THINKING, RELATING THROUGH COMMUNICATING TO OTHERS !!!

MERCURY  began its transit through the charming, persuasive sign of Libra on Thursday, August 27th, at 11:45 AM EDT ... harsh words and intimidating comments are seldom or very hesitatingly spoken while Mercury moves through this sign - after all, Libra is ruled by Venus which tends to soften and sweeten things while adding charm ... in many ways this can be considered as the cosmic energy expressing the "language" of love !!! ... Mercury was last in Libra from September 1st/2nd through September 29th, 2014 ...

Mercury in Libra produces a mindset that is usually concerned with human relations and psychology and produces a mindset towards balance where both sides of the issue are considered ... it gives an intense curiosity about the thinking and behavior patterns of others - it is very focused on one particular aspect of the mental and emotional plane and that is one-to-one relationships ... good communications and happiness in relationships are essential here ... there is a strong sense of justice which tends to make one very honest in their communications ... communications are generally made in a diplomatic, elegant and balanced manner ... feedback from others is a must in order to clarify your opinions ... mentally striving to support your heartfelt principles is often what inspires others with this energy ...

Mercury in Libra likes to consider all sides of an issue before making a final decision - the trap here is that Mercury, finding it difficult to explore any single idea without devoting equal time and energy to the opposite viewpoint and thus becoming distracted by too many facts, may yield indecisiveness which results in the inability to act on an issue thus getting lost ... Mercury in Libra also gives an interest to the law and the arts ... it bestows one with charm and diplomacy and gives the ability to communicate adeptly, elegantly, impartially and tactfully ... this energy produces natural born mediators and one who has truly mastered the art of whispering sweet nothings into your ear !!!

Mercury in Libra teaches us to think and communicate through relating to others, and underlying much of this thinking is a desire for agreement ... it likes an honest reputation, refined minds, good manners, moral justice and likes to learn through interaction with others ... it does not like being underestimated, having no one to talk with, and mob mentality ... as always there are two different kinds of uses with any energy ... as for Mercury in Libra they are:

POSITIVE: agreeable, flexible, diplomatic, prudent, persuasive, charming, well-spoken, communicative, hardworking, disciplined, scholarly, orderly, eclectic, fair judge, good arbitrator, reasonable, team-spirited, principled, honorable, open-minded ...

NEGATIVE: weak-minded, non-committal, turncoat, smooth-talking, insincere, affected, rat-racer, blindly obedient, unoriginal, indecisive, cowardly, phony, boring, illogical, easily swayed, overly sensitive, flighty, superficial ...

Mercury is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Libra ... Mercury remains in the sign of Libra until ... WAIT FOR IT ... WAIT FOR IT ... until November 1st/2nd depending on what time zone in which you live !!!! ... and you certainly know by now the reason for this extremely lengthy transit through Libra ... Mercury will begin its third and final retrograde period for 2015 on Thursday, September 17th which will last until October 9th going from 15 degrees 55 minutes Libra back to 0 degrees 54 minutes Libra ,,, in fact, Mercury began its transit through Libra last Thursday when it almost immediately entered its shadow point on Friday the 28th having reached 0 degrees 54 minutes Libra ... this is the degree where it will come out of the retrograde on October 9th ... which brings up some interesting thoughts -

Libra is ruled by Venus ... Venus is currently retrograde until September 6th, so Mercury actually entered its shadow point during the Venus retrograde ... and the entire upcoming Mercury retrograde will be in the sign of Libra which is ruled by Venus ... so the questions become - will Mercury going retrograde in Libra bring up issues from this Venus retrograde yet again and particularly those that weren't addressed during the Venus retrograde, and when Venus stations direct next Sunday, will it really be totally over or will things just be left in limbo until Mercury has completed its next retrograde journey on October 9th - especially in regards to partnerships/relationships both public and private, monetary issues, and the assessment of whether or not our personal values are justified or working against us ??? ... we all have a lot to think about and reconsider over the next few months but especially Taurus and Libra born who may be particularly sensitive to all of this switching energy back and forth !!!

Libra born individuals for now have a lot to think and rethink about during this extended transit, and of course will most likely be sharing it with us in their charming, endearing manner they are usually born with - unless of course the birth chart indicates otherwise ... for all of us, this becomes a period of time when we have the ability to learn to speak more graciously and gently through our communications ... and to that end we are all encouraged to -

SPEAK KINDLY AND THINK GOOD THOUGHTS !!!

THE PERFECTIONIST !!!

The Sun began its "highly efficient" transit through the methodical, discriminating sign of Virgo on Sunday, August 23rd, at 6:38 AM EDT ... the cosmic solar energy now lowers the curtain on the flamboyant and dramatic energy of Leo which can produce so many overblown egos and now has shifted into a slower, more highly work oriented mode of operation ... with the Sun in Virgo, one likes to shine through their competency, through their work and/or health, through being pragmatic, and through their tendency towards discretion ... 

Virgo is a feminine/earth/mutable(flexible) sign ... it is reserved, modest, practical, very discriminating and industrious, highly analytical and painstaking, and always seeking to know and understand ... its key phrase is "I ANALYZE" and it's keyword is "Practicality" ... its glyph is the Greek spelling for the word "virgin" ... anatomically it rules the nervous system and the intestines - this energy can make one prone to illness caused by stress and nervous tension ... it can also make one highly prone to ulcers ... it is the sign directly opposite of Pisces in the natural zodiac where one can be dreamy, given to imagination, self-delusion and escapism ... Virgo is the sign of work and self-improvement yielding a perfectionist nature which will dissect and analyze - often over-analyzing - all of the facts in order to obtain the ultimate truth and gather all available information ...

Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury - the second sign Mercury rules - the other being Gemini ... Mercury is the ancient God of communication and commerce ... Mercury rules intelligence and reason, and tends to give one a rather high strung temperament ... Mercury represents the intellectual urge, reasoning ability and all avenues of expression ... so naturally it would rule mental capacity, dexterity, rationalization, sensory perceptions, travel - in particular short trips, brothers and sisters, children, speaking, writing, bookkeeping, secretaries, neighborhood activities, letters, mailings, means of transportation, trade and techniques ... where you find Mercury in your natal chart is the place which shows where and how you best communicate ...

Virgo naturally rules the 6th house of the horoscope ... it is a house of duty and substance ... it relates to ones work, health and habits ... it shows employment, employees, tenants, servants, pets, and dependents ... it also shows service to others, routine day to day matters, ones clothing and how it is worn, hygiene, interest in food and health, sickness and all conditions that would affect ones health ... this house also shows aunts and uncles, self-adjustment, and the unconscious mind ... in this house, work and health are tied together ...

The Sun transiting Virgo teaches us to learn how to live productively through rational analysis ... here we have the perfectionist ... through constant analysis we seeking a state of purity ... this energy must have some kind of work or be of some kind of service for life to make sense ... it is energy that is continuously preparing for something ... there is a need here to perfect some kind of technique through vigorous study and training and through this one can reduce the everyday wear and tear on the nervous system and the intestinal  area ... proper rest, retreat and good diet are a MUST here ... serve your body well and it will serve you and others well in return !!! ... the energy of the Sun in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: thoughtful, analytical, lively mind, observant, scholarly, precise, pure intentions, discriminating, helpful, problem-solving, wholesome, health-conscious, industrious, methodical, efficient, reliable, modest, considerate, pure

NEGATIVE: over thinks, skeptical, worrier, critical, dry, fault-finding, interfering, problem-making, fussy, hypochondriac, workaholic, inflexible, overly mechanical, spoil sport, unsure, stand-offish, sterile, petty, melancholy, picky

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN VIRGO BORN !!! ... The Sun, now joining Mercury and Jupiter already in transit through Virgo, remains in the sign of Virgo until September 22nd ... just keep in mind by that time Mercury will have already begun its second retrograde journey for 2015 back on September 17th ... so it's quite possible the last 6 days of this solar transit could be affected in some way by that backwards energy !!!

During the next 27 days we will be immersed in facts, figures, daily work and service issues, health and nutritional issues, and possibly family issues on some level ... BUT ... we must learn to step back and look at the larger picture which is a very difficult and challenging task under this energy  ... if something is working, DO NOT TRY TO FIX IT !!! ... help where it's not needed becomes a hindrance ... understand that true perfection consists of being able to accept life's imperfections and not worry so much about picky, petty issues ... think of the mind as a "lens" with the ability to focus on what is not only close up but far away as well ... 

With that in mind, there is simply one thing left to say - JUST WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK ... WORK ... WORK !!!

DETAILS ... DETAILS ... DETAILS !!!

JUPITER - planet representing growth; laws; beliefs; ethics; expansion; opportunity; wealth; faith; broadening - knowledge, horizons and understanding; higher education; travel; religion; philosophy; excess and over doing - began its transit through the meticulous and extremely methodical sign of Virgo yesterday, August 11th, at 7:13 AM EDT ... leaving the highly dramatic sign of Leo, Jupiter in Virgo, which is more intellectual and critical, is now ready to get serious and bring great focus and concentration to improving this journey we call life !!! ... Jupiter was last in Virgo from August 27, 2003 through October 25th, 2004 ... even though Jupiter is frequently referred to as the "great Benefic" and will certainly have some very positive effects during this transit, Jupiter is considered to be in detriment in Virgo as that means it is in the sign opposite of the one it rules which is Pisces - well, sort of ... Jupiter was technically considered the ancient ruler of Pisces because way back when, Neptune had not been discovered yet, and Jupiter had been given rulership of both Sagittarius and Pisces which makes sense as one sign, Sagittarius governs the higher mind, beliefs, philosophy and religion, and Pisces governs the mystical, the visionary and spiritual matters ... also, Jupiter is usually least comfortable operating in an earth sign as it will have the tendency to limit and confine Jupiter's expansive qualities and abilities ... earth signs tend to be more of a practical, tangible nature which challenges Jupiter's desire to explore the higher planes of existence ...

Jupiter in Virgo will make sure that no opportunity is wasted ... it is organized, practical and receives great pleasure when efforts made produce concrete results ... it gives a cautious, practical and scientific outlook on life ... it can produce a fine intellect from the added concentration and focus ... it yields the ability to gain cooperation from others ... it sets high standards in whatever it does ... it produces natural scholars who must watch the tendency to expect too much from others ... cleanliness and order are of great importance ... integrity in detail is a must ... religious and moral beliefs are usually based on the concept of service ... it believes in hard work ... honesty and integrity are very important in work and business, and congenial relationships with co-workers, employees and employers are valued ... with the great urge to give detailed consideration, one must learn to get help from others as well as delegate responsibilities in order to avoid overwork and the incorrect treatment of some aspect of projects being undertaken ... there can be an increased interest in service and charitable pursuits that are associated with physical and mental health in hospitals and educational institutions ... there could be analytical interests in geography, botany, philosophies, higher education and religion ... any area of work will benefit from the ability to take account of the details - without getting lost in them - and then successfully placing them into a broad overview that presents a completed picture ... through ones work ethic and service to others, their philosophical and spiritual horizons are expanded ...

Jupiter in Virgo has challenges ... one of the biggest is being unable to "see the forest for the trees" as Jupiter is all about expansion and the big picture while Virgo is extremely focused on the multitude of details ... Jupiter is amplification and elaboration and Virgo is precision and perfection ... worries tend to get magnified and confidence is not always the best ... due to Jupiter's expansion and Virgo's restriction internal tension may result ... often expressing ones affection gets curtailed somewhat ... due to the over concern with so many details, one must guard against making mountains out of molehills as the saying goes ... sometimes one can get very lazy and sloppy in their work if they are not careful ... most importantly, one must be careful not to work so hard and end up getting nowhere !!!

Virgo is the natural ruler of the 6th house which is a house of substance ... here we must humble ourselves and fore go the central spotlight ... understanding the universe is achieved through learning to understand the structure and detail of the smallest element ... and as Jupiter transits through Virgo, there will be an expanded awareness of doing all of the above mentioned ... expansion, growth and opportunity has the potential to occur in the following areas ruled by the 6th house as well : work, health, personal habits, employment, employees, tenants, pets, dependents, service given to others, routine matters, ones clothes, hygiene, nutrition - interest in food and drink, illness and conditions affecting ones health, the unconscious mind and self-adjustment ... in regards to health, there could be issues regarding the intestines, the nervous system, the brain, sight, hands and arms, and illness brought on by stress, worry, emotional upset or nervous tension ... 

Jupiter in Virgo teaches us all about how to grow through careful analysis ... it can be slow moving but ultimately it is sure ... the greatest growth takes place on a mental rather than a material level ... once you clearly perceive the patterns and way in which you grow and develop, it will lead to a greater understanding of who you are, where you are going and where you fit in the universal scheme of things ... the energy of Jupiter in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: an urge to learn, organized progress, perseverance, professionalism, realistic, judicious, methodical, ethical, philosophical, virtuous, honest, practical, conscientious, upstanding , thorough

NEGATIVE: overly studious, self-limiting, materialistic, cynical, petulant, overly analytical, narrow minded, nonchalant, mean, hypocritically pious, prudish, moralizing, picky, petty, critical, worrisome, sloppy, lazy

Virgo born, you are now bestowed with roughly a 13 month period of extra potential for growth, opportunity, expansion and outright luck ... hopefully the "expansion" won't occur around your waistline !!! ... so keep your eyes and ears open and pay attention to what and who the Universe brings across your path !!!

Sagittarius born, your ruling planet has now moved into a new sign ready to teach you new lessons to further your personal and spiritual growth ...

For those of you born with Jupiter in Virgo, you will be experiencing your Jupiter return at some point over the next year when Jupiter reaches the degree it was at when you were born ... this return occurs approximately every 12 years as that is how long it takes Jupiter to transit around the zodiac ... Jupiter returns often mark the completion of a cycle of religious, spiritual or philosophical understanding and thus the beginning of major new cycles of growth and progress ... it represents a time when one hopefully sees whether or not they are putting as much into the world as they expect to receive from it ... frequently people who are beneficial for you in some way will come into your life during this time ... and yes, there is always the possible potential to gain from some financial advantage ... one can experience prosperity, opportunity and abundance in the area of life ruled by whichever house in ones natal chart this return occurs ...

As always, for all of you who have had a natal chart run and know where the 30 degrees of Virgo fall, you will probably get a good idea of where in your life there is the potential for the energy of Jupiter in Virgo to expand your horizons on your journey through life !!!

Jupiter remains in Virgo until September 9th, 2016 - it will stay in Virgo during its next retrograde journey which begins on January 8th ... ultimately your philosophy of life will have greatly expanded which in turn potentially yields more positive personal and spiritual growth ... so be prepared over the next 13 month period to be focused, concentrated and busy analyzing all of those DETAILS ... DETAILS ... DETAILS !!!

SEXUAL DRIVE AND PHYSICAL ENERGY - OFF THE CHARTS !!!

Mars began its dramatic transit through the romantic, playful, creative and pleasure seeking sign of Leo yesterday, 8/8, at 7:33 PM EDT ... Mars was last in Leo from August 27th through October 15th, 2013 ... Leo, being a Fire sign, is very happy to have the fiery planet Mars, planet of action, initiative and drive transiting its sign ... kind of a two for the price of one transit .... Mars in Leo is naturally dramatic and its actions alone often make a statement without a word being uttered ... having attention and admiration, and being in the limelight are doubly essential here .... energy can be asserted warmly, majestically, radiantly, or sometimes unfortunately extremely arrogantly ... the normal drive is towards having fun, enthusiasm, generosity, creativity, and most definitely having a zest for life ... this energy can be quite exciting yielding a strong sense of pride and a drive for recognition ... there is creativity abounding with a pronounced flair, and there is a heightened sense of vitality and just being alive ... ones identity here is tied in to being someone special and increasing self-esteem ... sometimes the urge to express oneself so boldly can lead to being pompous and very pushy, but it can also make one quite the magnetic personality ...

Sexual drive and physical energy is usually off the charts under this energy and they thrive in an atmosphere of attention ... receiving compliments especially makes one come alive ... many of us may find ourselves becoming more in touch with our inner child - go with it ... since Leo rules creative tendencies, those in the entertainment and artistic realms usually become quite productive and have the potential to reach a new heightened expression of their work ... regardless of where we use this energy, you can bet while Mars is transiting through Leo there is absolutely going to be a driving passion about something or someone - or both !!!

Mars in Leo teaches us all about learning to get through creating ... here we have a hot and fiery streak that definitely needs to find some form of creative, dramatic, or romantic outlet ... there is determination and confidence and the first impression one gives is most valuable to oneself ... there could develop an overly neurotic need for admiration, but there is also a demand for honor, dignity and ability worthy of respect ... personal power is greatly enhanced with this energy but one must be careful not to become overbearing and end up being feared rather than loved ... the desire nature is in overdrive here ... find what you truly have a passion for and go for it ... when ones sense of glory and achievement goes beyond ones petty, self-centered ego drives, the way in which one goes about becoming genuinely creative becomes a gift instead of a curse ... feeling insignificant, humiliation, losing control and small-mindedness are strongly disliked while taking pride in ones partner, excitement, respect, honesty and being center stage are what one strives for with this energy ... the energy of Mars in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: high-spirited, passionate, ardent lover, energetic, dignified, proud, heroic, enthusiastic, vital, speculative, exciting, self-assured, determined, strong-willed, leader, consistent desire, ambitious magnetic, fearless

NEGATIVE: melodramatic, possessive, jealous lover, coercive, pompous, self-righteous, vain, tyrant, offensive, brutal, wild gambler, overly-excited, feels infallible, quarrelsome, domineering, ego driven, overbearing, ruthless, conceited, arrogant

Leo born, enjoy the extra burst of personal energy you are being given wile Mars moves through your birth sign  - as if you really need more fire energy driving you and even if it is being somewhat conflicted with Venus currently retrograde in your birth sign !!! ... for all of us, this could be an extremely creative and productive period but not without its challenges ... and if you are given to gambling and speculation, I would certainly advise great caution - once again especially with Venus being retrograde in Leo ... after all, Leo naturally rules the 5th house which includes gambling and speculation so be careful about being influenced by an excessive drive to take too many "risks" !!! ...

Aries born will also certainly feel the effects of this energy as Mars is your ruling planet ... for everyone, if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses the 30 degrees of Leo fall, then you'll get a good idea as to what area/areas of your life this energetic drive will most likely "consume" you !!!

Mars remains in Leo until September 24th ... but keep in mind that of this 48 day transit, 30 days, which is over half of this transit, will be influenced to some degree from Venus being retrograde in Leo until September 6th - gotta love that cosmic sense of humor !!! ... in fact, Venus and Mars will cross paths going in different directions on September 1st ... and so there is the possibility, at least for the next 29 days, that whatever or whoever it is we could potentially get fired up about from this passionately driven warrior energy might not go as we had planned ... at least until Venus resumes direct motion ... best to keep in mind that familiar phrase - "ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR" !!!

CROSS EVERY T ... DOT EVERY I !!!

Mercury begins its transit through the highly focused sign of Virgo today, August 7th, at 3:15 PM EDT ... thinking and communicating processes now shift from what was a fiery, highly creative energy to being more rational and efficient ... and even though Virgo is an Earth sign which is somewhat prone to slower movement,  Mercury is dignified in this position, very happy and very much at home here and functions well as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Gemini ... Mercury was last in Virgo from August 15th through September 1st/2nd, 2014 ...

This energy usually gives the mind a rather precise, thorough and analytical ability ... communications and thinking can be logical, helpful, critical, negative, skeptical, practical or humble ... one is apt to put their mind to work doing their job ... this intellect is excellent for writing or technical crafts, and converting ideas in a tangible form ... there is a talent for organization, but sometimes the discriminating and highly focused mind could get mired in too many details and become excessively critical ... one of the challenges of this energy is to learn to step back and look at the bigger picture in addition to getting immersed in all the fine details ... learning is best achieved in an organized sequence and a logical presentation ... the concern for details can often lead to the syndrome of "not being able to see the forest for the trees" ... there is also likely to be an interest in health, nutrition, competence and ones day to day work ... this Mercury says exactly what it wants to say - no more no less ... to quote a familiar television phrase,  this energy wants to know "Just the facts Ma'am" !!! ... it has a quick, dry wit, bestows a fine eye for detail, and usually produces very neat and readable handwriting ... this energy can also make one very skilled with their hands and often craftspeople are born with this energy in their natal chart ...

Mercury in Virgo is very impartial and gets to sorting through all the details to where the logic and precision can discover the heart of the matter ... with this fine intelligence, systematically clarifying and refining information received and understanding the patterns comes naturally ... here we have a logical, practical mind that produces a quick learner ... on the challenging side, Mercury in Virgo can make ones mind so very active with all the extraneous processing that it is sometimes difficult to quiet and still the mind yielding restlessness and/or the inability to sleep ... just ask someone born with Mercury in Virgo !!!

Mercury is in Virgo teaches us to learn to think through analyzing ... it's the pure mind ... the ability to reason functions very well here ... a big challenge though is to not live totally in your mind and understand there is a big difference between knowledge and actual experience ... this energy also can help one assist others in seeing things more clearly - in forms such as writing, editing, counselling, teaching, drawing and translating ... there is the ability to assimilate vast amounts of complex information ... ironically, when it comes to expressing something close to ones heart, this energy can make one obscure it in a lot of irrelevant references ... this energy makes it necessary to thoroughly grasp a specific subject as without training or education one is more likely to suffer greater than others from being unemployed, underemployed or unemployable ... the ultimate goal with this energy is to appreciate that what gets in the way of understanding life is thinking way too much about it - a totally clear mind is really no mind at all !!!! .... the energy of Mercury in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: analytical, objective, systematic, logical, discerning, precise, meticulous, clever, eloquent, well-read, well-informed, accurate, retentive memory, fast learner, highly efficient, good worker, modest, helpful, practical

NEGATIVE: unfeeling, remote, clinical, cold and dry, hypercritical, trivial, worrisome, wordy, bookish, intellectual snob, misses the point, greedy mind, impatient, high strung, workaholic, self-critical, skeptical, slave to reasoning, pointless

Virgo born individuals, no doubt you will be infused with plenty of practical ideas as Mercury passes through  your birth sign ... for all of us, with Mercury in Virgo we should remember that the point we are trying to communicate should be remembered, researched, rehearsed and then expressed ... make the best of what you actually know ... what's the use of knowing everything and feeling nothing ???

Mercury is currently the only planet transiting through Virgo, but Jupiter will join the party next week on August 11th and the Sun will enter Virgo on August 23rd ...

Mercury remains in the sign of Virgo until August 27th ... this is the last full sign transit of Mercury before it takes its final retrograde journey for 2015 entirely in the sign of Libra beginning September 17th and lasting until October 9th ... Mercury will retrograde from 15 degrees 55 minutes Libra back to 0 degrees 54 minutes Libra ... look in your natal chart to see which house or houses those degrees fall and you might get a clue as to what area of your life the trickster may be potentially stirring up havoc and mayhem !!!

For the next three weeks, the thrust of Mercury's mission in Virgo boils down to encouraging us to analyze and scrutinize every piece of information, and to ultimately make sure we have crossed every T and dotted every I !!!

STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR LIVES !!!

SATURN - the planet representing discipline, effort, sense of order, limitations, obstacles, and testing by placing restrictions in our lives - stationed back into direct motion today, August 2nd, at 1:53 AM EDT ... Saturn, the celestial taskmaster, teaches us the lessons, both easy as well as extremely challenging and difficult, we MUST learn on our journey through this life in order for positive growth both personally and spiritually ... it frequently puts those limitations and obstacles in our path in order to make us slow down so we can build strong foundations and structures in our lives that are on solid ground ... while Saturn has been in retrograde motion, since March 14th of this year, hopefully we all have been reviewing and trying to restructure systems, programs, organizations, corporations and rules to allow them to function more efficiently ... we also have had time, if we used it wisely, to become more aware of our own personal authority and power and determine whether or not it fits within society or needs adjustment on some level ... in addition, we should have been reviewing whether or not societies rules and policies are helping to give us needed structure or limiting us in some way preventing personal and spiritual growth !!!

Now that Saturn has stationed back into direct motion, we should begin to be better able to see where we stand and thus move forward in building a more secure structure and foundation in our lives ... at this point we can start working diligently towards pursuing more stability and security in our lives ... no doubt we may encounter limitations or restrictions either self imposed or imposed by authority figures on some level ... or perhaps the Universe itself will even throw a road block or two our way to make us realize whether or not we made good use of this retrograde period !!!

Saturn had actually come out of Scorpio on December 23rd of last year, but it got no further than 4 degrees 56 minutes Sagittarius when it began its retrograde journey for 2015 back on March 14th ... Saturn returned to Scorpio back on June 14th but it has gotten no further than 28 degrees 17 minutes Scorpio when it stationed back into direct motion today ... this is significant because it was only in the final two degrees of Scorpio, and in particular transiting back over and then going to go back over 29 degrees ... 29 degrees of any sign is considered the "critical" degree where action and resolution MUST be taken whether by our own efforts or with the "help", so to speak, of the Universe !!!

Just a reminder Saturn is currently in its transit through the sign of Scorpio which began last on October 5th,2012 ... below is a "refresher" as to what this transit of Saturn involves which now almost being at its conclusion you are better able to see and understand :

Saturn in Scorpio energy is extremely purposeful and indeed its lessons will have the potential to lead to vast transformation and change ... Saturn and Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, actually get along well together ... and since Pluto is currently transiting through the sign of Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn, and with Saturn now in the sign ruled by Pluto, they are considered to be in mutual reception ... in mutual reception, they are visiting each others homes and this can make for a more positive and productive position for both to be in ... each planet strengthens the power of the other and they tend to work in cooperation with each other ... it can make their energies much more powerful but let it not be said it will by any means be easier ... so does this make this transit of Saturn more challenging or more rewarding - or maybe both ??? ... if you know in which house or houses of your natal chart the 30 degrees of Scorpio fall, then that is most likely the area of your life you may have experienced this energy play out during this transit of Saturn ... and when Saturn concludes its transit through Scorpio, you should be able to look back and realize change has taken place and hopefully you will feel and realize it was for the better no matter how difficult and challenging it may have been ...

Saturn is very powerful in the secretive and passionate sign of Scorpio ... it enables one to understand human motivation ultimately enabling one to control others which can be either a very good or very challenging and, in some instances, very disastrous ... the dominant strength this energy gives is usually masked by a pleasant and congenial exterior ... however, Saturn here may have placed obstacles in our paths frequently in the form of emotional difficulties and sometimes even scandal ... achieving power negatively under this energy can lead to downfall due to rumors and gossip ... this is an excellent position for executive ability and unwavering commitment to a particular goal ... there is little, if none at all, patience with laziness and unwillingness to work ...

Saturn in Scorpio certainly tested our desire nature ... it may have frequently brought to light that which was hidden even if we didn't want it to be revealed !!! ... there could have been challenges, limitations, and obstacles in regards to the masses, crime, phobias, obsessions, slow growth, birth and death which does not necessarily always relate to the physical form, coercion, generation, degeneration, things which have been developed secretly and undercover, plumbing, dictatorships, and unpopular causes - all areas naturally ruled by Pluto ...

Other challenges, restrictions and testing could have appeared  in the form of joint financial ventures, the support one receives from others - financial, moral, spiritual and physical, legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters, spiritual and physical regeneration, psychological rebirth, occult matters, sleep, deep level research, investigation and hidden assets including the assets of partners and alimony, and surgery ... all of the aforementioned being concerns of the 8th house which Scorpio naturally rules ... 

Health wise, there could have been issues developing with arthritis and gall stones ... there also exists the possibility that skin conditions may have developed and "erupted" from not letting deep personal issues be known and properly dealt with ...

With Saturn in Scorpio, we are all being tested through our nature of desire ... do we use it or abuse it ... we are being taught how to effectively express any kind of personal power be it sexual, financial, political, etc. ... the main challenge is for us to overcome the tendency to agonize about which course of action we should take in order to avoid our energies being misdirected ... this can be either a very rewarding transit of Saturn because it and the sign of Scorpio like to have a sense of control, or it will turn into a disastrous misuse of power that ends up hurting or destroying things as well as other people through ruthless, underhanded scheming ... the greatest achievement will be made if we are able to acknowledge and identify our personal convictions and then positively act on them ...

Saturn in Scorpio likes highly organized power, an intense commitment, knowing secrets, explicit intimacy and strong characters ... it does NOT like to lose control and not knowing ... positive personal and spiritual growth will come through transformation resulting from us being able to gain honest awareness of our failings as well as others and then dedicating our efforts to correct the situation ...

My fellow Capricorns, it is now time for us to conclude our period of review, reflection and rethinking of what has transpired in our lives, especially since March 14th, and move forward  as this is our ruling planet ... we have a yearly period of about four and a half months to review and rethink ... 

Scorpio born, the Universe is about to conclude its action of placing your lives on a huge learning curve giving you the opportunity to achieve greater personal and spiritual growth even though it has not likely an easy process at times ... and that would be an understatement we all can relate to !!!

Saturn is usually teaching all of us very difficult lessons ... but holding firm and staying positive will get us through this stronger and better able to deal with life and its many challenges ... so if you keep your feet firmly planted and try to 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 able to handle this journey through life more efficiently for the lessons you have taken seriously and made great personal effort to learn from ... you will certainly be better equipped to deal with life and its many constant challenges not just from Saturn !!!

Saturn stationed back into direct motion at 28 degrees 17 minutes of Scorpio where it has vibrating been at an "astrological standstill" since July 29th ... in fact, Saturn was "slowing" down at the 28 degree mark of Scorpio since July 3rd making July most likely a very challenging as well as downright irritating month for many especially with the Venus retrograde coming into play on the 25th ... and just a heads up that August may be just as challenging in some way as Venus will be retrograde the entire month and, even though Saturn is now direct, it will be passing through the 28 degree mark again and then the "critical" 29 degree mark from September 1st through September 17th ... in fact, something could come back for you to deal with that may have occurred between June 14th and August 1st as Saturn passes back over these degrees once again ... and it would not be out of the question for something to come up from the period between December 5th through December 23rd of last year when Saturn was in direct motion passing through these degrees ...  this retrograde period began at 4 degrees 56 minutes Sagittarius and the house or houses of your natal chart where these degrees fall show where in life you may have been feeling the weight of the "Cosmic teacher" bearing down with challenging lessons ... did you make an effort to change or ignore it and run the risk of having to repeat the "lesson" when Saturn returns to transit through Scorpio again in 29 years ???

Saturn remains in direct motion until March 25th, 2016 ...  Saturn will conclude its transit through Scorpio on September 17th when it will begin its complete transit through the sign of Sagittarius, and just hours after Mercury begins its third and final retrograde period for 2015 ... gotta love that cosmic sense of humor !!!

Time for me to once again reiterate a worthwhile observation of mine - as a Capricorn born who will be ruled lifelong by Saturn, I can say that from personal experience the transits of Saturn aren't always a bad thing that should be dreaded ... while its actions can be difficult and challenging, Saturn's main objective is to help us grow and become a better, more highly functional and successful person by finding the courage deep from within to take a serious and honest look at where we are versus where we should be going ... and this is done by making sure our foundations in life are always strong, solid and secure !!!