Sun Square Uranus | lead up to this week's Full Moon - tradition gets shaken up ....

her hands by Natalis Drepina

With the Sun, in Capricorn so answering to Saturn

(and I should say influenced by and not 'answering to' since the Sun, being the biggest big cheese of all, doesn't ever 'answer to')

squaring off with Uranus, the planet of the new and unusual - we might feel a strong urge to try something new now. Someone or something else could upset our apple cart, too, by doing things in a new way or acting unexpectedly. Restless energy can break through very stagnant and stifling walls, but could take the floors and ceiling out, too. Maybe they need to be taken out or maybe it just makes more of a mess to clean up.

This is a good time to try something else, but keeping one foot on solid (and proven) ground for a while will probably be a good thing. Take care driving since not everyone will be playing by the same rules.

We also have Vesta (keeper of the hearth) retrograding from Leo back into nurturing Cancer today. We talked about her a little bit here. Maybe we move away from Leo ruled - creative project, children, romance, passion, play - and refocus on taking care of ourselves. An energy of "devotion" moves from our Leo to Cancer natal house (where are Leo and Cancer in your natal chart?) for a bit of backtracking.

We are building toward Thursday's Cancer Full Moon which is part of a Grand Cardinal Cross (imagine a cross in the sky with a planet at each point and us in the middle being pulled in four different directions) involving the Moon, the Sun, Uranus and Jupiter. There is something shocking here. Something anxious to be born. So many planets at the same degrees and no planets in fixed signs at all!

Life is changing folks.

There's still so much Pisces energy ... we swim, we float or we drown. Maybe we cry. Maybe we just get wet.

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of January 9th - changes in the weather and the leather

the weather maker by bloodymarie

Mercury (communication, information) is moving forward. Actually all the planets are moving forward for the next four weeks.

So, here we go!

On Monday, Eris stations direct at 22 degrees Aries. Eris's stations are sometimes a harbinger of violence in the world - so stay safe and calm, especially around people who are easily angered. Saturn (in Sagittarius - foreign, travel, education, media, publishing) trines (brakes off) Eris on Wednesday and Jupiter opposes this energy on the 17th - we'll see how all of this plays out.

At the same time Neptune focuses us on something going on in secret or behind closed doors, research, art, healing, addiction, escapism, things that have been put away.

On Tuesday, the Sun squares Uranus (in Aries) bringing a spotlight to sudden changes, shocking events and unexpected news particularly involving career or authority figures. We are building toward the Full Moon so results will show up now and maybe an ending. Whatever Mercury retrograde has been re-working in our life could bring news.

There is a very powerful Pluto/Mars aspect now - this is action creating meaningful change. There is also passion and impulsiveness here. With Mars in Pisces, actions may feel like they aren't really getting us anywhere (that Pisces floaty, drifty thing) when in fact they are getting us lined up with important transformational energies. Think strategy.

On Wednesday, the Sun squares Jupiter (in Libra) making us more optimistic, confident and even, dare I say, LUCKY. Now, the thing to remember about Jupiter is he is quite literally full of hot air and there is tension with this aspect. We can easily overdo whatever it is we are doing and this over-doing, over-feeling, over-the-top thing we might do can muck the whole thing up. Don't muck the whole thing up. Don't overdo or over spend or over commit now. Don't be a jackass. Stay humble. This is excellent energy to make a complete fool of ourselves.

On Thursday, Venus conjuncts Neptune (in Pisces). This is us getting what we want or this is what we want slipping through our fingers. This won't be something we have to work for - either way it will just happen.

We have the Full Moon in Cancer wrapping up something with our home or family, something started at the Cancer New Moon last summer or something involving the theme of our natal Cancer house. This is a BIG one involving all four cardinal signs. I'll do a post about it later this week.

Mercury re-enters Capricorn. Whatever news we hear now is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The Moon is void all day Thursday so don't start anything brand new unless you want "nothing to come of it".

As always, although I write about transits on the dates they are most exact they are building for days before and unwinding themselves for days after - keep that in mind.

*****

Of course, I didn't finish the 2017 posts (!) - ugh. I will get back to them this week, or next weekend at the latest - we have some nice transits ahead for us in 2017 and some challenges.

I think the most important thing now is to focus on releasing whatever is not 'our hearts desire' (that upcoming Leo North Node). I always start with small things because small things are like acorns.

I have been feeling very "loaded down" and "heavy". Ten pounds off my physical body would feel pretty good right about now but since that would probably involve some actual physical exercise in the winter (is such a thing actually possible, I mean really?!) and passing on the guacamole I have been making almost everyday (I have no idea what this guac obsession is), I did the next best thing - I ditched my handbag.

I realized I rarely even open the damn thing except to pull out my debit card and occasionally my lipstick and I am always looking for it and dragging it around with me and since it could be made of leather (possibly, it was a gift) - it might actually be a dead thing I am carrying around which is exactly what I do not want to be doing!

I put my lipstick, debit card, a credit card, my driver's license and a few dollars in a coat pocket that zips. I feel about 10 pounds lighter (probably because I am 10 pounds lighter). I can even get my stretch jeans zipped more easily - go figure!

I am not sure how I will work this handbag-less thing when it's time to put away my winter coat, but I will think of something. For now, it's coat on and out the door. I am standing taller and walking more purposefully - I am not kidding! And, I am putting to bed any belief I could end up a bag lady ... because I can't ... since I won't own a bag.

... xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | 2017 - the end of the road ... (part II)

no, you won't see inside by duenan

Tomorrow Mercury stations direct (keep that finger through the candle analogy in mind now). He won't start covering totally new territory until the end of the month, but having him moving forward next week will help us get clear and we can begin to move forward, too!

In February, Jupiter goes retrograde (this isn't usually a biggie but this year with him in Libra and opposing Uranus it could be more impactful) and we have eclipse season so anything can happen. In March, Venus goes retrograde from Aries and back into Pisces. Venus will cross the zero degree Aries point (original creation point, first degree of the zodiac) 3X during her retrograde. I would imagine this is going to be a very important retrograde. Saturn and Mercury both go retrograde the same week in April. Then right after Venus starts covering new ground the North Node moves into Leo and the South Node into Aquarius. None of this sounds like full steam ahead to me and there are lots of other stuff during this time I am not even mentioning. It will be intense.

This isn't an excuse to get nothing done for four months. We will just be spending alot of time reacting to outside situations and things will be more challenging. Take the actions you need to take, just keep in mind the winds are blowing from different directions, pinning us into place and we might not get as far as we think we will. If we just sit around and do nothing though, we won't be in the right space for the headwind to catch us when it does get freed up!

After the North Node moves into Leo in early May and through at least the next Mercury retrograde in August (and we have gnarly eclipses in August!) and maybe until Jupiter meets up with the Sun in October this is when following our heart can really pay off. This is when the right doors can open. And yes we might have to PUSH them open, Leo isn't shy and doesn't wait to be invited. So, we want to set up the first few months of the year to allow ourselves to GET LUCKY in the middle of the year! We'll talk about all this as we move through it.

Maybe the most important change this year is the Nodes changing signs (and this is a big maybe because there is alot happening this year). In early May, the North Node of the Moon - our collective way forward - moves from Virgo into Leo. The South Node of the Moon - what we are releasing - moves from Pisces into Aquarius. This doesn't change our personal North and South Nodes of our natal chart, but if the collective energy is moving in a certain direction it certainly pays to adjust our sails.

I have 3 planets in Aquarius and the thought of each planet running into that South Node (release) within an 18 month period makes me shiver and throw up a little in my mouth - especially since I tend to hold onto things with both hands and feet and maybe sometimes, my quite sizeable teeth - chomp!

The negative qualities of Aquarius are what we want to let go of - detachment, rebellion for the sake of rebellion, being overly logical or coldly scientific, cold heartedness, trendy crap. This transit may not be the best news for the internet which is ruled by Aquarius. Or maybe we will just get more people unplugged more often - a good thing!

The positive qualities of Leo are what will move us forward - generosity, taking center stage, confidence, stepping into leadership roles, open heartedness, romance, our personal wants, creative self-expression, following our heart.  

With our current North Node in Virgo we have to watch out for being too nitpicky and critical - in Leo we will have to watch for selfishness, too much ego and over the top drama.

It's good to know this is coming, but we still have a few more months of that Virgo/Pisces axis - keep this in mind.

Following our hearts, romance, creative self-expression - this is going to be the most important thing after the middle of the year, start setting that up now - that's where the real gold is. Doing the trendy stuff other people are doing is no longer going to work. You have a job to do here on Planet Earth and we all need you to do it. Lean toward what feels good. Confidence is inspiring.

Back next post with the 2nd half of the year and the entire year's most important transits (we haven't even talked transits yet! - that's why I don't like to write these annual posts - ha!). We are having a snowstorm here and I sometimes lose internet in the snow - so fingers crossed! xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | 2017 - the end of the road ... (part I)

no cars go? by L-N-E

I wrote a post back in 2014 saying that we needed to get where we were going, build what we needed to build, leave what we needed to leave, yadda yadda BEFORE Saturn comes home to Capricorn at the end of 2017.  

We are in the home stretch.

The things we carry with us into 2018 will be much harder to unload - it will be much harder to change course. 2018-2020 are watershed years for humanity. We don't want to be building houses of straw now - we want to be like that smart little pig using the bricks! Where/who/what are our bricks?

Let's jump right into this.

We start 2017 with the outer planets in the same places. Neptune, strong in Pisces until 2025, keeping our imaginations, intuition, inspiration and compassion high, the veils between us thin but our thinking sometimes foggy and illusory, addiction and escapism tendencies high and boundaries weak.

We have Uranus, planet of rebellion, explosions and fast change, in Aries - hang on Aries! -  (initiative, impulsivity, anger, war) for just one more year then he moves into Taurus  - buckle up Taurus! - (money, security, our values, planet Earth) for a long stay.

Pluto is in Capricorn through 2023 - he will take us all the way through the restructuring/transformation, death and rebirth of everything Capricornian - structure, security, government, business.

The middle planets which have the most impact on our individual lives (except for outer planet transit aspects to our natal planets) start 2017 with Saturn in Sagittarius (through December) and Jupiter in Libra until October 10th.

The nearest planets (fastest moving so produce less lasting results) include Mercury which starts the year retrograde - the reason the year started with a whimper and not a bang, Mars (no retrogrades in 2017 - thank goodness) and Venus which will retrograde from March 6th - April 15th.

Since Venus rules both Taurus and Libra her retrogrades impact our relationships, our finances, our values, art, beauty, women, nature - it is always a time when lessons come up to show us the real value of the people and things in our lives. Problems, differences and unresolved issues come to our attention. Venus ruled people and situations from the past reappear (she was last retrograde the summer of 2015). When the astrological year starts (Sun into Aries) Venus will be retrograde, mirroring the calendar year, and starting the astro year with a whimper rather than a bang, too. These are natural cycles and as they should be.

Very big news in 2017 is the Nodes change signs (May 9th). We move from our North Node - our collective way forward - in Virgo (just do the work, service to others, prioritize health) to a North Node in Leo. This doesn't mean these Virgo lessons get lost - they are integrated within us now and we are on to the next step. Because the Nodes work in reverse order instead of proceeding to Libra (the flock, relationships) - we've already done Libra - we've integrated that - where's your flock?? We move to Leo later this year. Also the South Node - what we are releasing - currently in Pisces (illusion, addiction, escapism, imagination, spirituality) moves into Aquarius.

We'll talk about what all this means next post.

And we'll talk about the major 2017 aspects. I'll get all these posts up before Mercury turns direct on Sunday, so we'll all be as clear as we can be - as a collective, obviously, I can't see your individual chart - about what is happening. There are always surprises, of course, and this is all one person's interpretation. I saw 2016 as "dreams vs. reality" and I guess it was, but "illusions vs reality" probably sums it up better!

2016 was a very mutable year. The mutable (and cardinal) signs got walloped. Stuff was always in flux and changing. 2016 was the Chinese Year of the Monkey and looking back on it all - that seems very accurate! In 2017 there is still quite a bit of mutable energy, especially early in the year. Stuff is still in flux.

(2017 is the Chinese Year of the Rooster and Trump reminds me of a Rooster with his hair and "tweeting" - this week the House GOP quietly voted to gut an independent ethics committee. The media pounced. Trump cock-a-doodle-doo'd. The people called their reps in Washington. The gutting was gutted. Pluto is conjunct Saturn - the House GOP were humbled. There is a huge lesson here for us about our power.)

There will be very powerful doors opening in 2017. We have all had plenty of time to figure out which door is the right door. We should know by now what really matters to us. We have no malefic planets in Scorpio this year, for the first time in quite a few years. For anyone even half-awake, the deep stuff has been unearthed. We don't have to go back down there. This doesn't mean we have to know what to do. We don't have to know that part. Truly. We do have to know what we want or more accurately how we want to feel (and we do!) and what we want has to align with what we are here to do. This will make more sense later.

When the Sun and Saturn conjunct in Capricorn at the end of 2017 - that's the wall. We need to have our act together by then. We will be stuck with the world we have built (and the world we have allowed authority to build) for quite a while.

Back with Part II next and we'll move through the months of 2017 - also heads up, we have a BIG Full Moon next week. We'll talk about that, too. xo all