A SLOWER YET MORE THOROUGH PROCESS OF THINKING AND COMMUNICATING !!!

Mercury, steadily and with a logical progression, began its transit through the sign of Taurus today, 4/23, at 5:16 AM EDT ... our mode of thinking and communicating has now shifted from the rapid fire energy of Aries into the slower and more methodical energy of Taurus ... the keyword for this energy is "factual" ... here the mind and tongue work deliberately and steadily with the tendency to sometimes get stuck in mental ruts ... this energy can be highly practical and grounded ... business skills or any activity that incorporates the use of common sense usually accompanies this energy ... often there can be learning through  tactile contact or actual physical manipulation of the world ... perceptions can often be limited due to a desire to learn slowly and carefully ... there is a desire to bring ideas down to earth, and there are usually interests in money, sensuality and physical comfort ...

This Mercury LOVES to read - anything !!! ... time is taken in order to arrive at all decisions ... this Mercury also likes to "sleep on it" and needs solid, tangible, physical proof in order to really believe in anything ... the thought pattern is developed in terms of worth thus making "value" the ultimate selling point ... there is usually an excellent memory bestowed by this mercurial energy and it makes one a good observer but ironically one is apt to listen inattentively as their mind is almost always already made up and will rarely be changed !!! ... even though there is a love of reading, it is ultimately realized that experience teaches one the most valuable lessons in life ...

The lesson of Mercury in Taurus is learning to think through stabilization ... this is all about the concrete mind - SEEING IS BELIEVING !!! ... the mind here likes to chew things over and over in order to acquire a true depth of knowledge ... there is more of a taste for the traditional rather than the abstract and the avant- garde, and one finds it is steady working habits that produce thorough and solid results ... ultimately there is a gift given here to see how any plan will work out in physical terms ... the energy of Mercury in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: sound mind, thorough, patient, cautious, shrewd, resourceful, sensible, realistic, good concentration, mentally sure, deliberating, practical thinker, sense of form, steady mind, enduring, mentally laid-back, docile, undemanding

NEGATIVE: slow minded, plodding, tardy, guarded, mean-minded, money-grubbing, boneheaded, one-track-minded, overburdened, limited thinker, stubborn mind, lazy-minded, dumb, misses the point, couch potato

Mercury joins the Sun in Taurus ... Mercury remains in the sign of Taurus until May 17th ...only two more complete sign transits for Mercury - through Taurus and Gemini - makes before it begins its second RETROGRADE journey for 2014 on June 7th which will be anther double sign Mercury retrograde - from 3 degrees Cancer back to 24 degrees Gemini ... Mercury will enter its next shadow point on May 22nd ...

Taurus born individuals, are you beginning to feel the tempo picking up in your thinking and communicating somewhat ??? ... now is your chance - along with the rest of us - to get a lot accomplished and get our minds anchored to a firmer foundation of rational and practical thinking with this earth energy ... and that's no "BULL" !!!

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST !!!

The Sun began its yearly transit through the sign of Taurus yesterday, 4/19, at 11:56 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 how 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 ... keep in mind though that your ruling planet Venus is being influenced by the current Mars retrograde in Libra which is the other sign Venus naturally rules ... and just for the record, nearly all of you Taurus born will get this Mars retrograde energy in your solar return for the year ahead as Mars will not complete its current retrograde journey until May 19th - the day before the Sun completes its transit through Taurus !!!

We are all now being 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 is currently the only planet in the sign of Taurus with Mercury shortly to follow in 3 days ... the hectic pace of  the solar energy in Aries begins to diffuse and slow down to a point hopefully allowing our feet to be more firmly planted beneath us ... but just how hectic that energy manifested itself was certainly affected by Aries ruling planet, Mars, being retrograde during the Sun's entire transit of Aries  ...  the Sun remains in Taurus until May 20th - now let's all get out there and get "bullish" on Springtime !!!

THERE WILIL BE CHANGE !!!

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 begins its retrograde journey for 2014 today, 4/14, at 7:44 PM EDT at 13 degrees of Capricorn ... as Pluto has been literally slowing down and vibrating at this degree the last several weeks, it has probably produced a lot of intensity in many peoples lives ... if you've had a natal chart done and know where 13 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 13 degrees of any sign to determine whether or not Pluto is making a stressful or favorable aspect influencing your life ...

While Pluto is 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 while in Capricorn it is in mutual reception to Saturn - Saturn rules Capricorn and is currently transiting through Scorpio, beginning in October of 2012, which is ruled by Pluto !!! ... Pluto begins this current retrograde journey with a Mars retrograde in Libra currently in progress as well as being on the heels of a lunar eclipse, the building of a grand cross - also known as a grand square, and then a solar eclipse ... 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 !!! ... how willing are you to take an honest look deep within yourself and be open minded and have faith enough to face your inner truth in order to determine where change must take place ???

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 lives both individually and collectively ... keep in mind the tearing down and change is needed in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth ... in some cases it may be very drastic and challenging while in others it may not have quite the forceful impact ...

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 20th of last year that is urging you to release,  allow transformation, regeneration and healing to take place in 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 read many 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 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 22nd ... as the harbinger of upheaval, transformation, destruction, rebirth and deep healing, Pluto retrograde certainly has the potential to and will shake things up ... and one thing is absolutely for sure where Pluto is involved whether in forward or retrograde motion - THERE WILL BE CHANGE !!!

LEARNING TO "BITE" ONES TONGUE GRACEFULLY !!!

Mercury, FINALLY completing its journey through the sign of Pisces which initially began on January 31st, began its blazing transit through the spontaneous, impulsive sign of Aries today, 4/7, at 11:35 AM EDT ... it has now initiated 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 per 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 ... but just how far into overdrive it is pushed remains the question as Mars is till in its retrograde journey until May 19th ... nevertheless 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", by learning to "bite" it gracefully, 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 and Uranus already in Aries - looks like a good combination for potentially explosive verbal fireworks and actions !!!  ... Mercury remains in Aries until April 23rd ... 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 do so even if we aren't Aries born !!! ... one 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 to cause too much uproar, misunderstandings and unnecessary verbal confrontations !!!

LOVE WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS !!!

Venus began its transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Pisces today, 4/5, at 4:31 PM EDT ... this Venus is all about dreams and wishes, fairy tale endings, love at first sight, and happily ever after ... Venus is exalted in Pisces - a planet that is exalted in a sign expresses its energy more harmoniously and visibly, especially since Pisces ruler Neptune is the higher vibrational octave of Venus ... Venus in Pisces enjoys being compassionate, tenderhearted and helpful ... often one relates to others by taking the role of either the rescuer or a person looking for help ... affection is usually expressed idealistically, romantically, sympathetically, or sometimes evasively ... there is a deep desire for magic and romance in love ... one of the obstacles here can be a lack of clarity about what you want or a failure to be objective in regards to others which can ultimately set you up for disappointment, disillusionment, or possibly deception ... it is very easy under this energy to idealize love and loved ones, and one must guard against putting people and love on the proverbial "pedestal" as when reality sinks in the results can be devastating ... sometimes a lack of discrimination can lead to highly frustrating attachments ... in this energy, one often wants a beautiful dream in their love relationships, yearns for a true soul mate, or can be psychically attuned to ones partner ... since Pisces is a water sign, Venus traveling here is especially subject to the emotions being a large part of the drive - even more so than usual!!!

Venus in Pisces can give great sensitivity to hurt that makes one feel as though they are being picked on ... one must guard against clinging to illusory loves just because they are far more beautiful than real life ... and this could ultimately prevent one from finding true closeness with another ... the bottom line here is that this Venus wants to experience the perfect, unselfish love ... tastes are frequently very refined here ... music is usually a natural means of self-expression as well as art ...

The lesson of Venus in Pisces is learning to love through accepting - the love of all ... in fact, LOVE IS ALL ... this  energy sees the Eternal Life principle flowing through every manifestation and therefore uniting the soul with all of life ... it is said that this placement of Venus most likely has more innate ability for inspired artistic creativity than any other ... also at heart one knows and feels that love is everything ... everything is regarded as being alive and sacred ... Venus in Pisces can yield a complex love nature ... this is due to having a highly evolved sense of love as unconditional and of beauty as a healing property, but on the other hand the fears and doubts that can accompany this energy can make one inclined to see love as something one "needs" and beauty as something to "get" or to "own" ... the truth here is that each one of us is a thing of love and beauty, but if one begins to doubt this, then one can open them self up to being used and abused ... and in the end, it comes down to the fact that you can only love the world and those in it as much as you love yourself as a part of the world !!! ...the energy of Venus in Pisces can express itself in the following ways :

POSITIVE: compassionate, sympathetic, appreciates unity of all life, congenial, evocative, sensitive lover, easygoing, artistically inspired, natural healer, self-sacrificing, selfless, highly affectionate, altruistic, very generous, loves unconditionally, gentle, philanthropic, peaceful

NEGATIVE: martyr, too sentimental, too passive, seducing, idealizes lover, romantically deluding, hypersensitive, self-pitying, weak-willed, wanton, no self-value, undiscerning, fears rejection, indulging, evasive, overly impressionable

Venus remains in Pisces until May 2nd ... Venus now joins Mercury - soon to complete its transit and move into Aries on the 7th, and Neptune in this dreamy swim through the emotional "waters" of Pisces ... BUT - this could end up being a very challenging transit for Venus because Mars is currently retrograde in Libra until May 19th, and therefore spreads its backward energy to associate with Venus which naturally rules Libra ... and beginning a new relationship while Mars is retrograde in Libra is certainly not a good idea ... how it plays out only time will tell ... and given that Pisces planetary ruler Neptune often causes us to seek the ideal, sometimes too much so, while at the same time blurring boundaries and making things subject to lack of clarity, in the end what we value, who and what we love, and how we earn and spend our money could change greatly or become the victim of very challenging, confused and irrational decisions  ...

Pisces born individuals, don't forget this is the time when Venus shines its beautiful "love light" upon you ... it is usually a good time to ask for what you want - even given the conflicting planetary energy, as Mars continues its retrograde journey in a sign ruled by Venus that might suggest otherwise - you're still likely to be pretty much irresistible !!! ... for everyone, it's time to keep "carefully" searching for the perfect "ahhhh" and seeking  love with all the trimmings ... and it may be waiting - all for YOU !!!