THE URGE TO COMMUNICATE, CONSTANTLY ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND GO ... GO ... GO !!!

MARS - the planet representing the urge to get what you want, personal drive, desires, sexual drive, initiative, courage, and raw energy -  began its transit through the expressive, intellectually curious sign of Gemini today, March 31st, at 2:12 AM EDT ... as Mars usually represents fiery actions and Gemini is an Air sign, Mars has the potential to function extremely well here ... and why ??? ... because AIR GIVES LIFE TO FIRE !!! ... in fact, it may work too well and too fast at times in
Gemini ... Mars was last in Gemini from April 21st through June 4th, 2017  ... what was going on during that period in your life in regards to getting what you wanted, taking initiative, or even your sexual drive ???



A keyword for Mars in Gemini would certainly be "spontaneous" ... under this energy one is mentally active and naturally curious with a very restless mind and tongue ... one can assert themselves flexibly, cleverly, and with many talents ... verbal expression and learning is important ... in fact the desire to talk and communicate is so strong that one may talk incessantly and we may find ourselves thinking or perhaps forced to blurt out - SHUT UP !!! ... in addition, having variety and being on the move is necessary ... energy flows very easily here into mental pursuits and/or skill with the hands ... there is often a display of great dexterity and manual skills ... there is a drive towards learning more, developing new skills and making additional connections between people and/or concepts and ideas ... there is usually versatility and adaptability but there is always the risk of being easily distracted as ones focus and desires change quickly and frequently or get completely lost being influenced by so much stimuli ... think of the phrase "ONCE IS ENOUGH" !!!



Personal identity is tied to ones thinking and communication or to ones manual skills ... sexual drive and physical energy are affected by what one sees, thinks, new ideas, and by conversations ... under this energy if someone is ever ticked off, you can forget about getting a word in at all !!! ... as for partnerships and sex, this energy frequently requires more than one partner for total fulfillment !!!



Mars in Gemini teaches us to learn how to get what we want through communicating on all levels ... it's the live wire ... it's touch and go ... in fact it is a real go-getter - quick to think, quick to act, and then quick to move on ... if you want to know something, it won't be too long before you simply go and ask ... the desire nature, the tongue and the nervous system are all wired together here ... attaining the object of ones desires and satisfying them is usually achieved quickly ... there is a need with Mars in Gemini to learn to slow down in order to see what is really happening in order to discover what it is your heart truly desires ... and this can be challenging as Mars energy, especially in this sign, DOES NOT like to slow down ... know anyone born under this planetary energy ??? ... I rest, so to speak, my case !!!



The contact ultimately to be made under this energy is with ones self - until you are able to concentrate your attention and learn to distinguish between what you want, what you have, and what you can't have, you will fall victim to your nervous system running in overdrive and dictating what you do ... these  high strung energies need a constant outlet ... and when you run into someone who frustrates your energies, it becomes necessary to determine what it really is about that person that is driving you - up, down, forward, backward, wild or plain crazy - and you may ultimately discover it is something inside of YOU !!! ... the energy of Mars in Gemini can be expressed in the following ways :


POSITIVE: sharp-witted, humorous, stimulating, ingenious, dexterous, resourceful, adaptable, quick, agile, lively, mobile, eloquent, inquisitive, communicative, contact-maker, versatile mind, flexible, full of ideas, multi-talented

NEGATIVE: sharp-tongued, sarcastic, irreverent, argumentative, mischievous, meddlesome, unreliable, hasty, jumpy, unable to relax, restless, verbose, nosy, rambling, gets wired crossed, scatters thoughts, changeable, lacking in perseverance




Mars is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Gemini - the only other planet will be the Sun which joins the free for all on May 21st !!!




GEMINI BORN - enjoy this extra burst of get up and go, as if you really need it anyway, for roughly the next six weeks - be careful not to "incinerate" everyone else with this added "fired" up energy while it is engaged productively without influence from any other universal force of energy in play at the same time !!!




Mars remains in Gemini until May 15th ... for all of us, it is a good idea to try and focus on developing one specific talent which may prove very challenging ... find some kind of pursuit that involves discipline in addition to speed and judgment !!!



NOW - let's all get out there and, in one way or another, BUST A MOVE - INTELLECTUALLY ... PHYSICALLY ... OR BOTH  !!!

DID I JUST "WAKE UP" FROM A BAD DREAM OR WHAT ???

MERCURY completed its first retrograde journey for 2019 and stationed  back into direct motion yesterday, March 28th, at 9:59 AM EDT ... "WAKE UP" - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ???



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 March 5th through March 28th, and possibly as far back as February 19th when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey on March 28th at 16 degrees 6 minutes PISCES  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from November 16th through December 6th, 2018 ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from July 25th/26th through August 18th/19th, 2018 ??? ... 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 potentially sooner than later in whatever was going on the first time it crossed over the retrograde degrees !!! ... Mercury crossed over 16 degrees through 29 degrees Pisces from February 19th through March 5th, then went backwards over them during the retrograde, and now moves forward over them once again from March 28th through April 16th - the good old "scrubbing effect" as we sometimes like to refer to it !!!



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 29 degrees 39 minutes PISCES back to 16 degrees 6 minutes PISCES falls - what kinds of issues did you have to  deal with in the areas of life governed by that house or in some cases 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 ??? ... I heard from many people that this Mercury retrograde was particularly rough and it was as well to me ... perhaps because Mercury was already in a sign that it is said to be in detriment in ... and now it remains to be seen if untangling the errors will be more challenging because of this !!!

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 be released 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 ???  ... or how many of you had one or more people come back through your life that you thought you had seen the last of or even forgot about and now most of them are gone or going once again ???  ... and 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 the sign of Pisces already had challenges from the start as Mercury is considered to be in detriment in the sign of Pisces .... this means it is in opposition to a sign that it naturally rules in this case being the sign of Virgo ... therefore there was the potential for more mental and emotional confusion to exist as well as the possibility for very strange erratic dreams and psychic experiences !!! ... it also could have yielded an emphasis for an opportunity to rethink old habit patterns and how we emotionally respond to life’s challenges ... As Pisces is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion, delusion, the spiritual and enlightenment, our minds may have become distracted either by confusion and misunderstandings, already a given in a Mercury retrograde, or strongly drawn to our intuitive abilities and the pursuit of the "ideal" ... also as Pisces, whose planetary ruler is Neptune, naturally rules the 12th house, there could have been issues regarding dealing with our inner strengths and weaknesses; endings on some level of our lives; places of confinement - jails, hospitals or mental institutions; the desire to withdraw to places of solitude so we may quietly reflect on our life and where we are heading; our frustrations; inner consciousness and the subconscious mind; charitable endeavors; we could also have been deeply inspired if we have an aptitude for art, music, dancing or writing; or maybe we were dealing with actions that could ultimately result in our own self-undoing !!!

In regards to overall health, Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could have been more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Pisces especially the area of the feet and pineal glands ... a Mercury retrograde is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery - how many of you did it anyway and did you escape the retrograde wrath, so to speak, or are you thinking perhaps you should have waited ??? ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might have produced catastrophic results !!!

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 December 6th, 2018 ??? ... 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 Pisces which initially began back on February 10th ... Mercury will conclude its transit through Pisces on April 16th/17th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!



And now a reminder of what the energy of Mercury in Pisces is all about for those that need a "re-fresher" course now that Mercury has resumed direct motion :

MERCURY began its dream-like transit through the highly perceptive, psychic sign of Pisces February 10th, at 5:51 AM EST ... while Mercury is in Pisces, the thinking and communicating will be greatly influenced by and through our emotions as Pisces is a water sign, so the mind and tongue will tend to be sensitive, or overly sensitive in some cases, and intuitive with a large dose of compassion thrown in ... Mercury was last in Pisces from February, 17th through March 5th/6th, 2018 !!!



Mercury is said to be in "detriment" in Pisces ... in "detriment" as it is in the sign opposite to the one it naturally rules - in this case being in Pisces opposite to Virgo one of the two signs it naturally rules ... so it is not operating at its full power taking on more of the signs rather than the planet's coloration, and thus visiting where it must conform to rules and regulations of that particular sign ... however, even though it may be frequently challenged by this, Mercury in Pisces still has great potential to produce some highly inspired and creative thinking and ways of communicating !!!



One will often express their intelligence sympathetically ... if one feels safe they can be talkative and very sociable, but if not they will clam up very fast ... this energy gives one a poetic expression or ones language may be lovely and engaging ... communication here is made idealistically, imaginatively or perhaps evasively ... frequently one can make communications with other people on a non-verbal level, and one may be psychically or spiritually tuned in ... one can uplift others through their thinking and/or communicating ... often there is a wonderfully creative imagination and beauty can be created with either the mind or with ones hands ... interests are usually geared toward areas that are inspirational such as art, nature or the spirit !!! 

One could be inclined towards fantasy, evasion, avoidance or denial if what is perceived does not match ones inner ideals ... the phrase "what if ???" may frequently cloud the reasoning process with this energy ... overall, one can be quite flexible in their thinking, have a holistic approach, or even have a natural talent for synthesizing and seeing the whole of any situation ... sometimes the energy of Mercury in Pisces can produce the image of the "absent minded" professor ... one must also take extra care here as Pisces, which is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion and escapism, can lure one to escape "mental" reality especially through drugs and alcohol !!!

Mercury in Pisces teaches us how to think and process through what we are willing and capable of accepting ... it's the poetic mind ... the dreamer of dreams ... the mind is very sensitive under this energy and it can absorb as much information as - if not more than - it learns ... sometimes thoughts and notions will appear to have come from "somewhere else" which will cause doubt in their truth and thus eventually lead to a form of mental exhaustion as a result of resisting cerebral sensitivity and reasoning ... even though this is more the mind of the poet rather than the technician, one is still able to "dream up" both scientific and artistic visions ... here the mind thinks in pictures and one can richly profit by drawing from ones dream life ... it is highly suggested to keep a dream journal - you may be surprised how creatively and divinely inspiring your dreams become from the unconscious influence of the universe !!! 



Mercury in Pisces bestows the potential ability to be in touch mentally with the Collective Unconscious and navigate the vast sea of all the thoughts and feelings that ever were or ever will be ... it is wise to accept and to understand the channel-like quality of ones mind here and to always give expression to what is coming through ... the energy of Mercury in Pisces can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: imaginative, sensitive mind, visually aware, artistic, obliging, psychic, good instincts, receptive, humorous, versatile, good mimic, highly perceptive, philosophical, dreamer, good long-term memory, accepting, refined mind, contemplative, gentle, sympathetic

NEGATIVE: suspicious, evasive, easily freaked out, lazy, easily swayed, irrational, fearful, gullible, obscure, vague, uncommunicative, absent-minded, bad short-term memory, elusive, weak-minded, slow, wimpish, at a loss for words, seeing things



Mercury in Pisces encourages each one to understand that what one lacks in knowledge one makes up for in understanding - so take your time ... you have the power to choose what you take "on board" as you navigate through these emotional waters, and it's up to you to discover how to use it ... use your imagination in a creative fashion instead of becoming a victim of it !!!

Mercury, now direct,  continues its transit through Pisces along with Venus and Neptune already transiting through the sign of Pisces ... the mind will certainly be actively influenced by many inspirational and highly imaginative factors ... it is up to each one of us to determine what is real and what is fleeting ... keep an open mind and allow the Universe to show you a slice of its infinite wisdom and its creative process at work  and how you might incorporate that into producing greater personal and spiritual growth in your life !!! 




Mercury will exit its retrograde zone on April 16th when it reaches 29 degrees 39 minutes Pisces, the point where it began this first retrograde journey for 2019 back on March 5th... Mercury remains in  direct motion until July 7th when it begins its second retrograde journey for 2019 at 4 degrees 28 minutes LEO ... it will be a dual sign retrograde going from 4 degrees 28 minutes Leo back to 23 degrees 57 minutes Cancer where it will station back into direct motion on July 31st !!!



Time for moving on !!!

LOVE WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS - WAITING ALL FOR YOU ???

VENUS began its transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Pisces yesterday, March 26th, at 3:43 PM EDT ... Venus was last in Pisces from February 10th through March 6th, 2018 !!!

Venus in Pisces 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 Mercury, currently retrograde until 3/28, 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 !!! ... Venus remains in Pisces until April 20th !!!

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 !!!



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 will it all truly be what you want ??? ... best to tread the emotional "waters" of love and romance carefully and cautiously !!!

"SPRING AWAKENING" !!!

The SUN blazed its way into the fiery, intense sign of Aries yesterday, March 20th, at 5:59 PM EDT ... being the first sign of the natural zodiac, you will find many astrologers who will joyfully say - HAPPY ASTROLOGICAL NEW YEAR !!! ... also known as the Vernal Equinox, equal days/equal  nights, but more readily known as the beginning of Spring - something we are all bound to put a little more of in our step for now !!! ... however, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere it's the first day of Fall !!! ... the astrological alarm clock has rung and we are awakened from the dream like state the Sun transiting through Pisces may have put many of us in ... we now emerge from those deep emotional waters of Pisces and "dry out" as we proceed to move forward and make potential numerous new beginnings somewhere in our lives as we start taking direct action ... and being followed less than four hours by a Full Super Moon in Libra, it is truly time to release the old and outworn and to begin to make fresh starts as a whole new astrological yearly cycle has begun - just wait until after March 28th to take action when Mercury completes its first retrograde journey for 2019 !!!

With the Sun in Aries, one needs to shine in the following ways: through valor and bravery; shine assertively; shine by being first; seek recognition energetically and impetuously; and shine in ones total self-expression ... Since Aries is a fire sign, the Sun is very comfortable here, considered to be in exaltation, and maybe works a little more efficiently ... we are energized with a desire to start getting things done and begin new projects !!!

Aries is a masculine/fire/cardinal (beginnings) sign ... it is active, energetic, excitable, impulsive, optimistic, and open to change and new experiences ... its symbol is the Ram - assertive, sexual and able to climb to great heights ... its glyph represents the horns and long nose of the Ram ... symbolically the glyph is two half Moons joined by a straight line, which indicates idealism tied to authority and leadership ... its key phrase is "I AM" and keyword is "ACTIVITY" ... anatomically Aries rules the head - Aries born people are often prone to headaches, and sometimes subject to minor injuries around the head and face, and they are also susceptible to harm from fire and sharp instruments as well as being prone to accidents involving high speed ... sometimes they have a tendency to get into violent and dangerous situations ... Aries is the sign opposite of Libra !!!

Aries is ruled by the planet Mars - the ancient God of war, aggression and conflict ... it indicates courage, passion, and competition ... Mars deals with your animal nature, desire and sexual energies ... it shows assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, and competition ... it also governs surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammation, wounds and cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron, and steel ... the action of Mars is sudden, self-assertive, and sometimes very disruptive ... its energy can be used destructively and angrily, in a fighting manner, or with courage and strength ... if you've had a natal chart done, where you find Mars is usually where you expend the greatest energy ... my natal Mars is in the 4th house - the house of home among other things - and I work out of my home !!!

Aries is the natural ruler of the 1st house of the zodiac ... the 1st house keyword is "IDENTITY" and it is a house of life ... the cusp of the 1st house is known as the Ascendant or Rising sign - a very important point in the natal chart - often said to be the "mask" you wear to the outside world !!! ... it shows what the exact degree and sign was on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth - now you know why birth time is so important in Astrology ... the 1st house mirrors your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself outwardly ... it shows how people see you - which may be totally different from your natal Sun sign - and the way you want others to see you ... the 1st house represents the way you "package" and "market" yourself ... it represents your physical body, your health and your early childhood years ... it usually characterizes your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and bearing, and the beginnings of all enterprises !!!

The Sun in Aries teaches us how to LIVE THROUGH DOING !!! ... its the pioneer, the champion !!! ... this energy simply wants to get something started as the Will has free reign to express itself in this sign ... challenges that stir one to action are usually met with great enthusiasm ... patience is a lesson to be learned under this energy as the drive is so strong to move and MOVE NOW!!! ... physical, emotional and mental extremes are all desired in Aries which usually make one all the better for experiencing them - but go too far and one can expect to be extremely lonely ... remember what springs from your body or mind is only as good as what dwells in your heart ... the energy of the Sun in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: assertive, go-getting, crusading, enthusiastic, direct, frank, one-pointed, straightforward, spontaneous, energetic, stimulating, courageous, good starter, warrior caste, leader type, confident, independent, strong-willed, single-minded, original being

NEGATIVE: overly aggressive, unreflective, fanatical, arrogant, blunt, tactless, blind to side-issues, simplistic, impatient, restless, irritating, foolhardy, bad finisher, argumentative, uncooperative, pompous, self-centered, headstrong, thoughtless, intolerant

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ARIES BORN !!! ... not only is this the time of year to begin a new astrological cycle, but also for YOU to SHINE - which you like to do naturally !!! ... for everyone, it is a time for fresh new beginnings on many levels of ones life ... and even better yet - IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING - right ???   ... BUT ... once again keep in mind, for all the energy that is now encouraging us to make new starts, Mercury is still in its first retrograde journey for 2019 in Pisces until March 28th - Oh that cosmic sense of humor !!!

The Sun is currently transiting through Aries all by itself and remains in the sign of Aries until April  20th !!!

It's definitely time to OPEN A NEW WINDOW ... OPEN A NEW DOOR - that is if the pollen count isn't too high ... and, as Auntie Mame herself so vivaciously expressed what many would agree describes the feeling one experiences as the Sun transits through the sign of Aries - it's time to  LIVE ... LIVE ... LIVE !!!

TRYING TO SWIM UPSTREAM IN A RAGING CURRENT OF COSMIC CHAOS ???

Whether we like it or not - NOT !!!! - Mercury began its first RETROGRADE journey for 2019 today, March 5th, at 1:19 PM EST ... once again, if you've been following my blogs, then you know pretty much what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde … as always - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!! ... It is very important to understand that planetary 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 drop back and rethink and review our actions being generated by the planet which is retrograde, especially as the energy relates to the current sign that 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 !!!

Some of you may have noticed the energy beginning to move backwards already as Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on March 28th - back on February 19th at 16 degrees 6 minutes Pisces ... this retrograde occurs completely in the sign of Pisces going from 29 degrees 39 minutes Pisces back to 16 degrees 6 minutes Pisces !!!

It practically goes without saying that things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned, and we often find ourselves re-doing things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ... Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars, a big NO NO - and that goes double for USED CARS, as well as computers or anything that involves electronics ... 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 ... and let's not forget the potential for disruption in anything electrical and/or mechanical !!! ...it is not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!! .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is any way to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it !!!

To RE-peat, Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision - as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... during a 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 ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses these degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life !!!

Mercury retrograding in the sign of Pisces already has a challenge from the start as Mercury is considered to be in detriment in the sign of Pisces .... this means it is in opposition to a sign that it naturally rules in this case being the sign of Virgo ... therefore the potential for more mental and emotional confusion exists as well as the possibility for very strange erratic dreams and psychic experiences !!! ... it also yields an emphasis for an opportunity to rethink old habit patterns and how we emotionally respond to life’s challenges ... As Pisces is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion, delusion, the spiritual and enlightenment, we can certainly expect our minds to become distracted either by confusion and misunderstandings, already a given in a Mercury retrograde, or strongly drawn to our intuitive abilities and the pursuit of the "ideal" ... also as Pisces, whose planetary ruler is Neptune, naturally rules the 12th house, there could be issues regarding dealing with our inner strengths and weaknesses; endings on some level of our lives; places of confinement - jails, hospitals or mental institutions; the desire to withdraw to places of solitude so we may quietly reflect on our life and where we are heading; our frustrations; inner consciousness and the subconscious mind; charitable endeavors; we could also be deeply inspired if we have an aptitude for art, music, dancing or writing; or maybe we will be dealing with actions that could ultimately result in our own self-undoing ... the last time Mercury was retrograde in the sign of Pisces was in 2014 but only for a short time as it began at 3 degrees Pisces and then returned for the majority of that retrograde to the sign of Aquarius !!! ... and as grim as it may sound, don't be surprised if you hear of people who are involved in the arts whose souls have decided to leave the earth plane whether expected or unexpected !!!

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Pisces especially the area of the feet and pineal glands ... a Mercury retrograde is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!

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

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

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

Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (March 28th).

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 - wait until after March 28th !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Re-examine - Well, just about everything ...

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

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

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

Back to me now ... Those born between March 6th and March 27th will definitely have this Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... those born on the 5th and the 28th may or may not get this energy depending on what time you solar return occurs - some may be lucky enough to escape it for this year !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

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

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

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

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

Gemini and Virgo born, as Mercury is your planetary ruler, once again it is time for you to "try" to slow down and review and reexamine what is going on in your life especially since the last Mercury retrograde ended on December 6th, 2018 !!!

For all of us, this becomes a time to review and rethink what is going on in our lives and especially what may have been started or done during the last Mercury Retrograde, that being November 16th through December 6th, 2018 or possibly actions we undertook since the last Mercury Retrograde ended on December 6th, 2018 ... actions taken during previous retrograde periods could come back to haunt us as well - for 2018 that would also include March 22nd through April 15th and July 25th/26th through August 18th/19th ... and perhaps Mercury retrogrades even further back !!!

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 24 days ... as previously stated, Mercury remains retrograde until March 28th !!!

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

In the end my fellow beings of light, as this first Mercury Retrograde period of 2019 is now upon us, the question once again is will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ???

LOVE MUST BE SET FREE !!!

Venus began her often "shocking" and unconventional transit through the progressive, rebellious sign of Aquarius Friday, March 1st, at 11:45 AM EST, which yields the potential to breathe some rather radical new life to any form of love that has become stale, stagnant and/or non-productive - or perhaps it will quickly bring an end to some relationship(s) letting you know in no uncertain terms it is time to MOVE ON !!! ... Venus in Aquarius is a detached yet magnetic love as well as highly unconventional varying greatly from the norm !!! ... Venus was last in Aquarius from January 17th through February 10th, 2018 !!!

Venus in Aquarius can be extremely unpredictable and her capacity for love truly marches to the beat of a different drum!!! ... it indeed likes being unusual or going against the norm in some form or fashion ... relations can be casual, erratic or pursued with openness and tolerance ... affection is expressed experimentally, freely, and unconventionally ... pleasure is derived from being unique and sometimes downright kinky !!! ... the handling of money and possessions can be progressive, intellectual, unpredictable, changeable, or even rebellious ... freedom AND friendship is a requirement in love relationships ... trying to tie this Venus down is a big NO-NO - well except when you are, oh wait ... that's a whole other story !!! ... this energy is often viewed as cool and aloof and one can come across as impersonal and detached ... people of a race, creed, or gender that shock others may sometimes become ones object of affection !!!



Venus in Aquarius gives a kind and loving nature ... it makes one helpful, charitable, but NOT an emotional person ... PERSONAL FREEDOM IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE !!! ... in any relationship there must be the ability to explore varied interests and hobbies, meet new people, and enjoy a wide range of friends ... jealousy is not tolerated and overly emotional scenes will usually cause one to walk away ... this energy is more likely to have platonic friendships because sexual involvements are more emotionally binding than is desired here ... immense popularity and an attraction of many lovers is possible but not of the long lasting variety - romantic attractions are usually sudden and unexpected and can end just as suddenly and unexpectedly as they began!!! ... personal magnetism is directed toward larger concerns than mere romance ... if one wants to remain close to someone under this energy, they must allow their romantic or friendship interest freedom in their relationships with others ...

Venus in Aquarius teaches us how to learn to love through liberation - LOVE MUST BE SET FREE !!! ... there is an open minded and experimental approach to relating and to artistic expression ... it is often difficult for others to see where you are coming from emotionally as ones style can be disconcerting, shocking or just  outright odd !!! ... the ironic twist here is that this energy wants to allow a partner the freedom and space to do as they please, but by giving too much freedom it might actually begin to seem as though the partner doesn't care about you ... the secret though is to learn how to reveal, in a heartfelt way of course, your opinions and questions regarding the freedom of love for the person or persons to whom you feel the closest ...

Venus  in Aquarius can be socially inventive and creatively innovative ... love and friendship absolutely MUST coexist here!!! ... and while there is certainly the idea that with all this unpredictability and need for freedom that lasting love just might be impossible under this energy, one must remember that Aquarius is a FIXED sign !!! ... the energy one might encounter with Venus in Aquarius may include:

POSITIVE: free-loving, idealistic, easygoing, liberal, original lover, non-possessive, unique, mild, cultured, experimental, progressive, eclectic, sparkling, popular, friendly, tongue-in-cheek, convincing, refined, quietly persevering, humane

NEGATIVE: lacks feelings, naive, indiscriminate, erratic, odd lover, unfeeling, peculiar, touchy, insincere, kinky, superficial, promiscuous, impersonal, flattering, sarcastic, stubborn, manipulative, uncompromising, reactionary

Aquarius born individuals, the Universe is energizing you with luck and opportunity while shining the light of love on you for the next few weeks so keep your eyes and ears and heart open and ask for what you want as you just might get it ... Taurus/Libra born, your ruling planet is moving into a new sign - ready to learn some new lessons about LOVE ???



For all of us, Venus in Aquarius has the potential to suddenly and unexpectedly pop our eyes wide open to see and realize there is a different way that may be unique and ahead of its time to understand the process of love and how we approach it !!!

Venus remains in Aquarius until March 26th ... but just to make things interesting Uranus, which rules the sign of Aquarius will re-enter the sign of Taurus, ruled by Venus, for its complete transit on Wednesday, March 6th - ah the course of true love never did run smooth now did it ???


As Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus, the planet of the sudden and unexpected, try to enjoy this unusual and open minded energy after wading through the rather "vanilla" flavored energy of Venus in Capricorn - which there is certainly nothing wrong at all with, right my fellow Cappies ??? ... and should someone approach you and say "WHOSE YA DADDY ???", just realize they are being infused with this delightfully twisted energy so go for it and play along - you just might enjoy it ???

By all means keep in mind that while Venus transits through Aquarius, and as Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus which, among other things, rules Astrology, there is definitely a strong possibility you just might realize there is a "certain" ASTROLOGER out there that you discover you've developed quite a fondness for !!!