"FOOT - IN - MOUTH" DISEASE ???

MERCURY began its blazing transit through the spontaneous, impulsive sign of Aries yesterday, 3/30, at 9:44 PM 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 ... nevertheless the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find ourselves 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 ...

Mercury in Aries teaches us to learn 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 14th ... 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 !!! ...

HEADS UP - this is the next to the last full sign transit of Mercury before it begins its second retrograde journey on May 18th which will be completely in the sign of Gemini going from 13 degrees 9 minutes Gemini back down to 4 degrees 34 minutes Gemini ... Mercury will enter its shadow point on May 4th when it reaches 4 degrees 34 minutes Gemini the degree at which it will resume direct motion on June 11th ...

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 !!!

OPENING TO CHANGE AND NEW EXPERIENCES !!!

The Sun will blaze its way into the sign of Aries today, March 20th, at 6:45 PM EDT ... being the first sign of the natural zodiac, you will find many astrologers who will joyfully say - HAPPY ASTROLOGICAL NEW YEAR !!! ... also known as the Vernal Equinox, equal days/equal nights, but more readily known as the beginning of Spring - something we are all bound to put a little more of in our step for now !!! ... however, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere it's the first day of Fall !!! ... the astrological alarm clock has rung and we are awakened from the dream like state the Sun transiting through Pisces may have put us in ... we now emerge from those deep emotional waters of Pisces, no doubt made more turbulent by the recent cosmic activity, and "dry out" as we proceed to move forward and make new starts somewhere in our lives ... with the Sun in Aries, one needs to shine in the following ways: through valor and bravery; shine assertively; shine by being first; seek recognition energetically and impetuously; and shine in ones total self-expression ... Since Aries is a fire sign, the Sun is very comfortable here and maybe works a little more efficiently ... we are energized with a desire to start getting things done and begin new projects ...

Aries is a masculine/fire/cardinal (beginnings) sign ... it is active, energetic, excitable, impulsive, optimistic, and open to change and new experiences ... its symbol is the Ram - assertive, sexual and able to climb to great heights ... its glyph represents the horns and long nose of the Ram ... symbolically the glyph is two half Moons joined by a straight line, which indicates idealism tied to authority and leadership ... its key phrase is "I AM" and keyword is "ACTIVITY" ... anatomically Aries rules the head - Aries born people are often prone to headaches, and sometimes subject to minor injuries around the head and face, and they are also susceptible to harm from fire and sharp instruments as well as being prone to accidents involving high speed ... sometimes they have a tendency to get into violent and dangerous situations ... Aries is the sign opposite of Libra ...

Aries is ruled by the planet Mars - the ancient God of war, aggression and conflict ... it indicates courage, passion, and competition ... Mars deals with your animal nature, desire and sexual energies ... it shows assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, and competition ... it also governs surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammation, wounds and cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron, and steel ... the action of Mars is sudden, self-assertive, and sometimes very disruptive ... its energy can be used destructively and angrily, in a fighting manner, or with courage and strength ... if you've had a natal chart done, where you find Mars is usually where you expend the greatest energy ... my natal Mars is in the 4th house - the house of home among other things - and I work out of my home !!!

Aries is the natural ruler of the 1st house of the zodiac ... the 1st house keyword is "IDENTITY" and it is a house of life ... the cusp of the 1st house is known as the Ascendant or Rising sign - a very important point in the natal chart - often said to be the "mask" you wear to the outside world !!! ... it shows what the exact degree and sign was on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth - now you know why birth time is so important in Astrology ... the 1st house mirrors your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself outwardly ... it shows how people see you - which may be totally different from your natal Sun sign - and the way you want others to see you ... the 1st house represents the way you "package" and "market" yourself ... it represents your physical body, your health and your early childhood years ... it usually characterizes your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and bearing, and the beginnings of all enterprises ...

The Sun in Aries teaches us how to LIVE THROUGH DOING !!! ... its the pioneer, the champion !!! ... this energy simply wants to get something started as the Will has free reign to express itself in this sign ... challenges that stir one to action are usually met with great enthusiasm ... patience is a lesson to be learned under this energy as the drive is so strong to move and move NOW!!! ... physical, emotional and mental extremes are all desired in Aries which usually make one all the better for experiencing them - but go too far and one can expect to be extremely lonely ... remember what springs from your body or mind is only as good as what dwells in your heart ... the energy of the Sun in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: assertive, go-getting, crusading, enthusiastic, direct, frank, one-pointed, straightforward, spontaneous, energetic, stimulating, courageous, good starter, warrior caste, leader type, confident, independent, strong-willed, single-minded, original being

NEGATIVE: overly aggressive, unreflective, fanatical, arrogant, blunt, tactless, blind to side-issues, simplistic, impatient, restless, irritating, foolhardy, bad finisher, argumentative, uncooperative, pompous, self-centered, headstrong, thoughtless, intolerant

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ARIES BORN !!! ... this is your time of year to begin a new astrological cycle as well and - SHINE !!! 

For everyone, it is a time for fresh new beginnings on many levels of ones life ... and even better yet - IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING !!! ... the Sun now joins Mars and Uranus already transiting Aries - a lot of fiery energy being unleashed - proceed with caution !!! ... the Sun remains in the sign of Aries until April 20th ... and once Spring has sprung - BOING - it's definitely time to OPEN A NEW WINDOW ... OPEN A NEW DOOR ... and as Auntie Mame so vivaciously expressed it - LIVE ... LIVE ... LIVE !!!

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, stable sign of Taurus, yesterday, March 17th, at 6:15 AM EDT ... Venus is very comfortable and at home functioning very well here as it is considered to be in "dignity" in Taurus ... 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 ...

Venus in Taurus teaches us all about 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 is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Taurus ...Venus remains in the sign of Taurus until April 11th ... only 3 more complete sign transits to go before Venus begins its retrograde journey for 2015 on July 25th and lasting until September 6th when it will go from 0 DEGREES 46 MINUTES VIRGO back to 14 DEGREES 23 MINUTES LEO ... Venus will enter its shadow point on June 21st !!! ,,, meanwhile, 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 !!!

SOLID GROUND OR FAULTY FOUNDATIONS ???

Saturn - the planet representing the urge for security and safety, that is also known as the taskmaster teaching us the lessons we must learn in life, shows us what we are unsure of or truly fear, and forces us to find the means to acquire discipline, effort and sense of order so that we may overcome limitations and obstacles, and most importantly known as Father Time - began its RETROGRADE journey for 2015 on Saturday, 3/14 at 11:03 AM EDT  at 4 DEGREES 56 MINUTES SAGITTARIUS ... if you've had a natal chart done, then you know in what area of your life Saturn has, and will continue for a while longer, be making you focus your attention on to improve and make more secure ...

The main objective of a transiting Saturn retrograde is RESTRUCTURING, if necessary, our foundations to make sure they are strong and solid ... since Saturn is the planet which represents systems and organizations,  during its retrograde period the time has come to re-examine these areas and find ways to improve them ... it  is now time for every one of us to restructure systems, programs, organizations, and even rules in order to make them function more efficiently ... processes and policies will all benefit from re-examination during this period even though it may not always be easy but very challenging as well as frustrating !!!

Saturn is currently transiting through the sign of Sagittarius which it began its initial transit through back on December 23rd ... it got no further than 4 degrees 56 minutes before beginning its retrograde journey for 2015 ... Saturn's mission in Sagittarius is to test our faith, higher beliefs, philosophical views, our personal understanding of life, higher education - do we need to pursue it or perhaps make it more productive for others that do so, and what our relationship is in relation to how and where we individually fit into the greater scheme of the ever expanding universal picture ... we are being asked to validate and often adjust our mental processing ... so how far have you come in that endeavor since December 23rd and what have you discovered no longer works and must be changed ???

During this retrograde journey, Saturn will return to the sign of Scorpio - yes, I know you thought it was over - on June 14th until September 17th ... once again the focus of its restrictive energy will shift back to personal issues - sex, personal power, joint finances, psychological issues, deep emotional issues and spiritual matters ... it will only go as far back as 28 degrees 17 minutes Scorpio before it resumes forward motion at which point it will finally complete its transit of Scorpio on September 17th ...

My fellow Capricorns, this begins our yearly period of review and self introspection as this is our ruling planet ... what has been going on in your life since Saturn stationed back into direct motion back on July 20th, 2014 ???  ... what have you been working on and possibly rebuilding and restructuring that now needs some re-examination and reevaluation to determine whether or not you are on the right track to produce the desired results you are working towards ??? ... or what did you start working on during the last Saturn retrograde period - March 2nd, 2014 through July 20th, 2014 - that now MUST be addressed and either improved upon or simply let go of in order to facilitate personal and spiritual growth ??? ... and this would apply for everyone as well !!! ... usually people are not happy when Saturn comes into the picture to teach us and make us learn life lessons that often are very daunting and difficult, but we native Capricorns understand Saturn's "weight" which can bear down on us ... so its retrograde journey each time becomes an opportunity for everyone else to feel and hopefully come to understand what we have to live with all of our life ... challenging - you bet ... and no one would ever say it is an easy task, but the potential for rewards are unlimited if you open your eyes, ears and hearts, allow the universe to lead the way and be willing to go the distance !!!

Saturn retrogrades roughly every 12 1/2 months for a period of about 4 1/2 months ... Saturn remains retrograde until August 1/2 depending on which time zone in which you live ... indeed Saturn teaches every one of us different but difficult lessons in life ... but if you keep your feet firmly planted and try to stay positive and understand that the "light at the end of the tunnel" usually signifies greater personal as well as spiritual growth, you will definitely come through a much stronger person and better for the lessons you have taken seriously and made great personal effort to learn from ... you will definitely be better equipped to deal with life and its many challenges as well as being able to determine if you are truly standing on solid ground or teetering on faulty foundations !!!

A WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION !!!

Mercury begins its dream-like transit through the highly perceptive, psychic sign of Pisces today, 3/12, at 11:52 PM EDT ... while Mercury is in Pisces, the thinking and communicating will be greatly influenced by and through our emotions as Pisces is a water sign, so the mind and tongue will tend to be sensitive and intuitive with a large dose of compassion thrown in ... one will often express their intelligence sympathetically ... if one feels safe they can be talkative and very sociable, but if not they will clam up rather fast ... this energy gives one a poetic expression or ones language may be lovely and engaging ... communication here is made idealistically, imaginatively or perhaps evasively ... frequently one can make communications with other people on a non-verbal level, and one may be psychically or spiritually tuned in ... one can uplift others through their thinking and/or communicating ... often there is a wonderfully creative imagination and beauty can be created with either the mind or with ones hands ... interests are usually geared toward areas that are inspirational such as art, nature or the spirit ... one could be inclined towards fantasy, evasion, avoidance or denial if what is perceived does not match ones inner ideals ... the phrase "what if ???" may frequently cloud the reasoning process with this energy ... overall, one can be quite flexible in their thinking, have a holistic approach, or even have a natural talent for synthesizing and seeing the whole of any situation ... sometimes the energy of Mercury in Pisces can produce the image of the "absent minded" professor ... one must also take extra care here as Pisces, which is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion and escapism, can lure one to escape "mental" reality through drugs and alcohol !!!

Mercury is said to be in "detriment" in Pisces ... in "detriment" being in the sign opposite to the one it naturally rules - in this case being in Pisces opposite to Virgo one of the two signs it naturally rules ... so it is not operating at its full power taking on more of the signs rather than the planet's coloration, and thus visiting where it must conform to rules and regulations of that particular sign ... however, even though it may be frequently challenged by this, Mercury in Pisces still has great potential to produce some highly inspired and creative thinking and ways of communicating !!!

Mercury in Pisces teaches us how to think and process through what we are willing and capable of accepting ... it's the poetic mind ... the dreamer of dreams ... the mind is very sensitive under this energy and it can absorb as much information as - if not more than - it learns ... sometimes thoughts and notions will appear to have come from "somewhere else" which will cause doubt in their truth and thus eventually lead to a form of mental exhaustion as a result of resisting cerebral sensitivity and reasoning ... even though this is more the mind of the poet rather than the technician, one is still able to "dream up" both scientific and artistic visions ... here the mind thinks in pictures and one can richly profit by drawing from ones dream life ... it is highly suggested to keep a dream journal - you may be surprised how creatively and divinely inspiring your dreams become !!! ... with Mercury in Pisces there is the ability to be in touch mentally with the Collective Unconscious and navigate the vast sea of all the thoughts and feelings that ever were or ever will be ... it is wise to accept and to understand the channel-like quality of ones mind here and to always give expression to what is coming through ... the energy of Mercury in Pisces can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: imaginative, sensitive mind, visually aware, artistic, obliging, psychic, good instincts, receptive, humorous, versatile, good mimic, highly perceptive, philosophical, dreamer, good long-term memory, accepting, refined mind, contemplative, gentle, sympathetic

NEGATIVE: suspicious, evasive, easily freaked out, lazy, easily swayed, irrational, fearful, gullible, obscure, vague, uncommunicative, absent-minded, bad short-term memory, elusive, weak-minded, slow, wimpish, at a loss for words, seeing things

Mercury in Pisces encourages each one to understand that what one lacks in knowledge one makes up for in understanding - so take your time ... you have the power to choose what you take "on board" and its up to you to discover how to use it ... use your imagination in a creative fashion instead of becoming a victim of it !!!

Mercury will now join the Sun and Neptune already transiting through the sign of Pisces ... the mind will certainly be actively influenced by many inspirational and highly imaginative factors ... it is up to each one of us to determine what is real and what is fleeting ... keep an open mind and allow the Universe to show you a slice of its infinite wisdom and its creative process at work !!! 

Mercury remains in the sign of Pisces until March 30th ... Mercury only has two more full sign transits, that being Aries and Taurus, to go before it enters Gemini and reaches its shadow point, 4 degrees 34 minutes Gemini on May 4th, in advance of its second retrograde period for 2015 which takes place from May 18th through June 11th, and will be completely in the sign of Gemini going from 13 degrees 9 minutes back down to 4 degrees 34 minutes Gemini  ... 

Meanwhile - "we'll begin, with a spin ... traveling in the world of our own creation ... what we'll see, will defy ... explanation" !!!