Venus Square Saturn, Jupiter trine the Sun | Part I - yes, that light at the end of the tunnel is a train, and, yes, it's more than a train, too

Tunnel Hop by msatisfaction

So, where are we?

Jupiter has recently stationed retrograde in Scorpio - kind of suspending us in the shadows. Over the next few days as Jupiter becomes more stable moving backward (23-13 degrees Scorpio), we will start to get our bearings here.

We have been flooded with foggy, watery Pisces for weeks.

The Sun is still in Pisces, but both Mercury and Venus have moved from Pisces into fiery Aries. This has us in between two worlds - the endings of Pisces and the new beginnings/creation energy offered by Aries. We are headed toward the Spring Equinox on March 20th when the Sun will join Mercury and Venus in Aries.

But before we get to the equinox we have multiple things that are going to happen and we are going to be required to make adjustments.  

We can't see there from here just yet.

Mercury (our mental faculties, information, ideas) and Venus (love, money, women, beauty, self-esteem, values) have been traveling together (which they do from time to time) for a couple weeks. They met on March 5th in Pisces and then they moved into Aries together. 

Mercury is our conceptual reality - our everyday way of seeing things and communicating and Venus is our self-worth and our value. Having Mercury and Venus operating as a tag team we are getting an excellent look at where we value ourselves and where we don't value ourselves. The spaces we have to take a stand are very apparent to us now. And yes, our rough edges are rubbing up against other people's rough edges because Venus rules our relationships. Also any financial spaces (Venus rules our money) that don't line up - what we think we have vs what we think we need, what we think we have vs what we think we want, what we think we need vs what we really need, etc, are probably smacking us in the face.

Now, as soon as these two planets moved into Aries, because Aries squares Capricorn and steely Saturn is traveling through Capricorn - Mercury and Venus have been on a collision course toward a square with Saturn. So they, as us, have to pivot to keep going. Remember this is happening above AND also within the collective AND also within our personal lives.

Also remember I am writing about collective themes - your own life will be played out differently because these squares will be happening in certain spaces (houses) that have certain themes and then the strength of the transit for you will also depend on whether or not you have planets and points around the degrees impacted (around 8-11 degrees Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and also the qualities of your natal planets involved. Let's say you have a very strong Venus in your birth chart, well, maybe, she has no problem with Saturn and you pivot smoothly past a little hiccup. On the other hand if you have moved too far off course (Saturn rules fate) that same strong Venus becomes an obstacle - turns a molehill into a mountain - and makes it harder for you to change. See what I mean?

In the weekly I gave an example for LIBRA.

Here's another example of how this could look for another sign:

VIRGO/VIRGO RISING - Venus is in your 8th house of other people's money and resources - your spouse's income, debts, loans, taxes, inheritances - the ways you merge with other people - intimacy, sex, life, death. This is the area of life that is hitting Saturn. The wall, a limit, the reality police are knocking at THIS door. How might this look? Well, there are as many ways for this to play out as there are Virgos. Maybe your tax refund isn't going to be what you hoped it would be and you need to adjust. Maybe your inheritance isn't and you need to adjust. And remember your inheritance isn't just dollars in the back. Maybe an inherited tendency is what is hitting the wall. Maybe someone else doesn't want what you have to offer. Maybe you are comparing your life to other people's lives and seeing what you are missing (intimacy, resources). Maybe your sex life/sex drive has stopped. Maybe your partner's income is what it is, for now (that wall) - this is a transit, so transitory - and adjustments must be made to work with the reality of the situation. Maybe your partner's income stops or some resource you are receiving from someone else has dried up. The ways you feel unappreciated or inadequate are coming to your attention via other people's resources. Now, you also have Jupiter (retrograde in Scorpio) trining the Sun today. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is in your partnership house (7th/Pisces). Someone has your back here. You are on the same page. That retrograde Jupiter means you will be going back over an old issue/situation within a partnership, so you can both get your needs met. The deep stuff with other people's resources may be hitting a wall, but there is other stuff that can be talked about/worked on now within a partnership that will help get you through this. Bring the common ground partnership stuff into focus. There is something that can be leaned into here as you make that 90 degree pivot with the deeper resources/intimacy stuff.

For all of us Mercury hit Saturn (wall, limit, authority) on Sunday and has moved a bit past him. Maybe we heard a "no", maybe we had a new responsibility added to our plate.

Venus hits Saturn, by square, last night/today. I had a whopper of an argument last night which I can easily see was all about both of us not feeling seen/heard/appreciated/loved.

These squares with Saturn are requiring us to make a change to get around him. 

This is a 90 degree angle. If you are driving your car in a straight line and suddenly make a 90 degree turn, it would be a pretty big change of direction, right?! 

You are in Texas headed for Canada and end up in Rhode Island. 

This isn't some random thing that is happening to us. We didn't just decide to change course even if it looks like we just decided to change course. We can't go any further on this path. 

The road to Canada is closed. We are going to Rhode Island. Saturn is the heavy-handed taskmaster/father time/fate. 

His squares are necessary course corrections to get us back on track. 

This doesn't mean we are never going to get to Canada. But there is something we need to do/get/see/experience in Rhode Island first - hello Providence!

So, where is your "no" coming from and what have you done/are doing/need to do - to keep moving? Where are you feeling unloved and unappreciated? Are you worried about how you are going to pay for something? Where is reality biting you in the ass? What has been happening these past couple weeks and what is happening right now?

Although we have Venus squaring Saturn today possibly offering up some kind of let down, we also have the good news of Jupiter trining (brakes off) the Sun in Pisces today.

Yes, today could be a bit of a roller-coaster ride!

The trine offers optimism and confidence. The Sun is the light at the end of that Jupiter in Scorpio tunnel (and yes, the light is also the Saturn train - things can be both at the same time). There is some kind of workaround in our Scorpio house. Let's keep putting one foot in front of the other there. 

 This doesn't mean we get to avoid reality though - Saturn can't be shirked.

(also keep in mind that North Node in Leo - following our heart and not hiding from our rightful center stage)

Trines are viewed in astrology as weaker aspects than squares because most of us notice the problem areas more than we notice things that fall into place. Maybe we were programmed that way in order to stay alive - but that programming is no longer needed. Trines can be as powerful as squares and a trine involving Jupiter and the Sun is about as powerful as you can get for seeing something in a more positive light.

We can't avoid the reality train now, but there is another light at the end of the tunnel, too.

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of March 12th - we can't always get what we want, reality check, a wound gets re-opened, embarrasment, standing up for ourselves, an old man's face in our wallet, new moon approaches - we've got this thing

Our world by thefirebomb

The major aspects for this week are:

TUESDAY - Venus square Saturn, Mars trine Jupiter
WEDNESDAY - Mars square Chiron
SATURDAY - New Moon in Pisces (26 degrees), Sun square Galactic Center, Mars into Capricorn
SUNDAY - Sun conjunct Chiron

On MONDAY we start the day with the Moon in Capricorn - get to work, be responsible. The Moon's last aspect before going void for most of the day (11:36AM EDT through 6:44PM EDT) is a square to Uranus - so we could be feeling restless, maybe ambitious. Watch for hasty decisions/actions we might regret later. After the void, the Moon moves into clear-headed Aquarius. We could become more forward-leaning, more interested in public issues for the next couple days.

On both Monday and TUESDAY we will be impacted by Venus (in Aries) squaring Saturn (in Capricorn). Venus in Aries is us wanting what we want and wanting it now and here is that wall, that limit, that un-moveable object - those pesky freakin' RULES.

It's possible we don't get exactly what we want now.

Or extra responsibilities/work/commitments are added to our plate and that thing we thought we wanted becomes a little less shiny.

When Saturn exactly conjuncted my natal Venus a couple months ago I had to renew my driver's license. Now, I could have renewed by mail - this option is given out randomly in NJ and for years I complained that I was never selected and had to truck my butt down there to the Motor Vehicle Commission and get in line. This year I finally had the "just-mail-it-in" option, but had procrastinated the whole thing until the very last minute and had to truck my butt down there anyway.

It was pouring outside. I put on some waterproof eye make-up, spent extra time doing my hair, a crazy amount of time picking out just the right scarf, etc - I brought a mirror and an umbrella. You get the idea. Serious (Saturn) attention to appearance (Venus).

The rain and winds stopped just in time. The lines inside were very short. Everything was going my way. I get to the clerk's window and she says "remove the scarf", then "step back to the line and do not smile". Yes, New Jersey has a 'do not smile in driver's license' thing (somehow this is not hard for us here in N.J.). And, we also have a new 'your face fills the entire box' thing, so the license barely shows your hair, etc. WTH!

I remove my carefully selected scarf, relax my face and try to smile with my eyes. "Have a seat" she says, waving her hand toward the waiting area.

I leave 20 minutes later with what is surely the worst photo I have ever taken in my life. Certainly the oldest looking photo.

It look me about 30 seconds to think about old man Saturn sitting on my precious Venus (!) - appearance (Venus) on official document (Saturn), bringing age (Saturn) to beauty (Venus). I tried to think about a fine wine and about the myriad experiences that I wouldn't change for a second that had produced these lines/spots on my face, but all I could see was this ghastly photo staring at me from my wallet.

This wasn't even my mother's photo. I had skipped an entire generation and become my grandmother!

Hubs said, "not a bad photo actually - you just look serious and it's only for three years." Which depressed me even further - is this how I actually look and what the hell am I going to look like in three years?! - and why was he giving me even more sober Saturn! Ugh. My Venus in Sagittarius doesn't want to hear this crap. I decided to purchase a new wallet that night - something Venusian to house my old man scowl.

Of course Venus/Saturn could have brought something else entirely. Something much more challenging. I tell myself it was actually pretty clever of me to give the energy this space to work itself out. Plus, I am now smiling more often. And I have a new wallet.

Now, this story is about Saturn conjuncting Venus - taking her over. This week's energy is the square which is different.

This is our Venus (love, money, women, beauty, self-esteem, our values) restrained/cornered by Saturn (time, authority, responsibility). We can't go any further without changing something - we have to pivot. So, maybe we get a 'no". Maybe whatever is happening has us feeling less than desirable right now. There could be some kind of reality check. A limit is reached.

With Venus and Mercury traveling together through Aries this month we are going to have to stand up for ourselves regardless of the external outcome. The standing up is the outcome because the energy is shifted.

The good news is that on TUESDAY we also have a trine (brakes off) between beneficial Jupiter (retrograde in Scorpio) and the powerful Sun (in Pisces).

There is some alot of assistance here.

Whatever the "re" thing is (re-sorting, re-flecting, re-doing, re-visiting) that Jupiter is doing down there in our Scorpio house is where the light of the Sun is shining now. Moving toward that - where the energy is naturally taking us anyway - is the way around Saturn's wall.

EXAMPLE FOR LIBRA/LIBRA RISING - Venus is in your 7th house (Aries) of partners and partnerships, so the square - extra responsibility, the "no", the time is not on your side thing - comes from this area. Maybe your partner and you are on different pages about something. Maybe your partner is the one hitting some kind of wall or issue with authority or together you are dealing with a family/home issue. Maybe he/she is playing Saturn McScrooge and you are just not feeling very desirable now. Move your focus to where it naturally wants to go. The Sun in Pisces, your 6th house of daily activities, your health, co-workers, pets - tells you to keep moving forward - dot your i's cross your t's, get on a schedule, work the process, eat right, etc AND Jupiter retrograde in Scorpio, your 2nd house of money, your values and self esteem tells you that re-working your finances is needed - your money/self-esteem and your health working together will get you through this. Maybe money spent on a gym membership or healthier foods would be money well-spent now. Or better organizing (6th house) of your money and resources (2nd house) will help your partnership (7th house) issues to move more smoothly.

For all of us maybe work and responsibility (Saturn) create tension in our relationships (Venus). This could also be something about aging (Saturn) gracefully (Venus). Hmm. Maybe a relationship or value (Venus) is tested (Saturn). Maybe a financial (Venus) limit (Saturn) is hit. Maybe a situation with a woman doesn't go quite the way we had hoped or maybe a commitment is tested. There are many ways this could play out for us.

Whatever the wall is - allowing our energy (the Sun) to move where it naturally wants to go - with Jupiter reworking that Scorpio house(!) - is probably the best way to deal with this. Be creative. Pisces/Scorpio is very healing energy. Forgiveness. Compassion. Prayer.

Venus will be going retrograde next fall in Scorpio and hitting these Jupiter retrograde degrees, so let's get this right now with Jupiter so we can benefit (attract) from Venus then. 

On WEDNESDAY, and we could be feeling this Tuesday night - Mars (in Sagittarius) will be squaring wounded healer Chiron.

This doesn't feel good.

Mars anger could come out in a sudden burst.

Our actions could hurt someone else. Someone else's actions could hurt us. An old wound can be triggered. There could be something here about guilt or shame. Maybe we are feeling confident and then we get rejected. Something new could feel like a huge risk and maybe the bigger the move we make the bigger the splash of cold water in our face. We could have something exposed that embarrasses us and we'll just have to deal with it. Mars is about to move into Capricorn, where he is exalted, he just crossed the Galactic Center and Chiron is preparing to hit the Aries point on his way out of Pisces (I am going to write about the big picture in a post this week).  

The bumps and bruises are part of the process of release. It could still hurt though. 

Keep in mind the Sun will be back here on Sunday with a big old flashlight.

The Moon continues her journey through "just be yourself" Aquarius. Maybe we are not so interested in duty and responsibility now. The Moon will square Jupiter - this would not be a good time for big financial/intimacy moves and then she goes on to sextile Uranus creating opportunities with unusual ideas or people. Or maybe an opportunity to take a break and do something else.

While we sleep the Moon will enter Pisces.

On THURSDAY, the Moon in Pisces could focus us on art, healing, spirituality, our dreams and intuition. Our left brain is asleep and our right brain is activated. We could be feeling more vulnerable but also more sensitive and compassionate. On Thursday night the Moon will sextile (opportunity) stable Saturn, so our best time to be productive will probably be quite late in the day.

I will write about Friday and of course this weekend's New Moon in Pisces and other big energies in the weekend post and flesh the week out with a couple dailies since I didn't get to this post on Sunday and feel like I am rushing it out this morning!

The week sounds a bit challenging now that I reread it.

We could feel like one minute we are raring to go and the next adrift and unmotivated. Jupiter has just turned retrograde, Mercury is walking his shadow steps, Mars has just crossed the Galactic Center and will be changing signs after a long journey through Sagittarius at the end of the week- we are expanding. And the times they are a changing folks!

I will write some dailies! Don't start anything new today with that void Moon. If we get one or two ego hits this week know we can handle it. We were born to do this. We've got this thing!

xo all

Mercury is preparing to go retrograde. BACK UP YOUR FILES.

Weekend Forecast for Creatives | Jupiter stations retrograde - reassessing the growth/empty promises, doing what has to be done, work now play later, plus Trump stands alone

flower coffee by YourAnitte

Last night Jupiter stationed retrograde at 23 degrees Scorpio.

HERE is a post (by sign which should offer some tips for personal and collective themes) from last October when Jupiter ingressed into Scorpio.

We have been digging around in that basement for months. Now we come up into the kitchen. We make ourselves a sandwich and a cup of tea. We step out the back door and take a breath (in between bites of peanut butter and jam, of course).

We have gone as far as we can go with something here for now. 

It's time to work with what we have gathered so far - time to do the "re's" here - re-fine, re-visit, re-lease, re-kindle, re-search, re-connect, re-view, re-assess, re-consider.

Jupiter tends to rush and the details can get overlooked. So now we go back and look at them. We won't be adding any more pieces to this puzzle. We will just be dealing with the pieces we have already uncovered. OK? What does it all mean?

Whatever we have been experiencing/working with here since October either pauses now or heats up via a re-set. Either way there is a shift.

Jupiter, being completely made of gases, is known to promise much more than he delivers. It is literally a planet made up of hot air.

So we could have been dealing with alot of empty promises or exaggerations over the last few months via the theme of our natal Scorpio house. The retrograde will be the time we put all the pieces together, decide what stays and what goes, what is true and what isn't. It's a time for the inner growth to catch up with the outer growth.

What has been growing in your life since last October?

If it is something good this will be a time to go within - dig roots, strengthen your holdings.

If it is something you aren't happy with or the promised/hoped for goodies haven't been arriving - the next few months will be the time to make the changes to line up with what you want. Maybe you need to lower your expectations (just a smidge!), maybe you aren't really following your heart with this one (Leo North Node!), maybe you just need to work a little harder (Saturn in Capricorn!).

Jupiter will station direct in July (at 13 degrees Scorpio) and start covering entirely new degrees next October.

When Jupiter first ingressed into Scorpio the Harvey Weinstein stories were breaking. And over the last few months we have seen the growth of the #metoo movement. Probably that movement gets re-evaluated now.

The Parkland Shooting energy will also be re-worked. The Parkland students and others are organizing a March for Our Lives - anti-gun violence rally in Washington D.C. (and other locations) on March 24th.

On March 24th, the Sun will be squaring Mars.

This is the first square of a new Mars cycle that kicked off when Mars conjuncted the Sun back on July 27, 2017 - this is when North Korea sent that ballistic missile on its almost hour-long journey that ended somewhere in the Sea of Japan - the same missile that military experts determined had the range to quite possibly reach Chicago.

Since Mars has a near-exact 79 year cycle and we are re-living (not exactly obviously because the other players/planets are in different places, but almost the identical Mars degrees) the year 1939 - a very dangerous period in world history, maybe this particular rally (anti-gun violence) on this particular day (Mars cycle's first square) can put the Mars/Sun narrative to a higher use (than the scary-ass North Korea storyline) and help shift the collective timeline to a better, safer one for all of us. Maybe we have learned something in the last few decades? Let's pray for that.

Almost certainly other big stories regarding corruption - power, money, sex, death - will be hitting the news now, too, to be gone over during this retrograde. Mercury is also walking his upcoming retrograde degrees now.

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

On FRIDAY, with Jupiter sitting all still and powerful, we have the Moon in Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter). Normally a very Jupiterian day would be good news - Jupiter is the great benefic after all, but today's Moon has multiple challenges.

First, she squares the Sun - this is the last quarter Moon of the month, usually a time of tension - in Sagittarius/Pisces this could be a challenge where we are forced to "go on faith". Something stable (maybe a belief) could feel like it is dissolving. Remember where we are in our monthly cycle. The Moon is waning. It is a natural time of release as we build toward the next New Moon in Pisces on March 17th - yes, we have had all this Pisces and haven't even had the Pisces New Moon yet!

Sagittarius/Pisces could be what we believe (Sagittarius) challenged by what is actually true (Pisces).

As the closing square of this cycle it is a good time for compromise. Someone needs to back down a bit, maybe it could be us.

The Moon hooks up with Mars around dinnertime making everyone irritable and antsy. It will be way too easy to take things personally that aren't personal. Independent work and learning is favored.

Mars is going to trine (brakes off) unpredictable Uranus on Sunday so whatever that is stirring up could be activated emotionally now.

The Moon then goes void after a trine (brakes off) with rebellious and freedom-seeking Uranus at 9:27PM EST - a good time to do something else. If Moon/Mars brought out an argument - now someone is making a break for it or both parties are finding a new way to make up.

By SATURDAY, the Moon has moved into all-business Capricorn. The weekend could be productive. And ambitious. Maybe somewhat cold and calculating as our emotions contract to just get the job done or weather the storm.

We are concerned with duty and obligation now - our security, our reputation.

Expect news (this energy is exact on Sunday) regarding career, authority, goals, status - a limit, we get a "no" which is probably really more a "not right now" - Mercury (news, information, siblings, transportation) hits a wall (Saturn).

Remember we have Venus trailing Mercury now and they meet up again on the 19th. We can attract (Venus) what we speak (Mercury) very quickly now. Watch your language. Say what you want to happen/have. Speaking about what we don't want is only going to deliver more of what we don't want to us even faster now.

While in Capricorn the Moon is going to conjunct Saturn - good for self-evaluation, being responsible, acting like a grown-up. Something could be cemented now.

On SUNDAY, we have a mixed bag. The Sun (in Pisces) will sextile Pluto. This is productive and useful and we can get alot done - this gives us more passion for whatever we are doing and opportunities to shine.

We also have Mars trining (brakes off) Uranus. Our actions won't want to be boxed in or routine. Anything that feels even slightly like a collar is going to feel way too tight. This is energy to break free from anything familiar and do something new. Our instincts should be on target with risks taken now. We get (Mars) what we want by taking different actions now.

With the Moon in Capricorn this would also be good energy to strategize an escape plan for whatever isn't working.

So, Saturday do what has to be done so on Sunday you can do what you want to do, at least for some of the time.

Keep in mind Mercury is hitting Saturn - that wall (Venus follows on Tuesday) - so something may not quite work out as planned. Also keep in mind Mercury is going to 'get past' Saturn - yes, a bit weather-beaten and aged, but still moving. Saturn's ability to be the ultimate NO was always dependent on his position as the final planet in our universe which hasn't been the case since the invention of the telescope.

We will talk about this more next week.

xo all

Again let's pay attention to what is happening in our life (and in the news now) because we will be working with these story-lines for awhile. Uranus was un-aspected in yesterday's Jupiter Retrograde chart making unexpected news and unexpected actions taken now play out rather powerfully over the next few months.

Trump (with his Uranus/Sun/North Node conjunction) IS Uranus and was un-restrainable yesterday - initiating tariffs that could spark a trade war/market problems - just might with this energy, whatever happens here there will be consequences - and announcing an upcoming meeting with North Korea's leader - almost surely going to change the U.S/North Korea trajectory - we'll pray for good news here too. Trump's Stormy weather - the porn star/payoff story (very Scorpio) isn't going away anytime soon either. Especially with Jupiter ruling the media! And with Jupiter ruling legal issues, Mueller's indictments will no doubt be front page news again soon - especially with Trump - that un-aspected Uranus come to life - standing all alone at Jupiter's station.

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of March 5th - new energy, thinking gets focused, words get more instinctual, me-first, what do I want, silence is broken, exam time kicks off, love is a battlefield

warrior by Grinch7

OK, this is the week we begin to move out of Pisces season - as both Mercury and Venus move into Aries AND we start to move into a multiple retrograde season - as Jupiter stations retrograde and Mercury starts to hit the degrees he will "re-walk" during his retrograde later in the month.

So early in the week is the time to make some fresh changes and then pay attention to what is happening later in the week, because Mercury retrograde's upcoming theme will start to show itself now.

March itself will offer us alot of energy to go within, make new plans and devise new strategies. All the planets have been full steam ahead since December and in some area of everyone's life a slow down/a deep breath is needed.

Mid-to-late April looks like more of a time for bold moves. Although obviously some things won't wait, the most important stuff will be worth waiting for. Sometimes when we hesitate to take action it is because we instinctively know the thing we are doing is important enough to get right - and we care enough about the outcome to proceed humbly and thoroughly.

Also, note Mercury retrograde is coming - LET'S BACK UP OUR FILES. Get your car serviced.

On MONDAY, the Moon is in Scorpio and our focus could be on Scorpio themes - finances, loans, debts, other people's money, intimacy, reproduction, psychology, sex, birth, death, situations that involve 3 parties. Scorpio burns through all the superficial crap. The negative here could be power/control and jealousy/obsession issues. Good energy for research and getting to the bottom of things. Tonight the Moon will sextile Saturn - this feels like the energy needed to see something through to the (bitter?) end.

While we sleep Mercury will move into Aries. If you wake up with a headache this is why! Ha!

On TUESDAY, the Moon is in Scorpio and those Scorpian themes from yesterday continue to be a focus. The Moon will trine (brakes off) Neptune providing help from behind the scenes and through healing, art, spirituality, romance, connection. If you are starting something today or doing something important that you have control of the timing with - it could be a good idea to wait until after 7:00PM EST when the Moon is sextiling Pluto and has already crossed over Jupiter for the best outcome.

Both Mercury (late last night) and Venus (tonight) move from watery Pisces into fiery, independent Aries. They will hook-up exactly on the 19th so we could get good news then although with Mercury stationing retrograde just a couple days later it will be subject to a bit of a do-over.

For now, our language and thinking becomes more focused, clear-headed and passionate. We don't want to talk about/think about everything (Pisces) we just want to talk about this one specific thing (Aries).

Mercury (ideas, thinking, language) in Aries puts our instinct into words. Our mind gets faster. Our tongue gets sharper. Words get pushy. It is easier to speak up for ourselves and ask for what we want/need. We can also more easily pick an argument as language becomes more competitive. Mercury in Aries says, "I know what I think and this is what I think."

The silence that was so golden in Pisces - gets broken in Aries.

The best use of this energy through May 13th (because of Mercury's upcoming retrograde he/she will be in Aries for a long time) would be saying what you really think - and yes, this can get you in trouble, so don't be a fool about it - keep in mind Aries impulses can be either self-aggrandizing and immature or soulful and sparking a needed fire - also solving a problem (fire brings fresh insights), initiating a new course of study and creating a bold, 'hot-off-the-press' plan.

Think: fresh start with Mercury themes - words, thinking, writing, learning, teaching, ideas, sibling issues, transportation, your local community. Also bringing fresh words and fresh thinking into your Aries house.

While Mercury is in Aries he will conflict with both Saturn and Pluto multiple times so our ideas and our thinking is going to be tested over the next few weeks.

With Venus moving into Mars' space, Aries Suns and Aries Ascendants become more attractive - both easier on the eye and able to attract what they want. All our natal Aries houses become more attractive, too. Attracting both what we want (Venus) and what we line up with energetically - as the house itself gets woken up by attractive Venus. Not that our Aries house has been able to sleep since 2011 when Uranus moved in anyway!

(a heads up that Uranus will be moving on out of Aries in just a few weeks - won't be back in our lifetimes - although he will pop back in for his retrograde - this is kind of a last-call for big time energetic support for self/brand (Aries) reinvention (Uranus) so you might want to think on that)

It is long considered 'fact' in astrology that Venus doesn't like being in the "me-first", take no prisoners sign of Aries and answering to Mars. I think this view is certainly skewed by patriarchy.

It's true Venus (love, women, money, resources, values) ruler of Taurus (comfort) and Libra (relationship) can attract what she wants in a less assertive/aggressive manner in other signs, but there are lessons for all of us about stepping into our personal responsibility here.

In Aries, Venus functions best when she puts herself first (and we have the North Node in Leo - whenever two transits are saying the same thing it is kind of a no-brainer).

In Aries, Venus will be thinking, "what's best for me?".

In Aries, Venus is a WARRIOR (and love is a battlefield ... cue Pat Benatar).

Something to keep in mind as we give ourselves permission to go after what we want (always that fly in the ointment) is the impulsive nature of Aries. If Venus was always in Aries our relationships would last 15 minutes and the things we bought/valued would very quickly fall out of favor and we'd be on to the next thing. Maybe not such a good long-haul energetic, but as a transit, ie transitory, Venus in Aries can get on with the business of getting us what we want in a very effective manner. 

With both planets moving from water to fire - we should feel a creative burst of something fresh and exciting encouraged by impulsivity early in the week. But before they (as us) get too carried away they (as us) will have to get past Saturn (authority, a limit). Mercury first on Sunday and then Venus the following Tuesday. We'll talk about these transits as we move through them.

On WEDNESDAY the Moon is Void from 3:55AM EST through 5:03PM EST. Don't start anything new today or launch anything you need something to come of. With the Moon's last aspect before the Void being a sextile (opportunity) to Pluto (power) - this could be a good day to file your taxes!

After the void the Moon moves into Sagittarius and trines (brakes off) Venus (freshly in Aries). Good for money and relationships - a creative flow of high minded ideas and energy. Good aspect for business and for getting work that we love into the public sphere. If you send out a newsletter, emails, etc to the public - this could be a good time for that.
 
On THURSDAY, the Moon is in Sagittarius likely focusing us on Sagittarian themes - what is foreign to us, travel, higher education, weddings, the media, legal issues, politics. Around dinner-time EST the Moon will square Neptune fogging things up a bit.

Jupiter stations retrograde at 23 degrees Scorpio. That 23rd degree has been pinging for awhile and if you have any planets or points near it you will be feeling it. Jupiter has been methodically making his way through Scorpio since last October (#metoo) expanding the Scorpian themes of power, control, sex, big money and intimacy.

A planet is uber powerful at his/her station - think of stopping your finger as you move it through a candle and how intense the heat would feel. This is Jupiter in Scorpio now.

As he begins to backtrack through Scorpio - he will get back to 13 degrees Scorpio in July - we will go back over whatever his forward movement has stirred up in our lives since October - both personally and collectively. Whatever growth has been created now needs time to be tended. There are some weeds to pull. We could be tested.

Not only collectively, but especially those with planets or points from 13-23 degrees Scorpio (or Taurus, Leo and Aquarius), which is probably a good chunk of the population, so everyone will be feeling this either through their own situations or situations involving other people close to them who are being directly impacted.

Since 23 degrees Scorpio is the degree where Mars stationed direct at the end of June 2016, this is already a hot degree. Any loose ends from that time frame are getting reinvigorated now, too.

This would be an excellent time to start some kind of detox program because that is the kind of energy Jupiter retrograde in Scorpio will support.

On FRIDAY, the Moon continues her journey through Sagittarius focusing us on those Sagittarian themes and our big-picture beliefs. She will hook up with fiery Mars around dinner-time EST making us more irritable, prone to squabbles, taking things too personally.

I will write more about Friday in the weekend forecast which will also include Mercury's first wall in Aries (limit, authority) as he hits Saturn on Sunday.

So, watch for what happens this week, especially around Thursday because we will be working with this energy for the next few weeks and enjoy, and make use of, the bold new energy coming at us on Tuesday!

xo all