A HIGHLY ANALYTICAL AND PRECISE MINDSET - BUT WILL ONE HAVE THE ABILITY TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AS WELL ???

 

MERCURY - begins its extended transit through the highly focused sign of Virgo today, July 28th, at 5:31 PM EDT ... thinking and communicating processes now shift from what was a fiery, highly creative energy to being more rational and efficient sometimes to a fault  ... and even though Virgo is an Earth sign which is somewhat prone to slower movement,  Mercury is dignified in this position, very happy and very much at home here and functions well as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Gemini ... Mercury was last in Virgo from August 4th - October 4th 2022 ... it actually completed its initial transit but returned to Virgo per retrograde motion thus the extended transit last year ... this transit will last longer again as a result of the third Mercury retrograde period for 2023 but it will stay in Virgo the entire time this year !!!

Mercury in Virgo usually gives the mind a rather precise, thorough and analytical ability ... communications and thinking can be logical, helpful, critical, negative, skeptical, practical or humble ... one is apt to put their mind to work doing their job ... this intellect is excellent for writing or technical crafts, and converting ideas into a tangible form ... there is a talent for organization, but sometimes the discriminating and highly focused mind could get mired in too many details and become excessively critical ... one of the challenges of this energy is to learn to step back and look at the bigger picture in addition to avoid getting immersed in all the fine details ... learning is best achieved in an organized sequence and a logical presentation !!!

Concern for details can often lead to the syndrome of "not being able to see the forest for the trees" ... there is also likely to be an interest in health, nutrition, competence and ones day to day work ... this Mercury says exactly what it wants to say - no more no less ... to quote a familiar television phrase,  this energy wants to know "Just the facts Ma'am" !!! ... it has a quick, dry wit, bestows a fine eye for detail, and usually produces very neat and readable handwriting ... this energy can also make one very skilled with their hands and often craftspeople are born with this energy in their natal chart !!!

Mercury in Virgo is very impartial and gets to sorting through all the details to where the logic and precision can discover the heart of the matter ... with this fine intelligence, systematically clarifying and refining information received and understanding the patterns comes naturally ... here we have a logical, practical mind that produces a quick learner ... on the challenging side, Mercury in Virgo can make ones mind so very active with all the extraneous processing that it is sometimes difficult to quiet and still the mind yielding restlessness and/or the inability to sleep ... just ask someone born with Mercury in Virgo !!!

Mercury in Virgo encourages us to learn to think by analyzing ... it's the pure mind ... the ability to reason functions very well here ... a big challenge though is to not live totally in your mind and understand there is a big difference between knowledge and actual experience ... this energy also can help one assist others in seeing things more clearly - in forms such as writing, editing, counselling, teaching, drawing and translating ... there is the ability to assimilate vast amounts of complex information !!!

Ironically, when it comes to expressing something close to ones heart, this energy can make one obscure it in a lot of irrelevant references ... this energy makes it necessary to thoroughly grasp a specific subject as without training or education one is more likely to suffer greater than others from being unemployed, underemployed or unemployable ... the ultimate goal with this energy is to appreciate that what gets in the way of understanding life is thinking way too much about it - a totally clear mind is really no mind at all !!!! .... the energy of Mercury in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: analytical, objective, systematic, logical, discerning, precise, meticulous, clever, eloquent, well-read, well-informed, accurate, retentive memory, fast learner, highly efficient, good worker, modest, helpful, practical

NEGATIVE: unfeeling, remote, clinical, cold and dry, hypercritical, trivial, worrisome, wordy, bookish, intellectual snob, misses the point, greedy mind, impatient, high strung, workaholic, self-critical, skeptical, slave to reasoning, pointless

Virgo born individuals, no doubt you will be infused with plenty of practical ideas as Mercury passes through  your birth sign ... for all of us, with Mercury in Virgo we should remember that the point we are trying to communicate should be remembered, researched, rehearsed and then expressed ... make the best of what you actually know ... what's the use of knowing everything and feeling nothing ???

Mercury now joins Mars transiting through the sign of Virgo !!! ... Mercury remains in Virgo until ... WAIT FOR IT ... October 4th and of course you know why !!!

Mercury will only get as far as 21 degrees 51 minutes Virgo when it begins its third retrograde journey for 2023 ... the retrograde will occur from August 23rd through September 15th going from 21 degrees 51 minutes Virgo back to 8 degrees Virgo ... keep in mind that the first 12 days of the next Mercury retrograde will be embedded in the final 12 days of the current Venus retrograde which began back on July 22nd ... and how is that going for everyone so far ??? ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on August 3rd/4th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!

The thrust of Mercury's mission in Virgo boils down to encouraging us to analyze and scrutinize every piece of information, and to ultimately make sure we have crossed every T and dotted every I  .... over and over again which ironically is just what Mercury loves to do in Virgo anyway whether in direct or retrograde motion ... hopefully everyone  wont lose too much sleep while the mind is now racing while analyzing so much information that will be coming and going !!! 

A PRONOUNCED CRAVING FOR ATTENTION AND TO BE CREATIVE WITH A HEIGHTENED NEED TO BE APPRECIATED !!!

 

The SUN began its "majestic" transit through the dramatic, romantic, proud sign of Leo yesterday, July 22nd, at 9:51 PM EDT ... this solar energy is all about is being acknowledged, appreciated and applauded !!!



The Sun in Leo is very happy here ... in fact it is in dignity as this is the sign it naturally rules in the zodiac ... when a planet, or luminary in this case, is in dignity, you control the circumstances in whatever area of your life the sign falls !!! ... The Sun is extremely efficient with its energy transiting Leo being dignified in this position ... if you've had your natal chart done, then you may gain awareness on what "stage" of your life this energy may affect you during this 33 day solar transit !!!

The Sun in Leo bestows us with a pronounced craving for attention ... Leo energy usually loves giving and receiving hugs ... The Sun in Leo encourages one  to grow through creative endeavors, seek recognition through risk-taking or exciting activities, extend generosity, and certainly embrace ones own charisma ... this is the ultimate in fire energy - it is very happy, optimistic energy ... and isn't the Sun pretty much at its peak in Summer during July/August (at least in the Northern hemisphere !!!) ??? ... it's easy to see why these native born individuals are so warm and cheerful - unless of course they are modified by some other "darker" energy in their natal chart !!! 

Leo is a masculine/fire/fixed sign which makes it enthusiastic, powerful, expansive and creative, generous and extravagant, dogmatic and VERY FIXED in its opinions ... as previously stated, Leo is ruled by the Sun, so the Sun is extremely happy to be transiting through this sign !!! ... the Sun is the center of our solar system and therefore the most powerful planetary influence which bestows vitality and authority !!!

Leo's symbol is the Lion - regal, brave, dominating, possessing nobility and pride, and sometimes insensitive to pain ... the glyph for Leo represents two valves of the heart ... it is also the Greek symbol for the first letter of Leo ... symbolically, it is two incomplete circles of the Sun joined by a crescent Moon (its tail) which symbolizes that power is derived from both the intellect and the emotions ... its key phrase is "I Will" and its keyword is "Magnetism" ... the Sun is the main expression of the individual ... it shows the qualities of leadership and success ... it represents the masculine principle, the father, husband, and men in general ... it rules health, vital principles, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity and capacity for experience ... wherever the Sun is located in your natal chart is where you find the life and heart of your horoscope - it is where you truly want and need to shine !!!

Leo anatomically rules the heart, back, spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female ... emotional strain and physical overexertion can cause back and spinal ailments in Leo born people ... sometimes Leo born people can be overbearing and challenging to the point of unknowingly provoking others into impulsive violence !!! ... Leo is the sign directly opposite of Aquarius in the natural zodiac !!!

Leo naturally rules the 5th house of the horoscope ... it is a house of life whose keyword is "Creativity" ... the 5th house represents children, artistic expression, love affairs, romance, pleasure, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculation, hobbies and what distracts you from your main employment ... it also represents your emotional attitude, the love you give, your enterprise, sports, originality and creative outlets, shows dramatic, literary or artistic ability, shows publications, politics, the fine arts, social affairs, pregnancy and the education of children ... also represented here are any groups to which you may belong that relate to having fun !!!

The Sun in Leo encourages us to live through the process of creating and being creative ... it is one who is truly a child of the Sun ... it wants to shine and be the center of attention ... even if you are shy or lacking in confidence, you will want to be noticed in some way ... respect is vitally important not only for yourself but from others as well ... respect is dependent on self-respect ... a radiant glow is often physically noticeable !!!

Leo can create an "air of certainty" which makes many things possible ... but for all the apparent confidence streaming forth from ones heart, it can belie the fact that one is highly dependent on being appreciated !!! ... here one must pay special attention to critics and admirers alike to avoid being blinded by ones own light and thus destroying whatever it is that one originally tried to create and maintain - a relationship, ones home, health, profession or even ones own children ... just like the Sun, Leo energy cannot see the shadow it casts ... ultimately Leo must realize that its power and influence shine through it and not from it ... and when that power is wounded or challenged, it is very much like the Sun disappearing behind a cloud - the world becomes a colder and darker place ... the energy of the Sun in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: noble, confident, generous, gracious, encouraging, commanding, ambitious, enterprising, proud, cultivated, dramatic sense, impressive, self-expressive, wealth of ideas, fun to be with, warm, affectionate, loyal, romantic

NEGATIVE: pretentious, self-righteous, flamboyant, domineering, demanding, intolerant, overestimating, vain, snobby/stuck-up, melodramatic, show-off, self-centered, overbearing, overblown, scorching, affected, fierce, impossible, unrealistic



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN LEO BORN !!!! ... Leo born individuals this is your time of year to SHINE - even more so than you usually do most of the time !!!



For all of us, we should remember that most of those who love us do so for our "inner glow more than our outer show" ... the Sun never tries to shine AND set conditions - THE SUN JUST SHINES !!! ... recognize, appreciate, respect and pardon both yourself and others ... take time to get in touch with your inner child and try to enjoy the simple pleasures of life !!!

The Sun now joins Mercury already in transit through Leo as well as Venus, currently retrograde which began approximately 17 minutes before the Sun made its ingress into Leo and will be retrograde during this entire solar transit ... the Sun remains in the sign of Leo until August 23rd when it moves into Virgo and we become highly focused on daily work and service, health and nutrition and possibly family issues - maybe even more so than usual ... and that's because Mercury begins its third retrograde period for 2023, entirely in the sign of Virgo, approximately 11 hours after the Suns ingress into Virgo ... therefore the solar transit of Virgo, which is ruled by Mercury, will have the Mercury retrograde embedded in the first 24 days of its transit ... these next two solar transits could be rather challenging  !!!

For now, this larger than life energy compels each one of us to take "center stage" in some area of our life ... and as the lyrics to that famous song goes - "WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE LIVING FOR ... APPLAUSE ... APPLAUSE" !!! 

RELATIONSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS, FINANCIAL MATTERS AND PERSONAL VALUES - WHAT AMONGST THESE DEFINITELY NEEDS AN ADJUSTMENT ???

 

VENUS - the planet which rules social urge, sense of values, love and affection, and financial matters begins its RETROGRADE journey for 2023 tomorrow, July 22nd, at 9:33 PM EDT ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers, potential past romantic interests or even friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... frequently one will come to realize why the relationship did not work out to begin with or why it is time to LET GO AND MOVE ON !!! - some will not understand this and run the danger of repeating over and over what may have been a very challenging time in their lives ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging as well as involving money ... this is also a time when our personal values are usually reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere !!! ... This Venus retrograde, occurring for 42 days, will take place from 28 DEGREES 36 MINUTES back to 12 DEGREES 12 MINUTES LEO ... Venus has not been completely retrograde in the sign of Leo since July, August and September of 2015 for about 44 days !!! !!!

One of the main purposes of a transiting Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract and why ... is what you personally value inwardly being projected outwardly positively or is change needed on some level ??? ... and needless to say issues surrounding money and finances can become big problems during a Venus retrograde !!! ... these could potentially become areas where you end up having to spend money you hadn't counted on spending to correct !!!

Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde motion out of all of the planets ... within its 584-day cycle, Venus stations retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... it was last retrograde from December 19th, 2021 through January 29th, 2022 going from 26 degrees 29 minutes Capricorn back to 11 degrees 4 minutes Capricorn, along with a Mercury retrograde briefly embedded in it as it will be again this time around - what was going on in your life during that period that may have had to do with anything mentioned in this blog specific to a Venus retrograde that has now resurfaced for review and rethinking or simply falls apart or must be released ??? ... there is a good chance that any partnership/relationship, especially of the romantic variety, begun during that last Venus retrograde period has now come to a point where it is time to let go and move on !!! ... in fact, ever since Venus entered its shadow point back on June 19th, issues could have begun to arise foreshadowing what was to come during this retrograde period if they were not already on the horizon sooner ... especially issues that may have plagued a particular relationship on and off since Venus stationed back into direct motion on January 29th, 2022, or perhaps issues that have surfaced in partnerships/relationships that have been ignored even if the relationship was not begun during that particular Venus retrograde period !!!

Taurus and Libra born individuals, this is your planetary ruler so you are beginning your period of personal "down time", so to speak, to review and rethink what has transpired in your life in regards to partnerships, relationships, values and financial issues since January 29th, 2022 ... but in addition to you, we all will be subjected to a period of reflection and review in our personal actions in regards to our social urges, sense of values, love and affection, and monetary affairs !!!

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

WEDDINGS ARE MOST CERTAINLY A HUGE NO-NO as this is the planet which rules romance, love and affection - do you really want that energy going backwards on the day you say "I DO"??? ... if you were to take the day of the actual wedding, and count forward to the end of the retrograde period, then that total number of days would be the actual number of YEARS it would be before the energy turned back into direct motion by progression in the event chart ... most likely there would constantly be issues regarding either love, emotions and/or money and that can make things very difficult !!! ... if you are getting married, you should have someone mark the time you are officially pronounced married and then have an event chart run, by a reputable astrologer, for that time and the place to see in which house Venus retrograde falls, and you might get a very good idea where in life issues concerning love, money and personal values may surface during the marriage ... I'm not saying don't get married because I know weddings take time and preparation, just realize you may be adding an unnecessary challenge to the already challenging task it takes to navigate through the waters of an intimate personal relationship united through marriage ... to this end, I would also state the hopefully obvious - a Venus retrograde is definitely NOT the time to begin a new romantic relationship !!! ... but keep in mind if you were born with Venus retrograde in your natal chart, these choppy emotional waters might not be as difficult to navigate as it will be for others !!!

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

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

As previously mentioned, this Venus retrograde occurs from 28 DEGREES 36 MINUTES LEO back to 12 DEGREES 12 MINUTES LEO ... if you've had a natal chart done, look to see in which house or houses theses degrees fall and you might get an idea as to where this backward energy may surface in your life !!!

One of the main issues with Venus retrograde in Leo is reviewing and reflecting on your dedication and ambition to issues of romance, creativity and pleasurable pursuits ... also issues concerning children, your artistic expression, love affairs, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculation, hobbies, emotional attitude and the love you give, personal enterprises, sports, originality, creative outlets, dramatic, literary or artistic abilities, publication, politics, the fine arts, social affairs, pregnancy, education of children, groups you belong to which relate to having fun - all of these areas addressed in the 5th house which is ruled by Leo !!!

As the Sun is the planetary ruler of Leo and therefore the 5th house, issues could potentially arise concerning the main expression of the individual, qualities of leadership, success, the father, husband and men in general, health, vitality authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, dignity, progress, energy, sense of identity and capacity for experience !!!

Issues could arise with art, culture, aesthetics, possessions, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sweets and sugar, color, harmony, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, singing, drama, music, emotional contacts, moral character, marriage and unions of all kinds, sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasure and appreciation - all these being ruled by Venus !!!

Issues could arise with financial affairs, possessions (except real estate), investments, earning power, any gain or loss through our own efforts, inner talents and resources, need for fulfillment, emotional feelings, sense of self-worth, sense of values, personal liberty as liberty is usually a matter of money, material debt - these issues being addressed in the 2nd house of the natural zodiac ruled by Venus !!!

Issues could arise with face-to-face relationships both business and marital partnerships, marriage, divorce, contracts, lawsuits, bargains, agreements, dealing with the public and their response, open enemies, cooperation or lack thereof with others, what you most lack in yourself, attitudes towards marriage, your mate, the kind and quality of your marriage, how many marriages you may have, your grandparents, any people who act as your agent or on your behalf - these issues being addressed in the 7th house of the natural zodiac which is also ruled by Venus !!!

As for the potential of health issues, they could potentially arise in the area of the throat, neck, cheeks, chin and sense of taste as Venus naturally rules the sign of Taurus; the kidneys as Venus also naturally rules the sign of Libra; the heart, upper back, right eye of the male and left eye of the female with the Sun ruling the sign of Leo !!!

So who amongst you will get this retrograde energy for the year ahead in your upcoming Solar Return chart ??? ... for those of you born between July 23rd and September 2nd, you will definitely get the energy of Venus retrograde in your Solar Return chart, your birthday chart, for the year ahead ... those born on July 22nd and September 3rd may or may not get this backwards energy depending on the time and day your solar return occurs this time around ... perhaps you can understand why it it so important to have a natal chart done by a reputable astrologer so you can keep track of these kind of important issues !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Even though we will all be impacted on some level of our lives by the Venus retrograde, the following signs may feel its impact even more personally - Taurus and Libra born as this is your ruling planet, and Leo born which obviously is the sign in which the retrograde occurs this time around ... and as the 5th house is ruled by Leo in regards to artistic ability and expression, don't be surprised if you hear that those involved anywhere the entertainment industry have either passed on or have developed some kind health issue !!!

Venus remains retrograde until September 3rd ... be aware that the upcoming Mercury retrograde completely in the sign of Virgo, which it naturally rules, will be embedded in the final 12 days of this Venus retrograde, and the complete solar transit through Leo, which begins approximately 17 minutes after the beginning of the Venus retrograde, will have the Venus retrograde completely embedded in it while the solar transit through Virgo beginning on August 23rd will have the Mercury retrograde in Virgo embedded in the first 24 days of that transit ... fasten your seatbelts for a potentially bumpy flight !!!

Venus will not be retrograde again until March 3rd through April 13th, 2025 and will be a dual sign retrograde going from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... just a heads up for those of you who like to plan ahead and might even be thinking about a "special occasion" during that period !!!

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

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

THE VISIONARY - THINKING AND COMMUNICATING DRAMATICALLY, WITH A DISPLAY OF DIGNITY, AND ALWAYS WITH THE HEART !!!

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts" ... to that end the Cosmic "curtain" rose yesterday, July 11th, at 12:11 AM EDT as Mercury began its dramatically expressive transit through the ambitious, optimistic sign of Leo ... Mercury is now ready to blaze through Leo where the mindset and communicating functions will most likely become "center stage" somewhere in your life for the next few weeks ... as Leo is a fire sign it will bestow Mercury with a lot of creativity ... this Mercury is quite the performer who wants to get your attention along with your admiration any way it can ... Mercury was last in Leo from July 19th through August 4th, 2022 !!! 

Mercury is considered to be in its "fall" in Leo ... that meaning it is in the sign opposite to the one where it is considered to be in "exaltation", which in this case is Aquarius where it expresses its energy harmoniously with its forces increased and its virtues magnified ... HOWEVER, Mercury in its "fall" in Leo can yield a difficulty in expressing its real nature ... it is said to be like staying in someone else's home and being where you do not really feel comfortable ... Nevertheless, there is a lot of positive potential from this mercurial energy !!!

Mercury in Leo thinks dramatically and always with the heart ... here one can become a visionary and  highly idealistic ... romantic attachments tend to take a major portion of ones concentration ... there is a display of dignity, a sense of innate refinement, and a desire to make good impressions on others ... there is also a desire to be the authority in ones chosen field ... there is ability to solve problems, but sometimes the details are ignored ... ambition abounds under this energy ... and since this is a very dramatic energy for communication it should not be a surprise that every now and then comes the tendency to exaggerate, be self-centered, or tell a little white lie or two !!!



Entertainment could easily be ones forte with dramatic talent being given here - okay all you wannabe actors, now it's time to show us what you got !!! ... this is often the natal placement of those in the entertainment industry ... there could be skills at sales, advertising, promotion or any means of persuading people with ones mind and tongue ... there could also be a desire to have ones thinking or style of communication given a lot of attention ... speech is made with abundant energy, great pride, liveliness and a lot of charisma ... drama and humor is frequently used in communications ... learning is best achieved when one is aroused and excited by a particular topic ... sometimes the ego has a way of getting involved here which could lead to fixed thinking or limited objectivity ... presentations are usually dramatic and magnetic ... one could become interested in power, children, fame and creativity under this energy !!!

Mercury transiting through the sign of Leo teaches us to instill our thinking process with ambition and creativity ... its the idea person ... one is usually proud of their intellectual talents and capabilities ... with the mind being so closely connected to the heart, there is great passion, strength and originality in the mode in which one thinks and communicates ... sometimes insecurity here can lead to one coming on too strong or even cause one to underestimate the power of their mind !!!

Mercury usually functions best when it is cool and detached from the ego, but this can become difficult in the self-conscious sign of Leo where personal aims and intentions appear to be to all-important and other important factors become far less important ... it is wise to realize that people give up trying to help others who always think they know better ... but ultimately, being able to combine ones own creative and enterprising mind with an awareness of others ideas and attitudes that are involved in your personal drama will benefit everyone ... problems are usually approached with great imagination and energy ... learning to use the input of others will allow one to avoid being a one-person endeavor, and then the mind will become a vital spark that will ultimately ignite a larger group endeavor ... the power of Mercury in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally creative, distinctive verbal style, warmly articulate, identifies with popular ideas, grasps the entire issue, intellectually confident, focused concentration, fixed intentions, enthusiastic worker, convincing speaker, outspoken and optimistic, knows ones own mind, teaching and planning ability, foresight, executive mind

NEGATIVE: mentally conceited, liking the sound of ones own voice, only interested in ones own ideas, overlooks details, mentally arrogant, inflexible mind, stubborn and one-track mind, self-centered, feels superior at work, craves appreciation, verbally over-bearing, talks "AT" others, wrapped up in pet projects and theories

Mercury is currently transiting through Leo along with Venus which is about to begin its next retrograde journey on July 22nd completely in the sign of Leo, the Sun joins the party on July 22nd/ 23rd approximately 7 minutes after Venus stations retrograde ... you can bet with all of this energy going both forwards and backwards, those ideas are most likely going to be grand and scathingly brilliant - at least in the mind of the one from which it sprang !!!

So exactly what kind of "scene" from what kind of "play" will each one of us be "acting out" during this dramatically expressive transit of Mercury ... new ideas and projects just might have quite a theatrical air about them ... Mercury remains in Leo until July 28th !!!


This is the last full sign transit of Mercury ere it begins its third retrograde journey for 2023 which occurs from August 23rd through September 15th completely in the sign of Virgo going from 21 degrees 51 minutes Virgo back to 8 degrees Virgo ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on August 3rd/4th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!



While Mercury is in Leo it is wise to remember that we should teach others what we really want to learn our self ... we stand or we fall by what we say and how we say it ... do not ignore that "small still voice" that is an important part of the greater good !!!

One final word of advice - be aware that whatever springs from your mind, and ultimately from your lips, is only as good and true as that which dwells in your heart ... So, curtain up ... light the lights ... cue applause ... now, let's get out there, take center stage, think big and then communicate with a dramatic flair which for certain people will not be a difficult task at all will it ??? 

HIGHLY EFFICIENT IN WORK AND BODILY HEALTH !!! ... BUT DOES ONE BECOME A WORKAHOLIC AND/OR A HYPOCHONDRIAC ???

MARS blazed its way into the highly analytical and perfection seeking sign of Virgo today, July 10th, at 7:40 AM EDT ... we all are now literally driven to step up the work productivity times 1000 !!! ... this is the universal energy of the true workaholic ... when Mars transits through an earth sign - Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus - sometimes its force is slowed down to a degree, and it usually manifests its power conservatively and patiently ... but remember we are talking about normally aggressive Mars now in a sign that pays a LOT of attention to DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS accompanied by a deeply penetrating analysis and practicality ... Mars is a planet whose nature is represented by a fiery drive, and Virgo is an earth sign represented by a slower and more exacting energy ... and what does fire have the potential to do to Earth ??? - SCORCH AND BURN, so proceed cautiously and carefully !!!

Mars was last in Virgo from July 29th through September 14th, 2021 ... anything come to mind about what may have occurred in your life during that time frame in reference to this highly driven energy ???



It is important to remember that Virgo is ruled by Mercury, and thus it can be said that Mercury and Mars will now have a "working" relationship as a result of this transit ... it would therefore be extremely wise to think carefully before you speak in order to avoid verbal confrontations that are most surely guaranteed to surface when these two planets and their energies are "sparring" together !!!

Mars in Virgo is scientific and logical ... it enjoys working ... and working ... and working !!! ... it is extremely thorough and painstaking ... this energy is usually able to perform even the most monotonous tasks well - surgeons and craftsmen are often born under this energy ... sometimes it can get so engrossed in the work details that it loses sight of the overall project and can come to the conclusion that the effort is hopeless and decide to move on - thus making this energy driving one to the point of undertaking too many projects at once !!!



One must guard against becoming overly critical, and one must also be on guard to avoid working themselves so hard they end up manifesting some form of illness ... under this energy one might need to address health issues - especially inflammations or issues in the intestinal area, or one may simply decide its time to pursue a healthier lifestyle and begin a new diet regimen or nutritional routine !!!

Mars in Virgo usually plans its actions carefully and executes them very systematically ...efficient functioning is important in both work and bodily health ... the basic inclination here is to be practical, thrifty, dedicated and follow an approach that tries to find flaws and fix them ... personal identity is tied to being competent and doing things correctly ... Mars in Virgo considers cleanliness is of utmost importance - the caveat here is to avoid too much nitpicking, self-criticism and getting so enmeshed in the details that you inhibit your ability to act ... sexual drive and physical energy are influenced by ones sense of effectiveness and ones competence ... and too much focus on "performance" could result in inhibition and failure to be productive ... one can also negatively affect their health by becoming so engrossed in pursuing the art of perfection !!!

Mars in Virgo is all about achieving what we want through highly detailed analysis ... it can be the slave-driver or slave-driven ... here good health represents efficiency ... many times one may ask themselves exactly what is it that they are striving for ... it is said that one of the lessons under this energy is to learn by giving in to the energy of the sign opposite of Virgo which is Pisces - in other words giving in to the mystery of life itself, the world, sex and just letting everything run on autopilot for awhile ... Mars in Virgo can flip back and forth between chastity and promiscuity very easily since we have Mars (desire) and Virgo (purity) whose energies are intertwined !!!



Mars in Virgo energy appreciates good sexual hygiene and proper technique ... it shuns inaccuracy, people who don't put forth effort and those who lack dexterity and grace ... the energy of Mars in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: fine sexuality, hits the target, watchful, even-tempered, helpful, healing ability, attentive, subtle touch, industrious, methodical, energy-saving, thorough, shrewd, clever, ingenious, precise, accurate, clean, economical

NEGATIVE: frustrating, sexually exacting, voyeuristic, repressed, interfering, hypochondriac, neurotic, workaholic, inflexible, energy wasting, never finishing projects, exploitative, cantankerous, critical, fussy, sanctimonious

Virgo born individuals, this is your time for an extra energy boost - just what you need to be further fueled by that detail, practical, analytic and work driven oriented energy you were born with ... so there may be many of you potentially thrust into overdrive - but we still love you !!!  ... as always for everyone, if you've had a natal chart done look to which house or houses the sign of Virgo resides in and you can gain insight as to what area or areas of your life potentially will be charged up by this highly driven Martian energy !!!

Mars is currently in transit through Virgo by itself with Mercury, as previously mentioned that rules Virgo, joining in the end of this month on 7/28  ... Mars remains in Virgo for the next 49 days until August 27th !!! 

The months of July, August and September could potentially be somewhat bumpy as Venus begins its next retrograde journey completely in the sign of Leo on July 22nd thus potentially effecting the last 37 days of this transit, and Mars will be transiting the sign of Leo, ruled by the Sun, the final 8 days of the Venus retrograde ... AND be aware that Mars will be in Virgo with Mercury the first 7 days of the next Mercury retrograde which occurs completely in the sign of Virgo ... Mercury enters its next shadow point August 3rd, 4th ... confused yet ??? ... we will have an interesting "dance" between the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars as the energies bounce back and forth between each other ... so inhale and take a deep breath and exhale slowly ... certainly have the presence of mind to think before you strike out should the desire arise somewhere in your life !!!

NEVERTHELESS - make good use of this time as even though there exists the potential for many challenges, there is also the potential to get a lot accomplished through steady and controlled effort !!!

Without a doubt, over roughly the next seven weeks, we will certainly be very busy crossing every "T" and dotting every "I" ... OVER AND OVER AND OVER !!!

REEXAMINING HOPES AND BELIEFS WHILE QUESTIONING AND TESTING ALL ASPECTS OF FAITH !!!

  

NEPTUNE - planet of the spiritual, universal, ethereal, mysterious, mystical, enlightenment, psychic, delusional, imagination, escape, surrender, sacrifice, artistic inspiration, musical ability, glamour, fantasy, romantic love, dissolving, uplifting, confusing, consoling, undermining, drugs and alcohol - began its retrograde journey for 2023 on Friday, June 30th, at 5:07 PM EDT ... this retrograde period will go from 27 degrees 41 minutes Pisces back to 24 degrees 53 minutes Pisces - a period of about 158 days ... Neptune was last retrograde from June 28th through December 3rd/4th, 2022 !!!

One of the main purposes of Neptune retrograde is to not just have blind faith ... be it personal spiritual quests or the "collective" quest of society, Neptune retrograde energy means a reexamination of hopes and beliefs ... we may all need to individually question and test all aspects of faith - in fact many may experience some kind of crisis of faith during this period ... we begin to question and develop objectivity in regards to the intangibles of life such as truth, fear, hope and inspiration ... when Neptune is retrograde it is closest to the Earth making its function even more intensified !!!



Artists, musicians, poets and those who are leading a highly spiritual life may especially feel the energy of a Neptune retrograde and be truly inspired ... during a Neptune retrograde if we aren't pursuing a spiritual quest we may become confused, disillusioned or full of illusions ... there is a chance that some may fall into drugs, alcohol or other escapist behaviors ... ideally, this is a time to question the ideas society accepts about faith, fears, truth and understanding ... inspiration and potential for spiritual growth can be greatly enhanced ... there is also the potential for confusion, disorientation, unfounded fear, disillusionment, and misunderstandings at the beginning until the retrograde energy settles in !!!



Neptune retrograde periods are a time for everyone to tune into the collective unconscious and realize how our own fears, illusion, confusion or spiritual journey are connected to what is happening with humanity ... this is a time for each one of us to determine whether or not our own individual energies are being used positively to develop faith and spirituality, or if we are simply pursuing a path of illusion, escapism and disappointment ... Neptune retrogrades about 5 - 6 months every year !!!

Neptune is currently transiting through the sign of Pisces - the sign it naturally rules ... In Pisces, Neptune’s qualities of spirituality and creative genius are noticeably enhanced ... Neptune here does NOT value materialism ... there will be more of a tendency to explore and develop our inner selves yielding the possibility of attaining the capability of harmony between the physical and spiritual world ... this energy makes us potentially more psychic, generous, understanding, responsive to the environment, more mystical and compassionate ... but it  also has the potential to lead us in the other direction making us more gullible, passive, self-destructive and likely becoming a victim to all kinds of addictions especially with this energy turned inwards during its retrograde period ... If we use this retrograde energy positively, we have the potential to become more compassionate, self-sacrificing, intuitive, artistic and creative … used negatively we will end up melancholy, an escapist, a procrastinator, vague, and likely to become a victim of many forms of addiction including drugs and alcohol !!!

Pisces born, since Neptune is your planetary ruler, this is your yearly time to review and rethink what has been going on in your life since the last Neptune retrograde ended on December 3rd/4th, 2022 !!! For everyone, if you have had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses 27 degrees 41 minutes Pisces back to 24 degrees 53 minutes Pisces falls, then you might get an idea in what area of your life the main thrust of this Neptune retrograde energy will be affecting you ... have you been seeking the "ideal" and been looking at things realistically, or have you been looking at life through the proverbial "rose colored glasses" letting illusion mislead you and not effectively dealing with reality ???

Neptune remains retrograde until December 6th ... it is definitely a good time, if you don't already, to start paying careful attention to your dreams as the Universe will undoubtedly be bringing us vital information while we sleep – keep a dream journal close by and USE IT !!! ... you might be amazed at what information the Universe sends to you in your unconscious state ... your dreams are sure to be enhanced with symbolism and information from the Universe resulting in profitable and/or illuminating and enlightening ideas ... after all, it's been said "a dream is a wish your heart makes" !!!

So now the question is what will you choose to do - Open your heart and mind to divine spiritual and creative energy, or allow yourself to fall into the depths of addiction, deception and escapism and simply become "lost in wonderland" ???