Sun Conjunct the North Node | breadcrumbs ...

Ease by Hengki24

The Sun meets up with the North Node (our collective way forward) at 24 degrees Leo today.

A light (Sun) is thrown on our best path forward (North Node).

It could be a bright spotlight we can't miss or maybe it's a tiny flicker that catches our eye and pulls us over to investigate a new direction.

We might receive some confirmation we are on the right path now. Or a gentle shove in a direction we hadn't before considered.

The thing to keep in mind during the 18 months the North Node is in Leo: the best way forward will be heart-centered. It will require we be proud of what we have created. It will require us to take the center stage of our own life. It will require us to have some fun. It will require courage.

Leo is ruled by the Sun, so think about where the Sun sits in your natal chart. That sign is how you will shine in this lifetime. That's your sweet spot. So what's your Sun sign and how can you be a better version of that.

xo all

The Moon is in conversational and multi-tasking Gemini today answering to a retrograde Mercury. This would be a good time to follow up with communications/ideas from before July 25th. Maybe something that didn't work out then, can work out now. Maybe someone who couldn't help us then, can help us now.

Venus in Cancer Opposite Pluto in Capricorn | hot potato ...

rzecz tajemna by Anna-O Photography

Venus is uber active this week putting some finishing touches on a story that started around last Thanksgiving.

Today, in Cancer, she opposes Pluto (in Capricorn). This highlights power imbalances.

There could be control issues, compulsion, manipulation, competition, vulnerability and jealousy situations - they might seem to hit without warning but for those who are really paying attention this dance started in late November 2016 when these two planets conjuncted and intensified Venus issues - love, money, self-esteem, our values.

This transit can make things that are dark and secretive and even destructive (Pluto) attractive (Venus) to us. We could be drawn to things and people and situations we would normally steer clear of.

In Cancer and Capricorn issues around home/family vs. work could come up. This year's familiar storyline - "what would we do to succeed? what are we willing to sacrifice?" could worm its way into this chapter, too.

Or maybe we are embroiled in our chapter about "losing the thing we can't live without" or "losing control of something we want/need to control" - the things that makes us feel safe. Giving too much power to the stuff outside ourselves that we can't control is just begging for someone/some situation to come along and take it away from us during a Pluto transit!

With Pluto (passion) opposing Venus (attraction) the pull/seduction of whatever it is we are wanting can be so great we can't see clearly what is really going on.

With Venus in Cancer probably something that is rooted in our basic need for safety and security is challenged. 

Pluto rules karma, transformation, death and rebirth. Pluto lessons come through loss. 

Multiple people I know in long term housing situations were forced to move in the last few months. Many women I know whose power (and safety) came through their husband's income/position are working with losses there. The lesson is often that what we really want/need (Venus) is something we can only find within ourselves (Pluto).

Like the characters in the Wizard of Oz we learn we had the power, ie "core of the thing we were seeking/ thing we can't live without" within us all the time. We just projected that power onto someone or something else, so they could toss it back to us like a hot potato when the time was right ... and ripe ... for us to develop it.

With this story playing out in a big way over a long length of time, the lesson will not come cheap (or painless). 

In two days, Venus will be squaring Jupiter and even though squares bring tension and stress there could be enough benevolent energy here to bring about a successful transformation/conclusion. Venus's inconjunct with Saturn on Friday though makes me think there is some part of this we are not loving but we are just going to have to live with ...

For now - avoid power games, avoid manipulation. Don't be afraid to own up to the thing you are most afraid of losing. Bringing this stuff out of the shadows and into the light is the entire point of this transit. Remember that North Node in heart-centered Leo. We can love our way through anything now ...

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of August 14th - reality checks are imminent, updated post

the deepening twilight by Natalia Drepina

OK, we kick off this week with a newly retrograde Mercury (we are revising and revisiting and he is backing up over the degrees he walked last week via our conversations, communications, news, siblings, transportation issues). In the U.S. we had another violent action/news story involving transportation on or near a Mercury station day - we have seen that pattern in world events for a while now. Mercury is still moving very slowly this week ... and backward!

We are in between eclipses AND approaching the BIG Solar Eclipse of August 21st. We haven't had a total Solar Eclipse cross the entire continental United States since 1776 and with the U.S. Pluto return fast approaching - I'd say multiple reality checks are imminent. Expect BIG news when Mercury stations direct on the eclipse degree on September 5th and lots of confusion in the meantime. We will talk about this eclipse in detail this week but in the meantime let's look more closely at the next few days.

On Monday, the Moon is in Taurus. Our attention will on our finances, our resources - the things we value. We will be busy and this is good energy to get stuff done, even though we could be feeling the pressure as well as stronger emotions around unstable situations. Know that life probably isn't stable right now in the way you are wanting it to be - we are in between eclipses! 

The Moon makes several aspects today - first squaring Mars (could be an argument about money). Then (within minutes) sextiling (opportunity) Venus and giving us pretty much the opposite energy - money flows in, relationship issues move more smoothly. It's a mixed bag - whichever aspect is more closely hitting your planets and points is the one you will be feeling most strongly. Neither is long lasting although Venus is very active this week.

By mid-morning the Moon is trining (brakes off) Pluto making our interactions, especially with women and family members, more dramatic and profound. We want emotional depth. We uncover secrets. There could be monetary gains through female relatives. Trust your 'gut' instincts, especially regarding situations where you sense 'danger'.

The Moon is squaring the Sun (in Leo) bringing us to this month's Third Quarter Square of the Moon - the results come in. If this week's developments/outcomes are not what we had been hoping for - remember the upcoming Solar Eclipse is an uber-potent New Moon. And it's in Leo, the sign of our heart's desire! Start thinking about those New Moon intentions now.

Squares are tension and with the Moon is Taurus we could be feeling any lack of resources (money, time, etc) standing between us and what we want to create or any obstacles to something started around the New Moon on June 23rd. The Moon goes void at 9:15PM EDT.

On Tuesday, Venus (in Cancer) opposes a retrograde Pluto (in Capricorn). Whatever it is we want, the feeling is intense. We want it bad. There could be control issues now and subconscious desires bubbling up. We could be projecting (maybe power?) what we have hidden or need to find within ourselves onto other people. With Jupiter (in Libra and answering to Venus) set to square Venus on Wednesday/Thursday and inconjunct Saturn on Friday- something connected here could conclude then or some results be delivered.

The Moon is void until 10:05AM EDT then moves into Gemini. Good for multi-tasking and moving quickly from one thing to the other. Expect lots of communication. This is good energy to catch up on emails, etc. A good day for a road trip. We will be restless. 

On Wednesday the Moon in Gemini sextiles Mars giving us extra physical energy. Opportunities come through action. Keep communications focused and to the point. The Moon moves on trine (brakes off) Jupiter - this is great energy for being social. We could get news now or information that expands the situation. By dinnertime, the Moon is opposing Saturn and people become less flexible and more judgemental. There could be roadblocks or revisions.

Venus will be squaring Jupiter. Usually squares bring tension but with Venus in Cancer (answering to the Moon) and Jupiter in Libra (answering to Venus) - the feminine, receptive energy should keep everything moving a bit more smoothly. This is good energy for business and money - especially involving women - and for legal issues to get settled in a fair manner. Be out and about - bring your best self to all situations. The impulse could be there to spend money you can't afford to spend - especially on luxury items and in this case, luxury means whatever you can do without if it is outside your budget -  leave the credit cards at home. Have I said winter is coming?

Remember I am writing about these aspects when they are exact. Their influences can be felt when they first move into or out of aspect, too, so may not be felt precisely on the day indicated although the Moon's aspects pass quickly and will be very close/exact to when I write them. The other planets aspects influence us for longer periods.

I will finish out the week later today.

I had an early morning/middle of the night run to Newark airport to drop off my sister (sniffle) and ended up back in bed! We had a great visit AND with Mercury retrograde more than our fair share of mix ups.

Here is the rest of the week.

On Thursday and Friday the Moon is in Cancer. We are focused on home, family, real estate, safety, security, country, patriotism issues. An inconjunct between Venus and Saturn says that whether we get that thing we are really, really wanting or we don't, there is some kind of restriction or something here that just isn't fixable ... rock meet hard place. xo all

Mercury Stations Retrograde | a return to something started before July 25th - if your heart's still in it, fix it

without roots I grow and to light backwards by anna-o photography

Yesterday we had Neptune (in Pisces) exactly trining (brakes off) Venus (in Cancer). Both these planets are cozy and powerful in these signs and trines can normally be counted on to remove roadblocks and provide smooth sailing. Yes, if you are perched on the edge of a cliff, trines can remove that wooden cross bar keeping you from tumbling over, but in this particular case I think you would somehow manage to land on a nice patch of soft grass.

Today, Venus (still trining Neptune) will conjunct Ceres and Neptune will trine Ceres. This will bring Ceres energy into whatever story-line we are working with and maybe even into our Mercury retrograde journey.

Ceres is the mother/child energy of unconditional love.

This brings our awareness to maternal issues, childhood issues, security issues. Ceres rules the seasons and carries the energy of "impermanence" - nature's promise of security through the death and rebirth cycle. All this compassionate Neptune, Pisces, Venus, Cancer, Ceres energy has me thinking that whatever is dissolving or being washed out, lost at sea here - won't be as bad as we are afraid it will be. We have to trust the divine timing of life here. Summer can't be spring and autumn can't be winter.  But there is always more joy, more tenderness, more of whatever we are seeking - even though it might come in a different form depending on the "season".

At 9PM EDT tonight Mercury (communication, ideas, thinking, fast moving gizmos, transportation, siblings, our local neighborhood) stations retrograde in his/her home sign of Virgo.

The usual Mercury retrograde disclaimers will apply for the next few weeks It's time to think "re".

Rethink, redo, re-examine, research, repeat, reunion, reminisce, revise, remove (clutter ie the stuff that gets in the way of our life moving efficiently), revisit, relax.

This is not the best time to plow full steam ahead with new things. It's not the best time to sign a contract because things will come to light later that require revision or our thinking (Mercury) can change after Mercury moves direct (September 5th).

It's a good time to READ THE FINE PRINT. Use clear language - we need to be doubly sure people are understanding what we are saying and that we are understanding other people, because wires get crossed now. Double check the email before hitting 'send'. Mercury, the fleet footed messenger, rules things that are fast moving from our computers to our cars. BACK UP FILES.

Take extra care driving. Slow down. We need to give ourselves extra time to get where we are going. There will be delays - bring a book. This is not a good time to make a major decision and even small decisions will go wonky. THINK THINGS THROUGH. Be clear about the consequences.  

Rushing, while Mercury is moving backward, can trip us up.

The space of the sky (and YOUR natal and progressed mid Virgo/late Leo house themes) Mercury is backing over rules our work, health, paperwork, our pets, organization, people we hire, people we work with, our day to day activities - situations in these areas could slow down so we can "re"visit, "re"vise and "re"vamp.

We can catch mistakes and catch up with MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. 

Someone could leave or someone/something from the past could reappear. There could be miscommunications. Stuff could break down. Delays are likely. Plans will change. We can't prepare for everything, but we can slow down and double check what we are doing.

Maybe something from the past needs a second look - most likely something started before Mercury hit his/her retrograde degrees on July 25th. Go back over it. Is it still worth fixing/finishing? Does it stand out (remember this whole journey ends in the limelight of LEO)? Is it still special? Is your heart still in it?

Until September 5th, when Mercury stations direct, it would be best not to focus too much on future situations, 'what ifs' and final conclusions - let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Let's take care of what needs taking care of in the present and the stuff from the past that has "re"appeared or "re"mains unfinished.

With so much energy moving backward in the middle of eclipse season - that's more than enough.

We are straddling two worlds now, sitting in the space between the two eclipses AND Mercury will station direct next month at the exact same degree of the upcoming Solar Eclipse in Leo - this stuff is all working together in ways we can't quite see yet!

This weekend, Mars will reach the same degree the Sun (15 degrees Leo) held during last week's Full Moon Lunar Eclipse - remember how this works - the initial activity, in this case the Lunar Eclipse, creates a kind of checkpoint and events transpire later as other celestial bodies reach that same checkpoint (our births are checkpoints, too - although checkpoint isn't the word I am looking for, but my brain is foggy this morning!).

Mars is about action, initiative and anger. And he's in Leo where he's loud and bossy. Trump has Mars in Leo and, after I breathed a sigh of relief at hearing he would be on vacation during this transitional time period, was very Mars in Leo with his brash posturing on Twitter about North Korea last week (we'll talk more about this next week when we talk about the next eclipse).

The same energy is available now to us to say/do things we could regret later or respond to drama in a way that escalates angry situations. Keep this in mind, too, now. Of course, worked in a positive manner, Mars in Leo provides the courage and confidence we need now.

xo all

Mercury Conjunct Vesta | an important detail catches our attention ... again

wind by thefirebomb

The thing that stands out most to me today is Mercury's contact with Vesta at 11 degrees Virgo.

Vesta gives us a certain reverence and attachment to what we hold sacred. Mercury (stationing retrograde tomorrow, folks!) in Virgo is about attention to details; caring about something enough to take our time with it.

Surely this combination (Mercury and Vesta) is about seeing/working with/communicating about 'the details' of something. This is excellent for stilling the monkey-mind, but isn't good energy for seeing the big picture, so keep that in mind if you are making a decision now.

I've said before to postpone important decisions until mid September, if you can, but I realize this isn't always possible! If you must make a decision now, just know you haven't seen the last of whatever information you are working with. There will be adjustments.

Using these energies poorly will have us fixated on something we don't need to be fixated on or overly critical of something or obsessing about some news or information or what someone has said to us (or about us).

It could be that someone else is being overly critical of us and that gives us something to think about!

But here is something really interesting.

This isn't the first time this month Mercury connected with Vesta. They met up at 7 degrees Virgo last Wednesday, August 2nd. Did some detail come to your attention around that time? Are there any planets or points between 7 and 11 degrees Virgo in your natal chart? If there are, Mercury's retrograde will be sure our attention is focused THERE (on those themes).

With Mercury stationing retrograde tomorrow there is probably something here trying to catch our attention.

(where is your attention now? what are you devoting your time and attention to? what are you talking about? writing about? thinking about?)

There is unlikely to be a resolution right now with these energies indicating a long'ish' review of whatever this is, but it could be helpful to think about what we are thinking about today. If it relates to something that came to our attention around last Wednesday, know that it matters and will likely figure in to Mercury's retrograde journey and likely the eclipse story for us ....

Don't take it as a sign that you are 'meant to do something', etc - we are in the middle of two powerful eclipses and a Mercury retrograde - we can't see what we can't see now.

There is also a lovely trine (brakes off) between Venus (in Cancer) and Neptune (in Pisces). This is perfect energy to practice loving compassion - especially within family groups or groups that feel like family - and praying for peace.

The Moon is in bossy Aries so working/dealing with others can be challenging. Solo work can be very productive though. xo all

Mixed Bag Today, Mostly Good | energized through alliances

long dream by thefirebomb

Lots of aspects today plus an all day Void Moon!

The 'shiniest' aspect of the day (since it involves our Sun) is the Sun (in Leo) sextiling (opportunity) expansive Jupiter (in Libra) - 18 degrees

This is a good aspect for attracting (Libra) attention (Leo). This is a good aspect for joining together (Libra) for creative, fun, romantic, risky or altruistic activities (Leo).

Opportunities come through the king/star of the show/father archetype (Leo) and his/her allies/partners/collaborators (Libra) working together. Be fair - other people must be taken into consideration now.

Mercury (in Virgo) sextiles (opportunity) Venus (in Cancer) - 11 degrees.

Sensible and caring words are what is needed. Opportunities come when we present practical advice or critical information in the form of a 'pat on the back'. This isn't about being "fake", this is about making the other person feel secure and cared for. Words that make us feel safe and nurtured create the opportunities now.

Vesta (in Virgo) trines (brakes off) Pallas (in Taurus). This is probably my favorite aspect today and it involves our female 'drawf planets' or 'asteroids' or whatever the astronomers are calling these two right now.

Remember we are living within thousands of years of a patriarchal system that is dissolving. We would expect small celestial bodies to carry feminine archetypes because they were unconsciously named during patriarchy - we can't really imagine all the ways we serve patriarchy because it is all we have known (in many lifetimes) - small, doesn't mean limited. It doesn't mean weak. The stories of these powerful archetypes may have been dismissed and dis-empowered, but they become more and more alive as we notice them.

Vesta in precise Virgo focuses us on a specific idea or detail in a practical, caring way (remember Vesta is about devotion to home and hearth and safety). Pallas is in grounded "Earth Mother" Taurus. There isn't an overnight quick fix here because this situation/problem hasn't happened overnight and these energies don't rush, but mending one specific part of this thing with a solid and durable solution shores up the important stuff. What is the most targeted, least complex thing to do? Think long term and strategic. That's the move where the healing starts. Release the brakes on that.

And of course, today's opportunities (sextiles, trine) are not without their obstacles and come with a caution - and yes, it has flashing RED lights and is playing the theme song from JAWS.

Mars (initiative, action, anger, war) in fiery Leo is inconjunct dreamy, drifty Neptune.

We could take a foolish or delusional action now (especially in haste or anger) that wipes out the opportunities.

Keep this in mind. Please.

The Moon was in Pisces last night (do you remember your dreams last night?), and is void all day before its move into Aries (1:20AM tomorrow morning). That space after Pisces makes today a good day for HEALING and imaginative, spiritual work. The void means it's not a good day to launch a brand new project. Aries means it may be hard to fall asleep tonight if we get home too late!

xo all