A MENTAL QUEST FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE !!!

Mercury began its initial transit through the philosophical, visionary, idealistic, inspirational sign of Sagittarius today, October 29th, at 2:18 AM EDT... this Mercurial energy learns by gaining an overview of the Big Picture ... it wants to know everything !!! ... it can use way too many words and use great hand gestures sometimes knocking things over, and talk much too loudly at times ... but for all its challenges, this Mercury can be quite funny, bluntly honest, and entertain so well that you might find it appealing ... here we have a sincere energy with a great sense of humor ... sometimes things are blurted out without considering the consequences ... there can be highly intuitive flashes of truth ... there is also such an overabundance of varied interests that one can scatter their mental forces too thinly ... here the mind does not need sharpening, only good direction ... generous, progressive and honest, this Mercury does not like deception on any level ... there is great interest in higher education, philosophy and religion ... intellectual status is admired and one could become a non-stop talker ... there is a love of travel of any kind found here - foreign places, cultures and people can inspire ones mindset ... the mental approach is broad and quick ... communication is made enthusiastically, openly and optimistically ... the desire to be direct, truthful, generous and broad-minded aids in connections with other people ... thinking and reasoning are usually influenced by long-term goals rather than specific or short-term desires and needs ... honesty is usually a major focus with this energy ... one is likely to be quite articulate and gregarious ... there can be a tendency to leap to conclusions, overgeneralize and possibly overexaggerate ... one can inspire others through their ideas ... there is a natural inclination to learn and to teach other people what one knows ... there could also be an interest in writing or the law as well ...

The lesson of Mercury in Sagittarius is thinking through SEEKING ... its the eternal student ... the understanding that knowledge is truly power ... the mindset is broad and active and capable of cultivating itself and being aware of a variety of lifes aspects ... there needs to be a focus here otherwise the knowledge and experience can yield a personal philosophy that is merely a scattered collection of ideas and thoughts that are disconnected ... here we have a seeking mind that is looking for the meaning of life ... one usually speaks their mind yielding a refreshing clearing of the air in order for one to see where they stand with others, and where others stand with you and themselves ... getting things off ones chest is important with this energy - left unsaid it could lead to difficulty with communications and evening with breathing !!! ... here is a mind filled with wonder at all this world has to offer - everything is there for the finding ... mental freedom, a good hot debate, laughing and joking, great thoughts and the promises of life are liked ... not so well liked are an overabundance of ideas, long sad faces, small minded people and those who are wet blankets ... the energy of Mercury in Sagittarius can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: frank, sincere, open-minded, speaks ones mind, versatile mind, speculative, intuitive, noble-thinking, thinks big, learned, clever, far-sighted, philosophical, fair judge, sees truth, enthusiastic, cultured, eclectic, informed, well-connected

NEGATIVE: indiscreet, irreverent, overly talkative, scattered mind, irrelevant, illogical, poor concentration, overly-grand ideas, too academic, impractical, short-sighted, sermonizing, opinionated, self righteous, trendy, conceited, pompous

Mercury remains in the sign of Sagittarius until December 31st - WHAAAAAAAAAAAT ????... this is the last transit of a sign it will begin until it begins its final Retrograde journey for 2012 on November 6th ... Mercury will only get as far as 4 degrees of Sagittarius before turning retrograde and will return to the sign of Scorpio on November 13th/14th - depending on the time zone you live in -  to complete its backward journey !!!!... for Sagittarian born especially, but including the rest of us as well, the other cosmic joke here is that with all the scathingly brilliant ideas we may come up with to expand our lives and gain a better understanding of how we fit in the greater Universal plan, initiating action to bring these ideas into reality might be ill-advised until the upcoming Mercury retrograde is complete - and that is on November 26th  !!! ... meanwhile, each of us can enhance our native born intelligence with formal training if we choose ... we should look and listen ... gear your thoughts to an end that is enduring or even a cause that will inspire others ... and the best advice one can be given with Mercury in Sagittarius, especially factoring in the upcoming Retrograde period, is this - THINK BEFORE SPEAKING !!!

THE POWER OF UNDERTSTANDING IN THE MIDST OF STRIFE !!!

Venus began its graceful transit through the charming, sociable sign of Libra today, 10/28, at 9:04 AM EDT ... Venus is very much at home here as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Taurus ... this Venus tends to first have a highly mental approach to love and romance with the emotional factor often coming into play later ... this Venus enjoys art, harmony, and certainly people ... it can be charming, diplomatic, and graceful in relating to others ... affection is expressed with elegance, charm, and consideration ... fairness, balance and gentleness are qualities used when interacting with others ... sometimes there can be such an excessive desire for peace and tranquility that one avoids having to face issues which ultimately can inhibit intimacy ... there is pleasure found in balance and in beauty ... this energy appreciates symmetry ... the handling of money and possessions is most likely cooperative even though at times there could be a competitive edge ... Venus in Libra wants affection, beauty and ease in love relationships with a need for equal sharing between one and ones partner ... this Venus is also equally concerned about justice and fairness ...

This Venus in Libra energy is all about loving through relating ... its the aesthetic ... one can appreciate and understand art and socitey on their own seperate levels ... there is an inner sense of harmony here which yields the ability to see life in terms of beauty and justice ... this ability comes from more of a mental approach rather than an emotional one ... here one recognizes that beauty is important with the question arising whether or not it is more than or simply skin deep ... the ultimate answer is that it is both ... Venus in Libra can easily be attracted to ones inner beauty in addition to or rather than their outward appearance ... there is also probably a fear of conflict and disharmony ... ugly scenes, feeling unattractive, uncouth behavior and fake love are strongly disliked ... this energy is likely to attract either popularity or wealth, or both ... social harmony, tastefulness, being in love, beautiful surroundings and true marriage are highly appreciated here ... the energy of Venus in Libra can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: eye for beauty, strong color sense, good ear, artistic, affectionate, likeable, magnetic, fair-looking, refined, graceful, pleasant, socially correct, romantically steadfast, relates well, harmonious, just, empathetic, broad-minded

NEGATIVE: hung up on appearances, oversensitive, music snob, art snob, takes personal liberties, frivolous, seducing, vain, affected, phoney, overly concerned with etiquette, superficial, insincere, avoids conflict, indifferent, cold, cynical, social outcast

Libra born individuals, this is your time when the love light of Venus shines on you and, as always, ask for what you want since you might just get it ... remember your personal ideal is something to strive towards and not stubbornly insist upon ... relationships will ultimately prosper on love of the best AND the worst ... and certainly the undeniable ultimate expression of Venus in Libra is developing the ability to lend grace where awkwardness exists and understanding in the midst of strife !!!

Venus remains in the sign of Libra until November 21st ... It's time to seek beauty and learn to truly appreciate it for what it is, determine where your passion for the pursuit of justice truly lies, and of course, play nice with the other children !!!

WHAT LIES BENEATH - THE POWER OF HEALING OR DESTRUCTION !!!

The Sun began its transit through the determined, aggressive, shrewd sign of Scorpio today, 10/22, at 8:15 PM EDT ... we are now being directed to turn inward to face truths about ourselves and what lies beneath  - YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH - OR CAN YOU ???? ... this energy can be extremely intense but also highly transformational ... being a water sign, you can bet the emotions will come into play constantly as opposed to the mental approach of the air sign of Libra ... this energy needs to shine passionately, through its power and resourcefulness, through seeking recognition for its penetration, and maybe through being in the limelight through a compulsive persistence ... Scorpio is rarely passive or neutral about anything ... jealousy, being resentful and vengeance are often expressed through this deep, quite private and reserved energy ... recuperative powers are quite remarkable ... here we have the energy of the truth-seeker who uses keen judgement coupled with penetrating insight which ultimately may empower one to exercise a great deal of authority over others ... science, medicine or any field of investigation could attract one ... willpower and persistence are key factors, and even though one may become rather reticent, when pushed one becomes very outspoken and extremely direct ... Scorpio may forgive but it NEVER forgets !!!

Scorpio is a feminine/fixed/water sign ... it is the 8th sign of the natural zodiac ... its keyphrase is "I Desire" and its keyword is "Intensity" ... anatomically it rules the genitals - Scorpio born are often susceptible to infections of the urniary system and venereal disease ... in addition the inclination towards volatile emotions is the cause of exhaustion and ill health ... Scorpio is the sign directly opposite to Taurus in the natural zodiac ...

Scorpio is the natural ruler of the 8th house whose keyword is "regeneration" ... it is a house of endings ... many things are addressed here such as joint finances, legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters, secrets, sex, spiritual and physical regeneration, psychological rebirth, degeneration and death and surgery ... it also shows types of illness ...

Scorpio is ruled by Pluto - a planet representing destroying or reforming urges and fusion ... its keyword is "transformation" ... it governs things which are hidden from view as well as the masses, subversion, crime, phobias, obsessions, slow growth, birth and death, isolation, coercion, disappearance, bacteria and viruses, plumbing and unpopular causes ... its action is slow and inevitable ... if you've had your natal chart run, where you find Pluto is where you'll find complexity and where you'll have to solve problems on your own and without assistance ...

The essence of the Sun in Scorpio is living through desiring ... it is the urge to merge with someone or something else ... it is considered the most powerful sign of the zodiac ... it can usually sense what is going on beneath the surface of most situations ... this ability can make one prone to influence, manipulate, corrupt, purge, harm or heal ... this energy is unchallenged in the ability to bring to the surface the cause of trouble - whether it is heartache, disease, financial problems, etc. ... there is a great understanding as to what sex is for and about ... this energy can easily get under anothers skin .. there is also a great intimacy with life itself ... the power of Scorpio can appear as a truly magnetic charm making one totally disarming, or it can be downright cruel running over others and striking quite unexpectedly ... there is ability to raise something or someone from the depths or throw them down there ... there are deep and genuine emotions here that are often hidden from the surface ... the greatest gift comes when one is able to let go of the fear and hesitation and allow something or someone in - then there is a magical transformational effect which can lead to great healing ... Scorpio likes total involvement, rooting out hidden causes, being persuasive, meaningful work and the untarnished truth ... it dislikes superficial relationships, only scratching the surface, feeling as though someone got one over on them, demeaning tasks and flattering and flattery ... the energy of the Sun in Scorpio can be expressesd in the following ways:

POSITIVE: intense, loyal, passionate, faith-inspiring, dynamic, regenerating, compelling, magnetic, penetrating insight, scrutinizing, shrewd, resourceful, compassionate, strong and deep, brave, powerful, healing touch, self-sacrificing, intimate

NEGATIVE: obsessive, possessive, fanatical, emotionally draining, coercive, degrading, forces allegiance, seductive, suspicious, cunning, revengeful, self-punishing, cruel, overly rigid view, corrupt, manipulative, jealous, resentful

The Sun in Scorpio now joins Mercury, currently in its shadow point preparing for its final retrograde journey of 2012 to begin on November 6th - though it will pop into Sagittarius briefly before returning, and Saturn which just began its roughly two and a half year transit of Scorpio - we may now get a preview of what this transit will entail with all this Scorpio energy ... The Sun remains in Scorpio until November 21st ... remember, power comes through you: hate, and power kills ... love, and power heals ... the greatest strength here is forgiving weakness ... if you look deeply enough into someone or something you may ultimately find yourself and your personal power ... reaching the point where you are no longer after something, you may realize what it is you are truly after ... for the next several weeks we all have the power at our hands to produce extremely transformational and healing energy, or to sink to the level of vengeance, destruction and ruin - which will you choose ???

OPEN A NEW WINDOW ... OPEN A NEW DOOR ... AND GO !!!

Mars began its transit through the adventurous, freedom loving sign of Sagittarius yesterday, 10/06, at 11:21 PM EDT ... this is a fire sign and Mars is extremely happy here, but it can be very productive or very destructive depending on how the energy is put to use ... this Mars is an "exploring energy"!!! ... it believes life is far too short to tie up ones energy in one place for too long ... this energy can make one naturally optimistic, confident, extroverted and humorous ... freedom and expanded horizons are an absolute must here!!! ... there is a spontaneous inclination towards athletics, philosophy, education, adventure, exploration or anything that seeks MORE of life ... identity is tied to beliefs and values ... often what you want is guided by your faith which ultimately determines your goals in addition to your morality ... there is decisive action in the pursuit of your vision for the future or a personal aspiration ... in addition, often sexual drive and physical energy is fed by adventurous activities ... excitement, risks, movement and exploration are what Mars in Sagittarius thrives on ...

People born under or influenced by this transiting energy are frequently driven by strong religious and/or philosophic convictions ... remember, Sagittarius is the sign on the cusp of the 9th house in the natural horoscope ... one has to be careful here not to arouse resentment of others by trying to convert others to their dogmatic beliefs ... one will find a strong sense of patriotism under this energy ... there can be the desire to improve the social order in which one lives ... distant places and travel, especially foreign, and the adventure and excitement they provide beckon loudly!!! ... Mars in Sagittarius produces those who are direct and open in their attitudes and actions ... one of the biggest caveats found with this energy is beware the temptation to go too far too fast and spread ones energy way too thin ...

The essence of Mars in Sagittarius is getting through seeking ... there seems to be a built-in urge that the sense of freedom of movement is your right thus allowing you to venture toward some distant horizon in any direction whenever you feel this urge ... however the operative phrase here might more likely be not in any direction but "in what direction" ... to get what you want in life under this energy requires that you have a definite goal ... without this, Mars in Sagittarius could end up causing you to rampage about, both physically and emotionally, never acting on anything thus never really getting anywhere ... there must be a dream here to focus your energies on, otherwise you may ultimately feel constricted by life's situations since you haven't considered what exactly you want your freedom for - your personal banner needs something specific inscribed upon it !!! ... and which way will you use this fiery energy???

POSITIVE: independent, far-sighted, freedom loving, explorative, daring and bold, adventurous, optimistic, forcefully convincing, crusading, effective teacher, active idealist, frank and open, to the point, clears the air, enthusiastic, lusty and vigorous, mobile, spirited, very friendly

NEGATIVE: opinionated, overlooks obvious, demands unlimited freedom, impetuous, scatters energies, wildly hopeful, self-righteous, fanatical, ear-bashing, preaching, tactless and rude, harsh, argumentative, extremist, lustful and carnal, restless, boisterous, lecherous

Sagittarian born individuals, did you wake up this morning with an extra dose of energy perhaps??? ... enjoy the portion of Universal "Red Bull" you are empowered with but be careful not to "incinerate" others with this energy boost!!! ... no mountain will be too high for you to reach the summit in your quest !!! ... or even too high for any of us ... interesting to note, Mars was last in Sagittarius from October 28th, 2010 - December 7th, 2010 ... Sagittarius' ruling planet, Jupiter was Retrograde for about half of that transit - 20 of 41 days ... this time Jupiter is Retrograde during the entire transit of Mars through Sagittarius ... so exactly how far will we get and will this exploration tend to be more mental than physical which would be appropriate since Sagittarius deals with, among other things, philosopy, religion and spirituality ??? ... after all, we are in a time of a great shift in the collective consciousness !!!

Mars remains in the sign of Sagittarius until November 16th - ironically right in the middle of the final Mercury retrograde journey of 2012 !!!  ... make the most of this energy in the most productive way possible for the next 6 weeks ... and remember when it is all said and done - the "ultimate adventure" is getting lost in order to discover who, where and what YOU are!!!

THE NATURE OF OUR DESIRES - TESTED AND TRANSFORMED !!!

Saturn – planet symbolizing the lessons we have to learn in life; what we fear; force of circumstances through which we are driven to find the discipline, effort and sense of order to overcome limitations and obstacles; the taskmaster and teacher – began its transit through the motivated, determined sign of Scorpio yesterday, October 5th, at 4:33 PM EDT … this Saturn energy is extremely purposeful and indeed its lessons here will have the potential to lead to great transformation and change … Saturn and Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, actually get along very well together … and since Pluto is currently in Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn, and with Saturn now in the sign ruled by Pluto, they are considered to be in mutual reception … in mutual reception they are visiting each others homes and this can make a very positive position for both to be in … each one strengthens the power of the other and work in cooperation with each other … So does this make this transit more challenging or more rewarding ??? … maybe both … only time will tell and it will certainly depend on what is going on in your life !!!

Saturn is very powerful in the secretive and passionate sign of Scorpio … it enables one to understand human motivation ultimately enabling one to control others which can be either a very good thing or a very challenging thing … the dominant strength this energy gives is often masked by a pleasant and congenial exterior … however Saturn here will place obstacles in our paths frequently in the form of emotional difficulties and sometimes even scandal … achieving power under this energy can lead to downfall due to rumors and gossip … this is an excellent position for executive ability and unwavering commitment to a particular goal … there is very little patience here with laziness and unwillingness to work …

Saturn in Scorpio will truly test our desire nature … it will most certainly bring to light that which is hidden even if we don’t want it to be revealed … there could be challenges, limitations and obstacles in regards to the masses, crime, phobias, obsessions, slow growth, birth and death, coercion, generation, regeneration, and degeneration, things which have been developed secretly and undercover, plumbing, dictatorships, unpopular causes – all areas ruled by Pluto …

Other challenges, restrictions and testing could include joint financial ventures; the support one receives from other people which includes financial, moral, spiritual and physical; legacies; trusts; wills; taxes; insurance matters; intimacy and sexual matters; spiritual and physical regeneration; psychological rebirth; death – not necessarily ones own; occult matters; sleep; deep level research; investigation and hidden assets including the assets of partners and alimony; and surgery - all matters represented by the 8th house which is the house Scorpio naturally rules … health wise, there could be issues with arthritis and gall stones … there also exists the possibility that skin conditions could develop and erupt from not letting deep personal issues be known and dealt with …

The main lesson Saturn in Scorpio presents is testing us through our desire nature … do we use or abuse it … we will be taught how to effectively express any kind of personal power be it sexual, financial, political, etc. … the challenge is to overcome the tendency to agonize about which course of action we should take in order to avoid our energies being misdirected … this can be either a very rewarding transit for Saturn because it and the sign of Scorpio like to have a sense of control, or it can turn into a disastrous misuse of power that ends up hurting or destroying things and other people through ruthless scheming ... the greatest achievements will be made when we are able to acknowledge and indentify our personal convictions and positively act upon them …

Saturn in Scorpio likes highly organized power, an intense commitment, knowing secrets, explicit intimacy and strong characters … it does NOT like to lose control and not knowing … positive transformation will result when we are able to gain honest awareness of our failings as well as others and correct the situation … the energy of Saturn in Scorpio can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: having a purpose, persistency, being disciplined, sexually self-assured, sexually aware, iron-willed, serious, capable, resourceful, insightful

NEGATIVE: ruthlessly ambitious, an opportunist, obstinate, overly rigid, sexually controlling and/or controlled, jealous, twisted, slave-driver, impatient with the weaknesses of others, constipated, skeptical, self-burdening

Scorpio born, the Universe has placed you on a huge learning curve for the next two and a half years giving you the opportunity to learn and achieve positive personal and spiritual growth even though at times it might not be easy … my fellow Capricorns, our planetary ruler has moved into a new sign and is now ready to teach us another set of lessons that will do the same for us if we release fear and allow change to take place … but we all will experience challenge, change and hopefully beneficial growth somewhere in our lives through this transit … if you’ve had a natal chart done, you will probably get a good idea where Saturn transiting through Scorpio is going to “school” you !!!

Saturn now joins Mars, but for not much longer, and Mercury in Scorpio with the Sun soon to follow, and remains in Scorpio until September 17th/18th 2015 … it will actually enter into Sagittarius on December 23rd, 2014, but due to retrograde motion will return to the late degrees of Scorpio on June 14th/15th 2015 for one final pass before ending its transit of Scorpio …

One final thought on Saturn in LIbra ... even though it has left the sign of Libra, anyone having a birthday this year from January 1st up until October 5th, and possibly today October 6th, will still have the energy of Saturn in Libra to work with per your Solar Return - birthday - chart for the year ahead ... you'll get to Saturnian energies to deal with !!!

I feel it necessary, as a Capricorn born who will be ruled lifelong by Saturn, to explain, especially from personal experience, that the transits of Saturn aren’t always a bad thing that should be dreaded … while its actions can be difficult and challenging, Saturn’s main objective is to help us grow and become a better person by taking a deep, serious and honest look at where we are and where we should be going by making sure our foundations in life are strong and solid !!!

THE UNIVERSAL SHERLOCK HOLMES !!!

Mercury began its transit through the dark, brooding sign of Scorpio today, 10/05 at 6:35 AM EDT .... Mercury in Scorpio is intense, probing and filled with boundless determination ... this is the placement of the natural born detective always wanting to get to the bottom of things and ferret out information and hidden motives ... it loves tuning into underlying messages ... communication is usually done very passionately and intensely ... a lot of messages are delivered nonverbally ... intimate bonds are frequently formed through ones communications ... superficiality is not tolerated ... what is spoken emanates from the depth of ones psyche ... one often thinks about secrecy and silence and sometimes withholds information on purpose ... though the mind is usually thorough and organized, it can be easily swayed by powerful emotions and obsessions ... one seeks the underlying root causes here and is usually unyielding in their quest for information ... detective work might appeal to one here along with anything that looks beneath the surface such as psychotherapy, archeology and, of course, the occult ...

Mercury in Scorpio can make one critical, skeptical, secrective and suspicious ... opinions are set and difficult to change ... one can also be shrewd, forceful and given to being very incisive through speech or writings ... sometimes one can needlessly wound others and also come across a being rather nosey and invasive ... this position of Mercury is also good for the healing professions, chemistry, photography, research and big business ... ones mentality can become so deep and fixed it can overcome any and all obstacles to get what it wants ... one must learn here to avoid using others weaknesses for ones own personal advantage and passing judgment on those less fortunate than onesself ...

The essence of Mercury in Scorpio is thinking through desiring ... it is the sleuth of the zodiac ... what you desire and what you fear are tightly entangled in your mind ... this mind sees through people and situations ... this mentality rarely misses anything ... a caveat here would be not to fall into the trap of being suspicious of malice of intent when it does not exist ... sometimes this energy can create intrigue just to keep the mind on its toes ... this mind is basically sharp and efficient knowing that there is always something that needs looking into thus constantly exercising the mental muscle ... the sign of real mental power and superiority here is learning when to leave well enough alone which is usually understood here ... insight is sharpened with the ability to watch and wait silently which this energy bestows ... others can often benefit greatly from the penetrating insight found here ... one is happiest here when not overcome by personal fears and phobias as they end up clouding ones judgement ... this energy likes brain-teasers, mental control and intrigues ... it dislikes mental inactivity, weak-mindedness, lack of subtlety and mincing words ... the energy of Mercury of Scorpio can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: sharp, incisive, subtle, satirical, perceptive, penetrating mind, stealthy, audacious, accurate, investigative, emphatic, determined, good concentration, quick-minded, profound, confiding, insightful, strategic

NEGATIVE: cutting, acidic, sneaky, sarcastic, suspicious, paranoid, intrusive, abusive, uncharitable, grilling, overstated, argumentative, mentally tense, presumptuous, meddlesome, incomprehensible, secretive, devious, scheming

Mercury now joins Mars, but for only one day, in the sign of Scorpio with the Saturn joining the dark, "wicked" party next week followed by the Sun in 17 days - just in time for Halloween !!! ... One should use the energy of this mental ability to leave no stone unturned through boundless determination in order to find what they are really after which ultimately is - onesself ...

 

Mercury remains in the sign of Scorpio until - WAIT FOR IT ... WAIT FOR IT !!! - December 10th and you KNOW why ... it's last RETROGRADE journey for 2012 begins just as it slips into Sagittarius where it won't get far before beginning its backward trek !!! ... and interestingly enough Venus is now in Virgo, which Mercury rules, and with Saturn very soon entering Scorpio, you can bet the process of probing and digging for answers regarding partnerships and relationships - especially since Saturn if finally completing its journey through Libra and left us with many questions and turned upside down in some cases - is likely to be very deep and complex !!! ... so for now, it is an excellent time for a good mystery and for each one of us to take a crack at being a super sleuth !!!

HAVE OUR ACTIONS EXCEEDED POSITIVE LIMITS ???

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 today, October 4th, at 9:18 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 ...

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, currently transiting through the sign of Gemini, is all about growth through communicating and learning … but in this quest, we may end up acquiring an overabundance of varied and helpful information to the point where we lose sight of one important factor - what is it that we are trying to attract and bring into our lives and why are we seeking so many varied distractions ??? ... so now its time to slow down and reflect inwardly to make sure we haven't become like a tree with many broad, shallow roots putting us in danger of being easily uprooted !!! ... now we start processing all that we have been studying and been introduced to in order to figure out what is worth pursuing and what may have only been a temporary distraction ... it's now time to start filtering through all of those scathingly brilliant ideas we have come up with since Jupiter entered Gemini on June 11th, and make decisions as to which ones will help bring us more positive personal and spiritual growth ...

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 December 25th, 2011 ... 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 or even ignored ???

Jupiter remains retrograde until January 30th, 2013 entirely in the sign of Gemini ... for everyone, if you've had a natal chart done, look at where 16 degrees back down to 6 degrees of Gemini falls and you may get an idea where this review and rethinking process may take place in your life ... everyone should 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 when Jupiter resumes its forward motion - be careful not to overlook what could ultimately be that once in a lifetime chance !!!

A SPOTLESS REPUTATION, GOOD MANNERS & SEXUAL HYGENE !!!

Venus began its transit through the picky and detailed oriented sign of Virgo today, 10/3, at 2:59 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 this Venusian energy in Virgo is determining what it is we truly love through detailed analysis ... 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 ... it doesn't like relationships that have no mental stimulus ... 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, our dedication to our daily work and service, health and nutritional habits as well as some family issues will be thoroughly examined under the cosmic microscope while Venus is in the precision, detail oriented sign of Virgo ... 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 October 28th ... and how appropriate this highly discerning type of love should be put in place as Saturn completes its journey this week through Libra - which is ruled by Venus - where we must make decisions about partnerships and relationships one way or the other ... 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 ???