JUST HOW STRONG AND SOLID ARE YOUR FOUNDATIONS IN LIFE ???

SATURN - the planet representing the urge for security and safety, that is also known as the taskmaster teaching us the lessons we must learn in life, shows us what we are unsure of or truly fear, and forces us to find the means to acquire discipline, effort and sense of order so that we may overcome limitations and obstacles, and most importantly known as Father Time - began its RETROGRADE journey for 2019 yesterday, April 29th at 8:55 PM EDT ... this Saturn retrograde period goes from 20 DEGREES 31 MINUTES back to 13 DEGREES 55 MINUTES CAPRICORN ... if you've had a natal chart done, then you know in what area or areas of your life, depending on whether or not this retrograde period will take place in one or two houses in your natal chart, Saturn has, and will continue for a while longer, be making you focus your attention on to improve and make sure your foundations are more secure and solid !!!



The main objective of a transiting Saturn retrograde is RESTRUCTURING, if necessary, our foundations to make sure they are strong and solid ... since Saturn is the planet which represents systems and organizations,  during its retrograde period the time has come to re-examine these areas and find ways to improve them and elevate them to a higher level of efficiency ... it  is now time for every one of us to restructure systems, programs,  organizations, and even rules in order to make them function more productively  ... processes and policies will all benefit from re-examination during this period even though it may not always be easy but very challenging as well as frustrating !!!



Saturn is currently transiting through the sign of Capricorn which it began back on December 19th, 2017 ... this is the sign it naturally rules and is therefore is considered to be in dignity operating very powerfully ... Saturn in Capricorn is all about organizing ... this placement frequently gives rise to desire for power, prestige and some kind of authority ... it is considered to be an excellent placement for those interested in politics, business, science or any kind of career that brings public acclaim and recognition ... after all, Capricorn is the natural ruler of the 10th house which is concerned with career and public image !!!



Saturn in Capricorn is persistent, calculating, very careful, highly practical and very good at organization with its razor sharp focus ... but it can also yield a rather cold and reserved air at times ... it is often a marker of those born with this placement who had to struggle to gain personal security early in life ... as a result, one is willing and understands the necessity to work hard to achieve in life and fully expects others to do so as well ... this placement of Saturn can lead one to the highest levels of personal evolution and understanding, or it can cause one to lean towards being overly materialistic and selfish ... one definitely needs to learn to develop a sense of humor as this energy can be so driving and demanding !!!


My fellow Capricorns, this begins our yearly period of review and self introspection as this is our ruling planet ... what has been going on in your life since Saturn stationed back into direct motion back on September 6th, 2018 ???  ... what have you been working on and possibly rebuilding and restructuring that now needs some re-examination and reevaluation to determine whether or not you are on the right track to produce the desired results you are working towards ??? ... or what did you start working on during the last Saturn retrograde period - April 17th through September 6th, 2018 - that now MUST be addressed and either improved upon or simply let go of in order to facilitate personal and spiritual growth ??? ... this applies to everyone as well !!!



Usually people are not very happy when Saturn comes into the picture to teach us and make us learn life lessons that often are very daunting and difficult, but we native Capricorns understand how hard Saturn's "weight" which can bear down on us ... so its retrograde journey each time becomes an opportunity for everyone else to feel and hopefully come to understand what we have to live with all of our life ... challenging - you bet !!! ... and no one would ever say it is an easy task, but the potential for rewards are unlimited if you open your eyes, ears and hearts, allow the universe to lead the way and be willing to go the distance ... after all, if you don't learn the first time, you can make sure the Universe will bring the lessons back around again, and the next time they may end up being even more difficult to deal with in your life !!!

Saturn retrogrades roughly every 12 1/2 months for a period of about 4 1/2 months ... Saturn remains retrograde until September 18th at 4:47 AM EDT ... indeed Saturn teaches every one of us different but difficult lessons in life ... but if you keep your feet firmly planted and try to stay positive and understand that the "light at the end of the tunnel" usually signifies greater personal as well as spiritual growth, you will definitely come through a much stronger person and better for the lessons you have taken seriously and made great personal effort to learn from ... you will definitely be better equipped to deal with life and its many challenges as well as being able to determine if you are truly standing on solid ground or teetering on faulty foundations that will eventually collapse beneath you creating who knows what kind of havoc in your life !!!

LOOKING DEEP WITHIN FOR PERSONAL AND GENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION !!!

PLUTO - whose cosmic energy has the potential to bring about empowerment, destiny, awareness of obsessions, penetration to divulge hidden causes, to produce profound levels of consciousness, can bring about death - not necessarily of the physical body - rebirth, regeneration or destruction, transformation, harming or healing, depth and insight, and  has the energy to enable us with self-renewal began its retrograde journey for 2019 today, April 24th, at 2:45 PM EDT ... Pluto was last retrograde from April 22nd through September 30th, 2018 ... this Pluto retrograde will occur from 23 DEGREES 9  MINUTES CAPRICORN back to 20 DEGREES 38 MINUTES CAPRICORN !!!



As Pluto has been slowing down, astrologically speaking, and vibrating sending out its intense energy of transformation and change - much of which we either hadn't expected or in some cases really wanted needed even if we really didn't want to admit it - the last several weeks ... Pluto has been in the 23 degree area of Capricorn since March 29th !!! ... it has probably produced a lot of intensity and restless tension in many peoples lives somewhere ... if you've had a natal chart done and know where 23 degrees 9 minutes Capricorn falls, then you might understand where in your life this  impending shift was preparing to take place ... check to see if you have any natal planets at 23 degrees or within one or two degrees of that in any sign - and particularly to one of the cusps of the Angles which are houses 1,4,7,and 10 - to determine whether or not Pluto is making a stressful or favorable aspect influencing your life !!!

While Pluto is in Capricorn, we can expect deep-reaching transformation of the social order and laws, corporate structures and in the areas of personal responsibility, fulfillment of duties, and general awakening as to personal destiny ... we might also expect some changes in the geographical structure of the earth as well - noticed the increased frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions since Pluto entered Capricorn in January of 2008 ???

Pluto is an outer planet and its energy is directed towards not only personal but generational transformation, so it makes this a time for everyone to step back and review how each one of us is contributing to the future and evolution of mankind and the Earth, or perhaps how we are working towards destroying it ... it’s important to become more conscious of how we individually and collectively impact the Earth and our fellow human beings ... and how willing are you to take an honest look deep within yourself and be open minded and have faith enough to face your inner truth in order to determine where change must take place ???

Scorpio and Capricorn born could be especially sensitive to this shift and what it produces, as well as Cancer born as Capricorn is the sign in opposition to your natal sun placement ... but we will all feel this energy somewhere in our lives both individually and collectively ... keep in mind the tearing down yielding rebirth and change is needed in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth ... in some cases it may be very drastic and challenging while in others it may not have quite the forceful impact !!!

Scorpio born individuals, this is your yearly period of review and reflection of what is transpiring in your life, and especially what has transpired in your life since September 30th of 2018, that is urging you to release, allow transformation, regeneration and healing to take place in some area of your life - in other words, where must change take place due to a "cracked" or severely weakened foundation that will not support further personal and spiritual growth ??? ... and that goes for all of us as well !!!



If you have a Scorpio Moon or Ascendant you may be more sensitive to the retrograde period as well - Moon people through emotional issues and Ascendant people through issues of how you project yourself out into the world - Pluto transiting through your 1st house is always a period of profound and significant change in your life, and believe me I know from experience while it was transiting through my first house from 2000 through 2018 !!!  ... also if you know which house in your natal chart Pluto is currently transiting through, that "stage" where life plays out will produce some interesting and possibly challenging energy ... I have also read many times that when an outer planet - Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - shifts directions, a slightly increased number of "souls" tend to leave the planet ... particularly those who are elderly ... something to watch for especially at the very beginning of the retrograde period and at the end !!!



Pluto naturally rules the elimination and reproduction systems of the body so there could be issues there ... maybe, maybe not ... Pluto is also the natural ruler of the 8th house - which includes the support you receive from other people including financial, moral, spiritual and physical ... it addresses legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters and lets not forget "secrets", sex, spiritual and physical regeneration, psychological rebirth and degeneration and death - not necessarily actual physical though .... also occult matters, sleep, deep research, investigation, hidden assets - including the assets of partners and alimony, and finally, surgery - any of these areas are fair game during the Pluto retrograde ...

Pluto remains retrograde until October 2nd/3rd depending on which time zone in which you live ... as the harbinger of powerful upheaval, transformation, destruction, "death", rebirth and deep healing, Pluto retrograde certainly has the potential to and will most likely shake things up ... and one thing is absolutely for sure where Pluto is involved whether in forward or retrograde motion - THERE WILL BE CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION !!!

LOVE ON FIRE, LOVES LABOURS LOST, OR A TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART ???

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE ... I'VE GOT YOU ... IT’S OVER - GOODBYE!!!!! ... and just like that, what we thought we so passionately and romantically desired suddenly loses its initial appeal ... moving right along - NEXT !!! .... get the picture ??? ... that is what many of us have the potential to experience on some level in our lives as Venus "burned" its way into and began its transit through the the fiery sign of Aries Saturday, April 20th, at 12:11 PM EDT ... Venus was last in Aries from March 6th through March 31st, 2018 !!!



Venus will now be in a "relationship" with Mars which rules Aries and that often causes multiple problems on many different levels in our lives - especially in partnerships and relationships both public and private ... Venus is considered to be in detriment in Aries as it is in a sign opposite the one it naturally rules - in this case Libra ... being in detriment a planet is not really operating at full power ... it's like visiting where you must conform to rules and regulations thus hindering your natural expression !!!


There is the potential for many of us to become impassioned about someone or something or both ... we will pursue it with total dedication and determination ... and if we finally get it, we could find ourselves ultimately asking the question WHY especially after it loses its initial appeal and novelty !!! ... of course some of us may also find ourselves outright overly horny, some more so than usual that is, as we are "burning with desire" !!! ... Venus in the fire sign of Aries will seek its interactions with others and pursue things passionately, romantically, excitedly and adventurously !!!



Venus represents our social urge and our sense of values ... it rules the signs of Taurus and Libra and is the natural ruler of the 2nd house - a house of substance representing your emotional need for fulfillment and feelings, your values, your sense of self-worth, your inner talents and resources and your earning power .... its the house of material debt .... Venus is also the natural ruler of the 7th house - a house of face-to-face relationships where the keyword is cooperation which might be somewhat lacking while Venus moves through Aries as we tend to be a little slack with our social graces at times along the way .... it represents both social, business and personal relationships ... its a house of open enemies and you may well find them during this transit so best to think twice before speaking which makes this transit very challenging ... the 7th house also indicates what you most lack  about yourself being opposite the 1st house, and you might find an increased desire to fill that void wherever it is perceived ... Venus is the anatomical ruler of the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste - there could be issues here with Aries ruler Mars possibly causing symptoms to  "boil up" with its fiery attributes !!!



Venus in Aries is demonstrative ... we love the thrill of the chase of the person and/or object of our desire ... it is very outgoing and enthusiastic to the point of ending up sometimes becoming too aggressive and overwhelming ... most of the time it will be YOUR feelings and values that are center most on your mind instead of others .... it likes the novelty and newness of things and once that is over it can become very fickle and ready to move on ... it’s attracted to people who are independent, those with a lot of initiative, and certainly those who are creative with their originality !!!



Here pursuit of passion is the name of the game but once the object of your attention has been captured, you, the hunter, may move on by viewing it as another trophy to put on your Venusian shelf of love and desire ... one of the biggest misjudgments made under this energy is mistaking sex for actual love over and over ...



Venus in Aries teaches us all about learning to love through doing - it's frequently referred to as energy that can easily produce love at first sight !!! ... this Venus likes a partner who is independent, the actual "chase", the social whirl, spontaneous and unexpected affection, and romance that is very bold ... it dislikes people who are too clingy and those who tend to be socially inactive ... the energy of  Venus in Aries can be expressed in the following ways :




POSITIVE: erotic, winning style, passionate, playful, demonstrative, outgoing, straightforward, popular, sparkling personality, generous, appealing, having a childlike charm, a romantic idealist, persuasive, warmhearted, quick to move

NEGATIVE: overly flirtatious, lustful, irresponsible, blunt, inconsiderate, coarse, not subtle, wanton, a teaser, naive in love, easily hurt, clueless, too pushy, self-centered, impatient in love



If you know which house or houses the sign of Aries occupies in your natal chart, then you will most likely figure out where and how this transit of Venus may play out in your own life in addition to your relationship to society as well ... for those born with the Sun in Aries, at some point during this Venus transit, it will pass over your natal Sun giving you a day to just enjoy the world, your friends, your creative efforts, and simply being alive !!!



ONE CAVEAT - Venus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house and therefore rules money earned as well as money SPENT ... you should be careful about "burning" through your personal money while Venus is in Aries as the purse strings will be significantly loosened and expanded by this "heated" energy and you may find yourself wanting to increase your material holdings and also be drawn towards the purchase of big ticket or luxury items only to find yourself thinking at the end of this transit - "AND I SPENT THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE ...??? " ... also, as Venus naturally rules the 7th house of partnerships and relationships both personal  and professional, you might also find yourself thinking that you may have accidentally "incinerated" some of these as well !!!



Aries born, the love light is now shining on YOU - take advantage of the added possibility of getting what you may so passionately ask for !!!

Venus now joins Mercury already transiting through the sign of Aries ... Ultimately the question becomes - Will sparks of romance or the emotional "daggers" of vengeance be flying as a result ???



Venus remains in Aries until May 15th ...when Venus finally leaves the sign of Aries , in addition to wondering if the means of the thrill of the chase truly justified the ends of what we did or did not get, we could find ourselves summing up our experiences of Venus in Aries in one of three ways - "My Love is On Fire", "Loves Labours Lost" or a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" !!!

PERSISTENT, DETERMINED ... YET CAUTIOUS !!!

The SUN began its yearly transit through the patient, practical sign of Taurus yesterday, April 20th, at 4:55 AM EDT ... the pace of life slows down somewhat and shifts into a slower mode of energy in Taurus which is an earth sign ... with the Sun in Taurus, we need to shine comfortably, seek recognition deliberately, shine in ones own dependability, and have a drive for recognition which manifests itself through sensuality and/or personal possessions ... this energy is persistent, determined yet cautious !!!



Taurus is a feminine, fixed, earth sign therefore its tendency to nurture and comfort through a methodical but slower and more stable course of action ... its key phrase is "I Have" and its keyword is "stability" ... being a fixed sign, Taurus can appear to be quiet, affectionate, patient, stable, determined and practical, stubborn and resistant to change ... its symbol is the Bull and its glyph is the head and horns of the Bull - symbolically the glyph is a half-moon forming a cup that rests on the circle of the Sun ... the cup representing material wealth and power derived through the force of the will (the circle) ... the Bull can be strong, stubborn, plodding, and can be both fierce and gentle ... this energy can be quite headstrong but slow to anger .... HOWEVER ... when it does get angry LOOK OUT because it can become extremely furious !!!



Anatomically, Taurus rules the neck and the throat - there are a lot of Taurus born people that have beautiful speaking and singing voices, but their vulnerability is to colds, laryngitis, sore throats and thyroid problems ... Taurus is the sign directly opposite to Scorpio in the natural zodiac !!!

Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus - the Roman goddess of beauty and the arts, pleasure and the emotions ... Venus bestows an influence towards a love of luxury and exceptional creative ability ... it is NOT the planet of SEX for those of you who think otherwise!!! ... Venus rules the throat, chin, cheeks, and the sense of taste, art, culture, aesthetics, possessions, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sentimentality, sweets and sugar, color, harmony, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, drama, and music ... it governs emotional contacts,  tenderness, moral character, marriage and unions of every kind as well as sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasure and appreciation ... in your natal chart, the place where you find Venus shows what you really enjoy !!!



Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house of the horoscope which is a house of substance with its keyword being "values" ... this house indicates financial affairs, possessions (excluding real estate), investments, earning  power, and any gain or loss through your own personal efforts ... it shows your inner talents and resources, your need for fulfillment, your emotional feelings, your sense of self-worth including your sense of values ... since there is a widespread belief that liberty is largely related to the money, the 2nd house is also the house of personal liberty ... it is also considered the house of material debt !!!



The Sun in Taurus teaches us to live through learning how to stabilize ... here we have the beauty (Venus) and the beast (the Bull) !!! ... the purpose of the Sun here is to help maintain the stability of earthly things ... one may find it surprising to realize that the important main possessions here are a sense of Earthly harmony and wholesomeness, and not necessarily a substantial amount of money and material possessions ... there is the distinct ability to endure change with this energy ... it is also interesting to note that when change has to be made and something must be let go of, when you let go and endure the change you ultimately discover how much more stable things actually become !!!



The greatest indication of values is beauty which is something that cannot be owned but only appreciated ... this energy likes stability, being attracted, natural things, time to think, and comfort and pleasure ... it does not like disruption, being pushed, being hurried and sensory deprivation ... the energy of the Sun in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: earthy, sensuous/artistic, productive, practical provider, steadfast and stable, unruffled and calm, even-tempered, soothing, self-trusting, loyal, persevering, trustworthy, appreciative, admiring, affectionate, aesthetic, physically comforting, magnetically healing, attractive

NEGATIVE: materialistic, gross and extravagant, plodding and ponderous, sluggish and lazy, boneheaded, boring, self-satisfied, possessive, stubborn, bigoted/fanatical, self-gratifying, idolatrous, lecherous, aloof, unaware of the "unseen", sucker for good looks, easily attached



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN TAURUS BORN !!! ... you are beginning a new Solar year ... this is your time to "SHINE" while all of us try to incorporate your natural born energy into our daily lives and learn through experiencing it !!!



We are all now being challenged to try to discover our truest, deepest and highest values and then realize how well we can express them physically ... hopefully one will come to the realization during the next thirty days that the value of Earthly things is simply that they serve to keep bodies happy and  healthy ...



The Sun now joins that rebel planet Uranus already grazing, quite rebelliously no doubt, its way through Taurus ... the Sun remains in Taurus until May 21st !!!



So that hectic pace of  the Sun in Aries begins to diffuse and slows down to a point hopefully allowing our feet to be more firmly planted beneath us as we strive for security !!!



Now let's all get out there and grab this crazy thing we call life by those proverbial Taurus "horns" - OLE !!!

OPEN MOUTH ... INSERT FOOT ???

MERCURY began its quick witted transit through the spontaneous, expressive sign of Aries yesterday, April 17th, at 2:01 AM EDT ... it has now initiated another spin through the natural zodiac ... Mercury takes  approximately 1 year to go through the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... it spends anywhere from 15 days to roughly two months in each sign - the longer amount of time being the roughly 20 to 24 days during each of its usual three, sometimes four, retrograde periods per year ... Mercury was last in Aries from March 6th through May 13th, 2018 - once again as in 2017 a longer than normal transit due to its first retrograde period !!!

While Mercury transits the sign of Aries, and with Aries being a Fire sign, energy and action will be expressed either in an inspiring, creative, independent, or impulsive, aggressive, confrontational manner - thus we can end up being extremely constructive or extremely destructive depending on how we harness this energy ... Mercury in Aries means it is now in a dynamic relationship with Mars - the ruler of Aries - and the Mercurial energy is being pushed into overdrive ... but just how far into overdrive it is pushed remains the question ... nevertheless the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find ourselves moving too quickly and causing mishaps or accidents - especially behind the wheel where we will no doubt be using even more hand gestures than usual !!!

We will most likely come up with what we determine to be "scathingly brilliant" ideas but not all will be driven to fruition after they lose their initial novelty ... a lot of us will constantly be the victim of "foot-in-mouth" disease as we will have the tendency to speak before we think since the mind is processing so much so fast ... we may also experience sleepless nights or have difficulty going to sleep as we find that when our head hits the pillow the mind is still racing .... we will certainly have to be on guard about starting arguments and trying to stir up controversy simply because we feel like our words are the ultimate authority ...

With the mind and the tongue working rather quickly here, there is definitely a talent for debate and/or using words that are biting, ironic, and sarcastic ... communication will be made directly, forcefully and with confidence ... new ideas are always being sought here as it becomes necessary to be active in order to learn - even if the lessons end up being harder than we anticipated ... under this energy one is usually interested in courage, self-reliance, freedom and self-expression ...

Mercury in Aries teaches us to learn to think through doing ... this energy truly expresses the well known phrase that actions speak louder than words !!! ... just as fresh new ideas and experiences are sought out, there is the tendency at times to dwell on old grievances as well as on outworn interests ... if there is a failure to sustain enough mental input or assertion of ones intellectual outlook, there is the risk of nervous and/or physical restlessness that can develop into more serious mental or emotional conditions accompanied by matching circumstances ... slow down to clarify your objectives and then have the faith that you'll rise to the occasion ... make sure your force has a worthy cause attached to it ... realize that the tongue is indeed a sensitive muscle - so learn to "hold it", by learning to "bite" it gracefully, and appreciate what it is attached to !!! ... the energy of Mercury in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: quick-thinking, spontaneous, quick-acting, decisive, mentally forceful, stimulating, fighting spirit, fiery, frank, witty, to the point, observant, initiates ideas, thinks on ones feet, mentally active and agile, eloquent, verbally assertive, intellectually confident

NEGATIVE: impatient, irritable, quick-tempered, premature, headstrong, quarrelsome, spitting, thoughtless, sarcastic, terse, precocious, snap opinionated, snap decisions, verbally/mentally restless, one-sided viewpoint, intellectually arrogant



Mercury now joins the Sun now in the final days of its transit through Aries ... Mercury remains in Aries until May 6th !!!

Aries born individuals, you may become infused with an overabundance of ideas and plans in addition to speaking out more so than usual - but indeed we all may do so even if we aren't Aries born - proceed with caution !!!

While Mercury transits though Aries, one might be well advised to keep a lot of ice cream or something cool and soothing on hand as we are sure to have a sore tongue from having to bite it so often, well at least those who are wise enough to do so, to keep from allowing our hasty words to cause too much uproar, misunderstandings and unnecessary verbal confrontations which yields the well known caveat - "LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS" !!!