THE REBEL "WITHIN" !!!

URANUS - the planet known as the great awakener, the rebel, the planet of intuition and the sixth sense and sudden and unexpected change as well as revolutions and breakthroughs, radicals and radical ideas and behavior, the ruler of astrologers and inventors, and the planet closely associated with electricity, technology and electronics - begins its retrograde journey for 2015 yesterday, July 26th, at 6:38 AM EDT at 20 DEGREES 30 MINUTES  ARIES - do I hear a loud collective groan of  UH-OHHHHH ??? !!!! ... where you find Uranus in your individual natal chart is usually where you tend to do the unusual and break from the norm ... Uranus, which takes 84 years to make a complete journey through the 12 signs of the Zodiac, most certainly marches to the beat of a different drum !!!! ... and if you know or are an Aquarius born individual, you probably understand this very well !!!

Uranus is the planet of the unconscious, and even during a retrograde journey that is where its energy will be most highly concentrated ... however, during a retrograde period the energy will tend to be even more pronounced ... people born with Uranus retrograde in their natal chart - and there are a lot of us out there since Uranus retrogrades for about 5 months out of each year - are frequently found on the forefront when it comes to change and actions that are oriented towards the future and on the cutting edge ... the desire to reform or rebel is perhaps even stronger during a retrograde period than when Uranus is direct ... if you've had a natal chart run and know in which house or houses 20 DEGREES 30 MINUTES ARIES back down to 16 DEGREES 33 MINUTES ARIES fall, then you might get an idea in what area of your life this retrograde will most likely play ...

During a transiting Uranus retrograde, it's time for each one of us to ask ourselves what changes do we see happening in the world and ask ourselves how we are contributing to or working against them ... it is very important during the retrograde period to look at the connections between ones own personal changes and those that are occurring around the world ... how are they connected and do we need to find a better way to do that ??? ... are we helping mankind move forward through positive growth or are we being counterproductive through our rebellion to assert our individuality, independence and freedom and ultimately causing more problems than we solve ???

Uranus, is currently just over halfway through its transit through the sign of Aries - where the lesson of this energy is awakening through doing ... it began its complete transit through Aries on March 11th, 2011 ... It has been literally slowing down and sending out its often disruptive vibrational energy at 20 degrees Aries since June 20th and has literally been stationed at 20 degrees 30 minutes Aries since July 20th creating a lot of tension and irritation on many levels no doubt !!! ... the Universe has been making not only Aries and Aquarius born - who may especially feel the impact of this retrograde - but everyone aware there WILL BE CHANGE which NEEDS to be and MUST be addressed while Uranus transits Aries !!! ... it takes Uranus roughly 7 years to completely transit through each sign of the zodiac - it will not complete its full transit through Aries technically, due to retrograde periods, until March 2019 ... there could be a lot of us who experienced this tension during this past week, especially Saturday and Sunday ... in some cases there may have been a sudden and/or unexpected change take place out of the blue ... or even a confrontational situation arose we were not expecting ... over the next few days, until the retrograde energy settles in, there could be instances of rebellion, disruption, explosions and confrontations  ... Uranus remains retrograde until December 25th at 10:53 PM EST ...

Aquarius born individuals, this is your yearly period to review and reflect on what is going on in your life and see how and where you might need to make some positive changes to further personal and spiritual growth ... you may especially want to pay attention to what has transpired in your lives since Uranus finished its last retrograde journey and resumed direct motion back on December 21st, 2014... along with Aquarius born individuals, we ALL will most likely have something illuminated from our subconscious that needs to be dealt with which certainly requires a necessary change as well as rethinking something somewhere in our lives that we suddenly and probably quite unexpectedly took action against to bring about change that perhaps now we realize wasn't the best course of action to have taken ... but will we willingly do this or will the Universe force us to come face to face with our erratic actions ???

We have had an abundance of cosmic energy shifting over the last week: Sun enters Leo, Mercury enters Leo, and Venus stationed Retrograde - that's a lot of universal energy bringing us illumination and enlightenment for each one of us to process as it relates to the personal as well as the collective paths we are all on in our lives ... And now we all have this burning (Aries) drive turned inward urging us to move forward with purpose, to be different, to be independent, to have our individual freedom, to do things suddenly and unexpectedly and to be downright rebellious (Uranus) !!! ...

One thing is for sure - when we are dealing with the sudden, unexpected, disruptive, revolutionary energy of Uranus, which can lead to something highly innovative and ahead of its time, it makes it absolutely a time to be prepared to EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED ... so the ultimate question becomes - will you become a rebel with or without a specific cause ???

"LOVE AMONGST THE RUINS" ???

VENUS - the planet which rules social urge, sense of values, love and affection, and financial matters began its RETROGRADE journey for 2015 today, 7/25, at 5:29 AM EST ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers, potential past romantic interests or even friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... frequently one will come to realize why the relationship did not work out to begin or why it was time to let go and move on - some will not understand this and run the danger of repeating what may have been a very challenging time in their lives ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging ... this is also a time when our personal values get reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere ... one of the main purposes of a Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract and why ... is what you personally value inwardly being projected outwardly positively or is change needed on some level ???

As Venus, anatomically speaking, rules the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste, these areas of the body could encounter some kind of potential problem ... Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde motion out of all of the planets ... within its 584-day cycle, Venus stations retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... it was last retrograde was from December 21st, 2013 through January 31st, 2014 completely in the sign of Capricorn - what was going on in your life during that period that may have had to do with anything mentioned in this blog specific to a Venus retrograde that has now resurfaced for review and rethinking or simply falls apart or must be released ??? ... there is a good chance that any partnership/relationship, especially of the romantic variety, begun during that last retrograde period has now come to a point where it is time to let go and move on !!! ... in fact, ever since Venus entered its shadow point back on June 21st, issues could have begun to arise foreshadowing what was to come during the retrograde period ... especially issues that may have plagued the relationship on and off since Venus stationed back in direct motion on January 31st, 2014, or perhaps even issues that have surfaced in partnerships/relationships that have been ignored even if the relationship was not begun during the Venus retrograde period ...

Taurus and Libra born individuals, this is your planetary ruler so you have begun your period of personal "down time", so to speak, to review and rethink what has transpired in your life since January 31st, 2014 ... but in addition to you, we all will be subjected to a period of reflection in our personal actions in regards to our social urges, sense of values, love and affection, and monetary affairs ...

Some things to remember during a Venus retrograde - it is NOT a good time to purchase "luxury " items if you can wait because when Venus stations back into direct motion, you might well find yourself thinking "WHY did I spend THAT MUCH on something I really didn't want or need" or you may simply feel you did not get the anticipated value for what you spent your hard earned money to purchase ... often in a Venus retrograde money can become low and scarce and we can end up having to spend money we hadn't counted on spending, but in some cases one may end up getting money "coming back" to them from one source or another!!! ... it also is not a good time to begin a new job if you can wait because you may never get the money you expected out of the job, you may feel like you are not being paid enough for the value of your service, or the job simply might not pan out down the road for some reason ... that being said, unfortunately as a Venus retrograde can indicate the "tightening of the purse strings" by individuals as well as companies, salaries could be cut back or the job may be terminated for one reason or another ...

WEDDINGS ARE MOST CERTAINLY A HUGE NO-NO as this is the planet which rules romance, love and affection - do you really want the energy going backwards on the day you say "I DO"??? ... if you were to take the day of the actual wedding, and count forward to the end of the retrograde period, then that total number of days would be the actual number of YEARS it would be before the energy turned back into direct motion by progression in the event chart ... most likely there would constantly be issues regarding either love, emotions and/or money and that can make things very shaky !!! ... if you are getting married, you should have someone mark the time you are officially pronounced married and then have an event chart run, by a reputable astrologer, for that time and the place to see in which house Venus retrograde falls, and you might get a very good idea where in life issues concerning love, money and personal values may surface during the marriage ... I'm not saying don't get married because I know weddings take time and preparation, just realize you may be adding an unnecessary challenge to the already challenging task it takes to navigate through the waters of a personal relationship ... to this end, I would also state the hopefully obvious - a Venus retrograde is definitely NOT the time to begin a new romantic relationship !!! ... but keep in mind if you were born with Venus retrograde in your natal chart, these choppy emotional waters might not be as difficult to navigate as it will be for others ...

Speaking of relationships, you may find arguments and disagreements rearing their ugly heads and if you sever the ties in a Venus retrograde, when it turns direct you will probably be asking yourself why you cut that person out of your life ... on the other hand, relationships and partnerships that have been constantly challenging and have been overly stressful will most likely dissolve during a Venus retrograde period and it is usually best to let them go and move forward ... but this can also be a good time in certain cases where there is a chance to allow some healing to occur in a partnership or relationship that somehow managed to fall off track ... keep in mind that in a Venus retrograde people become a little less sociable and frequently forget their manners so it might be a good idea to "drop back and punt" and hold off passing judgment while the energy is moving backwards ...

This Venus retrograde occurs from 0 DEGREES 46 MINUTES VIRGO back to 14 DEGREES 23 MINUTES LEO ... if you've had a natal chart done, look to see in which house or houses theses degrees fall and you might get an idea as to where this energy may surface in your life ... Venus had just entered the sign of Virgo a week ago on July 18th so it didn't get very far and it will leave the sign of Virgo to return to Leo next Friday, July 31st ... so while there is about 7 days of Venus retrograde in Virgo which will certainly bring emphasis to the desire to seek even more perfection by picking apart relationships, cause the tendency to be even more judgmental about people, and make one become rather obsessive about health and nutrition, the majority of this Venus retrograde will occur in the sign of Leo - which naturally rules the 5th house which addresses matters of the heart, creative endeavors, and how one spends their leisure time ... in fact it will be in Leo for the remaining 38 days of the retrograde period ... that is the main reason romance - partnerships/relationships, creativity, and the pursuit of pleasurable experiences will be put under the "cosmic" microscope so intensely !!!

For those of you born between July 26th and September 5th, you will definitely get the energy of Venus retrograde in Leo in your solar return chart, the birthday chart, for the year ahead ... those born on July 25th and September 6th may or may not get this backwards energy depending on the time your solar return occurs this year ...

The following is what astrologer Mary Fortier Shea has to say about having Venus retrograde in your birthday chart for the whole year and it may be helpful in understanding what you may be dealing with :

"Venus retrograde indicates a time of comparison and contrast. Your increased ability to distinguish and value inner qualities separate from external situations signals an opportunity to compare and contrast the importance of each. Relationships, finances, and priorities should all be reassessed on the basis of the inner qualities they exhibit in comparison to the external pleasure or stress that they generate. Your focus on internal values will tend to overshadow your need for external manifestation; consequently, you will make adjustments in your pursuit of materialistic and external goals.

Relationships are always more important for the love you give and receive than the external trappings; however, this issue will become more evident during this year. You may be in love with a special person who treats you wonderfully, but refuses to consider marriage. If you were attracted to this person because of his or her inner qualities, it is important to appreciate your feelings for one another, and not get hung up on the legalization process. During this year you will tend to assess relationships you see or experience for the inner and outer qualities which they possess or lax. You can always find others who have the external trappings you desire without genuine caring. (Example: a verbally abusive marriage.)

External, artificial indicators of affection are meaningless. It is the inner and sometimes less apparent qualities that are important. Your attention to this issue will make the incongruity more obvious to you. Part of this discernment process can involve frustration with personal involvements which do not conform to your external expectations of what a relationship or partner should be. Love does not necessarily occur in neat little storybook packages, and frustration results from close attention to external storybook details which cannot truly satisfy internal needs. Outer limitations stress the importance of inner beauty. Because third parties may not easily see the qualities that you appreciate in your loved one, they may criticize your choice. Their criticism will encourage you to further define the inner beauty that attracts you. Those relationships which possess no redeeming inner qualities will seem void and unfulfilled. They can be discarded regardless of the external advantages they supply.

Values must be more closely attuned to the individuals aesthetic appreciation and therefore may be less consistent with societal preferences and standards. One can see unique beauty in what might appear ordinary to others. Your taste in material objects might depend on the emotional qualities associated with those objects. Price or status is unimportant.

Venus retrograde symbolizes an emphasis on the quality of life over the desire for financial gain. The money you earn should not be as important as the quality of your working environment and your satisfaction while on the job. Focusing on your inner need for contentment and fulfillment allows you to let go of a large salary, and search for an enjoyable employment position even though it may involve a pay cut. If you continue to work at a stressful job because of the pay, you may be very unhappy. Materialism will not bring you true happiness this year or any year. If you must remain in a stressful job, develop a strong belief in yourself and your abilities. Set goals that are rewarding and doable. Do not focus on your inability to perform at your best when conditions are at their worst. Some work environments are dysfunctional. Financially, this is generally a time to be conservative with funds. You cannot make good decisions about the quality of your life if you are more concerned with your monetary situation.

Social contacts and involvement in social activities are not emphasized while Venus is retrograde in the solar return. You need more time to focus inward and may withdraw from some or all social functions because you welcome the time alone. You might no longer enjoy these functions, or you might realize that certain social relationships are too difficult and unrewarding to maintain. For those individuals who require counseling, this can be a time of isolation. Withdrawal is common with Venus retrograde, but generally any time alone can be put to good use. You could want to be alone with one special person."

Now, a few other things for your consideration .... Virgo is ruled by Mercury which rules the nervous system, brain, sight, hands and arms, and Leo is ruled by the Sun which rules the heart, the upper back, right eye of the male, and left eye of the female ... that being said, there is always the chance an issue could arise in one of those areas where one has to shell out money they hadn't planned on spending ...

Even though we will all be impacted on some level of our lives by the Venus retrograde, the following signs may feel its impact even more personally - Taurus and Libra born as this is your ruling planet, and Virgo and Leo which obviously are the two signs in which the retrograde occurs this time around ...

Venus remains retrograde until September 6th ... it will not be retrograde again until March 4th, 2017 through April 15th, 2017 beginning in Aries and ending in Pisces - information for those of you who like to prepare and just might be planning a "significant occasion" during 2017 !!!

A cautionary word of advice for those who are interested - while its true this next 44 day period will be challenging and most likely present lessons the Universe deems necessary for us to face and learn from, when the Venus retrograde period is over on September 6th, don't think all has been said and done ... AND WHY ??? ... because Mercury will take its third and final retrograde journey for 2015 from September 17th through October 9th which will be completely in the sign of Libra which as you know by now is ruled by VENUS ... in fact, Mercury will have already entered its next shadow point on August 28th before the current Venus retrograde ends ... get the picture and implications ???

With all the above mentioned being said, try your best to keep your temper in check and mind your manners as they may be trying to take a little vacation from you and everyone else as well ... hopefully one will be strong and open enough to receive the illumination and enlightenment this retrograde period will bring and be willing to take an honest and thorough inward look to see if change must be made to further personal and spiritual growth ... in the end perhaps if one is not careful enough or simply needs and must learn a valuable life lesson, one of the main results of a Venus retrograde may end up being best summed up by the famous words of the Bard, that would be Shakespeare for those of you in the dark, himself - "The course of true love never did run smooth" !!!

"ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE ..." !!!

The Cosmic "curtain" rose today, July 23rd, at 8:15 AM EDT as Mercury began its dramatically expressive transit through the ambitious, optimistic sign of Leo ... Mercury is now ready to blaze through Leo where the mindset and communicating functions will most likely become "center stage" somewhere in your life for the next few weeks ... as Leo is a fire sign it will bestow Mercury with a lot of creativity ... this Mercury is quite the performer who wants to get your attention along with your admiration any way it can ...

Mercury in Leo thinks dramatically and always with the heart ... here one can become a visionary and highly idealistic ... romantic attachments tend to take a major portion of ones concentration ... there is a display of dignity, a sense of innate refinement, and a desire to make good impressions on others ... there is also a desire to be the authority in ones chosen field ... there is ability to solve problems, but sometimes the details are ignored ... ambition abounds under this energy ... and since this is a very dramatic energy for communication it should not be a surprise that every now and then comes the tendency to exaggerate, be self-centered, or tell a little white lie or two !!! ... entertainment could easily be ones forte with dramatic talent being given here - okay all you wannabe actors, now it's time to show us what you got !!! ... this is often the natal placement of those in the entertainment industry ... there could be skills at sales, advertising, promotion or any means of persuading people with ones mind and tongue ... there is also a desire to have ones thinking or style of communication given a lot of attention ... speech is made with abundant energy, great pride, liveliness and a lot of charisma ... drama and humor is frequently used in communications ... learning is best achieved when one is aroused and excited by a particular topic ... sometimes the ego has a way of getting involved here which could lead to fixed thinking or limited objectivity ... presentations are usually dramatic and magnetic ... one could become interested in power, children, fame and creativity ...

This Mercury is very strong in its purpose but is still considered to be in its "fall" - as it is in opposition to the sign, Aquarius, where it is considered to be exalted - making the expression of its true nature somewhat difficult ... remember a planet in its "fall" is said to be like staying in someone else home where you do not feel very comfortable ... but there is still plenty of potential to be found with this placement of Mercury !!!

Mercury transiting through the sign of Leo teaches us to instill our thinking process with ambition and creativity ... its the idea person ... one is usually proud of their intellectual talents and capabilities ... with the mind being so closely connected to the heart, there is great passion, strength and originality in the mode in which one thinks and communicates ... sometimes there is insecurity here which can lead to one coming on too strong or causing one to underestimate the power of their mind ...

Mercury usually functions best when it is cool and detached from the ego, but this can become difficult in the self-conscious sign of Leo where personal aims and intentions appear to be to all-important and other important factors become far less important ... it is wise to realize that people give up trying to help others who always think they know better ... but ultimately, being able to combine ones own creative and enterprising mind with an awareness of others ideas and attitudes that are involved in your personal drama will benefit everyone ... problems are usually approached with great imagination and energy ... learning to use the input of others will allow one to avoid being a one-person endeavor, and then the mind will become a vital spark that will ultimately ignite a larger group endeavor ... the power of Mercury in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally creative, distinctive verbal style, warmly articulate, identifies with popular ideas, grasps the entire issue, intellectually confident, focused concentration, fixed intentions, enthusiastic worker, convincing speaker, outspoken and optimistic, knows ones own mind, teaching and planning ability, foresight, executive mind

NEGATIVE: mentally conceited, liking the sound of ones own voice, only interested in ones own ideas, overlooks details, mentally arrogant, inflexible mind, stubborn and one-track mind, self-centered, feels superior at work, craves appreciation, verbally over-bearing, talks "AT" others, wrapped up in pet projects and theories

Mercury now joins the Sun and Jupiter already transiting through the sign of Leo ... so you can bet those ideas are most likely going to be grand and scathingly brilliant - at least in the mind of the one from which it sprang !!! ... BUT .... keep in mind that once Venus begins its next retrograde journey on Saturday, July 25th, it will return to the sign of Leo on July 31st where it will remain until its retrograde journey is finished on September 6th ... so, for the last 9 days of this transit, Mercury will most likely be affected by the backwards energy of Venus, and any scathingly brilliant ideas you come up with are best put on hold until Venus resumes forward motion on September 6th - especially if they involve money or people we find a certain affection towards !!!

And as it has been said that "all the worlds a stage and all the men and women merely players", exactly what kind of "scene" from what kind of "play" will each one of us be "acting out" during this dramatically expressive transit especially while under the influence of the influence of the ensuing Venus retrograde ??? 

Mercury, true to its fleet footed nature, will do a hop, skip and a jump through Leo it will complete its transit through the sign of Leo in just 16 days on August 7th  ... new ideas and projects just might have quite a theatrical air about them !!!

While Mercury is in Leo, it is wise to remember that we should teach others what we really want to learn our self ... we stand or we fall by what we say and how we say it ... do not ignore that "small still voice" that is an important part of the greater good ...

One final word of advice - be aware that whatever springs from your mind, and ultimately from your lips, is only as good and true as that which dwells in your heart ... so, curtain up ... light the lights ... cue applause ... now, let's get out there, take center stage, think big and then - communicate with a dramatic flair which for certain people will not be a difficult task at all will it ???

LIVING LIFE THROUGH CREATING AND BEING CREATIVE !!!

The Sun begins its "regal" transit through the dramatic, romantic, proud sign of Leo today, July 22nd, at 11:31 PM EDT ... this solar energy is all about is being acknowledged, appreciated and applauded !!! ... the Sun in Leo encourages one  to shine through creative endeavors, seek recognition through risk-taking or exciting activities, shine through ones generosity, and certainly shine through ones own charisma ... this is the ultimate in fire energy - it is very happy,optimistic energy ... and isn't the Sun pretty much at its peak in Summer during July/August (at least in the Northern hemisphere !!!) ??? ... it's easy to see why these native born individuals are so warm and cheerful - unless of course they are modified by some other "darker" energy in their natal chart !!! ... it craves attention, and Leo energy usually loves giving and receiving hugs ... if you've had your natal chart done, then you may gain awareness on what "stage" of your life this energy may affect you over the next 32 days ... The Sun is extremely efficient with its energy transiting Leo as it is dignified in this position which means it is in the sign that it naturally rules !!!

Leo is a masculine/fire/fixed sign which makes it enthusiastic, powerful, expansive and creative, generous and extravagant, dogmatic and VERY FIXED in its opinions ... as previously stated, Leo is ruled by the Sun, so the Sun is extremely happy to be transiting through this sign !!! ... the Sun is the center of our solar system and therefore the most powerful planetary influence which bestows vitality and authority ... its symbol is the Lion - regal, brave, dominating,possessing nobility and pride, and sometimes insensitive to pain ... the glyph for Leo represents two valves of the heart ... it is also the Greek symbol for the first letter of Leo ... symbolically, it is two incomplete circles of the Sun joined by a crescent Moon (its tail) which symbolizes that power is derived from both the intellect and the emotions ... its key phrase is "I Will" and its keyword is "Magnetism" ... the Sun is the main expression of the individual ... it shows the qualities of leadership and success ... it represents the masculine principle, the father, husband, and men in general ... it rules health, vital principles, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity and capacity for experience ... wherever the Sun is located in your natal chart is where you find the life and heart of your horoscope - it is where you truly want and need to shine !!!

Leo anatomically rules the heart, back, spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female ... emotional strain and physical overexertion can cause back and spinal ailments in Leo born people ... sometimes Leo born people can be overbearing and challenging to the point of unknowingly provoking others into impulsive violence !!! ... Leo is the sign directly opposite of Aquarius in the natural zodiac ...

Leo naturally rules the 5th house of the horoscope ... it is a house of life whose keyword is "Creativity" ... the 5th house represents children, artistic expression, love affairs, romance, pleasure, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculation, hobbies and what distracts you from your main employment ... it also represents your emotional attitude, the love you give, your enterprise, sports, originality and creative outlets, shows dramatic, literary or artistic ability, shows publications, politics, the fine arts, social affairs, pregnancy and the education of children ... also represented here are any groups to which you may belong that relate to having fun ...

The Sun in Leo teaches us all about learning to live through the process of creating and being creative ... it is one who is truly a child of the Sun ... it wants to shine and be the center of attention ... even if you are shy or lacking in confidence, you will want to be noticed in some way ... respect is vitally important not only for yourself but from others as well ... respect is dependent on self-respect ... a radiant glow is often physically noticeable ... Leo can create an "air of certainty" which makes many things possible ... but for all the apparent confidence streaming forth from ones heart, it can belie the fact that one is highly dependent on being appreciated !!! ... here one must pay special attention to critics and admirers alike to avoid being blinded by ones own light and thus destroying whatever it is that one originally tried to create and maintain - a relationship, ones home, health, profession or even ones own children ... just like the Sun, Leo energy cannot see the shadow it casts ... ultimately Leo must realize that its power and influence shine through it and not from it ... and when that power is wounded or challenged, it is very much like the Sun disappearing behind a cloud - the world becomes a colder and darker place ... the energy of the Sun in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: noble, confident, generous, gracious, encouraging, commanding, ambitious, enterprising, proud, cultivated, dramatic sense, impressive, self-expressive, wealth of ideas, fun to be with, warm, affectionate, loyal, romantic

NEGATIVE: pretentious, self-righteous, flamboyant, domineering, demanding, intolerant, overestimating, vain, snobby/stuck-up, melodramatic, show-off, self-centered, overbearing, overblown, scorching, affected, fierce, impossible, unrealistic

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN LEO BORN !!!! ... Leo born individuals this is your time of year to SHINE - even more so than you usually do most of the time !!! ... for all of us, we should remember that most of those who love us do so for our inner glow more than our outer show ... the Sun never tries to shine AND set conditions - THE SUN JUST SHINES !!! ... recognize, appreciate, respect and pardon both yourself and others ... take time to get in touch with your inner child and try to enjoy the simple pleasures of life !!!

The Sun now joins Jupiter, in its final 3 weeks, in Leo with Mercury following tomorrow ... that is a lot of optimistic, positive energy surrounding us ... HOWEVER .... keep in mind that Venus, currently having just began its transit through Virgo, begins its next retrograde journey this Saturday, July 25th, and will return to the sign of Leo for the remainder of its retrograde journey next Friday, July 31st ... this transit of the Sun has the potential to be influenced by Venus retrograde in Leo for the final 23 days of its transit which may cause those usually very sunny "skies" to become rather overcast and cloudy !!! ... and its not to say that this solar transit will be unproductive, rather it might be wise to proceed with some degree of caution while the Sun is in Leo being influenced by Venus retrograde in the same sign - especially if creative and romantic activities and projects involve money !!! ... that being said, the Sun remains in the sign of Leo until August 23rd ...

As this larger than life energy compels each one of us to take "center stage" in some area of our life, it's time now, so -  CUE THE APPLAUSE !!!

AN EXACTING, DISCRIMINATING AND OFTEN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF LOVE !!!

Venus began its initial transit through the picky, detailed oriented sign of Virgo yesterday, 7/18, at 6:38 PM EDT ... this is a highly discerning type of love ... Venus in Virgo enjoys competence, precision, and doing things the way they should be done - CORRECTLY !!! ... it is exacting, discriminating and/or critical when relating to other people ... affection is usually expressed in a manner of doing things for people or serving them in some way ... it is also expressed modestly and/or timidly ... pleasure is achieved by  functioning efficiently and being helpful especially in repairing things, situations or people ... this Venus enjoys analysis, precision and organizing details ... logic and common sense makes this Venus very comfortable ... the handling of money and possessions is usually practical and thrifty ... there is a desire for common sense and for a willingness to work in love relationships ... this Venus can be more sincerely affectionate than any other sign, can manifest a very strong business sense, and knows exactly what is does and does not want !!! ... it often has a tendency to get so involved in details it becomes overly critical and demanding ...

Venus is challenged in Virgo as it is considered to be in its "fall" ... being in its "fall", Venus is opposite the sign it is exalted in which is Pisces, and does not work all that efficiently because this position makes it difficult to express its true nature ... a planet in "fall" is like having to stay in someone else's home where you do not really feel all that comfortable ...

Venus transiting the sign of Virgo teaches us to learn to determine what it is we truly love through detailed analysis ... ultimately one discovers that eventually you must surrender to the mystery of love and art - or objects thereof - and no longer analyze ... this energy can acquire a finely tuned sense of social, emotional, and artistic values ... one must also learn to be discriminating about being discriminating ... one must resist the temptation to tamper with what is already simply attractive ... this Venus likes a spotless reputation, good manners, sexual hygiene, and pure or natural art ... it doesn't like relationships that have no mental stimulus ... the energy of Venus in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: knowing what you like, discriminating, fine sense of aesthetics and design, artistic, sincerely affectionate, simple and clear, quietly charming, strong character, impartially kind, coolly
helpful, precision worker, specialist worker, painstaking, pure and modest lover, high moral sense, socially discerning, privately sensuous

NEGATIVE : critical of partners, fussy and nagging, easily dissatisfied, artistically neurotic, inhibits affection, undemonstrative, dry, socially stiff, hides sensitivity, emotionally absent, cold exterior, too exacting, retreats into work, indecisive, restrained, feeling sexually inferior, puritanical, social misfit, self-effacing

Venus is the natural ruling planet of Libra and Taurus, and as such, love, partnerships/relationships, personal values and how we earn and spend our money, in addition to our dedication to our daily work and service, health and nutritional habits as well as some family issues will be thoroughly examined under the cosmic microscope while Venus is in the precision, detail oriented sign of Virgo which is naturally ruled by Mercury ...

Venus remains in Virgo until November 8th - WHAT ??? ... and you know why ... Venus begins its next retrograde journey this Saturday, July 25th which will last until September 6th ... in this initial transit ,Venus will only spend 14 days in Virgo as it will get no further than 0 degrees 46 minutes before turning retrograde the 25th and then return to Leo on July 31st for the remainder of the retrograde period ... after stationing direct, Venus will then reenter Virgo on October 8th to complete its full transit ...

Virgo born, don't forget the "love light" is now shining, well off and on so to speak, for you for the next few months - play it right and you might just get what you want ... for all of us it would be very wise not to let the object of our affections become the "target" of our affections while we are being encouraged by the Universe to be out there "looking for the perfect AHHHHHH" !!! 

A HIGHLY INTUITIVE MODE OF THINKING AND COMMUNICATING !!!

Mercury began its transit through the domestic, sympathetic sign of Cancer today, July 8th, at 2:52 PM  EDT ... our thought and communicative processes now turn from an intellectual mode towards a more emotional mode of operation as the ruler of Cancer is the Moon which among other things rules the emotions ... Mercury in Cancer has a way of subconsciously picking up signals from everyone else .. the mind becomes as much a receiver as a transmitter under this energy ... here we have a highly intuitive mode of thinking and communicating ... this placement also usually bestows a very good memory along with strong poetic power ... Mercury in Cancer thinks with the heart and often interprets the meaning of others communications through how it "feels" ...

Mercury in Cancer does not always say everything it is feeling as it tries to avoid hurting itself and others as well with careless ill-spoken comments ... one is very protective of their thoughts ... it likes to nurture ideas and encourage growth before sharing ... one uses emotions as well as logic and often may end up letting sensitivities sway ones decisions ... subconscious fears, habits, or prejudices could inhibit ones objectivity or openness to the new ... there is usually an above-average psychic ability ... one learns through absorbing their experiences and making emotional connections ... interest here may include family, the home - THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME !!!, the land, the past, the public or security ... Oh yes, we most definitely may find ourselves thinking about food A LOT, and hopefully that thinking doesn't become a nasty habit of overeating causing us to expand in ways we would rather NOT !!!

Mercury in Cancer teaches us the importance of about thinking through nurturing ... its the caring mind ... one has to be careful not to take everything so personally here ... it is important to remember to look at the facts in addition to the opinions of others ... it is also important to remember and be aware that each one of us is our own source of light and warmth ... most importantly it is necessary to make a collection of good memories that will give rise to clear and positive thinking ... the energy of Mercury in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally tenacious, good memory, reliable, sensitive mind, poetic, intuitive, agreeable, absorbs information, attuned to public opinion, profound, polite, softly-spoken, discreet, diplomatic, arouses sympathies, emotionally appealing, persuasive speaker

NEGATIVE: mentally habit-ridden, distracted, inflexible, overly impressionable, impractical, irrational, yes-person, too open, taking things too personally, depressive, self-conscious, unclear, incomprehensible, diffuse,  prejudiced, untruthful

Mercury now joins the Sun and Mars in the sign of Cancer - that's a lot of "water, water" everywhere and not a drop to drink !!! ... Mercury remains in the sign of Cancer until July 23rd ... a very speedy transit this time around unlike the last time Mercury was in Cancer in 2014 from May 29th until July 31st due to its second retrograde period for that year ... it had only begun its transit through Cancer on May 29th and 6 days later at 3 degrees Cancer began its retrograde journey taking it back to 24 degrees Gemini before stationing direct and ultimately beginning its complete transit through Cancer on July 12th/13th ... in fact, it is quite possible that something from that period could come back up during this current transit - definitely not out of the question !!!

Now that Mercury is in Cancer, one should realize that the natural ability to influence others is worthy of only the highest motives ... tuning in to ones finer feelings and expressing them is ultimately more rewarding ... and finally, try to focus on what you are after, who you are with and why ... and then stick with that !!! ... and by all means - enjoy the mental trips down memory lane as they surely will "light the corners of your mind" !!!