Venus into Taurus | accepting the best

Blossom by Aaron McPolin

Venus comes home to Taurus this morning. She is Mother Earth now. Ruler of our second house of everything money can buy and everything money can't - love, our values, our self-esteem, our resources.

Taurus Suns and risings get more attractive - both easy on the eye and able to attract what they need. All of us have Taurus ruling some space of our natal chart and the theme of that house gets more attractive, too.

In Taurus, this attraction is based on how we value ourselves and how we value our resources. If we take care of the things we value they grow. The better care we have taken of the things that are important to us the more those things (relationships, resources, money, comfort/health) will expand under this transit.

If we haven't, then this is the time to reinvest in what we already have by tending to it more carefully and lovingly.

How are we caring for our money? Are our books balanced? Sitting down and taking the time (what we really care about is not what we say we care about it is really what we give our time and attention to) to note our income and expenses in a ledger/register is becoming a lost art. Print out our computer bank statements. File them neatly. We can't pretend to tend to our money when we are not even looking at it.

What's in our wallet? HERE is a post about a Feng Shui class I took many years ago about money. Something here might be helpful. I get off track with this stuff all the time, maybe you have, too.

This is an excellent time (through the 4th of July) to take better care of our physical bodies. Self comfort can works miracles now. Let's get outdoors for an hour everyday - yes, rain or shine. Get a massage, take a nightly bath - it's time to invest (time and resources) in ourselves.

Think quality over quantity with purchases now. Don't buy the cheap bra. Don't spend more than you have (remember we are working with existing resources now), but don't skimp either. Better to have 3 great bras than a drawer full of tangled crap.

It's a time when "hands in the dirt" can work miracles beyond a beautiful garden or tasty tomato - although those things are highly valued now, too. Plant a garden.

As for our businesses Venus in Taurus isn't really about launching something brand new. It doesn't mean you can't do that now, of course you can - the moon is waxing! But, this transit is really about working with what you already have. If you have the needed resources to do what you want to do, this transit will be helpful. If you don't, this transit is best spent valuing the resources you have now by giving your time and attention to them.

Think of your business as you would a garden. What needs your time and attention now? What needs to be weeded out so something else can get more sunlight? What needs to be watered? What needs to be transplanted somewhere else?

There is no rush with Taurus. We can take this slow. Here Venus prefers simplicity over the complicated. She practices gratitude for what she already has.

Listen to your body. Does it get tense when you think about doing something? Can you do it another way that doesn't create that stress? Can you slow it down? Can you simplify it somehow?

My body has been stressing out about a presentation I have to give soon and as I am writing this I realize I would be much more comfortable if I prepared some visuals and lengthened the speaking part a little bit and reduced the question and answer time a little bit (since I am afraid no one will have any questions!).

Listening to our body's stress signals and changing what we are doing doesn't have to be some big ginormous thing ... until it does. Let's listen to the pebble so we don't get hit with the rock.

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of June 5th - pretty much everything shifts

Lillium by Ginebra Siddal

This week really started on Sunday when Mars (action, initiative, anger, passion) moved into Cancer where he will hang his hat until July 20th. Mars is considered in his fall in Cancer.

This is because Mars can't be all Martian - fired up and passionate and out in the world testing his courage, running onto the battlefield thinking only of himself and how good it will feel to swing that sword - when he has these pesky emotional Cancerian things to contend with.

Things like feelings (it's harder to take the instinctive action he needs to take when he has to feel his way through what he is doing instead of just doing it). And home and family and security (harder to be putting himself first when he has a family depending on him and harder to fight most effectively when he needs to stay alive to come home at the end of the day).

This stuff can make Mars like a pot of hot water ready to boil over at any minute. Like the too-young father who wants to be out bar-hopping with his buds - he is trapped.

Collectively we will be more security and safety conscious. We will be more emotional. We could be more focused on home and family. We could be more patriotic. British Prime Minister Theresa May's announcement (following the London violence) that the internet needs to be regulated to prevent terrorism and that British values need to be established as superior is very Mars in Cancer (actions involving safety and patriotism). The murderers actions were at the very end of Mars in Gemini (violence involving transportation). Of course, I don't mean to imply these transits created these situations. This is just one piece of a very large puzzle.

Individually, our natal Cancer houses will experience more initiative, action, passion and anger. Where is Cancer in your natal chart? Wherever it is, Mars is not the usual way you deal with the things ruled by this house (unless of course, you have Mars there natally).

So, buckle up.

On Monday, the Moon is in Scorpio making us all a little moody and maybe a bit defensive. The Moon is trining (brakes off) Mars in the morning. This is good energy to tackle Scorpian and Cancer themes - home, family, real estate, renovations, other people's resources, taxes, research, debts, fertility issues, sex, death, birth. Both Cancer and Scorpio are water signs - sweating early in the day, or being near water could prevent tears (from being too emotional) later. This might sound crazy, but I'm a Cancer Moon with a Scorpio Rising and Neptune on my ascendant, and I think it works. Of course a good cry can be a good thing, too.

On Tuesday, the energy shifts. Venus comes home to Taurus and Mercury comes home to Gemini - I smell a HOME theme this week.

(and yes, I mean I actually smell it - what the hell is that thing growing legs in the back of your refrigerator?!)

Venus is uber comfy in Taurus, a sign she rules. She will be here until July 6th. Our money, relationships, self-esteem, dealings with women - can all benefit. We want beauty and harmony in our surroundings now. I'll write more in the dailies. The only drawbacks to Venus here is we tend to get a little lazy and a little too comfortable - also maybe a little too possessive and jealous since Taurus is a fixed sign and the polarity sign to Scorpio.

Taurus Suns and Taurus rising get more attractive now - both better looking (yes, this is a real thing) and able to attract what they want. Our own natal Taurus houses get more attractive, too! I don't see any challenging aspects with Venus while she is in Taurus - there is a sextile to Mars (opportunity through action or through a man) on the 9th and then a trine (brakes off) with Pluto on the 24th - another good aspect - we'll talk about these as we move through them.

Mercury is also uber comfortable in Gemini, a sign he rules. He is moving super-fast and will only be here for 15 days! This is a good time for improved communications, logic, short and to the point conversations, sibling interactions, short trips. community happenings, thinking on our feet, learning new things. If you have to take a test, try to take it before June 22nd.

Also note on Tuesday morning, the Moon (still in deep, moody and brooding Scorpio), is trining (brakes off) Neptune (in Pisces). This is excellent healing energy - especially good for healing old wounds. This could also be a time someone shows up to help us heal. Or we could be that healing energy for someone else.

On Wednesday, the Moon is void all day during work hours. This is not a good day to start something you want something to come of. This is not a good day to make a decision. Practiced, routine work is best.

The void ends with the Moon's move into Sagittarius at 6:59PM EST. This might turn our attention to legal issues, education, religion, foreign issues, grandchildren, travel, adventure or politics. The Moon is opposing mental Gemini - take care not to say something you might regret later - this is another good reason not to make any decisions today.

On Thursday, the Sagittarius Moon sextiles (opportunity) Jupiter (expansion) retrograde and preparing to station direct in Libra. This would be a good day for meetings and to be out and about and mixing it up with people. Thursday night the Moon is squaring Neptune (imagination, dreams, healing, addiction, escape) bringing some tension and stress to whatever is happening. We could be pressured to consider other people's feelings/needs and/or overcome some kind of limitation. Hidden issues or hidden agendas could be part of whatever is going on.

Friday is a BIG day. We have Venus sextile Mars - opportunities for men and women to work together or opportunities to take action on a creative project, financial or self-esteem issue. We have the Full Moon in Sagittarius peaking in the morning AND Jupiter stationing direct in Libra.

This Moon is challenging, but since Jupiter rules Sagittarius and so rules this Full Moon the challenges of this Moon are also BIG opportunities. The Moon is sandwiched between Saturn and Black Moon Lilith and squaring Neptune. And the Sun is adjusting to Pluto today. Did I say BIG day? I think I need to say BIGLY here. It's a BIGLY day.

This Full Moon is saying OK girlie girl, enough is enough here. This is your line in the sand. The spaces where we have been scattered or careless or unrooted (Gemini!) - the spaces we have pushed our luck or just been all over the place - those spaces are coming into a razor sharp focus here.

We are going to be pushed through the eye of that needle and we are going to be pushed through NAKED

(yes, due to those Hostess snack cakes that moved from our breadbox onto our hips last winter, we can't even take our favorite pair of Athleta capris with us).

None of our stories, lies, beliefs that are no longer needed, options that are just distracting us from what we really need to do - are going with us.  

Life is calling bullshit on our bullshit. Ideas, conversations, who we used to be, who we never were - whatever doesn't work anymore has to go. We are done with it. The eye of that needle is precise.

(my brother and sister-in-law's baby is due on the 24th but now that I wrote this I wonder if he is going to come closer to this Moon!)

This is VERY positive energy if we are ready to streamline whatever is going on, come clean, get real and truly focus. Are we ready for that? My head is throbbing just typing it. The Moon will then square Chiron and conjunct Saturn - this is about pressure making us into the diamonds we are meant to be. Yippee us.

Post to follow.

I am now going to eat a ridiculously large meal (I think I've lost 5 pounds sweating over this - I know you've lost 5 hours reading it), catch up on American Gods and get to bed early ... xo all

Venus Conjunct Jupiter, Sun Trine Jupiter | going for it, surprises that put us on our best path forward

l' avion by MOTHart

If you had those late degree mutable points or planets hit yesterday I hope you were able to take a deep breath and count to ten! Hold on - the Mars square Chiron energy is fading fast. The great things about transits are they are transitory.

It's also the worst thing - because today has some wonderful aspects!

We have the Sun (in Gemini) trining (brakes off) Jupiter (retrograde in Libra).

This is probably the best solar aspect we could have. Babies born today will have access to an easy confidence and optimism for their entire lives. For the rest of us, today's aspect gives us an easy-breezy confidence, especially within relationships. Financial gains are possible now. This would also be a good time to meet someone new. Be out and about.

Think Jupiter (expansion) with whatever is happening now. Jupiter rules Sagittarius and our 9th house of the higher mind and what is foreign to is. It takes all that local stuff Gemini rules and kicks it up a notch. Let's think a little BIGGER with our plans. Let's speak about more important issues than the latest episode of American idol (is that still on?). Let's move ourselves outside our comfort zone today. Growth can come through study and travel now. Stay open to new experiences this weekend. Take advantage of things that come your way - whatever slides into place, follow up with that.

There won't be anything here that has to be forced.

The Libra Moon is also trining this aspects and it is waxing (growing) - this would be an excellent day to get married (and it's June and a Saturday - I am sure there will be many weddings today!) or start something new! If you have something brewing but are not quite ready to launch, do something today to get this official date stamped into your new enterprise's DNA - register a domain name, slap up a website - you can have a public launch later (on another good date).

We also have Venus meeting up with Uranus (this energy has been and will be around for a few days).

This transit brings unexpected (Uranus) events with love, money and/or women (Venus). Coupled with the Sun trining Jupiter, I am betting many people have had/will have good surprises. With Venus still in fiery Aries, initiative and courage could be required to get the most from this one. Uranus is a wild card and can't be boxed in, so "liberating action" will be hard to resist. This one is trining the North Node of our collective destiny so whatever happens the "unexpected event/surprise/risk taken" will fit in nicely with our clearest path forward. Trust it.

Stay flexible. Stay spontaneous. Be optimistic. Be brave. Be yourself. We really have got this thing.

xo all

(next week multiple planets change signs so lots of fresh energy coming for all of us)

Mars Square Chiron | the rock and the hard place

Anastasia by ankazhuravleva

Today Mars (in Gemini) is squaring Chiron (in Pisces).

Actions (Mars) hurt (Chiron). Choices (Gemini) leave us vulnerable (Pisces). Escape routes are cut off.

If we have taken on too much or moved in too many directions too quickly we will be feeling it now - the rock and the hard place.

The choices in front of us might all look equally BAD and yet the consequences for not choosing could look even worse. If we must choose now - we choose something, we move slowly and carefully, we focus, we get help, we pare whatever actions we are taking down a bit to give ourselves some room to breathe. 

Whatever this is, if we are feeling it, it's going to hurt. We can't make everyone happy here no matter what we do.

And if we find ourselves in this situation maybe the real question to be asking is "why did I get myself into this situation?". Not how. But why. 

The hows will always find us if the whys need answering.

Gemini season is the season of choices. Now is the time when some earlier ones might come back to bite us in the ass. Not because our ass is particularly tasty or nutritious - this is just the way we get the opportunity to look at the why. 

Why can't I say no? Consider (like I did a couple years ago) if an inability to say no, this people pleasing thing we have going on - could be rooted in a need to control how other people see us.

People love to call themselves "people-pleasers" - it sounds so nice. But how about calling ourselves "people-controllers" - it doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?

Think about it. Why do I do things to help others that hurt myself? Why do I take on so much?

Why am I in a place where there are no good options? Not how. Why. I know it's Gemini season and shallow is the new deep - but let's go DEEPER.

Sometimes it takes courage to say no (which by the way Oprah says is a complete answer and spellcheck does not correct me when I make it a complete sentence so she must be right). No.

Today's one of those days we might have to lose the battle to win the war. 

We have another aspect today equally tricky and quite similar. Neptune (in Pisces) is squaring Ceres (in Gemini).

This one could be about holding space for someone's vulnerability. What do I mean by holding space? It means not judging. It means being a safe space. It means not crossing a boundary and thinking we have to fix everything. Are we really helping or is our helping hurting? If helping someone else is hurting us there will be tension here. Self-sacrifice is not the way forward now. Remember that North Node in Leo - oxygen mask on our own face first.

Maybe every situation is just an experience we are in some way seeking/wanting. Even the crappy ones. We are just too close to see the big picture.

If we are the one wanting too much from someone else we need to look at what we are really wanting.

It is Gemini season there is always another choice.

Sometimes the best choice could be to lose this battle. Sometimes an early loss is what gets us to the bigger, more important win later - we might need to take it on the chin now so we can retain some resources for another day.

Or we can fight, because maybe all choices involve confrontation anyway - and someone has to win after all, maybe it will be us. Know that the winning probably won't feel quite as good as we thought it would - I think because Chiron will have us feeling the loser's pain somehow. Or the price we have to pay to win will be too high.

There are just no easy answers today. Let's just do our best.

If you have planets or points near 28 degrees of the mutable signs - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces - you will be feeling the Mars/Chiron aspect strongest. If you have planets or points around 14 degrees of these same signs you will be feeling the Neptune/Ceres strongest.

xo all.

unexpected opportunities for love, money and women as Venus meets up with Uranus for the next few days, back later to write about that ....