MAGNETIC, MYSTERIOUS, BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL - BUT HIGHLY EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN !!!

VENUS began its lusty, sensual transit through the penetrating and sexually charged sign of Scorpio yesterday, September 9th, at 5:26 AM EDT ... Venus was last in Scorpio from November 7th through December 1st, 2017 !!!




Venus in Scorpio is considered to be operating in detriment ... that means it is transiting through the sign opposite to the one it rules which in this case is Taurus ... it is also considered to be in detriment in Aries which is the sign opposite to the other ruled by Venus and that is Libra ... in detriment, the planet is said to not be operating at its full power taking on more of the sign's rather than the planets "coloration" ... it's like visiting somewhere that you have to conform to others rules and regulations ... however, this is no less of a powerful transit for Venus - as long as it doesn't get out of control which is so easy to do !!!




THIS VENUS MEANS BUSINESS !!! ... it is highly emotionally driven and enjoys intensity and getting to the bottom of things - in more ways than one !!! ... it can be demanding, forceful, and absolutely unflinching in the way it relates to people ... affection is usually expressed passionately and accompanied with consuming and obsessive feelings ... great pleasure is found in figuring out hidden motives and meanings ... here one needs to penetrate deeply into a relationship in order to feel closeness and develop an emotional bond ... love and social needs can be hindered as a result of secrecy or a reluctance to trust others - an unwillingness to let ones guard down ... sharing the sexual, sensual, and financial areas of life may be difficult due to the need to become overindulgent or falling into the trap of denial ... becoming involved in a give-and-take scenario with others can yield transformational and transmutable energy ... a desire for loyalty and the need to be swept away, seduced, fascinated and totally absorbed in love may manifest in your life with this energy !!!




There is a tendency towards jealousy and being secretive ... sensing other peoples feelings may sometimes be difficult ... one can sometimes be very idealistic, religious or even mystical ... if advances are rejected under this energy, one can be desolated and the love becomes hate ... this Venus can forgive but it NEVER forgets, and once scorned you will NEVER get back in as close as you used to be !!!! ... an attribute with this energy is the ability to be financially skilled with an eye for rewarding investment opportunities !!!




Venus in Scorpio teaches us how we find love through what and/or whom we desire ... it's all or nothing ... harmony created through conflict ... with Venus in Scorpio comes a necessity to control ones strong emotional awareness of what turns people on or off ... ultimately the Power of Love is what Venus in Scorpio is about - and the Power of Love usually has its way with you rather than you having your way with it !!!

Due to deep emotions and very strong and passionate sexual desires, the appetite for love here is like a bottomless pit ... when you discover that you cannot get enough, it might be best to turn the tables and start giving all you can give - it will TRANSFORM you !!! ...  there is the possibility that there may exist a feeling that something is desperate or fated about ones love life ... there is also a deep desire to find a true genuine love that purges you and transforms your life towards its destiny ... love may be withheld in order to control a partner with this energy due to the inability to handle the depths of  your own emotions and vulnerability that accompanies them !!!




Venus in Scorpio likes heartfelt emotions, gutsy  experiences, sexual revelation, a depth of aliveness ... it dislikes superficial beings, lack of soul, a boring lifestyle and exposure to ridicule ... inevitably the expression of Venus in Scorpio leads to an unavoidable intimacy with ones self ... the energy of Venus in Scorpio came be expressed in the following ways :



POSITIVE: sexually aware, sensuous, colorful, rapturous, stimulating, magnetic, influential, sultry, subtle, self-controlled, self-sacrificing, dignified, confiding, secretive, intimate, faithful, passionate, gives all, intense



NEGATIVE: sexually obsessed, blue, depraved, hurtful, bitter, hateful, poisonous, immoral, underhanded, manipulative, self-destructive, tight-lipped, not forthcoming, possessive, jealous, expects everything, fanatical




Venus now joins Jupiter currently transiting through the sign of Scorpio - a lot of energy driving us deep within to face who and what we are and whether or not we have the courage to change what is necessary and allow growth to take place !!!




Venus remains in the sign of Scorpio until ... WAIT FOR IT ... January 16th, 2019 ... Venus will get no further than 10 degrees 50 minutes Scorpio when ti begins its retrograde journey for 2018 which occurs from October 5th through November 16th, a dual sign retrograde, going from 10 degrees 50 Scorpio back to 25 degrees 14 minutes Libra ... Love may truly become afloat on a tempest tossed sea !!!




Scorpio born, the universal love "light" now shines on you, at least for the next 26 days - go after, which you usually do anyway, and ask for what you want as you just might get it ... but move cautiously because when Venus stations retrograde you may change your mind and then once again after it stations back into direct motion on January 16th, 2019 or even when it returns to Scorpio on December 2nd !!!




Venus in Scorpio is magnetic, mysterious and breathtakingly beautiful ... it sees, it stalks, it conquers ... it can change your life forever ... but be aware you just might discover that what you think truly stirs your passions during this transit may not be what you really wanted once this transit is over and normal unbiased reasoning returns when Venus moves into the open-minded and freedom loving sign of  Sagittarius making it release it's unrelenting grip in the matter of the affairs of the heart !!!

DETAILS ... DETAILS ... DETAILS - CAN YOU SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES ???

MERCURY - began its transit through the highly focused sign of Virgo yesterday, September 5th, at 10:39 PM EDT ... thinking and communicating processes now shift from what was a fiery, highly creative energy to being more rational and efficient sometimes to a fault  ... and even though Virgo is an Earth sign which is somewhat prone to slower movement,  Mercury is dignified in this position, very happy and very much at home here and functions well as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Gemini ... Mercury was last in Virgo from July 25th through September 29th, 2017 - a longer than normal transit due to a retrograde period being involved but that will not be the case again this time around !!! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercury now joins the Sun already in transit through the sign of Virgo ... Mercury will hop, skip and jump as it remains in Virgo only until September 21st ... and just for those who are curious enough, Mercury has one more retrograde period to go for 2018 which will occur from November 16th through December 6th ... in fact it will begin rough fourteen and a half hours after Venus completes its retrograde journey for 2018 !!!

For roughly the next 17 days, the thrust of Mercury's mission in Virgo boils down to encouraging us to analyze and scrutinize every piece of information, and to ultimately make sure we have crossed every T and dotted every I  .... over and over again which ironically is just what Mercury loves to do in Virgo anyway whether in direct or retrograde motion !!!

"EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD" !!!

MARS, the planet representing the urge to get what you want, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy and desires, completed its RETROGRADE journey for 2018 on Monday, August 27th, at 10:05 AM EDT ... the purpose of a Mars retrograde ultimately is to evaluate what it is that motivates you and for you to determine if you are on the correct path to achieve your goal, and if you are doing what you should be doing to get there ... inside a Mars retrograde, it is time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that ones intent is accomplished effectively ... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... also, old resentments and personal issues that haven't been resolved in the past have a tendency of resurfacing during this period which yields the awareness that the time has come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, anger and learning assertiveness ... Mars takes a retrograde journey for about 9 - 10 weeks out of its 26 month cycle !!!




Mars retrograde could have brought issues of frustration or hostility to the surface we have deliberately suppressed due to their disruptive qualities which can cause forward movement in our lives to be temporarily delayed ... sudden reversals of interest and drive may have occurred, as well as the termination of a long term goal as it may have become apparent that the effort was inappropriate for the long term ... also old wounds, hurts and frustrations may arise seemingly out of context but usually there is a purpose for this ... during a Mars retrograde it is usually a good idea NOT to undertake any new beginnings per contract or verbally since the energy often isn't there to carry it through ... now sometimes you can't just "sit tight" for nearly two and a half months, but there are good reasons, if at all possible, as the waiting may ultimately prove to be a blessing in the long run ... often things begun under a Mars retrograde will run into problems when it stationed back into direct motion on August 27th, at some point during the next two years, or even when Mars takes its next retrograde journey in September 2020 !!!




This Mars retrograde was a dual sign retrograde going from 9 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius back to 28 degrees 37 minutes Capricorn ... if you have had a natal chart done, you can look to where these degrees fell by house and/or houses in order to see if  you had to rethink some kind of action you may have taken or where you might have encountered delays and frustrations and had to shift into a different direction in whatever area of life the house or houses rule where these degrees fell ... if you were born with your natal Sun between 9 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius and 28 degrees 37 minutes Capricorn, at some point Mars crossed back over your natal Sun and, among other things, there could have been a few days when you felt as if someone unplugged your energy outlet - many of us may have had that feeling off and on during the entire Mars retrograde cycle !!!




If you have any natal planets in the signs of Aquarius and/or Capricorn within these degrees you probably experienced some kind of energy produced in relation to the planet and the area of life in which house it is placed when Mars backed over that planet ... also Mars may have produced some action if it made an aspect to other planets in your natal chart regardless of sign but still within the same range of degrees ... as with Mercury retrograde periods, sometimes those born with Mars retrograde may have found this period more productive since they are already comfortable and have a better understanding of this backwards energy ... in a natal chart, those born with Mars retrograde are said to have actions in the current life that are recreations of the past, and they are also frequently in competition with themselves ... Many would agree this Mars retrograde, with a Mercury retrograde completely embedded in it became especially challenging and frustrating !!!

Mars spent the first 48 days of this retrograde period in the sign of Aquarius in which it began its initial backward transit on June 26th ... Aquarius is the natural ruling sign of the 11th house of the natural horoscope ... this is the house of group relationships whose keyword is social consciousness ... in this house exists the capacity for friendships, your attitude toward your friends and acquaintances as well as all non-emotional relationships ... this house indicates what it is that you most desire in life, your personal goals, the love you receive, and the money you obtain or obtained from your profession or business ... the 11th house also represents step-children, foster children, and adopted children ... it also concerns circumstances over which one has little control in life ... it is the human addressing humanitarian interests, the way one sees others, large and small organizations, clubs one may belong to, which all may somehow relate to ones career  !!!




Uranus is the planet which rules the sign of Aquarius ... it is the planet which represents the urge for freedom often referred to as "divine discontent" and whose keyword is the "awakener" ... anatomically it rules the nervous system ... Uranus also rules inventions, originality, science, electricity, magic, the occult, light, astrology, psychology, x-rays, and airplanes ... it is futuristic, humanitarian, intellectual, eccentric, egotistical, and utopian ... Uranus governs creative will, sudden change, revolution and dictators, individualism, rebellions and autonomy ... its actions can be sudden, unexpected and often violent ... it likes to break tradition ... it is also said to be associated with natural disasters !!!




There may have been potential for any or a combination of all of the previous areas mentioned to have 11th house and/or Uranus related issues to arise in your life or someone you know when Mars was retrograde in Aquarius !!! ... and keep in mind that during that period Mars was in a "relationship" with Uranus and there was the potential for things to be quite disruptive and explosive ... or was the effect lessened in some cases with Mars being in retrograde motion ???




Mars reentered the sign of Capricorn on August 12th where it spent the final 16 days of its retrograde period ... Capricorn is the natural ruling sign on the 10th house of the natural horoscope ... this is considered to be a house of substance ... its keyword is honor ... this house relates to ones profession, reputation, and standing in the community ... it shows ones ego, status, fame, ambition, business and social activities, ones employer, and the government or any other authority over you ... it also represents ones achievements, how the world sees and evaluates you as well as the influence you exert in your own circle ... the 10th house also represents the church as an organization and the opposite parent from the one represented by your 4th house or the parent you may have grown up with in a situation where there was only a single parent !!!




Saturn is the planet which rules the sign of Capricorn ... it is the planet which represents the urge for security and safety and often referred to as the "teacher" ... anatomically it rules the skin, the skeletal system - which includes the teeth, the knees, left ear and auditory organs ... Saturn rules form, discipline, responsibility, organization, ambition, capacity for a career, limitations and delays ... it governs theories and scientific laws, older persons, depth, patience, timing, tradition, conventionality orthodoxy, and productive use of time ...it represents the principles of truth, , contraction, solidification of wisdom and of aging ...its actions are slow and lasting !!!




Once the emphasis of the Mars retrograde shifted, there was the potential for any or a combination of all of the Capricorn/ 10th house issues to arise in your life or someone you know ... but there still could have been issues from the initial period of this retrograde of Mars ... once Mars returned to Capricorn, it was considered to be in a "relationship" with Saturn which is very different from that of Uranus as Mars/Saturn can often produce a stop/start energy ... but did Mars drive being in retrograde motion dilute some of the stop/start energy ???




Finally, Mars is the ruling planet of Aries which is the natural ruling sign on the 1st house, or Ascendant, which is considered a house of Life ... its keyword is identity ... the 1st house represents your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself, how people see you and the way you want others to see you, the way you "package" and "market" yourself, your physical body, your health, early childhood years, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and the beginnings of all enterprises you under take !!!




Mars represents your animal nature, desires, sexual energies, assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, competition, surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammations, wounds, cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron and steel, actions that are sudden, self-assertive and disruptive actions, and energy that can be used destructively and angrily or with courage and strength ... all of these areas were vulnerable to issues during the entire retrograde period as it is Mars which is in retrograde !!! ... In regards to health, the areas subject to issues for the entire retrograde were the external reproductive organs, head and face !!!




Since Mars was last retrograde from April 17th through June 26th, 2016, what actions were possibly begun then that now had to be readdressed, readjusted, reworked, or simply had run their course, ran out of "steam" and come to a necessary ending needing to be released, or concluded but not by our choice, in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth ??? ... and undoubtedly you may be readdressing some of these issues, including the issues encountered from May 11th up until the retrograde period as Mars now moves forward over those degrees up until it exits its retrograde zone on October 8th !!!




ARIES born - this was your period to slow down and in some cases stop - WHICH YOU DO NOT LIKE TO DO AT ALL !!! - in order to review and rethink what had been going on in your life especially in regards to what may have transpired in your life since June 29th, 2016 when Mars, being your ruling planet, last stationed back into direct motion !!!




Even though Aries born individuals in addition to Aquarius and Capricorn born - since Mars was retrograde within your birth signs - may have been more sensitive to the reversal of energy, we all may have experienced it or possibly witnessed it somewhere in our lives or others lives, and lights may have begun to come on in our heads as we may have discovered that perhaps we should either have waited a while longer before taking a particular course of action or possibly realizing we should have never taken that course of action to begin with in certain situations !!!




Mars remains in Capricorn until September 10th when it will reenter the sign of Aquarius to makes its complete transit through that sign which was initially begun back on May 15th/16th ...Mars will exit its current retrograde zone on October 8th and remains in direct motion until September 9th, 2020 when it begins its next retrograde journey which will take place completely in the sign of Aries - the sign it naturally rules which could add some extra "punch" to that retrograde period !!!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES - which hopefully you have already done since August 27th !!! ... but be careful not to put the pedal to the metal and start going too far too fast just yet ... perhaps you might want to take some advice from Dorothy and her friends and simply "ease on down the road" !!!

LIVING PRODUCTIVELY THROUGH RATIONAL ANALYSIS !!!

The Sun begins its "highly efficient" transit through the methodical, discriminating sign of Virgo tomorrow, August 23rd, at 12:09 AM EDT - very late tonight depending on which time zone in which you live !!! ... the cosmic solar energy now lowers the curtain on the flamboyant and dramatic energy of Leo which can produce so many overblown egos and has shifted into a slower, more highly work oriented mode of operation ... with the Sun in Virgo, one likes to shine through their competency, through their work and/or health, through being pragmatic, and through their tendency towards discretion !!!

Virgo is a feminine/earth/mutable(flexible) sign ... it is reserved, modest, practical, very discriminating and industrious, highly analytical and painstaking, and always seeking to know and understand ... its key phrase is "I ANALYZE" and it's keyword is "Practicality" ... its glyph is the Greek spelling for the word "virgin" ... anatomically it rules the nervous system and the intestines - this energy can make one prone to illness caused by stress and nervous tension ... it can also make one highly prone to ulcers ... it is the sign directly opposite of Pisces in the natural zodiac where one can be dreamy, given to imagination, self-delusion and escapism ... Virgo is the sign of work and self-improvement yielding a perfectionist nature which will dissect and analyze - often over-analyzing - all of the facts in order to obtain the ultimate truth and gather all available information ...

Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury, which thankfully just stationed back into direct motion last week on August 19th ... this is the second sign Mercury naturally rules - the other being Gemini ... Mercury is the ancient God of communication and commerce ... Mercury rules intelligence and reason, and tends to give one a rather high strung temperament ... Mercury represents the intellectual urge, reasoning ability and all avenues of expression ... so naturally it would rule mental capacity, dexterity, rationalization, sensory perceptions, travel - in particular short trips, brothers and sisters, children, speaking, writing, bookkeeping, secretaries, neighborhood activities, letters, mailings, means of transportation, trade and techniques ... where you find Mercury in your natal chart is the place which shows where and how you best communicate ...

Virgo naturally rules the 6th house of the horoscope ... it is a house of duty and substance ... it relates to ones work, health and habits ... it shows employment, employees, tenants, servants, pets, and dependents ... it also shows service to others, routine day to day matters, ones clothing and how it is worn, hygiene, interest in food and health, sickness and all conditions that would affect ones health ... this house also shows aunts and uncles, self-adjustment, and the unconscious mind ... in this house, work and health are tied together ...

The Sun transiting Virgo teaches us to learn how to live productively through rational analysis ... here we have the perfectionist ... through constant analysis we are seeking a state of purity ... this energy must have some kind of work or be of some kind of service for life to make sense ... it is energy that is continuously preparing for something ... there is a need here to perfect some kind of technique through vigorous study and training and through this one can reduce the everyday wear and tear on the nervous system and the intestinal  area ... proper rest, retreat and good diet are a MUST here ... serve your body well and it will serve you and others well in return !!! ... the energy of the Sun in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: thoughtful, analytical, lively mind, observant, scholarly, precise, pure intentions, discriminating, helpful, problem-solving, wholesome, health-conscious, industrious, methodical, efficient, reliable, modest, considerate, pure

NEGATIVE: over thinks, skeptical, worrier, critical, dry, fault-finding, interfering, problem-making, fussy, hypochondriac, workaholic, inflexible, overly mechanical, spoil sport, unsure, stand-offish, sterile, petty, melancholy, picky

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN VIRGO BORN !!! ... the Sun is currently transiting through the sign of Virgo all by itself and in some ways that might be a blessing ... The Sun remains in the sign of Virgo until September 22nd !!!



During the 32 days the Sun will be in transit through Virgo, we will be immersed in facts, figures, daily work and service issues, health and nutritional issues, and possibly family issues on some level ... BUT ... we must learn to step back and look at the larger picture which is a very difficult and challenging task under this energy  ... if something is working, DO NOT TRY TO FIX IT !!! ... help where it's not needed becomes a hindrance ... understand that true perfection consists of being able to accept life's imperfections and not worry so much about picky, petty issues ... think of the mind as a "lens" with the ability to focus on what is not only close up but far away as well !!!

So what is there left to say ??? ... JUST WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK ... WORK ... WORK !!!

OFF AND RUNNING AGAIN ??? ... NOT SO FAST ... NOT SO FAST !!!

MERCURY completed its second full retrograde journey for 2018 and stationed  back into direct motion today, August 19th, at 12:25 AM EDT - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... but not too loudly for the time being !!!




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 July 25th/26th through August 18th/19th, and possibly as far back as July 7th when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey at 11 degrees 32 minutes LEO  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from March 22nd through April 15th ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from December 2nd/3rd through December 22nd, 2017 ??? ... and 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 already, and this includes actions begun from July 7th through July 25th/26th which are potentially subject to review and revision or even dismissal !!!




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 23 degrees 27 minutes LEO back to 11 degrees 32 minutes LEO 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 ESPECIALLY WITH THIS RETROGRADE EMBEDDED IN THE CURRENT MARS RETROGRADE ???




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 !!!




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 ???




Mercury retrograding in Leo could certainly have caused issues to arise in regards to romance, creative pleasurable activities, emotional attitudes, the love we give to others, social affairs, the education of children, and any dramatic, literary, or artistic endeavors as these are the areas ruled by the 5th house of the natural zodiac which Leo naturally rules ... Leo is ruled by the Sun and as such, there could have been issues arising in regards to ones personal expression, the quality of leaderships and success, the father, husband and men in general, health, vital principles, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity, ones capacity for experience ... anatomically there could have been issues with the heart, back or spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female !!!



Mercury retrograde in a Fire sign, this time being Leo, may have caused us to question how any means of inspiration and our individual creative "genius" can helpfully create a better future for ourselves !!!




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 April 15th ??? ... 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 Leo ... Mercury will complete its full transit through the sign of Leo on Wednesday, September 5th at 10:39 PM EDT !!!




And now a reminder of what the energy of Mercury in Leo is all about for those that need a "re-fresher" course now that Mercury has resumed direct motion :

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts" ... to that end the Cosmic "curtain" rose Friday, June 29th, at 1:17 AM EDT as Mercury began its dramatically expressive transit through the ambitious, optimistic sign of Leo ... Mercury is now ready to blaze through Leo where the mindset and communicating functions will most likely become "center stage" somewhere in your life for the next few weeks ... as Leo is a fire sign it will bestow Mercury with a lot of creativity ... this Mercury is quite the performer who wants to get your attention along with your admiration any way it can ... Mercury was last in Leo from July 5th through September 19th, 2017 as it was involved in another retrograde period during that time as well !!!

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercury will exit its retrograde zone on September 2nd when it reaches 23 degrees 27 minutes LEO, the point where it began its second full retrograde journey for 2018 back on July 25th/26th ... and the day Mercury exits its retrograde zone, Venus, not to be ignored in all her beauty, will vainly enter her next shadow point the same day - alas the course of true love never does run smooth now does it ???




Mercury remains in  direct motion until November 16th, when it begins its third and final retrograde journey for 2018 at 13 degrees 29 minutes SAGITTARIUS ,,, this will be a dual sign Mercury retrograde which will last until December 6th going from 13 degrees 29 minutes SAGITTARIUS back to 27 degrees 16 minutes SCORPIO ... that should start off the Holiday shopping season more challenging and hectic than it is normally !!!




Now that Mercury has completed its second retrograde journey for 2018, we should definitely begin to be off and running once again ... BUT ... NOT SO FAST ... NOT SO FAST ... Mars is still retrograde until August 27th, so perhaps best to start by taking "baby steps" first ... just saying .... !!!

REBEL ... REFORM ... OR BOTH ???

URANUS - the planet known as the great awakener, the rebel, the planet of intuition and the sixth sense and sudden and unexpected change as well as revolutions and breakthroughs, radicals and radical ideas and behavior, the ruler of astrologers and inventors, and the planet closely associated with electricity, technology and electronics - began its retrograde journey for 2018 Tuesday, August 7th, at 9:49 AM EDT at 2 DEGREES 34 MINUTES  TAURUS - do I hear a loud collective groan of  UH-OHHHHH ??? !!!! ... where you find Uranus in your individual natal chart is usually where you tend to do the unusual and break from the norm ... Uranus, which takes 84 years to make a complete journey through the 12 signs of the Zodiac, most certainly marches to the beat of a different drum !!!! ... and if you know or are an Aquarius born individual, you probably understand this very well !!! ... Uranus was last retrograde from August 3rd, 2017 through January 2nd, 2018 !!!



Uranus is the planet of the unconscious, and even during a retrograde journey that is where its energy will be most highly concentrated ... however, during a retrograde period the energy will tend to be even more pronounced ... people born with Uranus retrograde in their natal chart - and there are a lot of us out there since Uranus retrogrades for about 5 months out of each year - are frequently found on the forefront when it comes to change and actions that are oriented towards the future and on the cutting edge ... the desire to reform or rebel is perhaps even stronger during a retrograde period than when Uranus is direct ... if you've had a natal chart run and know in which house or houses 2 DEGREES 34 MINUTES TAURUS back to 28 DEGREES 36 MINUTES ARIES fall, then you might get an idea in what area of your life where this particular retrograde energy will most likely play out !!!



During a transiting Uranus retrograde, it's time for each one of us to ask ourselves what changes do we see happening in the world and ask ourselves how we are contributing to or working against them ... it is very important during the retrograde period to look at the connections between ones own personal changes and those that are occurring around the world ... how are they connected and do we need to find a better way to do that ??? ... are we helping mankind move forward through positive growth or are we being counterproductive through our rebellion to assert our individuality, independence and freedom and ultimately causing more problems than we solve ???



Uranus completed its transit through the sign of Aries back on May 15th, but has some last minute business to attend to when it briefly returns to Aries on November 6th where the lesson of that energy was concerned with "awakening through doing" ... it began its complete transit through Aries on March 11th, 2011 which will be fully complete on March 6th, 2019 ... It has been literally slowing down and sending out its often disruptive vibrational energy at the 2 degree Taurus position since July 1st creating a lot of tension and irritation on many levels no doubt especially since August 1st as it was pretty much "astrologically" at a standstill !!! ... the Universe has been making not only Taurus, Aries and Aquarius born - who may especially feel the impact of this retrograde - but everyone aware there WILL BE CHANGE which NEEDS to be and MUST be addressed while Uranus transits Aries !!!



It takes Uranus roughly 7 years to completely transit through each sign of the zodiac - it will not complete its full transit through Aries technically, due to retrograde periods, until March 2019 ... there could be a lot of us who experienced this tension during this past week ... in some cases there may have been a sudden and/or unexpected change take place out of the blue ... or even a confrontational situation arose we were not expecting ... until the retrograde energy settles in, there could be instances of rebellion, disruption, explosions and confrontations  !!!



Uranus remains retrograde until January 6th, 2019 which means it will be resuming direct motion forcing out its disruptive and challenging energy once again bringing in the New Year !!!



Aquarius born individuals, this is your yearly period to review and reflect on what is going on in your life and see how and where you might need to make some positive changes to further personal and spiritual growth ... you may especially want to pay attention to what has transpired in your lives since Uranus finished its last retrograde journey and resumed direct motion back on December 29th, 2016 ... along with Aquarius born individuals, we ALL will most likely have something illuminated from our subconscious that needs to be dealt with which certainly requires a necessary change as well  as rethinking something somewhere in our lives that we suddenly and probably quite unexpectedly took action against to bring about change that perhaps now we realize wasn't the best course of action to have taken ... but will we willingly do this or will the Universe force us to come face to face with our erratic actions ???

Now we all have this burning drive turned inward urging us to move forward with purpose, to be different, to be independent, to have our individual freedom, to do things suddenly and unexpectedly and to be downright rebellious - that's the way retrograde Uranus rolls ... or should I say shakes !!!



One thing is for sure - when we are dealing with the sudden, unexpected, disruptive, revolutionary energy of Uranus, which can lead to something highly innovative and ahead of its time or perhaps negatively something that is disastrous and life changing in a way we didn't want, it makes it absolutely a time to be prepared to EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED ... so the ultimate question becomes - will you become a rebel with or without a specific cause ???

LEARNING TO LOVE THROUGH HOW WE RELATE WITH OTHERS !!!

Venus began its "loving" transit through the charming, sociable sign of Libra yesterday, August 6th, at 7:28 PM EDT ... Venus is very much at home here - considered to be in dignity - as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Taurus ... Venus was last in Libra from October 14th through November 7th, 2017 !!!

Venus in Libra tends to first have a highly mental approach - because Libra is an air sign - to love and romance with the emotional factor often coming into play later ... it enjoys art, harmony, and certainly people ... it can be charming, diplomatic, and graceful in relating to others ... affection is expressed with elegance, charm, and consideration ... fairness, balance and gentleness are qualities used when interacting with others ... sometimes there can be such an excessive desire for peace and tranquility that one avoids having to face issues which ultimately can inhibit intimacy ... there is pleasure found in balance and in beauty ... this energy appreciates symmetry ... the handling of money and possessions is most likely cooperative even though at times there could be a competitive edge ... Venus in Libra wants affection, beauty and ease in love relationships with a need for equal sharing between one and ones partner ... this Venus is also equally concerned about justice and fairness !!!

Venus transiting through Libra teaches us how to love through relating with others ... it's the aesthetic ... one can appreciate and understand art and society on their own separate levels ... there is an inner sense of harmony here which yields the ability to see life in terms of beauty and justice ... this ability comes from more of a mental approach rather than an emotional one ... here one recognizes that beauty is important with the question arising whether or not it is more than or simply skin deep ... the ultimate answer is that it is both !!!



Venus in Libra can easily be attracted to ones inner beauty in addition to or rather than their outward appearance ... there is also probably a fear of conflict and disharmony ... ugly scenes, feeling unattractive, uncouth behavior and fake love are strongly disliked ... this energy is likely to attract either popularity or wealth, or both ... social harmony, tastefulness, being in love, beautiful surroundings and true marriage are highly appreciated here ... the energy of Venus in Libra can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: eye for beauty, strong color sense, good ear, artistic, affectionate, likable, magnetic, fair-looking, refined, graceful, pleasant, socially correct, romantically steadfast, relates well, harmonious, just, empathetic, broad-minded

NEGATIVE: hung up on appearances, oversensitive, music snob, art snob, takes personal liberties, frivolous, seducing, vain, affected, phony, overly concerned with etiquette, superficial, insincere, avoids conflict, indifferent, cold, cynical, social outcast

Libra born individuals, this is your time when the love light of Venus shines on you - even though it usually always does as it is your ruling planet !!! ... and, as always, ask for what you want especially during this period as you might just get it !!!

Remember ones personal ideal is something to strive towards and not stubbornly insist upon ... relationships will ultimately prosper on love and understanding of the best AND the worst ... and certainly the undeniable purest expression of Venus in Libra is developing the ability to lend grace where awkwardness exists and to gain understanding in the midst of strife !!!

Venus is currently the only planet in transit through the sign of Libra ... Venus will not complete its entire passage through Libra until December 2nd ... yes you read correctly ... Venus will actually complete its first full transit through Libra on September 9th when it enters Scorpio but will get no further than 10 degrees 50 minutes Scorpio when it begins its retrograde journey for 2018 on October 5th ... Venus returns to Libra per retrograde motion on October 31st where it will complete its retrograde journey on November 16th at 25 degrees 14 minutes Libra and then station direct moving forward to finally complete its full transit through Libra ... and just to keep things interesting, Mercury will begin its third and final retrograde journey for 2018 on November 16th about 15 hours after Venus stations back into direct motion ... and just for added intrigue after the current Mercury retrograde period we are in concludes, Mercury will exit its retrograde zone roughly 22 hours before Venus enters its shadow point on the same day which is September 2nd ... gotta love that cosmic sense of humor  !!!



For now, it's time to seek beauty and learn to truly appreciate it for what it is ... determine where your passion for the pursuit of justice truly lies ... play nice with the other children ... and ultimately it's time to discover and understand the true "beauty" of partnerships and relationships and how they can manifest positive personal and spiritual growth in your life !!!