THE CELESTIAL "TASKMASTER" RESUMES CLASSES !!!

SATURN - the planet representing authority figures, discipline, effort, sense of order, limitations, the urge for safety and security, tests us by placing obstacles and restrictions in our lives, shows what we are unsure of or truly fear, known as FATHER TIME, and most notoriously known for being the celestial taskmaster teaching us the lessons we must learn in life - stationed back into direct motion Thursday, September 6th, at 7:10 AM EDT ... these lessons we MUST learn through the obstacles we often encounter sometimes are easier but more frequently become extremely challenging and difficult on our journey through this life in order to make us slow down so we can build strong foundations and structures in our lives that are on solid ground !!!

While Saturn has been in retrograde motion since April 17th this year, hopefully we have all been reviewing and trying to restructure systems, programs, organizations, corporations and rules that will allow them to function more efficiently ... we also were given the time and opportunity, if we used it wisely, to become more aware of our own personal authority and power and determine whether or not it fits within society or is actually undermining us and needs adjustment on some level ... in addition, we all should have been reviewing whether or not societies rules and policies are helping to give us needed structure or limiting us in some way thus preventing further personal and spiritual growth !!!

Now that Saturn has resumed direct motion, we should begin to be better able to see where we stand and thus continue building even more secure structures and foundations in our lives individually and as a society as well ... no doubt we may have encountered limitations or restrictions either self imposed or imposed by authority figures during this retrograde period ... and perhaps now the Universe will even throw in yet another road block or two our way to make us realize whether or not we made good use of this retrograde period !!!




This Saturn retrograde period, which began back on April 17th, occurred from 9 degrees 9 minutes Capricorn back down to 2 degrees 33 minutes Capricorn ... if you know in your natal chart in which house or houses these degrees fall, then you may understand where in your life this Saturn retrograde was making its impact - especially if it made any aspects to your natal planets as well as your natal angles - cusps of the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses ... Saturn has been at the 2 degree mark of Capricorn since August 13th and was at an astrological "standstill" around 2 degrees 33 minutes Capricorn since September 2nd yielding the potential for that to have been a very challenging period for many people !!! 

My fellow Capricorns, this was our yearly period of review, self-introspection, and rethinking of what has transpired in our lives especially from August 25th, 2017 until April 17th of this year !!!





Saturn is currently transiting through Capricorn with Mars and Pluto - a lot of heavy duty energy requiring us to become practical, responsible and grounded !!! ... Saturn remains in direct motion until April 29th/30th, 2019 depending on which time zone in which you live ... Saturn will complete its full transit through the sign of Capricorn on December 17th, 2020 !!!





Saturn now moves forward to continue its transit through Capricorn which it began back on December 19th, 2017 ... this is the sign that it naturally rules and is therefore considered to be in dignity and operating very powerfully ... Saturn in Capricorn is all about organizing ,,, this placement frequently gives rise to desire for power, prestige and some kind of authority ... it is considered to be an excellent placement for those interested in politics, business, science or any kind of career that brings public acclaim and recognition ... after all, Capricorn is the natural ruler of the 10th house which is concerned with career and public image !!!





Saturn in Capricorn is persistent, calculating, very careful, highly practical and very good at organization with its razor sharp focus ... but it can also yield a rather cold and reserved air at times ... it is often the marker of those born with this placement who had to struggle to gain personal security early in life ... as a result, one is willing and understands the necessity to work hard to achieve in life and expects others to do so as well .. this placement of Saturn can lead one to the highest levels of personal evolution and understanding, or it can cause one to lean towards being overly materialistic and selfish ... one definitely needs to learn to develop a sense of humor as this energy can be so driving and demanding !!!





Usually people are not very happy when Saturn comes into the picture to teach us and make us learn life lessons that are often very daunting and difficult, but we native Capricorns understand how hard Saturn's "weight" can bear down on us ... so its retrograde journey each year becomes an opportunity for everyone else to feel and hopefully come to understand what we have to live with all of our life ... challenging - you bet !!! ... and no one would ever say it is an easy task, but the potential for rewards are unlimited if you open your eyes, ears and hearts, allow the Universe to lead the way and be willing to go the distance ... after all, if you don't learn the lesson the first time, you can be sure the Universe will bring the lessons back around again, and the next time they may end up being even more difficult to deal with in your life !!!





As Saturn is most frequently teaching all of us very difficult lessons, holding firm and staying positive will get us through this stronger and better able to deal with life and its many challenges ... so if you keep your feet firmly planted and try to understand that the "light at the end of the tunnel" usually signifies greater personal as well as spiritual growth, you will definitely come through a much stronger person and able to handle this journey through life more efficiently for the lessons you have taken seriously and made great personal effort to learn from ... you will certainly be better equipped to deal with life and its many constant challenges not just from Saturn's energy !!!

Time for me to once again reiterate a worthwhile observation of mine - as a Capricorn born who will be ruled lifelong by Saturn, I can say that from personal experience the transits of Saturn aren't always a bad thing that should be dreaded ... while its actions can be difficult and challenging, Saturn's main objective is to help us grow and become a better, more highly functional and successful person by finding the courage deep from within to take a serious and honest look at where we are versus where we should be going ... and this is done by making sure our foundations in life are always strong, solid and secure !!!

THE FREEDOM FIGHTER / REBEL RETURNS !!!

MARS reentered the rebellious, progressive sign of Aquarius Monday, September 10th, at 8:56 PM EDT ... Mars began its initial transit through Aquarius back on May 15th/16th ... it got no further than 9 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius when it began its retrograde journey for 2018 back on June 26th ... Mars will make its full transit through Aquarius this time around and is currently moving forward to exit its retrograde zone which will occur on October 8th when it reaches 9 degrees 13 minutes Aquarius once again ... below is a reminder of what this energy is all about in case you forgot due to these personal planet retrogrades coming and going among other things !!!



Mars functions well in Aquarius, perhaps a little too well at times, since it is an Air sign and what does Air do ???? ... that's right - IT GIVES LIFE TO FIRE !!! ... the last time Mars transited the sign of Aquarius was November 9th through December 19th, 2016 - anything come to mind from that period that included taking initiative in getting what you want, sexual drive, using strength and courage in pursuing your desires ... all areas Mars naturally rules ??? ... no telling what kind of aggressive actions will be manifested with Mars being influenced by the energy of the ruling planet of Aquarius - Uranus the planet of the sudden and unexpected !!! ... so now Mars is once again in a "planetary relationship" with Uranus as Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius ... and when this duo gets together - LOOK OUT !!! ... but haven't we been experiencing this recently while Uranus was transiting through the sign of Aries - which it is going to return to briefly during its current retrograde period ???

In Aquarius, the energy of Mars is expressed on a mental plane ... actions may be quick, but one must be committed intellectually ... this energy makes one very people-oriented and often involved in a wide variety of projects ... usually there is some element of reform or fighting for freedom somewhere in the outlook ... Mars in Aquarius can be high-strung and unpredictable creating a struggle between wanting to do things independently and getting involved in group activities ... one usually tries to deal with sexual relationships here rationally but may swing back and forth between passionate involvement and detachment ... this energy often bestows acute insight into human nature !!!



Mars in Aquarius is naturally independent, unconventional and unique ... being a distinct individual is essential with this energy ... spontaneous inclination is geared towards tolerance, openness, and a willingness to fight for equal opportunity ... identity is tied to progress, the future and anything new and on the cutting edge ... there is a strong need for free expression and broad perspectives ... passion sometimes ends up being sidetracked into a detached or scientific perspective ... physical energy and sexual drive are fueled by variety, mental stimulation, freedom, experimentation and the possibility of something new on the cutting edge that is moving towards the future ... one needs openness and free flow in life here !!!



Mars in Aquarius teaches all about getting what we want through liberating ... this is the freedom fighter - the leader  of the pack !!! ... one is usually willing to go out on a limb to get what they want when inspired by this energy ... what truly motivates one here is having to "buck" some kind of system - be it family, partners, friends or anything that seems to be limiting ones freedom ... without sufficient freedom ones personal vital energies become blocked up inside ... one is often motivated by goals for the common good that often involve benefiting all forms of life in addition to human ... ultimately ones interest in ones self must be aligned with the interest of others ... the ultimate lesson of this energy is that inventiveness and the quickness with which one learns from their mistakes become shining examples of how human beings can best get along in this world!!! ... the energy of Mars in Aquarius can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: independent, unconventional, complex, original, progressive, reformist, humanitarian, idealistic, resolute, resourceful, group leader, co-operative, surprising, high-spirited, active, stimulating, sexually free, sexually experimental, non-possessive, cool

NEGATIVE: cantankerous, perverse, contrary, peculiar, impatient, rebellious, superficial, escapist, inconstant, loner, uncooperative, erratic, disruptive, indolent, shocking, sexually loose, sexually irresponsible, unfeeling, cold



Aquarius born individuals,  you are being infused yet again with an extra shot of energy - like you really need it !!! ...  you are potentially enabled to get a lot of productive work accomplished - just as long as you don't get too explosive and run over the rest of us!!! ... but the question now becomes what truly will occur as your ruling planet has "slammed" into the sign of Taurus which, being an earth sign, likes to take things at a very slow and steady pace ??? ... Aries born, as well as Aries Moon and Rising sign born, your ruling planet is now once again a "partner in crime" with Uranus so take care not to go too far too fast !!!

Mars is currently the only planet transiting through Aquarius and will finally complete its transit through the sign of Aquarius on November 16th - the day Venus begins its retrograde journey for 2018 !!!



During this extended transit through the sign of Aquarius, perhaps many of us will have come to the realization that the purpose of being alone is to ultimately discover one is for all and all is for one  !!!

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

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




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




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




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




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

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




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



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



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




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




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




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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD" !!!

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




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




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




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

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




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




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




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




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




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




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




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




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




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




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




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

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

LIVING PRODUCTIVELY THROUGH RATIONAL ANALYSIS !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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




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

Over the next few days to the next few weeks or even months, there will undoubtedly be quite a few "a-ha" as well as "uh-oh" lights coming on in regard to decisions made or actions taken during the retrograde period from July 25th/26th through August 18th/19th, and possibly as far back as July 7th when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey at 11 degrees 32 minutes LEO  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from March 22nd through April 15th ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from December 2nd/3rd through December 22nd, 2017 ??? ... and it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward once again crossing back over the degrees it covered during this retrograde period, issues may begin to arise already, and this includes actions begun from July 7th through July 25th/26th which are potentially subject to review and revision or even dismissal !!!




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

If you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in which house or houses 23 degrees 27 minutes LEO back to 11 degrees 32 minutes LEO falls - what kinds of issues did you have to  deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???

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




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




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




A Mercury retrograde period is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of complications resulting in having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!! ... so did anyone have elective surgery that could have been delayed for a time when the universal energy better supported it ???




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



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




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




Mercury now moves forward to complete its entire transit through the sign of Leo ... Mercury will complete its full transit through the sign of Leo on Wednesday, September 5th at 10:39 PM EDT !!!




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

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

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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




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