrictions/limits/traditions (daddy on vacation) 
 

or 2. create delays/pull back support (again, daddy's on vacation). 

 

It just depends on which kind of "daddy" we have via our natal chart! 
 

Saturn retrogrades give us a second chance to get it right/do the right thing. 

 

This is also a time for a second look at our responsibilities, obligations, our support structures, our goals and group situations, our paternal inheritance, our father and daddy issues.

  
He will station direct in late October and it's report card time.

On SUNDAY, Venus, strong in Taurus, will trine Ceres in Cancer. 

 

This is about love and nurturing. We are attracting the right kind of care. Maybe our 'change of life' situations/spaces where we have felt we had no control are more stable. Hopefully, with Ceres in Cancer, this eases the baby food shortage! The trine is a smooth aspect where things fall into place and could help with certain supply/resources chain issues (maybe especially related to food) and the War in Ukraine (Russia/Ceres, Zelensky/Venus).

Have a nice week everyone!

xo - Catherine :)

artwork by the amazing Duy Huynh

the meaning of the astrology of the New Moon in Gemini | Monday, May 30th, 2022 - decision time, revision time, starting something over again

 

Sooo, I wrote this post on Saturday night and .. it disappeared.

 

Well, maybe disappeared isn't totally accurate since it conjures up visions of magicians and rabbits. I left the post open on two browsers (?) and wrote the weekly post OVER one - don't ask me why - and, the new post ended up saved automatically, and poof, the old post, the New Moon post, was gone. 

 

No rabbit. No hat. Nada.

Which makes perfect sense with a Gemini New Moon during a Mercury retrograde, so let's try this again!

 

As with any Gemini New Moon we are dealing with Gemini themes - words, conversations, information, ideas, writing, two of something, choices, decisions, siblings/cousins, our local community, commerce, our tech, our transportation, teaching, early childhood education, childhood, your Gemini natal house theme. Sometimes because of its dualistic nature, Gemini can activate situations that show us how we are being two people/not integrated. Or maybe the ways we are over-valuing something we have had for a long time and undervaluing the things that change/the stuff that doesn't stick. Not everything is supposed to be something we stick with forever. 

Let's unpack the chart!

 

On Monday, May 30th at 7:30am EDT, the Gemini Moon meets the Gemini Sun at 9 degrees, giving us this month's New Moon - our annual New Moon in Gemini. 

 

The Moon/Sun are conjunct fixed star Aldebaran, sextile Mars and Jupiter and squaring Juno. Mercury, the ruler of this lunation, is retrograde, still at 26 Taurus on fixed star Algol, conjunct asteroid Achilles and squaring Saturn and sextiling Neptune. Mars is conjunct Jupiter. Black Moon Lilith is conjunct Ceres.

 

The Moon is sextile Mars and Jupiter, together in Aries. This is good for our words sparking a new conversation that TAKES OFF. For new/untested ideas/information to make a big impact. For whatever is launched at this New Moon to bring opportunities for expansion, optimism, luck. For our communications to be direct and to the point. For New Moon situations to GROW.

The Moon's square to Juno pulls in some relationship tension/problems with contracts that are maybe too loosey-goosey/lacking boundaries. So, keep this in mind with whatever is going on this week. Maybe we have 'idealized' the partner/relationship/contract and now here are some facts/information/conversations at odds with our rose-colored glasses. Whatever this is, pay attention to the 'terms of the agreement' now.

Mercury, ruler of this New Moon as ruler of Gemini is backtracking through Taurus. THIS IS MEGA-IMPORTANT BECAUSE GEMINI IS A FAST MOVING SIGN, BUT WITH A RETROGRADE RULER, RUSHING WILL NOT BE A GOOD IDEA. 

 

It's likely new beginnings will have their roots in the past. Maybe we are returning to or re-vising something we started earlier in the year. This also speaks of a 'missing message' - something we missed the first time we walked these degrees. There could be something that needs to said again, re-read, re-negotiated. 

 

Because we get this New Moon with Mercury retrograde and then just a couple days later (June 3rd) Mercury reverses course and stations direct it could be that we start out deciding one thing and CHANGE OUR MIND. Or someone else does. Also, the day after Mercury stations direct, Saturn will station retrograde. Situations with authority can reverse course. Our obligations/responsibilities can change. 

 

Keep in mind whatever we are hearing at the beginning of this week is subject to REVISION!

Mercury is squaring Saturn and sextiling Neptune. The square to Saturn is a delay, limit, restriction, pressure, "no", challenge with authority. To a retrograde Mercury in Taurus a Saturnian challenge might look insurmountable. This is a repeating aspect from April 24th, so something about whatever is HOLDING US UP might connect back to late April. The sextile to Neptune is a creative opportunity. The way through the Saturnian square is the Neptune sextile - let go and let God, use your intuition, listen to your dreams, take a rest, use your imagination, forgive, offer connection/compassion, listen to music, meditate, pray. What is your Pisces house theme? Head in that direction for a bit.

Now, Mercury is going to station direct on June 3rd, but he is going to take some time, from the muddy, fixed earth of Taurus, to get up to speed. It may not be until he/she gets home to Gemini on June 13th that things really get moving. This doesn't mean we sit around doing nothing until then, but this is just something to keep in mind.

The New Moon in Gemini - the next two weeks, but especially the week ahead - will push us to make decisions, maybe choose between two things. It will be important to keep in mind that things can flip around on us as we move through the week as Mercury stations direct and Saturn retrograde.

I hope something here is helpful. This is shorter than the original post, you know I think why write something in 100 words when 500 words are available, but the week ahead, which I will post in the morning, will fill in some of the blanks!

xo all

For you astro geeks, let's take a quick look at the fixed stars and asteroids.

 

The Moon is conjunct fixed star Aldebaran. This star is the eye of the Taurus bull. The "bull's-eye" (note ruler Mercury is on Algol, the "eye" of Medusa). This star is said to have the energy of Mars (and can look like Mars in the night sky - think of the red eye of an angry bull). It's a GIANT star, larger than our Sun. In a predictive chart or mundane chart like this one it is said to speak of "violence, victory and heroism in war” and in a personal chart it is said to show “confidence, energy, leadership qualities”.  

 

Mercury is conjunct fixed star Algol - has been here for a few days and will be here for a few more. Algol is considered the most malevolent star in the sky as the "eye' of Medusa. 

 

 

Yes, another "eye" - what does that make you think about? Needing a fresh pair of eyes? What we are up to our 'eyeballs' in? Keeping our eye on the prize? Roving eyes? Black eyes? Private eyes? An eye for an eye? Bedroom eyes? Something that's more than meets the eye? What catches our eye? Crying our eyes out? Poking our eyes out? Eyes like a hawk? Eyes in the back of our head? What am I missing?

 

 

Mercury on Algol for an extended period of time, during a station, while Mars hangs out with Jupiter is dangerous energy. Clashes of temperament. Arguments (some needed because remember the Moon is sextiling Mars and Jupiter). It's not a walk in the park this New Moon. Asteroid Achilles is also conjunct the Moon and makes me think of getting hit where it hurts/where we are VULNERABLE.

our wounded children and wounded inner child - the astrology of where we are now and its connections to this summer's fated chaos/changes

 

 

Let's take a QUICK big picture look around.

 

We are coming off a complicated Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio that promised, and delivered, intense "life and death" situations. The Moon's energies, being an Eclipse, will be felt for at least 6 months, but begin to unwind a bit after next week's New Moon. We have Mars (ancient ruler of Scorpio) sandwiched between Neptune and Jupiter back in his home sign of Aries. We have a retrograde Pluto (modern ruler of Scorpio) in trine with Mercury until mid-June.

Venus is almost out of Aries, home to Taurus tomorrow. But first is her challenging square to Pluto. 

 

Venus met Pluto back on March 3rd, so maybe something that started then is transforming (if we can avoid holding on too tightly) or ending (if we can't). Keep in mind Pluto rules the South Node of the past/where we are now - it is a Scorpian spell that keeps us stuck here through fear, an addiction to complication/to 'more', compulsion, jealousy, manipulation. Venus rules the North Node of where we are needing to go - this is Taurus, something more simple, sustaining, nurturing, healthy. On June 21st, they will form a smooth trine (with Venus in her home sign), keep this date in mind, if you have something challenging now. We talked about this square in the weekly HERE.

The Mercury/Pluto trine - in play now with both planets retrograde - continues through the middle of June. Digging into the details. Big financial information. Complicated conversations. Secrets coming out. Truth. News with Plutonian themes - merged monies, complicated third party situations, death. Mercury rules Gemini and the Sun is in Gemini now and the Gemini New Moon is happening in just a couple days. Mercury is retrograde in Taurus, will station to go direct on June 3rd at the degree where we had the Sun during that Full Moon Lunar Eclipse (on fixed star Algol, this was also the degree of the Moon at last fall's Full Moon in Taurus, also an Eclipse).

 

For now, Mercury is moving backward, going back to the Eclipse energies (May 16th) to show us a MISSED MESSAGE. Maybe a conversation that needs to be had again. Maybe some information that needs another look or some truth that needs to come out.

Black Moon Lilith is in Cancer along with Ceres. June's voice, too, speaks of wounded children/families. Our wounded inner child. Maybe the wound the child carries when they can't please the parent. Maybe what the child had to do or be or accept to be true (that wasn't) in order to survive. Maybe this is a generational wound. Wounded parents (especially mothers) wounding their children. Hurt people hurting people. We started this conversation HERE.

At the end of July, Uranus is going to meet the North Node at 18 degrees Taurus (A FATED DISRUPTION). Mars, the trigger, will be there, too. 

 

RIGHT NOW, the end of May/beginning of June, we are very near the mid-point of that MAJOR conjunction at the end of July. That conjunction will be speaking to Black Moon Lilith in Cancer (she will be conjunct Venus and squaring Chiron) - our wounded child/family/tribe, Chiron in Aries - our wounded masculine. Ceres will be with the Leo Sun. The Sun will be trining Jupiter. Mercury will be opposing Saturn and squaring the conjunction, so we'll have a T-Square pointed at the Uranus/North Node. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

And, right now, as Mars meets Jupiter (in an EXACT square to Black Moon Lilith in Cancer) and we move toward that Gemini New Moon (conjunct the U.S. natal Uranus and Biden's natal Saturn (!) and where Mars will station retrograde later this year during the next Eclipse cycle and where Mars will station direct in January 2023 - 2022 being all about 2023) and through the Gemini New Moon two week cycle, this is all ACTIVATED. 

Mars meeting Jupiter this weekend, concludes a cycle that started in March 2020 when Mars triggered the Saturn/Pluto story (time runs out). Saturn ruled that conjunction and was at the final degree of Capricorn. That cycle, ending now, was all about responsibility, working within limits, working with rules, growing up. 

Their meeting this week at 4 degrees Aries starts a VERY DIFFERENT two year cycle. This one is all about new beginnings, approaching things with a beginner's mind, independence, an almost foolish courage, NOT having alot of responsibilities, not having all the answers. So, wherever 4 degrees Aries is in our natal charts we will find GROWTH/expansion/luck over the next two years through something fresh and new. 

 

(and here in the United States, again we are dealing with another horrific mass shooting of children. The killer's birthday fell on that 'life and death' Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio, the day he legally, in Texas, bought himself an assault rifle. If we run an Aries Ingress chart (setting up the astro year) for the town devastated by the events, we find 25 Taurus on the Ascendant, so tightly conjunct the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Sun, malevolent fixed star Algol and the previous Full Moon Lunar Eclipse's Moon plus Mars on the mid-heaven. Transiting Mars is now on the ingress Sun - was at the dangerous final degree of the zodiac at the time of the shooting - Mercury on their ascendant. The transiting Nodes of Fate are on the NRA's powerful Sun/Pluto opposition and transiting Chiron (wound) exactly squaring their Mars/Saturn conjunction. Those Eclipses both could have devastating financial implications/secrets coming out for them. How does a group with 5 million members in a country with more than 250 million adults have this kind of power? We will have to look at their chart's transits/progressions. We could get universal background checks, required national gun safety training and the assault weapons ban back, but we won't beat an organization with Sun/Pluto and Mars/Saturn energy by talking about 'gun control'. Maybe 'gun responsibility'. Whatever happens, the astrology is clear this story won't end here.)

 

Anyhoo, not sure where I am going with this post today and it feels a bit choppy, so I will wrap it here. 

 

The New Moon in Gemini post this weekend will make things clearer. 

 

xo all 

artwork by the talented DebbieClarkArt

weekly astrology forecast | May 23 - 29th, 2022 - opportunities to go big, changes of direction and focus, obsessive wants, needing to stay flexible and keep going

 

 

This is another important week!

 

Lots of opportunities as whatever got held up back at the end of April, or maybe just a couple weeks ago, starts moving (it's still not forward ho with Mercury retrograde, but there is movement). 

 

THREE inner planets change signs, one backing out of his/her home sign and the other two coming home. Expect CHANGES of conversation, activity level, changes around what we want/need. STAY FLEXIBLE. The energy is ripe for BIG MOVES. 

For asserting our right to be here/to be noticed. 

 

The biggest challenge this week is probably the Venus/Pluto obsessions/power play toward the end of the work week - at its best we really, really want something and will do whatever it takes to get it. The 'whatever it takes' is where things might take a wrong turn. Relationships and money can get intense/complicated. Jealousy can rear its ugly head. The wrong things could be very hard to resist. Stay frosty.

 

MONDAY - Sun sextile Jupiter, Mercury sextile Mars

TUESDAY - Venus sextile Saturn, Mars enters Aries, Vesta enters Pisces

WEDNESDAY - Mercury trine Pluto

FRIDAY - Venus square Pluto 

SATURDAY - Venus enters Taurus

SUNDAY - Mars conjunct Jupiter

On MONDAY, the Sun, at 2 degrees Gemini, sextiles Jupiter in Aries AND Mercury, retrograde at 29 Taurus sextiles Mars in Pisces

The Sun/Jupiter is confidence. GOOD TIMING. GOING FOR IT. We are emboldened/ready to WIN. Sextiles are smooth aspects, air and fire mean things can TAKE OFF/expand in productive ways. Jupiter in Aries encourages independence/big STARTS. 

 

At the same time Mercury, has backed into Taurus and sextiles Mars at the end of Pisces. Another smooth aspect - our words/the information/the tech/transportation, sibling or local community issue (Mercury is retrograde so this could be a repeat conversation, situation that was postponed, etc) and our actions are WORKING TOGETHER. Mars is still in Pisces at this time, so we are trusting our intuition, taking inspired action. Making the dream real/practical. 

Mercury's retrograde season switches gears as he moves from air to earth - we are still prompted to re-think, re-view, re-vise, etc, but our attention might turn to more solid/practical matters - our material situation/how we got to where we are. This should get a bit smoother this weekend when Venus, Mercury is answering to her now, comes home to Taurus.

On TUESDAY, Venus, at 25 degrees Aries, sextiles Saturn, while both Vesta and Mars change signs. 

Venus/Saturn is STABILIZING. What we want/what we are attracting is smoothly anchored in REALITY. Limits are helpful. Responsibilities grounding. We are focused on getting what we want. Interactions with authority can go well. 

This is also the day, Vesta moves over to ethereal Pisces and Mars comes home to Aries. Vesta in Pisces will bring a focus/intensity to our natal Pisces house theme or the collective themes of - spirituality, the past, mental health, medication, meditation, art, music, healing. We will talk about this as we move through it.

Mars into Aries is good news for all of us. This is Mars home sign and after all these weeks floating through Pisces, he (as we) will be very happy for the increased momentum/energy/passion. Mars hasn't been home to Aries since 2020 when he retrograded there for 6 months - yes, even Mars was sent to his room in 2020 - so this is going to be very helpful.

Aries is the energy we incarnate through - it is us being born. Pushing our way into our very existence. Starting out all alone. It is our hero's journey. Our "I am". In Aries, Mars is strong, willful, passionate, impulsive - and at his most Mars-y

(which is something like ballsy only more like BALLSY - I am talking bowling and not tennis here),

 

Mars is the first planet outside our Earth's orbit. Our other inner/personal planets, Mercury and Venus are closer to the center, and, so, visually they travel with the Sun - they never get too far away - but Mars is a fellow who likes his independence.
 

He isn't constrained by the Sun in the same way Mercury and Venus are. Ruler of brave and independent Aries he mostly does what he wants. In Roman mythology, Mars was the son of Juno and Jupiter (in Greek mythology he was the God Ares). We think of Mars as the God of War, because he is, but his ancient role - as a fertility God and protector of crops and animals (herds), might be something for us to keep in mind now, too, as he moves back to his home turf.

In our natal chart Mars rules our Aries house and also is influenced by/and influences the sign and house he calls home. Mars is about our will, our ambition, our action, our passion, our physical self, our selfishness, our rage. His house placement and rulership lets us know what battles we are going to face in this lifetime - the spaces where, if we are not assertive and active (without being a self-centered, irritable, impulsive, angry assholes), we will find ourselves steamrolled or in continued stress until we take action/stand up for ourselves/have COURAGE.

On WEDNESDAY, Mercury, retrograding at 28 degrees Taurus, trines Pluto (also retrograde)

So, here is the Mercury/Pluto trine - a repeating aspect - with BOTH planets retrograde. Powerful conversations/ideas are possible now. Words are our super-power. Some will be thinking about revenge - especially in regards to finances/relationships/resources or competitive situations/power plays. If you are looking to persuade - a softer style of manipulation, and be careful with this - someone of something, particularly something with its roots in the PAST, well, today's your day. Secrets can come out, and remember words are powerful now, so think before speaking. Double check communications before hitting that send button.

When we have an Earth trine, it is always a good time to "ground" ourselves. Things like - hands in the actual dirt, bare feet on grass tend to be helpful. Even handling money - with care, of course - is grounding. 

 

On FRIDAY, Venus, at 28 degrees, makes her final aspect in Aries, the sign of her detriment - a square to powerful Pluto (retrograde in Cappy). 

 

This energy, especially with Venus, so out of sorts, could make it easy, for us and others, to RAGE if we are not getting what we want/if something seems unfair. We can be driven by COMPULSIONS now. There can be POWER-STRUGGLES. Pluto squares are intended to be destructive/dredge up old fears. Bridges get burned. Babies tossed out with dirty bath water. This is powered up in negative ways by both planets not being at their best right now and in the no-man's land of the hail-mary plays tossed out in final degrees of signs. Know if you are feeling this POWERLESSNESS, this, too, will pass and we will be better off if we manage ourselves well in spite of it. Keep in mind, too, that by tomorrow Venus will be home in Taurus and on her way to a nice smooth trine with Pluto on June 21st. Every dog gets his day. 

 

On SATURDAY, Venus comes home to Taurus. Venus loves (and rules) Taurus. 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).

For everyone, this transit, particularly when coupled with Mercury's retrograde mud, can help us really appreciate what is right in front of us.
 

Taurus is a fertile earth sign. She is the earth in a sense. Taurus rules our 2nd house of love, money and values. Where is Taurus in your natal chart? This space is about to receive its annual visit from Venus (beauty, love, self-esteem, values, women). 

 

How can we make her feel more welcome?

Taurus is the sign of comfort. She values simplicity - fancy or complicated embellishments just get in the way of true comfort. It gets easier to see (and feel) that now. With Venus here until June 22nd what we want and what we need are fused into the same thing. The power and real beauty of Venus in Taurus is a deep seeded belief that everything we need is available to us. Either we have it, or we can attract it, if we believe we are worth it.

 

Now, two of our three inner planets are in their home signs!

 

On SUNDAY, Mars at 3 degrees Aries meets up with Jupiter. You will be able to see them together just before sunrise and although they will only be about a planet's length from each other from our view on Earth, they are actually millions of miles apart.

 

Maybe NOW is where we begin to feel Jupiter in Aries. Mars comes along and lights a fire under him. Here is what I want to do. Here is what I am going to do. Here is what I am doing. Our actions get BIGGER. There is courage here. We can face whatever it is we are facing HEAD ON. Good energy to travel/step outside comfortable spaces. 

Mars - the way we get what we want, our action and initiative, our passion, our anger, our young fiery male energy - meets expansive and lucky Jupiter (think Santa Claus here).

What did you want for Christmas? This is very good energy to work with something that will require physical strength, energy and initiative.
 

This is confidence (Jupiter) meeting courage (Mars). This is fighting (Mars) for what we believe in (Jupiter). This is making (Mars) our own luck (Jupiter). 

And, yes, this could be might (Mars) makes right (Jupiter) and leaping (Mars) before we look (Jupiter) and more (Jupiter) anger/violence (Mars) - there are always flies dear reader.  

This is a brave (Mars) journey (Jupiter). This is our brave journey. All of us on Planet Earth.

As always with Jupiter, the fly in the ointment is taking things too far or taking on too much. With Mars the fly would be us/or someone else flying off the handle - then the handle is broken and we have to shovel the snow with our bare hands (yes, I am back to thinking about Christmas and it's 90 degrees as I type this, so go figure). We could also overdo it and actually get physically hurt.

I hope something here is helpful. 

xo all

artwork by the talented Doringota

weekend's astrology forecast | May 21st - 22nd, 2022 - our life catches up with our mind

 

On SATURDAY, Mercury retrograde meets the Sun at 0 degrees Gemini. This is the halfway point of the Mercury retrograde cycle, also Mercury's last day in his/her home sign of Gemini. 

 

By tomorrow Mercury will be back in Taurus.

The mid-way point is called the Inferior Conjunction (when this repeats with Mercury direct we have the Superior conjunction). The Inferior Conjunction is an important point in time and allows us to see/interpret how our life (Sun) and mind (Mercury) are interlacing the past and the present to empower and shape the future. 

 

Notice what story you are telling yourself now.

A LIGHT is tossed on our Mercury retrograde journey- what this has been and is about for us. Any planet meeting the Sun is like a New Moon/fresh start. With Mercury in dualistic Gemini, maybe one choice/way forward is highlighted now. This could be because something else isn't working or a conversation/information comes in now that brings CLARITY. New/more facts. Notice what shows up now. Notice what you are saying/hearing.thinking. With the Sun and Mercury together - the normal SPACE/filter/time between our life and our mind is gone. With our mind moving backward, our life catches up with it BRIEFLY. 

 

We can see SOMETHING more clearly. Keep in mind seeds are going into the ground now - so stay conscious about what you are planting/watering/tending to with your time and attention.

Now, Mercury is STILL retrograde, so this isn't a straight line forward kind of thing. We are still doing the "re's" - re-viewing, re-thinking, re-vising, etc. And, by tomorrow, Mercury will be back in Taurus, where things tend to get stuck anyway - think: fixed earth - so this is a PROCESS. Right now, we are back to April 29th - when Mercury first crossed 0 degrees Gemini - except now we are/should be older and wiser. 

On SUNDAY, Mercury will back into Taurus. We are re-turning to a conversation/idea/plan from the end of April. Our thinking can be more focused. We know what is more important/what we really value this time through. Collectively we are talking about finances, resources, values, self-esteem. If we have been plowing through the Mercury retrograde season without taking time to re-view/re-think, etc - here is where we might meet an unmovable object. If we have done the work of the retrograde season, we are older and wiser now and making better decisions. Our focus will narrow here.

The Moon in dreamy Pisces now, squares the Gemini Sun. This month's Third Quarter Square. Pisces/Gemini. The Pisces Moon will fog up the Gemini facts and FORCE us to use our intuition. 

This is also the day, Mars, at 28 degrees Pisces makes a sextile to Pluto, retrograde in Capricorn. Pluto retrograde is 'the death that is postponed' and now here is the Martian cleaning crew coming through to dissolve what is no longer needed. With Mars in Pisces and a soft sextile we are going to want to move with the flow of this. Maybe a sacrifice is required - we give us this to get that. We won't be able to control everything that is happening, but REAL POWER is being offered up here if we are able to use this Pisces energy productively - maybe via our imagination, our intuition, meditation, art, music. This is Neptune/Saturn - MAKING THE DREAM REAL. A good time to make a commitment to a new goal, which with Pluto retrograde, might not be totally new.  

 

We could feel a renewed sense of purpose/passion. 

 

Something should fall into place here when we make some practical EFFORT, we won't need to push/force a square peg into a round hole. 

 

Hope something here is helpful. 

xo all

artwork by the amazing kelogsloops

Today's astrology forecast | Thursday, May 19th, 2022 - empowering ourselves, noticing the gold we missed the first time through, the things that are about to change

 

 

The Moon is in sober and winter-ruled Capricorn now - we are nurtured by rules and boundaries and how many cans of peas we have lined up in our cupboard. She trines Uranus (change is good) at 9:16AM EDT and squares Venus (in Aries) at 4:01PM EDT. The Venus square is uncomfortable, might make us feel our losses/what we don't have/who we don't have.

This is also the day the Sun, on his way out of Taurus trines powerful Pluto. This is us getting control of ourselves. An earth trine enables stability/fertility. We are empowered by simplicity/by what we ALREADY HAVE. Time to take stock. At the same time the Sun is squaring Vesta in Aquarius. At odds with the Aquarius energy/groups/tech/maybe a teenager. The way through the square is that trine to Cappy - it's smooth, not about us beating our head against the wall. 

 

On a practical level this might speak of focusing on work/our goals. That solar trine to Pluto is a PERSONAL activation- focus on your own life/your own stuff - shoring that up.

At the same time, Mercury, still backing through his home sign of Gemini, moves into a creative opportunity (sextile) with expansive/beneficial Jupiter (in Aries). Good news. Something could be WORTH ANOTHER LOOK. Maybe there are some gold nuggets we missed the first time through here. Say it again. Listen again. Information/ideas can increase our confidence, offers us faith/HOPE.

The intense Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio followed by Mars meeting with Neptune has drained alot of batteries/bank accounts/immune systems. An entire age, the Age of Pisces/age of deception, is ending!

 

Take care of yourself. Let's be gentle/loving with each other. Know we are supported. Gemini season is about to start - our perspective will change. The conversation will change. Things will lighten up.

xo all

artwork by the talented Karentenita

weekly astrology forecast | May 16th - 22nd, 2022 - Scorpio total lunar eclipse, intensity, necessary dis-entanglements, recuperation, getting control of ourselves, renewed optimism, a light on a not-so-new idea, conversation or plan

 

Another important week as the STORY of the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio plays itself out in real time - the necessary dis-entanglements, the limits, the focus, the recuperation, the 'getting control of ourselves' empowerment, the renewed enthusiasm, the new/old ideas and conversations. 

Let's unpack the week and I will get the Eclipse post up today.

 

Keep in mind, Eclipse energies pull us 'out-of-time', so alot of this week may feel like it has already happened, but it is still happening ... and will continue to PLAY OUT over the course of the next six months.

 

MONDAY - Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio

WEDNESDAY - Mars conjunct Neptune

THURSDAY - Sun trine Pluto, Mercury sextile Jupiter

SATURDAY - Sun conjunct Mercury (retrograde)

On MONDAY (Sunday night) - the Scorpio Moon opposes the Taurus Sun giving us this month's Full Moon - our annual Full Moon in Scorpio, conjunct the Nodes of Fate makes this one a powerful Total Lunar Eclipse designed to drive home this year's Nodal lessons - we talked about them first HERE. 

 

The Eclipse post is HERE.

 

On WEDNESDAY - Mars, finishing up in Pisces on his way home to Aries, the ancient ruler of Scorpio and modern ruler of Aries (so Venus and Jupiter are answering to Mars now) meets up with Pisces ruler Neptune. Wet weather. Actions that miss their mark. Catching a cold/virus/bad mood.

 

The best use of Mars/Neptune - using our intuition. Using our imagination. Offering compassion or forgiveness. Using music/art. Praying. Meditating. Releasing our compulsion/obsession/need for control. Maybe taking a rest - something here looks freaking exhausting. This speaks of both inaction - a need for rest or sleep/lack of motivation, etc - AND unlimited action/limits removed. Just keep in mind Neptune/Pisces makes it easy to deceive ourselves/be deceived by others. Also this aspect can make unhealthy actions extremely intoxicating - one drink leading to three, etc, so be aware of this, too. Stay SOBER.

 

Mars/Neptune is extremely well-timed to follow the BIG Scorpio Eclipse. 

 

After the deep Scorpionic purging within the collective and within our personal lives - secrets, obsessions, compulsions, manipulations, intimacies, shared resources (debt, inheritances, other people's money), sex, life/death scenarios, reproduction, past-life entanglements, ancestral IOUs being marked paid-in-full - now the ground is being cleared. Weeds are being pulled. Diets are being cleaned up and lightened.
 

This Eclipse cycle might be the perfect time for surgery to have something removed. And this could, of course, and most likely WILL BE a metaphoric extraction - which would also leave us tired and needing to recuperate.  

And, so, well, Mars/Neptune. 

On THURSDAY we get two powerful/positive aspects. 

 

The Sun, at 28 degrees Taurus trines Pluto in Capricorn and Mercury (retrograde in Gemini) sextiles Jupiter at 1 degree Aries. 

Earth trines are excellent energy to BUILD something practical. This is Taurus/Cappy, so we are taking our time with this, building something to last. One brick at a time. 

 

Sun/Pluto is an excellent time to get control (Pluto) of ourselves (Sun). Where do we need more integrity? How can we act with greater integrity?

 

Retrograde Mercury's sextile - creative opportunity - with expansive Jupiter speaks of greater optimism/faith. GOOD NEWS. With Mercury retrograde, maybe an old opportunity comes back around. This won't be the 'final' word on anything because Mercury is still retrograde, but could spark a new idea/conversation/forward movement. 

On SATURDAY, the Sun, at 0 degrees Gemini now, meets up with a retrograde Mercury. 

 

Here is the mid-point of Mercury's retrograde journey. The Sun brings illumination. CLARITY. Mercury's delays/re-thinking should make some sense now. This is a good aspect to receive an answer/make a choice. New options can open up. Keep in mind, Mercury is STILL retrograde, so again, there isn't a "final" anything here, but there should be new (but not totally new) information/conversations now.

xo all

artwork by the talented Pili Gagliardi

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio | May 16th, 2022 - serious situations, permanent endings, choosing our response, deciding what gets built when the dust settles

On Monday, May 16th, 2022 at 12:11AM EDT the Scorpio Moon opposes the Taurus Sun giving us this month's Full Moon - our annual Full Moon in Scorpio. Happening very near the Moon's nodes makes this one a Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse.

(NASA will feature the Eclipse live on youtube HERE)

Tonight's Scorpio Eclipse is the final chapter of a very POWERFUL Spring Eclipse cycle. This is a very challenging and emotional Full Moon. Almost everyone has had some kind of intense 'life and death' experience over the past couple weeks (or is about to). No one is standing in the same shoes they were wearing one month ago. 

Eclipse events are karmic cosmic resets. 

I am still sick today - take care of yourselves Scorpio risings (!), this Eclipse is happening in your first house of your physical body (also Virgo risings with that Saturn 6th house and Taurus/Libra risings with the Venus/Chiron - actually everyone take care of yourself!). My brain/focus isn't up to snuff, so this will be shorter than usual. 

 

Let's unpack the chart!

The Moon, at 25 degrees Scorpio is opposing the Sun at 25 Taurus. The Moon is conjunct asteroid karma. The Moon sextiles Pluto in Capricorn (applying/in the future) and squares the Saturn/Vesta conjunction in Aquarius (unwinding/in the past). Mars is conjunct Neptune - to be exact within days. The Moon is conjunct the South Node of what is ripe for RELEASE, the Sun is conjunct the North Node of our best path forward. 

 

The Moon conjunct karma speaks of a 'cause and effect' playing out through Full Moon events. With Mars, the ancient ruler of Scorpio, nearing the end of Pisces (the end of the end) this feels like the completion of a karmic cycle. 

What have we learned?

 

The Sun/Moon's opposition via the Scorpio/Taurus energies pulls in our nodal axis story-line we first talked about HERE. 

 

Full Moons bring things to light/to a culmination, but with Lunar Eclipse Full Moons some things remain hidden. With Scorpio maybe - affairs stay under wraps, financial shenanigans get missed, secrets are taken to THE GRAVE.

As the modern ruler of Scorpio, Pluto rules this lunation and is in a sextile - opportunity - with the Moon. This is good news and is also the Moon's closing aspect promising a positive and EMPOWERING outcome to Eclipse events. 

The Sun's trine to Pluto - exact later this week - gives us a dynamic and potent Earth trine. Once the rot underneath has been exposed by the Full Moon events we will eventually start to focus on what is next. As long as we are building something practical, focusing on long-term stability, growth over time, taking it SLOW, keeping things SIMPLE - we will shine/prosper. We can count on this. Events may require us to step into our own authority or get control of ourselves - Sun/Pluto. 

The square to Saturn/Vesta is more challenging. 

 

This is tension/frustration, this is in the recent past, but in play with Full Moon events. The square to Saturn speaks of limits/responsibilities - a REALITY CHECK. Maybe involving our responsibilities to a group or our Aquarius house theme. With Vesta nearby, something here has kept us up at night/had our focus/devotion. Saturn in Aquarius speaks of what we can't do/can't have and Vesta in Aquarius points us to something that must be done/attended to/the fire that can't be allowed to go out. 

 

This is all in the recent past and is somehow at odds with the Eclipse event itself (the serious Scorpio situation, the necessary dis-entanglement, the ending).

Maybe the way through the Saturn square ROADBLOCK/REALITY CHECK is that Mars/Neptune in Pisces which is trining the Moon. 

 

Using our intuition. Using our imagination. Offering compassion or forgiveness. Using music/art. Praying. Meditating. Chasing the dream/the ghost/the mirage (note - disappointments will come from not seeing situations realistically). Maybe the way through is taking a breather/rest. Some could choose unhealthy escapes here and we want to watch our addictive tendencies and understand how easily one drink can lead to three to thirty.

 

The best way through this, because with Mars in Pisces everything is certainly NOT within our control - going with the flow - GOING WITH WHAT IS ALREADY SET IN MOTION because something here is out of our hands anyway.

 

When there are obstacles/blockages/problems it doesn't mean it is always our job to grapple with them. Keep in mind, life is seeking, through us and through Eclipse events, a simpler path forward - THAT TAURUS NORTH NODE. To get to this 'simpler path' - complications, obsessions, drama (and our need for such things) might be removed. During a time of DIS-ENTANGLEMENT maybe when we go in search of solutions/remedies we might extend/prolong the problem. A better way - with that Mars/Neptune - is something more intuitive, more loving. Allowing things to flow/dissolve. Allowing things to move at a more gentle pace. Think about the way water solves problems/makes changes.

The more we can release the Scorpio complicated drama. The endless analysis. The third party situations. The debt. The inappropriate intimacies. The need to look under the hood again and again and again. The more we can make things more simple. Save more/make more (spend less). Take things slower. Value ourselves and our existing resources. Use what we already have. The better the next few months, and probably years, will be for us. 

Once we are through this Full Moon cycle (the next two weeks) and get to the end of May 2022, the big events of 2022 will have mostly played out. There will still be big things ahead this year, but they will connect to the things that have ALREADY happened. 

If we can let go of the Scorpio and embrace the Taurus NOW - the events themselves are somewhat out of our hands, but our response isn't - when Uranus meets the North Node at the end of July we will have some good surprises in store for us instead of the chaos we will be dealing with if we continue to remain mired in the Scorpio drama.

xo all

Note - with a 25 degree Eclipse it could pay to look at the iChing Hexagram 25 which is called DIS-ENTANGLEMENT. It teaches that although we expect what we value to stay where we put it (and keep in mind Vesta - what we value - is in unusual and liberating Aquarius, so not so much staying put!), this 'expecting' is a kind of 'imaginary' security. The important stuff/valuables in life are free-roaming/changeable, can't be 'tethered'. 

Mars in Pisces is like trying to hold onto water anyway, the tighter our grip, the less water we will be left with. The iChing teaches that to be 'entangled' is to get caught up in futile/groundless things - deluded beliefs, reckless actions or a compulsion to rewrite the past or control the future. 

When we are 'without entanglement' and this feels very much like a theme of this Moon, we recognize what is NOT OURS and we do not take it on. Other people's problems are most often not ours to solve and sometimes bad things happen to us that we didn't cause. 

I hope something here is helpful/healthful to your current circumstances.