THE FEARLESS WARRIOR WITHIN NOW MANIFESTS !!!

Mars, the planet symbolizing raw energy and the urge to get what you want and includes the drive - be it sexual drive, initiative or courage - began its transit through the fiery, dynamic sign of Aries Saturday, January 28th, at 12:40 AM EST ... Mars has come home to the sign it naturally rules and operates very efficiently here as it is considered to be in dignity in dignity in Aries .. it has the greatest potential to be very constructive or extremely destructive when infused with the energy of Aries depending on how the energy is used ... Mars was last in Aries from February 19th through March 31st, 2015 - can you remember taking any action or initiative regarding something in your life, being very aggressive either in a good way or a challenging way to others, or having to stand your ground for some reason during that period ??? ... Mars takes approximately 2 years to journey around the zodiac ...

Mars in Aries needs to be physically active and tends to be naturally assertive ... it is direct, forceful, and highly competitive ... self-expression is very important here as is the need to do your own thing ... should ones free self-expression be blocked there is the risk of repression - which could lead to some form of illness, projection - which can lead to confronting aggression in others, or displacement - which could lead to fighting with team members ... finding areas where one can be spontaneous is important ... there could be a flair for starting things - which sometimes are not finished after they lose their initial novelty !!! - or there could be mechanical skills ... 

Mars in Aries produces energy that is very good for facing obstacles as well as producing confrontation, and consequently there may be a need to control being too rash or impatient ... one best functions with a lot of freedom, variety, and a chance to be a pioneer ... with this energy comes great restlessness, being willful and a high degree of initiative, sexual drive and physical energy ... sometimes sexual matters may be handled very impulsively ... identity is usually tied to independence and spontaneity ... it has been said that anger and self-assertion are at their most honest here ... this Mars gets mad, gets it out and gets over it ...

Mars in Aries teaches us that we get the most effective results through active doing ... there is usually a reliable but uncontainable supply of raw energy which must have an outlet and ultimately a direction ... here we have a no-nonsense approach to things ... sometimes it may become necessary to stop and ask oneself "What am I actually after?" ... there is definitely a lot of get-up-and-go as well as ones share of hard knocks ... courage and initiative are usually at the top of the priority list, but love and patience are frequently missing ... one can rather easily spark enthusiasm in others with this energy ... 

Mars in Aries is very much the "warrior" or "Amazon" ... the best expression of this Martian energy is that of the untiring champion of the underdog using both word and deeds to help promote your cause ... showing people what you can do rather than what they should do can set an inspiring and uplifting example ... the energy of Mars in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: self-assured, self-willed, independent, survivor, bold, energetic, fighter, fearless, direct, brisk, championing, outspoken, daring, dashing, exhilarating, spirited, leader-type, strong stamina, enthusiastic, self-starting

NEGATIVE: inner doubt, egocentric, uncooperative, selfish, aggressive, pushy, militant, violent, unsubtle, intolerant, quarrelsome, foolhardy, exhausting, ostentatious, bullying, insensitive, insatiable, self-defeating, anger ridden

With Mars in Aries, it benefits one to direct their energies into a worthwhile cause rather than bullying and badgering others ... knowing who and what you are dependent on not only emancipates but supports you ...

Aries born individuals this is roughly a six week period for you to be infused with an extra boost of energy even though you probably have more than enough energy to get you through naturally - you could become a force to be reckoned with !!! ... use it constructively and not destructively ... we all will be infused with extra energy especially to make new starts ...  Mars now joins Uranus - what a dynamic and potentially hazardous duo !!! - already in transit through the sign of Aries ...

Mars remains in Aries until March 9th ... Venus will join the party on February 3rd but get no further than 13 degrees 9 minutes Aries when it begins its retrograde journey for 2017 on March 4th ... the first 6 days of the Venus retrograde could get rather turbulent as a result ... 

As Mars begins its transit through Aries, it's time to start making plans for new beginnings and actions by taking charge of and beginning to change something in your life that will result in positive personal and spiritual growth ... hopefully this will ultimately enable you, somewhere in your life, to step up and become "the leader of the pack" !!!

LIFE ON THE "CUTTING EDGE" !!!

The Sun began its "electrifying" transit through the bold, progressive sign of Aquarius on Thursday, January 19th, at 4:24 PM EST ... it's that time of year when we all have the potential to think outside of the box, become more fiercely independent, unconventional and may experience a great desire to live life on the "cutting edge" !!! ... the Sun in Aquarius allows one to "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 are 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 you are a natal born Aquarius 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 ... its like visiting where you must conform to rules and regulations which can be very challenging for this energy !!! ... 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



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ALL AQUARIUS BORN INDIVIDUALS - this is the beginning of your new solar year - a fresh start !!! ... 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 is currently all by its lonesome self transiting through the sign of Aquarius !!! ... the Sun remains in Aquarius until February 18th ... 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  !!!

BACK TO BEING CALCULATING, CAREFUL, AND PATIENT IN OUR THINKING AND COMMUNICATING !!!

Mercury reentered  the traditional, reliable sign of Capricorn today, January 12th, at 9:04 AM EST ... Mercury began its initial transit through Capricorn back on December 2, 2016 but due to retrograde motion returned briefly to Sagittarius before stationing back into direct motion on January 8th ... Don't be surprised if issues resurface as Mercury retraces its initial steps which will last until January 27th from what may have begun between December 2nd and December 19th when it stationed retrograde, and may have been readdressed as Mercury backed over those degrees again from December 19th until January 4th !!!



Below is a "review" of what this extremely concentrated energy is all about in case you forgot :



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 !!!



Mercury in Capricorn can make one 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) relationship that will ultimately give a very structured, organized and well thought out quality to the mind and communicating especially 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" in our lives ... 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 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



Mercury now rejoins the Sun and Pluto already transiting through the sign of Capricorn ... once again, this is a LOT of very serious, focused energy encouraging us to build something in our lives that will be practical and long lasting !!!



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 Capricorn until February 7th so put on those thinking "Caps" and come up with some scathingly brilliant ideas !!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!???

MERCURY completed its fourth and final retrograde journey beginning in 2016 today, January 8th, and stationed  back into direct motion at 4:43 AM EST - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... of course I do now that we are getting readjusted to things, well most things that is, and moving forward once again ... for many it may actually seem like 2017 has finally begun !!!



Hopefully, some of the disorientation, confusion, frustration and outright irritation along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde 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 December 19th through January 8th, and possibly as far back as December 1st,2016 when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey today which was at 28 DEGREES 51 MINUTES SAGITTARIUS  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from August 30th through September 21st/22nd ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from April 28th through May 22nd which was completely embedded in the last Mars retrograde occurring from April 17th through June 29th of last year  ??? ... and it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward once again crossing back over the degrees it covered during this retrograde period issues may begin to arise already meaning things begun and actions taken from December 1st through December 19th are certainly subject to potential review and revision !!!

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 which house or houses 15 DEGREES 8 MINUTES CAPRICORN  back to 28 DEGREES 51 MINUTES SAGITTARIUS 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 or the other person may now be regretting. or you may be simply wondering why you chose to do what you did or why you were the victim of a particular course of action from other(s), 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 even 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 during this period ...  how many of you had relationship issues surface or resurface - extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde - that you thought surely had been resolved or didn't even realize existed ???  ... how many of you began new actions within a relationship, personal or professional without waiting for the retrograde period to conclude ??? ... AND ... how many of you got married - OOPSIE  ???



Did anyone make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action or that you are beginning to regret or will do so in the days ahead ??? ... 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 - in regard to Mercury and its functions, it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives ... let go of what is best left in the past so you can achieve greater personal and spiritual growth !!!



Mercury retrograding in Capricorn could certainly have caused issues to arise in regards to ones career and/or public image as Saturn rules Capricorn which is the sign that is the natural ruler of the 10th house ... there could have been some very deep and heavy thinking an rethinking done here - and possibly more now that Mercury is direct and will cross back over those degrees of Capricorn involved in the first part of the retrograde period - don't be surprised if January 12th through January 27th produce some issue or "awakening" regarding this area while it crosses back over those degrees again ... along with profession, reputation and standing in the community, other areas where issues may have arisen for reviewing and rethinking may have included the following : the ego, ones status, fame (or lack of it), promotions, ambitions, business or social activities, ones employer, the government or any other authority over one, personal achievements, how 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 living, or the parent who remains should there only be one ... all areas ruled by the 10th house ...

When Mercury returned to Sagittarius back on January 4th, it returned to a sign ruled by Jupiter which is also the planet that is the natural ruler of the 9th house ... areas where issues may have arisen include: the law, religion, science, ideals, higher learning, philosophy, psychological issues, mental studies, our dreams and visions, long distance travel, foreigners, foreign dealings, commerce, big business, imports and exports, spirituality and the church, the clergy, in-laws, grandchildren, intuition, ethics, and lessons we learn through living as sometimes we just have a difficult time being able to perceive the bigger picture ... all areas ruled by the 9th house ...



In regards to overall health, as Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health and nutrition, among other things, how many of you developed health issues in general ... while in Capricorn from December 19th through January 4th, did anyone develop issues with the bones, joints and/or knees ??? ... and while in Sagittarius from January 4th until January 8th when it completed its retrograde journey, did anyone develop issues with the liver, hips and/or thighs ??? ... and how many of you chose to have elective surgery that could easily have waited until the Mercury retrograde period was over - how did that work out for you ??? ... or perhaps you will find out now that Mercury has stationed back into direct motion !!!

Gemini and Virgo born since Mercury is your natural ruling planet, did you "try" and slow down for personal review and rethinking - especially in regards as to what has transpired in your lives since Mercury last resumed direct motion back on September 21st/22nd, 2016 ??? ... what have you learned about yourself in regards to where you are going and whether or not you are proceeding wisely in order to become more successful ??? ... what did you discover that MUST be changed - in fact what did anyone discover that MUST be changed so you are not left stagnant and hanging in limbo ???

Mercury now moves forward to complete its entire transit through the sign of Sagittarius which initially began back on November 12th, 2016 ... this will conclude on January 12th ... below is a reminder of what this energy is all about for those that need a "re-fresher" course now that Mercury has resumed direct motion :



Mercury was last in Sagittarius from November 20th - December 9th, 2015 ... this Mercurial energy learns by gaining an overview of the Big Picture ... it wants to know everything !!! ... it can use way too many words and use great hand gestures sometimes knocking things over, and talk much too loudly at times ...

But for all its challenges, this Mercury can be quite funny, bluntly honest, and entertain so well that you might find it appealing ... here we have a sincere energy with a great sense of humor ... sometimes things are blurted out without considering the consequences ... there can be highly intuitive flashes of truth ... there is also such an overabundance of varied interests that one can scatter their mental forces too thinly ... here the mind does not need sharpening, only good direction ... generous, progressive and honest, this Mercury does not like deception on any level ... 

Mercury in Sagittarius can produce great interest in higher education, philosophy and religion ... intellectual status is admired and one could become a non-stop talker ... there is a love of travel of any kind found here - foreign places, cultures and people can inspire ones mindset ... the mental approach is broad and quick ... communication is made enthusiastically, openly and optimistically ... the desire to be direct, truthful, generous and broad-minded aids in connections with other people ... thinking and reasoning are usually influenced by long-term goals rather than specific or short-term desires and needs ... 

Honesty is usually a major focus with this energy ... one is likely to be quite articulate and gregarious ... there can be a tendency to leap to conclusions, overgeneralize and possibly over exaggerate ... one can inspire others through their ideas ... there is a natural inclination to learn and to teach other people what one knows ... there could also be an interest in writing or the law as well ...

Mercury in Sagittarius is in a sign opposite to one of the signs it naturally rules - that being Gemini - and is therefore said to be in "detriment" ... it is considered less "visible", appearing to not operate at its usual full power, but not less effective though ... it is visiting a sign where it must conform to rules and regulations that it wouldn't normally have to do in certain other signs ...

Mercury in Sagittarius teaches us to learn to think and communicate through what it is we are SEEKING ... its the eternal student ... the mindset is broad and active and capable of cultivating itself and being aware of a variety of life's aspects ... there needs to be a focus here otherwise the knowledge and experience can yield a personal philosophy that is merely a scattered collection of ideas and thoughts that are disconnected ... here we have a seeking mind that is looking for the meaning of life ...



One usually speaks their mind yielding a refreshing clearing of the air in order for one to see where they stand with others, and where others stand with you and themselves ... getting things off ones chest is important with this energy - left unsaid it could lead to difficulty with communications and evening with breathing !!! ... here is a mind filled with wonder at all this world has to offer - everything is there for the finding ... mental freedom, a good hot debate, laughing and joking, great thoughts and the promises of life are liked ... not so well liked are an overabundance of ideas, long sad faces, small minded people and those who are wet blankets ... the energy of Mercury in Sagittarius can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: frank, sincere, open-minded, speaks ones mind, versatile mind, speculative, intuitive, noble-thinking, thinks big, learned, clever, far-sighted, philosophical, fair judge, sees truth, enthusiastic, cultured, eclectic, informed, well-connected

NEGATIVE: indiscreet, irreverent, overly talkative, scattered mind, irrelevant, illogical, poor concentration, overly-grand ideas, too academic, impractical, short-sighted, sermonizing, opinionated, self righteous, trendy, conceited, pompous

Mercury will exit its retrograde zone on January 27th when it reaches 15 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn, the point where it began its fourth and final  retrograde journey for 2016 back on December 19th ... Mercury will complete its full journey through Capricorn on February 7th and remains in direct motion until April 9th when it begins its first (technically second) retrograde journey for 2017 at 4 degrees 51 minutes Taurus  ... this Mercury retrograde will begin during the last 7 days of the upcoming Venus retrograde !!!

Now that the New Year has "truly" begun , it's time to address those New Year's resolution and begin to move forward on other projects as well ... just don't move too far too fast yet until Mercury clears its retrograde zone, and keep in mind that Venus will enter its shadow point on January 30th in advance of its next retrograde journey beginning on March 4th - that will last until April 19th - as well as the next lunar/solar eclipse period takes place in February !!!

PERSONAL PLANET RETROGRADE PERIODS FOR 2017 - A MUST READ !!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! ... since I have had numerous messages with questions regarding the personal planets – Mercury, Venus and Mars – retrograde periods as many of you have now become enlightened and aware over the years of the potential challenges they can produce in our lives, and with it being the beginning of a New Year where one likes to make resolutions - like trying to make the most productive use of a personal planet retrograde period, it seems like an excellent time to pull out the Cosmic binoculars and look ahead to address the personal planet retrograde periods for the remainder of 2017 since many of you have become quite savvy about planning ahead for better results … and with Mercury currently retrograde for a few more days, it is an excellent time to "review" and prepare - of course it might be wise to "review" this yet again after Mercury stations back into direct motion on January 8th !!! ... only Mercury and Venus are going to be making their next retrograde journeys during 2017 beginning with the Venus retrograde on March 3rd ... Mars does not take its next retrograde journey until June 26th of 2018 !!!



It practically goes without saying, but I will anyway, that the Universe will be placing each one of us on a steep learning curve in the "school of life" particularly in regard to the way we think and communicate, as well as how we pursue romance, partnerships and relationships, personal values, and finances !!!

Mercury, Venus, and Mars are considered to be "personal" planets as their energy tends to reveal behavior characteristics that make one unique ... the Sun and Moon are also in this group but they never go retrograde ... the following is a list of the timing of their retrograde periods beginning in March and through the end of this year ... we actually have four Mercury retrograde periods this year since the last Mercury retrograde began in late December of 2016 but the last part only occurs during the first 8 days of 2017 ... each upcoming retrograde period will be addressed in more detail later as they actually begin ...

Every planet, no matter which one that is involved in a retrograde journey, goes through a period of influence ... it begins with the approaching backward energy making itself apparent, the actual retrograde period where the energy is indeed moving backwards, and then the energy turning back into forward motion as the planet eventually moves back up to the point where it began its retrograde period ... these points are respectively referred to as:

SHADOW POINT - the planet, still in forward motion, reaches the degree where it will end its upcoming retrograde period

RETROGRADE PERIOD - the degrees and sign, or signs in some cases, where the retrograde takes place

EXIT RETROGRADE ZONE - the degree and sign where the retrograde period began to which the planet has now returned to and is passing over ... considered by some astrologers as the planet returning back up to full speed ...

Shadow points aren't always thought of as being that detrimental, but they often will produce some kind of energy or event that appears to foreshadow what the upcoming retrograde period will involve ... the retrograde period is the actual time where one should slow down and be careful as to actions being taken especially in regard to which particular area of life the planet, and the sign it is retrograding in, rules or exerts its energy over ... if you've had a natal chart done then you will get an even better idea as to where this backward energy has the potential to present in your life for you to deal with in regards to the house or houses it occurs in, natal planets it aspects, and natal planets the retrograde planet crosses back over ... once the retrograde is over the planet has now resumed forward motion and in most cases it is not a problem to proceed with what needs to be addressed in your life, but one might want to be somewhat more cautious and not move too quickly until the planet exits the retrograde zone ...



The following is a brief description of the general effects of a Mercury or Venus retrograde period ... as mentioned before, they will be dealt with in more complete detail later as they occur ...

MERCURY - Mercury goes retrograde 3 and sometimes 4 times a year ... it governs our thinking and how we communicate naturally governing the 3rd house (Gemini) of the horoscope ... it also governs the 6th house (Virgo) thus making its retrograde period a time when work and health issues arise especially in regard to the sign or signs it takes its retrograde journey in ... as a rule, 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 - that goes double for USED CARS, computers or anything that involves electronics ... 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 becoming 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 !!!



VENUS - Venus goes retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... Venus naturally governs the 2nd house (Taurus) which addresses money, how you earn it and how you spend it, as well as personal values ... it also naturally governs the 7th house (Libra) which addresses face-to-face partnerships and relationships ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers or friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging ... this is also a time when our personal values get reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere ... the main purpose of a Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract ... it's NOT a good time to purchase "luxury " items if you can wait because when Venus stations back into direct motion you might well find yourself thinking "Why did I spend THAT MUCH MONEY on something I really didn't need or want", or you may simply feel you did not get the anticipated value for what you spent your hard earned money to purchase ... often in a Venus retrograde money can become low and scarce and we could also end up having to spend money we hadn't counted on spending, but in some cases one may end up getting money "coming back" to them from one source or another!!! ... it is not usually a good time to begin a new job if you can wait because you may never get the money you expected out of the job, and the job might not pan out down the road for some reason ... that being said, unfortunately as a Venus retrograde can indicate the "tightening of the purse strings", salaries could be cut back or the job may be terminated for one reason or another ... we also tend to become a little less sociable and often forget our manners ...  ABOVE ALL ELSE, weddings are most certainly a huge NO-NO as this is the planet which rules romance, love and affection - do you really want that energy going backwards on the day you say "I Do" ???

The following are the actual dates of the upcoming personal planet retrograde periods in case you would like to mark your calendar or make a note in order to be prepared for something important you may be planning ... and for the sake of saving excessive typing, these are the following letter abbreviations to note the period of the particular retrograde : 


SP = Shadow Point  

RX = Retrograde Period

ERXZ = Exit Retrograde Zone :



VENUS :

SP : 1/30 ...  26 degrees 55 minutes PISCES

RX : 3/4 - 4/15 ...  13 degrees 9 minutes ARIES – 26 degrees 55 minutes PISCES

ERXZ : 5/18 …  13 degrees 9 minutes ARIES

MERCURY :

SP : 3/27 ...  24 degrees 16  minutes ARIES

RX : 4/9 - 5/3 ...  4 degrees 51 minutes TAURUS – 24 degrees 16 minutes ARIES

ERXZ : 5/20...  4 degrees 51  minutes TAURUS

MERCURY :

SP : 7/24 ...  28 degrees 25  minutes LEO

RX : 8/12 - 9/5 ...  11 degrees 38  minutes VIRGO – 28 degrees 25 minutes LEO

ERXZ : 9/19 …  11 degrees 38 minutes VIRGO





MERCURY :

SP : 11/14 … 13 degrees 0 minutes SAGITTARIUS

RX : 12/2-3 - 12/22 … 29 degrees 18  minutes SAGITTARIUS – 13 degrees 0 minutes SAGITTARIUS


ERXZ : 1/10/2018 … 29 degrees 18 minutes SAGITTARIUS 

Now you have an idea of what to expect over the next 12 month period in regards to the backward motion and resulting potential influence of these two personal planets as they make their retrograde journeys ... also be aware that the period from 4/9 through 4/15 could prove particularly challenging as the next Mercury retrograde will be embedded in the final days of the Venus retrograde !!! ... transiting retrogrades affect everyone because the energy we feel from the retrograde planet is "different" while it is, so to speak, "moving backwards" ... it doesn't mean it is all doom and gloom and something that should be dreaded ... sometimes a retrograde period may come and go with side effects barely noticeable while other times it could prove extremely challenging ... but that of course is going to depend on where you are in life and what is going on around you ... for those born with any of these planets retrograde in their natal chart, I sometimes have found these clients seem to navigate these often choppy waters with less stress and aggravation ... and you have to keep in mind that these particular energies aren't the only ones producing influential energy down here below ... there are always many different energies in play "upstairs" at any given time which results in the universal energy affecting one through transits around their natal chart, progressions to their natal chart, solar returns, lunar returns and a vast array of other cosmic influences which can usually be deciphered for you by a credible astrologer ... and certainly, as previously stated, if you've had a natal chart done, then you will get a clue as to where in your life the retrograde energy has the potential to affect you !!!

Though we all will probably experience some kind of effect from the ensuing retrogrades, those that may be more sensitive to the energy include Aries, Pisces, Taurus, Leo, Virgo and Sagittarius born as these are the actual signs in which the various retrograde periods will take place … Gemini, Virgo, Taurus, Libra may be especially sensitive to these retrograde periods as these two are your ruling planets : Mercury = Gemini and Virgo, and Venus = Taurus and Libra …

Ultimately retrograde periods are simply Universal time outs put in place to slow us down and give us the opportunity to get back in sync with the Universal rhythm thus making them thought of as global wake-up calls ... so why try to swim upstream in a raging current of disruptive planetary energy … go with the flow - adjust, adapt and try your best to be patient as well as keeping that sense of humor about you !!! … and, most importantly, in trying to determine what is going on around you due to planetary energy interplay and influence as nothing is set in stone, it is always a good thing to keep in mind a phrase when synthesizing the overall astrological energy at any given moment in time - "MODIFIED BY WHAT ???"

"Everything must change ... nothing stays the same ... everyone must change ... no one stays the same ... "

A DEEP DESIRE FOR MAGIC AND ROMANCE IN LOVE !!!

VENUS began its initial transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Pisces today, January 3rd, at 2:47 AM EST ... I'm sure many of you caught the phrase "initial transit" - more about that shortly ... Venus was last in Pisces from March 12th through April 5th, 2016 ... this Venus is all about dreams and wishes, fairy tale endings, love at first sight, and happily ever after - well maybe !!! ... Venus is exalted in Pisces - a planet that is exalted in a sign expresses its energy more harmoniously and visibly through having its forces increased as well as its virtues magnified - especially in this case since Pisces ruler Neptune is considered to be the higher vibrational octave of Venus !!!



Venus in Pisces enjoys being compassionate, tenderhearted and helpful ... often one relates to others by taking the role of either the rescuer or a person looking for help ... affection is usually expressed idealistically, romantically, sympathetically, or sometimes evasively ... there is a deep desire for magic and romance in love ... one of the obstacles here can be a lack of clarity about what you want or a failure to be objective in regards to others which can ultimately set you up for disappointment, disillusionment, or possibly deception ... this energy needs not only love but an emotional connection as well otherwise it makes one feel very lost ... another caveat is to not become one who is afraid and holds back from expressing ones feelings and thus end up suffering in silence !!!



It is very easy under this energy to idealize love and loved ones ... one must guard against putting people and love on the proverbial "pedestal" because when reality sinks in the results can often be devastating ... sometimes a lack of discrimination can lead to highly frustrating attachments ... in this energy, one often wants a beautiful dream in their love relationships, yearns for a true soul mate, or can be psychically attuned to ones partner ... since Pisces is a water sign, Venus traveling here is especially subject to the emotions being a large part of the drive - even more so than usual!!!



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



Venus in Pisces teaches us to love through accepting - the love of all ... in fact, LOVE IS ALL ... this  energy sees the Eternal Life principle flowing through every manifestation and therefore uniting the soul with all of life ... it is said that this placement of Venus most likely has more innate ability for inspired artistic creativity than any other ... also at heart one knows and feels that love is everything - everything is regarded as being alive and sacred ...



Venus in Pisces can yield an extremely complex love nature ... this is due to having a highly evolved sense of love as unconditional and of beauty as a healing property, but on the other hand the fears and doubts that can accompany this energy can make one inclined to see love as something one "needs" and beauty as something to "get" or to "own" ... the truth here is that each one of us is a creation of love and beauty, but if one begins to doubt this, then one can open them self up to being used and abused ... and in the end, it comes down to the fact that you can only love the world and those in it as much as you love yourself as a part of the world !!! ... the energy of Venus in Pisces can express itself in the following ways :


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

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



Venus now joins Mars and Neptune in this dreamy, trance like swim through the emotional "waters" of Pisces ... romance and relationships could be thrown into very murky "waters" and even more so than normal ... WHY you ask ??? ... Venus will actually complete its initial transit through Pisces on February 3rd ... HOWEVER ... it will begin its next RETROGRADE journey on March 4th having gotten no further than 13 degrees 9 minutes Aries ... as a result Venus will return to the sign of Pisces on April 2nd and then have to retrace its step once it stations direct thus making this transit of Venus not fully complete until April 28th !!! ... just a heads up - Venus enters its next shadow point on January 30th when its reaches 26 degrees 55 minutes Pisces the point where it will complete its retrograde journey for 2017 on April 15th !!!

Pisces born individuals, this is the time when Venus shines its beautiful "love light" upon you ... it is usually a good time to ask for what you want as you have the potential to be pretty much irresistible unless of course your natal energy dictates otherwise and the imposing energy of the Venus retrograde should interfere !!!



For everyone, it's time to keep "carefully" searching for the perfect "ahhhh" and seeking love with all the trimmings ... it may just be waiting - all for YOU !!! ... but the ultimate question becomes with all this ensuing retrograde energy, will it truly be what you want ??? ... best to tread the emotional "waters" of love and romance carefully !!!

"SHOCKING" ISN'T IT ???

ZZZZZZZAP !!!! ... and just like that, there was definitely something electric in the air as the planet Uranus completed its retrograde journey for 2016 and stationed back into direct motion Thursday, December 29th, at 4:29 AM EST - definitely an unconventional belated Christmas "gift" bestowed upon us by the Universe as we entered a New Year !!!



Uranus is the planet representing sudden and unexpected change ... it is a shocker ... it gives flashes of insight, rebelliousness and originality ... it represents eccentricity, genius, inventiveness, revolution, intuition and the sixth sense, and everything that happens out of the blue!!! ... Uranus questions and challenges authority, and transcends business-as-usual social and cultural ideas to come to new solutions ... it absolutely insists on freedom but there is also an understanding here that freedom must be learned one step at a time!!! ... it rules electricity, technology, computers, and all things on the cutting edge ... most importantly - at least to me !!! - it is the planet that rules Astrology!!!



While Uranus was in retrograde motion, it was time for all of us to ask what changes are occurring in the world and how we are contributing to or working against these changes - the ability to see the importance between your own personal changes and the ones occurring globally, and the connection between the two, became a strong focal point ...



Uranus has literally been slowing down to shift direction and hovering at 20 degrees of Aries since November 27th, so it may have felt like there was an edginess and restlessness on some level of our lives for the last month adding to the stress of the Holiday season !!! ... since December 23rd, it was, from an astrological viewpoint, literally vibrating at a near stand still sending out its potentially disruptive and erratic "electrically charged" energy ... after it stationed direct on the 29th, many may have experienced some kind of sudden and unexpected occurrence, particularly in regards to any of the previously above mentioned traits, happening to or around them !!! ... has anything happened perhaps within the last week that was sudden and unexpected in some area of your life or the lives of others you know ??? ... or has anyone felt rather edgy and restless without really knowing why ???



There could be a lot of us who experienced elevated tension during this past week especially with Mercury currently retrograde in the sign of Capricorn and a Full Moon building in Cancer that occurred the same day Uranus stationed direct ... in some cases there was most likely a sudden and unexpected change made out of the blue - or even a confrontational situation arose we were not
expecting ... and until the direct motion energy settles in, there could be many sudden and unexpected instances of rebellion, disruption, explosions, of many varieties, and confrontation ...



This Uranus retrograde occurred from 24 degrees 30 minutes Aries back down to 20 degrees 33 minutes Aries ... if you've had a natal chart run, then you might get a good clue as to where this Uranus retrograde may have impacted your life especially on Friday when that jolt of energy began moving outward once again !!! ... now that Uranus is direct we can expect the potential for many changes - it's time to start putting those changes in motion in a positive and not confrontational manner !!!



 As Uranus is currently transiting through the sign of Aries - where the lesson of this energy is all about "awakening" through doing - the Universe has been giving not only Aries born  - who may have especially felt the impact of this retrograde - but everyone a glimpse of things to come and where CHANGE WILL NEED TO BE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED and WILL ULTIMATELY TAKE PLACE while Uranus transits Aries !!! ...



Uranus takes roughly 7 years to completely transit through each sign of the zodiac, and it is now over halfway through its transit through Aries - it will not complete its full transit through Aries technically until March 6th, 2019 ... Uranus began its initial transit through Aries on May 27th, 2010, but due to retrograde motion, went back into Pisces one more time before beginning its complete transit through Aries on March 11th, 2011 ... anything come to mind around those two dates when there might have been a sudden and unexpected shift or event occurring in your life ???



Aquarius born individuals, you may especially feel the forward jolt or thrust of this powerful energy as your period of "hibernation" is over and it's time to move forward once again ... what have you  been thinking about in your life since July 29th of this year that needs some kind of change - major or minor ??? ... what unique things have you discovered about yourself, and where have you felt a need to break free from something or someone in order to express your individuality ???

Aries born, with Uranus currently in your birth sign, you may be feeling an extra burst of edginess in your lives as well as an "electrical charge" urging you to break free of any restraints and assert your unique independence ... this also applies to Aries Rising and Aries Moon born as well ... but we all will feel this energy impacting our lives somewhere and if you've had a natal chart done, look to where 20 degrees 33 minutes Aries falls and you might get a good idea in which area of your life this necessary CHANGE is going to manifest !!!!



Uranus remains in direct motion until August 2nd/3rd depending on the time zone in which you live ... this forward motion will take Uranus from 20 degrees 33 minutes Aries up to 28 degrees 31 minutes Aries ... so now we all have this energy - to be different, to be independent, to be rebellious, to have our own freedom and to do things suddenly and unexpectedly - turned outward ... and in the fiery sign of Aries as well - YIKES !!!



Below is a reminder of what the energy of Uranus transiting through Aries may produce:



Uranus in Aries is energy whose mission it is to blaze new trails in science and social reform ... freedom to act in ones own way is of paramount importance ... there is courage, daring, initiative and resourcefulness ... if this energy becomes afflicted it can turn explosively impulsive, politically fanatic and violent ... this energy can make one very blunt and outspoken ... it demands change and refuses to live in the style of the parents or preceding generations ... the spirit of adventure is strong, and constant new experiences are required in order to remain happy and productive ... impulsiveness and bad temper are the pitfalls with this energy ... the challenge is to learn to develop more consideration towards others and a greater ability to cooperate ... when the urge for such great individualism this energy produces is carried out to extremes, it can blind people to the social structure on which a collective group endeavor depends ... no doubt the children born during this transit will certainly be some of the movers and shakers of the future ... Uranus was last in Aries from 1928 - 1934 ... it takes Uranus approximately 84 years to make one complete transit around the entire zodiac ...



Uranus in Aries is a pioneer that is quick to make a complete break from the conventional and take off in new, unexplored directions - including both social reform and new breakthroughs in science ... with the advancement of technology today just think of the possibilities the positive use of the energy could yield !!! ... it is said that Uranus in Aries liberates one impetuously ... there is a strong need for freedom and openness ... and when one breaks loose they will do so energetically, quickly and assertively ... the basic intention of Uranus in Aries is to re-assert one of the most fundamental human rights - the freedom to do what you want to do, and with this raw and primitive impulse, it can give rise to extremes including on one side being the reactionary and rebel to the other side of harnessing the courage and stamina to stick to ones resolve in the battle to lay the foundation for a new beginning in some field of human endeavor ...



So remember, as we are winding down from the hectic pace of the Holiday season which has no doubt left many of us exhausted, we are simultaneously being "charged up" to boldly and assertively move forward into the New Year to progressively bring about change and independence somewhere in our lives in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth  - "SHOCKING" ISN'T IT ???