THE URGE TO REBEL, TAKE UNEXPECTED ACTION, BECOME A GREATLY NEEDED AGENT FOR CHANGE, AND BE UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT !!!

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 - begins its retrograde journey for 2025 today, Saturday, September 6th at 12:51 AM EDT ... 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 September 1st, 2024 through January 30th, 2025 going from 27 degrees 15 minutes Taurus back to 23 degrees 15 minutes Taurus !!!

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 1 DEGREE 27 MINUTES GEMINI back to 27 DEGREES 27 MINUTES TAURUS fall, then you might get an idea in what area of your life where this particular retrograde energy will most likely play out ... you might also want to check and see if you have any natal planets, regardless of sign placement, at or close to the degree of the beginning of the retrograde and the degrees that this retrograde period will cross back over as events can suddenly spring up in regards to the aspect Uranus might make !!!

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 is obviously in the very early degrees of its transit through the sign of Gemini ... this is where innovation is a major occurrence ... it can produce brilliance, inventive and very original ideas ... it can also unfortunately make more of a mess to social media which has really taken a challenging hit especially as Jupiter was recently in transit through Gemini ... also possible are new and perhaps unusual approaches to in the areas of literature, education, communications, media and electronics ... it can produce great restlessness and may potentially cause one to be unable to follow through on an idea to its fruition ... there can also often be flashes of brilliance which appear to come out of nowhere ... there is also the potential of abrupt speech which can offend others, a disregard for others feelings, education that suddenly goes off track, and even issues with siblings and relatives which are all things ruled by the 3rd house which Gemini naturally rules !!!

Uranus will return to Taurus on November 7th for some last minute business where it will remain until once direct it will re-enter the sign of Gemini to begin the journey of its complete transit on April 25th/26th, 2026 ... in the sign of Taurus the lesson of this energy was all about "awakening" through learning to stabilize - the Universe has been giving not only Taurus born but the other earth signs - those being Virgo, and Capricorn as well as the other fixed signs those being Aquarius, Leo and Scorpio - but indeed everyone a glimpse of things where CHANGE NEEDED TO BE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED and ULTIMATELY TOOK PLACE while Uranus was transiting Taurus ... Uranus is considered to be in its "fall" in Taurus as it opposite to the sign it is exalted in which is Scorpio ... in "fall", a planet can have difficulty in expressing its real nature ... it is said that in "fall", it's like the planet is visiting in someone else's house where it does not really feel comfortable ... so does this make its often disruptive, rebellious nature even more challenging or modify it somewhat ???

Uranus has been literally slowing down and sending out its often disruptive vibrational energy at the 1 degree of Taurus position since August 4th creating a lot of tension, uproar and irritation on many levels no doubt especially since approximately August 31st as it was pretty much "astrologically" at a standstill ... the Universe has been making not only Taurus, Gemini and Aquarius born - who may especially feel the impact of this retrograde - but everyone else aware there WILL BE CHANGE which NEEDS to be and MUST be addressed while Uranus is retrograde ,,, and it may not always be pleasant and/or easy in some cases ... but keep in mind for all the uproar Uranus can cause it frequently produces sudden and unexpected flashes of intuition and outright genius ... those who may be especially sensitive to this retrograde energy shift include Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn born as well as Gemini, Libra and Aquarius born !!!

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 especially with the Full Moon Lunar eclipse set to occur on Sunday the 7th ... until the retrograde energy settles in, there could be instances of rebellion, disruption, explosions and confrontations !!!

Uranus remains retrograde for 150 days until February 4th, 2026 !!!

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 January 30th of this year ... 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 and be accountable for them ???

Now we have this "electrically" charged 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 and zaps ???

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 ???

A MENTALITY THAT IS PRECISE, THOROUGH AND ANALYTICAL - AS WELL AS AN INTEREST IN HEALTH, NUTRITION AND COMPETENCE IN ONES DAY TO DAY WORK !!!

 

MERCURY - began its transit through the highly focused sign of Virgo yesterday, September 2nd, at 9:23 AM 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 ... this will most likely be a more productive transit of Mercury as Mercury is considered back "up to full speed" having exited its recent retrograde zone back on August 25th ...  Mercury was last in Virgo from July 25th through September 26th, 2024 - a longer than normal transit due to a retrograde period involved !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercury is currently transiting through the sign of Virgo with the Sun !!! ... Mercury remains in Virgo until September 18th !!!

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

LEARNING TO LOVE THROUGH WHAT WE CREATE - GIVING SOME FORM OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION TO YOUR FEELINGS AND PASSION IN RELATIONSHIPS !!!

VENUS began its "roaring" transit through the very dramatic and intensely romantic sign of Leo yesterday, August 25th at 12:27 PM EDT ... Venus was last in Leo from July 11th through August 4th/5th, 2024 ... Venus is now in a "relationship" with the Sun, ruling planet of Leo which naturally rules the 5th house of romance, creativity and pleasure - the possibilities could be limitless !!!



THIS VENUS CARES - IT REALLY CARES, and will make darn sure you know it !!! .. this energy loves big entrances and high drama ... ultimately, it just outright loves good old-fashioned romance ... it enjoys the limelight, attention, admiration and applause ... it gives a natural magnetism and sex appeal ... others often find the expression of this energy down right exciting ... affection is expressed dramatically and wholeheartedly ... it can make one magnanimous, loyal, playful and magnetic in love ... the handling of money and possessions is usually generous, extravagant, and speculative ... there is a desire for zest, enthusiasm and an adrenaline rush in ones love relationships ... ones pride and urge for recognition affects ones capacity for closeness ... clothes and appearance are also very important with this energy !!!



Venus in Leo is all about learning to love through what we create ... this is where love "shines" ... it is important to give some form of creative expression to your feelings and passion in relationships ... and even though one is very  enthusiastic, there ironically may exist a deep-seated "doubt" of ones own ability to be loved which others cannot detect outwardly from you ... artistic sense is very strong ... life is frequently viewed as an ongoing creative experience !!!



At some point, one must ultimately go looking for their inner beauty ... one thing you can be compared with is your self-respect ... what each of us has to give is priceless ... channel the larger than life energy here into larger than life pursuits or pastimes ... love and allow yourself to be loved in return ... this energy likes admiration, mutual respect, lavish parties, showing off ones partner, and old fashioned classic courtship ... it dislikes even the slightest rejection, behavior that is insulting, being "shown up" by others, and a lack luster love ... the energy of Venus in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: romantic, ardent, passionate, loyal, artistic, dramatic, entertaining, fun-loving, radiant, outgoing, warm, openly affectionate, charming, attractive, benevolent, gives a lot, social pride, personal pride, fun to be with


NEGATIVE: unrealistic, sexually obsessed, consuming, too loyal, prima donna, overbearing, demanding, inappropriate, self-centered, showy, brassy, flirtatious, seducing, flaunting, expects too much, snobbish, vain,  competitive, game-playing

Leo born, the social and romantic spotlight is now shining brightly on you - enjoy the flames of passion and love ... just be careful not to incinerate yourself or anyone else with it !!!


Venus is transiting through the sign of Leo with Mercury ... we now have a chance to discover and face what is truly in our hearts and how to genuinely and creatively express that in our partnerships and relationships, or perhaps change something in order to make our partnerships and relationships more beneficial and provide more positive and spiritual growth in our lives ... Venus remains in Leo until September 19th !!!

Heads up for those who might be planning a "special" occasion in 2026 and like to be prepared ... Venus will take its next retrograde journey from October 3rd through November 14th, 2026 going from 8 degrees 29 minutes Scorpio back to 22 degrees 51 minutes Libra ... "the more you know" !!!

AN ENERGY REQUIRING SOME KIND OF WORK OR BE OF SOME KIND OF SERVICE FOR LIFE TO MAKE SENSE !!!

The Sun begins its "highly efficient" transit through the methodical, discriminating sign of Virgo tomorrow, August 22nd, at 4:34 PM EDT ... 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 express themselves 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 ... 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 helps 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 now transiting through Virgo all by itself ... that's still a lot of energy that is focused like a laser beam on being exact, precise, paying attention to every detail and being very discriminating !!!  ... During this solar 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 !!! 

 The Sun remains in the sign of Virgo until September 22nd !!!

For now, it's time to 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 ... and once again, this time around, "MIND HOW YOU GO" !!!   

DID YOU GO WITH THE FLOW OR TRY TO SWIM UPSTREAM IN A RAGING CURRENT OF COSMIC CONFUSION ???

   

MERCURY completed its second full retrograde journey for 2025 today, August 11th, and stationed  back into direct motion at 3:30 AM EDT at 4 degrees 14 minutes of Leo - once again, do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF ??? ... what revelations have you had or will have, either positive or challenging in regards to what you may have done while Mercury has been "scrubbing" over those degrees - 15 degrees 34 minutes back to 21 degrees 24 minutes Leo - forwards, then backwards and now forward again as it crosses back over them moving to exit its retrograde zone ... in which house or houses do these degrees fall in your natal chart giving you a clue as to what area of your life this retrograde may have affected you ???

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 cautiously into the swing of things on all levels !!!

Did any issues and complications or questioning arise from actions and new beginnings taken during the most recent Mercury retrogrades which would include March 15th - April 7th, November 26th - December 15th, 2024; August 5th - August 28th, 2024; and April 1st - April 24th, 2024 ... and as always, it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to have issues arise from Mercury retrogrades further back than these most recent three ... after all, Mercury is known as the "trickster" and you never know what may occur or "resurface" to be dealt with and completed !!!!!!... 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 meaning things begun and actions taken are certainly subject to potential review and revision - a never ending universal process but all for a good reason !!!




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 !!! ... again, if you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in which house or houses containing 15 DEGREES 34 MINUTES LEO back to 4 DEGREES 14 MINUTES LEO fall to determine what issues you may have had 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 especially with this retrograde completely in the sign of Leo ruling the 5th house of romance, creativity and pleasure - some needed to 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 ???  ... 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 during this retrograde period ???




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" and rational decision making isn't always so sharp !!!




So now that the mental processing facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us if you know what I mean - 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 !!!

Mercury retrograde in a Fire sign, this time being Leo, may have caused us to question how any means of inspiration could helpfully create a better future for ourselves !!! 

Mercury retrograding in Leo could certainly have caused issues to arise in regards to romance - therefore those getting married during this period could potentially be greatly affected, 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 also have been issues arising in regards to ones personal expression, the quality of leadership 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 !!!

I want to reiterate the potential "romance" issues with this retrograde ... people from your past were likely to come back around and try to convince you to "take them back", but in most cases you will hopefully be able to understand why things did NOT work out, especially if the relationship was begun under a prior retrograde, especially Venus or Mars, period !!! ... even more challenging is the Sun was in Leo for the final 21 days of this Mercury retrograde as well as Venus was in Gemini, ruled by Mercury of course, during the first 13 days of this Mercury retrograde !!!

In regards to health, the Sun rules the heart and the back, and Leo rules the heart, back or spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female ... in addition to other health issues in general that might have arisen as Mercury naturally rules the 6th house which includes health and nutrition - any issues there ???

A Mercury retrograde 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 surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!

Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end

especially in regards to actions taken since April 7th when Mercury last stationed back into direct motion ... how have you been enlightened and how was your life affected by having your ruling planet Mercury retrograde ... your ruling planet now resumes forward motion and much to your delight so will you - even though you were probably trying to do it during the actual retrograde ... right, of course right - in fact many of us are doing the same thing !!!

Those of you born between July 19th and August 10th will definitely have Mercury retrograde energy in your birthday (solar return) chart for the whole year ahead ... those born on July 18th and August 11th may or may not have gotten this backward energy depending on the time of your solar return ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart:

The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return, is summed up below by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in 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 !!! "

Mercury now moves forward to conclude its full transit through Leo which began back on July 2nd and will complete its transit through Leo on September 8th/9th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!

Just a reminder of what the energy of Mercury in Leo is all about should you need a "refresher" :

Mercury is now ready to finish blazing through Leo where the mindset and communicating functions will most likely become "center stage" somewhere in your life for ... 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 2nd through September 9th, 2024 due to another retrograde period !!! 

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

Mercury is now transiting through Leo along with the Sun !!!

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

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

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

Mercury remains in direct motion until November 9th ... it begins its final retrograde journey for 2025 lasting until November 29th going from 6 DEGREES 51 MINUTES SAGITTARIUS back to 20 DEGREES 42 MINUTES SCORPIO ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on October 21st when it reaches 6 degrees 51 minutes Sagittarius ... Mercury will exit its current retrograde zone on August 25th when it returns to 15 degrees 34 minutes Leo the point where it began this retrograde period !!!

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

THE URGE TO FIND BALANCE BETWEEN PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL NEEDS/DESIRES AS WELL AS BETWEEN SELF-SURRENDER AND SELF- AGGRESSION !!!

MARS - began its fiery, passionate transit through the romantic, sociable sign of Libra on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025, at 7:23 PM EDT ... Libra is ruled by Venus the planet of love, relationships and money !!! ... Mars was last in Libra from August 27th through October 11th/12th, 2023 ... think back to that time period as to what was going on and be prepared as similar issues have the potential to arise once again especially if they were not properly addressed or handled incorrectly during that period !!!

Mars is said to be in "detriment" in the sign of Libra as this is the sign directly opposite the one it rules which is Aries ... Mars is therefore like a guest in someone else's "house" and must conform to their rules !!! ... Normally air (Libra) gives life to fire (Mars), but for all of its robust energy, Mars here can easily get out of control rather quickly !!! ... and it should be no surprise that Mars sometimes has  trouble operating in the sign of Libra because its need for direct action is limited by the need for approval and cooperation of others !!!



Mars in Libra urges us to find the balance between personal and interpersonal needs and desires as well as the balance between self-surrender and self-aggression ... this Mars can be as gentle as a lamb or become as mad as a hornet !!! ... it is strategic, charming, generous, amiable, cooperative, persuasive, enjoys entertaining, sociable and very interested in new ideas ... self-reliance is sometimes lacking here and one must learn to stand on their own ... here we have energy that is naturally people oriented and often learns through relating with others ... it can be highly competitive ... it is energy which makes one work on balancing opposites and therefore indecision can arise if you go overboard with the need to weigh and balance everything ... identity is tied in with interactions to others ... physical and sexual drive are strongly influenced by ones partner ... the sex drive can be very impulsive and extremely sensuous !!!



Mars in Libra can also propel one into a conflict of argument with someone else - and at times people are forced to agree with you just to end the discussion and shut you up !!! ... it can be sweet and smile a lot, but ultimately "kill you with kindness" ... as Mars is considered such a fiery planet, it is possible that during this transit one could have "flare ups" with health issues in regards to the lower back, the buttocks and the kidneys !!!

Mars in Libra is the initiator of social activities and wants to be noticed and appreciated ... sometimes personal desires and ambitions can be confused with others ... aggressive and energetic partners are sought here ... this energy can produce great anger when principles of justice are violated even if the person is not the actual victim ... a large amount of this energy can be spent forming emotional relationships ... this is an excellent position for producing highly unique artistic and literary talent !!!



Mars in Libra ultimately shows one how to get what we want through how we relate ... its the social mover and shaker ... the drive to balance impulses ... a major challenge here is to get what you want but do so by fitting in with social values and emotional requirements ... one must learn to adjust needs and values to their desires ... desires here tend to spring from a feeling of wanting everyone to be in harmony and pull together ... ultimately the energy of Mars in Libra is the ability to be aware of and have the courage to express and live by your own moral convictions !!!

Mars in Libra is the transformer ... it likes togetherness, doing things in style, the social whirl, knowing ones own desires, and equal partnerships ... it dislikes injustice, being overly blunt, indecisiveness, being dominant or being dominated ... the energy of Mars in Libra can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: attentive lover, enthusiastic, skillful lover, gentle, fair, easygoing, diplomatic, co-operative, persuasive, binding, discreet, perceptive, idealistic, intuitive, principled, measured, polite, considerate, agreeable, sedate

NEGATIVE: fawning, idolizing, impersonal, tentative, bland, indecisive, insincere, misleading, devious, awkward, judgmental, unreal, unfeeling, self-limiting, inhibited, vulgar, selfish, impulsive

Libra born individuals, this is the time when your energy is given that extra big boost ... just proceed with caution at first, which we all should, as Mercury is currently ending its retrograde in Leo on the 11th !!! 



ARIES born, your ruling planet begins transiting through a new sign ready for you to learn new lessons or repeat some if you didn't get it during previous transits of Mars through Libra ... okay, perhaps SCORPIO born too as this is your ancient ruler !!!

We may find this period very productive but we will also have to guard against proceeding with such great force that we accidentally "incinerate" others with our heightened enthusiasm and drive ... it is also possible that others may interpret your actions as pushy and confrontational even though your intentions and emotional intent are just the opposite !!!

Mars remains in the sign of Libra until September 22nd ... take care not to let the object(s) of your affection (Libra) get so infused with this fiery warrior energy (Mars) that they end up becoming the object(s) of your aggression and you accidentally by mistake end up destroying them !!!

MAKE LOVE NOT WAR !!!

A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO EVERYTHING WE ARE ATTRACTED TO - THE NEED TO HEAR THE WORDS "I LOVE YOU" ... OFTEN !!!

 

VENUS - the planet of love, affection, attraction, social interactions and desires as well as the ruler of the 2nd and 7th houses of the natural zodiac - began its emotional swim through the nurturing, intuitive sign of Cancer yesterday, July 30th, at 11:57 PM EDT  ... Venus was last in Cancer from June 17th through July 11th, 2024 !!!  

Venus transiting through a WATER sign such as this, ruled by the Moon, takes on an even more emotional rather than an intellectual connection to everything it is attracted to ... Venus in Cancer enjoys home, food, nurturing and/or dependency ... it can be very sensitive and protective in relating to people, and it appreciates emotional warmth and attachments ... affection is expressed protectively, tenaciously and in a nurturing manner ... pleasure is found through security ... ones comfort level may well depend on feeling like part of a "family" !!!

Venus in Cancer produces a preference to share within a very closely attached group ... if one should lack faith under this energy, there could be a result of moodiness, shyness, over protection - including self and others, and stinginess which could interfere with the potential for closeness and the ability to enjoy life ... money and possessions are usually handled cautiously ... there is a desire to nurture and/or be nurtured in ones love relationships ... closeness involves dependency, care taking and receptivity ... this Venus energy can be somewhat thin-skinned and truly needs to hear the words "I love you" often !!!

Venus in Cancer shows us to learn to love oneself as well as others through the process of nurturing ... it believes that home is indeed where the heart is ... the expression of love here is tied into the need to give or receive comfort and security ... there is the trap to become so concerned with receiving love that you forget the quality and quantity of love you actually give ... this love is usually of the most instinctive kind ... there is a romantic leaning towards the sentimental ... there also comes a rather changeable nature in showing or accepting affection which usually is a result of doubts about ones own attractiveness ... home and family are central to ones happiness here ... there is the possibility that one possesses cooking, decorating, or other domestic skills under this energy ... sometimes the fear of change and/or disruption within the home and family produce worry which physically expressed manifests in the form of stomach or throat problems ... the  energy of Venus in Cancer can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: gentle, kind, tender, romantic, sentimental, sensitive, compassionate, dreamy, devoted, loyal, unselfish, dependable, caring, protective, motherly, sympathetic, home-making, reassuring, comforting

NEGATIVE: timid, gooey, fawning, easily hurt, moody, muddled, clingy, too attached, weak-willed, dependent, fussy, shy, insecure, fears unfamiliar, gluttonous, vulnerable, taking others for granted, emotional threatening, inhospitable



Cancer born individuals, this is your time to "glow" as Venus moves through your birth sign and shines its "love light" on you ... be nice and kind enough and you just might get what you ask for !!!

Venus now joins Jupiter currently transiting through the sign of Cancer ... Venus remains in the sign of Cancer until August 25th !!!

While Venus transits the sign of Cancer, try to relax and enjoy as the Universe is guiding us and teaching us how to gently navigate through the "emotional waters" of love ... perhaps we all now could try and use Mother Nature as a "role model" for how to nurture and nourish ourselves as well as others ... allowing others to sometimes lean on you will help prevent you from continuously leaning on others too much ... by admitting to our hopes and what hurts us we can ultimately encourage others to do so as well !!!

ONE IMPORTANT CAVEAT HERE - with the potential for the love of food, along with "other" things and you know exactly what I am talking about, being greatly heightened, as the old saying goes, ONE WHO INDULGES - BULGES ... in the case of this particular "loving" energy transit, it could be in more than one way - check back with me next year in APRIL/MAY ... okay ???