PEOPLE ... PEOPLE WHO NEED PEOPLE ...

... are indeed the luckiest people in the world !!! ... and this could be considered as one of the primary influences as Mars began its transit through the sign of Libra yesterday evening, July 29th, at 7:47 PM EDT ... after all, LIbra is ruled by Venus and that is the planet of love and relationships !!! ... Mars in Libra is strategic, charming, generous, amiable, cooperative, persuasive, enjoys entertaining, sociable and very interested in new ideas ... self-reliance is sometimes lacking here and one must learn to stand on their own ... here we have energy that is naturally people oriented and often learns through relating with others ... it can be highly competitive ... it is energy which makes one work on balancing opposites and therefore indecision can arise if you go overboard with the need to weigh and balance everything ... identity is tied in with interactions to others ... physical and sexual drive are strongly influenced by ones partner ... Mars in Libra can also propel one into a conflict of argument with someone else - and at times people are forced to agree with you just to end the discussion and shut you up !!! ... it can be sweet and smile a lot, but ultimately kill you with kindness ...

Mars sometimes has trouble operating in the sign of Libra because of its need for direct action is limited by the need for approval and cooperation of others ... Mars here is the initiator of social activities and wants to be noticed and appreciated ... sometimes personal desires and ambitions can be confused with others ... aggressive and energetic partners are sought here ... this energy can produce great anger when principles of justice are violated even if the person is not the actual victim ...

The essence of Mars in Libra is ultimately getting through relating ... its the social mover and shaker ... the drive to balance impulses ... a major challenge here is to get what you want but do so by fitting in with social values and emotional requirements ... one must learn to adjust needs and values to their desires ... desires here tend to spring from a feeling of wanting everyone to be in harmony and pull together ... ultimately the energy of Mars in Libra is the ability to be aware of and have the courage to express and live by your own moral convictions ... Mars in Libra is the transformer ... it likes togetherness, doing things in style, the social whirl, knowing ones own desires, and equal partnerships ... it dislikes injustice, being overly blunt, indecisiveness, being dominant or being dominated ... the energy of Mars in Libra can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: attentive lover, enthusiastic, skillful lover, gentle, fair, easygoing, diplomatic, co-operative, persuasive, binding, discreet, perceptive, idealistic, intuitive, principled, measured, polite, considerate, agreeable, sedate

NEGATIVE: fawning, idolizing, impersonal, tentative, bland, indecisive, insincere, misleading, devious, awkward, judgmental, unreal, unfeeling, self-limiting, inhibited, vulgar, selfish, impulsive

Libra born individuals, this is the time when your energy is given that extra big boost ... but true to the cosmic sense of humor, Saturn is also currently transiting through the sign of Libra and will do so through Mars entire transit of Libra ... there could be a lot of stop/go frustration - and that includes all of us as well ... nevertheless, you may find this period very productive but you will also have to guard against going with such great force that you accidentally "incinerate" others with your heightened enthusiasm and drive ... it is also possible that others may interpret your actions as pushy and confrontational even though your intentions are just the opposite !!!

Mars remains in the sign of Libra until September 14th ... MAKE LOVE NOT WAR !!!

DETAILS ... DETAILS ... DETAILS !!!

Mercury began its transit through the highly analytical sign of Virgo this evening, July 27th, at 5:43 PM EDT ... thie energy usually gives the mind a rather precise, thorough and analytical ability ... commmuncations are usually logical, helpful, critical, negative, skeptical, practical or humble ... one is apt to put their mind to work doing their job ... this intellect can be solidified through writing or technical crafts, and converting ideas in a tangible form ... there is a talent for organization, but sometimes the discriminating and highly focused mind could get mired in too many details and become excessively critical ... one of the challenges of this energy is to learn to step back and look at the bigger picture in addition to getting immersed in all the fine details ... learning is best achieved in an organized sequence and a logical presentation ... the concern for details can often lead to the syndrome of "not being able to see the forest for the trees" ... there is also likely to be an interest in health, nutrition, competence and ones day to day work ... this Mercury says exactly what it wants to say - no more no less ... it has a quick, dry wit, bestows a fine eye for detail, and usually produces very neat and readable handwriting ... this energy can also make one very skilled with their hands and often craftspeople are born with this energy in their natal chart ...

Mercury in Virgo is very impartial and gets to sorting through all the details to where the logic and precision can discover the heart of the matter ... with this fine intelligence, systematically clarifying and refining information received and understanding the patterns comes naturally ... here we have a logical, analyitcal and practical mind that produces a quick learner ... on the challenging side, Mercury in Virgo can make ones mind so very active with all the extraneous processing that it is sometimes difficult to quiet and still the mind yielding restlessness and/or the inability to sleep ... just ask someone born with Mercury in Virgo !!!

The essence of Mercury in Virgo is thinking through analyzing .. its the pure mind ... the ability to reason functions very well here ... a big challenge here is to not live in your mind and understand there is a big difference between knowledge and actual experience ... this energy also can help one assist others in seeing things more clearly - in forms such as writing, editing, counselling, teaching, drawing and translating ... there is the ablility to assimilate vast amounts of complex information ... ironically, when it comes to expressing something close to ones heart, this energy can make one obscure it in a lot of irrelevant references ... this energy makes it necessary to thoroughly grasp a specific subject as without training or education one is more likely to suffer greater than others from being unemployed, underemployed or unemployable ... the ultimate goal with this energy is to appreciate that what gets in the way of understanding life is thinking way too much about it - a totally clear mind is really no mind at all !!!! .... the energy of Mercury in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: analytical, objective, systematic, logical, discerning, precise, meticulous, clever, eloquent, well-read, well-informed, accurate, retentive memory, fast learner, highly efficient, good worker, modest, helpful, practical

NEGATIVE: unfeeling, remote, clinical, cold and dry, hypercritical, trivial, worrisome, wordy, bookish, intellectual snob, misses the point, greedy mind, impatient, high strung, workaholic, self-critical, sceptical, slave to reasoning, pointless

Virgo born individuals, no doubt you will be infused with plenty of practical ideas as Mercury passes through your birth sign ... for all of us, with Mercury in Virgo we should remember that the point we are trying to communicate should be remembered, researched, rehearsed and then expressed ... make the best of what you actually know ... what's the use of knowing everything and feeling nothing ??? ...

Mercury remains in the sign of Virgo until October 3rd - WHAAAAAAAAAAT?????? ... but you know why ... insert loud groan here ... during this first part of the transit Mercury will get no further than 19 degrees of Virgo at which point it will begin its next RETROGRADE journey for the year ... yes, you know the Universe couldn't let summer be all sunshine and lollipops!!!

So for the next 12 weeks it all boils down to this one simple request - "Just the facts M'am" (know where that came from???) !!!!!!

GROWTH & EXPANSION - HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR TOO FAST ???

Jupiter, the planet known as the Great Benefic, and the planet which symbolizes growth, the law, beliefs, ethics, expansion, opportunity, wealth, faith, higher education, travel - long distance, religion, philosophy, joy, goodwill and sometimes excessiveness, began its retrograde journey for this year early this morning, July 23rd, at 8:03 AM EDT ... transiting planetary retrogrades are often referred to as global wake-up calls ... usually right before a Jupiter retrograde it will be discovered or become apparent that society, organizations and individuals will have "gone too far" in their desires to expand and grow ... often the actions will have exceeded positive limits which necessitates a time for stepping back ... gee, do you think it might be necessary now to rethink the financial bail out and who gets what and whether or not some people/organizations have gotten an unnecessarily excesive amount ???


Jupiter retrograde is a period for everyone to grow internally and prepare themselves for new opportunities that arise when Jupiter stations back into direct motion ... it is very important during this period to look within and develop a better understanding and awareness which hopefully will enable each one of us to figure out if what is being offered to us is what we really want and/or need ...

People born with Jupiter retrograde in their natal chart usually find that society's religions, beliefs, philosophies, and cultural values are not compatible with their own values ... they have to step back from the "norms" and rethink these things on their own in order to develop their own individual "operating systems" ... needless to say, during a transiting Jupiter retrograde, we may all experience this and those born with Jupiter retrograde may experience an enhanced desire to pursue their natal energy in regard to this area of our lives ... as Jupiter goes retrograde roughly every 9 months for a period of about 4 months, there are obviously a lot of people, like yours truly, born with Jupiter retrograde in their natal chart !!!

Jupiter is currently transiting through the sign of Aries which it began back on June 6th ... just to remind you the essence of Jupiter in Aries is growth and expansion through doing !!! ... action, assertion and self-expression are valued ... beliefs are based on personal experience ... one may idolize doing their own thing, pioneering and independence ... realistic self-confidence can enhance leadership skills and yield growth through confidently doing ones own thing ... the child-like enthusiasm and faith can take one far in life ... the basic principle of faith here is that Life supports those who actually live it ... what is important is that one gets things going and ensures that others will keep them going while they continue to keep leading onward ... this energy likes active occupations, travel, forward-thinking people, and optimism ... it dislikes people who just sit around, being household bound, dead-ends, pessimism and those who are not stout hearted ...

Jupiter will return to the sign of Pisces for some last minute business on September 9th where it will remain until January 22nd, 2011 when it has turned back into direct motion and at that point re-enters the sign of Aries for its complete transit ... the final transit through Pisces will occur between 29 degrees and 23 degrees ...

Sagittarian born individuals, as Jupiter is the ruling planet of your Sun sign, this is your yearly period of review and reflection ... it is time to step back and reflect on what has been going on in your life since Jupiter last turned direct on October 12/13th, 2009 depending on the time zone in which you live ... where have you possibly over-expanded, and what opportunities for growth and expansion have come your way that you either took advantage of or might well have overlooked ???

Jupiter remains retrograde until November 18th, so take a good look at where you have possibly over-expanded, physically or otherwise, gone too far too fast, and keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities for growth and expansion that might come your way ... take advantage of them - be careful not to overlook what could ultimately be that once in a lifetime chance !!!

WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE LIVING FOR ... ???

... APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE !!! ... the Sun began its transit through the dramatic sign of Leo on today, July 22nd, at 6:21 PM EDT ... and a lot of what this energy is all about is being acknowledged, appreciated and applauded !!! ... the Sun in Leo makes one need to shine through creative endeavors, seek recognition through risk-taking or exciting activities, shine through ones generosity, and certainly shine through ones own charisma ... this is the ultimate in fire energy - it is very happy,optimistic energy ... and isn't the Sun pretty much at its peak in Summer during July/August ??? ... it's easy to see why these native born individuals are so warm and cheerful - unless of course they are modified by some other "darker" energy in their natal chart !!! ... it craves attention and they usually love giving and receiving hugs ...


Leo is a masculine/fire/fixed sign which makes it enthusiastic, powerful, expansive and creative, generous and extravagant, dogmatic and very fixed in its opinions ... Leo is ruled by the Sun so the Sun is extremely happy to be traveling through this sign !!! ... the Sun is the center of our solar system and therefore the most powerful planetary influence which bestows vitality and authority ... its symbol is the Lion - regal, brave, dominating,possessing nobility and pride, and sometimes insensitive to pain ... the glyph for Leo represents two valves of the heart ... it is also the Greek symbol for the first letter of Leo ... symbolically, it is two incomplete circles of the Sun joined by a crescent Moon (its tail) which symbolizes that power is derived from both the intellect and the emotions ... its key phrase is "I Will" and its keyword is "Magnetism" ... the Sun is the main expression of the individual ... it shows the qualities of leadership and success ... it represents the masculine principle, the father, husband, and men in general ... it rules health, vital principles, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity and capacity for experience ... wherever the Sun is located in your natal chart is where you find the life and heart of your horoscope - it is where you truly want to shine !!!

Leo anatomically rules the heart, back, spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female ... emotional strain and physical overexertion can cause back and spinal ailments in Leo born people ... sometimes Leo born people can be overbearing and challenging to the point of unknowingly provoking others into impulsive violence !!! ... Leo is the sign directly opposite of Aquarius in the natural zodiac ...

Leo naturally rules the 5th house of the horoscope ... it is a house of life whose keyword is "Creativity" ... the 5th house represents children, artistic expression, love affairs, romance, pleasure, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculation, hobbies and what distracts you from your main employment ... it also represents your emotional attitude, the love you give, your enterprise, sports, originality and creative outlets, shows dramatic, literary or artistic ability, shows publications, politics, the fine arts, social affairs, pregnancy and the education of children ... also represented here are any groups to which you may belong that relate to having fun ...

The essence of the Sun in Leo is living through creating ... it is one who is a child of the Sun ... it wants to shine and be the center of attention ... even if you are shy or lacking in confidence, you will want to be noticed in some way ... respect is vitally important not only for yourself but from others as well ... respect is dependent on self-respect ... a radiant glow is often physically noticeable ... Leo can create an "air of certainty" which makes many things possible ... but for all the apparent confidence streaming forth from ones heart, it can belie the fact that one is highly dependent on being appreciated !!! ... here one must pay special attention to critics and admirers alike to avoid being blinded by ones own light and thus destroying whatever it is that one originally tried to create and maintain - a relationship, ones home, health, profession or even ones own children ... just like the Sun, Leo energy cannot see the shadow it casts ... ultimately Leo must realize that its power and influence shine through it and not from it ... and when that power is wounded or challenged, it is very much like the Sun disappearing behind a cloud - the world becomes a colder and darker place ... the energy of the Sun in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: noble, confident, generous, gracious, encouraging, commanding, ambitious, enterprising, proud, cultivated, dramatic sense, impressive, self-expressive, wealth of ideas, fun to be with, warm, affectionate, loyal, romantic

NEGATIVE: pretentious, self-righteous, flamboyant, domineering, demanding, intolerant, overestimating, vain, snobby/stuck-up, melodramatic, show-off, self-centered, overbearing, overblown, scorching, affected, fierce, impossible, unrealistic

The Sun now joins Mercury already in the sign of Leo and remains there until August 23rd ... Leo born individuals this is your time of year to SHINE !!! ... for all of us, we should remember that those who love us do so for our inner glow more than our outer show ... the Sun never tries to shine AND set conditions - it just shines ... recognize, appreciate, respect and pardon both yourself and others ... and since this energy compels each one of us to take center stage - let's all take a collective bow !!! (cue APPLAUSE!!!)

ROLLERCOASTER ... SAY WHAT ??? ... OF LOVE ...

Saturn re-enters the sign of Libra tomorrow morning, 7/21, at 11:09 AM EDT to begin its complete transit through the sign ... it has finished its business with Virgo - now you Virgo born can exhale !!! - and will focus on Libra and its areas of life ... it will bring restriction and restructuring to partnerships/relationships both public and private, personal and spiritual values and how one earns and spends their money ... there will most likely be widespread change and upheaval !!! ... Below I have re-posted the blog when Saturn first entered Libra on October 29th, 2009 briefly before it soon afterwards began its retrograde journey and backed in to Virgo for the last time where it will not return for 29 years ...

Saturn, known as the taskmaster, the tester, the authoritarian, the restricter and restructurer, and the bringer of Karma, began its journey through the sign of Libra on Thursday, October 29th, at 1:09 PM EDT ... Saturn represents the lessons in life we MUST LEARN ... therefore it illuminates what we are least sure of or simply put, what we fear ... as a result of the force of circumstances we are driven to find the discipline, effort and sense of order so we can surmount limitations and obstacles and thus pass the tests Saturn places before us ... often power becomes an issue in ones partnerships and sometimes ultimately the lesson ... it tends to want balance and fair play however still feel very responsible for working things out ... ones attitude here is usually disciplined, responsible yet very serious ... but one can also come across as pleasant, philosophical and with a great sense of justice and fairness ... this is often the natal placement for lawyers, judges and mediators ... its energy is useful for organizational planning, business arrangements and government work ...

Saturn in Libra often seeks out a serious partner ... after all, Libra is the natural ruler of the 7th house which governs partnerships and relationships both public and private ... relating to others is definitely one of the lessons to be learned with this energy ... those born natally with this placement frequently marry later in life as they realize marriage requires patience and hard work ... being unsure of strength and self-worth could lead to a fear of commitment due to the danger of possibly being hurt, criticized or rejected ... these fears can inhibit one from the capacity to make an intimate connection ... people often obtain positions of honor and wealth under this energy whether natally or through transit ... social awareness is high ... diplomacy and tact are preferred as it becomes obvious that working well with others requires cooperation rather than competitiveness ... Saturn is considered to be in Exaltation in Libra as its forces are increased here and its virtues are magnified ... Saturn is concerned with proper conduct and appropriate behavior, and Libra is highly associated with proper protocol, civilized manners, and all social graces ...

The essence of Saturn in Libra is being tested through relating ... it is said that this is the point where all other planet-sign positions converge yielding a focus or point of balance that must be found between the needs and urges of the individual on one side, and the demands and conditions of life and society on the other side ... naturally the most important test of all is the one of Relating - establishing the right relations between oneself and anything or anyone outside of oneself ... ultimately Order and Authority are most efficiently expressed through qualities of Balance and Justice ... the greatest lesson to be learned here is that of BALANCE ... through these balancing acts one will be able to determine and establish their place in the professional and personal landscape of their life ... the ultimate lesson of Saturn in Libra is learning that "another" is simply a reference point to which you are drawn, usually by love or fondness, and that empowers you to establish your own identity and elevate your place in this world ... this energy likes feeling committed, a worthy opponent, a serious partner, learning through love and establishing right relations ... it dislikes being without a relationship, being unevenly matched, unresolved relationships and leaving relationships to chance ... the energy of Saturn in Libra can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: sense of moral obligation, loyal, honorable, co-operative, just, impartial, diplomatic, tactful, socially aware, good timing, well-mannered, composed, abiding partner, esteemed, idealistic, responsible

NEGATIVE: over-committed, blind trust, weak sense of self, unforgiving, indecisive, stiff, socially unsure, bad timing, uptight, rigid, insecure partner, resented, unrealistic, too particular

In reference to all matters dealing with the energy of Saturn, a critical point is reached roughly every 29 years - known as the Saturn return and being the length of time is takes to make one complete transit around the natal chart ... during this return it comes back to the sign and degree position it was at when you were born ... this is what one might call a life progress report ... to many Astrologers this is known as the offical transition into adulthood at 29 years of age - even though many are mature ahead of their years ... during this time there will be inner and outer pressures which will tear down what is weak in you, and consolidate what is strong in order to form a firmer foundation .... for those of you who have had their natal chart done, look to where the beginning of Libra - that is 0 degrees of Libra - is and you'll gain some insight as to what area of your life this testing in relating may play out in ...

For those of you Libra individuals born between September 21st, 1980 and September 29th, 1982, and May 6th, 1983 and August 24th, 1983, you are now going to begoing through your Saturn return at some point over the next two years and three months ... it is considered as the astrological transition into adulthood on its first return pass ...

Saturn will remain in the sign of Libra until October 5th, 2012 ... Libra born individuals, this is a very significant time in your life and it may well turn out to be very trying ... at some point Saturn will be crossing over your natal Sun - and possibly other planets too if you were born with others in Libra ... but if you pay attention and not smash your head against the proverbial brick wall of stubborness, you stand to learn a great deal and build a much stronger foundation in your life ... if you are 29, 58, or 87, this will definitely be a significant period in your life ... my fellow born Capricorns, we also will most likely feel a little more intensity of this transit as Saturn is our ruling planet and therefore changing signs ready to teach us new lessons in yet another area of life ....

Everyone will feel the effects of this transit on some level of their lives ... relationships will be a major issue - some will become stronger and others will come to an end as a result of personal growth being blocked and inhibited ... lessons WILL BE learned whether through force or compliance ... in a way though we have been prepared by the Universe for this challenge as you may recall a lot of the personal planetary retrogrades last year have involved planets in signs dealing with partnerships and relationships including Mars retrograding in Leo the end of December .... meanwhile, we might all look back and see what challenges and lessons we encountered in the areas of daily work and service, health and nutrition and possibly family issues while Saturn was transiting the sign of Virgo beginning back on September 2, 2007 ...

While Saturn transits Libra, be aware that where you are and who you are with is your reality ... seek harmony there ... being fair to yourself and others is the balance created between your views and others views ... in seeking the "perfect" partnership, it is wise to understand that the truly perfect partnership is one that is only as perfect as you are as an individual ...

SEARCHIN FOR THE PERFECT "AHHHHHHHH" !!!

Venus began its transit through the picky and detailed oriented sign of Virgo this morning, 7/10, at 7:32 AM EDT ... this is a highly discerning type of love ... Venus in Virgo enjoys competence, precision, and doing things the way they should be done - correctly !!! ... it is exacting, discriminating and/or critical when relating to other people ... affection is usually expressed in a manner of doing things for people or serving them in some way ... it is also expressed modestly and/or timidly ... pleasure is achieved by functioning efficiently and being helpful especially in repairing things, situations or people ... this Venus enjoys analysis, precision and organizing details ... logic and common sense makes this Venus very comfortable ... the handling of money and possessions is usually practical and thrifty ... there is a desire for common sense and for a willingness to work in love relationships ... this Venus can be more sincerely affectionate than any other sign, can manifest a very strong business sense, and knows exactly what is does and does not want !!! ... it often has a tendency to get so involved in details it becomes rather critical and demanding ...

The essence of Venus in Virgo is loving through analyzing ... ultimately one discovers that eventually you must surrender to the mystery of love and art - or objects thereof - and no longer analyze ... this energy can acquire a finely tuned sense of social, emotional, and artistic values ... one must also learn to be discriminating about being discriminating ... one must resist the temptation to tamper with what is already simply attractive ... this Venus likes a spotless reputation, good manners, sexual hygiene, and pure or natural art ... the energy of Venus in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: knowing what you like, discriminating, fine sense of aesthetics and design, artistic, sincerely affectionate, simple and clear, quietly charming, strong character, impartially kind, coolly
helpful, precision worker, specialist worker, painstaking, pure and modest lover, high moral sense, socially discerning, privately sensuous

NEGATIVE : critical of partners, fussy and nagging, easily dissatisfied, artistically neurotic, inhibits affection, undemonstrative, dry, socially stiff, hides sensitivity, emotionally absent, cold exterior, too exacting, retreats into work, indecisive, restrained, feeling sexually inferior, puritanical, social misfit, self-effacin

Venus is the natural ruling planet of Libra and as such, love, partnerships/relationships, personal values and how we earn and spend our money will really be thoroughly examined under the "human" microscope even more so come July 21st when Saturn returns to the sign of Libra for its complete transit while Venus is still transiting through Virgo at the same time ... meanwhile, concentrate on what pleases others and not what displeases ... emotional expressions of how you feel are much better than no expression at all .... Venus remains in the sign of Virgo until August 6th ... Virgo born, don't forget the "love light" is shining on you for the next few weeks so play it right and you might just get what you want ... for all of us it would be very wise not to make the object of your affections become the "target" of your affections - know what I mean - ahhhhhhhhhhh ???

EXPRESS YOURSELF - CREATIVELY AND DRAMATICALLY !!!

The curtain rose this afternoon, July 9th, at 12:29 PM EDT for Mercury to begin its transit through the dramatic sign of Leo ... as Leo is a fire sign it will bestow Mercury with a lot of creativity ... this Mercury is quite the performer who wants to get your attention along with your admiration any way it can ... Mercury in Leo thinks dramatically and always with the heart ... here one can become a visionary and highly idealistic ... romantic attachments tend to take a major portion of ones concentration ... there is a display of dignity, a sense of innnate refinement, and a desire to make good impressions on others ... there is also a desire to be the authority in ones chosen field ... there is ablitity to solve problems, but sometimes the details are ignored ... ambition abounds under this energy ... and since this is a very dramatic energy for communication it should not be a surprise that every now and then comes the tendency to exaggerate, be self-centered, or tell a little white lie or two !!! ... entertainment could easily be ones forte with dramatic talent being given here - ok all you wannabe actors, now it's time to show us what you got ... this is often the natal placement of those in the entertainment industry ... there could be skills at sales, advertising, promotion or any means of persuading people with ones mind and tongue ... there is also a desire to have ones thinking or style of communication given a lot of attention ... speech is made with abundant energy, great pride, liveliness and a lot of charisma ... drama and humor is frequently used in communications ... learning is best achieved when one is aroused and excited by a particular topic ... sometimes the ego has a way of getting involved here which could lead to fixed thinking or limited objectivity ... presentations are usually dramatic and magnetic ... one could become interested in power, children, fame and creativity ... this Mercury is very strong in its purpose !!!


The essence of Mercury in Leo is thinking through creating .. its the idea person ... one is usually proud of their intellectual talents and capabilities ... with the mind being so closely connected to the heart, there is great passion, strength and originality in the mode in which one thinks and communicates ... somtimes there is insecurity here which can lead to one coming on too strong or causing one to underestimate the power of their mind ...Mercury usually functions best when it is cool and detached from the ego, but this can become difficult in the self-conscious sign of Leo where personal aims and intentions appear to be to all-important and other important factors become far less important ... it is wise to realize that people give up trying to help others who always think they know better ... but ultimately, being able to combine ones own creative and enterprising mind with an awareness of others ideas and attitudes that are involved in your personal drama will benefit everyone ... problems are usually approached with great imagination and energy ... learning to use the input of others will allow one to avoid being a one-person endeavor, and then the mind will become a vital spark that will ultimately ignite a larger group endeavor ... the power of Mercury in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally creative, distinctive verbal style, warmly articulate, indentifies with popular ideas, grasps the entire issue, intellectually confident, focused concentration, fixed intentions, enthusiastic worker, convincing speaker, outspoken and optimistic, knows ones own mind, teaching and planning ability, foresight, executive mind

NEGATIVE: mentally conceited, liking the sound of ones own voice, only interested in ones own ideas, overlooks details, mentally arrogant, inflexible mind, stubborn and one-track mind, self-centered, feels superior at work, craves appreciation, verbally over-bearing, talks "AT" others, wrapped up in pet projects and theories

Mercury remains in the sign of Leo until July 27th ... Leo born individuals, be prepared for an inspirational abundance of creative and scathingly brilliant ideas - at least in your mind ... in fact , we ALL should !!! ... while Mercury is in Leo, we should remember that we should teach what we really want to learn ... we stand or we fall by what we say and how we say it ... do not ignore that "small still voice" that is an important part of the greater good ... one final word of advice - be aware that whatever springs from your lips is only as good and true as that which dwells in your heart ... now get out there, take center stage, and think and communicate with a dramatic flair - and then ... TAKE A BOW !!!

EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE - NOTHING STAYS THE SAME !!!

Uranus - the planet known as the great awakener, the rebel, the planet of intuition and the sixth sense and sudden and unexpected change as well as revolutions and breakthroughs, radicals and radical ideas and behavior, the ruler of astrologers and inventors, and the planet closely associated with electricity, technology and electronics - began its retrograde journey for the year today, July 5th, at 12:49 PM EDT - do I hear a loud collective sigh of relief out there - AHHHH !!!! ... where you find Uranus in your individual natal chart is usually where you tend to do the unusual and break from the norm ... A Uranian day is 42 years long and a night is also 42 years long - 84 years for one day and night to pass on this planet which marches to the beat of a different drum - and ironically it takes Uranus 84 years to make a complete journey through the 12 signs of the Zodiac !!!!


Uranus is the planet of the unconscious, and even during a retrograde journey that is where its energy will be most highly concentrated ... however, during a retrograde period the energy will tend to be even more pronounced ... people born with Uranus retrograde natally - and there are a lot of us out there since Uranus retrogrades for about 5 months out of each year - are frequently found in the forefront when it comes to change and actions that are oriented towards the future and on the cutting edge ... in an individuals chart, whether natally or by transit, the desire to reform or rebel is perhaps even stronger during a retrograde period than when Uranus is direct ...

During a transiting Uranus retrograde, it's time for each one of us to ask ourselves what changes do we see happening in the world and ask ourselves how we are contributing to or working against them ... it is very important during this retrograde period to look at the connections between ones own personal changes and those that are occurring around the world ... how are they connected and do we need to find a better way to do that ???

Aquarian born individuals, this is your yearly period to review and reflect on what is going on in your life and see how you might make some changes ... you may especially be paying attention to what has transpired in your lives since Uranus finished its last retrograde journey and resumed forward motion back on December 1st, 2009... and along with Aquarian born individuals, we all will most likely have something illuminated from our unconscious side that we need to deal with and make a change in ...

Uranus is currently transiting through the sign of Aries - where the essence of this energy is awakening through doing - but got no further than O degrees of Aries as it began its transit on May 27th, it was already beginning to start slowing down for its yearly retrograde journey ... It has been literally vibrating at O degrees of Aries since May 26th creating a lot of tension and irritation on many levels no doubt !!! ... perhaps the Universe was simply giving not only Aries born but everyone a glimpse of things to come and where change will need to be addressed when Uranus begins its complete transit through Aries next year !!! Uranus will return back into the sign of Pisces on August 13th for the last spin through the sign ... Pisces born you obviously have some last minute business to deal with before it parts from your sign not to return for approximately 84 years !!! ... so it would be fair to say that Pisces born individuals may feel a little more of this energy along with the Aquarians ... it takes Uranus roughly 7 years to completely transit through each sign of the zodiac - it began the transit through Pisces on 3/10/03 and will not complete its journey through Pisces until 3/11/11, so its beginning to take a little longer to transit through a sign at its current position in the Zodiac ...

It is important to remember that the essence of Uranus in Pisces is awakening through accepting ... given that Uranus is the planet with the force of awakening, it is obvious that we can expect some form of disruption to take place whether it be on a large scale or smaller one ... Uranus remains retrograde until December 5th ... it will then return to the sign of Aries for its complete transit on March 11th, 2011 !!!

In honor of the new season of Big Brother which begins this Thursday, 7/8, it is appropriate to acknowledge their sage advice - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED !!!