"BURNING UP FOR YOUR LOVE" !!!

VENUS - began its passionate transit through the dramatic and romantic sign of Leo yesterday, June 27th, at 1:03 PM EDT ... this Venus cares ... it REALLY cares, and will make darn sure you know it .. this energy loves big entrances and high drama ... ultimately, it just outright loves good old-fashioned romance ... it enjoys the limelight, attention, admiration and applause ... it gives a natural magnetism and sex appeal ... others often find the expression of this energy down right exciting ... affection is expressed dramatically and wholeheartedly ... it can make one magnanimous, loyal, playful and magnetic in love ... the handling of money and possessions is usually generous, extravagant, and speculative ... there is a desire for zest, enthusiasm and an adrenaline rush in ones love relationships ... ones pride and urge for recognition affects ones capacity for closeness ... clothes and appearance are also very important with this energy ...

The lesson of Venus in Leo is learning about love through creating ... love "shines" ... it is important to give some form of creative expression to your feelings and passion in relationships ... and even though one is very enthusiastic, there ironically may exist a deep-seated "doubt" of ones own ability to be loved which others cannot detect outwardly from you ... here artistic sense is very strong ... life is frequently viewed as an ongoing creative experience ... at some point, one must ultimately go looking for their inner beauty ... one thing you can be compared with is your self-respect ... what each of us has to give is priceless ... channel the larger than life energy here into larger than life pursuits or pastimes ... love and allow yourself to be loved in return ... this energy likes admiration, mutual respect, lavish parties, showing off ones partner,and old fashioned classic courtship ... it dislikes even the slightest rejection, behavior that is insulting, being "shown up" by others, and a lack luster love ... the energy of Venus in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: romantic, ardent, passionate, loyal, artistic, dramatic, entertaining, fun-loving, radiant, outgoing, warm, openly affectionate, charming, attractive, benevolent, gives a lot, social pride, personal pride, fun to be with

NEGATIVE: unrealistic, sexually obsessed, consuming, too loyal, primadonna, overbearing, demanding, inappropriate, self-centered, showy, brassy, flirtatious, seducing, flaunting, expects too much, snobbish, vain, competitive, game-playing

Venus is the first of the planets to transit through the sign of Leo this year and will remain in the sign of Leo until July 22nd ... But just how creatively and romantically will we be able to express our true feelings of love during this transit of Venus ??? ... true to its cosmic sense of humor, the Universe has placed Mercury retrograde in Cancer - which deals with our feelings and emotions - with this transit of Venus ... so how well, effectively and accurately will our love be expressed ??? ... after all, Mercury will be retrograde all but 2 days of this Venus transit ... BUT, we still have a chance to discover and face what is truly in our hearts and how to genuinely and creatively express that in our partnerships and relationships, or change in order to make the partnerships/relationships beneficial and provide more positive personal growth ... we simply have to proceed a bit more cautiously this time around !!!

Leo born, the social and romantic spotlight is shining brightly on you for the next few weeks - enjoy the smoldering flames of passion and love - just don't incinerate yourself or anyone else with it !!! Madonna, a Leo born individual herself, probably best summed up this energy in her famous song - "Burning Up for Your Love" ... and that we all will probably be doing on some level of our lives !!!

TRYING TO SWIM UPSTREAM IN A RAGING CURRENT OF COSMIC CONFUSION !!!

Mercury began its second RETROGRADE journey for 2013 yesterday, June 26th, at 9:08 AM EDT ... if you've been following my blogs, then you know pretty much what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde … as always - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!! ... It is very important to understand that planetary retrogrades are NOT ALWAYS the harbingers of doom and gloom ... even though it is true they can cause disruption and misunderstandings, we have to realize these are simply Universal "time outs" which give us the opportunity to drop back and rethink and review our actions being generated by the planet which is retrograde, especially as the energy relates to the current sign that planet is currently transiting through ... bottom line - though we often joke about it, retrogrades shouldn't always be feared and dreaded but perhaps approached cautiously ... the Universe is giving us a chance to right our wrongs and redirect ourselves to achieve more beneficial personal and spiritual growth !!! ... that being said, some of you may have noticed the energy beginning to move backwards already as Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on July 20th - back on June 9th at 13 degrees of Cancer ... it practically goes without saying that things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned, and we often find ourselves RE-DOING things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ...

Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars, a big NO NO - that goes double for USED CARS, computers or anything that involves electronics ... also purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is also not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!! .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is any way to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it ...

To RE-PEAT, Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision - as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... this second Mercury retrograde journey for 2013  takes place, once again in a water sign, from 23 degrees back down to 13 degrees of Cancer ... during a retrograde journey it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm ... if you've had a natal chart done and know where these degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where in life the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life especially in regard to your mental processing and communication ...

Mercury retrograding in the sign of Cancer yields emphasis for an opportunity to rethink how we emotionally respond to life ... and being in a water sign, Mercury retrograding in Cancer produces a strong desire to retreat particularly inward ... when Mercury retrogrades in a water sign our feelings and emotions are strongly activated and, as challenging and sometimes even painful as it can be, we MUST address them in order to promote personal healing by making us have to work harder at producing a more stable balance between our emotional and the mental processes ... as water can run very deep, that is where we most likely are going to have to dive into ourselves to come face to face with our innermost feelings and emotions ... and wherever this retrograde energy falls by house in your natal chart, actions could arise in that area of your life causing you to undergo a careful and honest examination to determine if these feelings and emotions are producing a positive or negative contribution to the quality of your life ... this is also an excellent time to keep a dream journal to discover what the Universe is revealing to us deep within our unconsciousness ... even though this can be challenging, it can be an excellent time for honest self evaluation if we have the strength, trust and courage to allow the process to unfold ...    the last time Mercury was retrograde completely in the sign of Cancer was from June 15th through July 9th, 2007, from 11 degrees back down to 2 degrees so this current retrograde could produce a lot of similarities sign wise ... but the house emphasis could shift somewhat depending on where the complete degrees of Cancer fall in your natal chart ... can you remember what was going on back then ???

In addition to the "usual suspect" issues which arise during a Mercury retrograde, being in Cancer there will probably be issues which arise including : your home, parents, family, foundations, psychological roots, personal security, property - houses and/or real estate, for some the closing years of life, and endings of any kind ... these are all issues addressed in the 4th house of the zodiac naturally ruled by Cancer ...

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... and being in Cancer especially the areas of the beast and stomach ... the stomach area most likely being activated by emotional stress conflicting with the digestive process ...  this is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!!

Below I have reposted the "Mercury Retrograde Survival Manual" written by my teacher Lyn Hammond Gray ... hopefully it will help out :

"Here is your Survival manual: Mercury retro always creates a repeating action. The Re-Words are common. Some re-words that you will notice during this time are:

Repeat – The action you are making during the RX period you will probably repeat again during the period or later.

Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (July 20th).

Reverse - You will be amazed at how many times you change your mind or reverse your thinking during this time. Watch out for that race car driver that is driving in reverse down the emergency lane on the freeway. Yikes!....

Recall - Your mind will wonder back. You will think of people from the past or you will encounter someone from the past. If old lovers show up, don't bet that it will stick. Believe me... it is just for a "review." (And if it does last, I want to be the first to know about it. E-mail me and let me know). And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either - wait until after July 20th !!!

Review - If you are reading instructions, you may find it necessary to review repeatedly because they simply don't make sense. Sometimes the publisher has actually left out a step. It happens!

Regroup - In corporations, it is a common experience during the Rx to hear the boss say, 'Alright, we are going to rework this thing and get it right.' Later when the period is over, they go back to the old way doing things. It is a laugh a minute. Stand back and watch the comedy.

Reboot and Revise - The computer world is a definite place to watch the comedy. It is common for one to suddenly, without fore thought, decide to revise their system during the Rx. Oh! Mercy! That revised system may never function in the normal way. Oh, please! Do wait until the period is over. However, it is fine to do your shopping for the new components during the Rx. When you do go to purchase your parts after July 20th, you will find better deals and buys.

Return - Now here is a good one. You'll find that this period is a popular time for family or class reunions. Should you stay are home? Absolutely not! You go because this is a review that you don't want to miss. But funny thing is that in spite of the fact that you tell these people 'lets stay in touch' it will become lip service and you won't live up to your suggestion.

Rebirth – Often one will go back into the past and bring up old creative projects to work with during this time frame. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Only you will be able to activate the discipline to keep it going once the retrograde period is over.

Recover - You can bet that you will dig into your files, boxes or storage to recover something that you need…you can also bet it won't be an easy find. It is likely that you will be looking for a legal document· While it is possible that you may not find what you are looking for, you may find something that you would like to put back in to use. Fun!

Re-examine – Well, just about everything.

Reduction – Over the years, I have been amazed at how many times a company or person decides to eliminate a job or to leave a job during the retrograde. It is my experience that a job changed during this period is 95% of the time regretted. Can you wait until the period is over, dear heart?

And so it is. Three times a year we live this cosmic "going to teach you patience routine". All and all when this retrograde period is over you may "Realize" this simple truth: The flow of the universe is very, very interesting and it is going to have its way with us.

Good luck and may the Universe bestow upon each one of you a special wisdom and unique insight into your journey through this life at this point!!! "


BACK TO ME NOW .... Those born between June 26th and July 20th will most likely have Mercury retrograde in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

"The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return ...

A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years’ birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs ... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart ...

Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" ... the mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor ... another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!! ... this is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed ...

It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! "

Gemini and Virgo born, as this is your planetary ruler, it is once again time for you to step back and re-evaluate what has been going on in your life particularly since March 17th ... but for all of us, this becomes a time to review and rethink what is going on in our lives and especially what may have been started or done during the last Mercury Retrograde which was February 23rd - March 17th ... also actions from the previous retrograde periods could come back to haunt us as well - for 2012 that would include November 6th - November 26th, July 14th - August 7th/8th, and March 12th - April 4th ...

Keep in mind that even though the Universe, with its delicious cosmic sense of humor, giveth as well as taketh away, this time it has perhaps given as Jupiter entered the sign of Cancer for the next twelve months one day before this second Mercury retrograde of 2013 occurring in the sign of Cancer ... and as challenging, difficult, frustrating and downright painful as it may become along the way to have to take a long, hard, honest look deep within ourselves to evaluate what must be released and changed in order to promote personal and spiritual growth, Jupiter will be there, as our safety net so to speak, to catch us and help facilitate the healing and restoration process necessary to return us to the correct, healthy, positive path the Universe has intended for us to follow both individually and collectively !!!

Whatever the case, it is for sure that there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads regarding these actions as well as other lights going OUT while this Mercury Retrograde energy produces its cosmic disruption for the next 23 days ... Mercury remains retrograde until July 20th ... so slow down and try not to act too impulsively or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... be aware tempers will flare and patience may become scarce, but that personal sense of humor, being one of your greatest allies, should be called upon frequently as the Mercury Retrograde merrily wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment to each one of  us ... and in the end my fellow beings of light, as this second Mercury Retrograde period of 2013 is now upon us, the question once again becomes : Will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ??? ... Best to go with the flow and not try to swim upstream in a raging current of cosmic confusion !!!

THE "MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS" !!!

Jupiter - the planet known as the Great Benefic, and the planet which symbolizing healing, growth, expansion, opportunity, wealth, laws, ethics, philosophy, beliefs, religion, faith, broadening horizons, and understanding, higher education, travel - especially long distance, as well as excessiveness and over-indulgence - began its 12 month transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Cancer today, June 25th, at 9:40 PM EDT ... Jupiter was last in Cancer from July 12th/13th, 2001 through August 1st, 2002 - anything happen in your life that stands out during this period ???

The time has come again for emotional healing ... one must find the courage and strength to take an honest look deep within and begin to release and let go of those negative thoughts, feelings and emotions that have been holding us back as well as possibly creating "dis"-ease within in our bodies ... it is now time to address issues within our home and families as well as issues surrounding our sense of security and the strength of our foundations in order to promote personal and spiritual growth ... and as far as our personal health, this is now the time to begin healing, if needed, in the area of the breasts and the stomach which are ruled by Cancer ... there could also be expansion on the home front - making repairs and/or adding on to the existing house or, in some cases, moving into a bigger home ...

Jupiter in Cancer is considered to be placed in one of its luckiest positions ... Jupiter is considered to be exalted in Cancer meaning it functions even more efficiently than its natural sign which in this case is Sagittarius ... Jupiter's energy is expressed very harmoniously as its forces and virtues are magnified - the nurturing and caring principles are greatly expanded ... planets in the sign of their exaltation are said ti feel like being in the house of a very good friend ...

Jupiter in Cancer yields a much deeper feeling of being highly emotional ... these feelings, as well as mood swings, will be large and extremely active ... it can make one very loyal and devoted to ones family in addition to anyone else with whom one personally identifies with ... it bestows a good, grounded sense of reality leaving one with a secure confidence in themselves ... it makes one ready to give outwardly towards other in a nurturing manner ... one must be careful not to keep up emotional barriers against fresh, new experiences by surrounding oneself to heavily with the past ...

The lesson of Jupiter in Cancer is learning to promote growth - both personally and for others - through nurturing ... we must learn to help others develop positively which in turn does the same thing for us ... and while there is certainly a desire to be generous towards others, one must guard against being overly generous and extravagant as this can cause others to either want to move away from you or end up causing them to walk all over and use you ... it is said that the ultimate truth here is that we all come from the same root - in other words, the "family of Man" is really one very large family tree ... over the next year many of us may evolve to the understanding that everything living is related and needs equal care and consideration ... this elevated placement of Jupiter is what truly produces the "milk of human kindness" ... the energy of Jupiter in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: hospitable, caring, protective, charitable, sympathetic, very receptive, friendly, loyal to family, patriotic, feeling abundant, exuberant, good-natured, kind, sharing, generous

NEGATIVE: overly accommodating, tendency to spoil, indulging, touchy, gushing, biased, prejudiced, overly sentimental, affected, too kind, self-effacing

Cancer born, you are now in a 12 month period yielding extra chances for growth, opportunity, expansion - be careful it's not all in the waistline - and at times out right luck ... Keep you eyes and ears open and most certainly your hearts open and receptive !!! ... Jupiter remains in Cancer until July 16th, 2014 ... even though this can be a very positive and rewarding time for Cancer born, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces may also additionally benefit ... but everyone has the opportunity to benefit from this loving, healing energy bestowed by the Universe !!!

Now with all the aforementioned being said, please be aware this is not the only energy in place which I'm sure goes without saying for most ... in fact the Mercury retrograde which begins tomorrow in Cancer as well will certainly produce added impact to this transit for the next 24 days ... there is always multiple energy in action around us as the Universe continues to grow and expand which is exactly what we should be doing as frequently as possible ... Sometimes we feel unduly challenged and other times we feel truly blessed and supported - that's what this process we call living is all about ... it's how we are molded by the Universe in order to develop personally and spiritually ...

With Jupiter in Cancer, while we are feeling the need to care for everyone else, we MUST remember to be as kind, considerate and take good care of ourselves as well !!! 

SUMMERTIME ... AND THE LIVING IS ... ???

The Sun began its transit through the sign of Cancer today, June 21st, at 1:04 AM EDT heralding the arrival of Summer in the Northern hemisphere - and in some cases it actually began yesterday depending on the time zone in which you live ... also known as the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year - the days begin getting shorter each day until the Winter Solstice - which began today in the Southern hemisphere - in December ... the pace of life now takes on a somewhat slower tempo than the hectic pace it had while the Sun was racing through Gemini, so Cancer energy is certainly a welcome relief to a point !!! ... in addition, we now process life through a more emotional rather than an intellectual filter ... with the Sun in Cancer one needs to shine through nurturing warmth, through protection, through attracting others through sympathy/dependency, and through family, ancestry or roots ...

Cancer is the sign whose key phrase is its need to give and receive emotional warmth and security, to feel and to give devotion ... Cancer born individuals are warm and understanding but they can be very touchy at times ... wound them or befriend them and they will never forget ... they love to keep in touch and usually have a remarkable memory ... this is probably the most sensitive sign of the Zodiac but it is also often the least likely to let you know what they are feeling deep inside ...

Cancer is a feminine/water/cardinal(beginnings) sign ... its symbol is the Crab - possessing an impenetrable exterior which covers soft flesh below ... the glyph of Cancer is the claws of the Crab which are also representative of the human breasts ... symbolically, the glyph shows two circles of the Sun that are connected to two crescent Moons ... these Moons represent the Cancerian desire to store memories and possessions, and the circles tied to the Moons represent the force which is expressed through the emotions and the imagination ... Cancer rules the breasts and the stomach which explains why Cancer born usually love to eat and often fight the battle of the bulge - unless modified by other energy in the natal chart !!! .. they are also subject to digestive ailments resulting from tension and emotional stress ... anatomically, Cancer also rules digestion, the left eye of the male and the right eye of the female ...

Cancer is ruled by the Moon - maybe you can see why Cancer born individuals seem to go through so many mood changes so quickly - after all, the Moon does change signs about every 2 to 2 and a half days ... it takes roughly 28 days to complete a spin around the entire zodiac ... the Moon represents the female principle - mother, wife and women in general ... it also represents the public in general, along with instincts, moods, the tides, phases, receptivity, fluctuation, habit patterns, reflex actions, personal interests, desires, needs, magnetism, growth, fertility, the need to touch, impressionability, consciousness, liquids, commodities, nursing, tradespeople ...

Cancer is ruled by the Moon - maybe you can see why Cancer born individuals seem to go through so many mood changes so quickly - after all, the Moon does change signs about every 2 to 2 and a half days ... it takes roughly 28 days to complete a spin around the entire zodiac ... the 4th house also shows property - houses and real estate - and all that is secluded ... it is the house of endings, the closing years of life, the ending of all matters, fame after death and place of burial ... it represents the parent who has greater influence on you as a child, your subjective self, and the foundation on which you build your own unique character ... as a child one may perceive this house as relating to both parents but as one learns through growth and understanding, the 4th house will ultimately reflect the nurturing parent ...

The lesson of the Sun in Cancer is learning to live through nurturing oneself as well as others ... it's  holding on with Love - the instinct for survival ... Cancer has also been often referred to as the "Lighthouse of Welcome" ... the ultimate lesson learned here is that ones family is the Human Race itself ... emotional awareness is more acute here so use it constructively ... determine and perform your responsibilities generously ... learn to trust in the Universe and understand that all things must pass, and realize each day is a new day a new beginning ... the energy of the Sun in Cancer may be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: emotional, feeling, receptive, sensitive, psychic, gentle, tender, vulnerable, sympathetic, nurturing, providing, caring, protective, maternal, feeding, domestic, patriotic, shy, retiring, collecting, tenacious, oriented toward the past, retentive, emotionally encouraging, thrifty

NEGATIVE: insecure, moody, defensive, devious, over-emotional, non-trusting, hypersensitive, touchy, brooding, smothering, clinging, consuming, over-protective, dependent, fearful, timid, clannish, withdrawn, grasping, stuck in the past, afraid to let go, anti-social, argumentative, apathetic

Happy Solar Return Cancer born individuals - this is your time to shine !!! ... the Sun now joins Mercury - about to begin its second retrograde journey next week - already in Cancer with Jupiter to follow and join the party next week as well ... the Sun remains in Cancer until July 22nd ... for now, be prepared for your feelings and emotions to be heightened, and prepare to become more in touch with them whether it be through a fleeting glimpse or a deeply profound experience with something or someone near and dear to us ... and, as the Crab always carries its home - its shell - on its back wherever it goes, we all might as well click our heels 3 times and repeat what Cancer energy so lovingly makes us aware of - There's no place like home !!!

LOST IN WONDERLAND ???

Neptune - the planet of the spiritual, universal, ethereal, mysterious, mystical, enlightenment, psychic, delusional, imagination, escape, surrender, sacrifice, artistic inspiration, musical ability, glamour, fantasy, romantic love, dissolving, uplifting, confusing, consoling, undermining, drugs and alcohol - began its retrograde journey for 2013 today, June 7th, at 4:26 AM EDT ....

One of the main energies of Neptune retrograde is to not just have blind faith ... be it personal spiritual quests or the "collective" quest of society, Neptune retrograde energy means a reexamination of hopes and beliefs ... we may all need to individually question and test all aspects of faith ... we begin to question and develop objectivity in regards to the intangibles of life such as truth, fear, hope and inspiration ... when Neptune is retrograde it is closest to the Earth making its function even more intensified ... artists, musicians, poets and those who are leading a highly spiritual life may especially feel the energy of a Neptune retrograde and be truly inspired ... during a Neptune retrograde if we aren't pursuing a spiritual quest we may become confused, disillusioned or full of illusions ... there is a chance that some may fall into drugs, alcohol or other escapist behaviors ... ideally, this is a time to question the ideas society accepts about faith, fears, truth and understanding ... inspiration and potential for spiritual growth can be greatly enhanced ...

Neptune retrograde is a time for everyone to tune into the collective unconscious and realize how our own fears, illusion, confusion or spiritual journey are connected to what is happening with humanity ... this is a time to determine whether or not our own individual energies are being used positively to develop faith and spirituality, or if one is simply pursuing a path of escapism and disappointment ... Neptune retrogrades about 5 - 6 months every year ...

Neptune is currently transiting through the sign of Pisces - the sign it naturally rules ... In Pisces, Neptune’s qualities of spirituality and creative genius are enhanced ... Neptune here does NOT value materialism ... there will be more of a tendency to explore and develop our inner selves yielding the possibility of attaining the capability of harmony between the physical and spiritual world ... this energy makes us potentially more psychic, generous, understanding, responsive to the environment, more mystical and compassionate ... but can also lead us in the other direction making us more gullible, passive, self-destructive and likely becoming a victim to all kinds of addictions especially with this energy turned inwards during its retrograde period ... it is definitely a good time to start paying attention to your dreams as the Universe will undoubtedly be bringing us vital information while we sleep – keep a dream journal close by !!! ... If we use this retrograde energy positively we indeed will be more compassionate, self-sacrificing, intuitive, artistic and creative … used negatively we will end up melancholy, an escapist, a procrastinator, vague, and likely to become a victim of many forms of addiction including drugs and alcohol …

Pisces born, since Neptune is your planetary ruler, this is your yearly time to review and rethink what has been going on in your life since the last Neptune retrograde ended on November 10th/11th, 2012 depending on which time zone you live in ... And if anyone has had a natal chart done and knows where 5 degrees back down to 2 degrees of Pisces falls, then you might get an idea what area of your life the main thrust of this Neptune retrograde energy will be affecting ... have you been seeking the "ideal" and been looking at things realistically, or have you been looking at life through the proverbial "rose colored glasses" letting illusion mislead you  and not effectively dealing with reality ???

Neptune remains retrograde until November 13th ... this would be an excellent and possibly extremely rewarding time to keep that dream journal as your dreams are sure to be enhanced with symbolism and information from the Universe resulting in profitable and/or illuminating and enlightening ideas ... after all, it's been said "a dream is a wish your heart makes" !!! ... and in the end the question  becomes - will we open our hearts and minds to divine spiritual and creative energy or fall to the depths of addiction, deception and escapism and simply become "lost in wonderland" ???

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE EMOTIONAL "WATERS" OF LOVE !!!

Venus, the planet of love, affection, attraction, and social interactions and desires began its emotional swim through the nurturing, intuitive sign of Cancer yesterday, June 2nd, at 10:13 PM EDT ... transiting through a WATER sign such as this, Venus takes on an even more emotional connection to everything it is attracted to ... Venus in Cancer enjoys home, food, nurturing and/or dependency ... it can be very sensitive and protective in relating to people, and it appreciates emotional warmth and attachments ... affection is expressed protectively, tenaciously and in a nurturing manner ... pleasure is found through security ... ones comfort level may well depend on feeling like part of a family ... there is a preference here to share within a very closely attached group ... if one should lack faith under this energy, there could be a result of moodiness, shyness, over protection - including self and others, and stinginess which could interfere with the potential for closeness and the ability to enjoy life ... money and possessions are usually handled cautiously ... there is a desire here to nurture and/or be nurtured in ones love relationships ... closeness here involves dependency, care taking and receptivity ... this Venusian energy can be somewhat thin-skinned and truly needs to hear the words "I love you" often ...

The lesson of Venus in Cancer is all about learning to love oneself as well as others through nurturing ... it believes that home is indeed where the heart is ... the expression of love here is tied into the need to give or receive comfort and security ... there is the trap here to become so concerned with receiving love that you forget the quality and quantity of love you actually give ... love here is usually of the most instinctive kind ... there is a romantic leaning towards the sentimental ... there also comes a rather changeable nature in showing or accepting affection which usually is a result of doubts about ones own attractiveness ... home and family are central to ones happiness here ... there is the possibility that one possesses cooking, decorating, or other domestic skills under this energy ... sometimes the fear of change and/or disruption within the home and family can yield worry which physically expressed manifests in the form of stomach or throat problems ... the energy of Venus in Cancer can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: gentle, kind, tender, romantic, sentimental, sensitive, compassionate, dreamy, devoted, loyal, unselfish, dependable, caring, protective, motherly, sympathetic, home-making, reassuring, comforting

NEGATIVE: timid, gooey, fawning, easily hurt, moody, muddled, clingy, too attached, weak-willed, dependent, fussy, shy, insecure, fears unfamiliar, gluttonous, vulnerable, taking others for granted, emotional threatening, inhospitable

Cancer born individuals, this is your time to "glow" as Venus moves through your birth sign ... be sweet and kind enough and you just might get what you ask for !!! ... Venus now joins Mercury - and thankfully will only be subject to possibly being influenced by the Mercury retrograde in Cancer - with the Sun following into Cancer in 18 days ... Venus remains in the sign of Cancer until June 27th ... for all of us, perhaps we could try and use Mother Nature as a "role model" for how to nurture and nourish ourselves and others ... allowing others to sometimes lean on you will help prevent you from continuously leaning on others too much ... by admitting to our hopes and what hurts us we can ultimately encourage others to do so as well ... but also be on guard as the old saying goes, one who indulges - bulges !!! ... for now it's up to each one of us to try to lovingly navigate through the emotional "waters" of love !!!!

BUST A MOVE - INTELLECTUALLY AND/OR PHYSICALLY !!!

Mars began its transit through the intellectually curious, expressive sign of Gemini yesterday, May 31st at 6:39 AM EDT ... as Mars often represents fiery actions and Gemini is an Air sign - Air gives life to Fire - Mars functions extremely well here ... in fact, it may work too well and too fast at times in Gemini ... a keyword for Mars in Gemini would certainly be "spontaneous" ... under this energy one is mentally active and naturally curious with a very restless mind and tongue ... one can assert themselves flexibly, cleverly, and with many talents ... verbal expression and learning is important ... in fact the desire to talk and communicate is so strong that one may talk incessantly and we may find ourselves thinking or perhaps forced to blurt out SHUT UP !!! ... in addition, having variety and being on the move is necessary ... energy flows very easily here into mental pursuits and/or skill with the hands ... there is often a display of great dexterity and manual skills ... there is a drive towards learning more, developing new skills and making additional connections between people and/or concepts and ideas ... there is usually versatility and adaptability but there is always the risk of being easily distracted as ones focus and desires change quickly and frequently ... think of the term "once is ENOUGH" !!! ... ones identity is tied to ones thinking and communication or to ones manual skills ... sexual drive and physical energy are affected by what one sees, thinks - new ideas, and by conversations ... under this energy if someone is ever ticked off, you can forget about getting a word in at all !!! ... as for partnerships and sex, this energy frequently requires more than one partner for total fulfillment ... Mars was last in Gemini from June 21st - August 3rd of 2011 ... what was going on in your life in regards to getting what you wanted, taking initiative, or even your sexual drive ???

The lesson of Mars in Gemini is learning how to get what we want through communicating ... it's the live wire ... it's touch and go ... in fact it is a real go-getter - quick to think, quick to act, and then quick to move on ... if you want to know something, it won't be too long before you simply go and ask ... the desire nature, the tongue and the nervous system are all wired together here ... attaining the object of ones desires and satisfying them is usually achieved quickly ... there is a need with Mars in Gemini to learn to slow down in order to see what is really happening in order to discover what it is your heart truly desires ... the contact ultimately to be made under this energy is with ones self - until you are able to concentrate your attention and learn to distinguish between what you want, what you have, and what you can't have, you will fall victim to your nervous system running in overdrive and dictating what you do ... high strung energies need a constant outlet ... and when you run into someone who frustrates your energies, it becomes necessary to determine what it really is about that person that is driving you - up, down, forward, backward, wild or plain crazy - and you may ultimately discover it is something inside of YOU !!! ... the energy of Mars in Gemini can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: sharp-witted, humorous, stimulating, ingenious, dexterous, resourceful, adaptable, quick, agile, lively, mobile, eloquent, inquisitive, communicative, contact-maker, versatile mind, flexible, full of ideas, multi-talented

NEGATIVE: sharp-tongued, sarcastic, irreverent, argumentative, mischievous, meddlesome, unreliable, hasty, jumpy, un-relaxing, restless, verbose, nosy, rambling, gets wired crossed, scatters thoughts, changeable, lacking in perseverance

Mars now joins the Sun and Venus - which will leave Gemini tomorrow, and remains in the sign of Gemini until July 13th ... Keep in mind that Gemini is ruled by Mercury which will be retrograde for 24 days of this particular Mars transit ... During that period - June 26th through July 20th - you should proceed with caution in regards to any initiative you undertake even though Mercury will be retrograde in the sign of Cancer ... Gemini born individuals, enjoy this extra burst of get up and go - as if you really need it anyway - for roughly the next six weeks, but remember to be careful not to "incinerate" everyone else with this added "fired" up energy !!! ... for all of us, it is a good idea to try and focus on developing one talent ... find some kind of pursuit that involves discipline in addition to speed and judgment ... so let's all get out there and, in one way or another, BUST A MOVE - INTELLECTUALLY AND/OR PHYSICALLY !!!