SPREADING COMPASSION, HEALING AND KNOWLEDGE - "SPIRITUAL WARRIORS" RISE UP !!!

MARS - the planet of action, aggression and initiative begins its transit through the emotional, compassionate sign of Pisces today, March 22nd, at 7:47 PM EDT ... Mars was last in Pisces from April 14th through May 24th, 2022 ... Mars, being a planet with a "fiery" reputation, loses some of its force moving through a water sign such as Pisces ... nevertheless, it has drive and ambition but on different levels and can still pack quite a punch !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pisces born individuals, this is your period of roughly six and a half weeks of receiving that extra boost of energy to accomplish whatever you set your mind on to get done ... for everyone it is a good time to identify that part of ourselves to which others are drawn and to which we, too, must follow ... in other words - SURRENDER !!!

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

Mars now joins Venus, Saturn and Neptune already in transit through the sign of Pisces thus increasing the potential that a lot of us may be drawn towards the pursuit of a highly focused spiritual "vision quest" - or will some fall to the depths of escapism, deception and/or addiction ???

Mars remains in the Pisces until April 30th  !!!

"Spiritual warriors" - new or well seasoned - spread your compassion, healing and knowledge as far as your intuition and imagination leads you !!!

HAPPY ASTROLOGICAL NEW YEAR !!!

 

The SUN blazed its way into the fiery, intense sign of Aries yesterday, March 19th, at 11:06 PM EDT ... being the first sign of the natural zodiac, you will find many astrologers who will joyfully say - HAPPY ASTROLOGICAL NEW YEAR !!! ... the 19th was also International Astrology Day !!! ... also known as the Vernal Equinox, equal days/equal  nights, but more readily known as the beginning of Spring - something we are all bound to put a little more of in our step for now !!! ... however, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere it's the first day of Fall - lucky you !!! ... the astrological alarm clock has rung and we are awakened from the dream like state the Sun transiting through Pisces may have put many of us in ... we now emerge from those deep emotional waters of Pisces and "dry out" as we proceed to move forward and make potential numerous new beginnings somewhere in our lives and start taking direct action !!!

The Sun is considered to be in exaltation in Aries ... every planet, or luminary in this case, has a sign, apart from the one it naturally rules, in this case Leo, where its energy is expressed harmoniously ... it is said that the complimentary forces are increased and the virtues are magnified !!!

With the Sun in Aries, we are encouraged to shine in the following ways: through valor and bravery; assertively; being first; seek recognition energetically and impetuously; and enhance ones total self-expression ... Since Aries is a fire sign, the Sun is very comfortable here, and maybe works a little more efficiently ... we are energized with a desire to start getting things done and begin new projects - the caveat here is to make those new beginnings carefully and cautiously as Mercury will take its first complete retrograde journey for 2024 from April 1st through April 25th completely in the sign of Aries !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ARIES BORN !!! ... not only is this the time of year to begin a new astrological cycle, but also for YOU to SHINE - which you like to do naturally !!! ... for everyone, it is a time for fresh new beginnings on many levels of ones life ... and even better yet - IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING - at least in the Northern hemisphere right ???   

The Sun is now joins Mercury already transiting through Aries ... in case you missed it, Mercury entered its shadow point yesterday when it reached 15 degrees 58 minutes Aries  ... The Sun remains in the sign of Aries until April  19th !!!

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

A HIGHLY SPIRITUALLY INFLUENCED TYPE OF LOVE - ONE CAN ONLY LOVE THE WORLD AND THOSE IN IT AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF !!!

 

VENUS began its transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Pisces on Monday, March 11th, at 5:50 PM EDT ... Venus is now in a "relationship" with Neptune, the natural ruling planet of Pisces, so there is the potential for love to be produced from some highly spiritual as well as karmic energy in ones life ... Venus was last in Pisces from January 26th through February 20th, 2023 !!!

Venus in Pisces is all about dreams and wishes, fairy tale endings, love at first sight, and happily ever after - well maybe !!! ... Venus is exalted in Pisces - a planet that is exalted in a sign expresses its energy more harmoniously and visibly through having its forces increased as well as its virtues magnified - especially in this case since Pisces ruler Neptune is considered to be the higher vibrational octave of Venus !!!



Venus in Pisces enjoys being compassionate, tenderhearted and helpful ... often one relates to others by taking the role of either the rescuer or a person looking for help ... affection is usually expressed idealistically, romantically, sympathetically, or sometimes evasively ... there is a deep desire for magic and romance in love ... one of the obstacles here can be a lack of clarity about what you want or a failure to be objective in regards to others which can ultimately set you up for disappointment, disillusionment, or possibly deception ... this energy needs not only love but an emotional connection as well otherwise it makes one feel very lost ... another caveat is to not become one who is afraid and holds back from expressing ones feelings and thus end up suffering in silence !!!



It is very easy under this energy to idealize love and loved ones ... one must guard against putting people and love on the proverbial "pedestal" because when reality sinks in the results can often be devastating ... sometimes a lack of discrimination can lead to highly frustrating attachments ... in this energy, one often wants a beautiful dream in their love relationships, yearns for a true soul mate, or can be psychically attuned to ones partner ... since Pisces is a water sign, Venus traveling here is especially subject to the emotions being a large part of the drive - even more so than usual !!!



Venus in Pisces can give great sensitivity to hurt that makes one feel as though they are being picked on ... one must guard against clinging to illusory loves just because they are far more beautiful than real life ... and this could ultimately prevent one from finding true closeness with another ... bottom line - this Venus wants to experience the perfect, unselfish love !!! ... tastes are frequently very refined here ... music is usually a natural means of self-expression as well as art !!!



Venus in Pisces is all about learning to love through accepting - it's the love of all ... in fact, LOVE IS ALL ... this  energy sees the Eternal Life principle flowing through every manifestation and therefore uniting the soul with all of life ... it is said that this placement of Venus most likely has more innate ability for inspired artistic creativity than any other ... also at heart one knows and feels that love is everything - everything is regarded as being alive and sacred ... Venus in Pisces can yield a highly spiritually influenced type of love !!!



Venus in Pisces can yield an extremely complex love nature ... this is due to having a highly evolved sense of love as unconditional and of beauty as a healing property, but on the other hand the fears and doubts that can accompany this energy can make one inclined to see love as something one "needs" and beauty as something to "get" or to "own" ... the truth here is that each one of us is a creation of love and beauty, but if one begins to doubt this, then one can open them self up to being used and abused ... and in the end, it comes down to the fact that you can only love the world and those in it as much as you love yourself as a part of the world !!! ... the energy of Venus in Pisces can express itself in the following ways :


POSITIVE: compassionate, sympathetic, appreciates unity of all life, congenial, evocative, sensitive lover, easygoing, artistically inspired, natural healer, self-sacrificing, selfless, highly affectionate, altruistic, very generous, loves unconditionally, gentle, philanthropic, peaceful


NEGATIVE: martyr, too sentimental, too passive, seducing, idealizes lover, romantically deluding, hypersensitive, self-pitying, weak-willed, wanton, no self-value,  non discerning, fears rejection, indulging, evasive, overly impressionable

Pisces born individuals, this is the time when Venus shines its beautiful "love light" upon you ... it is usually a good time to ask for what you want as you have the potential to be pretty much irresistible unless of course your natal energy dictates otherwise !!!

For everyone, it's time to keep "carefully" searching for the perfect "ahhhh" and seeking love with all the trimmings ... it may just be waiting - all for YOU !!!



Venus now joins the Sun, Saturn and Neptune in this dreamy, trance like swim through the emotional "waters" of Pisces ... romance and relationships, as well as finances potentially, could be thrown into very murky "waters" and even more so than normal !!! ... Venus remains in Pisces until April 5th !!!

HEADS UP !!! ... for those who like to plan ahead and might be planning a "special occasion", Venus will take its next retrograde journey in 2025 ... this occurs from March 2nd through April 13th ... it will go from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... take note of what occurs for you regarding this energy from March 30th through April 5th this year as there is the potential for something to resurface in regards to it during the Venus retrograde next year !!!

As Venus transits Pisces, the ultimate question here becomes will the love you find truly be what you wanted and did you "see" it for what it truly was instead of being blinded by the emotions of love and romance looking through the proverbial rose-colored glasses ??? ... best to tread the emotional "waters" of love and romance carefully and cautiously under this Venusian transit !!!

MENTAL OVERLOAD - WILL ONE BE INSPIRING, CREATIVE, INDEPENDENT OR IMPULSIVE, AGGRESSIVE AND CONFRONTATIONAL ???

 

MERCURY began its quick witted transit through the spontaneous, expressive sign of Aries on Saturday, March 9th, at 11:03 PM EST ... it has now initiated another spin through the natural zodiac ... Mercury takes  approximately 1 year to go through the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... it spends anywhere from 15 days to roughly two months in each sign - the longer amount of time being the roughly 20 to 24 days during each of its usual three, sometimes four, retrograde periods per year ... Mercury was last in Aries from March 19th through April 3rd, 2023 !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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



Mercury is currently transiting solo through Aries with the Sun joining the party on March 19th which is the Spring Equinox ... Mercury remains in Aries until ... wait for it ... until May 15th and by now you certainly know why !!!

Mercury will get no further than 27 degrees 13 minutes Aries when it begins its first full retrograde for 2024 ... this will occur from April 1st through April 25th going from 27 degrees 13 minutes back to 15 degrees 58 minutes Aries ... that is a lot of start/stop energy for a sign like Aries which likes to keep moving forward ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on March 19th approximately 20 hours ahead of the Spring Equinox when it reaches 15 degrees 58 minutes Aries !!!

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

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

"LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS" !!!

PERSONAL PLANETS RETROGRADE PERIODS FOR 2024 - FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO BE PREPARED !!!

As we are rapidly approaching the beginning of a new astrological year, occurring on March 19th, now seems like an excellent time to pull out those Cosmic binoculars and look ahead to address the personal planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars - retrograde periods for 2024 - especially for those who like to plan ahead and be prepared !!! ... I always refer to this sequence as the Personal Planet Retrograde Flip Flop and will from here on out refer to it as the PPRFF !!!

We entered 2024 under a Mercury retrograde which was over and done on January 1st ... I now address the remainder of 2024 ...  the personal planet retrograde planet sequence will go as follows: Mercury, Mercury, Mercury and Mars ... The end of the final Mercury retrograde period for 2024 will be embedded in the first 10 days of the Mars retrograde ... so if you have a birthday from December 7th through December 14th, you will get both of these retrograde energies in your solar return, birthday chart, for the year ahead ... those born on December 6th and December 15th may or may not get the retrograde energy depending on the time of your solar return for this year !!!

Venus will not be retrograde during 2024 but will take its next retrograde journey from March 2nd through April 13th, 2025 which will be a dual sign retrograde going from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... during 2024, there will be two Mercury retrograde periods in one sign and one Mercury retrograde and the Mars retrograde will be dual sign retrogrades !!!

These three planets - Mercury, Venus and Mars - 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 complete list of the timing of their retrograde periods during the PPRFF ... each retrograde period will be addressed in more detail 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 will resume 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 !!!



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 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 or are planning a "special" event ... 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 : 3/19/24 ... 15 degrees 58 minutes Aries

RX : 4/1 - 4/25/2023 ... 27 degrees 13 minutes back to 15 degrees 58 minutes Aries

ERXZ : 5/13/2024 ... 27 degrees 13 minutes Aries



MERCURY -

SP : 7/17/2024 ... 21 degrees 24 minutes Leo

RX : 8/4-5 - 8/28/2024 ... 4 degrees 6 minutes Virgo back to 21 degrees 24 minutes Leo

ERXZ : 9/11/2024 ... 4 degrees 6 minutes Virgo



MERCURY -

SP :  11/7/2024 ... 6 degrees 23 minutes Sagittarius

RX : 11/25 - 12/15/2024 ... 22 degrees 40 minutes back to 6 degrees 23 minutes Sagittarius

ERXZ : 1/3/2025 ... 22 degrees 40 minutes Sagittarius



MARS -

SP : 10/5/2024 ... 17 degrees Cancer

RX : 12/6/2024 - 2/23-24/2025 ... 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo back to 17 degrees Cancer

ERXZ : 5/2/2025 ... 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo

Now you have a basic idea of what to expect throughout the remainder of this year and into next year in regards to the backward motion and resulting influence of these personal 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 a reputable 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 Aries, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Cancer born as these are the actual signs in which the respective retrograde periods will take place … Gemini, Virgo, Aries born may also be equally as sensitive to these retrogrades as these two planets are your ruling planets : Mercury = Gemini and Virgo, Mars = Aries !!!

Knowing the houses where theses retrogrades will occur by the sign and degree involved are important in order to give you and idea of where in your life these retrograde energies may be more disruptive regarding the area of life the particular houses rule ... and that always makes it a good idea to have your natal chart done by a reputable Astrologer !!!

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 ... "