being the observer and not the absorber, then from water to fire, tomorrow's necessary changes and action, saturday is not a day to be too comfortable ..

 

The Moon is finishing up in Pisces today. Hopefully you took yesterday's respite/healing. Maybe allowed that connection to universal love to heal some tension that Aquarius Moon broke open. As I said in the weekly HERE, Thursday (even this morning) was the calm in the storm (keep in mind this is the EYE of the storm). That Pisces energy continues for most of today, although unlike yesterday, today it is not unchallenged. It's still a good time to make amends/apologies. To make art/music. To pray/meditate. Pisces Moons can bring a magical healing of the tensions between people. Words are connecting/well-received. Yesterday, Venus moved over the South Node - old money, old relationships, things might need to be purchased/paid for that should have already been purchased/paid for. Things/people/situations we used to love are being looked at intensely with an eye toward tossing what is dead/life-less. Or those things are being shaken abruptly loose (Venus's opposition to Uranus).

Today, the Pisces energy is more agitated/overwhelming. There are meetings with Neptune and Jupiter. A square to that retrograde Mars. We are still very sensitive (so is everyone else) and likely nostalgic. There is an opportunistic sextile to Pluto in Capricorn - we want to use that to stay on course/get things done. The Moon's closing meeting with Jupiter this evening (EDT) makes everything BIGGER, but also brings faith/hope, the luck that comes when we - take a chance, follow our good instincts, are confident. 

Let's talk about Jupiter for a  minute before we look at tomorrow because I never did do a post about his return to Pisces. Jupiter back in Pisces brings another connection to what we had going on back in May 2022. Neptune, the ruler of Pisces has been in Pisces for over a decade and has a couple years to go. Jupiter, the ancient ruler of Pisces, has recently returned to Pisces for just a few weeks, before he heads back into Aries for the BIG START. 

 

Jupiter is Zeus, king of the Gods. He is strong in Pisces, but covering old ground. This isn't a bad thing, but exactly where we need to be. There is something we missed back here in Pisces, something we dropped and need to find. Jupiter in Pisces (among other things) is our impulse to DO GOOD. To be benevolent/charitable. We will feel these kind of impulses now and over the next few weeks. For some people, they will just follow that impulse and do the thing. Other people will overthink the impulse (because Mars is retrograde in Gemini) and think of the reasons why they shouldn't do whatever the impulse is telling them to do (that is good, benevolent, charitable) and then not do it. And still other people will weigh the pros and cons - which is still possible now, with Mars' ruler Mercury in Scorpio (that mutual reception thing we talked about before), so Mercury (our thinking) can get back to himself through Mars - choices, multiple things, doing things twice, etc. There are always reasons not to follow our good instincts, so are we in the habit of following the good reasons or the good instincts? Following our Jupertarian good instincts is really our shortest path to prosperity. Jupiter is also about our joy - so are we in the habit of being joyful/seeking joy or in the habit of thinking "I will be joyful when ...". Or maybe instead of being in the habit of following our joy we are in the habit of waiting for it. And, of course this isn't always, or maybe even usually, a conscious thing. We are in Eclipse season, this is a time of deep noticing, so think about it. We don't want to miss these gold nuggets we missed the first time through here, AGAIN. Mars is retrograde in Gemini - change is possible, we are getting this long period of "re" energy to work with. Jupiter is about THE EXTRA and in Pisces, this EXTRA is unlimited. Something to think about. Also remember, today, with multiple Pisces aspects, through our sensitive Moon (and a sensitive Moon itself may not feel good to you depending on your own Moon), notice what you are ABSORBING. If it is something you don't want/doesn't serve you - push back into observer mode and shake it off.

 

OK, on to tomorrow, which in most ways is already in play. 

 

On SATURDAY, we have the Sun conjunct the South Node, Venus opposing Uranus and the Aries Moon inconjunct the Scorpio Sun. We talked about most of this in the weekly - surprises with love, money. Old intensities/mergers/power struggles/obsessions/big money/Scorpio stuff brought into the spotlight, so it can be released or transformed. If we are TOO comfortable on Saturday, this will probably NOT be a good thing.

Saturday's Moon is this month's Waxing Inconjunct. Our LAST adjustment - remember we just talked about the Aquarius square as an adjustment needed before the Eclipse. Well, here is really the LAST one. This one hits us from Aries - our action, ambition, anger, initiative, courage.

The Aries Moon (13 degrees - which is the degree of the Nodes and Sun now in fixed signs) moves into a square with the Scorpio Sun. The Scorpio Sun is intensely focused on what's under the covers/the hood. The deep. The complicated. The Aries Moon comes along and wants/needs something RIGHT NOW. Some kind of adjustment is needed. Aries action - so brave, assertive, quick, likely short-term. We are working with what is right in front of us. And we have to take this action/maybe deal with this (it could be an Aries person, too - maybe even angry or aggressive), so the Lunar Eclipse energy - a few days from now - when the Moon is in Taurus and OPPOSING the Sun - will be PAST THIS. Does that make sense? What is frustrating now needs to be dealt with now. This probably won't be a long-term fix and it may be uncomfortable if you aren't comfortable with Aries energy of quick action. Think of that Fool card in Tarot - off he/we go! Note - the Moon will be merged with Chiron when she inconjuncts the Sun, connecting with our vulnerabilities/wounds, making this more challenging, BUT also MORE EMPOWERING. There is a give and take here, rock and hard place. Things won't be tied up with a big red bow easily, or maybe at all, so don't expect that, but we have work to do here. The Moon will be applying to Sunday's sextile to Mars, ruler of Aries, which will help, especially with old situations that require new action. 

(for some people, the Aries Moon might speak of the need for physical exercise or even sex, or one person's need for sex and another person's need for intimacy)

 

I am not sure if my next post will be the Eclipse post or more build-up to the Eclipse. I think we have to get back to Venus because so much relationship/money/resource stuff is being activated. 

 

In the meantime, you should feel the Aries energy come into play tonight as the Moon leaves Pisces - water for fire. 

 

Allow yourself access to this energy/allow yourself to get fired up. Just remember all the background challenging energies and keep yourself safe. Some people will be itching for a reason to be an angry/irritated assh*le.

 

xo all 

 

photography by the amazing ankazhuravleva

the importance of what is happening right now in Aquarius ... cosmic second chances and course corrections, do your Saturn!

 

 

We are in the Eclipse spin cycle - moving EXACTLY (since last night until tomorrow morning) through the midpoint of the powerful Scorpio Solar Eclipse (conjunct Venus - the more psychological Eclipse) and the powerful Taurus Lunar Eclipse (conjunct Uranus - the more physical Eclipse). 

 

It's All Saint's Day. The Day of the Dead. The veils are very thin.

What we are doing now, how we are responding to what is happening, what we are saying/re-saying, thinking/re-thinking, what makes us uncomfortable, what makes us angry is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. 

 

Karmic knots are coming untangled.

Today, the Moon is in Aquarius. The sign of the FUTURE.

 

Through today's machinations the 2021 - 2022 Saturn/Uranus square is pulled into our physical bodies - her square to the South Node/Scorpio, her square to the North Node/Taurus, this afternoon's square to Uranus in Taurus, tonight's crash landing on Saturn/Aquarius - which doesn't have to be a crash. These are the same physical bodies that are made of the bodies of our parents and their parents (the momentum from which we came) AND carry the seeds of our children (even when your physical childbearing days are long behind you). The same is true of our past lives and future lives.

 

Our time is not our own. What we do now is not just about us. 

 

We are reaching backward and the future is reaching backward toward us.

 

The Aquarius Moon can be eccentric, detached, rebellious - she pushes us to be authentic. Sometimes the Moon in Aquarius will create emotional chaos, connecting with the trauma-holding, higher-mind of Uranus, and knowing intuitively the kinds of splintered conflict that might lead to awakening - breakdown to breakthrough. 

The Sun is in Scorpio and the Moon will square him, too. The Aquarius Moon allows us to step back a bit from situations that have grown too intense AND also reminds us that freedom/liberation always comes with a cost.  

 

The empty leg of this whole thing is LEO. Our heart. Creativity. Love. Our hero's journey. Our spark. And, yes, Leo is also the 'ego' and greed and more complicated than this, but let's keep in mind, something in our current situation may be lacking the Leo - because the leg is empty - so, there is something here - or within the theme of our natal Leo house - that needs to be brought to the table as our hands are emptied and cards played (the Eclipses play out).  

This is fixed energy. Something has to BREAK. Or maybe it broke last night? 

 

Today, as the Moon approaches Saturn - the ancient ruler of Aquarius, so this is not a bad thing, but it is a SERIOUS/SOBER thing - we want to be doing the RIGHT THING. This isn't the thing that is different for everyone. This is the universal RIGHT THING. Saturn's right thing. Your responsibility. You know what this is.

This is a BIG freaking deal. 

 

The same thing occurred six months ago during the last Scorpio/Taurus Eclipses. What was going on for you last May - actually, late April through about the middle of May - the days around last Mother's Day? THIS IS OUR SECOND CHANCE WITH THIS STUFF. If we didn't do the 'right thing' then, we can do the right thing now. Note - situations may not be exactly the same, but you can see/feel the connections. It's not our last chance, but we don't want to wait until our last chance because the next one in six months (which also, isn't really the last, but do you want to wait 18 years!) doesn't have this one's THUNDERBOLT. We want to get it right this time. We don't have to get it perfect. Life is pushing us/squeezing us to get us on a better timeline - something more fertile, abundant, self-valuing, more simple.

If we are feeling the squeeze right now, we are getting a SECOND CHANCE.

After the Moon squares the Nodes, three personal planets are crossing the South Node of Fate while opposing change-maker Uranus. This is a very BIG DEAL. There are past life/familial connections to almost everything right now. It is not a coincidence the OTHER personal planet, Mars, is retrograde in dualistic Gemini. Changing our mind. Changing our actions. More second chances.

After the Moon meets and passes Saturn tonight we will be on our course for that Lunar Eclipse on Uranus next Tuesday. Is there an adjustment (in our actions, attitude, language, thinking, beliefs) as a result of what happened last night/today that needs to happen before that Taurus Eclipse's THUNDERBOLT?

Tomorrow morning, the Aquarius Moon will meet up with Vesta - the fire we 'need to keep burning' to stay alive. Our sacred focus. Notice what you are thinking/talking about. Watch your language - this is a powerful time to ENGAGE YOUR MIND/connect with genius thinking that pulls us into the future. The Moon/Vesta conjunction will be in a smooth air trine to that retrograde Mars in Gemini. This is the Moon's final aspect in fixed air Aquarius before she squares the Nodes of Fate during next week's Eclipse from fixed earth Taurus. A trine to that 'doing things twice/doing two things at once' retrograde Mars. Smooth flow. Brakes off. Something can slide right into place. This is fast energy, maybe agitated/angry/impulsive. But it is getting things into the open that need to be in the open. Cards are getting reshuffled. Quickly. 

This mid-point of the Eclipse cycle matters. 

Our Aquarius house is being tested today and tomorrow- A MINI-VERSION OF WHAT THE SATURN/URANUS SQUARE HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT - the battle for the Age of Aquarius!! 

 

Here is a quick rundown. Use your rising sign for best results, if you don't know your rising sign, you can always bring your Sun to the first house and use that, both are in play here.

The Moon/Saturn today is about (note - Aries is also a collective influence) -

ARIES rising - this is about your groups, friendships, the goals that bring you into connection with other people, the future, your responsibility to the collective

TAURUS rising - gets a challenging square - this is about your career, reputation, voice in the world, step into your responsibility, the North Node is in your sign - you are undergoing a personal rebirth

GEMINI rising - gets a supportive air trine - this is about your beliefs, your travels, religion, legal situations, higher education, weddings

CANCER rising - this is about your debts, merged monies, intimacies, sex, inheritance, life and death situations or situations that feel like life and death - how can something here be handled more responsibly?

LEO rising - gets a challenging opposition - this is about your partnerships/partner/contracts, other people - this is likely something they are dealing with and you are dealing with this through them

VIRGO rising - this is about your health (maybe work, pets) - TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF - this is about being responsible/healthy with your day-to-day routine

LIBRA rising - gets a supportive air trine - this is about your children, creative projects, what you are giving birth to, your heart's desire, your physical heart, romance

SCORPIO rising - gets a challenging square - this is about your family/home, your foundation, your roots, the South Node is in your sign - you are undergoing a very personal transformation

SAGITTARIUS rising this is about your agreements, words, contracts, conversations, ideas, your mental constructs, communications, be responsible with your words

CAPRICORN rising - this is about your money, your resources - big financial transactions happening, be responsible with your money/resources, how are things lining up with your values

AQUARIUS rising - this is about your physical self, your brand, the way you present yourself in the world, take responsibility for the energy/presence you carry

PISCES rising - this is about the past, karmic knots that Cappy people/situations are helping untangle very old knots - this is a cliche I do not like, but know "whatever is happening is happening for a reason" you probably can't see because it is behind you, respond with your highest self, forgive, have compassion

I hope something here is helpful. 

xo all

weekly astrology forecast | october 31 - November 6, 2022 - the eclipse spin cycle continues, scorpio on steroids, breakdowns, breakthroughs, break-ups, surprises and fated change, SEEING THE SILVER LINING

 

We are in the Eclipse spin cycle now - in between two powerful Eclipses. Personal and collective timelines are SHIFTING. Old karmas are being burned away. So, I will report the aspects, but it is not really possible to see where things are heading in Eclipse season!

Life is determined - between last week's Solar Eclipse in Scorpio and next week's BIG Lunar Eclipse in Taurus - to spit us out in quite a different state than when we went in. 

 

What is happening in your life? I would guess it is something BIG. Or about to be. 

 

Old issues have a way of coming back around during Eclipse cycles to be sorted out/put to bed. New situations arrive with big ramifications. Some of these old issues are childhood/familial DNA/past lives, so we may or may not be totally aware of the importance of what is happening now. There are connections back to the last Eclipse cycle in May. Old debts are coming due to be marked paid in full, so we can MOVE ON. 

People are often telling me about the things that are falling apart, but the truth is whether something is falling apart or coming together almost always DEPENDS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING. If we are looking at the old structures/what used to support us/maybe even who we used to be - we are going to see what is falling apart. 

But isn't there some place else we can be looking? Jupiter has returned to Pisces - THERE IS A SILVER LINING HERE SOMEWHERE!

This week, Venus, followed by the Sun and then Mercury, is pulled into the ongoing Saturn/Uranus square through the deep waters of Scorpio - intensity/maybe crisis. WE ARE FEELING THE SQUEEZE - finances, relationships, life and death matters or matters that feel like life and death. That Uranus opposition is asking us just how uncomfortable we need to be before we CHANGE WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. With Venus ruling the North Node of our collective way forward and just coming off her solar cleansing and not so strong in Scorpio - we probably aren't getting exactly what we want here. 

There are hidden motives and drives and desires. There are karmas connected to old lives/ancestors being balanced out. There is more happening than what appears to be happening!

As Venus moves away from the Sun, Mercury moves closer. Our mind isn't clear. It is hard to be objective with Mercury combust. We can't believe everything we are seeing/hearing/thinking. Combustion (planet burned out by its proximity to the Sun) is a point when the old is being seared away. The planet being impacted is weakened. The new is being seeded, but the ground is still scorched. This seeding isn't a quick process. It will be December before we really know what is happening now/what we are starting.

And Mars is retrograde and out of bounds! And, in Gemini, answering to that combust Mercury! While we are in between two powerful Eclipses. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. But, also, good witches and magic slippers and hopefully other people who have our back. 

Jupiter, returned to Pisces for a final few weeks, is asking us to reflect on our highest/most interconnected nature (a remembering of who we really are - who are we at our very, very best) AND our old dreams. Not because we are going backward, because we really, truly aren't. But because there is some gold back there. Something Piscean we need to go back for and bring with us into the future. This connects back to early May (so does the Eclipse!). Jupiter flies through Aries one final time (December 20, 2022 - May 16, 2023) to expand whatever we have been brave enough to start. 

Let's unpack the week!

MONDAY - Sun trines Juno, Ceres trines the North Node

TUESDAY - First Quarter Moon (8 degrees Aquarius)

WEDNESDAY - Venus conjunct South Node, inconjunct Chiron and opposing North Node

SATURDAY - Sun conjunct South Node, inconjunct Chiron and opposing North Node, Venus opposite Uranus

SUNDAY - Mercury conjunct South Node, inconjunct Chiron and opposing North Node

MONDAY - Get work done early as the Cappy Moon, coming off her monthly meeting with powerful Pluto makes an opportunistic and productive sextile to a retrograde Jupiter in Pisces - the dream works when we do/making the dream real. The Moon goes void at 10:15AM EDT through 11:43AM EDT when she moves into airy/intellectual Aquarius. Should be a nice Halloween - Happy Samhain! - except for the possibility of a snafu around dinner time (again EDT) through a square to Mercury - disagreement, misunderstanding, transportation/local community/school/sibling/tech issue. The square does pull Scorpio into Halloween though which this Scorpio rising/8th house Moon feels appropriate :)

This is also the day the Sun trines Juno and Ceres trines the North Node. The Sun/Juno in Scorpio/Pisces speaks of smooth flow with emotional commitment/depth/intimacy/honesty within close relationships/contracts. Ceres/North Node in Virgo/Taurus speaks of tangible improvements/fixes via taking care of ourselves/our work/our pets in ways that contribute to a more fertile/bountiful/simplified future. Brakes off for good things baby.  

On TUESDAY, the weather changes via this lunar month's First Quarter Square (Moon in Aquarius squaring the Sun in Scorpio) which stirs up tension/frustration that creates a need to step back/detach. Too much immersion in the dark waters of Scorpio - secrets, third party situations, dark issues, power struggles, life and death, merged money - becomes uncomfortable/stressful and this is a time to approach things from a smarter/newer vantage. Get some perspective. Get some FRESH AIR. The Moon will also be squaring Venus (love and money) and Uranus (surprises) and meeting Saturn (reality), so definitely some challenges on Tuesday. Channel that Aqua Moon and keep a cool head/be smart. 

On WEDNESDAY, the Moon in Aquarius goes void off a supportive trine to that newly retrograde Mars in Gemini. She is void from 7:08AM EDT until 2:46PM EDT when she moves into Pisces.

WEDNESDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY

 

Venus meets the South Node, inconjuncts Chiron and opposes the North Node (which she rules). The Sun will be making these same aspects on Saturday and Mercury on Sunday. If we aren't already feeling this we probably will be today or maybe yesterday with Luna activating all this through Aquarius first. 

 

These South Node conjunctions - what is opposing our simpler/more abundant future - is about the theme of our Scorpio house or the collective Scorpian themes of - merged monies, other people's money, third party situations, taxes, insurance, inheritance, life/death, reproduction, sex, intimacy, deep research or psychological work, life and death situations, power struggles, manipulations, compulsions. Venus pulls in our values/what we want, love, our resources, money. Mercury pulls in information/conversations. The Sun shines a light on old situations/habits. That Venusian opposition to Uranus creates a shake-up. Whatever it takes to change our relationships. Whatever it takes to change our resources. Whatever it takes to change our values.

 

This is all moving us toward next week's Full Moon Lunar Eclipse with the Moon conjunct Uranus EXACT. 

 

Fated changes. Things are being shaken/not stirred. 

The inconjuncts to Chiron show the discomfort we are feeling. The old wounds from childhood, our ancestors, our past lives activated as we don't feel safe/stable. It could be a loss or some secret that has come out. This looks to be encouraging us to be more independent/liberated. To nurture what really matters/what is most valuable (Ceres trine North Node).

Venus is pulled into the grand finale of the Saturn/Uranus square. The new vs the old. What we used to value vs what we value now. What we used to own vs what we own now. What we used to share vs what we share now. What we used to love vs what we love now. Resource issues. Relationship issues. Our changing values. 

THURSDAY, is a kind of time-out/reprieve. The Moon in Pisces is making nice with what seems like almost everybody. Excellent energy for compassion, empathy, art, music, our imagination, universal love, healing - CONNECTION. Her trine to the Sun is this month's Waxing Trine, a water trine - Pisces/Scorpio. We are feeling all the feels with this one. Take some time to rest and relax. Our boundaries/the veils are very thin. Your ancestors, as well as every good thing you have ever done (every act of compassion, forgiveness, unconditional love), is helping you now. Magic is afoot. 

 

On FRIDAY, the Moon meets Neptune, squares Mars, sextiles Pluto and goes void off a conjunction with Jupiter. She is void from 6:05PM EDT to 7:07PM EDT when she moves into fiery Aries. Alot will be going on. The Moon/Neptune will pump up the Pisces and the magic, but likely make it hard to knuckle down and work if we need to. Would be good for imaginative/creative/spiritual/healing work though. The Mars square could bring some frustration/tension over communications or with community or commerce, but that Pluto trine - Cappy/Pisces, making the dream real - is good for dealing with authority, financial matters, intimacy matters. We are more comfortable with intensity/power/sex/even 'death'. By the time of the Jupiter conjunction and void down-time we will really want to relax, veg out, chill, BIG TIME. 

The Venus/Uranus opposition, exact on Saturday, is applying. Breakthroughs. Break-ups. Breakdowns. Changes that won't be stopped. Babies don't need to be tossed with dirty bathwater though. The Moon will be in independent Aries. Give other people, and yourself, some space. 

Radical upgrades are coming.

I will be back before the weekend to sort it out. And back with that Venus post.

xo all

artwork by the amazing Sylvio Porzionato

Mars retrograde in Gemini | october 30, 2022 - January 12, 2023 - rethinking our effort, our anger, our passion, second chances, a time to slow down and reflect, a world split in two

While we manage our lives during these weeks in the Eclipse spin cycle, let's shift gears a bit and take a look at Mars!

 

Mars, God of War - ruler of our masculine energy, our action, initiative, passion, self-assertion, anger, young men, the sign of Aries, your Aries natal house, the ancient ruler of Scorpio - stations retrograde on October 30, 2022 for the rest of the year. Mars stations retrograde about every two years for 2 to 2.5 months. His last retrograde was in 2020 in Aries and his last retrograde in Gemini was at the end of 2007 into the beginning of 2008. Now, Mars tells the story of the end of 2022. 

Mars retrograde works its magic through three cycles:

1. Passing in a forward motion over the degrees 8-25 Gemini - this is when we are introduced to the POTENTIAL (September 3 - October 30, 2022)

2. Turning retrograde and moving backward over these same degrees – this is when we have to find our "RE-SOURCEFULNESS", we turn our attention inwards, what isn't working? (October 30, 2022- January 12, 2023)

3. Going ‘direct’ and moving forward AGAIN over these same degrees – this final phase is the period of INTEGRATION (January 12 - March 25, 2023)

Mars' backward movement (from our vantage point here on Earth) is associated with times our overt actions might not be as effective/sometimes peter out, anger backfires, passions and actions reverse course. It might impact our ambition, energy-level, motivation and libido. We might find ourselves dealing with unresolved conflicts and old efforts/projects/actions we had previously left dangling can be brought back to life. It's a time to be re-thinking the ways we deal with anger, the ways we go about getting what we want, the ways we assert ourselves, the ways we communicate, the ways we START. With Mars in quick witted Gemini, words are going to be very important as will Mercury's journey while Mars is retrograde.

This transit will likely be more challenging for people with planets/points in Gemini or the other mutable signs - Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces and people with natal squares and oppositions (and to some degree probably inconjuncts) between Mars and Mercury. And, of course for Aries and Scorpio risings, your ruler planet is moving backward, you will feel this. It doesn't have to be a bad thing, just different. I am a Scorpio rising and my motivation shot very high when Mars moved into Gemini in August, but as soon as he slowed to station (he has barely moved in weeks), I felt it slowly dissolve. The square to Neptune, which I have natally, too, didn't help!

Venus was retrograde in Gemini during the late spring and early summer of 2020. Venus reworked 5-21 degrees of Gemini and Mars is reworking 8-25 degrees Gemini, so almost the same degrees. Back then we had the North Node in Gemini, too. Like Mars, Venus also made multiple squares to Neptune and sextiles to Chiron. We were re-evaluating who/what we love, our changing values, our need for variety, and, of course dealing with Covid. I wrote about that HERE. That transit, and this upcoming one, takes us back to the Venus Star Point in the spring of 2012. 

(at the end of the Gemini retrograde post I was writing about our somewhat insane 2012, specifically about our year with my schizophrenic brother-in-law David who was found dead last weekend, as the Moon moved over his natal Pluto/North Node exact conjunction, opposing his exact Chiron/South Node conjunction, then Eclipsed the Sun and his Neptune in Scorpio while Pluto sits/having just stationed on his Saturn. Little man who inspired so many to open their hearts, somewhat of a hobbit, has left a big hole in the world ...)

Sedna will move into Gemini next year for a 40 year stay, so the importance of Gemini as duality closes out over the next decades can't be overstated. Lots of positive and challenging 'progress'. I think maybe the most positive being the end of the feeling that something is missing. But, that's a post for another time - maybe while Mars is retrograde in Gemini!

We will continue to find ourselves doing things twice and/or two things at once. Our tribal/familial energy - his-story and her-story - visits us through the Mars retrograde, the Neptune/Chiron aspects and the Eclipse spin-cycle start point. We are pulled into circumstances similar to those of our ancestors (and our own past lives), so maybe we can choose differently this time, finish what they started, make the amends they needed to make, even earn the rewards they (or we in a past life) were denied.

OCTOBER 30, 2022 - Mars stations retro at 25 degrees Gemini 

November 11, 2022 - Venus inconjuncts Mars

November 13, 2022 - Mercury inconjuncts Mars

November 15, 2022 - Sun inconjuncts Mars

November 19, 2022 - Mars retrograde squares Neptune retrograde (first was October 8)

November 28, 2022 - Mars retrograde trines Saturn (first was September 24)

November 29, 2022 - Mercury opposes Mars

December 2, 2022 - Venus opposes Mars

December 8, 2022 - Sun opposes Mars

December 14, 2022 - Mars sextiles Chiron (first was September 15)

December 15, 2022 - Mercury inconjuncts Mars

December 19, 2022 - Venus inconjuncts Mars

December 30, 2022 - Sun inconjuncts Mars

January 9, 2023 - Venus trines Mars

February 8, 2023 - Mars sextiles Chiron (third of three)

JANUARY 12, 2022 - Mars stations direct at 8 degrees Gemini

March 10, 2023 - Mars makes his final square to Neptune - what's left to lose?

MARCH 15, 2023 - Mars reaches 26 degrees Gemini, starts walking new ground

MARCH 25, 2023 - Mars enters Cancer and makes final trine to Saturn - this one Cancer/Pisces

So, what can we see? We can see our actions/anger/initiative will be adjusting (those repeating inconjuncts), somewhat unsatisfying, require give and take. We will have our second Mars/Neptune square which can be confusing/tiring, dilute our energy and efforts BUT if we can channel Neptune and use that energy for our imaginative or spiritual or healing efforts the squares can be VERY EFFECTIVE. Remember Mars can't beat Neptune, so don't try to power through this - if you need a break, take it. The Mars trine Saturn at the end of November will help stabilize our backward efforts/re-workings and they will harmonize with authority/rules/the future/groups. That is quickly followed by a series of oppositions as the personal planets move through Sagittarius. The Sag/Gemini axis is about the big picture vs the details, our beliefs vs the facts, the forest vs the trees, etc - as we get closer and look at the charts to see what else is going on, we will get a clearer picture of what is happening - but, almost certainly our efforts are meeting some challenges from outside ourselves. Then more adjusting as the inconjuncts return - this time with the planets moving through serious/sober Capricorn which could pull authority, rules, our career, limits, paternal stories, etc, into the mix. Just before Mars stations direct he makes a smooth trine to Venus in Aquarius. This looks like our relationships/money/values and self-esteem now working with the airy, detached, future-focused, group-centric, individualistic energy of Aquarius are in a smooth flow with our revised Mars. Our new man meets the woman of the future. Then after his direct station we will have one more Mars/Saturn to firm things up and one more Mars/Neptune to ignite our imagination or exhaust us! 

Mars also has a repeating aspect with healer Chiron (in Aries). This one is a sextile, so an opportunity if we take some kind of action with it - fire/air - so maybe through brave words or new ideas, speaking up for ourselves, being more independent minded - this kind of thing. This could also be about healing with our masculine energy/with men. Mars rules Aries, so this will be even more opportunistic. 

It is not a coincidence Mars will finally leave Gemini (after a few months) the same month Saturn leaves Aquarius (after two and a half years) and Pluto leaves Capricorn (after about 15 years). 

March 2023 is BIG, folks. 

Mars retrograde in Gemini is good for:

1. learning to find our voice without arguing/without aggression - and, yes, this will very likely come through dealing with the consequences of our arguments/aggression

2. figuring out why we force ourselves to do things/why we push ourselves

3. figuring out why we are afraid to do things, afraid to get angry/deal with anger

4. redirecting our vision because we are un-motivated by what we are currently doing

5. learning how to handle conflict/negotiate from an assertive (not aggressive) position

6. revising routines that lack passion/are boring

7. with those squares to Neptune - learning to see ourselves as worthy of rest, letting go and letting God, re-igniting our spirituality/our imagination/creativity, dealing with ancestral/past life stories

8. re-vising commerce, re-visiting old commercial ideas

9. re-vising relations with siblings/local community/cousins, etc

10. re-vising our writing, communication, tech

11. re-doing our natal Gemini house themes which are:

GEMINI RISING - 1st house Gemini - our identity, actually our heroic quest for identity
TAURUS RISING - 2nd house Gemini - our values, our resources, our money, our self-esteem
ARIES RISING (and the collective influence) - 3rd house Gemini - communication, information, writing, doing multiple things at once, siblings, community, tech devices, transportation, commerce, 
PISCES RISING - 4th house Gemini - our roots, home, family, our security, mother
AQUARIUS RISING - 5th house Gemini - self-expression, creativity, romance, children
CAPRICORN RISING 6h house Gemini - our daily work, our health, our service, our pets
SAGITTARIUS RISING - 7th house Gemini - partnerships, other people
SCORPIO RISING - 8th house Gemini - merging/purging, other people's resources, taxes, inheritance, secrets, life/death, sex
LIBRA RISING - 9th house Gemini - travel, higher education, publishing, religion, our beliefs
VIRGO RISING - 10th house Gemini - profession, career, goals, reputation, public life, father
LEO RISING - 11th house Gemini - the goals that bring us into connection with others, friendships, causes, networks
CANCER RISING - 12th house Gemini - things done last, things forgotten and put away, imagination, healing, spirit

With a retrograde Mars in Gemini, this could be like the Mercury retrograde of the decade, so it will be a good time to:

1. double check communication, think before speaking/writing/hitting send

2. keep a cool head, words can be used as weapons

3. back up files

4. be careful driving/take care of your vehicle

5. don't rush into new things too quickly, let things play out a bit before deciding, etc

6. find some mindfulness/relaxation tools if you are prone to anxiety/monkey mind/over-thinking

7. slow down, we could be more accident prone

8. Mars rules our strength and vitality, and Gemini rules our hands, arms, shoulders, lungs, so take care of yourself

9. hot Mars in airy Gemini speaks of needing to stay hydrated/wet 

And while Mars is in Gemini (and he has been since August) it will pay off to pay attention to what Mercury - ruler of Gemini - is doing:

October 30th - as Mars stations, Mercury will be in Scorpio, so mutual reception with Mars and inconjunct Neptune. Think of it like this - Mars gets to Scorpio - our passion/our fire, etc - through Gemini - by being versatile/flexible, doing two things at once or things twice, dealing with Gemini things, etc. He will be inconjunct Neptune so some adjustments with our illusions, energy levels, health imagination, spirit, healing. 

November 17th -  Mercury moves into Sagittarius and starts applying to his opposition to Mars (arguments, resentments, clash of ideology)

December 6th - Mercury moves into Capricorn (things get sober/serious)

December 29th, Mercury stations retrograde at 24 Cappy (Mars will be applying to his inconjunct to the Sun, will be challenging while both Mars and Mercury are retrograde as we start the New Year)

January 18th - Mercury stations direct at 8 degrees Cappy (Mars will be direct a few days earlier, so both will be strong/still at the same time)

I hope something here is helpful. 

I think before we dive into the next Eclipse, the gnarly one on election day here in the U.S. - we will step back and look at the recent Venus Star Point (the future of relationships) in its own post. All this Mars/Mercury is making me want to talk about Venus, and she is pretty important right now, too. 

I've stayed away from the collective stuff in this post, but Mars retrograde in Gemini is quite volatile/dangerous/divisive - things will surely be rocking and rolling. 

xo all

artwork by the talented Fintan Magee