O UNIVERSE, WHERE IS THY "STING" ???

The SUN began its transit through the determined, aggressive, shrewd, secretive sign of Scorpio today, 10/23, at 7:23 AM EDT ... we are now being directed to turn inward to face truths about ourselves and what lies beneath  - "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH" - OR CAN YOU ??? ... this energy can be extremely driven but also highly transforming ... being a water sign, you can bet the emotions will become a constant determining ingredient in many of our actions now as opposed to the mental approach of the air sign of Libra ... this energy needs to shine passionately, through its power and resourcefulness, through seeking recognition for its penetration, and maybe through being in the limelight through a compulsive persistence !!!



Scorpio is rarely passive or neutral about anything ... jealousy, being resentful and vengeance are often expressed through this deep, quite private and reserved energy ... recuperative powers are quite remarkable ... here we have the energy of the truth-seeker who uses keen judgment coupled with penetrating insight which ultimately may empower one to exercise a great deal of authority over others ... science, medicine or any field of investigation could attract one ... willpower and persistence are key factors, and even though one may become rather reticent, when pushed one becomes very outspoken and extremely direct ... Scorpio may forgive but it NEVER forgets !!!



Scorpio is a feminine/fixed/water sign ... it is the 8th sign of the natural zodiac ... its key phrase is "I Desire" and its keyword is "Intensity" ... Scorpio is the sign directly opposite to Taurus in the natural zodiac ... anatomically it rules the genitals - Scorpio born are often susceptible to infections of the urinary system and venereal disease ... in addition the inclination towards volatile emotions is the cause of exhaustion and ill health !!!



Scorpio is the natural ruler of the 8th house whose keyword is "regeneration" ... it is a house of endings ... many things are addressed here such as joint finances, legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters, secrets, sex, spiritual and physical regeneration, psychological rebirth, degeneration and death and surgery ... it also shows types of illness !!!



Scorpio is ruled by Pluto - a planet representing destroying or reforming urges and fusion ... its keyword is "transformation" ... it governs things which are hidden from view as well as the masses, subversion, crime, phobias, obsessions, slow growth, birth and death, isolation, coercion, disappearance, bacteria and viruses, plumbing and unpopular causes ... its action is slow and inevitable ... if you've had your natal chart run, where you find Pluto is where you'll find complexity and where you'll have to solve problems on your own and without assistance ... many astrologers would also say that Scorpio is co-ruled by Mars which is considered its ancient ruler as Pluto wasn't discovered until 1930 by Percival Lowell !!!



The Sun is in Scorpio is trying to make us aware of how to live our daily lives productively through pursuing what it is we truly desire ... it is the urge to merge with someone or something else ... it is considered the most powerful sign of the zodiac ... it can usually sense what is going on beneath the surface of most situations ... this ability can make one prone to influence, manipulate, corrupt, purge, harm or heal ... this energy is unchallenged in the ability to bring to the surface the cause of trouble - whether it is heartache, disease, financial problems, etc. ... there is a great understanding as to what sex is for and about ... this energy can easily cause us to get under others skin .. there is also a great intimacy with life itself !!!



The power of Scorpio can appear as a truly magnetic charm making one totally disarming, or it can be downright cruel running over others and striking quite unexpectedly ... there is ability to raise something or someone from the depths or throw them down there ... there are deep and genuine emotions here that are often hidden from the surface ... the greatest gift comes when one is able to let go of the fear and hesitation and allow something or someone in - then there is a magical transformational effect which can lead to great healing !!!



Scorpio likes total involvement, rooting out hidden causes, being persuasive, meaningful work and the untarnished truth ... it dislikes superficial relationships, only scratching the surface, feeling as though someone got one over on them, demeaning tasks and flattering and flattery ... the energy of the Sun in Scorpio can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: intense, loyal, passionate, faith-inspiring, dynamic, regenerating, compelling, magnetic, penetrating insight, scrutinizing, shrewd, resourceful, compassionate, strong and deep, brave, powerful, healing touch, self-sacrificing, intimate


NEGATIVE: obsessive, possessive, fanatical, emotionally draining, coercive, degrading, forces allegiance, seductive, suspicious, cunning, revengeful, self-punishing, cruel, overly rigid view, corrupt, manipulative, jealous, resentful



The Sun now joins Mercury, Venus in retrograde, and Jupiter, about to complete its transit through Scorpio on November 8th, all currently transiting through Scorpio - a lot of energy requiring us to dig deep down and face personal truths that perhaps many of us would rather NOT do !!!



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ALL SCORPIO BORN !!! ... the Sun remains in Scorpio until November 22nd !!!

While the Sun transits the sign of Scorpio, be aware that power comes through YOU: hate, and power kills ... love, and power heals ... the greatest strength here is forgiving weakness ... if you look deeply enough into someone or something you may ultimately find yourself and discover your personal power ... then reaching the point where you are no longer after something, you may suddenly realize what it is you are truly after !!!



Over  the next 31 days we all have the universal power placed in our hands to produce transformation, change, rebirth and healing in our lives as well as others ... or will we sink to the level of vengeance, cruelty, destruction and ruin ???

WHAT LIES BENEATH !!!

MERCURY began its transit through the dark, brooding sign of Scorpio on Tuesday, October 9th, at 8:41 PM EDT ... Mercury was last in Scorpio from October 17th through November 5th, 2017 !!!



Mercury in Scorpio is intense, probing and filled with boundless determination ... this is the placement of the natural born detective always wanting to get to the bottom of things and ferret out information and hidden motives ... it loves tuning into underlying messages ... communication is usually done very passionately and intensely ... a lot of messages are delivered non verbally ... intimate bonds are frequently formed through ones communications ... superficiality is not tolerated ... what is spoken emanates from the depth of ones psyche !!! 



One often thinks about secrecy and silence and sometimes withholds information on purpose ... though the mind is usually thorough and organized, it can be easily swayed by powerful emotions and obsessions ... one seeks the underlying root causes here and is usually unyielding in their quest for information ... detective work might appeal to one here along with anything that looks beneath the surface such as psychotherapy, archeology and, of course, the occult !!!



Mercury in Scorpio can make one critical, skeptical, secretive and suspicious ... opinions are set and difficult to change ... one can also be shrewd, forceful and given to being very incisive through speech or writings ... sometimes one can needlessly wound others and also come across as being rather nosey and invasive ... this position of Mercury is good for the healing professions, chemistry, photography, research and big business ... ones mentality can become so deep and fixed it can overcome any and all obstacles to get what it wants ... one must learn here to avoid using others weaknesses for ones own personal advantage and passing judgment on those less fortunate than ones self !!!



Mercury transiting through Scorpio teaches us all about how our thinking is influenced by what we desire ... it is the super sleuth of the zodiac ... what you desire and what you fear are tightly entangled in your mind ... this mind sees through people and situations ... this mentality rarely misses anything ... a warning here would be not to fall into the trap of being suspicious of malice of intent when it does not exist ... sometimes this energy can create intrigue just to keep the mind on its toes !!!



This mind is basically sharp and efficient knowing that there is always something that needs looking into thus constantly exercising the mental muscle ... the sign of real mental power and superiority here is learning when to leave well enough alone which is usually understood here ... insight is sharpened with the ability to watch and wait silently which this energy bestows ... others can often benefit greatly from the penetrating insight found here ... one is happiest here when not overcome by personal fears and phobias as they end up clouding ones judgment ... this energy likes brain-teasers, mental control and intrigues ... it dislikes mental inactivity, weak-mindedness, lack of subtlety and mincing words ... the energy of Mercury of Scorpio can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: sharp, incisive, subtle, satirical, perceptive, penetrating mind, stealthy, audacious, accurate, investigative, emphatic, determined, good concentration, quick-minded, profound, confiding, insightful, strategic

NEGATIVE: cutting, acidic, sneaky, sarcastic, suspicious, paranoid, intrusive, abusive, uncharitable, grilling, overstated, argumentative, mentally tense, presumptuous, meddlesome, incomprehensible, secretive, devious, scheming



Mercury is now transiting through Scorpio with Venus, currently retrograde, and Jupiter ... One should use the energy of this mental and communicative ability to leave no stone unturned through boundless determination in order to find what they are really after which ultimately is - ONES SELF !!!



Just a reminder - this is the last full sign transit before Mercury begins its final retrograde journey for 2018 which occurs from November 16th, beginning only hours after Venus stations back into direct motion, through December 12th going from 13 degrees 29 minutes Sagittarius back to 27 degrees 16 minutes Scorpio ... it will actually complete its first full transit through Scorpio on October 31st, only hours before Venus returns to the sign of Libra, then return to Scorpio per retrograde motion on December 1st ... lots of tricks and/or treats on Halloween !!! ... and all of this should make the beginning of the Holiday shopping season even more festive, right ???

Mercury, as previously stated, will not complete its full transit through Scorpio until December 12th ... now is an excellent time for a good mystery, to dig down and uncover the true facts, and for each one of us to take a crack at being a super sleuth !!!



In the end, we may find that what we uncover proves to be something much more than simply being "elementary my dear Watson" as we ultimately may discover - WHAT LIES BENEATH !!!

LOVE AMONGST THE RUINS ... FINANCES DOWN THE DRAIN ... MAYBE ... MAYBE NOT !!!

VENUS - the planet which rules social urge, sense of values, love and affection, and financial matters began its RETROGRADE journey for 2018 on Friday, October 5th, at 3:05 PM EST ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers, potential past romantic interests or even friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... frequently one will come to realize why the relationship did not work out to begin with or why it is time to let go and move on - some will not understand this and run the danger of repeating over and over what may have been a very challenging time in their lives ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging ... this is also a time when our personal values are usually reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere !!! ... This is another dual sign Venus retrograde which will go from 10 DEGREES 50 MINUTES SCORPIO back to 25 DEGREES 14 MINUTES LIBRA !!!



One of the main purposes of a transiting Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract and why ... is what you personally value inwardly being projected outwardly positively or is change needed on some level ??? ... and needless to say issues surrounding money and finances can become big problems during a Venus retrograde !!! ... As Venus, anatomically speaking, rules the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste, these areas of the body could encounter some kind of potential problem !!!

Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde motion out of all of the planets ... within its 584-day cycle, Venus stations retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... it was last retrograde from March 4th through April 15th, 2016 going from 13 degrees 09 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 55 minutes Pisces - what was going on in your life during that period that may have had to do with anything mentioned in this blog specific to a Venus retrograde that has now resurfaced for review and rethinking or simply falls apart or must be released ??? ... there is a good chance that any partnership/relationship, especially of the romantic variety, begun during that last retrograde period has now come to a point where it is time to let go and move on !!! ... in fact, ever since Venus entered its shadow point back on September 2nd, issues could have begun to arise foreshadowing what was to come during this retrograde period ... especially issues that may have plagued a particular relationship on and off since Venus stationed back in direct motion on April 15th, 2017 or perhaps even issues that have surfaced in partnerships/relationships that have been ignored even if the relationship was not begun during that particular Venus retrograde period !!!




Taurus and Libra born individuals, this is your planetary ruler so you are beginning your period of personal "down time", so to speak, to review and rethink what has transpired in your life since April 17th, 2017 ... but in addition to you, we all will be subjected to a period of reflection and review in our personal actions in regards to our social urges, sense of values, love and affection, and monetary affairs !!!

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




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"??? ... if you were to take the day of the actual wedding, and count forward to the end of the retrograde period, then that total number of days would be the actual number of YEARS it would be before the energy turned back into direct motion by progression in the event chart ... most likely there would constantly be issues regarding either love, emotions and/or money and that can make things very difficult !!! ... if you are getting married, you should have someone mark the time you are officially pronounced married and then have an event chart run, by a reputable astrologer, for that time and the place to see in which house Venus retrograde falls, and you might get a very good idea where in life issues concerning love, money and personal values may surface during the marriage ... I'm not saying don't get married because I know weddings take time and preparation, just realize you may be adding an unnecessary challenge to the already challenging task it takes to navigate through the waters of an intimate personal relationship united through marriage ... to this end, I would also state the hopefully obvious - a Venus retrograde is definitely NOT the time to begin a new romantic relationship !!! ... but keep in mind if you were born with Venus retrograde in your natal chart, these choppy emotional waters might not be as difficult to navigate as it will be for others !!!

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




PLEASE TAKE NOTE - retrograde periods are not always harbingers of doom and gloom and full of negativity and disaster ... these periods have the greatest potential for each one of us to be able to slow down and review what is making our lives more challenging and take action to correct our course, so to speak, so there isn't so much difficulty in navigating through this thing we call "life" on a day to day basis !!!

As previously mentioned, this Venus retrograde occurs from 10 DEGREES 50 MINUTES SCORPIO back to 25 DEGREES 14 MINUTES LIBRA ... if you've had a natal chart done, look to see in which house or houses theses degrees fall and you might get an idea as to where this energy may surface in your life !!!




Remember that Venus in Scorpio is considered to be in detriment so it is not functioning efficiently to begin with and adding retrograde motion can makes things even more challenging ... it's all about finding out how we love through who and/or what we DESIRE and there can now be conflicting issues arising about what that exactly is for us !!! ... but it is also a time to go deep within and take an honest look at our deepest emotions and feelings and determine whether or not they are being honestly and positively expressed or if we are expressing the in a negative and injurious manner to ourselves and other !!!



On October 31st, Venus returns to the sign of Libra and the emphasis will shift from the dark, intense side of Venus to the more charming, sociable side which can really be challenged by it's backward motion  ... Venus in Libra is considered to be in dignity being in a sign that it naturally rules and operating more efficiently but that has the potential to be greatly challenged by its retrograde motion ... Venus in Libra is all about how we live through relating with others ... and now many of us will probably find we need to fine tune how we do that in regards to who has come and gone in our lives and whether or not they were meant to only be "passing through" or were to be significant for our growth and we may have caused the relationship to dissolve through our own fault !!!

For those of you born between October 6th and November 15th, you will definitely get the energy of Venus retrograde in your solar return chart, your birthday chart, for the year ahead ... those born on March 4th and April 15th may or may not get this backwards energy depending on the time and day your solar return occurs this year !!!

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




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




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

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

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

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

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

A few other things for your consideration .... Scorpio naturally rules the genitals and surrounding areas and Libra naturally rules the lower back, buttocks and kidneys ... that being said, there is always the chance an issue could arise in one of those areas where one has to shell out money they hadn't planned on spending to fix issues !!!




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

Venus remains retrograde until November 16th the same day that Mercury will begin its final retrograde journey for 2018 roughly fifteen hours later in the day !!! ... Venus will not be retrograde again until May 13th through June 13th occurring completely in the sign of Gemini - information for those of you who like to prepare and just might be planning a "significant occasion" during 2020 !!!

With all the above mentioned being said, try your best to keep your temper in check and mind your manners as they may be trying to take a little vacation from you and everyone else as well ... hopefully one will be strong and open enough to receive the illumination and enlightenment this retrograde period will bring and be willing to take an honest and thorough inward look to see if change must be made to further personal and spiritual growth !!!

In the end perhaps if one is not careful enough or simply needs and must learn a valuable life lesson, one of the main results of a Venus retrograde may end up being best summed up by the famous words of the Bard, that would be Shakespeare for those of you in the dark, himself - "The course of true love never did run smooth" !!!

SHAKE ... RATTLE ... ROLL !!!

PLUTO - planet, dwarf planet, etc., take your pick  - associated with death, rebirth, transformation, change, upheaval, healing and renewal - completed its retrograde journey for 2018 on Sunday, September 30th  at 10:01 PM EDT ... Pluto has been in retrograde motion since April 22nd going from 21 degrees 17 minutes Capricorn back down to 18 degrees 45 minutes Capricorn and there undoubtedly has been a lot of reexamination on many levels of changes both we as individuals and as a society have been involved in !!!



Now that Pluto is stationing back into direct motion, things will start to surface that we may have been seeking information about ... secrets will surely begin to be exposed and those involved will most likely be brought into public awareness even if they did not want their questionable actions to see the light of day!!! ... during the retrograde period we have all been trying to understand how we individually impact the Earth and other people as well ... Pluto is over halfway through its transit through the sign of Capricorn ... there are definitely going to continue to be issues arising concerning big business, the economy and governmental policy changes that affect everyone !!!




Pluto tends to expose the "dark side" of things and bring it into the light even when it is not what some would like ... we are  currently witnessing what could be referred to as the shakedown of governmental lawbreakers as well as intense scrutiny of the very process of the way the government is functioning - or not !!! ... also people are empowering themselves to make authority serve the true needs of all people and the planet as well !!!

There are two groups of people that are most likely feeling the effects of this powerful shift even though we all will on some level in our lives ... Scorpio born individuals, this is your ruling planet so now it's time to come out of your period of review and reflection which began around April 22nd and start implementing changes or be prepared for change and transformation !!!



My fellow Capricorn individuals, we are going through massive personal change, upheaval, transformation and even healing and "rebirth" as this energy is making an added impact for us since Pluto is moving through our birth sign, the transit actually beginning in January of 2008, and will not complete its transit through our sign until 2024 due to its lengthy retrograde journeys and slow movement - after all it takes about 248 years to complete one journey around the zodiac !!!



In fact during this transit, Pluto has either crossed over or will be crossing over, or be conjunct as we refer to it, at some point your natal Sun placement at birth with the potential to bring vast sweeping changes to your life ... and it is very important that you do something NOW during this transit in order to move forward productively on your path in life ... the changes may be difficult and challenging but should not be feared as they are necessary and will bring about the birth of something new in your life that will be beautiful and remarkable !!!



For those of you who have had a natal chart done and know in which house 18 degrees 45 minutes Capricorn falls, you most likely will feel some kind of power shift or impact in that area of your life from Pluto stationing back into direct motion ... in fact, it's intensity has really been building since roughly August 29th when Pluto reentered the 18 degree area where it would eventually station direct !!!



Pluto remains in direct motion until April 24th, 2019 when it begins its next retrograde journey at 23 degrees 9 minutes Capricorn going back to 20 degrees 38 minutes Capricorn !!!



We all should now be prepared for an outward upheaval, tearing down, death - not necessarily always physical, rebirth, transformation, change and even the potential for deep healing somewhere in our lives and/or within society - understanding not only that this process is absolutely necessary for personal as well as spiritual growth, but more importantly we should always be prepared to expect the  unexpected !!!



And now that Pluto has completed its retrograde journey for 2018 and begins its forward motion, things may truly once again begin to shake, rattle and roll !!!