Learning Astrology with the Donald | part I - how did Trump get to be so BIGLY, looking for echos, treasures and achilles heels

I thought it might be interesting to do a series of astrology posts focused on learning astrology by analyzing Donald Trump's natal chart (it's a doozy) - and then we will take what we have learned and look at his upcoming transits to make some predictions about what he might do and what could happen.

If you have ever gone to an astrologer for an answer about what is coming up for you or what you might do, you will find the astrologer will want to look at your natal chart first, before looking at the current events. It's the best way to see how your planets will react to a transit. Or, in this case Donald's planets.

As we look at his chart let's keep our eye out for the echos - the repeats - the multiple aspects that kind of mean the same thing because this will be important. When we see something two or three times in a chart we can be pretty certain we have hit a bullseye.

Donald was born on a Full Moon (Sun and Moon opposition) with his Sun in Gemini in his 10th house of career and public life conjunct erratic/futuristic/impulsive Uranus - this is why I often write he IS Uranus (if you are familiar with the Neil Gaiman book American Gods you can picture what I mean here - this freaks my husband out when I say this - ha!) with both planets also conjunct his North Node (soul purpose).

This is kind of a brilliant line-up. He applies his will (his Sun) in an outside the box/chaos creating/or futuristic fashion (Uranus), basically "he does his own thing", particularly in a public way or within his career (that 10th house) and he is on his purpose. That's it. His Uranian/Mercurian will is his purpose. And when he uses his will in this manner - he moves ahead on his path - not necessarily winning, but probably very often winning since the 10th house rules our ambitions. And with Uranus we are looking at sudden, shocking destiny.

He was born to play a big, or maybe I should say BIGLY game.

His Ascendant (1st house ruler) is in fiery, courageous Leo and he has fiery, impulsive Mars (in his 12th house) conjunct his ascendant. This is another BIGLY line-up and also another one that is not without some big potential consequences and pitfalls. Leo is ruled by the Sun, so he has both his Ascendant and Mars answering to his Sun - which again conjuncts his Uranus and North Node AND his Gemini Sun is sextile (opportunity) that Mars in Leo. These guys are all working together.

And as soon as I write that sentence it makes me think of what it would mean to have powerful planets in our 10th house (career, responsibility, limits, authority, goals, reality) and 12th house (our imagination, spirit, secrets, escape, addiction, what we do last, what we put away) - working together - let's toss a word salad. I like to do this to make my brain work (my Mercury in Capricorn!) and to look for echos - "repeat" patterns we might find/use later.

How about - behind the scenes/secret (12th house) career assistance (10th house), turning dreams (12th house) into reality (10th house), glamorizing (12th house) reality (10th house), reality (10th house) television (12th house), lack of boundaries (12th house) creating additional responsibilities (10th house), compassionate (12th house) authority (10th house), spiritual (12th house) discipline (10th house), charity (12th house) work (10th house), career (10th house) self sabotage (12th house), secret (12th house) business dealings (10th house), secret (12th house) ambitions, artistic/musical/acting (12th house) career (10th house), building (10th house) skyscrapers (12th house), dreaming (12th house) of walls (10th house), escaping (12th house) the real world (10th house), addicted (12th house) to work (10th house), what you do in secret (12th house) becoming public (10th house) - you get the idea here. Not all of these will apply, of course! And I can promise you your own Neptune is going to see what it wants to see here.

So Trump is a Gemini Sun with Leo Rising.

Both our Ascendant and our Sun are about self-awareness.

Our Ascendant, remember it is the ruler of our first house - how we start things - is sort of conditioned within us during the first few years of our lives simply by us naturally following our innate impulses. A four year old isn't thinking about his identity (that first house), but he is already experienced in dealing with his immediate environment. He has already cultivated patterns of behaviors and reactions to handle what he needs to handle. Our Ascendant is kind of the 'personage' we build as a response to those first house experiences. It isn't an emotional response like our Moon, but a more matter-of-fact, "This is what I am going to do. This is how I am going to do it". And after an extremely short time we get so used to responding this way it becomes unconsciously instilled within us and becomes how we see ourselves and how we see ourselves becomes what other people see when they look at us. Astrologer Steven Forrest calls the Ascendant - the sign rising on the horizon when we are born - the way we dawn on people.

On the other hand, our Sun, is something that requires our conscious energy - it is, to quote astrologer Liz Greene, our real hero's journey.

It is how we find ourselves, but it isn't totally instinctual. We have to put energy and effort into being our Sun. We have to want to be our Sun because our Sun rules our willpower. We have to work toward an acceptance of this energy (self-acceptance, self-confidence). And 'work' isn't really the right word. Our Sun isn't Saturn (I should toss in here that I have Saturn one degree from my Sun natally, so this almost certainly factors into my thinking when using the word 'work" here), but I think it is often something like work because it takes time and energy. It is really more about self-acceptance and self-awareness - more conscious than the Ascendant which is more unconscious.

The unconscious part is no less real or important though!

This is why we might naturally admire someone whose Ascendant matches our Sun because it seems that they can so easily do the things we struggle toward.

Hubs and I are both Aquarius Suns. Our daughter is an Aquarius Rising. She has no reservations about being strange or different - she once wore a friend's grandmother's lime green polyester pantsuit to high school - just because she liked it. I was happy to see her make it home alive.

She would probably describe herself as unusual, freedom loving and genius - on the outside looking in and more than OK with that. Now, for me and hubs (Sun Aquarius) it is more about discovering and working with being unusual and finding self-confidence and self-awareness through the experience of shining/showing up in life, through this radical Uranian energy. So, Aquarius Sun people grow in self-acceptance and self-awareness through finding out how to be different and through making a difference on a deep level and Aquarius Rising people have the personage/appearance of this. It comes naturally to them through those first house early experiences. But their hero's journey (their Sun) is something else entirely - unless their Sun is in their first house.

HOMEWORK FOR LESSON 1 - Use astro.com and find 3 birth charts for people you know fairly well. You will need their birth time for this. Go to astro.com, free horoscopes, natal chart/ascendant. Ask those people to describe themselves in a few words and see how well their language matches their Ascendant. Note if there is a planet in their first house and particularly a planet conjunct their Ascendant (even in the 12th house like Trump's Mars) this will need to be factored in. Like Trump's Ascendant is in Leo - proud, kingly, attention-loving, mane of hair (ack!) AND that Mars adds a strong Martian flavor - volatile, impulsive, angry, energetic, action-oriented - work together to create his personage.

His Sun is in Gemini. Geminis are funny and good with words. They can say one thing to one person and then something else to someone else - they are changeable. The truth is sometimes slippery. With this lineup he is a natural born salesperson. All this Gemini (ruled by Mercury) in his most visible house gives his career a spotlight with an emphasis on Mercurian themes - quick movement, communication, wit, words, sales, storytelling, transportation, siblings, social connections, versatility, the ability to keep updating himself (how many 71 year olds do you know tweeting everyday? this use of technology is also very Uranian), the ability to weave local people together and create community.

Do you think Trump would be more likely to describe himself as his Sun - those Gemini qualities? Or like a Leo or Aries (Mars conjunction)? I think he would almost certainly describe himself in proud, kingly Leo or brave, action-oriented Aries terms, don't you? That's the Ascendant/Sun self-awareness part of our story. Works for Trump. Works for all of us.

Now just from this quick look at his chart we can tell his Mercury - the ruler of Gemini and his 10th house is uber important.

So, the next thing we might do is look at Mercury.

Trump's Mercury - which remember rules his 10th house - sits uncomfortably and insecurely in Cancer in his 11th house.

With Mercury in Cancer words come from the gut. Words are taken personally. They can be soothing or they can be painful. Cancer is all about family and home and history and patriotism and security - about having our needs met and meeting the needs of others we are close to. It's about vulnerability and how we deal with that. And the 11th house makes this vulnerability and self-protectiveness visible to other people. So, how do all these planets wanting to take charge and go and do their own thing deal with this innate vulnerability? Well, maybe this could lead to self-esteem issues. And because his thinking is so malleable with Uranus and Gemini - maybe one minute he is feeling on the top of the world and in charge and confident and the next he is feeling the world on top of him and insecure and wanting to lash out from that barely hidden Mars. We'll tuck these ideas away for later and see if anything else confirms this - we will watch for echos.

Mercury squares his Neptune (2nd house - money, values, self-esteem) and sextiles (opportunity) his Pluto in the 12th. He is obsessed/compulsive (Pluto) with that 2nd house - money, wealth and gets his value/status (that foggy 2nd house Neptune) from power (Pluto). The problem is that 2nd house Neptune will never feel like he is good enough (echo!) or that he has enough. So the Pluto is making him ambitious, but the Neptune is providing a bottomless cup he can never fill! It makes him confused when people criticize him (remember we are looking at his Mercury connections). He thinks people don't understand him. Mercury square Neptune might give him a tendency to say things that are confusing or contradictory (Gemini's two faces). I don't think he so much lies - although yes, he can lie - as he thinks one thing and then he changes his mind and thinks something else - the words just kind of dissolve or float on down the river as soon as they leave his mouth. He can't hold onto the things he says or the things he reads/hears (that Mercury/Neptune square). His words are slippery. Maybe hypnotic to some people, especially people with strong Neptune or Uranus in their own charts. He is probably a bit psychic. One person listening to him hears one thing and someone else listening to the exact same words hears something else.

Also remember Mercury in Cancer is feeling the words and when someone is dealing with him they are feeling his words, too! This is why his supporters will say they like what he is saying, but so many times cannot tell you just what it is he is saying that they like. Really they are liking how his words makes them feel.

Now he is feeling what he is hearing/saying, too, and that is what his memory is about - how did this conversation/this information make him feel - that is what he reacts to (we will talk more about his Mars later!) - not the actual contents of the conversation/information if you can see what I mean here.

This doesn't mean everyone with Mercury in Cancer operates this way because not everyone has their Mercury ruling the 10th house (and home to a super powerful triple line up of planets and points) squaring a 2nd house Neptune and sextiling a 12th house Pluto. Most Mercury in Cancer people have excellent memories, but probably not with a Neptune square - this would make him very intuitive or imaginative though. This is why cookbook astrology - Mercury in Cancer is blah, blah, blah ... is good for learning some things, but not ever totally accurate about real, flesh and blood people.

So, now with Mercury in Cancer - we'll move on to his Moon because the Moon rules Cancer and is in his 4th house conjunct his South Node in Sagittarius - we will move there in Part II

In the meantime take a look at those Ascendants on astro.com. Start with your own. Stand in that Ascendant energy and the energy of any planets in your own first house and look into your childhood home. Stand in your childhood feet. What made you feel safe? What made you worried or scared? Happy or sad? How did those first house experiences shape your view of yourself? And how does that work with or challenge your Sun's hero journey?

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of March 26th - female warriors, unexpected situations, another brick in the wall, something becomes unavoidable now as the fate train rumbles on, break-ups, break-downs and break-throughs

SNOW MAYAKI by K-E-I-T

This is another blockbuster week, and another week where the end of the week looks more challenging than the beginning, as we all roll toward the unavoidable

(yes, the fate-train continues folks which just means our past actions create our current effects)

if this week were a blockbuster movie it would have it all - the intense desire, the mid-week Uranian shocker about what we want, the end of week Saturnian limit/pivot/rules, the weekend's Full Moon consequences, culmination or balancing of accounts and Mercury retrograde's information/answer coming to light!

I have written in the past about how we can't see the future from where we are now. Well, this is one of the weeks we might just get a glimpse as some timeline(s) get tightened up for all of us!

Remember I said March was going to roar out like a lion this year!

The major aspects this week are:
March 25th - Venus conjunct Eris
March 28th - Venus conjunct Uranus
March 29th - Sun square Saturn
March 31st - Full Moon in Libra, Venus into Taurus
April 1st - Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury

We start the week with the Moon in Cancer which might be having a stressful, emotional time of it on SUNDAY.

We have multiple planets in Aries now and multiple planets in Capricorn. The Capricorn planets (Saturn at home and Mars exalted) are more powerful than the planets in Aries so our natal Aries planets/houses - and also our Libra and even Cancer planets/houses are feeling the squeeze.

Venus meets up with Eris in Aries. Eris is known as the Goddess of discord and Mars' sister and credited with starting the Trojan War.

Singled out to be left out (due to her already disruptive reputation) at a party celebrating the arranged marriage of Peleus and Thetis - she crashed the party anyway (picture Angelina Jolie in Maleficent here) offering a golden apple inscribed "to the fairest" for the fairest Goddess of them all to be chosen by Paris, Prince of Troy.

The Goddesses vied for the apple and they were not above trickery. Athena tried to bribe Paris with the promise of skill in battle, Hera with the promise of political power, but it was Aphrodite (Venus in Roman myth) who won the apple with her bribe of Helen (of Troy fame), the most beautiful woman in the world, and wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Long story short - this didn't end well for Paris. The Spartan army went on to destroy the city of Troy in battle as they demanded the return of their Queen - and yes, I am skipping the famous Trojan horse part - this is just the Eris starting trouble part.

Venus (Aphrodite to the Greeks) was also kind of Eris's sister-in-law, not really (Venus was actually married to Vulcan), but kind of that energy existed within their relationship as she romanced Mars/Ares.

So, it is the story of the disruptive outsider. The part of ourselves we hide from fancy company. It is also the story of something that seems somewhat insignificant blowing things all out of proportion - so watch for that in the collective and within your own life (also be nice to your sister-in-law this week).

Interesting the Stormy Daniels (what an Venus/Eris archetype!) interview is scheduled to air during the conjunction. A disruptive outsider for sure! I guess we'll see what comes of her story, noting Venus also rules money and there is a hush-money angle here, too (and remember Jupiter is retrograde in Scorpio digging up old dirt). I saw a picture of her waving her hand and couldn't miss her extremely low placed thumb - a sign, if palmistry is to believed, of an old soul. Yes, a porn actress can be an old soul. Why not.

I haven't looked at her astrology chart or know if her birth date is even public because I am guessing it wouldn't be accurate anyway since she might be older than she lets on - but you know I love the linguistic synchronicity of a woman who calls herself Stormy bringing some stormy weather (you remember all the storms and weather devastation after last summer's eclipse that didn't seem to touch Trump although it's main star promised glory if revenge was avoided and a downfall for him otherwise - hard to imagine Trump has avoided revenge) on a day when Venus (love, beauty, money) and Eris (disruption, the outsider) are working together!

Venus/Eris also makes me think of Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Emma Gonzalez and her six powerful minutes of silence at the March for Our Lives on Saturday.

OK, on to the week ahead. On MONDAY and TUESDAY - the Moon is in fiery Leo - good for creative work on projects, time with children - self expression, confidence, courage, maybe some drama. On Tuesday morning the Leo Moon will trine (brakes off) Mercury - this would be a good time to communicate ideas with other people - take the stage, close the sale. Information, ideas, communications began before Mercury started hitting his retrograde degrees and before Jupiter stationed retrograde - so before March 8th, will probably have the best shot. There could be some adjustments between the Leo themes and our responsibilities, work in the world or an authority figure. The Moon goes void with a trine to Uranus while we sleep Tuesday night.

On WEDNESDAY, the Moon is void until 10:30AM EDT and then enters Virgo. Get organized. Be of service. Do the dishes. Dot your i's and cross your t's today and tomorrow.

Venus meets up with Uranus in Aries.

We knew once Venus got into Aries - she was going to have to square Saturn the wall (since he is in Capricorn and Capricorn squares Aries) and square Pluto and she was going to have to face unpredictable Uranus (since Uranus is in Aries).

We could meet someone new and unusual or experience something unexpected/explosive/sudden/liberating with a Venusian situation - love, money, our self-esteem, our values and resources.

This follows our "I must have this or I will die" or whatever compulsive, obsessive Plutonian story was magnified by last week's square between Venus and Pluto.

To toss out a few astrological word-salads this could play out as something like - being attracted to/or seeing the beauty within (Venus) something/someone unusual (Uranus), a sudden (Uranus) love (Venus) or a romance/partnership with a Uranian type - an Aquarius, genius, rebel, criminal - a sudden partnership (Venus) break-up (Uranus), an unexpected (Uranus) change in finances (Venus) - this could be good or bad - buy a lottery ticket just in case - an unusual (Uranus) woman (Venus), an unexpected (Uranus) purchase (Venus) or the purchase (Venus) of a Uranian object - a computer for example - not recommended with Mercury retrograde unless this is something you were planning before March 8th though. You get the idea.

Depending on how directly this is hitting your personal chart - this could be a big deal or a blip.

For everyone we could get a hint of what Uranus's entry into Venus ruled Taurus will be bringing us over the next few years and starting in a few weeks, so pay attention. The financial markets will likely be volatile this week. If you have bitcoin or other crpyto-currencies (like I do) keep an eye on what happens this week, because it will almost certainly signal whether Uranus into Taurus will be liking the cryptos in general and which ones specifically.

Do something different today. Be social. Get out and about.

With Venus/Uranus we could be saying a spontaneous "YES" to something unusual

(keep in mind the Full Moon in Libra this weekend - things coming to light, conclusions- that Libra Moon answering to Venus and squaring both Mars and Saturn coupled with the Sun meeting up with a retrograde Mercury - will have something else to say about it!).

On THURSDAY, the Sun will square Saturn. The Sun is our will and Saturn is our functional limit in the physical world - what holds us in place and keeps us stable - our career, the structures in our life, etc.

The Sun in Aries wants to make her mark on the world and Saturn says - hold on a minute baby - let me see your credentials.

Squares are tension and this one could have us focused on the struggle for success. This is a depressing square and we could feel tired, isolated and put-upon (a forming diamonds under pressure kind of thing) - it's best dealt with by staying on top of what we have to do - our duties and responsibilities - and knowing this is transitory.

Don't ignore problems that come to light during this square - this will only turn the pebbles hitting us in the head into boulders when the Sun opposes Saturn this summer.

The weekend will be HUGE and the energy will start to make itself known on FRIDAY. The Moon is void on Friday until 1:52PM EDT.

On SATURDAY, we have the Full Moon at 10 degrees Libra/Aries (ruled by Venus), squaring both Mars and Saturn and trining the South Node (in Aquarius which is about that Uranus again!) at the same time Venus moves into Taurus - a sign she rules!

Then on Easter Sunday we have the Sun meeting up with a retrograde Mercury at the mid-point of his/her retrograde story.

I will write a Full Moon post by sign later this week!

I also have a Trump update post to finish. Remember we last looked at him standing alone (as Uranus) at Jupiter's retrograde station so his staffing shake-ups and maneuverings (you're fired!) shouldn't surprise us and aren't over. It is also likely that the Mueller investigation is isolating Trump behind the scenes as well as the consequences of his prior interactions with women (including Hope Hicks departure and the recent Stormy weather) potentially isolating him from support.

We'll talk about that this week, too (yes, we will - pinky swear!).

I apologize if I sometimes write - "we will talk about that this week" and then don't get back to it!

I know that sucks. Not that anyone is hanging on my every word - ha! - but I know it is a sucky thing to do. Like not returning a call or a text or promising to bring a hot apple pie and showing up with a box of half empty tic-tacs.

But I am an armchair astrologer and only have access to the armchair after my work is complete and family is asleep and some nights I just fall asleep in it myself! And I know now you can hear the violins ...

xo all

Mercury's retrograde journey through Aries | spring cleaning, an identity crisis, a re-turn to SOMETHING - if the passion is still there, fix it

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

Mercury stations retrograde today at 16 degrees Aries. At the same time Vesta will trine (brakes off) Uranus and the Sun (in Aries now) is sextiling (opportunity) the Moon in Gemini (and ruler of Mercury). And we just had Mercury hooking up with Venus.

Maybe a retrograde Mercury in "let's just get it going" Aries will have us re-thinking/re-working our actions as well as our words. Especially our more hasty ones. "What was I thinking?" well, maybe we weren't and here is where the rubber meets the road with that situation.

The delays, limits and necessary re-visions we will encounter over the next three weeks are designed to focus our actions and clear our heads. It won't be a straight road - straight roads are highly over-rated anyway - no one really learns to drive until we get off the highway and master maneuvering ourselves in downtown traffic.

Well, here is where we do that. Yes, please buckle up.

With Mercury facing multiple contacts with Saturn (authority, walls, limits, rules) - they already squared off once on March 11th - the consequences of our prior actions and conversations will come up for re-view or smack us right in the face (this could be a good thing- think lip-smacking good or maybe a not so good thing, think left hook to the jawbone).

New ideas and plans of action will be tested and re-tested.

Going into this retrograde with Vesta (in Sagittarius) trining Uranus (in Aries) at 26 degrees, speaks of the potential for a lost opportunity to be re-captured. If something has been back-burnered due to procrastination, discouragement or fear of failure (which is really fear of success and all its subsequent burdens/trappings or fear of embarrassment/loss) - maybe this retrograde could be the time to give it another look.

The key with Uranus is to loosen the reins.

Know you cannot control the outcome. What you can control (Vesta) is your part in the process - your devotion to something's success, your daily duties/actions - is what to key in on. Let Uranus - the liberated and unpredictable - be Uranus (we have no other choice anyway!). Things may not end up exactly where you expected/hoped them to be, but so much will have been gained from your daily devotions to the process (think like a Virgo here, a sign Mercury also rules) - you won't be able to lose, no matter what the result.

We also have the Sun (freshly minted in fiery Aries) sextiling the Gemini Moon (Gemini being the other sign Mercury rules). Sextiles create opportunities, but we sometimes don't notice the things that slide easily into place. Pay attention. Gemini always offer multiple choices. Aries always offers courage and initiative.What courageous choice needs to be made? How can you use the next three weeks to best re-work/re-invigorate that?

So, yes, Mercury is retrograde, and we ignore that at our own peril. Trying to plow ahead re-gardless will not work. It also won't work to stand still and try to wait Mercury out. We must move our ideas, projects, etc through the process of the retrograde period. 

He/she is making alot of connections over the next three weeks - he will trine the North Node (March 30th), meet the Sun on April 1st, square Mars (Aries ruler, so kind of like fighting with your host when you are visiting their house) on April 4th, square Saturn for the 2nd time on April 5th (daring and determination will be needed as we face another limit) and trine Ceres - all before he stations direct on April 15th. Then he (as we) will do all/most of these things again moving forward.

Think about where we are now. Pluto has just entered the 3rd decan of Capricorn - we have never been this far out in our entire lives. This is uncharted territory.

We are being challenged to come up with a new direction because old directions/behaviors aren't working in this new paradigm. What is our direction now? What is the purpose? In Aries, this is kind of like we are all having an identity crisis at the same time - who am I now? who are we now? When Mercury stations direct in mid-April forward movement and clarity will be available, but for now we have to work the process. Or I should say re-work the process!

Whatever is happening now could take us back to news or information or a conversation we had back at the end of December/early January when Mercury hooked up with Saturn in Capricorn. Back then I was saying for us to remember what we were talking about/thinking about, what agreements we were making/what commitments we were agreeing to, what we were writing, what we were signing - because we were going to be saddled with it - for better or worse. Then Mercury squared Saturn on March 11th and whatever this is hit an obstacle. And now as Mercury moves retrograde he is moving toward Saturn again - he is going to square Saturn on April 5th retrograde and then again on April 25th direct.

Positive change and forward movement are coming ... just not quite yet.

xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of March 19th - new astrological year, the week gets more challenging as it goes along, Mercury stations retrograde, life slows down, frustrations, actions and re-actions, watch for power plays at the end of the week!

23 hours by Old-York

This week we kick off the astrological year with the Spring Equinox - the day the Sun moves into Aries (March 20th)!

We are blasted with new, motivating energy, although the blast will be kind of short lived - we are quickly met with a series of reality checks.

Welcome 2018 - here we go!

First reality check - Mercury will station retrograde squaring both Pluto and Saturn. Mars is going to square the Sun and conjunct Saturn (we have had both Mercury and Venus hit Saturn's wall in the last couple weeks and now it is Mars' turn). Venus is going to square Pluto. Know corners cannot be cut now. And, believe me, we could be tempted!

When Mars ingressed into the sign of Capricorn (0 degrees) yesterday it reached a declination that is beyond the limit set by the Sun. We call this being "out-of-bounds". As you might guess, an "out-of-bounds" planet knows no boundaries and accepts no limits. There is nothing - since it has moved past the Sun's restraint - to stop it.

And because Mars rules action - what we do to get what we want - our actions (and those of other people, of course) will be more unrestrained. This is a good thing - more creativity, taking action outside our comfort zones, yada-yada. And a not so good thing - doing things we later regret, going AWOL, living outside the 'rules'. And with Mercury in Aries answering to an out-of-whack Mars this includes saying things we could regret, signing things we could regret, etc. Some people need a shot of 'out-of-bounds' and it could be a good thing. For other people it could be kind of an excuse to just burn the whole place down.

Mars will be out of bounds until April 7th.

Now, even though Mars (as us) is going to want to fly. Things will not be quite so simple because here is where another reality check comes in.

First, Mars is in Capricorn (and answering to sober Saturn), a sign with built-in restraints and, second, Mercury is stationing retrograde this week (hooked up with that same sober Saturn - so prepare for a serious retrograde this season folks) and Mars is going to square the Sun and conjunct Saturn while out-of-bounds.

So, Mars - our actions - feels ready to go, but Mercury - our thinking - isn't quite so sure we have all our ducks in a row. Mars doesn't care about ducks. Mercury wants them decked out in cute spring outfits and lined up according to size. 

Mars is going to be frustrated as Mercury doubles back to give things another look. Now Mercury is in impulsive Aries, so he/she will be frustrated with these delays, too. If we are trying to just push things through quickly, it won't be easy going until Mercury stations direct mid-April.

Let's take a look at the week ahead. We have the following major aspects - all of this stuff is pretty much in play all week:

SUNDAY - Sun conjunct Chiron
MONDAY - Ceres stations direct
TUESDAY - Spring Equinox, Sun into Aries, Mercury conjunct Venus
THURSDAY - Mercury stations retrograde at 16 degrees Aries
FRIDAY - Venus squares Pluto
SATURDAY - Mars squares the Sun, 1st Quarter Moon
SUNDAY - Venus conjuncts Eris (!)

Moon is void | Monday 3:29PM EDT thru 9:07PM EDT - last aspect is a conjunction with Uranus in Aries - liberation, the unexpected, doing it my way.
Wednesday 1:21PM EDT thru 1:30AM EDT - last aspect is an opposition between the Moon in Taurus and Jupiter in Scorpio - generosity, openness, lack of self control, emotional upset
Friday 11:52PM EDT thru 4:53AM EDT - last aspect is a sextile between the Moon in Gemini and Uranus in Aries - opportunity for doing something different, unexpected news, being yourself

The Moon is waxing this week - a time good for new beginnings, just avoid those voids and know with Mercury's retrograde some things are going to need to be re-done. Big launches that can wait until after April 15th, probably should wait - we have from mid-April until Mars goes retrograde on June 26th for a mostly full-steam ahead. But don't stand still.

The Moon is growing and so are we!

(not literally I hope, although I did eat an entire box of thin mint Girl Scout cookies within the last 2 days all by myself and have my eye on the short-breads)

On MONDAY, the Moon is in Aries until the void, squaring Pluto in the middle of the night. In April we will be having a whole lot of squares between Aries planets (our will, independence, impulsiveness, action) and Capricorn planets (structure, authority, responsibility, patience, limits), so we could get a little preview now - heads up Aries, Libra, Cancers and Capricorns! This could make us moody - stimulate action and re-action. Power struggles, intense emotions are possible.

The Moon conjuncts Uranus in the late afternoon EDT - there could be something surprising or unexpected. We could have itchy feet and want to call it a day early. Anything that feels even slightly tight or confining will be something we want to ditch.

Ceres stations direct at 18 degrees Leo. She will be in Leo until mid-June. Ceres time in Leo has been supporting our collective Leo North Node - encouraging us to nourish our purpose, our children, our creative project or romantic intentions. She has been retrograde since December 16th taking us back over some creative potential - allowing us to really look at what our heart wants and how we are meant to shine. If we are shining through only our children's accomplishments or a romantic partner's achievements and have lost sight of where we are in all of this, it has probably been made clear to us over the last couple months. We might have also had to be a brave mama-bear with a child or creative project or romantic situation or been working through a 'seasons of life' situation that required a re-look, re-do. If a creative project has been dormant or road-blocked, there should be forward movement here.

TUESDAY is probably the best day of the week. Venus hooks up with Mercury again (this happened back on March 4th so there could be connections - what has happened since that date - what has happened since they both hit Saturn's limits?) - Mercury slowed down for his retrograde and Venus has been booking along - our words attract, we hear what we want to hear, talk is sweet, we could find ourselves talking about Venusian subjects - love, money, what we value, beauty, women. Ideas (Mercury) get shared (Venus). Women (Venus) are heard (Mercury). This is good energy for socializing and good for commerce, ka-ching! The Moon is in Venus ruled Taurus, an added bonus and trines Saturn for stability - makes us want to be responsible and do the right thing. Around lunch-time the Sun moves into passionate, independent and impulsive Aries - launching a new solar year. This is the time to show up, go for what you want - great day to make a vision board as we are drop-kicked into 2018.

On WEDNESDAY, we start the day with the Moon (in Taurus) trining Pluto (in Capricorn) - we are energetic, ambitious and have good instincts now. Avoid power plays, manipulative moves and control issues because machinations now could result in higher stakes than we bargained for. The Moon goes void after lunch with an opposition to Jupiter - we could face some kind of moral conflict or be dealing with a lack of self-control; our own or someone else's.

On THURSDAY, the Moon is in Gemini (answering to Mercury) and Mercury stations retrograde at 16 degrees Aries. This is NOT the day to have an important meeting/conversation. Um, no. Trust me on this one.

We are doing the "re's" - rethinking, redoing, reviewing, rekindling, reinventing, revisiting whatever is happening in our Aries house.

The stuff we have done/said hastily or without enough thought, will now be analyzed and gone over more carefully. We downshift. Life slows down. This can be frustrating, but necessary.

This can be about our Aries house theme or the general Aries themes of ourselves, our bodies, our brand, name, identity. Situations and people from the past will show back up. Mechanical stuff can encounter glitches. Rushing around will only result in stubbed toes (in Aries more like accidents and head injuries/headaches!) - let's take our time here. Something isn't quite ready for prime-time. Here's our second chance to get it right. Mercury will be retrograde until April 15th, so it will be a few weeks before everything is full-steam ahead. Just expect this. Give yourself extra time. Double check things. Of all the retrogrades Mercury is the most frequent and can be the most significant. If the retrograde crosses over one of your planets (16-4 degrees Aries) know this is even more significant. We'll talk about this on Thursday.

On FRIDAY, and throughout the weekend - we have Venus square Pluto and inconjunct Jupiter. Remember Venus (in Aries) is a warrior. She wants it now, she wants it first and she wants what's best for her. That square to Pluto will make any loss or potential for loss now feel like life and death. 

We are on the fate-train now baby!

The inconjunct (rock and hard place) with "bigger-is-better" Jupiter will enlarge the scope of whatever is happening. Compulsions, manipulations, jealousy, obsessions, power-plays are all possible now - we need to bring our A game and keep our feet on the ground. Emotions can be intense and there could be hidden/secret agendas now.

The Gemini Moon - all over the place anyway and answering to a retrograde Mercury - won't be any help.

Venus rules love, money, our values and self-esteem. Financial/relationships shifts are possible now. There could be consequences for going too far too fast. What do we really value? What do we want? What will we do to get what we want? What will other people do?

At around the same time Mars (in Capricorn) will be squaring the Sun (in Aries) - this is tension around situations that require patience and maturity. This is SPRING FEVER with obstacles. We'll want to do this and have to do that. We could get into arguments - this is kind of a father/son aspect and the fellows are butting heads. Saturday will be cray-cray.

Drive safely. Avoid that hot-head in the other lane. Don't be that hot-head in the other lane. Exercise will help!

Let's do what we can with these energies - maintaining our values, knowing what is most important to us, knowing that things are going to take some time to work themselves out.

We are playing the long-game.

Remember we talked about avoiding ruthlessness in the last post - this includes trying to manipulate someone else's emotions or behavior. This is important now. Ruthless doesn't always mean riding into town and taking over the place - it means forcing our will on someone else. Some people are very good at this and it isn't until later we realize we have been bamboozled. The stakes could be high - although they could feel much higher than they actually are - let's direct our energy consciously now - let's be neither a bamboozler or a bamboozled. Ack!

We have some challenging weeks ahead for all of us and this is one of them - the collective news will be rocking and rolling - back during the week to talk about that.

xo all

New Moon in Pisces Conjunct Chiron | Mars into Capricorn - beginning from a weak position, something hurts, feeling vulnerable, turning a weakness into a strength, mining that Scorpio, getting serious about our next steps

connective by dozhdlivaya

Today, we have Mars moving into Capricorn (finally leaving Sagittarius!) where he is exalted. We have the Sun and Moon meeting up in Pisces, squaring Mars (at the very end of Sag) and hooking up to Chiron while trining that retrograde Jupiter in Scorpio.

Let's start with Mars, although he makes his move last.

Mars is extremely effective in Capricorn (answering to Saturn), kind of the way a hot-head tossed into the serious, structure of the military can thrive. In Capricorn, our Mars has goals and deadlines - he can't be just mucking around town causing trouble.

Our actions (Mars) are ambitious (Capricorn). Results come over time.

Now, we know Capricorn is a serious (maybe I would add dangerous) space right now because both Pluto and Saturn are in Capricorn.

Our Mars (actions - what we do to get what we want, anger, passion) is going to hit Saturn on April 2nd (8 degrees Capricorn) - there's that wall, that limit, that "no" or that extra elbow grease required via our action. Then on April 26th (21 degrees Capricorn), Mars is going to come crashing into Pluto - destruction, transformation, new life. The last time Mars conjuncted Pluto was October 19, 2016 (15 degrees). Late April's situations could connect us back to that time period. Also because this is just one degree shy of the HUGE Pluto/Saturn conjunction in 2020 - this Mars/Pluto now will have added impact.

As soon as Mars moves into Capricorn 12:41PM EST today - we are on a collision course with this, so let's remember our actions/ambitions have consequences.

I mean, obviously our actions (and in-actions) always have consequences, but that future meeting with Pluto adds an extra priority for us to know what the hell we are doing right now.

If you know you are going to be meeting with the largest potential client you have ever had, or the president of your company, or a judge in precisely SIX WEEKS (well, not precisely I am rounding a bit) - what would you do today and tomorrow and the next day to make that meeting successful.

Do that. And then do some more of that. Know that Saturn will toss you a curveball (limit) in a couple weeks with whatever you are being ambitious about.  

Know you can handle it.

Ambitions/goals and focused efforts are required in Capricorn - let's make them count - let's focus on what matters most! There's is alot of ruthlessness expressed by Mars/Pluto - let's avoid participating in that. The collective needs us to not give our energy to that. We are following our hearts in Leo, giving what we are here to give. What's truly ours has to be ours. We won't have to grab it.

We will probably have to work for it though (Capricorn).

Now, immediately BEFORE Mars makes his move, the Sun and the Moon meet up for the NEW MOON IN PISCES at 26 degrees.

This is a fresh start for our Pisces house and coming near the end of the Sun's travels through Pisces we know we have needed to experience all the fog/indecision/illness - whatever this has been for you - of the last few weeks before we were ready for this new start. So what have we learned?

The Sun and Moon are conjuncting Chiron so we know something now is likely to hurt/heal.

There is a trine to Jupiter, retrograde in Scorpio, so this could be about something there (a change of belief maybe) or maybe something about poor decisions we made in the past. Whatever is happening now, our New Moon fresh start could be rooted in a point of weakness - and maybe that is the point now. After we are on our knees we might as well rise up and move in a new direction. There is a wide square to Mars (pre-Capricorn) that could suggest some kind of righteous anger (those beliefs again) or something/someone hitting (Mars) an open wound (Chiron).

Let's take a look by sign.

As always check your Sun and Rising signs - if you know your Pisces house check that because it might not match your Rising - I am forced to use whole houses here, although I am not really a fan of whole houses when looking at charts.

ARIES/Aries Rising (Pisces 12th house) - this New Moon is happening in your 12th house of what is hidden or put away or done behind the scenes, secrets, the ethereal realms, imagination, hospitals, spirituality, addiction, healing. The New Moon's beginning energy may be more about whatever is coming to a conclusion (12th house) and could involve stepping into the unknown. The trine to Jupiter (in your 8th house) suggests there could be financial/intimacy situations with other people and other people's resources you can count on now. The square to Mars (in your 9th house) suggests tension regarding your actions involving 9th house matters - travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking. Right after the New Moon, Mars will move your focus into your career/public life house. Use your ambitions there. Focus your actions there. Avoid ruthlessness. Know that Chiron is preparing to move into your sign (first visit since 1968!) in just a few weeks and you are preparing for a brand new life Aries. You have got this thing!

TAURUS/Taurus Rising (Pisces 11th house) this New Moon is happening in your house of the collective - your friendships, groups, causes, the internet, the public, the goals that bring you into relationship with other people, your advancement, technology. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here with new alliances and opportunities. The trine to Jupiter (your 7th house Scorpio) assures that a partner/partnership is supportive (brakes off) with whatever is happening now or maybe who you know is more helpful than what you know. The square to Mars (your 8th house Sagittarius) speaks of tension with other people's resources - partner's income, taxes, loans, etc and/or intimacy/reproduction/birth/death issues - the Sun/Moon in your 11th house could make the situation 'public' in some way or bring you into relationship with other people or people at a distance. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 9th house) - travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking. One or more of these themes is where you will be ambitious. Focus your efforts there. Avoid ruthlessness. Know that Uranus is preparing to visit your sign for a long stretch beginning in May (he will retrograde back out for a bit later in the year) - so expect the unexpected - and I know you, of all people, will hate that expression Taurus (being an Aquarius Sun/Scorpio rising - both fixed signs, too - I feel your pain here - ack!). You have got this thing!

GEMINI/Gemini Rising (Pisces 10th house) this New Moon is happening in your 10th house of your career, your calling, your achievements, your achievement goals, dad, business, authority, responsibility. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (your 6th house Scorpio) assures assures that re-working situations involving your day-to-day actions, or actions you have taken toward improving your health/health of a creative project, etc will be what you can count on moving forward. The square to Mars (your 7th house Sag) speaks of tension with a partner, maybe a competitor or open enemy. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 8th house) other people's resources, other people's values, intimacy, other people's money, spouse's income, loans, debts, taxes, inheritance, sex, reproduction. One or more of these themes is where you will be ambitious. This is also good energy for research and getting to the bottom of things. Focus your efforts there. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!

CANCER/Cancer Rising (Pisces 9th house) this New Moon is happening in your 9th house of travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (your 5th house Scorpio) assures that re-working situations involving children, a creative project, romance, fun and games is moving things forward. Note trines are "brakes off" times, so too much of a good thing in any of these areas (this house can speak of excess) could bring things to a head now, too. The square to Mars (your 6th house Sag) speaks of tension regarding your day-to-day activities, your work, health or a pet situation. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 7th house) - partners/partnerships. This is where you will be ambitious. Focus your efforts there. Avoid ruthlessness. Your 7th house Capricorn wants/needs serious people. And it's time to get serious about what you want within an equal partnership (work, love, friendship). You have got this thing!

LEO/Leo Rising (Pisces 8th house) this New Moon is happening in your 8th house of other people's resources, other people's values, intimacy, other people's money, spouse's income, loans, debts, taxes, inheritance, sex, reproduction. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (your 4th house Scorpio) assures that re-working situations involving home, family, your roots, mother, mothering, your ancestry, real estate or a home business issue can move things forward - maybe you have more than you think you do. The square to Mars (your 5th house Sag) speaks of tension regarding a romantic partner, issue with a child or maybe some kind of risky behavior/endeavor feeding into the New Moon's hurt/healing. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 6th house) - it will be time to get organized and focus on your day-to-day actions and your health. Practical actions and attention to detail is needed now. Patience Leo. You have got this thing!

VIRGO/Virgo Rising (Pisces 7th house) this New Moon is happening in your 7th house of partners and partnership. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (your 3rd house Scorpio) assures that forward movement comes through communication, information, writing, siblings, transportation or your local neighborhood. Most likely a conversation with a partner is a good idea although it could lead to argument - this is a Pisces fresh start - speak with compassion. The square to Mars (your 4th house Sag) speaks of tensions with home and family situations. There could be a situation from the past (4th house) that needs a pivot/release even if it hurts. With Mars headed into Capricorn and answering to Saturn - there won't be a quick fix and getting angry/more passionate about the situation isn't going to speed up the process. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 5th house) creative projects, your self-expression, what you give birth to, children, romance and recreation. This is Leo's house - so move toward what your heart wants Virgo. This is where you will be ambitious. Focus your efforts there. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!


LIBRA/Libra Rising (Pisces 6th house) this New Moon is happening in your 6th house of day-to-day activities, your routine, work, co-workers, pets and your health. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (your 2nd house Scorpio) assures that re-working your approach to your money, resources, values, self-esteem can create forward movement. The square to Mars (your 3rd house) speaks of tensions via a conversation, communication, information or possibly through a sibling or transportation or local community issue. That square to the 6th house could mean an argument around an error (the house of crossing your t's and dotting your i's) or imbalance within a work/health situation. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 4th house) and a home, family, your roots, mother, mothering, your ancestry, real estate or a home business situation. This is where you will be ambitious. Focus your efforts there. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!

SCORPIO/Scorpio Rising (Pisces 5th house) this New Moon in your 5th house of creative projects, your self-expression, what you give birth to, children, romance and recreation. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (retrograde in your 1st house) assures that the reinvention of yourself is what is creating the forward movement now. The square to Mars (your 2nd house Sag) - your money, values, resources, self-esteem - speaks about tensions surrounding your security and the spaces of "not enough" that you think are holding you back. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 3rd house) - communication, information, writing, learning, siblings, transportation or your local neighborhood. This is where you will be ambitious. This is where serious efforts will pay off over time. Focus your efforts here. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!

SAGITTARIUS/Sagittarius Rising (Pisces 4th house) this New Moon is happening in your 4th house of home, family, your roots, mother, mothering, your ancestry, real estate or a home business. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (retrograde in your 12th house) assures the re-working of something via "letting the situation flow/evolve", let go and let God would create the easiest forward movement. You can't push your way to a better outcome via the 12th house. The square to Mars (your 1st house Sag) speaks of tension between yourself/your beliefs and the home/family situation. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 2nd house) moving your efforts toward your money, resources, values and self-esteem. This is where you will be ambitious. This is where serious efforts will pay off over time. Focus your efforts here. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!

CAPRICORN/Capricorn Rising (Pisces 3rd house) this New Moon is happening in your 3rd house of communication, information, writing, siblings, transportation or your local neighborhood. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start via a conversation, idea or sibling/local neighborhood issue and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (retrograde in your 11th house) assures the re-working of a goal that brings you into relationship with others or something via a group/cause or the internet creates forward movement. The square to Mars (your 12th house Sag) might speak of you feeling left behind or vulnerable or could be about tension via a 12th house situation - what is hidden or put away or done behind the scenes, secrets, the ethereal realms, imagination, hospitals, spirituality, addiction, healing. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 1st house of yourself) moving your efforts toward your personal goals. This is where you will be ambitious. This is where serious efforts will pay off over time. Focus your efforts here. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!


AQUARIUS/Aquarius Rising (Pisces 2nd house) this New Moon is happening in your 2nd house of money, your values, your resources and self-esteem. The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start here and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (retrograde in your 10th house) assures the way forward is still through career/public life growth and could involve the reworking of goals, careers and situations with authority/responsibility. The square to Mars (your 11th house Sag) speaks of tension within your house of the collective - your friendships, groups, causes, the internet, the public, the goals that bring you into relationship with other people, your advancement, technology. Maybe something that comes to light here creates the "not enough" Piscean vulnerability. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 12th house) moving your efforts toward background issues, a healing situation or toward a 12th house time-out. The 12th house rules what is hidden or put away or done behind the scenes, secrets, the ethereal realms, imagination, hospitals, spirituality, addiction, healing. This is where you will be ambitious - maybe ambitiously inactive or making art, dreaming or catching up on some sleep! This is where serious efforts will pay off over time. Focus your efforts here. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!

PISCES/Pisces Rising (Pisces 1st house) this New Moon is all about you dear Pisces as you kick off your lunar year! The New Moon's beginning energy is focused on a fresh start for your emotions and is likely to carry some kind of painful recognition now. The trine to Jupiter (retrograde in your 9th house) assures your re-worked beliefs or faith in yourself is your way forward. The 9th house also rules travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking - all areas the brakes can come off now. The square to Mars (your 10th house Sag) speaks of tensions within your career/public life and possible tangles with someone in authority. Maybe it is your own actions - overly or under-ambitious - that create the need for a pivot. Right after the New Moon, Mars shifts your efforts toward your Capricorn house (your 11 house) moving your efforts toward your goals within your relationships, your contacts with other people, networking, the internet. This is where you will be ambitious. This is where serious efforts will pay off over time. Focus your efforts here - networking, your groups/causes. Avoid ruthlessness. You have got this thing!

NEW MOON AFFIRMATIONS

This moon is 26 degrees Pisces, affecting those born with planets at about 23-29 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) most strongly (high emotions).

This is an excellent time for energetic support to make changes with things ruled by Pisces including our imagination, compassion, releasing victim-hood, spiritual healing, sensitivity, trust, addictions, lymphatic system, colds, feet, toxicity.

Some affirmations that I have used for a Pisces New Moon include:

1. I easily relax my mind and body deeply at night for a minimum of seven hours of restful sleep.
2. All debilitating sensitivity is easily lifted from me.
3. I trust that everything that occurs in my life is working for my higher good.
4. I easily attract, recognize and begin attending the right yoga class for me.
5. I easily release the habit of procrastination.
plus 5 more - Jan Spiller advises the power of 10 with this.

(notice I always like to toss in the word "easily"!)

AFFIRMATION TIPS: get into a positive frame of mind - meaning both happy and certain - a quiet, clean space where you can be alone - write your affirmations down by hand in script, speak them out loud - for a watery New Moon I will write my affirmations on strips of paper and burn them, releasing the ashes into moving water - then let's release our attention from these things knowing that our intention is known.  

Know these things are already yours. xo