GETTING THE JOB DONE VERY THOROUGHLY - NO ROOM FOR LAZINESS AND LACK OF AMBITION !!!

MARS began its transit through the responsible, hardworking sign of Capricorn on Sunday, February 16th at 6:33 AM EST ... this Mars energy is absolutely all about getting the job done and doing so very thoroughly !!! ... Mars was last in Capricorn from March 17th through September 10th, 2018 ... a much longer than usual transit due to its retrograde journey for 2018 ... it actually completed the first transit through Capricorn on May 15th/16th, 2018 but returned to Capricorn on August 12th to complete its retrograde journey - remember anything significant going on in your life back then especially in regards to the area or areas of life ruled by whichever house or houses this transit occurred ??? ... Mars is back now ready to teach you yet another lesson in that same area or areas, or perhaps repeat the previous lesson, usually in a much different manner this time around, if you failed to learn from it last time !!!

In astrological terms, Mars is said to be "exalted" in the sign of Capricorn ... every planet has one particular sign, apart from the one it rules, where it expresses itself most harmoniously ... complementary forces are increased and the virtues are magnified ... for Mars it is Capricorn because the organization and discipline of Saturn - the planet which rules Capricorn - makes for the most efficient, practical use of the Mars energy ... here people are more capable of decisive action ... not as much energy may be expended, but the energy that one expends is usually more effective ... there is also a high degree of self-control and discipline, and orders can be taken from those in power and implemented producing positive results ... therefore, it should come as no surprise that many who pursue military careers are born with Mars in Capricorn !!!

Great energy is channeled into professional ambition here ... it is extremely materialistic ... desire for recognition and high status is very intense ... actions are usually well organized and very carefully calculated to achieve concrete results in terms of money and professional advancement ... as a result, many business executives are born with Mars in Capricorn or have Mars in the 10th house - the house of career and public image !!!

Mars in Capricorn bestows pride in doing a job correctly along with a corresponding disrespect for laziness and lack of ambition ... one has to be careful under this energy not to use people for the sake of status and material gain due to a loss of human values in the intensity of ones material ambition ... if Mars in Capricorn is heavily afflicted in ones natal chart with this placement, or the current transiting chart under this energy, there can be a danger of broken bones !!!

Mars in Capricorn signifies force and energy kept under control ... that is, to be used when it is necessary ... ones strength here lies in the ability to endure ... obstacles in ones path are usually run over roughshod ... there is vigor and dynamic force along with quiet self-reliance ... sexual nature becomes earthy and passionate with the element of self-control governing relationships ... sometimes one is hot-blooded, sexy and romantic, and at other times chilly, withdrawn and disinterested ... sexually, passion is expressed only to someone whom you have allowed yourself to become intimately involved with ... ultimately the lesson here is learning not to just indulge in a body for its own sake without appreciating that it houses a Soul !!!

Mars in Capricorn teaches us about how we get what we want through building ... here we have the master builder, the chief executive ... one goes about getting what one wants with such a deliberate, pragmatic and sure-footed fashion, that whatever you get usually remains yours!!! ... achievements are based on a very firm foundation, and as a rule, short cuts are not taken as one realizes they often become the longer way around ... the key here is to learn to appreciate that one is getting somewhere by trusting that the "building work" is going on even though at times it may be taking place unconsciously or beneath the surface where most foundations are  usually based !!!

Mars in Capricorn can often be an indicator of the self-made person due to the ultimate realization, sooner or later, that it may become necessary to have to go it alone ... the ability to delegate and regulate is an essential quality under this energy ... and this applies to both the personal and professional areas of ones life ... this ability results mainly from having a purpose and a plan along with a sense of timing ... one of the greatest gifts of Mars in Capricorn is in learning to pace yourself and not be pressured by others who do not understand the certainty of ultimate success ... so the energy breaks down in this manner:

POSITIVE: persistent, single-minded, nobodies fool, industrious, works according to plan, earthy and practical, authoritative, respects order, disciplined, commands respect, sexually disciplined, capable of celibacy, strong sex drive, self-reliant, energetic worker, decisive, cuts through red tape, inscrutable

NEGATIVE: pig-headed, disagreeable, dog-eat-dog attitude, workaholic, cold and calculating, insists on material results, uses others, lust for control, disregards others' rights, slave-driving, sexually controlling/controlled, suppresses libido, lacking affection, lonely, restless at work, agonizing, bucks the system, self-mystifying

My fellow Capricorn born individuals, as you are probably aware when Mars transits ones birth sign, one is given an extra boost of energy so no doubt we will be using this energy to place those sure-footed steps in place as we continue our climb upwards ... and as we have so much planetary energy currently in our birth sign, just be careful you don't accidentally "incinerate" someone with the extra fiery energy empowering you !!!


Mars remains in Capricorn until March 30th ... just a reminder, Mars will take its next retrograde journey this year September 9th through November 13th going from 28 degrees 9 minutes Aries back to 15 degrees 14 minutes Aries ... important to note that Mars will be retrograde in the sign it naturally rules !!!



Mars now joins Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto already transiting through the sign of Capricorn - what a dynamic combination of planetary energy that has the potential to produce great achievements, growth and advancement, or possibly great ruin and destruction depending on how you harness this very powerful energy !!!

"SWIMMING" THROUGH MYSTICAL WATERS TO EXPLORE ONES SPIRITUALITY !!!

The SUN begins its transit through the dreamy, mystical, self-sacrificing sign of Pisces today, February 18th at 11:57 PM EST ... the 12th and final sign of the astrological "year" and the final sign of Winter in the Northern hemisphere and Summer in the Southern hemisphere ... the solar energy now shifts from the rebellious, unpredictable marching to the beat of a different drummer to "swimming" in emotionally, compassionate yet sometimes very confusing and deceptive waters ... don't be surprised if waves of emotions play a large part in your life experiences and decisions over the next 30 days !!!



While the Sun transits through Pisces, one may strive to shine by creating beauty, shine through ones compassion, shine through psychic openness, or seek recognition through spiritual or mystical paths ... those born under the sign of Pisces have come in with a soul lesson of needing to learn peace !!!

Pisces is a feminine, water, mutable (flexibility/changeability) sign ... its symbol is two fish tied together - swimming in opposite directions which signify hidden depths, shifting emotional currents, conflicting desires and extremes of temperament ... its glyph is considered a picture of the human feet ... in symbolic terms the glyph is two crescent moons connected by a straight line representing emotion and higher consciousness tied to and limited by the material world ... its key phrase is "I BELIEVE" and its keyword is UNDERSTANDING ... it is the sign opposite of Virgo ... anatomically it rules the pineal glands - in association with its ruling planet - and the feet !!!



The modern ruling planet of Pisces is Neptune (Jupiter is the ancient ruler) - Ancient God of the seas, second of the modern planets to be discovered (1846), and is the planet of illusion, glamour, mystery, and deception ... Neptune represents the spiritual and the escapist urge, and its keyword is INTUITION ... it rules maritime matters, liquids, music, movies, stage and television, dreams, delusion, spirituality, ideals, mystique, hunches, creative functions, and things we take  deeply for granted in life without questioning ... it also governs fog, petroleum, mystery, anesthetics, flattery, intangibles, fragrances, second sight, love of poetry, color and dancing ... in addition under its rule comes drugs and drug addiction, alcoholism, hypochondria, sleepwalking, trances, hypnosis, immateriality and abnormality ... its action is often subtle and gradual ... it is the higher vibrational octave of Venus and considered to be the second of the transcendental planets ... where you find Neptune in your natal chart is where you seek the "ideal", but where you also might tend to deceive yourself and/or others !!!



Pisces is the natural sign and ruler of the 12th house of the horoscope ... the keyword for the 12th house is SUBCONSCIOUS and it is a house of endings - after all it is the final sign of the zodiac!!! ... the 12th house represents your inner strengths and weaknesses ... it depicts behind the scenes activity - including clandestine affairs - restorative solitude, places of quiet reflection, sorrows, handicaps, secrets, seclusion and frustration ...it can also indicate places of confinement such as jails, hospitals or mental institutions, as well as secret (hidden) enemies, restraint, inhibitions, exile, hidden dangers and self-undoing ...it shows the things we hide from others, and research, background, subjective sustainment, inner consciousness and the subconscious mind !!!



Here we also find charity, sympathy and public welfare ... it is frequently referred to as the closet or dustbin of ones horoscope since it is in this house where we tend to sweep away or hide problems which are often too painful to face or difficulties that we refuse to acknowledge ... sometimes it can be a very creative area of the natal horoscope and can reflect ones aptitude for art, music, dancing, writing or acting !!!



Sun in Pisces teaches us to learn to live through accepting ... life is a mystery and each one of us IS the mystery !!! ... under this energy one is innately aware and appreciative of all walks of life ... here one recognizes that the Soul of anything or of anyone is synonymous with sensitivity, which is synonymous with suffering, which is something one is undeniably aware of - joy and sorrow are one ... the energy of the Sun in Pisces can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: compassionate, self-sacrificing, suffers artistically, unassuming, self-effacing, gentle, still but stirring, wise, accepting, adaptable, confided in, sensitive, fascinating, mysterious, imaginative, multi-talented, selfless, devoted, easygoing


NEGATIVE: self-pitying, the human doormat, suffers needlessly, indecisive, self-limiting, wimpish, inwardly storm-tossed, inner doubts, oblivious, vague, not forthcoming, escapist, deceptive, self-mystifying, impressionable, pointless, slaving, lazy



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ALL PISCES BORN - your new astrological year has begun !!! ... the Sun, which now joins Mercury and Neptune already transiting through the sign of Pisces, remains in Pisces until March 19th !!!

Through the energy of Pisces, one can INSPIRE others in many ways while being influenced - just don't forget to take some credit for it but then forget that you did ... give yourself to yourself before anyone else ... become illuminated and enlightened - now is the time to explore your spirituality and life's intriguing mysteries !!!



Dream, mystify, create, inspire, enlighten, be compassionate and believe in those fairy tale endings ... BUT - be cautious ere you make a dangerous detour and fall into the watery depths of addiction, depression and deception !!!

BACKWARDS WE GO - AND SO IT BEGINS !!!

Whether we like it or not - NOT !!!! - Mercury begins its first RETROGRADE journey for 2020 today, February 16th, at 7:55 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 9th - back on February 2nd at 28 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius ... this retrograde will be a dual sign retrograde going from 12 degrees 53 minutes Pisces back to 28 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius !!!

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 ... and it is possible that many of you will not be directly affected by the retrograde period, but I can guarantee you that you will know or hear of someone who is affected !!!

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 ... 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 ... I think we have already seen quite a few in the last couple of weeks !!!



On March 4th, Mercury returns to the sign of Aquarius to complete its first retrograde journey for 2020 ... Mercury retrograde in the sign of Aquarius yields an emphasis to ones friendships, ideas, and goals in life as those are the issues addressed in the 11th house of the natural zodiac which is ruled by Uranus the planet ruling Aquarius ... to that end, there may also be issues with groups to which one belongs, non-emotional relationships, the love one receives, money obtained from ones profession or business, step children, adopted children and foster children, circumstances in life over which you little control, and ones humanitarian interests ... the mind can also become filled with many creative, cutting edge ideas as one tries to determine how to incorporate them into ones life ... just proceed cautiously and don't act on them until Mercury resumes direct motion !!!



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 possibly ... in Pisces there could be issues in the area of the feet and pineal glands ... in Aquarius there could particular issues in the area of the ankles and the nervous system ... 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 9th).

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 9th !!!

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 February 17th and March 8th will definitely have this Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... those born on the February 16th and the March 9th 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 - an excellent reason once again to have a natal chart done and then have a solar return chart run for the year ahead by a reputable astrologer !!! ... 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 November 20th, 2019 !!!

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 October 31st through November 20th, 2019 or possibly actions we took since the last Mercury Retrograde ended on November 20th, 2019 ... actions taken during previous retrograde periods could come back to haunt us as well - for 2019 that would also include March 5th through March 28th, July 7th through July 31st and as previously mentioned October 31st through November 20th ... and perhaps even 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 23 days ... as previously stated, Mercury remains retrograde until March 9th !!!



As previously mentioned in my post on February 1st, the Personal Planet Retrograde Flip Flop Sequence is now most assuredly underway !!! ... you probably should go back and read that highly informative post !!! ... just a reminder the sequence will goes as follows - Mercury, Venus, Mercury, Mars and then Mercury for its third and final retrograde period for 2020 which will be completely embedded in the Mars retrograde ... fun times ahead no doubt - or just outright frustrating and/or irritating ??? ... you will certainly find out during the course of this personal planet retrograde flip flop sequence !!!

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 this Mercury Retrograde merrily wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment ... you just might be very surprised at what you are enlightened about during the retrograde - the Universe has a reason for everything !!!

In the end my fellow beings of light, as this first Mercury Retrograde period of 2020 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 ???

SPARKS OF ROMANCE OR EMOTIONAL "DAGGERS" OF VENGEANCE ???

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 on Friday, February 7th, at 3:03 PM EST ... Venus was last in Aries from April 20th through May 15th, 2019 !!!



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 is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Aries ... and keep in mind that Mercury will be retrograde during the last 18 days of this transit further complicating what may already be a challenging transit ... AND ... there is only one more complete sign transit before Venus takes its retrograde journey for 2020 which begins on May 13th and will be completely in the sign of Gemini ... now this could be interesting as Mercury, the ruling planet of Gemini, will have completed its first retrograde journey on March 9th which begs the question will this Venus retrograde be like a second Mercury retrograde period even though Mercury will be direct ... Venus enters its next shadow point on April 9th !!! 


Ultimately under the current transit the question becomes - Will sparks of romance or the emotional "daggers" of vengeance be flying as a result ???



Venus remains in Aries until March 4th ...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" !!!

MENTALLY BEING IN TOUCH WITH THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS !!!

MERCURY once again began its dream-like transit through the highly perceptive, psychic sign of Pisces yesterday, February 3rd, at 6:38 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 10th through April 16th/17th, 2019 - a longer than normal transit due to its first retrograde journey for 2019 and that will be the case again for 2020 !!!



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 joins Venus and Neptune already transiting through the sign of Pisces with the Sun immersing itself into the mystical "waters" on February 18th  ... 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 remains in the sign of Pisces until ... WAIT FOR IT ... April 10th/11th depending on which time zone in which you live and you know why ... Mercury begins its first retrograde journey for 2020 on February 16th at 7:55 PM EST ... it will get no further than 12 degrees 53 minutes Pisces when the retrograde period begins ... this period will last from February 16th until March 9th going from 12 degrees 53 minutes Pisces back to 28 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius where it ends on March 9th at PM DST ... Mercury entered its first shadow point this year on February 2nd when it reached 28 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius ... collective groan here I'm guessing !!! 




Meanwhile it's time to "begin, with a spin ... traveling in the world of our own creation ... what we'll see ... will defy ... explanation" !!! 

2020 PERSONAL PLANET RETROGRADE FLIP FLOP - A MUST READ !!!

With the Sun currently transiting through the sign of Aquarius and that being the sign that is ruled by Uranus which also happens to rule over Astrology, it seems like an excellent time to pull out the Cosmic binoculars and look ahead to address one of the big astrological "events" as I would call it for 2020 ... that would be what I have named the upcoming "Personal Planet Retrograde Flip Flop" ... I will be referring to it as PPRFF from this point forward to save some excessive typing !!! ... the Universe will be placing each one of us on a steep learning curve in the "school of life" particularly in reference to the way we think and communicate, romance, partnerships and relationships, personal values, finances, and our personal initiative over roughly the next 11 months !!!


This sequence begins on February 2nd, tomorrow, with Mercury entering its first shadow point for 2020 and concludes with Mars exiting its next retrograde zone on January 2nd, 2021 ... when Mercury kicks off the PPRFF on February 2nd, the Universe will bestow us with the beginning of a personal planet retrograde sequence that goes in the following order - Mercury, Venus, Mercury, Mars then Mercury ... the final Mercury retrograde will be completely embedded in the Mars retrograde !!!  ... these three planets are considered to be the "personal" planets as their energy tends to reveal behavior characteristics that make one unique ... the Sun and Moon are also in this group but they never go retrograde ... the following is a general idea of the timing of their retrograde periods during the PPRFF ... each retrograde period will be addressed in more detail later as they actually begin !!!

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

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


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


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

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



Even though this sequence will cover approximately 11 months, there are no days when one of the personal planets won't be in a shadow point, retrograde or moving back in forward motion to exit a retrograde zone, but there will be only one small window of time which will be clear of these three periods ... that time period would be March 30th through April 8th !!!



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


MERCURY - Mercury goes retrograde 3 and sometimes 4 times a year ... it governs our thinking and how we communicate naturally governing the 3rd house (Gemini) of the horoscope ... it also governs the 6th house (Virgo) thus making its retrograde period a time when work and health issues arise especially in regard to the sign or signs it takes its retrograde journey in ... as a rule, communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially cars, a big NO-NO - that goes double for USED CARS, computers or anything that involves electronics ... purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up becoming dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!!


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


MARS - Mars goes retrograde roughly every 22 months for about 9 - 10 weeks ... Mars naturally governs the 1st house (Aries) which addresses not only the way we individually project ourselves out into the world but ultimately our desires, drives, ambition and personal energy ...  during a Mars retrograde we have to evaluate what it is that motivates us and we have to determine if we are on the correct path to achieve our goals, and if we are doing what we should be doing to get there ... Mars retrograde periods are time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that our intent is accomplished ... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... old resentments and personal issues that haven't been resolved in the past have a tendency of resurfacing during this period which yields an awareness that the time has come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, anger and learning assertiveness ... it is often said that during a Mars retrograde we may become somewhat less "warlike" and that our energy can hit a lull to the point where it seems our get up and go truly got up and went !!!!


The following are the actual dates of the upcoming personal planet retrograde periods in case you would like to mark your calendar or make a note in order to be prepared ... and for the sake of once again saving excessive typing these are the following letter abbreviations to note the period of the particular retrograde ... SP = Shadow Point ... RX = Retrograde Period ... ERXZ = Exit Retrograde Zone :



MERCURY -

SP : 2/2 ... 28 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius

RX : 2/16 - 3/9 ... 12 degrees 53 minutes Pisces back to 28 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius

ERXZ : 3/29 ... 12 degrees 53 minutes Pisces



VENUS -

SP : 4/9 ... 5 degrees 20 minutes Gemini

RX : 5/12 or 13 - 6/24 or 25 ...  21 degrees 50 minutes Gemini back to 5 degrees 20 minutes Gemini

ERXZ : 7/28 or 29 ... 21 degrees 50 minutes



MERCURY -

SP : 6/1 or 2 ... 5 degrees 30 minutes Cancer

RX : 6/17 or 18 - 7/12 ... 14 degrees 46 minutes Cancer back to 5 degrees 30 minutes Cancer

ERXZ : 7/26 ... 14 degrees 46 minutes Cancer



MARS -

SP : 7/25 ... 15 degrees 14 minutes Aries

RX : 9/9 - 11/13 ... 28 degrees 9 minutes Aries back to 15 degrees 14 minutes Aries

ERXZ : 1/2/21 ... 28 degrees 9 minutes Cancer



MERCURY -

SP : 9/23 ... 25 degrees 54 minutes Libra

RX : 10/13 - 11/3 ... 11 degrees 40 minutes Scorpio back to 25 degrees 54 minutes Libra

ERXZ : 11/19 ... 11 degrees 40 minutes Scorpio


Now you have a basic idea of what to expect over the next 11 month period in regard to the backward motion and resulting influence of these three planets ... transiting retrogrades affect everyone because the energy we feel from the retrograde planet is "different" while it is, so to speak, moving backwards ... it doesn't mean it is all doom and gloom and something that should be dreaded ... sometimes a retrograde period may come and go with side effects barely noticeable while other times it could prove extremely challenging ... but that of course is going to depend on where you are in life and what is going on around you ... for those born with any of these planets retrograde in their natal chart, I sometimes have found these clients seem to navigate these often choppy waters with less stress and aggravation ... and you have to keep in mind that these particular energies aren't the only ones producing influential energy down here below ... there are always many different energies in play "upstairs" at any given time which results in the universal energy affecting one through transits around their natal chart, progressions to their natal chart, solar returns, lunar returns and a vast array of other cosmic influences which can usually be deciphered for you by an astrologer ...

Though we all will probably experience some kind of effect or see it somewhere in our lives from the ensuing PPRFF, those that may be more sensitive to it include Pisces, Aquarius, Gemini, Cancer, Aries, Scorpio and Libra born as these are the actual signs in which the respective retrograde periods will take place … Gemini, Virgo, Taurus, Libra, and Aries may be equally as sensitive to these retrogrades as these three are your ruling planets : Mercury = Gemini and Virgo, Venus = Taurus and Libra, and Mars = Aries ... take note that Mars will be completely retrograde in the sign it naturally rules = Aries !!!

Ultimately retrograde periods are simply Universal time outs put in place to slow us down and give us the opportunity to get back in sync with the Universal rhythm thus making them thought of as global wake-up calls ... so why try to swim upstream in a raging current … go with the flow - adjust and adapt … and, most importantly, in trying to determine what is going on around you due to planetary energy interplay and influence, and as nothing is set in stone, it is always a good thing to keep in mind a phrase my astrology teacher, Lyn Hammond Gray, used to stress over and over, from the very first day of class : when synthesizing the overall astrological energy at any given moment in time, always remember to consider this possibility - "MODIFIED BY WHAT ???"

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