THE FEARLESS MATADOR !!!

Mars began its transit through the methodical, persistent sign of Taurus yesterday, April 20th, at 7:48 AM EDT ... Mars energy is challenged here as now being in the sign Taurus, which is ruled by Venus which rules Libra, and Libra is the sign  directly opposite to the sign Aries which is ruled by Mars ... Mars is therefore said to be in "detriment" in Taurus thus not operating at its full power, and it appears to take on more of the sign's rather than the planets coloration ... it is said that if a planet is in detriment, it is visiting where it MUST conform to rules and regulations ... and what happens when a fiery planet transits through an earth sign ??? ... there can often be "burning" and "scorching" involved !!!

The energy of Mars in Taurus is likely to be naturally sensual and it appreciates the physical gratifications of life ... determination and endurance are often quite strong ... one can assert themselves steadily and stubbornly ... being grounded is very important ... results MUST be tangible ... the energy moves towards consolidation or physical beauty ... one is happiest when they can control a situation and achieve material success through ones own particular personal method ... identity is tied to pleasure, possessions and comfort - too much material focus here will lead to possessiveness and/or overdrive ... sexual drive and physical energy can be very enduring - after all Mars is passing through the sign represented by the Bull !!! - and it can be influenced by a deep appreciation and savoring of the physical senses ... this energy is also frequently referred to as the "slow boiler of the zodiac" as it puts up and up with a situation until you think there will be no anger expressed, and then all of the sudden you see one ready to charge and meet the situation head on !!! .. there is good earning power here but one is usually very particular about how one spends their money ... even though one may judge others harshly under this energy, one will usually fight injustice to the bitter end !!!

The lesson of Mars in Taurus is all about getting what we want or need through stabilizing ... here one is able to progress easily and steadily in the material sphere of life ... however, sometimes one can get stuck dogmatically moving in the same direction unable to change direction ending up spending ones energy in a meaningless and frustrating manner ... the key here is the ability to establish what actually constitutes stability rather than blindly conforming to an overly materialistic society ... the decidedly sensuous nature may also find appealing the idea that ploughing back into the Earth what one has gained from it - in the form of possessions, pleasures or experiences - will naturally produce newer, fresher "fruits of labor" ... this energy likes wealth and comfort, concrete results, being dominated or dominant, taking its time and planning and foresight ... it dislikes wishy-washy relationships, being pushed and changes that are brought about suddenly ... the energy of Mars in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: capacity for work, earning power, productive/industrious, methodical, practical, persistent, patient, close to nature, crafts person, mechanically skilled and able, dependable, sexually attractive, sensuous, passionate, executive ability, formidable, powerful reserves of strength

NEGATIVE: materialistic, greedy, wealth for wealth's sake, plodding, boring, slow to change, slow to act, brutish, mechanical and thick-headed, jealous and possessive, smouldering, carnal, intense, vindictive, bullying, violent when pushed

Mars in Taurus needs to identify its "beast" and re-channel its energy and transform its nature ... Taurus born individuals, enjoy this period of that extra burst of energy and use it for something constructive and productive ... just be careful not to "charge" at and knock down others with your boosted personal power ... Mars now joins the Sun and Venus in Taurus ... Mars remains in the sign of Taurus until May 31st ... focus on how your material awareness and/or position could end up being of benefit to others ...  oh yes, and be aware you just might end up running into a lot of horny people or finding yourself in the same frame of mind during the next six weeks - "Ole" !!!

"BULLISH" ON SPRINGTIME !!!

The Sun began its yearly transit through the sign of Taurus yesterday, 4/19, at 6:03 PM EDT ... the pace of life slows down a little as the Sun has left the fiery sign of Aries and shifts into a slower mode of energy in Taurus an earth sign ... with the Sun in Taurus, we need to shine comfortably, seek recognition deliberately, shine in ones own dependability, and have a drive for recognition which manifests itself through sensuality and/or personal possessions ... Taurus is a feminine, fixed, earth sign therefore its tendency to nurture and comfort through a methodical but slower and more stable course of action ... its key phrase is "I Have" and its keyword is "stability" ... being a fixed sign, Taurus can appear to be quiet, affectionate, patient, stable, determined and practical, stubborn and resistant to change ... its symbol is the Bull and its glyph is the head and horns of the Bull - symbolically the glyph is a half-moon forming a cup that rests on the circle of the Sun ... the cup representing material wealth and power derived through the force of the will (the circle) ... the Bull can be strong, stubborn, plodding, and can be both fierce and gentle ...

Anatomically, Taurus rules the neck and the throat - there are a lot of Taurus born people that have beautiful speaking and singing voices, but their vulnerability is to colds, laryngitis, sore throats and thyroid problems ... Taurus is the sign directly opposite to Scorpio ...

Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus - the Roman goddess of beauty and the arts, pleasure and the emotions ... Venus bestows an influence towards a love of luxury and exceptional creative ability ... it is NOT the planet of SEX for those of you who think otherwise!!! ... Venus rules the throat, chin, cheeks, and the sense of taste, art, culture, aesthetics, possessions, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sentimentality, sweets and sugar, color, harmony, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, drama, and music ... it governs emotional contacts, tenderness, moral character, marriage and unions of every kind as well as sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasure and appreciation ... in your natal chart, the place where you find Venus shows what you really enjoy !!!

Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house of the horoscope which is a house of substance with its keyword being "values" ... this house indicates financial affairs, possessions (excluding real estate), investments, earning power, and any gain or loss through your own personal efforts ... it shows your inner talents and resources, your need for fulfillment, your emotional feelings, your sense of self-worth including your sense of values ... since there is a widespread belief that liberty is largely related to the money, the 2nd house is also the house of personal liberty ... it is also considered the house of material debt ...

The energy of the Sun in Taurus is all about living through learning to stabilize ... here we have the beauty (Venus) and the beast (the Bull) !!! ... the purpose of the Sun here is to help maintain the stability of earthly things ... one may find it surprising to realize that the important main possessions here are a sense of Earthly harmony and wholesomeness, and not necessarily a substantial amount of money and material possessions ... there is the distinct ability to endure change with this energy ... it is also interesting to note that when change has to be made and something must be let go of, when you let go and endure the change you ultimately discover how much more stable things actually become !!! ... Taurus energy challenges one to discover ones truest, deepest and highest values ... the greatest indication of values is beauty which is something that cannot be owned but only appreciated ... the energy of the Sun in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: earthy, sensuous/artistic, productive, practical provider, steadfast and stable, unruffled and calm, even-tempered, soothing, self-trusting, loyal, persevering, trustworthy, appreciative, admiring, affectionate, aesthetic, physically comforting, magnetically healing, attractive

NEGATIVE: materialistic, gross and extravagant, plodding and ponderous, sluggish and lazy, boneheaded, boring, self-satisfied, possessive, stubborn, bigoted/fanatical, self-gratifying, idolatrous, lecherous, aloof, unaware of the "unseen", sucker for good looks, easily attached

Taurus born individuals you are beginning a new Solar year - HAPPY SOLAR RETURN !!! ... this is your time to really "shine" while all of us try to incorporate your natural born energy into our daily lives and learn from experiencing it ... here we are all challenged to discover our truest and highest values and then realize how well we can express them physically ... hopefully one will come to the realization during the next thirty days that the value of Earthly things is simply that they serve to keep bodies happy and healthy ... the Sun now joins Venus and also Mars, which actually entered Taurus earlier today after the Sun, as the hectic pace of so much Aries energy begins to diffuse and slow down to a point hopefully allowing our feet to be more firmly planted beneath us  ...  the Sun remains in Taurus until May 20th - now let's all get out there and get "bullish" on Springtime !!!

I "FEEL" LOVE ... !!!

Venus - the planet representing attraction, love, affection, beauty, happiness, value and values, how we relate, and social or artistic expression -  began its sensual transit through the earthy, comfort oriented sign of Taurus, the Bull, today, April 15th, at 3:25 AM EDT ... Venus is very comfortable and at home here as this is one of the two signs of the zodiac it naturally rules - the other being Libra of course !!!

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

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

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

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

Taurus born individuals this is your time to reflect your inner beauty outwardly and ask for what you want - you just might get it if it is what you truly desire ... for the rest of us, we can now see what it might be like to be born with Venus in Taurus, as well as getting a glimpse into how Taurus born individuals may operate in their quest for love and defining where their true values lie ... Venus remains in the sign of Taurus until May 9th ... remember that what makes us feel loved is our own persistent faith in our individual love nature ... and by the end of this transit we all will hopefully have been able to feel - just a "touch" of love !!!

A SERIOUS CASE OF "FOOT IN MOUTH" DISEASE ???

Mercury - FINALLY completing its journey through the sign of Pisces which initially began on February 5th - began its blazing transit through the spontaneous, impulsive sign of Aries yesterday, 4/13, at 10:37 PM EDT ... it has now begun another spin through the natural zodiac ... Mercury takes approximately 1 year to go through the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... it spends anywhere from 15 days to roughly two months in each sign - the longer amount of time being the roughly 20 to 24 days during each of its usual three retrograde periods each year ... that being said, while Mercury transits the sign of Aries, and with it being a Fire sign, energy and action will be expressed either in an inspiring, creative, independent, or impulsive/aggressive manner ... in Aries, Mercury is now in a dynamic relationship with Mars - the ruler of Aries - and the Mercurial energy is being pushed into overdrive ... the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find our selves moving too quickly and causing mishaps or accidents - especially behind the wheel where we will no doubt be using even more hand gestures than usual !!! - we will most likely come up with what we determine to be "scathingly brilliant" ideas but not all will be driven to fruition after they lose their initial novelty ... a lot of us will constantly be the victim of "foot-in-mouth" disease as we will have the tendency to speak before we think since the mind is processing so much so fast ... we may also experience sleepless nights or have difficulty going to sleep as we find that when our head hits the pillow the mind is still racing .... we will certainly have to be on guard about starting arguments and trying to stir up controversy simply because we feel like our words are the ultimate authority ...

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

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

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

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

Mercury now joins the Sun, Venus, Mars and Uranus already in Aries ... Mercury remains in Aries until May 1st ... Aries born individuals may become infused with an overabundance of ideas and plans in addition to speaking out more so than usual - yikes ... but indeed we all may even do so if we aren't Aries born !!! ... all of us might be well advised to keep a lot of ice cream or something cool and soothing on hand as we are sure to have a sore tongue from having to bite it so often to keep from allowing our hasty words from causing too much damage !!!

INEVITABLE CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS OUR DESTINY !!!

PLUTO - whose cosmic energy has the potential to bring about empowerment, destiny, awareness of obsessions, penetration to divulge hidden causes, to produce profound levels of consciousness, can bring about death - not necessarily of the physical body - rebirth, regeneration or destruction, transformation, harming or healing, depth and insight, and  has the energy to enable us with self-renewal began its retrograde journey for 2013 yesterday, 4/12, at 3:32 PM EDT at 11 degrees of Capricorn ... this is the degree Pluto has been literally vibrating at since around April 7th so the last week could have produced a lot of intensity in many peoples lives ... if you've had a natal chart done and know where 11 degrees of Capricorn falls, then you might understand where in your life this impending shift was preparing to take place ... check to see if you have any natal planets at 11 degrees of any sign to determine whether or not Pluto is making a stressful or favorable aspect influencing your life ... 

While in Capricorn we can expect deep-reaching transformation of the social order and laws, corporate structures and in the areas of personal responsibility, fulfillment of duties, and general awakening as to personal destiny ... we might also expect some changes in the geographical structure of the earth as well - noticed the increased frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions since Pluto entered Capricorn in January of 2008 ???

Pluto is an outer planet and its energy is directed towards not only personal but generational transformation, so it makes this a time for everyone to step back and review how each one of us is contributing to the future and evolution of mankind and the Earth, or perhaps how we are working towards destroying it ... it’s important to become more conscious of how we individually and collectively impact the Earth and our fellow human beings ...

This Pluto retrograde could have added "cosmic punch" as this is its first retrograde journey in Capricorn while being in mutual reception to Saturn - Saturn rules Capricorn and is currently transiting through Scorpio, beginning in October of 2012, which is ruled by Pluto !!! ... so we can expect an extra dose of restriction, limitation, change, transformation, tearing down and rebuilding in some area of our lives that will NOT be achieved overnight !!! ... Scorpio and Capricorn born could be especially sensitive to this shift and what it produces, as well as Cancer born as Capricorn is the sign in opposition to your natal sun placement ... but we will all feel this energy somewhere in our loves both individually and collectively ...

Scorpio born individuals this is your yearly period of review and analysis of what is transpiring in your life and especially what has transpired in your life since September 17th/18th of last year that is urging you to release, transform and regenerate some aspect of your life - in other words, where MUST change take place due to a "cracked" or severely weakened foundation that will not support personal and spiritual growth ??? ... and that goes for all of us as well !!! ... if you have a Scorpio Moon or Ascendant you may be more sensitive to the retrograde period as well - Moon people through emotional issues and Ascendant people through issues of how you project yourself out into the world ... also if you know which house in your natal chart Pluto is currently transiting through, that "stage" where life plays out will produce some interesting and possibly challenging energy ... I have also been told several times that when an outer planet - Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - shifts directions - a slightly increased number of "souls" tend to leave the planet particularly those who are elderly ... something to possibly watch especially at the very beginning of the retrograde period and at the end ...

Pluto naturally rules the elimination and reproduction systems of the body so there could be issues there ... maybe, maybe not ... Pluto is also the natural ruler of the 8th house - which includes the support you receive from other people including financial, moral, spiritual and physical ... it addresses legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters and lets not forget "secrets", sex, spiritual and physical regeneration, psychological rebirth and degeneration and death - not necessarily actual physical though .... also occult matters, sleep, deep research, investigation, hidden assets - including the assets of partners and alimony, and finally, surgery - any of these areas are fair game during the Pluto retrograde ...

Pluto remains retrograde until September 20th ... as the harbinger of upheaval, transformation, destruction and rebirth, Pluto retrograde certainly has the potential to and will shake things up ... and one thing is absolutely for sure where Pluto is involved - THERE WILL BE CHANGE !!!