IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR ???

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR - WAIT A MINUTE !!! ...whether we like it or not - NOT !!! - Mercury began its third and final RETROGRADE journey for 2018 on Friday, November 16th, at 8:33 PM EST just hours after Venus stationed back into direct motion !!! .... and you are well aware if you've been following my blogs, then you know pretty much what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde - as always ... EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!! ... some of you may have noticed the energy beginning to move backwards already when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on December 6th - back on October 28th when it reached 27 degrees 16 minutes Scorpio  ... from now on 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 !!!



This is a dual sign Mercury retrograde taking place from 13 degrees 29 minutes Sagittarius back to 27 degrees 16 minutes Scorpio ... Mercury was last retrograde in Sagittarius in December of 2017 and it was last retrograde in Scorpio in October 2014 ... anything come to mind from those periods in your life ??? ... and what will most likely make this potentially an especially annoying Mercury retrograde is that it occurs at the beginning of the busy Holiday shopping season ... buying gifts could prove not only frustrating and irritating, but end up causing us to buy the wrong gift, being overcharged for some reason, finding out we didn't get what we thought we were getting, or even now discovering something we purchased earlier was not the right choice ... AND just how challenging wil Cyber Monday sales be this year ??? ... tis the season to be jolly - HO HO ... HOH - NOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!



Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others ... partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods, and maybe even more so with all the added stress of the Holidays stirred in the mix ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially  Cars - a big NO NO, computers or anything that involves electronics - once again looks like Holiday shopping be damned !!! ... 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 also 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 .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is anyway 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 ...



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 !!!



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 retrograde journey 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 ... this is NOT the time to make vast sweeping changes ... rather one should keep an eye open for possibilities that could prove more satisfying once the energy has returned back to direct motion ...



Mercury begins this retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius a sign ruled by Jupiter which is also the planet that is the natural ruler of the 9th house ... areas that may then be given issues to arise in 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 - and ironically Jupiter has recently begun its transit through the sign of Sagittarius among other things encouraging us to do just that !!! ... all above mentioned areas being ruled by the 9th house !!!

On December 1st, Mercury returns to the sign of Scorpio ... in Scorpio, Mercury retrograde challenges us to find the courage and honesty to go deep within ourselves, facing our own inner demons, in order to bring about transformation and change in our lives in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth !!!

Mercury retrograding in the sign of Scorpio can bring focus to the areas of life ruled by Pluto, the ruling planet of Scorpio, and 8th house matters - the house that Scorpio naturally rules ... so issues could arise regarding things which are hidden - especially in the unconscious self, the masses, crime, phobias and obsessions, slow growth, birth and death, isolation, coercion, kidnapping, bacteria and viruses, generation/regeneration/degeneration, secrets and things kept undercover, plumbing, dictatorships and unpopular causes - all of these things ruled by Pluto !!!

There could also be issues regarding support one receives from other people - including financial, moral, spiritual and physical, legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters, sex, spiritual/physical regeneration, psychological rebirth, degeneration and death - both literal and figurative, occult matters, sleep, deep research, investigations, hidden assets, assets of partners alimony, and surgeries - all of these matters represented by the 8th house !!!

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health and nutrition, among other things, so there could be more potential to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde  ... while in Sagittarius, there could be more potential to have health issues with the liver, hips and thighs ...  while in Scorpio, there could be issues with the eliminating and reproductive systems which are areas ruled by Pluto, and the genitalia which are the anatomical areas Scorpio rules !!!

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



If you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses 13 degrees 29 minutes Sagittarius back to 27 degrees 16 minutes Scorpio lie in your chart, then you may get a good idea as to what the main issues this Mercury retrograde has in store for you !!!



Gemini and Virgo born since Mercury is your natural ruling planet, this is your time to "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 on August 18th/19th !!!



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 (December 6th).


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 if it does last, I want to be the first to know about it. E-mail me and let me know). And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either. Hold off until AFTER December 6th !!!


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. When you do go to purchase your parts in December after the 6th, you will most likely find better deals and buys.


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. Smile.


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, dear heart?


And so it is. Three times a year, sometimes four, 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 !!!"



Those of you born between November 17th and December 5th will definitely have Mercury retrograde energy in their birthday chart for the whole year ahead ... those born on November 16th and December 6th may or may not get this backward energy depending on the time of your solar return !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart:



The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return, is summed up below by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in 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 !!! "



For all of us, now 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 August 30th through September 21st/22nd, or, like Gemini and Virgo born, actions we undertook since the last Mercury Retrograde ended on September 21st/22nd ... and it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to have issues arise from previous Mercury retrogrades in particular the retrograde periods from July 25th/26th through August 18th/19th and March 22nd through April 15th of this year ... all of these being the most recent Mercury retrogrades as well as the Mercury retrograde periods in 2017 ... and in some cases even further back than that !!!



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 wreaks its cosmic havoc for the next 21 days ... Mercury remains retrograde until December 6th ... so slow down and try not to act too impulsively and swim upstream 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 that tempers will flare and patience may become very scarce at times ... most importantly, keep that sense of humor close at hand ... it will definitely be needed many times during the next 3 weeks !!!



As always my fellow beings of light, when all is said and done, the burning question becomes whether or not will we become the victim of Constant Cosmic chaos, the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity - or perhaps both ???

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING !!!

The SUN emerged out of the dark, brooding sign of Scorpio blazing its way into its exuberant, joyful transit through the cheerful, optimistic and highly adventurous sign of Sagittarius today, 11/22, at 4:02 AM EST ... this is probably the most positive sign of the Zodiac !!! ... Sagittarius needs to shine for its benevolence, shine through its optimism and enthusiasm, and seek recognition for its ideals ... freedom is sought and valued on all levels - mental, emotional, physical and spiritual ... this is the sign of straightforwardness and absolute honesty - in certain cases a little too much !!!



Sagittarius, naturally energetic and outgoing, usually attains its goals through THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING !!! ... here we have serious thinkers concerned with the well  being of mankind as well as their own lives ... often the truth is spoken very frankly and undiluted so it's best to develop a thickened skin with this energy ... there is a desire here to expand into previously undreamed of realms viscerally through experience and the excitement of adventure ... there is strong inward drive to travel far and fast either geographically and/or in thought ... the creative urge is also very strong in Sagittarius which can truly help make the Holiday season "the most wonderful time of the year" !!!



Sagittarius is a mutable (flexibility), masculine fire sign ... it's glyph is the Archer's arrow ... it is ruled by the planet Jupiter whose keywords are benevolence, expansion and protective urge ... its key phrase is "I UNDERSTAND" and keyword is "VISUALIZATION" ... anatomically it rules the hips and the thighs - and there certainly can be the tendency for a lot of "expansion" in those areas of the body especially during this season of the year, right??? ... Sagittarius is the sign opposite of Gemini in the natural zodiac ...



Sagittarius it the natural ruler of the 9th house - a house of "LIFE" whose keyword is "ASPIRATION" ... the 9th house denotes your higher mind and the super conscious ... it relates to law, religion, science, ideals, higher learning, philosophy, psychology, profound mental study, personal dreams and visions ... it shows distant travel, foreigners, foreign dealings, commerce, big business, imports and exports ... the 9th house also represents the church - as a spiritual factor, the clergy, in-laws, grandchildren, intuition, ethics and public opinion in general ... it indicates the lessons we learn through living ...



The Sun in Sagittarius teaches us how to live and thrive through seeking ... it is the adventurer ... life is seen as an opportunity ... it never really matters how hard the road ahead is because it is still a road to be traveled on and go places ... there is an intuitive grasp here of how life works - this is the "manager" of the Zodiac ... there is great power at ones disposal under this energy - if you let the proverbial "horses run wild" you might end up the victim of a big crash and be torn apart ... under control and with a high target to aim at, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE !!! ... and so the energy to be harnessed can be any of the following:


POSITIVE: benevolent, generous, enthusiastic, jovial, optimistic, lucky, far-sighted, positive thinker, stimulating, outspoken, colorful, open and honest, able, good judgment, honorable, mobile, expansive, carefree, vital



NEGATIVE: promises too much, excessive, over-zealous, overbearing, blind to details, jumps to conclusions, contentious, inconsiderate, tendency to exaggerate, embarrassing, boastful, moralizing, pompous, volatile, scattered, irresponsible, careless, lascivious




HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ALL SAGITTARIUS BORN - THIS IS YOUR TIME OF YEAR TO SHINE !!! ... it's the beginning of a new Solar year for you, so you have the chance to wipe the slate clean, to a point, and aim for lofty new goals which is right up your alley ... in fact under this energy, we all should be aiming for lofty new goals as we pursue this amazing journey we are on called LIFE !!!



The Sun now joins Mercury, currently in retrograde motion for the first 15 days of this solar transit until December 6th, already transiting through Sagittarius ... consider the Holiday season officially underway as the excitement of a young child's imagination - as well as anyone who is young at heart - shifts into high gear, and hopefully as well as the benefit of good will towards each other !!!




The Sun remains in Sagittarius until December 21st when it will begin its transit through the MOST FABULOUS sign of the zodiac - CAPRICORN !!! ... right my fellow Cappies ???




As the Sun blazes through Sagittarius keep in mind - there is always a direction in which to head and with this comes the encouragement and urge to climb every mountain and reach for the stars ... Each journey begins with one step forward so look upward and focus on one thing that will satisfy you and keep you on track, be true to it, and then - like the Centaur's precisely launched arrow - you will surely hit your intended target !!!

LET YOUR LOVE FLOW ???

VENUS - the planet representing attraction, how you may give and/or receive love and affection, shows how each one of us perceives beauty and happiness, shows what we value and dictates our personal values, shows how you relate, how you create and appreciate harmony through social and artistic expression, shows how we earn and spend our money, and shows exactly what it is you like - completed its retrograde journey for 2018 and stationed back into direct motion Friday, November 16th, at 5:50 AM EST !!!



As the weeks progress you may find little lights coming on in your mind as to decisions made in any of the above mentioned areas since the retrograde period began back on October 5th ... there are an abundance of possibilities within this scope ... a lot of people will realize that a significant partnership or relationship ended, and some of you may now suddenly find yourself having changed your mind or questioning why you made that decision, or the other person did, perhaps too hastily  ... it is also possible the person may come back around and things might look entirely different with Venus moving forward again ... however, if it was time for the relationship to end, then it MUST be let go of  for you to grow personally and spiritually in order to move forward ... for those of you who began significant new partnerships or relationships, ESPECIALLY of the romantic variety, you may discover that they will not have longevity as they were formed when the energy of love and relating was moving backwards ... time will tell ... marriages entered in to during these times often have an added sense of pressure - after all, Venus does naturally rule the 7th house of marriage and partnerships ... unfortunately, also in this economy, this could have been the period where quite a few of you actually had your salary reduced or lost your job and are now job hunting once again !!! ... and let's not forget this little item - how many of you ended up shelling out money on something you had no intention of or no idea that you would be spending money on ???



For those of you who made significant costly purchases, especially of the luxury variety, you may find yourself wondering why you spent so much money or simply realize that what you thought you really desired doesn't hold much attraction (value) anymore or that you have over payed for what you got !!!



As Venus anatomically rules the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste, there could have been health issues arising in these areas of the body ... or some could have had to go back and re-address an old issue concerning these areas ... did anyone have cosmetic surgery during the last 6 weeks, hmmmm ??? .. there is a chance that some of you who did may ultimately not be pleased with the results or feel that you didn't get the enhancement you sought and here too feel you may have over payed for the services rendered, or even possibly have to go back at some future date for some kind of correctional procedure !!!



Keep in mind that since this was a dual sign retrograde, there could have been issues relating to the signs ruled - this time Scorpio and Libra !!!

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 returned to the sign of Libra and the emphasis shifted from the dark, intense side of Venus to the more charming, sociable side which could really have been 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 probably may have found we needed 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 !!!

Everyone should try and think back to the period between December 19th, 2016 through January 27th/28th, 2017 - is there something you may have begun in regards to any of the above mentioned areas Venus rules that became an issue for you during this Venus retrograde period ??? ... it is very common for this to occur ... to that end, anything begun during this current Venus retrograde period that just ended may yield problems in the days, weeks or months ahead, or lie dormant until the next Venus retrograde period begins !!!

Taurus and Libra born individuals, your period for inward reflection and review - especially of what has transpired in your life since the end of the last Venus retrograde on January 27th/28th, 2017 - is now over and once again you start moving forward to pursue new avenues of personal and spiritual growth and maturity ... there could have been some significant insight, if you were paying attention during the last 6 weeks, that enlightened you as to what, where or who was no longer serving you and was not truly reflecting who you are on the inside as well as preventing personal and spiritual growth ... and this also is a possibility for all of us !!!

Venus stationed direct at 25 degrees 14 minutes Libra on Friday, November 16th ... although now direct, Venus remains in it's retrograde zone -  the beginning degree at which Venus actually entered its retrograde journey on October 5th, which was 10 degrees 50 minutes Scorpio, and must come back to - until December 17th ... then Venus will be considered back up to full speed once again ... but is this retrograde energy completely over yet ??? ... and don't forget if you had a birthday from October 5th through November 16th, you have got this Venus retrograde energy for the whole year ahead per your solar return this time and the sign in which you got it depends on your birthday  ... however, those born on October 5th and November 16th may or may have not gotten this energy  in their solar return depending on the time your solar return actually occurred this year ... now you can understand why it is so important to have a natal chart run for reference as to how the cosmic energy personally affects you on your journey through life !!!



AND .... least we forget,  Mercury is currently in its third and final retrograde journey for 2018 which on Friday, November 16th at 13 degrees 29 minutes Sagittarius, which is ruled by Venus, and for many it may feel as if the Venus retrograde isn't entirely done with yet with the possibility that some of the issues that arose during the Venus retrograde may still be lingering or come back up again especially if they were ignored and not taken care of adequately with the confusion and disorientation Mercury can cause in retrograde motion and it will not station back into direct motion until December 6th !!!



Taurus and Libra born you obviously have a lot to be processing during this time ... but more apparent is the fact that the Universe is trying to get every one's attention in regards to something in these areas that has to and MUST be addressed !!!




Venus now moves forward to once again to complete its journey through the sign of Libra, yet for a second time, the first being September 9th ... below is a reminder of what this energy is all about in case you have been too distracted to remember :




 Venus is very much at home here - considered to be in dignity - as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Taurus ... Venus was last in Libra from October 14th through November 7th, 2017 !!!

Venus in Libra tends to first have a highly mental approach - because Libra is an air sign - to love and romance with the emotional factor often coming into play later ... it enjoys art, harmony, and certainly people ... it can be charming, diplomatic, and graceful in relating to others ... affection is expressed with elegance, charm, and consideration ... fairness, balance and gentleness are qualities used when interacting with others ... sometimes there can be such an excessive desire for peace and tranquility that one avoids having to face issues which ultimately can inhibit intimacy ... there is pleasure found in balance and in beauty ... this energy appreciates symmetry ... the handling of money and possessions is most likely cooperative even though at times there could be a competitive edge ... Venus in Libra wants affection, beauty and ease in love relationships with a need for equal sharing between one and ones partner ... this Venus is also equally concerned about justice and fairness !!!

Venus transiting through Libra teaches us how to love through relating with others ... it's the aesthetic ... one can appreciate and understand art and society on their own separate levels ... there is an inner sense of harmony here which yields the ability to see life in terms of beauty and justice ... this ability comes from more of a mental approach rather than an emotional one ... here one recognizes that beauty is important with the question arising whether or not it is more than or simply skin deep ... the ultimate answer is that it is both !!!



Venus in Libra can easily be attracted to ones inner beauty in addition to or rather than their outward appearance ... there is also probably a fear of conflict and disharmony ... ugly scenes, feeling unattractive, uncouth behavior and fake love are strongly disliked ... this energy is likely to attract either popularity or wealth, or both ... social harmony, tastefulness, being in love, beautiful surroundings and true marriage are highly appreciated here ... the energy of Venus in Libra can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: eye for beauty, strong color sense, good ear, artistic, affectionate, likable, magnetic, fair-looking, refined, graceful, pleasant, socially correct, romantically steadfast, relates well, harmonious, just, empathetic, broad-minded

NEGATIVE: hung up on appearances, oversensitive, music snob, art snob, takes personal liberties, frivolous, seducing, vain, affected, phony, overly concerned with etiquette, superficial, insincere, avoids conflict, indifferent, cold, cynical, social outcast

Libra born individuals, this is your time when the love light of Venus shines on you - even though it usually always does as it is your ruling planet !!! ... and, as always, ask for what you want especially during this period as you might just get it !!!

Remember ones personal ideal is something to strive towards and not stubbornly insist upon ... relationships will ultimately prosper on love and understanding of the best AND the worst ... and certainly the undeniable purest expression of Venus in Libra is developing the ability to lend grace where awkwardness exists and to gain understanding in the midst of strife !!!




 It's now time once again to seek beauty and learn to truly appreciate it for what it is ... determine where your passion for the pursuit of justice truly lies ... play nice with the other children ... and ultimately it's time to discover and understand the true "beauty" of partnerships and relationships and how they can manifest positive personal and spiritual growth in your life !!!

As for the Venus retrograde period being complete, it's time to try to live, laugh and let your love flow but somewhat cautiously to begin with, and hopefully Cupids arrows will now be flying back on target towards lovingly piercing your heartstrings instead of impaling you in ya BUM - well maybe not until after Mercury stations back into direct motion on December 6th !!!

SPIRITUAL WARRIORS RISE UP !!!

Mars, the planet of action, aggression and initiative began its transit through the emotional, compassionate sign of Pisces Thursday, November 15th, at 5:21 PM EST ... Mars was last in Pisces from December 19th, 2016 through January 27th/28th 2017 ... Mars, being a planet with a "fiery" reputation, loses some of its force moving through a water sign such as Pisces ... nevertheless, it has drive and ambition but on different levels and can still pack quite a punch !!!

Mars in Pisces is naturally sensitive, compassionate, and vulnerable ... it may express its energy through the arts which most likely would include some form of beauty in action such as dancing or playing a musical instrument ... alternately, it can be drawn towards healing or helping activities, fighting for causes, or, being drawn to the darker side, escaping reality especially through drugs and alcohol ... here one is trying to balance self-assertion and self-sacrifice and/or action and intuition .. one may assert oneself with kindness, idealism, or empathy, but there also comes the risk of inflating ones own will as ones supreme value ... however, having faith in a Higher Power and a sense of the oneness of life, the will and initiative would be softened by compassion !!!

Physical energy and sexual drive could be influenced by ones dreams, moods and emotions ... one might feel vulnerable or unclear about who they are thus making them susceptible to the feelings and emotions of those they are around ... intuition, inspiration, a spiritual urge, or a need to save, rescue or heal are likely to be highly motivating factors ... it is often said in Astrology that Mars in Pisces can be the marking of the "spiritual warrior" ... and with Neptune currently transiting through Pisces, the sign it naturally rules, the potential is greatly increased !!!

In addition, the gifts of imagination, sensitivity, and intuition are often manifested in the creative fields, thus this can also be the marking in a natal chart for actors or those in the entertainment industry ... Mars in this sign seeks involvement whether it be with a partner, an idea or a passion ... it frequently shoulders others' responsibilities without complaint ... Mars in Pisces can be self-sacrificing or it can greatly inspire others in some way ... the down side to this very subtle energy would be the danger of becoming unfocused and restless and being instilled with a great drive for an escape from reality which unfortunately can produce an abusive use of drugs and alcohol !!!

Mars in Pisces teaches us that we get through accepting ... it's the soft touch ... what is desired is gotten through subtle or indirect means ... having strong emotional undercurrents influencing ones actions, there is a need to discover what they are and whether or not they are justified to avoid being tugged this way and that way ... there is an uncanny ability with this energy to drift and immerse oneself into the feelings of others ... and unless one can tune into this subtle energy and try to refine ones coarser and more material desires, it is likely that in the end one will be seduced by their own seductiveness ... personal moods are infectious but one can also be easily "infected" themselves ... a lot here depends on one being aware of exactly what they want and not giving in to vagueness ... what is so energizing about Mars in Pisces is something that one possesses is more emotional than physical, of the Soul rather than of the body !!! ... the expressive energy of Mars in Pisces can be manifested in the following ways:

POSITIVE: fascinating, charismatic, subtle, diffuse, charitable, congenial, self-sacrificing, tender, inspiring, imaginative, generous, psychic, stealthy, sensuous, healing, intuitive, compassionate, diplomatic, humorous, fluid

NEGATIVE: neurotic, volatile, evasive, unfocused, easily given to seduction, malleable, self-deluding, weak/lazy, gushing,  fanciful, indiscriminate, temperamental, treacherous, confusing, invasive, resentful, frustrating, absurd, inconsistent, scandalous, impotent/frigid




Pisces born individuals, this is your period of roughly seven weeks of receiving that extra boost of energy to accomplish whatever you set your mind on to get done - the cosmic joke here is that Mercury will be retrograde for  21 days of this 47 day transit of Mars ... for everyone it is a good time to identify that part of ourselves to which others are drawn and to which we, too, must follow ... in other words - SURRENDER !!!

Aries born since your planetary ruler has entered into a new sign, you are now being required to learn new lessons this time on a more spiritual level if the energy is used positively ... also don't be surprised if some of you seem to lose your natural born "get up and go" energy while Mars transits through the watery sign of Pisces ... in fact many of us may find that is the case especially with the current Mercury retrograde added into the mix !!!

Mars once again joins Neptune, currently retrograde and stationing back into direct motion next week on November 24th, in the sign of Pisces thus increasing the potential that a lot of us may be drawn towards the pursuit of a highly focused spiritual "vision quest" - or will some fall to the depths of escapism, deception and/or addiction ???

Mars remains in the Pisces until December 31st - a great way to enter a New Year with Mars entering the sign it naturally rules which is Aries ... for all you "spiritual warriors", new or well seasoned, spread your compassion, healing and knowledge as far as your intuition and imagination leads you !!!

SEEKING THE MEANING OF LIFE AND HOW WE ARE A PART OF IT !!!

MERCURY began its initial transit through the philosophical, visionary, idealistic, inspirational sign of Sagittarius Wednesday, October 31st, at 12:39 AM EDT ... Mercury was last in Sagittarius from November 15th, 2017 through January 10/11th, 2018 ... a  longer than normal transit due to its final retrograde journey for 2016 and that will be the same situation this year !!!



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 !!!



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 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 and how we are a part of that !!!

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 is currently the only planet transiting through Sagittarius but will be joined by Jupiter on November 8th and the Sun on November 22nd  ... Mercury remains in the sign of Sagittarius until - WAIT FOR IT - January 5th !!! ...  Mercury will only get about halfway through the sign of Sagittarius when it will begin its third and final retrograde journey for 2018 at 13 degrees 29 minutes Sagittarius on November 16th and go back to 27 degrees 16 minutes Scorpio where it will end its retrograde journey on December 6th ... Mercury entered its next shadow point back on October 28th when it reached 27 degrees 16 minutes Scorpio !!!



Sagittarius born, we anxiously await all of the scathingly brilliant ideas you are going to come up with while Mercury transits your birth sign !!! ... we all may come up with some as well !!! ... just be aware that many of these ideas will most likely have to be revisited and revised in some way due to the retrograde period - especially those we come up with from November 6th through December 6th !!!

Nevertheless, during this time, each of us has the potential to enhance our native born intelligence with formal training if we choose ... we should look AND listen ... gear your thoughts to an end that is lasting or even a cause that will inspire and enlighten others ... and what is the ultimate truth one can learn while Mercury transits through Sagittarius ??? ... By opening your mind you will surely come to understand one very important fact of life - KNOWLEDGE IS TRULY POWER !!!