JUST A "TOUCH" OF LOVE !!!

Venus began its transit through the sign of Taurus, the Bull, this afternoon, March 31st, at 1:35 PM EDT ... Venus is very comfortable and at home here as this is one of the two signs of the zodiac it naturally rules - the other being Libra of course!!!! ... Venus is now currently the only planet moving through the sign of Taurus, however Mercury and the Sun will soon join the party ... but we still have here a hunk a hunk of burning love and desire !!!

Venus in Taurus usually enjoys physical gratification - including food, drink, possessions, finances, and sensual indulgences - often to the point of becoming overly indulgent !!! ... it deeply enjoys sensations, appreciates nature, and truly savors the five senses more so than usual - especially TOUCH !!! ... this energy is often relaxed and easygoing in relating to people and it appreciates loyalty and stability ... affection is expressed physically and steadily - sometimes to the point of being too possessive ... the drive for pleasure is very strong and could easily make one excessively self-indulgent ... the handling of money and possessions is usually done sensibly, but there could be the tendency to overvalue comfort, luxury and/or attractive physical objects ... there is a desire for comfort in love relationships and one responds to sensual energy from other people ... an appreciation of beauty and artisitic talents can lead to personal satisfaction and success ... whatever this energy loves it will love completely and totally ... it believes relationships can last forever ... sometimes the relationships last longer than they should ... the saying that old habits die hard is especially true with Venus in Taurus ... and this energy continues to think about all the time it has "invested" in its object of desire !!! .. this is a steadfast love ... it also is prone to the love of good food so gaining weight could prove a challenge under this energy ...

The essence of Venus in Taurus is loving through stabilizing ... it's Nature's connoisseur ... there is a pronounced need to show physical affection in order to feel loved - mere words will NOT suffice ... the secret here to obtaining the object of your desires and maintaining a stable relationship is to understand that anything or anyone outside of yourself can only become a part of your life when your value and values are a reflection and in harmony with Nature itself ... this is one of the very strongest Planet-Sign combinations that indicates a genuine love of Nature ... the ultimate truth here is that what you love and care about is only as solid and secure as you feel inside ... the energy of Venus in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: attractive, earthy, affectionate, artistic, aesthetic, peaceful, sensuous, satisfying, steadfast, loyal, wholesome, constant, sympathetic, encouraging, comforting, pleasure-giving, nature-loving, deeply trusting, sound values, conservational

NEGATIVE: greedy, materialistic, self-indulgent, overly sensual, self-satisfied, stubborn, possessive, smug, too abiding, misguiding, dissipating, insatiable, limited viewpoint, gullible, weight-gainer, jealous, insecure

Taurus born individuals this is your time to reflect your inner beauty outwardly and ask for what you want - you just might get it if it is what you truly desire ... for the rest of us, we can now see what it might be like to be born with Venus in Taurus, as well as getting a glimpse into how Taurus born individuals may operate ... Venus remains in the sign of Taurus until April 25th, but the energy could hit the proverbial bump in the "Universal" road as Mercury's transit through Taurus with Venus and the Sun will be subjected to a retrograde journey as well ... all together now - UGH !!!!  ... meanwhile, just remember that what makes us feel loved is our own persistent faith in our individual love nature !!!

BOING !!! - SPRING HAS SPRUNG !!!

The Sun blazed its way into the sign of Aries today, March 20th, at 1:32 PM EDT ... also known as the Vernal Equinox but more readily known as the beginning of Spring ... being the first sign of the natural zodiac, many astrologers would agree this is the beginning not only of Spring, but the beginning of a new Astrological Year !!! ... with the Sun in Aries, one needs to shine in the following ways: through valor and bravery; shine assertively; shine by being first; seek recognition energetically and impetuously; and shine in ones total self-expression ... Since Aries is a fire sign, the Sun is very comfortable here and maybe works a little more efficiently ... we are certainly energized with a desire to start getting things done and begin new projects ... the astrological alarm clock has rung and we are awakened from the dream like state the Sun transiting through Pisces may have put us in ...


Aries is a masculine/fire/cardinal (beginnings) sign ... it is active, energetic, excitable, impulsive, optimistic, and open to change and new experiences ... its symbol is the Ram - assertive, sexual and able to climb to great heights ... its glyph represents the horns and long nose of the Ram ... symbolically the glyph is two half Moons joined by a straight line, which indicates idealism tied to authority and leadership ... its key phrase is "I AM" and keyword is "ACTIVITY" ... anatomically Aries rules the head - Aries born people are often prone to headaches, and sometimes subject to minor injuries around the head and face, and they are also susceptible to harm from fire and sharp instruments as well as being prone to accidents involving high speed ... sometimes they have a tendency to get into violent and dangerous situations ... it is the sign opposite of Libra ...

Aries is ruled by the planet Mars - the ancient God of war, aggression and conflict ... it indicates courage, passion, and competition ... Mars deals with your animal nature, desire and sexual energies ... it shows assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, and competition ... it also governs surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammation, wounds and cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron, and steel ... the action of Mars is sudden, self-assertive, and sometimes very disruptive ... its energy can be used destructively and angrily, in a fighting manner, or with courage and strength ... if you've had a natal chart done, where you find Mars is usually where you expend the greatest energy ... my natal Mars is in the 4th house - the house of home among other things - and I work out of my home !!!

Aries is the natural ruler of the 1st house of the zodiac ... the 1st house keyword is "IDENTITY" and it is a house of life ... the cusp of the 1st house is known as the Ascendant or Rising sign - a very important point in the natal chart - often said to be the "mask" you wear to the outside world !!! ... it shows what the exact degree and sign was on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth - now you know why birth time is so important in Astrology ... the 1st house mirrors your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself outwardly ... it shows how people see you - which may be totally different from your natal Sun sign - and the way you want others to see you ... the 1st house represents the way you "package" and "market" yourself ... it represents your physical body, your health and your early childhood years ... it usually characterizes your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and bearing, and the beginnings of all enterprises ...

The essence of the Sun in Aries is living through doing ... its the pioneer, the champion !!! ... this energy simply wants to get something started as the Will has free reign to express itself in this sign ... challenges that stir one to action are usually met with great enthusiasm ... patience is a lesson to be learned under this energy as the drive is so strong to move and move NOW!!! ... physical, emotional and mental extremes are all desired in Aries which usually make one all the better for experiencing them - but go too far and one can expect to be extremely lonely ... remember what springs from your body or mind is only as good as what dwells in your heart ... the energy of the Sun in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: assertive, go-getting, crusading, enthusiastic, direct, frank, one-pointed, straightforward, spontaneous, energetic, stimulating, courageous, good starter, warrior caste, leader type, confident, independent, strong-willed, single-minded, original being

NEGATIVE: overly aggressive, unreflective, fanatical, arrogant, blunt, tactless, blind to side-issues, simplistic, impatient, restless, irritating, foolhardy, bad finisher, argumentative, un-cooperative, pompous, self-centered, headstrong, thoughtless, intolerant

Happy Solar Return to all you Aries born individuals .. this is your time of year to begin a new astrological cycle and shine ... for everyone it is a time for fresh new beginnings on many levels of ones life ... and even better yet - IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING !!! ... the Sun remains in the sign of Aries until April 19th/20th depending on where you live ...

OPEN MOUTH ... INSERT FOOT !!!

Mercury charged its way into the sign of Aries yesterday, March 17th at 12:12 PM EDT ... Mercury takes approximately 1 year to go through the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... it spends anywhere from 15 days to roughly two months in each sign - the longer amount of time being the roughly 20 to 24 days during each of its usual three retrograde periods each year ... that being said, while Mercury transits the sign of Aries, and with it being a Fire sign, energy and action will be expressed either in an inspiring, creative, independent, or impulsive/aggressive manner ... in Aries, the Mercurial energy is being pushed into overdrive ... the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find our selves moving too quickly and causing mishaps or accidents - especially behind the wheel where we will no doubt be using even more hand gestures than usual !!! - we will also most likely come up with what we determine to be "scathingly brilliant" ideas but not all will be driven to fruition after they lose their initial novelty ... a lot of us will constantly be the victim of "foot-in-mouth" disease as we will have the tendency to speak before we think since the mind is processing so much so fast ... we may also experience sleepless nights or have difficulty going to sleep as we find that when our head hits the pillow the mind is still racing .... we will certainly have to be on guard about starting arguments and trying to stir up controversy simply because we feel like our words are the ultimate authority ...


With the mind and the tongue working rather quickly here, there is definitely a talent for debate and/or using words that are biting, ironic, and sarcastic ... communication will be made directly, forcefully and with confidence ... new ideas are always being sought here as it becomes necessary to be active in order to learn - even if the lessons end up being harder than we anticipated ... under this energy one is usually interested in courage, self-reliance, freedom and self-expression ...

The essence of Mercury in Aries is thinking through doing ... the energy truly expresses the well known phrase that actions speak louder than words!!! ... just as fresh new ideas and experiences are sought out, there is the tendency at times to dwell on old grievances as well as on outworn interests ... failing to sustain enough mental input or assertion of ones intellectual outlook, there is the risk of nervous and/or physical restlessness that can develop into more serious mental or emotional conditions accompanied by matching circumstances ... slow down to clarify your objectives and then have the faith that you'll rise to the occasion ... make sure your force has a worthy cause attached to it ... realize that the tongue is indeed a sensitive muscle - so learn to "hold it" and appreciate what it is attached to !!! ... the energy of Mercury in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: quick-thinking, spontaneous, quick-acting, decisive, mentally forceful, stimulating, fighting spirit, fiery, frank, witty, to the point, observant, initiates ideas, thinks on ones feet, mentally active and agile, eloquent, verbally assertive, intellectually confident

NEGATIVE: impatient, irritable, quick-tempered, premature, headstrong, quarrelsome, spitting, thoughtless, sarcastic, terse, precocious, snap opinionated, snap decisions, verbally/mentally restless, one-sided viewpoint, intellectually arrogant

Mercury remains in the sign of Aries until April 2nd at which point it will enter the sign it will begin its next - wait for it !!! - RETROGRADE journey ... Aries born individuals may become infused with an overabundance of ideas and plans in addition to speaking out more so than usual - yikes!!! ... as I have stated in past blogs, and I find it to be relevant here, all of us might be well advised to keep a lot of ice cream or something cool and soothing on hand as we are sure to have a sore tongue because we've had to bite it so often to keep from allowing our hasty words causing too much damage !!!

ALL SYSTEMS GO !!!

Mars, the planet representing the urge to get what you want, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy and desires, completed its RETROGRADE journey Wednesday afternoon, 3/10, at 12:09 PM ... to reiterate, the purpose of a Mars retrograde ultimately is to evaluate what it is that motivates you and for you to determine if you are on the correct path to achieve your goal, and if you are doing what you should be doing to get there ... inside a Mars retrograde, it is time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that ones intent is accomplished ... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... also, old resentments and personal issues that haven't been resolved in the past have a tendency of resurfacing during this period which yields the awareness that the time has come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, anger and learning assertiveness ... it is often said that during a Mars retrograde we may become somewhat less "warlike" and that our energy can hit a lull to the point where it seems our get up and go truly got up and went !!!! ... Mars takes a retrograde journey for about 9 - 10 weeks out of its 26 month cycle ... now the question is just which, if any of these actions occurred during the retrograde period ...


This 26th month cycle becomes significant as we are used to Mars energy moving forward since it takes about two years to return to its natal position in ones birth chart and thus spends about two months in each sign ... Mars could be considered a "double twin" of the Earth as it tilts on its axis in almost the same way as the Earth, but Mars has 4 six month seasons instead of 4 three month seasons like we have here on Earth ... the Earth orbits the Sun in 1 year and Mars in 2 years thus the Earth finally catches up with Mars roughly every 2 years and 2 months = 26 month cycle ... often Mars retrograde will bring issues of frustration or hostility to the surface we have deliberately suppressed due to their disruptive qualities which can cause forward movement in our lives to be temporarily delayed ... sudden reversals of interest and drive may occur, as well as the termination of a long term goal as it may become apparent that the effort is innappropriate for the long term ... also old wounds, hurts and frustrations may arise seemingly out of context but usually there is a purpose for this ... during a Mars retrograde it is usually a good idea NOT to undertake any new beginnings per contract or verbally since the energy often isn't there to carry it through ... now sometimes you can't just "sit tight" for nearly two and a half months, but there are good reasons if at all possible, as the waiting may ultimately prove to be a blessing ... often things begun under a Mars retograde will run into problems when it stations back into direct motion - which was March 10th, at some point during the next two years, or even when Mars begins its next retrograde journey - which will be in January of 2012 ...

This Mars retrograde occurred from 19 degrees of Leo back down to 0 degrees of Leo ... if you've had a natal chart done, you can look to where these degrees fall and get an idea of where you might have done some rethinking of some kind of action you have taken, or where you encountered delays or a shift into a different direction ... if you were born with your natal Sun between 0 degrees and 19 degrees of Leo, at some point Mars crossed back over your natal Sun and, among other things, there could have been a few days when you felt as if someone unplugged your energy outlet !!! ... as with Mercury retrograde periods, sometimes those born with Mars retrograde will find this period was more productive as they are already were comfortable and used to this energy and have a better understanding ...

As Leo is the natural ruler of the 5th house we can certainly expect many of the issues that arose may have had something to do with romance, creativity and pleasure seeking ... yes, once again the relationship sector got another retrograde hit - did anyone out there break up or end a particular relationship???... and its a good bet that some romantic interest from your past may have resurfaced in your life or you in theirs, and issues that weren't resolved had to be addressed ... as Leo is ruled by the Sun, we had a Sun/Mars relationship working here in retrograde motion which will surely result in a weakening of vitality ... there could easily have been those who had health issues with the heart, circulation, and blood issues ...

Aries born, was your period of review and rethinking beneficial and productive since Mars is your ruling planet ??? ... what was going on in your life since January of 2007 that may not have worked out after all ... this would also include all of us, and what possibly was begun from November 15th, 2007 through January 30th 2008 had to be addressed and reworked or simply came to a necessary ending ??? ... Even though Aries born individuals as well as Leo born - since Mars was retrograding through the sign of Leo - may have been more sensitive to this reversal of energy, we all experienced it somewhere in our lives, and lights may begin to come on in our heads that perhaps we should have either waited a while longer before taking action or possibly never have taken action to begin with in certain situations ...

The New Year might now feel like it has really begun for a lot of people !!! ... for those of you who had birthdays between December 20th and March 10th - yes YOURS TRULY fell into this category, UGH !!!! - remember you can expect to have Mars retrograde energy in your birthday chart for the whole year ahead ... now that DOES NOT mean to sit idle for 12 months ... rather to be selective about what you begin, think it out thoroughly, and realize that self-motivation will be one of your keywords in the year ahead !!! ...

Mars remains in the sign of Leo until June 7th - yikes a long time to get it's energy back up to speed so it can resume it's normal transit time of roughly six to eight weeks through one sign ... and what better time for Mars to finally complete it's retrograde journey and instill in all of us that get up and go energy as Spring is just a week away and we need to start thinking about all that "cleaning" we need to do !!!

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE !!!

IT’S OVER .... GOODBYE!!!!! ... and just like that what we thought we so passionately desired has suddenly lost its initial appeal .... moving right along - NEXT !!! .... get the picture ??? .... well that is what some if not all of us will experience on some level in our lives as Venus burned its way into the passionate sign of Aries at 7:33 AM EST early this morning March 7th ... we can expect to be empassioned about someone or something ... we will pursue it with total dedication ... and when we get it we could find ourselves asking the question - WHY????? ... of course we may also find ourselves outright overly horny as we are "burning with desire"!!! ... Venus in the fire sign of Aries will seek its interactions with others and pursue things passionately, romantically, excitedly and adventurously ...

Venus represents our social urge and our sense of values ... it rules the signs of Taurus and Libra and is the natural ruler of the 2nd house - a house of substance representing your emotional need for fulfillment and feelings, your values, your sense of self-worth, your inner talents and resources and your earning power .... its the house of material debt .... Venus is also the natural ruler of the 7th house - a house of face-to-face relationships where the keyword is cooperation which might be somewhat lacking while Venus moves through Aries as we tend to be a little slack with our social graces at times along the way .... it represents both social, business and personal relationships ... its a house of open enemies and you may well find them during this transit so best to think twice before speaking which makes this transit very challenging ... the 7th house also indicates what you most lack about yourself being opposite the 1st house, and you might find an increased desire to fill that void wherever it is perceived ... Venus is the anatomical ruler of the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste - there could be issues here with the ruler of Aries being Mars and it possibly "boiling" up symptoms with its fiery attributes ...

Venus in Aries is demonstrative ... we love the thrill of the chase of the person or object of our desire ... it is very outgoing and enthusiastic to the point of ending up aggressive and overwhelming ... most of the time it will be your feelings and values that are center most on your mind instead of others .... it likes the novelty and newness of things and once that is over it can be fickle and ready to move on ... it’s attracted to people who are independent, those with a lot of initiative, and certainly those who are creative with their originality ... here pursuit of passion is the name of the game but once the object of your attention has been captured, you, the hunter, may move on by viewing it as another trophy to put on your Venusian shelf of love and desire ....

If you know which house you have the sign of Aries in natally, then you can most likely figure out where and how this transit of Venus will play out in your own life in addition to society as well ... and if you were born with the Sun in Aries, at some point during this Venus transit, it will pass over your natal Sun giving you a day to just enjoy the world, your friends , your creative efforts, and simply being alive !!!

ONE CAVEAT - Venus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house and therefore money earned as well as money SPENT ... you should be careful about "burning" through your personal money while Venus is in Aries as the purse strings will be significantly loosend and expanded by this "heated" energy and you will want to increase your material holdings and also be drawn towards the purchase of big ticket or luxury items only to find yourself thinking at the end of this transit - "and I spent THAT MUCH MONEY because...????" ... and, as Venus naturally rules the 7th house of partnerships and relationships both personal and professional, you might also find yourself thinking that you may have accidentally "incinerated" some of these as well !!!

Of course the Universe couldn't bestow us with this exciting energy without adding its cosmic sense of humor to the mix ... don't forget we are currently in a Mars retrograde - the planet which rules the sign that Venus has entered - until this coming Wednesday, March 10th ... it will be interesting to see how the first four days of this Venus transit plays out !!!

Venus remains in the sign of Aries until March 31st ... and when Venus finally leaves the sign of Aries, we could well end up summing up our experiences in one of two ways - as "Loves Labour Lost" or a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" !!!

TO SLEEP PERCHANCE TO BE CREATIVELY AND DIVINELY INSPIRED BY A DREAM !!!

Mercury began its dream-like transit through the sign of Pisces early this morning, 3/1, at 8:28 AM EST ... with Mercury in Pisces, the mind and tongue tend to be sensitive and intuitive with a large dose of compassion thrown in ... one will often express their intelligence sympathetically ... if one feels safe they can be talkative and very sociable, but if not they will clam up rather fast ... this energy gives one a poetic expression or ones language may be lovely and engaging ... communication here is made idealistically, imaginatively or perhaps evasively ... frequently one can make communications with other people on a non-verbal level, and one may be psychically or spiritually tuned in ... one can uplift others through their thinking and/or communicating ... often there is a wonderfully creative imagination and beauty can be created with either the mind or with ones hands ... interests are usually geared toward areas that are inspirational such as art, nature or the spirit ... one could be inclined towards fantasy, evasion, avoidance or denial if what is perceived does not match ones inner ideals ... the phrase "what if ???" may frequently cloud the reasoning process with this energy ... overall, one can be quite flexible in their thinking, have a wholistic approach, or even have a natural talent for synthesizing and seeing the whole of any situation ... sometimes the energy of Mercury in Pisces can produce the image of the absentminded professor ... while transiting through Pisces, a water sign, the effects of this Mercury energy are often highly influenced through the emotions ... one must take extra care here as Pisces, which is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion and escapism, can lure one to escape "mental" reality through drugs and alcohol !!!


The essence of Mercury in Pisces is thinking through accepting ... the poetic mind ... the dreamer of dreams ... the mind is very sensitive under this energy and it can absorb as much information as, if not more than, it learns ... sometimes thoughts and notions will appear to have come from "somewhere else" which will cause doubt in their truth and thus eventually lead to a form of mental exhaustion as a result of resisting cerebral sensitivity and reasoning ... even though this is more the mind of the poet rather than the technician, one is still able to "dream up" both scientific and artistic visions ... here the mind thinks in pictures and one can richly profit by drawing from ones dream life ... it is highly suggested to keep a dream journal - you may be surprised how creatively and divinely inspiring your dreams become!!! ... with Mercury in Pisces there is the ability to be in touch mentally with the Collective Unconscious and navigate the vast sea of all the thoughts and feelings that ever were or ever will be ... it is wise to accept and to understand the channel-like quality of ones mind here and to always give expression to what is coming through ... the energy of Mercury in Pisces can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: imaginative, sensitive mind, visually aware, artistic, obliging, psychic, good instincts, receptive, humorous, versatile, good mimic, highly perceptive, philosophical, dreamer, good long-term memory, accepting, refined mind, contemplative, gentle, sympathetic

NEGATIVE: suspicious, evasive, easily freaked out, lazy, easily swayed, irrational, fearful, gullible, obscure, vague, uncommunicative, absent-minded, bad short-term memory, elusive, weak-minded, slow, wimpish, at a loss for words, seeing things

Mercury in Pisces encourages one to know that what one lacks in knowledge one makes up for in understanding - so take your time ... you have the power to choose what you take "on board" and its up to you to discover how to use it ... use your imagination in a creative fashion instead of becoming a victim of it !!! ...

Mercury has now joined the Sun, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus in the sign of Pisces ... the mind will certainly be active and influenced by many factors .. it is up to each one of us to determine what is real and what is fleeting ... keep an open mind and allow the Universe to show you a slice of its infinite wisdom and creative process!!! ... Mercury remains in the sign of Pisces until March 17th - St. Patrick's Day !!!