CHALLENGED TO DISCOVER OUR TRUEST, DEEPEST, HIGHEST VALUES THEN REALIZE HOW WELL WE CAN EXPRESS THEM PHYSICALLY !!!

The SUN began its yearly transit through the patient, practical sign of Taurus today, April 19th, at 3:56 PM EDT ... the pace of life slows down somewhat shifting into a slower mode of energy in Taurus which is an earth sign ... with the Sun in Taurus, we need comfort, to be recognized deliberately, thrive through ones own dependability, and have a drive for recognition which manifests itself through sensuality and/or personal possessions ... this energy is persistent, determined yet cautious !!!

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



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

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



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



The Sun in Taurus show us how to live through learning to stabilize ... here we have the beauty (Venus) and the beast (the Bull) !!! ... the purpose of the Sun here is to help maintain the stability of earthly things ... one may find it surprising to realize that the important main possessions here are a sense of Earthly harmony and wholesomeness, and not necessarily a substantial amount of money and material possessions ... there is the distinct ability to endure change with this energy ... it is also interesting to note that - WHEN CHANGE HAS TO BE MADE AND SOMETHING MUST BE LET GO OF, WHEN YOU LET GO AND ENDURE THE CHANGE YOU ULTIMATELY DISCOVER HOW MUCH MORE STABLE THINGS ACTUALLY BECOME !!!



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


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

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



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



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



The Sun now joins Uranus already in transit through Taurus ... the Sun remains in Taurus until May 20th !!!



So that hectic pace of  the Sun in Aries which is often a more restless, feeling of being helpless, begins to diffuse and slows down to a point hopefully allowing our feet to be more firmly planted beneath us as we strive for security ... just be careful about becoming so bullish on trying to get life back, to whatever the new normal will become, that you don't end up making unwise decisions and get too carried away by your frustrated emotions !!!

But for now, let's all get out there, carefully and cautiously, and grab this crazy thing we call life by those proverbial "Taurus horns" - OLE !!! 

MERCURY RETURNS TO ARIES / MARS RETURNS TO LEO !!!

MERCURY AND MARS have now both returned to the signs they originally began their respective retrograde periods in ... Mars back on December 6th, 2024 in Leo, and Mercury back on March 14th/15th of this year in Aries ... bellow is a reminder of what the energy is all about for these two planets in the signs they have reentered now both are in direct motion !!!

 

MERCURY returned to the the spontaneous, expressive sign of Aries on Wednesday, April 16th at 2:25 AM EDT ... this transit originally began back on Monday, March 3rd, at 4:04 AM EST !!!  

Mercury 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 9th through May 15th, 2024 ... a longer than normal transit due to its first full retrograde period for 2024 ... this was the the case again in 2025 !!!

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 through Aries along with Neptune which has begun its initial transit through Aries ... Mercury remains in Aries until May 10th !!!

Mercury got no further than 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries when it begins its first full retrograde for 2025 which occurred from March 14th/15th through April 7th going from 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces ... that was a lot of start/stop energy for a sign like Aries which likes to keep moving forward ... Mercury exits its retrograde zone on April 26th !!!

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" !!!

MARS returned to the sign of Leo today April 18th at 12:21 AM EDT ... and now for a reminder of what this energy is all about should you have forgotten !!! 

MARS - the planet representing the urge to get what you want, physical drive, sexual drive, initiative, courage and raw energy - began its initial extended dramatic transit through the romantic, playful, creative and pleasure seeking sign of Leo back on Sunday, November 3rd, at 11:10 PM EDT ... Mars was last in Leo from May 20th through July 10th, 2023 !!! 

Leo, being a Fire sign and ruled by the Sun, is very happy to have the fiery planet Mars, planet of action, initiative and drive transiting through its sign ... kind of a two for the price of one transit with a lot of creative potential if it doesn't get out of control with all the dramatic "flames" being stirred up !!! .... Mars in Leo is naturally dramatic and its actions alone often make a statement without a word being uttered ... having attention and admiration, and being in the limelight are doubly essential here .... energy can be asserted warmly, majestically, radiantly, or sometimes unfortunately extremely arrogantly ... the normal drive is towards having fun, enthusiasm, generosity, creativity, and most definitely having a zest for life !!!



Mars in Leo energy can be quite exciting yielding a strong sense of pride and a drive for recognition ... there is creativity abounding with a pronounced flair, and there is a heightened sense of vitality and just being alive ... ones identity here is tied in to being someone special and increasing self-esteem ... sometimes the urge to express oneself so boldly can lead to being pompous and very pushy, but it can also make one quite the magnetic personality !!!



Sexual drive and physical energy is usually off the charts under this energy and they thrive in an atmosphere of attention ... receiving compliments especially makes one come alive ... many of us may find ourselves becoming more in touch with our inner child - go with it and enjoying being a kid again !!! ... since Leo rules creative tendencies, those in the entertainment and artistic realms usually become quite productive and have the potential to reach a new heightened expression of their work ... regardless of where we use this energy, you can bet while Mars is transiting through Leo there is absolutely going to be a driving passion about something or someone - or both !!!



Mars in Leo teaches us all about growing personally and spiritually through creating ... here we have a hot and fiery streak that definitely needs to find some form of creative, dramatic, or romantic outlet ... there is determination and confidence and the first impression one gives is most valuable to oneself ... there could develop an overly neurotic need for admiration, but there is also a demand for honor, dignity and ability worthy of respect ... personal power is greatly enhanced with this energy but one must be careful not to become overbearing and end up being feared rather than loved ... the desire nature is in overdrive here ... find what you truly have a passion for and go for it ... when ones sense of glory and achievement goes beyond ones petty, self-centered ego drives, the way in which one goes about becoming genuinely creative becomes a gift instead of a curse ... feeling insignificant, humiliation, losing control and small-mindedness are strongly disliked while taking pride in ones partner, excitement, respect, honesty and being center stage are what one strives for with this energy ... the energy of Mars in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: high-spirited, passionate, ardent lover, energetic, dignified, proud, heroic, enthusiastic, vital, speculative, exciting, self-assured, determined, strong-willed, leader, consistent desire, ambitious magnetic, fearless


NEGATIVE: melodramatic, possessive, jealous lover, coercive, pompous, self-righteous, vain, tyrant, offensive, brutal, wild gambler, overly-excited, feels infallible, quarrelsome, domineering, ego driven, overbearing, ruthless, conceited, arrogant



Leo born, enjoy the extra burst of personal energy you are being given wile Mars moves through your birth sign  - as if you really need more fire energy driving you !!! ... for all of us, this could be an extremely creative and productive period but not without its challenges ... and if you are given to gambling and speculation, I would certainly advise great caution - after all, Leo naturally rules the 5th house which includes gambling and speculation so be careful about being influenced by an excessive drive to take too many "risks" !!!



Aries born will also certainly have the potential to feel the effects of this energy as Mars is your ruling planet ... for everyone, if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses the 30 degrees of Leo fall, then you'll get a good idea as to what area/areas of your life this heightened energetic drive will most likely "consume" you !!!



Mars is currently the only planet transiting through Leo ... Mars will complete its full transit through Leo on June 17th ... Mars got no further than 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo when it began its retrograde journey back on December 6th which lasted until February 23rd, 2025 ... this 79 day period was a dual sign retrograde going from 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo back to 17 degrees Cancer ... Mars returned to Cancer, which it just left, on January 6th, 2025 ... once it stationed direct on February 23rd, Mars returned to Leo on April 17th/18th to make its complete transit through that sign ... Mars exits its retrograde zone on May 2nd !!!



"ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR" !!!

Now we have all the planets moving in forward motion until Pluto begins its next retrograde period on May 4th ... make good use of this period as it only comes in brief moments each year !!!

VENUS DIRECT - LET YOUR LOVE FLOW !!!

 

VENUS - the planet representing attraction, how you may give and/or receive love and affection, shows how each one of us perceives beauty and happiness, shows what we value and dictates our personal values, shows how you relate, how you create and appreciate harmony through social and artistic expression, shows how we earn and spend our money, and shows exactly what it is you like - completed its retrograde journey for 2025 and stationed back into direct motion on Saturday, April 12th, at 9:02 PM EDT !!!

As previously mentioned, this Venus retrograde occurred from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... if you've had a natal chart done, did you find this backward energy more pronounced in whatever area of life ruled by the house or houses where these degrees fall ???

During this 42 day period, one of the main purposes of a transiting Venus retrograde was to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it should have become 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 was change needed on some level ??? ... and needless to say issues surrounding money and finances could have become big problems during the Venus retrograde ... these could potentially have become areas where you ended up having to spend money you hadn't counted on spending to correct !!!

As the weeks progress you may find little lights coming on in your mind as to decisions made in any of the above mentioned areas since the retrograde period began back on March 1st or as far back as January 31st when Venus entered its shadow point ... there are an abundance of possibilities within this scope ... a lot of people may have realized that a significant partnership or relationship ended, and some of you may now suddenly find yourself having changed your mind or questioning why you made that decision, or the other person did, perhaps too hastily  ... it is also possible the person may now come back around and things might look entirely different with Venus moving forward again ... however, if it was time for the relationship to end, then it MUST be let go of for you to grow personally and spiritually in order to move forward ... for those of you who began significant new partnerships or relationships, ESPECIALLY of the romantic variety, you may discover that they will not have longevity as they were formed when the energy of love and relating was moving backwards and for 23 days of this period Mercury was also retrograde in very nearly the same signs and degrees ... time will tell ... marriages entered into during these times often have an added sense of pressure - after all, Venus does naturally rule the 7th house of marriage and partnerships !!! 

For those of you who began significant new partnerships or relationships, ESPECIALLY of the romantic variety, you may discover that they will not have longevity as they were formed when the energy of love and relating was moving backwards and for twelve days of this period Mercury was also retrograde ... time will tell ... marriages entered into during these times often have an added sense of pressure - after all, Venus does naturally rule the 7th house of marriage and partnerships !!! 

How many of you tied the knot, so to speak, during this retrograde period, and especially from July 23rd through September 4th, 2023, and with Mercury retrograde as well in this period ??? ... hopefully, you had someone take note of when the union was officially pronounced so you could go to a reputable astrologer and have an event chart run to see where this challenging energy fell in the chart thus giving you somewhat of a clue in what areas of life issues may arise ... also, if you count the number of days from the day you were married until the end of the Venus retrograde, you can determine how many years Venus will be retrograde in the marriage chart ... this is called a progression, one method of forecasting, and is usually determined as day for a year ... for example, say you got married on March 1st, you would count 31, days in March, and 14 for the days in September that Venus was retrograde thus showing you that the Venus retrograde energy would be affecting the marriage chart for 45 years as Venus moves about 1 degree a year in a progressed chart !!!

Unfortunately, in this current economy, this could have also been the period where quite a few of you actually had your salary reduced or lost your job and are now job hunting once again, or have taken another job at a lower paying rate which may not pan out anyway is you started it during the retrograde period !!! ... again, let's not forget this little item - how many of you ended up shelling out money on something you had no intention of or no idea that you would be spending money on ???



For those of you who made significant costly purchases, especially of the luxury variety, you may find yourself wondering why you spent so much money or simply realize that what you thought you really desired doesn't hold much attraction (value) anymore or that you have over payed for what you got !!!

Obviously the overall ruler of this retrograde period is indeed Venus ... and as such the following could be ongoing issues in addition to the other signs it will actually be retrograde in :

Issues could have arisen 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 also have arisen 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 have arisen 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 !!!

In regards to Venus in Aries, Mars rules Aries and therefore there could be issues to have arisen in the following areas:

your animal nature, desire, sexual energies, assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, competition, surgery, operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammation, wounds, cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron , and steel which are all areas ruled by Mars !!!

your personality, natural disposition, tendencies, individuality, the way you express yourself, how people see you, the way you want others to see you, the way you "package" and "market" yourself, your physical body, your health, your early childhood years, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and bearing and the beginning of all enterprises - all of these being issues addressed in the 1st house of the natural horoscope naturally ruled by Mars !!!

In regards to Venus in Pisces, Neptune rules Pisces and therefore there could have been issues to arise in the following areas:

maritime matters, liquids, music, movies, stage and television, glamour, dreams, illusion, delusion, spirituality, ideals, mystique, hunches, creative functions, and things we take deeply for granted in life without questioning, fog, petroleum, mystery, anesthetics, flattery, intangibles, fragrances, second sight, love of poetry, color, dancing, drugs, drug addiction, alcoholism, hypochondria, sleepwalking, trances, hypnosis, abnormality which are all areas rule by Neptune !!!

your inner strengths and weaknesses, behind the scenes activity which would include clandestine affairs, restorative solitude, places of quiet reflection, sorrows, handicaps, secrets, seclusion, frustrations, jails, hospitals, mental institutions, secret enemies, restraint, inhibitions, exile, hidden dangers, self-undoing, things we hide from others, research, backgrounds, subjective sustainment, inner consciousness, the subconscious mind, charity, sympathy, public welfare, where we sweep away or hide problems to painful to face, difficulties we refuse to acknowledge, aptitude for art, music, dancing writing, acting - all of these being issues addressed in the 12th house of the natural horoscope naturally ruled by Neptune !!!

Regarding health issues, the following would be areas potentially affected per sign:

Venus: the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste (Taurus ruled) and the kidneys (Libra ruled)

Mars: the external reproductive organs, head and face

Neptune: the pineal glands and feet

As for elective surgery, especially of the cosmetic enhancement variety, if you didn't wait until after April 12th, you may feel you did not get the desired results you "paid" for and might even have to go back and redo at some time now Venus is direct ... for all other surgery that was not elective, you should not have tried to push that back as it could have had dire results !!!

Everyone should try and think back to the period between July 23rd, 2023 through September 4th, 2023 - is there something you may have begun in regards to any of the above mentioned areas Venus rules that became an issue for you during this Venus retrograde period ??? ... it is very common for this to occur ... to that end, anything begun during this current Venus retrograde period that just ended may yield problems in the days, weeks or months ahead, or lie dormant until the next Venus retrograde period occurs in 2026 !!!

Taurus and Libra born individuals, your period for inward reflection and review - especially of what had transpired in your life since the end of the last Venus retrograde on September 4th, 2023 - is now over and once again you start moving forward to pursue new avenues of personal and spiritual growth and maturity ... there could have been some significant insight, if you were paying attention during the last 6 weeks, that enlightened you as to what, where or who was no longer serving its usefulness in your life, and was not truly reflecting who you are on the inside as well as preventing personal and spiritual growth ...and this is also a possibility for all of us !!!

Venus stationed direct at 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... although now direct, Venus remains in it's retrograde zone -  the beginning degree at which Venus actually entered its retrograde journey back on March 1st, which was 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries, where it must come back to - until May 16th ... then Venus will be considered back up to full speed once again ... and don't forget if you had a birthday from March 2nd and April 11th, you have got this Venus retrograde energy for the whole year ahead per your solar return this time around  ... however, those born on March 1st and April 12th may or may not have gotten this energy in their solar return depending on the time your solar return actually occurred this time around ... now you can understand why it is so important to have a natal chart run for reference as to how the cosmic energy personally affects you on your journey through life ... and one last point, some of you got both Mercury and Venus retrograde in your solar return chart ... below I have re-posted the significance of Venus retrograde in your solar return chart for your convenience to refer to and refresh your memory !!!

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."

Venus now moves forward to complete its transit through Pisces ... posted below is for those of you needing a reminder of what this energy is about:

 

VENUS began its transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Pisces on Thursday, January 2nd, at 10:24 PM EST ... 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 March 11th through April 5th, 2024 !!!

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 is now with Mercury and Saturn 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 14th/15th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!

As Venus transits Pisces, back and forth, 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 !!!

Venus remains in direct motion until October 3rd, 2026 at which point its next retrograde journey occurring from October 3rd through November 13th,  will be another dual sign retrograde going from 8 degrees 29 minutes Scorpio back to 22 degrees 51 minutes Libra ... and yes, once again, it will have yet another Mercury retrograde embedded in part of it !!!

As for this Venus retrograde period being complete, it's time to try to live, laugh and let your love flow, and hopefully Cupids arrows will now be flying back on target towards lovingly piercing your heartstrings instead of impaling you in ya BUM !!!

MERCURY DIRECT - MOVING FORWARD CAREFULLY FOR NOW !!!

MERCURY completed its first full retrograde journey for 2025 and stationed  back into direct motion on Monday, April 7th, at 7:08 AM EDT - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... time for moving on - carefully and cautiously to begin with of course especially with Venus still retrograde until April 12th !!!



Hopefully, some of the disorientation, confusion, frustration and outright irritation along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde will now begin to clear and subside as it becomes time to move forward into the swing of things on all levels !!!

Over the next few days to the next few weeks or even months, there will undoubtedly be quite a few "a-ha" as well as "uh-oh" lights coming on in regard to decisions made or actions taken during the retrograde period from March 14th/15th through April 7th, and possibly as far back as March 1st when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey on April 7th which was at 26 degrees 49  minutes Pisces  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from November 25th, 2024 through December 15th, 2024 which was embedded in the first ten days of the Mars retrograde ( 12/6 - 2/26) ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from August 5th, 2024 -August 28th, 2024 ??? ... or perhaps even other past Mercury retrograde periods ??? ... it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward once again crossing back over the degrees it covered during this retrograde period issues may begin to arise potentially sooner than later !!!

Mercury retrograde periods, even though annoying and extremely frustrating at times, are actually a very beneficial thing, especially for those who were strong and fearless enough to dig deep down, as we need to validate, or in some cases invalidate, actions and situations gone awry and deal with them in order to finally release them to produce a calmer, positive and more productive state of mind thus allowing us to move forward to bring about greater personal and spiritual growth !!! 

If you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in which house or houses 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces falls - what kinds of issues did you have to  deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???

Of course the recurring question we may find ourselves asking now that Mercury is back in direct motion is "WHY" ??????? ...What actions did you take yourself or have taken against you that you or the other person may now be regretting. or you may be simply wondering why you chose to do what you did or why you were the victim of a particular course of action from other(s), and why didn't you or the other person wait a little longer ...  or perhaps you are simply now trying to figure out why it even happened ???

Relationships may have come to an end - some needed to be released and others may have jumped the gun and you are now wondering, or will be, why did I do that or end things during this period ...  how many of you had relationship issues surface or resurface - extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde - that you thought surely had been resolved or didn't even realize existed ???  ... or how many of you had one or more people come back through your life that you thought you had seen the last of or even forgot about and now most of them are gone or going once again ???  ... and how many of you began new actions within a relationship, personal or professional without waiting for the retrograde period to conclude ??? ... AND ... how many of you got MARRIED ???



Did anyone make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action or that you are beginning to regret or will do so in the days ahead ??? ... there could be problems regarding any purchases made especially with anything where electrical energy and/or computers were involved ... all of these scenarios are possible as the energy of a Mercury retrograde is one where communications and mental energy is going "backwards" ... so now that the mental processing facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us - in regard  to Mercury and its functions, it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives ... let go of what is best left in the past so you can achieve greater personal and spiritual growth !!!

Mercury retrograding in Aries certainly may have given rise to issues concerning making new starts ... this was NOT the time to have made vast sweeping changes - which one should never really do in a personal planet - Mercury, Venus, Mars - retrograde period anyway ... rather one should have kept an eye open for possibilities that could prove more satisfying once the energy returned back to direct motion on April 25th !!! 



Aries is the natural ruler of the 1st house, a house of self and identity, of the horoscope so there might have been issues regarding your personality, natural disposition, your individuality, the way you express yourself, the way you want others to see you, the way others actually see you, the way in which you package and market yourself, your physical body, your health, issues from early childhood years not dealt with, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance, as well as the beginnings of all new enterprises !!!



Since Aries is ruled by Mars, there could also have been issues in regards to your assertiveness, competitiveness, surgery and operations, accidents, inflammations, cuts, burns, violence and anger management issues !!!

On March 29th Mercury returned to the sign of Pisces ... 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 existed as well as the possibility for very strange erratic dreams and psychic experiences !!! ... it also yielded an emphasis for an opportunity to rethink old habit patterns and how we emotionally respond to life’s challenges !!! 

As Pisces is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion, delusion, the spiritual and enlightenment, our minds may have become distracted either by confusion and misunderstandings, already a given in a Mercury retrograde, or strongly drawn to our intuitive abilities and the pursuit of the "ideal" !!! 

As Pisces, whose planetary ruler is Neptune, naturally rules the 12th house, there could have been issues regarding dealing with our inner strengths and weaknesses; endings on some level of our lives; places of confinement - jails, hospitals or mental institutions; the desire to withdraw to places of solitude so we may quietly reflect on our life and where we are heading; our frustrations; inner consciousness and the subconscious mind; charitable endeavors; we could also 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 !!!

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there was more potential to have health issues, or recurring issues, in general during the Mercury retrograde ... and there was the potential for health issues in the area of the head which is the anatomical area of the body Aries rules ... there was also potential for health issues in the areas of the feet which is the anatomical area of the body Pisces rules !!!!




A Mercury retrograde period is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of complications resulting in 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 !!! ... so did anyone have elective surgery that could have been delayed for a time when the universal energy better supported it ???



Gemini and Virgo born since Mercury is your natural ruling planet, did you "try" and slow down for personal review and rethinking - especially in regards as to what has transpired in your lives since Mercury last resumed direct motion back on December 15th, 2024 ??? ... what have you learned about yourself in regards to where you are going and whether or not you are proceeding wisely in order to become more successful ??? ... what did you discover that MUST be changed - in fact what did anyone discover that MUST be changed so you are not left stagnant and hanging in limbo ???

Mercury now moves forward to complete its entire transit through the sign of Pisces which initially began back on February 14th ... Mercury will conclude its transit through Aries on April 14th/15th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!

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 23rd through March 10th, 2024 !!!

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, and in some cases down right prophetic, 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 Saturn already transiting through the mystical "waters" of Pisces ... the mind will certainly be actively influenced by many inspirational and highly imaginative factors, and possibly as well as being influenced by a "higher" realm of inspiration ... 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 !!!

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

Mercury will exit its retrograde zone on April 26th when it reaches 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries, the point where it began this first full retrograde journey for 2025 back on March 15th ... Mercury remains in  direct motion until July 18th when it begins its second retrograde journey for 2025 occurring from July 18th through August 11th ... it will occur completely in the sign of Leo going from 15 degrees 34 minutes Leo back to 4 degrees 14 minutes Leo ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on June 30th when it reaches 4 degrees 124 minutes Leo !!!

One final reminder - for those born between March 16th and April 6th you were "blessed" with this Mercury retrograde energy in your solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... those born on March 14th/15th and April 7th may or may not have gotten this energy depending on what time your solar return occurred - some may be lucky enough to escape it for this year ... yet another very good reason to know your time of birth if you can find it !!! ...below once again is an explanation of what the potential is to get Mercury retrograde 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 !!! " 

Now that everyone has had a taste of this first full Mercury retrograde for 2025, you probably witnessed the potential disruption it can cause especially this time being completely embedded in the Venus retrograde for 2025 ... of course many of you may have missed it or just ignored it, un-huh, but perhaps now you see why it's always a good idea to be prepared for what the Universe is about to bestow upon you !!!

Move forward and try to find ways to be grateful and thankful for all that you are blessed with even though there may be some difficult challenges occurring as well ... the Universe never lets us have anything "perfect" or "for free" because we are supposed to be in a constant state of enlightenment and illumination promoting personal and spiritual growth !!!