FORWARD HO !!!

MERCURY completed its first retrograde journey for 2016 on Monday, January 25th, and stationed  back into direct motion at 4:50 PM - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... of course I do now that several days have passed and we are getting readjusted to things moving forward once again ... but I think I'm hearing a lot of uh-ohs as well !!!

Hopefully, the disorientation, confusion, frustration and outright irritation along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde beginning at the very early degrees of Aquarius and then finishing up in the sign of Capricorn will now begin to clear and subside as it becomes time to move forward into the swing of things on all levels ...  over the next few days to the next few weeks or even months, there will undoubtedly be quite a few "a-ha" as well as "uh-oh" lights coming on in regard to decisions made or actions taken during the retrograde period from 1/5  through 1/25, and possibly as far back as December 19th when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey on Monday which was at 14 DEGREES 55 MINUTES CAPRICORN  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from September 17th through October 9th, 2015 ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from May 18th through June 11th, 2015 ??? ... and it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward crossing back over the degrees it covered during its retrograde period issues may begin to arise already !!!

Mercury retrograde periods, even though annoying and extremely frustrating at times, are actually a very beneficial thing, especially for those who were strong and fearless enough to dig deep down, as we need to validate, or in some cases invalidate, actions and situations gone awry and deal with them in order to finally release them to produce a calmer, positive and more productive state of mind thus allowing us to move forward to bring about greater personal and spiritual growth !!! ... if you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in what house or houses 1 DEGREE 03 MINUTES AQUARIUS back to 14 DEGREES 55 MINUTES CAPRICORN falls - what kinds of issues did you have to deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???

Of course the recurring question we may find ourselves asking now that Mercury is back in direct motion is "WHY" ??????? ...What actions did you take yourself or have taken against you that you may now be regretting or simply wondering why you chose to do or why you were the victim of a particular course of action, and why didn't you or the other person wait a little longer ...  or perhaps you are simply now trying to figure out why it happened ???? ... relationships may have come to an end - some needed to and others may have jumped the gun and you are now wondering, or will be, why did I do that or end things at this point ...  how many of you had relationship issues resurface - extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde - that you thought surely had been resolved ???  ... how many of you got married - OOPSIE !!! ... did you make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action ??? ... there could be problems regarding any purchases made especially with anything where electrical energy and/or computers were involved ... all of these scenarios are possible as the energy of a Mercury retrograde is one where communications and mental energy is going "backwards" ... so now that the mental processing facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us !!! ... it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives !!!

Mercury retrograde in the sign of Aquarius yields an emphasis to ones friendships, ideas, and goals in  life as those are issues addressed in the 11th house of the natural horoscope which is ruled by Uranus the planet ruling Aquarius ... to that end, there may have been issues with groups to which one belongs, non-emotional relationships, the love one receives, money obtained  from ones profession or business, step children, adopted children and foster children, circumstances in life over which you have little control, and ones humanitarian interests ... the mind could have also become filled with many creative, cutting edge ideas as one tried to determine how to incorporate them into ones life ...

While Mercury was retrograde in an air sign, this time being Aquarius, there may have been a major focus on how one relates and how we develop relationships and associations with other people ... when Mercury returned to Capricorn, an earth sign, the focus may have become determining the tangible results in ones life, to become more organized and learn to deal with practical matters, address security matters as well as ones most basic needs ...

Mercury retrograde in the sign of Capricorn certainly had the potential to affect career and public image as Saturn rules Capricorn and is also the natural ruler of the 10th house ... there may have been some very deep and weighty thinking and rethinking done in those areas ... along with profession, reputation and standing in the community, other areas where issues might have arisen that needed reviewing and rethinking may have included the following : ego, status, fame (or lack of it), promotion, ambition, business or social activities, ones employer, the government or any other authority over one, personal achievements, the way the world sees and evaluates one, the influence one exerts in their own circle, and the parent who is considered the authoritarian if both parents are still here, or the parent who remains should there only be one ...

In regards to overall health, as Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could have been more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Aquarius there could have been more potential to have health issues in the area of the ankles, the circulatory system and the nervous system ... in Capricorn there could have been more potential to have health issues with the bones, joints and knees ...   

As mentioned in previous blogs, a Mercury retrograde period is usually NOT a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... so how many of you chose to have elective surgery during this period ??? ... as for emergency surgery, there was no control over that and trying to put that off might have produced catastrophic results !!!

Mercury now moves forward to conclude its final transit, for this year, through the sign of Capricorn ... below is a reminder of what that energy is all about in case some of you need a "re"fresher course now that Mercury is direct :

Mercury in Capricorn is the energy of a highly organized mentality ... it is a hard worker that stores up facts and figures for future practical use ... it is cautious and highly methodical as it knows what it wants and exactly how it plans to get it ... the mind as well as the tongue are serious and sensible ... communication is made cautiously, and for those born with this energy in their youth there could be doubt as to ones mental ability therefore yielding a need to prove ones self as having a good mind ... there is sometimes this doubt associated with limited educational opportunities in childhood that may be overcome by further study in adulthood ... words here are usually not spoken until they are well thought out unless, of course, MODIFIED by something else in the natal chart !!! 

One can appear to be rather formal, authoritative, reserved and self-sufficient which can sometimes inhibit communications with others ... natural logic and cautious planning are oriented towards material success and/or personal responsibilities ... thinking is well-organized ... learning is achieved through persistence, dedication, and steady progress ... one might become a little pessimistic under  this energy by mistakenly focusing on limits rather than potentials ... here we have a Mercury/Saturn (ruler of  Capricorn) "working relationship" that will ultimately give a very structured, organized and well thought out quality to the mind and communicating if there is no other energy adversely modifying it !!!

Mercury in Capricorn can make one ambitious, careful, calculating and very patient ... one excels at handling detail and rarely loses sight of the overall picture ... people born under this energy often obtain positions of leadership due to their dependability and their air of authority ... one must guard against becoming too dictatorial though ... the darker side of life is often viewed under this energy, yet a redeeming trait would be the very dry sense of humor bestowed here ...

Mercury in Capricorn teaches us how to think and communicate through what it is we are "building" ... the mind rules the matter ... it's the organizer ... there is the capability of extended concentration and excellent organization ... one becomes realistic rather than idealistic in the approach to their goals ... little of practical consequence escapes ones attention due to a keen sense of awareness ... think of Mercury in Capricorn like a laser beam - pointed and locked on exactly what it wants and it will know exactly how to get it ... ultimately it is not only the facts that ones mind contains that determines its quality - it is how you use your  mind and what you use it for that counts ... another essential lesson of Mercury in Capricorn is to learn to USE concrete facts but NOT be weighed down by them ... when you achieve this, you realize how ridiculous it is being enslaved to material status and belongings ... the energy of Mercury in Capricorn can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: good timing, mentally cautious, not easily fooled, retentive mind, methodical mind, orderly mind, serious when necessary, level-headed, clever, discriminating, shrewd, profits from little, employs others, sober, clear and deliberating mind, strong concentration, painstaking, patient

NEGATIVE: procrastinating, slow learner, skeptical, mentally overloaded, lacking originality and imagination, given to melancholy, boring and rigid, suspicious, devious, avaricious, uses others, stern, dry minded

Use this energy well and you will never lose sight of what really counts the most - your resourcefulness ... be sure to give your mind a break when it needs it, or IT may break !!! ... help to inspire others with a goal that you are able to see more clearly than they can ...

Mercury remains in the sign of Capricorn until February 13th when it begins its complete transit through the sign of Aquarius - that wild an unpredictable energy and manner of communicating just in time for Valentines Day !!! 

Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end ... how have you been enlightened and how was your life affected ??? ... your ruling planet has now resumed forward motion and much to your delight so will you - even though a lot of you were probably trying to do it during the actual retrograde ... right, of course right ... many of us were doing the same thing and you know who you are !!!

Mercury remains in direct motion until April 28th when it will begin its second retrograde journey for 2016 which will be completely in the sign of Taurus going from 23 degrees 36 minutes back to 14 degrees 20 minutes Taurus ...

BE FOREWARNED - the next Mercury retrograde period will be completely embedded in the Mars retrograde period for this year which takes place from April 17th through June 29th ... more about that later ...

So there you have it ... but for now though, it's time for everyone to, as I always like to say  -

BUST A MOVE !!!

LOVE ENDURING THE TEST OF TIME !!!

Venus, with stately grace and refined elegance, began its transit through the committed, disciplined and MOST AWESOME SIGN OF THE ZODIAC, Capricorn, yesterday, 1/23, at 3:32 PM EST ... this Venus has a somewhat more somber and serious nature as it is transiting through a sign ruled by Saturn - the taskmaster/teacher who tends to limit and restrict and produce a need for restructuring ... Capricorn is an Earth sign and when Venus transits an Earth sign interactions with others are sought sensually and with practicality as well as seeking comfort and stability ...

Venus in Capricorn enjoys being responsible, practical, and competent ... there is a tendency to relate seriously, formally, and at times with some reserve ... affection is expressed cautiously and soberly ...  there is pleasure found here in self control and therefore sometimes there is inhibition in pleasure or love needs due to fears, limitations and inner doubts - all compliments of Saturn no doubt !!! ... here achievement of material wealth and status in the world gives one the feeling of emotional security ... ambitions, status or a conservative approach may affect love and social urges ... handling of money/possessions usually is very businesslike, pragmatic and very well organized ... predictability and fidelity are a must in love relationships ...

Venus in Capricorn wants to be "sure" ere it makes any commitments in partnerships but will work hard to make sure the relationship endures once formed ... Venus in Capricorn is a dedicated love ... this transit produces an elegant side of Venus - the one that loves dressing up, expensive accessories, and social affairs ... there is an interest in antiques found here which includes anything, or anyone for that matter, that has been around long enough to show its worth ... Venus in Capricorn is often starved for love ... OK everyone - GROUP HUG HERE!!!

Venus in Capricorn often seeks to improve its status ... proud and reserved in public behavior, this Venus dislikes overt public displays of emotion and affection which can yield an apparent dignified air which is resented by others as it becomes perceived as snobbishness ... emotions and sexuality can be repressed here, but in private there can be great sensuality ... though not openly demonstrative, there is great loyalty and steadfastness due to an innate sense of personal responsibility in important relationships ...

Venus in Capricorn teaches us all about loving through building ... the test of time becomes a requirement ... the revelation here is that love is indeed not a business and if one wants a deeply spiritual kind of love relationship, the heart must be opened up and surrendered ... to that end, the energy of Venus in Capricorn may be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: committed, serious lover, steadfast, constant, cautious, trustworthy, disciplined, objective, genuine affections, modest, cool exterior, reserved, dignified, sense of composure, self-controlled, upright, practical, resourceful, affluent, self-made

NEGATIVE: possessive, jealous, inflexible, self-righteous, inhibited, distrustful, stern, indifferent, undemonstrative, mean, cold manner, unfeeling, snobbish, too formal, self-contained, stiff, materialistic, money-grubbing, penny-pinching, selfish

Venus now joins Mercury, currently in its first retrograde journey for 2016 until Monday, 1/25 at 4:50 PM EST, as well as Pluto in the sign of Capricorn ... no doubt we are all going to be taking a serious look and doing some serious thinking about the true value of something or someone in our lives ...

Venus remains in Capricorn until February 16th ... and should someone strike your fancy before the 25th, it might be wise to postpone declaring your undying love for them until after the 25th !!!

My fellow Capricorns, this is our time to shine as Venus bestows its grace, charm and luck on us - but aren't we usually charming and elegant in a somewhat understated manner anyway ??? ... remember to ask for what you want now as you just may get it ... just remember the sage advice "be careful what you wish for" !!!

And while love may not actually be for sale here - well at least in most situations - the proof of its value and worth must certainly be "tendered"!!!

DISCOVERING THE LOVE OF HUMANITY !!!

The Sun began its "electrifying" transit through the bold, progressive sign of Aquarius Wednesday, 1/20, at 10:28 AM EST ... in this sign one may "shine" in various ways :

shining uniquely and inventively - ones avenues for recognition and attention are likely to be unique to oneself, and self-expression is tied to a need for freedom to experiment ...

shining by seeking recognition rebelliously or independently - one may fight against standard methods for "success" or "fame" thus seeking recognition as a rebel ...

shining in a futuristic manner - one is likely to be ego-involved with progress achieving recognition through forward-looking activities or ideas that include working with new technology or anything that is perceived as being on the cutting edge of change ...

shining by being rational - one may achieve recognition for their objectivity, logic and intellectual detachment where creativity could possibly be directed towards innovative approaches to humanitarian causes and social welfare carefully analyzing options without any emotional bias ...

whether you are born under this natal energy or simply incorporating it into your own natal energy by transit, you will certainly have the potential to be seen as one of the "different ones" ...

Aquarius is a masculine, fixed air sign ... its glyph is the waves of electricity or to some waves of water ... anatomically it rules the shins, ankles and the circulatory system ... its key phrase is "I KNOW" and its keyword is "IMAGINATION" !!!

Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus - the first modern planet being discovered in 1781 ... it was named after the ancient Greek sky God - the first ruler of the Universe ... its pictorial symbol is that of the Water-bearer - dispensing a gift that flows freely and equally to all representing the creation and the giving of life ... Uranus is the planet which rules the nervous system, inventions, originality, science, electricity, magic, the occult, light, psychology, x-rays, airplanes and insight into the laws of nature, and more importantly ASTROLOGY !!!  ... it is futuristic, humanitarian, intellectual, eccentric, bohemian, egotistical and Utopian ... it governs creative will, sudden change, revolution and dictators, individualism, ingenuity, rebellions and autonomy ... its action is sudden, unexpected and often violent ... it is a breaker of tradition ... recent studies have shown that Uranus is also associated with natural disasters ...

Aquarius is the sign on the 11th house of the natural  horoscope ... it is a house of group relationships whose keyword is social consciousness ... it reflects your capacity for friendship, your attitude toward your friends and acquaintances and all non-emotional relationships ... it indicates what you most desire in life, your goals, the love you receive as well as money obtained from your profession or business ... the 11th house also shows step, foster, and adopted children, and also circumstances over which you have little to no control ... it represents your humanitarian interests, the way you see others, large and small organizations, and the clubs you belong to, which may somehow relate to your  career ...

The Sun sign describes the center of ones being - the Will ... it shows what dwells in or lies close to your heart and what gives your life a sense of creative purpose ... it is symbolic of ones Spirit ... so whether natally born with or experiencing this energy through a transit, the Sun in Aquarius is teaching us how to live successfully and productively through liberating ... the goal here, being energy of the Water-bearer and Water symbolizing the emotions, is to experience and express ones feelings without getting "wet" - to avoid being emotionally biased, overly attached or becoming upset ...

The Sun is considered to be in detriment in Aquarius - being opposite the sign it naturally rules in the zodiac which in this case is Leo ... as a result the Will can lose itself in the vast "sky" of ones urge to be free ... more than any other sign, Aquarius holds the key to what it truly means to be a human being ... but most important of all is the seeking of freedom for oneself through developing a greater sense of what life on Earth is all about ... and ironically, one being under this energy is all about discovering the love of humanity while not being so keen on one-to-one relationships ... the energy of the Sun in Aquarius can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: impartial, cool, broad-minded, fair judge, friendly, gregarious, humanitarian, democratic, reformist, idealistic, inventive, original, unaffected, convincing, intuitive, outwardly calm, clownish, free-thinking, free-loving, open-ended

NEGATIVE: avoids intimacy, aloof, non-committal, emotionally inept, impersonal, anti-social, lacks sympathy, hypocritical, reactionary, impractical, cranky, elitist, mocking, imposes ideas, cutting, secretly anxious, sarcastic, catty, flighty, pointless

The Sun is currently all by its lonesome self transiting through the sign of Aquarius !!!

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN all Aquarius born individuals - this is the beginning of your new solar year - a fresh start !!! ... just don't jump too fast as we are still in the current Mercury retrograde, but it will be over on Monday, January 25th !!! ... Leo born you are beginning a new 30 day lesson of life as your ruling planet, the Sun, transits through Aquarius ... and we all should be learning on some level of our lives as well which actually we should be doing all of the time !!!

The Sun remains in Aquarius until February 18th/19th depending on the time zone in which you live ... the question now becomes - just how much of a "wild thing" marching to the beat of a different drum during this often unpredictable transit will we allow ourselves to become ???

NOW is the time to be a rebel with a specific cause in ones own unique and individually creative style that is undoubtedly being fueled by something electric in the air  !!!

OVER EXPANSION ... OR MISSED OPPORTUNITIES ???

Jupiter, the planet known as the Great Benefic, and the planet which symbolizes growth, the law, beliefs, ethics, expansion, opportunity, wealth, faith, higher education, travel - long distance, religion,  philosophy, joy, goodwill and often excess and extravagance, began its retrograde journey for 2016 on Thursday, January 7th, at 11:40 PM EST ... transiting planetary retrogrades are often referred to as global wake-up calls ... usually right before a Jupiter retrograde it will be discovered or become apparent that society, organizations and individuals will have "gone too far" in their desires to expand and grow ... often the actions will have exceeded positive limits which necessitates a time for stepping back ...

Jupiter retrograde is a period for everyone to grow internally and prepare themselves for new opportunities that arise when Jupiter stations back into direct motion ... it is very important during this period to look within  and develop a better understanding and awareness which hopefully will enable each one of us to figure out if what is being offered to us is what we really want and/or need ...

People born with Jupiter retrograde in their natal chart usually find that society's religions, beliefs, philosophies, and cultural values are not compatible with their own values ... they have to step back from the "norms" and rethink these things on their own in order to develop their own individual "operating systems" ... needless to say, during a transiting Jupiter retrograde, we may all experience this and those born with Jupiter retrograde may experience an enhanced desire to pursue their natal energy in regard to this area of our lives ... as Jupiter goes retrograde roughly every 9 months for a period of about 4 months, there are obviously a lot of people, like yours truly, born with Jupiter retrograde in their natal chart !!!

Jupiter stationed retrograde Thursday at 23 degrees 14 minutes Virgo... it will retrograde back to 13 degrees 15 minutes Virgo during this period ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses these degrees lie, you will probably get a good idea where in your life you may have to reconsider "growth" in those areas and whether or not you have gone too far too fast - and this would include physical growth as well !!! ... 

Keep in mind that Jupiter in Virgo is all about the following: making the most out of every opportunity presented and seeing that it is wasted; being organized, practical making great efforts to produce concrete results; setting very high standards; giving great importance to cleanliness and order; giving highly detailed consideration to what it is pursuing; learning to delegate responsibilities to avoid being overworked; believing in hard work; increasing interests in in service and charitable pursuits associated with the physical and mental health in hospitals and educational institutions; being involved with any area of work that benefits from the ability to take account of details, details, details; and learning how to promote further personal and spiritual growth through careful analysis ...

   

Sagittarius born individuals, as Jupiter is the ruling planet of your Sun sign, this is your yearly period of review and reflection ... it is time to step back and reflect on what has been going on in your life since Jupiter last stationed direct on April 8th, 2015 ... where have you possibly over-expanded, and what opportunities for growth and expansion have come your way that you either took advantage of or might well have overlooked or even ignored ???

Jupiter remains retrograde until May 9th entirely in the sign of Virgo ... this is the only retrograde period Jupiter will have in Virgo before it enters the sign of Libra on September 9th ... we all should still keep our eyes and ears open for opportunities for growth and expansion that might come our way - yes, even in a Jupiter retrograde ... just wait to take advantage of them when Jupiter resumes its forward motion ... be careful otherwise you might find that you have overlooked what could ultimately be what benevolent Jupiter so joyously can bring to you -  a once in a lifetime chance !!!

!!! YPPAH YRUCREM EDARGORTER

Whether we like it or not - most will say NOT !!! - Mercury began its first RETROGRADE journey for 2016 today, January 5th, at 8:06 AM EST ... if you've been following my blogs, then you know exactly what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde … as always - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED - especially as this first dual sign retrograde period begins in the sign of Aquarius which is ruled by Uranus the planet of the sudden and unexpected !!! ... this Mercury retrograde will go from 1 degree
3 minutes Aquarius back to 14 degrees 55 minutes Capricorn ... this year we will experience four Mercury retrograde periods one of which, occurring from April 28th through May 22nd, will be completely embedded in the Mars retrograde this year which occurs from April 17th through June 29th !!!

It is very important to understand that Mercury retrogrades are NOT ALWAYS the harbingers of doom and gloom ... even though it is true they can cause disruption and misunderstandings, we have to realize these are simply Universal "time outs" which give us the opportunity to go back to rethink and review our actions especially as the energy relates to the current sign that the planet is transiting through ... bottom line - though we often joke about it, retrogrades shouldn't always be feared and dreaded but perhaps approached cautiously ... the Universe is giving us a chance to right our wrongs and redirect ourselves to achieve more beneficial personal and spiritual growth !!! ...

To RE-peat, Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision - as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... during a Mercury retrograde period it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses these degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life as well as where mishaps and misunderstandings may occur ...

Some of you may have noticed the beginning of this backwards energy when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on January 25th - back on December 19th at 14 degrees 15 minutes Capricorn ... 

It practically goes without saying that things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned, and we often find ourselves re-doing things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ... 

Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars, a big NO NO - and that goes double for USED CARS, as well as computers or anything that involves electronics especially while this retrograde period is in Aquarius even if for only 3 days !!!... purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!! .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is any way to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it ...

Mercury retrograde in the sign of Aquarius yields an emphasis to ones friendships, ideas, and goals in life as those are issues addressed in the 11th house of the natural horoscope which is ruled by Uranus the planet ruling Aquarius ... to that end, there may also be issues with groups to which one belongs, non-emotional relationships, the love one receives, money obtained  from ones profession or business, step children, adopted children and foster children, circumstances in life over which you have little control, and ones humanitarian interests ... the mind can also become filled with many creative, cutting edge ideas as one tries to determine how to incorporate them into ones life ...

While Mercury retrogrades in an air sign, this time being Aquarius, there is a major focus on how one relates and how we develop relationships and associations with other people ... when Mercury returns to Capricorn, an earth sign, the focus becomes determining the tangible results in ones life, to become more organized and learn to deal with practical matters, address security matters as well as ones most basic needs ...

On January 8th Mercury will reenter the sign of Capricorn where the majority of this retrograde period will occur, and the emphasis of the retrograde period will shift ... As Mercury retrogrades in Capricorn certainly career and public image will be areas affected as Saturn rules Capricorn and is also the natural rules of the 10th house ... there will be some very deep and weighty thinking and rethinking done here ... along with profession, reputation and standing in the community, other areas where issues might arise that need reviewing and rethinking may include the following : ego, status, fame (or lack of it), promotion, ambition, business or social activities, ones employer, the government or any other authority over one, personal achievements, the way the world sees and evaluates one, the influence one exerts in their own circle, and the parent who is considered the authoritarian if both parents are still here, or the parent who remains should there only be one ...

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Aquarius there could be more potential to have health issues in the area of the ankles, the circulatory system and the nervous system ... in Capricorn there could be more potential to have health issues with the bones, joints and knees ...   

A Mercury retrograde period is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!

Below I have re posted the "Mercury Retrograde Survival Manual" written by my teacher Lyn Hammond Gray ... hopefully it will help out :

"Here is your Survival manual: Mercury retro always creates a repeating action. The Re-Words are common. Some re-words that you will notice during this time are:

Repeat – The action you are making during the RX period you will probably repeat again during the period or later.

Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (January 25th).

Reverse - You will be amazed at how many times you change your mind or reverse your thinking during this time. Watch out for that race car driver that is driving in reverse down the emergency lane on the freeway. Yikes!....

Recall - Your mind will wonder back. You will think of people from the past or you will encounter someone from the past. If old lovers show up, don't bet that it will stick. Believe me... it is just for a "review." And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either - wait until after January 25th !!!

Review - If you are reading instructions, you may find it necessary to review repeatedly because they simply  don't make sense. Sometimes the publisher has actually left out a step. It happens!

Regroup - In corporations, it is a common experience during the Rx to hear the boss say, 'Alright, we are going to rework this thing and get it right.' Later when the period is over, they go back to the old way doing things. It is a laugh a minute. Stand back and watch the comedy.

Reboot and Revise - The computer world is a definite place to watch the comedy. It is common for one to suddenly, without fore thought, decide to revise their system during the Rx. Oh! Mercy! That revised system may never function in the normal way. Oh, please! Do wait until the period is over. However, it is fine to do your shopping for the new components during the Rx.

Return - Now here is a good one. You'll find that this period is a popular time for family or class reunions. Should you stay are home? Absolutely not! You go because this is a review that you don't want to miss. But funny thing is that in spite of the fact that you tell these people 'lets stay in touch' it will become lip service and you won't live up to your suggestion.

Rebirth – Often one will go back into the past and bring up old creative projects to work with during this time frame. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Only you will be able to activate the discipline to keep it going once the retrograde period is over.

Recover - You can bet that you will dig into your files, boxes or storage to recover something that you need…you can also bet it won't be an easy find. It is likely that you will be looking for a legal document· While it is possible that you may not find what you are looking for, you may find something that you would like to put back in to use. Fun!

Re-examine – Well, just about everything.

Reduction – Over the years, I have been amazed at how many times a company or person decides to eliminate a job or to leave a job during the retrograde. It is my experience that a job changed during this period is 95% of the time regretted. Can you wait until the period is over ???

And so it is. Three sometimes four times a year we live with this cosmic "going to teach you patience routine". All and all when this retrograde period is over you may "Realize" this simple truth: The flow of the universe is very, very interesting and it is going to have its way with us.

Good luck and may the Universe bestow upon each one of you a special wisdom and unique insight into your journey through this life at this point!!! "


Back to me now ... Those born between January 6th and January 24th will definitely have this Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... those born on January 5th and January 25th may or may not get this energy depending on what time you solar return occurs - some may be lucky enough to escape it for this year ... yet another very good reason to know your time of birth if you can find it !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

"The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return ...

A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years’ birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs ... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart ...

Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" ... the mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor ... another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!! ... this is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed ...

It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! " 

Gemini and Virgo born, as Mercury is your planetary ruler, once again it is time for you to "try" to slow down and review and reexamine what is going on in your life especially since the last Mercury retrograde ended back on October 9th !!!

For all of us, this becomes a time to review and rethink what is going on in our lives and especially what may have been started or done during the last Mercury Retrograde, that being September 17th through October 9th, 2015 ...  actions taken during previous retrograde periods could come back to haunt us as well - for 2015 that would be May 18th through June 11th, and January 21st through February 11th ... and it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to have something from a previous Mercury retrograde further back than the ones mentioned above come back for some reason that we have to deal with ... whatever the case, it is for sure that there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads regarding these actions as well as other lights going OUT as this Mercury Retrograde energy potentially wreaks its cosmic havoc for the next 21 days ... as previously stated, Mercury remains retrograde until January 25th ... 

SO ... slow down, try not to act too impulsively, and go with the universal flow ... don't try to swim up stream in a raging current of cosmic chaos or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... be aware tempers will flare and patience may become scarce, but that personal sense of humor, being one of your greatest allies, should be kept very close by and called upon frequently as the Mercury Retrograde merrily, along with great irritation in many instances, wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment ... 

And  in the end my fellow beings of light, as this first Mercury Retrograde period of 2016 is now upon us, the question as always is will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ???

A POWERFUL DRIVE FOR SURVIVAL AND SEXUALITY !!!

Mars - planet of initiative, courage, sexual drive, raw energy, as well as selfishness, abuse and even violence at its worst - blazed its way into and began its intense and extremely intimate transit through the "wicked", driven, probing sign of Scorpio today, January 3rd, at 9:33 AM EST ... when Mars transits through the sign of Scorpio one thing can be said for sure - LOOK OUT !!! ... Fire (Mars) and Water (Scorpio) usually end up producing STEAM - but whether or not that will be irritating and uncomfortable or deliciously sensual steam depends on the situation you become involved in  ... how many of you will find yourselves beginning to become really fired up and driven about pursuing something and/or someone as the days and weeks progress - and months in the particular case of this transit of Mars - feeling intense and full of energy, rather irritated about something or just plain extra horny - more so than usual in some cases ... hmmm ??? ... Mars was last in Scorpio from July 25th through September 13th, 2014 - anything come to mind from that period in your life in regards to this transit of Mars ???

Mars in Scorpio produces energy that is EXTREMELY DRIVEN, and that would be a huge understatement !!! ... this energy can give one an increased confidence in ones own personal power, make one very intense, driven and confrontational, but also can make one sexy, compassionate and incisive ... there are apt to be strong desires, compulsions, and a need to thrive on challenges ... some desires may be achieved here only by transforming some intense emotions ... the urge to control others is great along with a susceptibility to becoming vengeful, resentment, and a lack of trust in others resulting if one goes too far ... there is great endurance with this energy as well as all-or-nothing tendencies ...

And the SEX DRIVE - CAN WE TALK ??? - is unbelievably pronounced when influenced by this energy ... there is an incredible amount of stamina bestowed ... most people born with natal Mars in Scorpio understand that sex is a natural bodily function and they can go at it all night long and the next morning pick up where they got off - oops, I guess I should rephrase that and say where the left off !!! - and start all over again unless of course something else is modifying this energy in their chart by natal placement or due to transits or progressions ... they also are usually not the least bit inhibited about talking about sex and some will be very experimental in their approach to satisfying this drive ... and at the very least these people will be very driven about something and/or someone ... the house placement at birth would give a good clue as to what it's all about ... for the rest of us, we will get a good clue about the drive of this transit depending on what area of life the house or houses rule where 30 degrees of Scorpio is found in your natal chart !!!

Mars in Scorpio can be very angry about something but you may never know it ... it will forgive but NEVER forget!!! ... it will eventually get retribution in some form but, since it has tenacity, it might not be right away ... this is the natural planning and plotting energy of the zodiac!!! ... Mars in Scorpio can make people a very dangerous enemy as they may hold grudges and nurse anger like steam in a pressure cooker until it explodes  and the effects can be disastrous ... there is also the extra ability to recover from physical strain here more so than any other placement ...

Mars is the "ancient" ruler of Scorpio ... after all, Pluto, the current ruler and also referred to as co-ruler, was not discovered until 1930 ... so this can be a very beneficial placement as Mars is very comfortable in this sign ... in fact many astrologers would agree that Mars is "dignified" in the sign of Scorpio ...

The tremendous emotional intensity here gives one relentless courage and a thoroughness in executing their direct intentions ... Mars in Scorpio can lead to the greatest level of spiritual achievement or to the lowest depths of moral degradation and destruction depending on how the energy is used ... while this energy can make one very secretive and not reveal their plans or actions without good reason, there is a need here to learn greater detachment and objectivity ...

Mars in Scorpio teaches us all about how we get what we want through our desires ... the powerful sense of survival and sexuality becomes intertwined here ... it gives one a kind of magnetic intensity that can illicit a response from others whether or not you are actually looking for it ... the inherent strength and power of Mars in Scorpio is the ability to heal or transform the environment in some way and this begins with your self-image ... there is absolutely no equal to this energy when it comes to pushing for changes and improvements where they are most needed whether its for personal evolution or the evolution of society ... the possible effects of Mars in Scorpio energy are as follows:

POSITIVE: charismatic, highly sexed, irresistible, emotionally rich, strong-willed, indestructible, forceful, courageous, thorough, exhaustive, determined, ambitious, probing, healing, discreet, perceptive, passionate, deep, powerful

NEGATIVE: megalomaniac, degrading, dissipated, resentful, stubborn, self-destructive, brutal, seething, cruel, exhausting, relentless, ruthless, prying, manipulative, devious, caustic, jealous, dark, cold-blooded, revengeful

Mars will not complete its full transit through the sign of Scorpio until August 2nd - WHAT ??? ... a much longer transit than its usual 6-7 week transit through a sign and you have probably guessed why by now ... it has already begun to "slow down" in advance of its retrograde journey for 2016 which begins on April 17th lasting until June 29th going from 8 degrees 54 minutes Sagittarius back to 23 degrees 3 minutes Scorpio - how many of you getting married during that period are rolling your eyes now and thinking "Uh-Oh" ??? ... Mars will actually exit Scorpio on March 5th, but will return per retrograde motion to Scorpio on May 27th ... Mars will enter its shadow point on February 17th when it reaches 23 degrees 3 minutes Scorpio ... the next 29 weeks could prove to be either extremely productive or highly disastrous depending on how you use and/or react to the energy !!!

Scorpio born individuals, remember this is an extended period, lasting 29 weeks - with the exception of 12 weeks Mars is actually in Sagittarius direct, then retrograde, then direct again - where you become more energized while Mars is in your birth sign - just be careful not to "incinerate" or steam roll over others with this extra boost you receive !!! ... Aries born, you may find a highly compulsive drive during the same time period to dig deep down and solve the "mystery" of some situation or person that has become the object of your desire !!!

Mars is the only planet currently transiting through the sign of Scorpio and with all this fiery energy of intensity and transformation it has the potential to produce, one planet in Scorpio is just fine for now - wouldn't you agree ??? ... just for added kicks, so to speak, the Mars in Scorpio transit will be involved with two of the four Mercury retrograde periods this year - the first when Mercury is retrograde from January 5th through January 25th, and the second Mercury retrograde being completely embedded in the Mars retrograde from April 28th through May 22nd  - gotta love that cosmic sense of humor !!! ... and ALWAYS remember, there is never just one planet and its energy in play at a time ... there are multiple planetary energies interacting with one another at any given time, and the results can be either very beneficial or downright challenging and in some cases highly disastrous !!!

Mars in Scorpio yields the potential to get a lot accomplished if it involves work that requires highly concentrated and disciplined energy ... and ultimately, who and/or what you may be driven towards pursuing in hopes of it ending with a "bang" may only wind up ending with a weak little whimper !!!

THE MIND OF THE REBEL !!!

Mercury begins its initial transit through the intellectual, highly unconventional  sign of Aquarius today, January 1st, at 9:21 PM EST ... Mercury is considered to be in "exaltation" in the sign of Aquarius meaning it is in a sign other than the one it rules - in this case being Gemini and Virgo - where its energy is expressed very harmoniously as its forces are increased as well as its virtues are magnified !!! ... and once again, as last week, we are given a Holiday "gift" from the Universe that comes with a rather sizable caveat attached ... Mercury's last complete transit through Aquarius occurred from January 4th through March 12th, 2015 - a much longer than usual transit due to its first retrograde journey for 2015 beginning very soon after Mercury initially entered the sign of Aquarius ... we are going to repeat that same scenario once again this year except the first entire Mercury retrograde for 2016 will not be only in the sign of Aquarius like last year - more on that shortly ... Mercury has been in its shadow point since December 19th - so many of you may have already been experiencing or witnessing the backward energy beginning to manifest somewhere in your life or the life of someone else !!!

Mercury in Aquarius makes the mind and tongue tend to be unconventional sometimes to the extreme of shocking other people ... communication is made intelligently, objectively, openly, and independently... language used can be very individualistic and sometimes rebellious ... one thinks for them self and usually resists other people's answers ... learning is best done through questioning authority and seeking out unique experiences ... the mind is experimental, innovative, and future oriented ... one wants to explore all possibilities while keeping options open ... there is the tendency to jump from idea to idea resulting perhaps from an intuitive flash or brainstorming ... one must be careful not to become a victim of fragmented or erratic thinking ... there are usually excellent verbal skills here ... one can be quite objective allowing them to talk with just about anyone ... connections are best made on an individual basis ... interests usually include anything new age - oh say like astrology, numerology and tarot - and anything unusual, different, technological or progressive ... this energy frequently gives one the mind of a computer as well as the soul of a rebel !!!

Mercury in Aquarius usually indicates a fine and clever mind that is accurate, inventive and inquisitive ... people born under this energy - like yours truly !!! - often take a great interest in other people and have excellent judgement of human nature ... there is a love of analyzing character and motivation, and the finely tuned powers of observation that accompany this energy allow one to predict accurately how someone will react in a given situation ... Mercury here makes one a rather notorious people-watcher, and gives one a broad and emotionally detached outlook ... Aquarius is known as the sign of the truth-seeker and that characterizes the way this mind works ... sometimes one may seem eccentric as the ideas are so advanced ... and one may also enjoy saying things simply to shock other people - absolutely priceless, right ???

Mercury in Aquarius gives the mind the need for a lot of stimulation and activity ... interests are pursued thoroughly because of the capability of pursuing a train of thought for very long periods ... one is also capable of great inventive originality ... there is a desire to understand how the Universe is linked together ... one must be careful here of the powerful tendency toward abstraction causing one to become too detached and end up living in a mental environment that may be a long way from the reality of others around you ... also one may find that the thoughts speed so fast that one forgets to finish sentences - thinking others will understand where your thoughts were going - or one finishes other people's sentences for them in order to get on to the next topic ... a benefit of this energy is becoming aware that the individual mind is ultimately NOT separated from the Universal mind !!!

Mercury in Aquarius teaches us to learn to think through liberating ... one perceives things mentally in a manner that seems to others as highly unlikely or even odd ... there is a definite streak of stubbornness running through the mind which is a result of having a sense of the "Truth" and understanding how things really  are ... one has to be careful of the inherent blind spot which is detached objectivity to the point of missing the emotional factors in a given situation ... one of the main challenges of this energy is to learn to communicate ones vision and help others see life from a point beyond their personal hopes and fears ... the energy of Mercury in Aquarius can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: original thinker, inventive, unorthodox, comprehensive, scientific, objective, concise, well-informed, unable to be shocked, open-minded, truth-loving, perceptive, progressive thinker, Utopian, reformist, socially aware, intuitive, cosmically aware, telepathic and inspiring mind

NEGATIVE: way-out thinker, cranky, irrelevant, disjointed, clinical, lacks warmth, abrupt, unfeeling, indifferent, fixed opinions, contrary, emotionally blind, out of "time", unrealistic, reactionary, anti-social, scatterbrained, spaced out, overactive mind

Mercury is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Aquarius, and it won't be here for long during its initial transit ... it will only get as far as 1 degree 3 minutes Aquarius when it begins its first retrograde journey for 2016 on January 5th going from 1 degree 3 minutes Aquarius back to 14 degrees 55 minutes Capricorn ... and as it will have to move forward to reenter Aquarius, on February 13th once stationing direct on January 25th,  Mercury will not completely finish its transit through Aquarius until - WAIT FOR IT  - March 5th !!! ... No doubt many will come up with some scathingly brilliant ideas during this transit, but those ideas will be best put on hold to begin with and revisited later once Mercury stations direct and returns to the sign of Aquarius in February ... more details about the first Mercury retrograde for 2016 in a few days when it begins - are you ready for it so early in the New Year ???

For now, enjoy thinking with a very open mind and remember that the truth often awakens like a flash of lightning - are you  ready to be struck by it ???