Sun into Taurus | what we really own

lovelove by bsium

The Sun moves from action Jackson Aries into "stop and smell the roses" Taurus later today where it will shine a light on all things Taurean and light up our Taurus houses until May 20th.

This doesn't mean life slows down, but we will feel much better if we make the time to enjoy those slower moments, care for ourselves (and others) in loving and practical ways and appreciate what we already have.

If Taurus is stubborn, it's only because it rules really important things - the kind of things that have to be nurtured and preserved and seen through to the end.

Taurus is the nuts and bolts of life. She rules our second house of everything important money can buy and everything important money can't. She rules food and nourishment. She rules the sensual touch that feels like love. She rules our resources - our money, the planet. She rules our self-esteem and values.

Traditionally she is ruled by the planet Venus, but I think astrologers might eventually change this rulership to Ceres (since Venus already rules lovely Libra and Ceres seems a better fit for Mother Earth Taurus). Then we will have two 'mother' rulers. Cancer and the Moon ruling over our emotional mothering and Ceres and Taurus ruling over the more practical aspects of nurturing - food, touch, self-esteem, our values, money, the literal and figurative ground beneath our feet.

(It also gives us another female archetypal energy to work with within the 12 houses and signs - something that will likely happen naturally as we continue our journey out of patriarchy - Age of Pisces and into equality Age of Aquarius. I am also wondering if Eris shouldn't have co-rulership, along with Mars, of the sign Aries.)

The space that rules Taurus has had our attention for many weeks now as both Venus and Mercury have been waking it up. The imbalances get maybe more imbalanced until they topple over or we are forced to remove something from the more loaded side or add something to the weaker one.

Taurus is the space (natal house) that naturally encloses what we are here to nurture, preserve and grow. It may be a space we have a bit less passion and ambition because we most naturally feel the need to sustain what takes root here. A bird in the hand thing usually applies to the theme of whatever space Taurus occupies in our natal chart. The energy is cautious because the thing we are holding/carrying here is precious.

Taurus is the first earth sign. A fixed sign - she values simplicity over complexity, calm over chaos, stability over flexibility, silence over noise.

Taurus is all about the fertile Earth (it is not a coincidence Earth Day is during Taurus season). The polarity of Scorpian sexuality - she is sensuality - the touch that feels like love. Taurus coaxes us back into our bodies at the end of a hard day with a long hot bath. She stimulates our hands to pick up those tomato plants at the farm market and get them into the dirt. She encourages us to buy the quality thing that will last when we can afford it. She is the quiet voice that whispers I love you when we stroke the baby's ear with our lips.

People will want to be comfortable (whatever that means to them) and might resist new and unfamiliar situations now. Keep this in mind.

It will be easy for all of us to wander outdoors and forget the pot of water boiling on the stove, the email that needed to be answered or the work waiting for us on the bench. Keep this in mind.

Life is moving fast now - but this energy can help us stay grounded. We'll stop and smell the roses, eat food that has touched the earth, listen to good music, purchase quality long-lasting items, get our hands dirty, appreciate the stuff that is right in front of us and we'll use Taurean strength and determination to be consistent and get things done (maybe just fewer and different things!). xo all 

Mercury trine the North Node | maybe a final chance to check the best box, revise something, hear something we need to hear, learn something we need to know or say it right this time

5656 by stefa-zozokovich

Mercury (retrograde at the very end of Taurus) makes his final trine (brakes off) to the North Node (at the very end of Virgo) today. The North Node (a point not a planet) is our energetic North Star - our collective way forward.

Mercury (conversations, communications, thoughts, ideas, local neighborhood, siblings, transportation) was conjunct the North Node back on April 3rd, so whatever comes up now is something we are backtracking over again. 

This will not be a brand new issue/situation/decision/idea/conversation, but this could be our final chance to get this right, or take advantage of some information, before the North Node moves on to Leo in early May.

Words are especially powerful right now. 

We need to pay attention to today's conversations and think about what we are thinking about. With trines things can move so smoothly - this means whatever is happening should fall into place - they are easy to miss or discount.

The right conversation, words, ideas that point us forward will find us. Maybe something we learn now will be needed later.

Listen, and think about, words and phrases that are repeated now - conversations and thoughts we have had before that spring back to life. It's a time to speak carefully and purposefully. Talk about what you want to happen and not what you do not want. Words always matter. We are finishing up something here that spills the seeds our next something is rooted in. Use precise language.

This could be a final chance to check something off, revise our plan, or review the details of a situation/agreement/decision, etc. The best answers should come easy. If we have to manipulate, push or force something into place it is the wrong something or the wrong timing.

And remember Mercury also rules our neighborhood, our siblings and transportation - which sounds random, but actually isn't. Hubs and I are renovating a vintage camper for my business (Taurus rules my 7th house of partnership, so he and I have been dancing for weeks - sometimes the Foxtrot, sometimes the Tango and sometimes that bump thing I learned in 7th grade where you bang the other person with your hip and shoot them across the room).

In the middle of all the lessons this has brought out for me, including how my 8th house Moon can really take advantage of his resources ie skills and muscle - yikes - we went to the automotive paint store on April 2nd. The guy, who George knows from his own business, did not really want to mix the paint on a Saturday afternoon. The whole process was very difficult and I had to make a snap decision about color because what I wanted wasn't in his paint books. I knew Mercury was trining the North Node the next day, but was thinking about language and not this vehicle we are working on (transportation is ruled by Mercury - duh!). Big mistake. We I forced the situation, bought the paint and long story short, we didn't use it, wasted oodles of time and money because auto paint is very expensive. I am headed back to the paint store today for a different color. Color sounds like a small thing, but the timing is making me think it isn't. Of course the Venus retro/direct story was also factoring in.

(also if anyone needs a gallon of cream color auto paint, hit me up - I'm your girl)

I know we are all kind of anxious to get moving. We are and will be. Mercury will not be direct until May 3rd. Some things probably can't wait and yes, those things we move on now will likely require some revision later. That's OK. That's how it goes. We are here for the experiences not the destination. With Venus moving forward we should find some choices easier to make. Eyes wide open, knowing Mercury retro pretty much ensures some zigzags and revisions - here we go.

xo all

remember today the Moon hooks us into the ongoing t-square and conjuncts Pluto - this means power plays, unexpected news and events (Uranus) and a tendency toward shooting ourselves in the foot maybe through compulsion or manipulation. Keep this in mind. See the weekly for more info.

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of April 17th - another busy, potentially tense and eye opening week

dernier jour. by musicandphotography

This is another busy week - and they continue to get more tense, hectic and stressful from here as we move into May. We have multiple planets changing signs and another planet, powerful Pluto, stationing retrograde plus Venus's third and final tense meet up with Saturn.

Monday is all about Saturn. The Moon is in Saturn ruled Capricorn, the Sun is trining Saturn and then by Monday night Mars is inconjunct Saturn. That's a whole lot of serious! We can get alot done. Iron your big girl pants Sunday night and be ready.

The Capricorn Moon will have us get right down to business. Our emotions will be more practical, pragmatic and measured. In situations where we are the authority figure it would be a good time to lay out a game plan because the multiple aspects now could feel overwhelming if we are not organized. We should be able to keep a cool head and do what has to be done. Know that our bosses and authority figures will have alot going on - don't waste their time.

The Sun's trine (brakes off) to Saturn could bring recognition (Sun) for our past efforts (Saturn) - remember with Saturn, the rewards, recognition (and yes, consequences) come later. Success comes from hard work or putting in the time or doing what is right.

This is a good aspect for dealing/working/meeting with people in charge and older men (and your father or a father-figure) - remember the advice to be practical, pragmatic and take ourselves seriously if we want others to.

This is good energy to bring structure and organization to a situation - have you done your taxes? The deadline is extended to Tuesday this year, but get cracking today.

We also have Mars (in Taurus) sextiling (opportunity) Venus (in Pisces) at 26 degrees. This is a wonderful aspect for pouring energy (Mars) into what we love (Venus) and also for having confidence in creative projects. Masculine and feminine energy is working together now (date night?). The opportunity comes from loving what we are doing and taking action. The opportunity comes from the blending of the masculine (assertive) and feminine (receptive) energies.

By nightfall Mars (in his last move before he changes signs later in the week) inconjuncts Saturn. We have to make some kind of adjustment to move forward with that Taurus natal house situation (where is Taurus in your natal chart?) or whatever is going on with our Taurus ruled money, property, ownership or product. Something is out of balance here. If we are thinking we are the only one with the answer or the only one who can do whatever it is that needs doing - we are going to be one tired and pissed off puppy. Stop comparing how much other people are doing. Have I said before half the sky is moving backward? Something is probably moving too fast. Slow the whole thing down.

On Tuesday, the Moon hooks into the 2017 ongoing t-square by squaring Jupiter and Uranus and conjuncting Pluto. This is a big power play day. Political maneuverings will be in the news. Shake ups and surprises are likely involving all the themes involved : (Moon ruled by Saturn) career, goals, status, authority, structure (Jupiter in Libra) partners, clients, opponents, equals, specialists, travel, legal, foreign, political, educational, media, religion (Uranus aka Trump these days) sudden changes, shock, surprise, rebellion and finally (Pluto in Capricorn) death, rebirth, power, control, karma, transformation, divorce, reproduction, sex.

I realize this is a giant word salad so maybe not as useful and healthy as a regular salad - here I'll throw in some "kale", there, that's better - if you are not on your third cup of coffee and that was all too much to read - just expect there to be power plays. Forewarned is forearmed.

Also Venus, moving forward - if you get up early you can see her in the sky as the morning star now - squares the Galactic Center (which I'm going to do a post about at some point soon - just think black hole for now) some pattern or belief we no longer need, something that creates tension and stress, could become obvious to us now. Maybe we'll have one of those Oprah "AHA" moments. There could be an awareness of something we don't have to do anymore or some way we no longer need to be - probably something we've done since childhood to fit in and feel safe - what a relief!

On Wednesday, the Moon moves into Aquarius. The Sun leaves fiery Aries and heads into grounded Taurus to kick off Taurus season. Taurus can bring stability (although sometimes a lack of ambition or fire) to the space she resides in our natal chart. This space gets some light thrown on it now. Expect a post.

On Thursday - lots of action today - Pluto stations retrograde at 19 degrees Capricorn (until September 28th). Our power/control issues morph. It's probably time to back off a bit. This is about destruction as a kind of reconstruction. Yes, more "re"s. This is especially good energy for a detox or to start some kind of psychological counseling. With Pluto the gold is buried. So we are going to dig. We'll talk about this more later.

Also important today, the Sun hooks up with a retrograde Mercury as one planet enters Taurus and the other prepares to leave. This might bring our attention to a resource or idea we had overlooked.

A retrograde Mercury moves back into Aries. Here's my original post on Mercury in Aries "them's fighting words" - now we'll just be doing the whole thing backward and in high heels. Post to follow.

Take care when driving and in conversations, situations with angry people.

When Mercury (ruler of transportation) stationed to go retrograde on the 9th we had the United Airlines passenger injury which the United CEO called "re-accomodating" the passenger. His unconscious (and strange) use of a made-up "re" word was so appropriate, too, wasn't it? On the day Mercury stationed for his previous retrograde a few days before Christmas we had the Berlin truck attack. Both stations had complicated, potentially violent aspects connected to them, but the results were entirely different. Also notice last week Trump changed his mind on several important issues all within a few hours right after his Gemini Sun ruler Mercury changed course - could Trump change course again once Mercury stations direct on May 3rd? Of course. This isn't front page news with him, but something to watch for. 

On Friday, Mars moves from Taurus into Gemini. We will have more choices. Conflicts, especially verbal, could at times be part of the process forward and it could be three steps forward and two steps back - but here we go. With Mercury retrograde and ruling Gemini, Mars (our action, initiative) will be answering to a backtracking Mercury.

If something we thought was dead and buried suddenly springs back to life now - it would be a good idea to approach it from another angle.

Also on Friday, Venus has her third and final square with Saturn. Her first square was January 27th, then she backed over Saturn last week, retrograde on April 8th, and now here she is once again - hitting that roadblock, deadline, responsibility, obstacle, constraint. Have we figured this crap out yet? If not, this is the one final challenge before we move on. If we have, we will sail right over this one. The seas are still choppy though with Chiron still squaring Saturn - don't ditch the life preserver just yet.

There is only one void moon during work hours - Friday from 2:20PM EST to 3:45PM EST - maybe just take off early.

Saturday is Earth Day, the Sun is in the Earth Mother sign of Taurus and we have a government determined that climate change is a hoax. EPA chief Scott Pruitt thinks Americans look at the EPA and they see the IRS. No Scott, Americans see the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as "protecting our environment" because that's what it does - where corporations see 'regulations', the people see 'protections' - such a smug jack ass.

Hug a tree, she needs us as much as we need her.

xo all

Venus Direct in Pisces | what have we learned, what's left to deal with

trapped by thefirebomb

Venus stations direct today. She is in Pisces squaring Saturn (in Sagittarius). She (as us) has been through her 40 day and 40 night journey to the heart of what really matters.

Venus rules love, money, our values, women, beauty, our self-esteem. So what have we learned? What really matters?

The story isn't over - she is still covering old ground, but the re-examination is over. We are off the table and the doctor is in the doctor's lounge having a cup of coffee.

She stations direct in a tight spot very close to Chiron (wounded healer) and squaring Saturn (time, structure, limits, responsibility). It may take a week or two for whatever it is we are dealing with to ease up, but we know what we need to know now.

Chiron teaches that some wounds can't be healed. Some ships have sailed and if we're on the dock - we're on the dock. If we're on the ship - we're on the ship. If we're on the beach - well ... lucky us.

Something is as it is here.

We can see/feel the space between what we think we want and what we think we deserve - it's the space between what we want and what we actually have. It might seem, to our eyes, that it is a very large space and what we want is way over there. But it is really as close as our last breath.

It is no coincidence Venus stations direct in Pisces. In Pisces we have the empathy and compassion to accept whatever it is that needs accepting here. No one is perfect. Not us, not anyone else. No situation is perfect either. No matter what other people's Facebook updates and Instagram snapshots would like us to think.

If there is something that needs to be forgiven, we can forgive. Remember we can forgive ourselves or another person and still value ourselves enough to not allow whatever is causing the pain to continue. Maybe this is the real lesson with Venus in Pisces.

When we say we will forgive, but not forget, this doesn't mean we carry the pain like a scar on our body. We don't "remember" so we will never find ourselves in this situation again (although we tell ourselves this). Because our next spin up the spiral may require exactly the same situation and our heart needs to be open. We are not a two year old learning the hard way not to touch the stove. The lessons are harder, and less black and white, now. We forgive because we know there is only love and lack of love (fear). There is really nothing to forgive. This can be a really hard thing to get. 

(I would recommend a self study course called the Course in Miracles if you are interested in this way of thinking. I have gone through it twice. It changed my life.) 

This doesn't mean we keep beating our head against the wall and not learn our lesson. Our lesson is learned. That money/love/values situation has evolved. We are moving on.

The fly in the ointment - yes this time there is only one fly - is that Saturn is squaring our journey forward until the end of the month. He has been squaring Venus for about the last week and will square her for another week, then he continues to square Chiron for another week after that. So moving on may not feel quite like we are moving on. It may feel like we finally reach our exit on the traffic jammed highway (whew, that was not fun) and we turn onto a country lane roadblocked with cows.

The good news about Saturn is we know how to deal with him. We know what he wants.

With Saturn we are going to feel the pressure. When I had my first "put on your big girl pants" job I drove to work everyday blasting Billy Joel's song Pressure. It made me feel better.



Saturn wants us to do the work. "The work" will vary but we know what it is. It's that thing we feel tired and overwhelmed just thinking about. Most likely we will have to handle it alone because usually Saturnian things are done in isolation.

Yes, other people will let us down. Friends will all cancel on the day of our "paint party" - not because we can't count on anybody else, but because we need to paint our freakin' livingroom ourselves - it's our job.

Saturn doesn't create the tight situation. He just draws our attention to the way we have painted ourselves into a corner. 

The greater the "pressure" we feel, the more the need to do the Saturnian work - ie end something (Saturn rules time and endings), work harder/do it differently (Saturn rules hard work), step into our responsibility (Saturn rules responsibility). You get the idea.

Something is going to have our full attention one way or the other.

There might not be any pats on the back for a job well done here. Maybe no one will even know what it is we have done. That's OK. We are not doing it for them. We are building muscles. We are going to look very good on the beach this summer. The next time there is a heavy load to lift it will feel lighter to us.

With Saturn the results and rewards (and consequences - please do the work, don't cut corners, be responsible) come LATER.

If, after 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness we do not know what we need to know about that love/money/values/self-esteem late Pisces house/early Aries house situation we are only kidding ourselves.

It's right here in front of our noses. We know what we want. We know what matters. We know what we have to do or what we need to stop doing. It's just up to us (through Saturn) to do it.

xo all

I didn't get to that big picture post this week. Hopefully I will get to it this weekend.

On the immediate political front (Trump's chart, U.S.) I see what looks like Trump getting some wins (like last week if those are considered 'wins') then losses off and on through May, then it looks like greater anger and resistance toward him by June and by summer and into the fall the country is struggling with real, significant losses and he is being blamed and there is that major eclipse in August over the U.S. and Trump's chart - I am still not sure he is going anywhere though ... whether this is all about the Russia story or the military is hard to see - that's why I want to look at the other players' charts if they are online.

Also remember astrology is not so great for prediction and I can't see any chart except through my own eyes.

With Trump's chart (Mars on ascendant) he needs someone to fight - as long as it is Congress or the Democrats or the media or other business people or his wife - maybe he will be contented. When things quiet down there, with Uranus sitting on his Sun quiet and routine is not a comfortable state for him, he will need to fight something/someone else and his natal Sun is conjunct the U.S. chart's natal Mars, ruler of war.

I just finished his book 'The Art of the Deal' and now understand his philosophy better. He believes you go into a situation and create as much instability as possible (I've previously said he IS Uranus) - this creates a backdrop for negotiations where you will have the upper hand. So this is what he does. Keep this in mind.

In the meantime, remember, the energy YOU put into the world matters. People say to send the situation 'love and light' and that is good advice with the drums of war beating ever louder in our ears, but remember if we go home and kick the dog our words won't matter.

With Venus uber powerful at her station, through Monday especially, and so near to the healing energy of Chiron and in compassionate Pisces - we have greater access to that. Forgive some situation. Forgive that other person. Forgive yourself. See the world through this more compassionate lens.

(note the fact Venus, after a biblical 40 days and 40 nights, is reappearing between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the middle of Passover)

This is how we begin to heal the world. It starts with us. It really does. The Goddess of Love is moving forward in her exalted sign of Pisces TODAY - love is in the air if we want it .... have a wonderful Easter. xo