LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ... START YOUR ENGINES !!!

 

MARS, the planet representing the urge to get what you want, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy and desires, completed its RETROGRADE journey for 2022 today, January 12th, at 3:56 PM EST ... 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 was 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 had not been resolved in the past may have had the tendency of resurfacing during this period which yielded the awareness that the time had 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 have arisen seemingly out of context but usually there was 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 couldn'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 begin to run into problems when it stations back into direct motion today, at some point during the next two years, or even when Mars takes its next retrograde journey in December, 2024 !!!




This Mars retrograde was completely in the sign of Gemini going from 25 degrees 36 minutes Gemini back to 8 degrees 7 minutes Gemini - the sign Mercury naturally rules !!! ... if you have had a natal chart done, you can look to where these degrees fall 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 25 degrees 36 minutes Aries and 8 degrees 7 minutes Gemini, 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 really unplugged your energy outlet - many of us may have had that feeling off and on during the entire Mars retrograde cycle and especially when Mercury joined the retrograde party beginning back on December 29th !!!




If you have any natal planets in the signs of Aries 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 ... Many would agree this Mars retrograde, with a Mercury retrograde completely embedded in it became especially challenging and frustrating - and Mercury isn't finished yet !!!

Since Mars was last retrograde from September 9th through November 14th, 2020, 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 September 9th of 2022 up until the retrograde period began on October 30th as Mars now moves forward over those degrees up until it exits its retrograde zone on March 15th !!! ... this Mars retrograde was most likely again to be an extremely challenging one as it occurred completely in the sign of Gemini, therefore associated with Mercury and we all know what a Mercury retrograde has the potential to produce on its own ... important to note that Mars has been in the sign of Gemini since August 20th as normally a Mars transit through a sign is usually about 6 weeks ... this Mars transit through Gemini will not be complete until March 25th, 2023 !!!

Mars retrograde energy had the potential to produce some unwanted action if it aspected 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 will find 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 to deal with, they probably abused the principles of aggression and personal initiative, and they are frequently in competition with themselves !!!

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 reputation, your physical body, your health, early childhood years, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and the beginnings of all enterprises you undertake ... so there was the potential for issues to arise in these areas especially if some of the actions were taken during the last Mars retrograde or during the current Mars retrograde !!!




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 especially subject to issues during the entire retrograde are the head and face !!!

Mercury, which rules Gemini, is the natural ruler of the 3rd house which concerns side-by-side relationships and awareness ... the 3rd house shows your local environment in which you live, your brothers and sisters and all forms of communication - speaking, writing, and singing ... it indicates all means of transportation including short trips ... it shows the adaptability of your mind to learning and to new ideas, your ability to relate to your environment, and your taken for granted skills ... it represents the conscious and objective portion of your mind as well as your primary schooling ... all of these areas were subject to potential issues during this Mars retrograde !!! 

Mercury also rules the 6th house, via ruling Virgo, and is the house of substance and duty ... it governs your daily work and service, our health and nutrition and your habits ... it shows employment, employees, tenants, servants, pets and dependents ... it describes service given to others, routine matters your clothes and how you wear them, hygiene, interest in food and diet, sickness  and all conditions affecting your health ... the 6th house represents aunts and uncles, self-adjustment and your subconscious mind ... it is said that here work and health are linked together ... so potential could have arisen with issues with any of the aforementioned areas !!!

Mercury, as previously mentioned on numerous occasions, rules Gemini and Virgo ... it rules reasoning, the mental and cerebral capacity, ability to communicate, intellect, awareness, dexterity, rationalization, transmission, words, opinion and sensory perceptions ... its action is quick, uncertain, volatile under normal circumstances ... it deals with travels especially short trips, brothers and sisters, children, clerking, speaking, writing, bookkeeping, secretaries, neighborhood activities, letters and mailings, means of transportation, trade and techniques ... all areas that were subject to potential issues during this retrograde period ... In regards to health Mercury rules the nervous system, brain, sight, hands and arms with these having had the potential for issues to arise !!! 

This Mars retrograde period could have ended up being even more intense and challenging once Mercury began its 4th and final retrograde period for 2022 on December 29th which lasts until January 18th, 2023, and therefore was completely embedded within the final 15 days of this Mars retrograde ... so did that just double the challenges and complicate matters even more ... what a way to start off a New Year !!!

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 November 14th, 2020 when Mars, being your ruling planet, last stationed back into direct motion !!!

Even though Aries born individuals 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 now begin to come on in our heads as we may discover 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 Gemini until March 25th - a transit it initially began back on August 20th, 2022 !!! ... Mars remains in direct motion until December 6th, 2024 when it begins its next retrograde journey, lasting until February 25th, 2025, which will be a dual sign retrograde period going from 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo back to 17 degrees Cancer ... Mars will exit its shadow point on March 15th !!!

For those of you born between October 31st and January 11th, you got this Mars retrograde energy somewhere in your astrological birthday chart - known as a solar return - for the whole year ahead ... however, those born on October 30th and January 12th may or may not have gotten this retrograde energy depending on the time of your solar return for the current year ... therefore some Scorpio born, all Sagittarius born and some Capricorn born definitely got the Mars retrograde energy in their solar return chart this year !!! ... below is what noted astrologer Mary Fortier Shea has to say about having Mars retrograde in the birthday chart - also known as the Solar Return:

"When Mars is retrograde in the solar return chart, the individual must work with the process of self-motivation. This is a good time to work on a long-term project, especially one involving the need to repeatedly push yourself  toward achievement. You are the motivating force. No one else can get you to move. It is very unlikely that you will be motivated by others since personal goals will seem more important than the conflicting goals of others. If you cannot motivate yourself or direct your energy in a useful manner, you will feel listless and tired. This is an extremely useful retro gradation for those who are goal-oriented; unfortunately, it can be a very counterproductive placement for those who are not.




The way you choose to handle anger is symbolized by Mars retrograde. Usually, there is a desire to avoid confrontation and conflict. You may be unable or unwilling to express anger outwardly. Furthermore, you might find it difficult to be openly aggressive or even assertive given the situations you are involved with. If this is so, you could resort to passive-aggressive behavior or manipulation if it seems impossible to deal with a present situation on a rational level. For example, if you are taking care of a cantankerous and senile relative, confrontation and rational discussion will not improve your relationship, but refusing to engage in conflicts and stressing the humor of the situation may. You can manipulate your way around the old coot with love and understanding in your heart. Having Mars retrograde in a solar return chart signals the need to reassess the appropriateness of anger and conflict in certain situations where it may actually be totally useless. It is not the answer to all situations and you can learn to use other tactics.




If you are involved in difficult circumstances, you may not defend yourself against the criticism of others. And  in fact, you could see yourself as responsible to some extent for the situations you are involved in. This is a time when you are more apt to get in touch with the role you, yourself, play in creating stress. You could blame yourself and be very self-critical of your own behavior. Positively, we can look upon this year as a time when you are more apt to see self-defeating situations and take corrective action. It is fairly common to realize the existence of at least one self-defeating situation or personality pattern during the year.




Mars retrograde, at its worst manifestation, can have a self-destructive interpretation. It is possible that you will place yourself (through your own doing) in a situation that causes you difficulty or pain. You will have the ability to withdraw from the situation, but might choose to remain throughout the solar return year. This may sound like a horrible manifestation, but it is not necessarily so ... The house placement of Mars will relate to the self-defeating or self-destructive attitudes and may symbolize this negative behavior in relationships, career practices, financial responsibility, etc. If one concentrates on the issues, solutions can be found and there will be no need to remain in compromising situations."

Below is a "reminder" of what the energy of Mars in Gemini has the potential to produce :

As Mars usually represents fiery actions and Gemini is an Air sign, Mars has the potential to function extremely well and forcefully here ... and why ??? ... because AIR GIVES LIFE TO FIRE !!! ... in fact, it may work too well and too fast at times in Gemini ... Mars was last in Gemini from March 3rd through April 23rd, 2021... what was going on during that period in your life in regards to getting what you wanted, taking initiative, or even your sexual drive ???

A keyword for Mars in Gemini would certainly be "spontaneous" ... under this energy one is mentally active and naturally curious with a very restless mind and tongue ... one can assert themselves flexibly, cleverly, and with many talents ... verbal expression and learning is important ... in fact the desire to talk and communicate is so strong that one may talk incessantly and we may find ourselves thinking or perhaps forced to blurt out - SHUT UP ... unfortunately this is why gossip and rumors have the potential to spread like wildfire !!! ... in addition, having variety and being on the move is necessary ... energy flows very easily here into mental pursuits and/or skill with the hands ... there is often a display of great dexterity and manual skills ... there is a drive towards learning more, developing new skills and making additional connections between people and/or concepts and ideas ... there is usually versatility and adaptability but there is always the risk of being easily distracted as ones focus and desires change quickly and frequently or get completely lost being influenced by so much stimuli ... think of the phrase "ONCE IS ENOUGH" !!!

Personal identity is tied to ones thinking and communication or to ones manual skills ... sexual drive and physical energy are affected by what one sees, thinks, new ideas, and by conversations ... under this energy if someone is ever ticked off, you can forget about getting a word in at all !!! ... as for partnerships and sex, this energy frequently requires more than one partner for total fulfillment !!!

Mars in Gemini teaches us to learn how to get what we want through communicating on all levels ... it's the live wire ... it's touch and go ... in fact it is a real go-getter - quick to think, quick to act, and then quick to move on ... if you want to know something, it won't be too long before you simply go and ask ... the desire nature, the tongue and the nervous system are all wired together here ... attaining the object of ones desires and satisfying them is usually achieved quickly ... there is a need with Mars in Gemini to learn to slow down in order to see what is really happening in order to discover what it is your heart truly desires ... and this can be challenging as Mars energy, especially in this sign, DOES NOT like to slow down ... know anyone born under this planetary energy ??? ... I rest, so to speak, my case !!!

The contact ultimately to be made under this energy is with ones self - until you are able to concentrate your attention and learn to distinguish between what you want, what you have, and what you can't have, you will fall victim to your nervous system running in overdrive and dictating what you do ... these high strung energies need a constant outlet ... and when you run into someone who frustrates your energies, it becomes necessary to determine what it really is about that person that is driving you - up, down, forward, backward, wild or plain crazy - and you may ultimately discover it is something inside of YOU !!! ... the energy of Mars in Gemini can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: sharp-witted, humorous, stimulating, ingenious, dexterous, resourceful, adaptable, quick, agile, lively, mobile, eloquent, inquisitive, communicative, contact-maker, versatile mind, flexible, full of ideas, multi-talented

NEGATIVE: sharp-tongued, sarcastic, irreverent, argumentative, mischievous, meddlesome, unreliable, hasty, jumpy, unable to relax, restless, verbose, nosy, rambling, gets wired crossed, scatters thoughts, changeable, lacking in perseverance

GEMINI BORN - enjoy this extra long burst of get up and go, as if you really need it anyway, for roughly the next six weeks - be careful not to "incinerate" everyone else with this added "fired" up energy while it is engaged productively without influence from any other universal force of energy in play at the present time !!!

Mars is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Gemini and given its highly driven energy here, that is probably enough for now ... Mars remains in Gemini until March 25th, 2023 !!!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES ... but somewhat cautiously as that pesky Mercury retrograde is still in play until January 18th!!! ... 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" !!! 

A DETACHED YET MAGNETIC LOVE WHERE PERSONAL FREEDOM IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE !!!

VENUS began her often "shocking", unpredictable and unconventional transit through the progressive, rebellious sign of Aquarius on Monday, January 2nd at 9:09 PM EST ... this transit of Venus yields the potential to breathe some rather radical new life to any form of love that has become stale, stagnant and/or non-productive - or perhaps it will quickly bring an end to some relationship(s) letting you know in no uncertain terms it is time to MOVE ON !!! ... Venus in Aquarius is a detached yet magnetic love as well as highly unconventional varying greatly from the norm - you will love this Venus for who she is and NOT for what you want her to be or best be a good idea to move on ... keep in mind that under this energy the attraction leading to a relationship and love may arise suddenly and quite unexpectedly and often times end just like that  ... Venus was last in Aquarius from March 6th through April 5th, 2022 !!!

Venus in Aquarius can be extremely unpredictable and her capacity for love truly marches to the beat of a different drum!!! ... it indeed likes being unusual or going against the norm in some form or fashion ... it will often try anything once just for kicks and to be bold and daring ... relationships can be casual, erratic or pursued with openness and tolerance ... affection is expressed experimentally, freely, and unconventionally ... pleasure is derived from being unique and sometimes downright kinky !!! ... the handling of money and possessions can be progressive, intellectual, unpredictable, changeable, or even rebellious - to that end financial security can swing up and just as suddenly and unexpectedly swing down !!! 

Freedom AND friendship is a requirement in love relationships ... trying to tie this Venus down is a big NO-NO - well except when you are, oh wait ... that's a whole other story !!! ... this energy is often viewed as cool and aloof and one can come across as impersonal and detached ... people of a race, creed, or gender that shock others may sometimes become ones object of affection !!!



Venus in Aquarius gives a kind and loving nature ... it makes one helpful, charitable, but NOT an emotional person ... PERSONAL FREEDOM IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE !!! ... in any relationship there must be the ability to explore varied interests and hobbies, meet new people, and enjoy a wide range of friends ... jealousy is not tolerated and overly emotional scenes will usually cause one to walk away ... this energy is more likely to have platonic friendships because sexual involvements are more emotionally binding than is desired here ... immense popularity and an attraction of many lovers is possible but not of the long lasting variety - romantic attractions are usually sudden and unexpected and can end just as suddenly and unexpectedly as they began!!! ... personal magnetism is directed toward larger concerns than mere romance ... if one wants to remain close to someone under this energy, they must allow their romantic or friendship interest freedom in their relationships with others !!!

Venus in Aquarius teaches us how to learn to love through liberation - LOVE MUST BE SET FREE !!! ... there is an open minded and experimental approach to relating and to artistic expression ... it is often difficult for others to see where you are coming from emotionally as ones style can be disconcerting, shocking or just  outright odd !!! ... the ironic twist here is that this energy wants to allow a partner the freedom and space to do as they please, but by giving too much freedom it might actually begin to seem as though the partner doesn't care about you ... the secret though is to learn how to reveal, in a heartfelt way of course, your opinions and questions regarding the freedom of love for the person or persons to whom you feel the closest !!!

Venus  in Aquarius can be socially inventive and creatively innovative ... love and friendship absolutely MUST coexist here!!! ... and while there is certainly the idea that with all this unpredictability and need for freedom that lasting love just might be impossible under this energy, one must remember that Aquarius is a FIXED sign !!! ... the energy one might encounter with Venus in Aquarius may include:

POSITIVE: free-loving, idealistic, easygoing, liberal, original lover, non-possessive, unique, mild, cultured, experimental, progressive, eclectic, sparkling, popular, friendly, tongue-in-cheek, convincing, refined, quietly persevering, humane

NEGATIVE: lacks feelings, naive, indiscriminate, erratic, odd lover, unfeeling, peculiar, touchy, insincere, kinky, superficial, promiscuous, impersonal, flattering, sarcastic, stubborn, manipulative, uncompromising, reactionary

Aquarius born individuals, the Universe is energizing you with luck and opportunity while shining the light of love on you for the next few weeks so keep your eyes and ears and heart open and ask for what you want ... as if you weren't truly different enough, others may realize now just how unique you are, so you just might get it ... Taurus/Libra born, your ruling planet is moving into a new sign - ready to learn some new and possibly highly unusual lessons about LOVE and MONEY - in fact are we all ???



For everyone, Venus in Aquarius has the potential to suddenly and unexpectedly pop our eyes wide open to see and realize there is a different way that may be unique and ahead of its time to understand the process of love and how we approach it !!! 

Venus now joins Saturn already in transit and almost finished with its transit through Aquarius ... Venus remains in Aquarius until January 26th !!! 

As Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus, the planet of the sudden and unexpected, try to enjoy this unusual and open minded energy after wading through the rather "vanilla" flavored energy of Venus in Capricorn - which there is certainly nothing wrong at all with, right my fellow Cappies ??? ... and should someone approach you and say "WHO'S YA DADDY ???", just realize they are being infused with this delightfully twisted energy so go for it and play along - you just might enjoy it - OH SNAP !!!

By all means keep in mind that while Venus transits through Aquarius, and as Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus which, among other things, rules Astrology, there is definitely a strong possibility you just might realize there is a "certain" ASTROLOGER out there that you discover you've developed quite a fondness for !!!   

HERE YOU COME AGAIN - ONE MORE TIME FOR 2022 - HAPPY NEW YEAR ???

MERCURY - began its fourth and final retrograde journey for 2022 today, December 29th, at 4:32 AM EST ... if you've been following my blogs, then you know exactly what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde … as always - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED !!! ... and that sage advice might go double as this final Mercury retrograde this year will be completely embedded in the final 15 days of the current Mars retrograde which occurs from October 30th through January 12th, 2023 completely in the sign of Gemini - and you all should know by now that is a sign ruled by Mercury ... what a way to end a year and start the beginning of a brand New Year ... things could really get shaken up and we may feel like we are entering the New Year in a foggy state of mind ... this 20 day Mercury retrograde is completely in the sign of Capricorn and goes from 24 degrees 21 minutes back to 8 degrees 8 minutes of Capricorn  !!!

It is very important to understand that Mercury retrogrades are NOT ALWAYS the harbingers of doom and gloom ... even though it is true they can cause disruption and misunderstandings, we have to realize these are simply Universal "time outs" which give us the opportunity to go back to rethink and review our actions especially as the energy relates to the current sign that the planet is transiting through ... bottom line - though we often joke about it, retrogrades shouldn't always be feared and dreaded but perhaps approached cautiously ... the Universe is giving us a chance to right our wrongs and redirect ourselves to achieve more beneficial personal and spiritual growth !!! 

To RE-peat, Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision - as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... during a Mercury retrograde period it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses these degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life as well as where mishaps and misunderstandings may occur !!!

Some of you may have noticed the beginning of this backwards energy when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on January 18th - back on December 12th at 8 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn ... and the backward energy could potentially have been noticeable especially since October 30th when Mars began its retrograde journey in the sign of Gemini  !!!

It practically goes without saying that things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned, and we often find ourselves re-doing things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion !!!

Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars, a big NO NO - and that goes double for USED CARS, as well as computers or anything that involves electronics especially while this retrograde period is  partially in Aquarius !!!... purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT ... should you tie the knot during the retrograde which is now a dual retrograde period with Mars, be sure to have someone note the time you are pronounced a couple and then seek out a reputable astrologer who can run a chart for the "birth time" of the union to see in what area of life these retrograde energies may cause issues .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is any way to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it !!!

Mercury retrograde in Capricorn is retrograde in an earth sign ... these retrogrades are mainly focused on practical matters ... Saturn is the planetary ruler of this Mercury retrograde !!!

The areas potentially affected with Saturn ruling the retrograde are : form, discipline, responsibility, organization, ambition, limitations and delays ... Saturn governs theories and scientific laws, older persons, depth, patience, timing, tradition, conventionality, productive use of time ... Saturn represents the principles of truth, the solidification of wisdom and of aging ... its action is slow and lasting !!! 

Certainly this retrograde has the potential to affect ones career and/or public image as Saturn rules Capricorn which the natural sign on the 10th house cusp ... there will be some very deep and weighty thinking and rethinking done here ... along with profession, reputation and standing in the community, other areas where issues might arise that need reviewing and rethinking may include the following : ego, status, fame (or lack of it), promotion, ambition, business or social activities, ones employer, the government or any other authority over one, personal achievements, the way the world sees and evaluates one, the influence one exerts in their own circle, and the parent who is considered the authoritarian if both parents are still here, or the parent who remains should there only be one !!!

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Capricorn, again ruled by Saturn, there could also be more potential to have health issues with the bones, joints, knees, the skin, the skeletal system including the teeth, left ear and the auditory organs !!!

 

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 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 or urgent surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!

Below I have re posted the "Mercury Retrograde Survival Manual" written by my teacher Lyn Hammond Gray ... hopefully it will help out :

"Here is your Survival manual: Mercury retro always creates a repeating action. The Re-Words are common. Some re-words that you will notice during this time are:

Repeat – The action you are making during the RX period you will probably repeat again during the period or later.

Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (January 18th).

Reverse - You will be amazed at how many times you change your mind or reverse your thinking during this time. Watch out for that race car driver that is driving in reverse down the emergency lane on the freeway. Yikes!....

Recall - Your mind will wonder back. You will think of people from the past or you will encounter someone from the past. If old lovers show up, don't bet that it will stick. Believe me... it is just for a "review." And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either - wait until after January 18th !!!

Review - If you are reading instructions, you may find it necessary to review repeatedly because they simply  don't make sense. Sometimes the publisher has actually left out a step. It happens!

Regroup - In corporations, it is a common experience during the Rx to hear the boss say, 'Alright, we are going to rework this thing and get it right.' Later when the period is over, they go back to the old way doing things. It is a laugh a minute. Stand back and watch the comedy.

Reboot and Revise - The computer world is a definite place to watch the comedy. It is common for one to suddenly, without fore thought, decide to revise their system during the Rx. Oh! Mercy! That revised system may never function in the normal way. Oh, please! Do wait until the period is over. However, it is fine to do your shopping for the new components during the Rx.

Return - Now here is a good one. You'll find that this period is a popular time for family or class reunions. Should you stay are home? Absolutely not! You go because this is a review that you don't want to miss. But funny thing is that in spite of the fact that you tell these people 'lets stay in touch' it will become lip service and you won't live up to your suggestion.

Rebirth – Often one will go back into the past and bring up old creative projects to work with during this time frame. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Only you will be able to activate the discipline to keep it going once the retrograde period is over.

Recover - You can bet that you will dig into your files, boxes or storage to recover something that you need…you can also bet it won't be an easy find. It is likely that you will be looking for a legal document· While it is possible that you may not find what you are looking for, you may find something that you would like to put back in to use. Fun!

Re-examine – Well, just about everything.

Reduction – Over the years, I have been amazed at how many times a company or person decides to eliminate a job or to leave a job during the retrograde. It is my experience that a job changed during this period is 95% of the time regretted. Can you wait until the period is over ???

And so it is. Three sometimes four times a year we live with this cosmic "going to teach you patience routine". All and all when this retrograde period is over you may "Realize" this simple truth: The flow of the universe is very, very interesting and it is going to have its way with us.

Good luck and may the Universe bestow upon each one of you a special wisdom and unique insight into your journey through this life at this point!!! "


Back to me now ... Those born between December 30th and January 17th will definitely have this Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... those born on December 29th and January 18th may or may not get this energy depending on what time you solar return occurs - some may be lucky enough to escape it for this year ... and some of you are going to get both the Mars and Mercury retrograde energy in your solar return chart ... definitely those born between October 31st and January 11th ... yet another very good reason to know your time of birth if you can find it !!! ... and just so you don't feel slighted, yours truly will get the Mercury retrograde energy for the year ahead, second year in a row in fact, as my birthday is January 18th but my solar return for 2023 occurs on January 17th - lucky me !!!  

Below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

"The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return ...

A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years’ birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs ... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart ...

Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" ... the mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor ... another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!! ... this is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed ...

It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! " 

Gemini and Virgo born, as Mercury is your planetary ruler, once again it is time for you to "try" to slow down - which you are probably already having to do with your planetary ruler governing the current Mars retrograde - and review and reexamine what is going on in your life especially since the last Mercury retrograde ended back on October 2nd !!!

For all of us, this becomes a time to review and rethink what is going on in our lives and especially what may have been started or done during the last Mercury Retrograde, that being September 10th through October 2nd ...  actions taken during previous retrograde periods could come back to haunt us as well - for 2022 that would include May 10th through June 3rd and January 14th through February 4th ... and it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to have something from a previous Mercury retrograde further back than the ones mentioned above come back for some reason that we have to deal with ... whatever the case, it is for sure that there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads regarding these actions as well as other lights going OUT as this Mercury Retrograde energy potentially wreaks its cosmic havoc for the next 20 days ... again, Mercury remains retrograde until January 18th !!!

 

SO ... slow down, try not to act too impulsively, and go with the universal flow ... don't try to swim up stream in a raging current of cosmic chaos or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... be aware tempers will flare and patience may become scarce if not already so with the current Mars retrograde, but that personal sense of humor, being one of your greatest allies, should be kept very close by and called upon frequently as the Mercury Retrograde merrily, along with great irritation in many instances, wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment !!!

Once again my fellow beings of light, as this final Mercury Retrograde period of 2022 is now upon us, the ultimate question as always is will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ???

SATISFACTION ACHIEVED THROUGH FINDING A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH A SUREFOOTED PROGRESSION !!!

 

The SUN begins its patient, responsible transit through the steady, MOST FABULOUS, WONDERFUL, HONORABLE, CHERISHED, HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE, EFFICIENT, IN OTHER WORDS - NUMERO UNO BABY - SIGN OF THE ZODIAC - CAPRICORN, today, December 21st, at 4:48 PM EST!!! ... OK, so this happens to be my birth sign, BUT ... once again, WHO'S doing the blogging here - un-huh ??? ... I believe that allows me to embellish ever so slightly and I think my fellow Cappies would most heartily agree even though we can often be quite reserved !!! ... Old man winter has come to call, however for those in the Southern hemisphere Summer has begun and the heat is on ... the light-hearted, fun loving fiery energy of Sagittarius is now replaced with the slower earth bound energy dedicated to manifesting ones ambition into reality !!! ... we now turn our attention to focus on practical matters and attempt to go into the New Year with a firm resolution ready to be productive and successful !!!

Capricorn is the 10th sign of the natural zodiac and represents the beginning of the Winter season - at least in the Northern hemisphere ... it's the shortest day of the year and now the days begin to get longer as the "light" returns !!! ... with the Sun in Capricorn we need to 'shine' through responsibility, in a traditional manner, in seeking attention through authority or authorities, and in our public image and/or careers !!!

Capricorns glyph is the Sea Goat - the ancient symbol used to represent the sign ... the glyph shows the V-shaped beard of the Goat and the curved tail of the Fish ... the glyph is two straight lines that meet and are connected to a circle and a crescent ... this represents the melding of authority and responsibility that is made stronger through energy and passion ... the Goat's steps are slow and sure as they take their time to make sure they get where they are going ... the hooves representing the fact that they attain their goal through using surefooted solid steps !!!

Capricorns quality is cardinal - meaning beginnings ... its element is earth making it a sign a little slower to move ... its energy is feminine - nurturing and passive ... its key phrase is 'I Use' and keyword is 'Ambition' ... anatomically Capricorn rules the bones, joints and knees - but, also due to its association with Saturn, rules the skin, the skeletal system (including teeth), left ear and auditory organs !!!

The planetary ruler of Capricorn is Saturn - the teacher, the taskmaster, the disciplinarian ... Saturn rules form, responsibility, organization, ambition, capacity for a career, limitations and delays ... Saturn also governs theories and scientific law, older persons, depth, patience, timing, tradition, conventionality, orthodoxy, and productive use of time ... it represents the principles of truth, of contraction, or solidification of wisdom and of aging ... Saturn's action is slow and lasting ... if you have had a natal chart done and know in which house Saturn is located, then you know where you best focus and assume responsibility, or where you may feel least secure and tend to overcompensate !!!

Capricorn is the natural ruler of the 10th house of the zodiac ... this is a house of substance whose keyword is 'Honor'... this house shows your profession, your reputation, and your standing in the community ... it indicates your ego, status, fame, promotion, ambition, business and social activities, your employer, the government or any other authority over you ... it shows your achievements, how the world sees and evaluates you, and the influence you may exert in your own circle ... here we see the Church as an organization, and the opposite parent represented by your natal 4th house ... the parent who becomes the wage earner or authoritarian moves into this 10th house when you are able to distinguish between the two and no longer view them as one unit ... a footnote - if you are raised in a single parent home, then that parent is represented by both the 4th and the 10th houses !!!

The energy we experience with the Sun in Capricorn is teaching us to learn how to live through what we build upon ... it is concerned with making a success of life ... one is satisfied here through a sense of purpose and responsibility ... as this surefooted progression gets one to their intended goal, sometimes the foothold can be on someone else's feet or head!!! ... this is a very complex sign and often its energy is perceived as melancholy and stern - but anyone who cares enough to penetrate through the shell of reserve will be greatly rewarded as Capricorns affections and loyalty run deep, and it cherishes and protects loved ones ... it is here for the long haul !!!

The upper half of the Sea Goat represents the earthy and persistent climber ... but when the climber stumbles or falls, or simply realizes there is more to life than can be physically sensed, one begins to acquaint itself with the lower half being the tail representing the world of the fish - the mystical, irrational and unconscious inner realm ... when Capricorn gets spiritual it does so with the same practical efficiency that it deals with the material world ... and ultimately one comes to the realization how useful an awareness of the reality of invisible forces ( thoughts, feelings, the imagination) is, and that the roots and foundations - on which everything is actually built - are usually out of ones sight !!!

Capricorn is old when it is young and gets younger as it ages ... this is due to Saturn's ruler ship of this sign which places great burden and "weight" on young Capricorns shoulders continually driving one to work, and even when a goal has been reached Saturn still says one can do even better!!! ... as a child of Saturn, Capricorn always needs something to improve and perfect !!! ... the energy of the Sun in Capricorn can potentially be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: materially aware, responsible, efficient, orderly, ambitious, an organizer, industrious, takes the reins, reserved at times, patient, thoughtful, deep understanding, resourceful, canny, persevering, disciplined, earthy, senses others' needs, employs others solid

NEGATIVE: status slave, unscrupulous, ingratiating, wet blanket, cold, calculating, slave to self, dictatorial, inhibited, intolerant, worrisome, inscrutable, tight, suspicious, rigid, austere, opportunist, uses others, hard

It has always seemed ironic to me that the Sun would enter the focused, serious sign of Capricorn only days before what is considered to be the merriest and most joyful holiday of the year ... however, we are constantly reminded by the Universe that there is a time for everything and anything in excess is usually not good ... it is actually helpful to be under this energy as the year comes to a close so that we can seriously reflect on and review where we have been and what we have done this past year, and then start making plans as to what direction we need to be moving in next year to assure personal and spiritual growth continues ... there is prolific potential to begin some major growth in our lives if we put our shoulder to the grindstone, so to speak, and positively use this determined, hardworking energy !!!

The Sun now joins Mercury, Venus and Pluto already in transit through Capricorn ... with all of this heavy duty energy, we have the potential to bring about great change, transformation and deep healing in our lives as well as others and also make sure we are building on very sturdy foundations ... or we can bring great ruin and devastation if we are not attuned to the "light" and what it is trying to "illuminate" in our lives !!!

The Sun remains in Capricorn until January 20th !!!

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN CAPRICORN BORN - IT'S OUR TIME OF YEAR TO TRULY SHINE !!! ... oh yes, and should you happen to cross the path of a wonderful Capricorn individual, be sure to give them a GREAT BIG HUG AND A SMILE - you know we Capricorns need all the hugs and smiles we can get with Saturn often weighing down our souls rather heavily at times !!!  

THE REVELATION THAT WANTING A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL LOVE RELATONSHIP REQUIRES OPENING UP AND SURRENDERING THE HEART !!!

VENUS, with stately grace and refined elegance, began its transit through the committed, disciplined sign of Capricorn on Friday, December 9th, at 10:54 PM EST ... this Venus has a somewhat more somber and serious nature as it is transiting through a sign ruled by Saturn the taskmaster/teacher who tends to limit, restrict and produce a need for restructuring and can sometimes even make us doubt whether we truly love someone or are lovable ourselves !!! ... Capricorn is an Earth sign and when Venus transits an Earth sign interactions with others are sought sensually and with practicality as well as sought after for comfort and stability ... Venus was last in Capricorn from November 5th, 2021 through March 6th, 2022 ... a much longer than normal transit as Venus began a retrograde period while in Capricorn !!!

Venus in Capricorn enjoys being responsible, practical, and competent ... there is a tendency to relate seriously, formally, and at times with some reserve ... affection is expressed cautiously and soberly ...   there is pleasure found here in self control and therefore sometimes there is inhibition in pleasure or love needs due to fears, limitations and inner doubts - all compliments of Saturn no doubt !!! ... here achievement of material wealth and status in the world gives one the feeling of emotional security ... ambitions, status or a conservative approach may affect love and social urges ... handling of money/possessions usually is very businesslike, pragmatic and very well organized ... predictability and fidelity are a must in love relationships !!!



Venus in Capricorn wants to be "sure" ere it makes any commitments in partnerships but will work hard to make sure the relationship endures once formed ... Venus in Capricorn is a dedicated love ... this transit produces an elegant side of Venus - the one that loves dressing up, expensive accessories, and social affairs ... there is an interest in antiques found here which includes anything, or anyone for that matter, that has been around long enough to show its worth ... Venus in Capricorn is often starved for love ... OK everyone - GROUP HUG HERE!!!



Venus in Capricorn often seeks to improve its status ... proud and reserved in public behavior, this Venus dislikes overt public displays of emotion and affection which can yield an apparent dignified air which is resented by others as it becomes perceived as snobbishness ... emotions and sexuality can be repressed here, but in private there can be great sensuality ... though not openly demonstrative, there is great loyalty and steadfastness due to an innate sense of personal responsibility in important relationships !!!



Venus in Capricorn teaches us all about loving through building ... the test of time becomes a requirement ... the revelation here is that love is indeed not a business and if one wants a deeply spiritual kind of love relationship, the heart must be opened up and surrendered ... to that end, the energy of Venus in Capricorn may be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: committed, serious lover, steadfast, constant, cautious, trustworthy, disciplined, objective, genuine affections, modest, cool exterior, reserved, dignified, sense of composure, self-controlled, upright, practical, resourceful, affluent, self-made


NEGATIVE: possessive, jealous, inflexible, self-righteous, inhibited, distrustful, stern, indifferent, undemonstrative, mean, cold manner, unfeeling, snobbish, too formal, self-contained, stiff, materialistic, money-grubbing, penny-pinching, selfish

Venus now joins Mercury, about to begin its final retrograde journey for 2022 on December 29th, and once again Pluto, which began its transit through Capricorn back in January 2008 ... no doubt we are all going to be taking a serious look and doing some serious thinking about the true value of something or someone in our lives during the next three and a half weeks of our lives !!! 

Venus remains in Capricorn until January 2nd/3rd depending on which time zone in which you live ... keep in mind that Mars will be retrograde during this entire transit, and Mercury will be retrograde the final 5 days ... could be an interesting "love" dance between the three "personal" planets !!!

My fellow Capricorns, this is our time to shine when Venus bestows its grace, charm and luck on us - but aren't we usually charming and elegant in a somewhat understated manner anyway ??? ... remember to ask for what you want now as you just may get it ... just remember the sage advice "be careful what you wish for" - and that goes for everyone !!!


And while love may not actually be for sale here - well at least in most situations - the proof of its value and worth must certainly be "tendered"!!! 

THE REALIZATION THAT HOW YOU USE YOUR MIND AND WHAT YOU USE IT FOR IS WHAT ULTIMATELY COUNTS !!!

MERCURY began its sharply focused transit through the traditional, reliable sign of Capricorn Tuesday, December 6th at 5:08 PM EST ... Mercury was last in Capricorn from December 13th, 2021 through February 14th 2022 due to a dual retrograde period where it entered Aquarius but returned to Capricorn before stationing direct !!!

Mercury in Capricorn is the energy of a highly organized mentality ... it is a hard worker that stores up facts and figures for future practical use ... it is cautious and highly methodical as it knows what it wants and exactly how it plans to get it ... the mind as well as the tongue are serious and sensible ... communication is made cautiously, and for those born with this energy in their youth there could be doubt as to ones mental ability therefore yielding a need to prove ones self as having a good mind ... there is sometimes this doubt associated with limited educational opportunities in childhood that may be overcome by further study in adulthood ... words here are usually not spoken until they are well thought out unless, of course, MODIFIED by something else in the natal chart !!!



Mercury in Capricorn can make one appear to be rather formal, authoritative, reserved and self-sufficient which can sometimes inhibit communications with others ... natural logic and cautious planning are oriented towards material success and/or personal responsibilities ... thinking is well-organized ... learning is achieved through persistence, dedication, and steady progress ... one might become a little pessimistic under  this energy by mistakenly focusing on limits rather than potentials ... here we have a Mercury/Saturn (ruler of  Capricorn) relationship that will ultimately give a very structured, organized and well thought out quality to the mind and communicating especially if there is no other energy adversely modifying it !!!



Mercury in Capricorn can make one ambitious, careful, calculating and very patient ... one excels at handling detail and rarely loses sight of the overall picture ... people born under this energy often obtain positions of leadership due to their dependability and their air of authority ... one must guard against becoming too dictatorial though ... the darker side of life is often viewed under this energy, yet a redeeming trait would be the very dry sense of humor bestowed here !!!



Mercury in Capricorn teaches us how to think and communicate through what it is we are "building" in our lives ... the mind rules the matter ... it's the organizer ... there is the capability of extended concentration and excellent organization ... one becomes realistic rather than idealistic in the approach to their goals ... little of practical consequence escapes ones attention due to a keen sense of awareness ... think of Mercury in Capricorn like a laser beam - pointed and locked on exactly what it wants and it will know exactly how to get it ... ultimately it is not the facts that ones mind contains that determines its quality - it is how you use your mind and what you use it for that counts ... another essential lesson of Mercury in Capricorn is to learn to USE concrete facts but NOT be weighed down by them ... when you achieve this, you realize how ridiculous it is being enslaved to material status and belongings ... the energy of Mercury in Capricorn can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: good timing, mentally cautious, not easily fooled, retentive mind, methodical mind, orderly mind, serious when necessary, level-headed, clever, discriminating, shrewd, profits from little, employs others, sober, clear and deliberating mind, strong concentration, painstaking, patient


NEGATIVE: procrastinating, slow learner, skeptical, mentally overloaded, lacking originality and imagination, given to melancholy, boring and rigid, suspicious, devious, avaricious, uses others, stern, dry minded



Mercury is currently the only planet in transit through Capricorn with Venus to follow on 12/9 !!!



Use this energy well and you will never lose sight of what really counts the most - your resourcefulness ... be sure to give your mind a break when it needs it, or IT may break !!! ... help to inspire others with a goal that you are able to see more clearly than they can !!!



Mercury will not finish its complete transit through Capricorn until February 11th,2023 and you know why ... Mercury will get no further than 24 degrees 21 minutes Capricorn when it begins its fourth and final retrograde period for 2022 ... this retrograde period will go from 24 degrees 21 minutes Capricorn back to 8 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn and occur from December 29th through January 18th, 2023 ... so how productive and effective will this transit of Mercury through Capricorn be considering that Mars is currently retrograde in Gemini, one of the signs Mercury naturally rules, and that the final Mercury retrograde journey for 2022 will be completely embedded in the final 15 days of the current Mars retrograde - what a perplexing way to begin a New Year, right ??? ...  Mercury enters its next shadow point on December 12th when it reaches 8 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn !!!

No doubt my fellow Capricorns and I will come up with some truly scathingly brilliant ideas as it passes through our birth sign and eventually transits over some of our natal Sun placements ... perhaps during this lengthy back and forth transit of Mercury many of us may find ourselves summing it up by the very well known phrase made famous from the television series Dragnet - "JUST THE FACTS MA'AM" !!! 

BECOMING MORE COMPASSIONATE, SELF-SACRIFICING, INTUITIVE, ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE - OR BECOMING MELANCHOLY, AN ESCAPIST AND THE VICTIM OF MANY FORMS OF ADDICTION INCLUDING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ???

NEPTUNE - planet of the spiritual, the universal, the ethereal, the mysterious and mystical, enlightenment and/or delusion, sensitivity, imagination, escape, release, surrender, sacrifice, compassion, suffering, meditation, healing, artistic inspiration, music, drugs and alcohol, glamour, fantasy, religious drives, romantic love, film , altered states, dissolving, uplifting experiences, confusion, consolation and dreams - completed its retrograde journey for 2022 on Saturday, December 3rd, at 7:15 PM EST !!!

Neptune has been retrograde since June 28th of this year therefore requiring all of us to go inward and seek to attempt to tune into the collective unconscious and try to understand how our fears, illusions, confusion, or personal spiritual journey are connected into the energy of what is happening with humanity ... This 158 day retrograde journey of Neptune occurred from 25 degrees 26 minutes Pisces back to 22 degrees 38 minutes  Pisces ... if you've had a natal chart done, you might find this was a sensitive point in your chart in regards to Neptune and its retrograde ... and especially sensitive is wherever 22 degrees 38 minutes Pisces falls as Neptune stationed at that degree and takes a several weeks to exit that degree ... many may have felt confused, foggy, listless or even completely drained of energy when Neptune began stationing at the 22 degree mark of Pisces beginning around October 29th and slowing down at the 22 degree 38 minute position of Pisces since approximately November 29th !!!



Hopefully we have been able to determine whether or not we have been applying our own personal energies in a positive manner in order to develop faith and spirituality ... it is possible that many of us have discovered that we have been aimlessly following a path of escapism and disappointment ... it has been a time to develop a rational objectivity concerning the intangible aspects of life which would include truth, fear, hope and inspiration ... many artists, musicians, poets and those who lead highly spiritual lives may have been able to tap into their higher selves and find inspiration to further their abilities !!!



We all should have been paying extra special attention to our dreams, even though we should always be doing this, as they are sure to have brought us important messages from our unconscious state ... unfortunately there are those who may have been driven into drugs and alcohol as a way to "escape" what is perceived as the pain and suffering of daily life ... people born with Neptune retrograde in their natal chart are usually those who at some point in their lives find the need to question and test all aspects of faith and beliefs ... and they can also sometimes be those who "suffer in silence" ... Neptune is currently transiting through the sign of Pisces ... a transit which began in April of 2011 ... in case you're a little "foggy", below is a review of what the energy of Neptune in the sign of Pisces, which it naturally rules, is all about :

Neptune was last in the sign of Pisces from 1847 – 1862 … some of the events occurring during that time included Brigham Young settling in Utah with the Mormons, John Sutter starting the California “Gold Rush”, Ferdinand de Lessups building the Suez canal, Marx and Engels writing “The Communist Manifesto”, Darwin developing the theory of Evolution, and this period saw the beginnings of the study of oceanography !!!



Some of the areas Neptune rules include: maritime matters, liquids, movies, stage and television, glamour, dreams, illusion, delusion, spirituality, mystery, anesthetics, love of poetry, color, dancing, drugs, drug addiction, alcoholism, hypochondria, hypnosis and abnormality !!!



In Pisces, Neptune’s qualities of spirituality and creative genius will be enhanced, especially for those born under this energy, and therefore may produce many great and gifted mystics, artists and spiritual  leaders … these people will be deep thinkers with a profound understanding about the meaning of life … their compassion may be enhanced by intense psychic powers … there are many astrologers who think this generation could possibly bring in a period of ultimate self-realization and hopefully be able to bring peace and tranquility into the world … Neptune here does NOT value materialism, so this generation will be interested in exploring the inner man and woman !!!



In Pisces, for all of us, Neptune produces the potential for great strides and enhanced creative expression for  people in any field of the arts … new medical discoveries will occur … new cultural concepts will be developed … there will most likely be a change on the face of religion in general but not necessarily in a bad way … there will be more of a tendency to explore and develop our inner selves yielding the possibility of attaining the capability of harmony between the physical and spiritual world … this energy will make us potentially more psychic, generous, understanding, responsive to the environment, more mystical and compassionate ... but it could also lead us in the other direction making us more gullible, passive, self-destructive and likely becoming a victim to all kinds of addictions … it is definitely a good time to start paying attention to your dreams as the Universe will undoubtedly be bringing us vital information while we sleep – keep a dream journal close by !!!



The ultimate question here becomes whether we will give in to numerous savior/victim associations becoming separated from reality and runaway into escapism lost in a world of illusion, or will we reach new heights of empathy, compassion and spiritual attainment … If we use this energy positively we indeed will be more compassionate, self-sacrificing, intuitive, artistic and creative … used negatively we will end up melancholy, an escapist, a procrastinator, vague, and likely to become a victim of many forms of addiction including drugs and alcohol !!!

Pisces born, this is your ruling planet so it is time to "wake up" and begin to move forward on goals, desires, and dreams once again ... what have you been rethinking and reviewing in your life since June 28th of this year that you now understand is productive and what have you discovered that may be a hindrance and detrimental to your personal and spiritual growth ??? ... especially if you know which house in your natal chart Neptune is currently transiting through thus giving an indication where in your life the transformation from this energy is taking place ... the same could be said for the rest of us as well !!!

Neptune remains in direct motion until June 30th, 2023 ... its journey will be especially significant if it should begin the transit of a new house in your natal chart during this period and/or make any aspect to one or more of your natal planets placement ... Neptune will not complete its transit through Pisces until January of 2026 - still a while to go but that's the way a slower moving outer planet rolls - or transits - for you !!!



No matter what dreams may come - and they will in numbers - know that with Neptune in Pisces, dreams will definitely have the potential to become reality, and perhaps as a result we will all rise to new heights of spiritual compassion and not fall into the depths of despair, deception, delusion and addiction !!! ... and as it has been said that a "dream is a wish your heart makes" - may each one of us find our dreams becoming a reality in our lives !!! ... it is time to immerse ourselves in the "waters" of compassion, creativity and spirituality !!!