FLYING SPARKS OF ROMANCE OR EMOTIONAL "DAGGERS" OF VENGEANCE ???

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE ... I'VE GOT IT ... IT’S OVER - GOODBYE!!!!! ... and just like that, what we thought we so passionately and romantically desired has suddenly lost its initial appeal .... moving right along - NEXT !!! .... get the picture ??? .... well that is what many of us will experience on some level in our lives as Venus "burned" its way into and began its transit through the the passionate sign of Aries yesterday, February 20th at 3:06 PM EST ... Venus is considered to be in detriment in Aries as it is in a sign opposite the one it naturally rules in this case Libra ... in detriment a planet is not really operating at full power ... it's like visiting where you must conform to rules and regulations thus hindering your natural expression ...

We can expect to become impassioned about someone or something or both ... we will pursue it with total dedication and determination ... and if we finally get it, we could find ourselves ultimately asking the question - WHY ??? ... of course some of us may also find ourselves outright overly horny as we are "burning with desire" !!! ... Venus in the fire sign of Aries will seek its interactions with others and pursue things passionately, romantically, excitedly and adventurously ...

Venus represents our social urge and our sense of values ... it rules the signs of Taurus and Libra and is the natural ruler of the 2nd house - a house of substance representing your emotional need for fulfillment and feelings, your values, your sense of self-worth, your inner talents and resources and your earning power .... its the house of material debt .... Venus is also the natural ruler of the 7th house - a house of face-to-face relationships where the keyword is cooperation which might be somewhat lacking while Venus moves through Aries as we tend to be a little slack with our social graces at times along the way .... it represents both social, business and personal relationships ... its a house of open enemies and you may well find them during this transit so best to think twice before speaking which makes this transit very challenging ... the 7th house also indicates what you most lack about yourself being opposite the 1st house, and you might find an increased desire to fill that void wherever it is perceived ... Venus is the anatomical ruler of the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste - there could be issues here with Aries ruler Mars possibly "boiling" up symptoms with its fiery attributes ...

Venus in Aries is demonstrative ... we love the thrill of the chase of the person or object of our desire ... it is very outgoing and enthusiastic to the point of ending up aggressive and overwhelming ... most of the time it will be your feelings and values that are center most on your mind instead of others .... it likes the novelty and newness of things and once that is over it can become very fickle and ready to move on ... it’s attracted to people who are independent, those with a lot of initiative, and certainly those who are creative with their originality ... here pursuit of passion is the name of the game but once the object of your attention has been captured, you, the hunter, may move on by viewing it as another trophy to put on your Venusian shelf of love and desire ... one of the biggest misjudgements made under this energy is mistaking sex for actual love over and over ... the lesson of Venus in Aries is all about learning to love through doing - it's frequently referred to as energy that can easily produce love at first sight !!! ... this Venus likes a partner who is independent, the actual "chase", the social whirl, spontaneous and unexpected affection, and romance that is very bold ... it dislikes people who are too clingy and those who tend to be socially inactive ... the energy of  Venus in Aries can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: erotic, winning style, passionate, playful, demonstrative, outgoing, straightforward, popular, sparkling personality, generous, appealing, having a childlike charm, a romantic idealist, persuasive, warm-hearted, quick to move

NEGATIVE: overly flirtatious, lustful, irresponsible, blunt, inconsiderate, coarse, not subtle, wanton, a teaser, naive in love, easily hurt, clueless, too pushy, self-centered, impatient in love

If you know which house or houses the sign of Aries occupies in your natal chart, then you will most likely figure out where and how this transit of Venus may play out in your own life in addition to your relationship to society as well ... and if you were born with the Sun in Aries, at some point during this Venus transit, it will pass over your natal Sun giving you a day to just enjoy the world, your friends , your creative efforts, and simply being alive !!!

ONE CAVEAT - Venus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house and therefore money earned as well as money SPENT ... you should be careful about "burning" through your personal money while Venus is in Aries as the purse strings will be significantly loosened and expanded by this "heated" energy and you may find yourself wanting to increase your material holdings and also be drawn towards the purchase of big ticket or luxury items only to find yourself thinking at the end of this transit - "AND I SPENT THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE ...??? " ... also, as Venus naturally rules the 7th house of partnerships and relationships both personal  and professional, you might also find yourself thinking that you may have accidentally "incinerated" some of these as well !!!

Aries born, the love light is now shining on YOU - take advantage of the added possibility of getting what you ask for !!! ...

Venus has now joined Mars and Uranus - what a hot mess of a trio of planets !!! - already transiting through Aries ... Mars just began its transit through Aries on the 19th, and as such, Venus and Mars will "hook up", or as an astrologer would say be conjunct, at 12:05 AM on the 22nd therefore making it today or tomorrow depending on the time zone in which you live ... Will the sparks of romance or the emotional "daggers" of vengeance be flying as a result ???

HEADS UP - there are only four more complete sign transits after Aries before Venus takes its next retrograde journey beginning on July 25th at 0 degrees 46 minutes Virgo and retrogrades back to 14 degrees 23 minutes when it ends on September 6th ...

Venus remains in Aries until March 17th ... and when Venus leaves the sign of Aries, in addition to wondering if the means of the thrill of the chase truly justified the ends of what we did or did not get, we could find ourselves summing up our experiences of Venus in Aries in one of three ways - "My Love is On FIRE", "Loves Labours Lost" or a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" !!!

ANGER AND SELF-ASSERTION AT THEIR MOST HONEST !!!

Mars, the planet symbolizing raw energy and the urge to get what you want and includes the drive - be it sexual drive, initiative or courage - began its transit through the fiery, dynamic sign of Aries yesterday, February 19th, at 7:12 PM EST ... Mars has come home to the sign it naturally rules and operates very efficiently here .. it has the greatest potential to be very constructive or extremely destructive when infused with the energy of Aries depending on how the energy is used ... Mars was last in Aries from March 12th  through April 20th 2013 - can you remember taking any action or initiative regarding something in your life, being very aggressive either in a good way or a challenging way to others, or having to stand your ground for some reason during that period ??? ... Mars takes approximately 2 years to journey around the zodiac ...

Mars in Aries needs to be physically active and tends to be naturally assertive ... it is direct, forceful, and highly competitive ... self-expression is very important here as is the need to do your own thing ... should ones free self-expression be blocked there is the risk of repression - which could lead to some form of illness, projection - which can lead to confronting aggression in others, or displacement - which could lead to fighting with team members ... finding areas where one can be spontaneous is important ... there could be a flair for starting things - which sometimes are not finished after they lose their initial novelty !!! - or there could be mechanical skills ... this energy is very good for facing obstacles and at confrontation but there may be a need to control being too rash or impatient ... one best functions with a lot of freedom, variety, and a chance to be a pioneer ... with this energy comes great restlessness, being willful and a high degree of initiative, sexual drive and physical energy ... sometimes sexual matters may be handled very impulsively ... identity is usually tied to independence and spontaneity ... it has been said that anger and self-assertion are at their most honest here ... this Mars gets mad, gets it out and gets over it ...

Mars in Aries teaches us that we get the most effective results through active doing ... there is usually a reliable but uncontainable supply of raw energy which must have an outlet and ultimately a direction ... here we have a no-nonsense approach to things ... sometimes it may become necessary to stop and ask oneself "What am I actually after?" ... there is definitely a lot of get-up-and-go as well as ones share of hard knocks ... courage and initiative are usually at the top of the priority list, but love and patience are frequently missing ... one can rather easily spark enthusiasm in others with this energy ... Mars in Aries is very much the "warrior" or "Amazon" ... the best expression of this Martian energy is that of the untiring champion of the underdog using both word and deeds to help promote your cause ... showing people what you can do rather than what they should do can set an inspiring and uplifting example ... the energy of Mars in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: self-assured, self-willed, independent, survivor, bold, energetic, fighter, fearless, direct, brisk, championing, outspoken, daring, dashing, exhilarating, spirited, leader-type, strong stamina, enthusiastic, self-starting

NEGATIVE: inner doubt, egocentric, uncooperative, selfish, aggressive, pushy, militant, violent, unsubtle, intolerant, quarrelsome, foolhardy, exhausting, ostentatious, bullying, insensitive, insatiable, self-defeating, anger ridden

With Mars in Aries, it benefits one to direct their energies into a worthwhile cause rather than bullying and badgering others ... knowing who and what you are dependent on not only emancipates but supports you ...

Aries born individuals this is roughly a six week period for you to be infused with an extra boost of energy even though you probably have more than enough energy to get you through naturally - you could become a force to be reckoned with !!! ... use it constructively and not destructively ... we all will be infused with extra energy especially to make new starts ...  Mars now joins Uranus - what a dynamic and potentially hazardous duo !!! - already in Aries with Venus having just entered right before this was posted ... Mars will most likely play an important role in what is going to be a very tumultuous and potentially explosive month of March ahead with Saturn beginning its retrograde journey for 2015 on March 14th, followed by the 7th and final square between Uranus and Pluto occurring on March 17th with both planets moving in direct motion for the first time during their "square dance",  and a solar eclipse on the 20th ... it is said that March comes in like a lion, but it may be roaring loudly all month instead of going out like a lamb !!!

Mars remains in Aries until March 31st ... as Mars begins its transit through Aries, it's time to start making plans for new beginnings and actions by taking charge of and beginning to change something in your life that will result in positive personal and spiritual growth ... hopefully this will ultimately enable you, somewhere in your life, to step up and become "the leader of the pack" !!!

LIFE IS A MYSTERY !!!

The Sun began its transit through the dreamy, mystical sign of Pisces yesterday, February 18th at 6:50 PM EST ... the energy now shifts from the rebellious, unpredictable marching to the beat of a different drummer to swimming in emotionally, compassionate yet sometimes very confusing and deceptive waters ... in Pisces one may strive to shine by creating beauty, through ones compassion, through psychic openness, or seek recognition through spiritual or mystical paths ... those born under the sign of Pisces have come in with a soul lesson of needing to learn peace ...

Pisces is a feminine, water, mutable (flexibility/changeability) sign ... its symbol is two fish tied together - swimming in opposite directions which signify hidden depths, shifting emotional currents, conflicting desires and extremes of temperament ... its glyph is considered a picture of the human feet ... in symbolic terms the glyph is two crescent moons connected by a straight line representing emotion and higher consciousness tied to and limited by the material world ... its key phrase is "I BELIEVE" and its keyword is UNDERSTANDING ... it is the sign opposite of Virgo ... anatomically it rules the pineal glands - in association with its ruling planet - and the feet ...

The ruling planet of Pisces is Neptune - Ancient God of the seas, second of the modern planets to be discovered (1846), and is the planet of illusion, glamour, mystery, and deception ... Neptune represents the spiritual or escapist urge, and its keyword is INTUITION ... it rules maritime matters, liquids, music, movies, stage and television, dreams, delusion, spirituality, ideals, mystique, hunches, creative functions, and things we take  deeply for granted in life without questioning ... it also governs fog, petroleum, mystery, anesthetics, flattery, intangibles, fragrances, second sight, love of poetry, color and dancing ... in addition under its rule comes drugs and drug addiction, alcoholism, hypochondria, sleepwalking, trances, hypnosis, immateriality and abnormality ... its action is often subtle and gradual ... it is the higher vibrational octave of Venus and considered to be the second of the transcendental planets ... where you find Neptune in your natal chart is where you seek the "ideal", but also where you might tend to deceive yourself and/or others ...

Pisces is the natural sign and ruler of the 12th house of the horoscope ... the keyword for the 12th house is SUBCONSCIOUS and it is a house of endings - after all it is the final sign of the zodiac!!! ... the 12th house represents your inner strengths and weaknesses ... it depicts behind the scenes activity - including clandestine affairs - restorative solitude, places of quiet reflection, sorrows, handicaps, secrets, seclusion and frustration ...it can also indicate places of confinement such as jails, hospitals or mental institutions, as well as secret (hidden) enemies, restraint, inhibitions, exile, hidden dangers and self-undoing ...it shows the things we hide from others, and research, background, subjective sustainment, inner consciousness and the subconscious mind ... here we also find charity, sympathy and public welfare ... it is frequently referred to as the closet or dustbin of ones horoscope since it is in this house where we tend to sweep away or hide problems which are often too painful to face or difficulties that we refuse to acknowledge ... sometimes it can be a very creative area of the natal horoscope and can reflect ones aptitude for art, music, dancing, writing or acting ...

Sun in Pisces teaches us to learn to live through accepting ... life is a mystery and each one of us IS the mystery !!! ... under this energy one is innately aware and appreciative of all walks of life ... here one recognizes that the Soul of anything or of anyone is synonymous with sensitivity, which is synonymous with suffering, which is something one is undeniably aware of - joy and sorrow are one ... the energy of the Sun in Pisces can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: compassionate, self-sacrificing, suffers artistically, unassuming, self-effacing, gentle, still but stirring, wise, accepting, adaptable, confided in, sensitive, fascinating, mysterious, imaginative, multi-talented, selfless, devoted, easygoing

NEGATIVE: self-pitying, the human doormat, suffers needlessly, indecisive, self-limiting, wimpish, inwardly storm-tossed, inner doubts, oblivious, vague, not forthcoming, escapist, deceptive, self-mystifying, impressionable, pointless, slaving, lazy

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ALL PISCES BORN - your new astrological year has begun !!! ... The Sun now joins Venus, Mars - both shortly to complete their respective transits - and Neptune transiting in the sign of Pisces ... the Sun remains in Pisces until March 20th ...

One can INSPIRE others in many ways while influenced by the energy of Pisces - just don't forget to take some credit for it but then forget that you did ... give yourself to yourself before anyone else and become illuminated and enlightened ... now is the time to explore our spirituality ...

Dream, mystify, create, inspire, enlighten, be compassionate and believe in those fairy tale endings ... BUT - be cautious ere you might fall into the watery depths of addiction, depression and deception !!!

ALL SYSTEMS GO !!!

MERCURY  completed its first retrograde journey for 2015 today, February 11th, and stationed  back into direct motion at 9:57 AM EST - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... just don't sigh too long or too loudly and I will explain why shortly !!! ... hopefully, the disorientation and confusion, along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde in Aquarius, will now begin to clear 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 some "a-ha" lights coming on in regard to decisions made or actions taken during the retrograde period from 1/21  through today, 1/11, and possibly as far back as 1/05 when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of the retrograde journey today which was at 1 degree 18 minutes Aquarius ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from October 4th through October 25th ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from June 7th through July 1st ???

Mercury retrograde periods, even though annoying at times, are actually a very beneficial thing, especially for those who were strong and brave 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 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 what house or houses 17 degrees 5 minutes back down to 1 degree 18 minutes of Aquarius 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 or were taken against you that you may now be regretting or simply wondering why you chose to do or why you were the victim of a particular course of action, and why  didn't you or the other person wait a little longer or are simply now trying to figure out why it happened ???? ... relationships may have come to an end - 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 at this point ...  how many of you had relationship issues resurface that you thought surely had been resolved ???  ... how many of you got married - OOPSIE !!! ... did you make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action ??? ... 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 facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us !!! - it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives !!!

While Mercury was retrograde in the sign of Aquarius, the emphasis was drawn towards ones friendships, ideas, and goals in life as those are issues addressed in the 11th house of the natural horoscope which is ruled by Uranus the planet ruling Aquarius ... to that end, were there any  issues with groups to which one belongs, non-emotional relationships, the love one receives, money obtained  from ones profession or business, step children, adopted children and foster children, circumstances in life over which you have little control, and ones humanitarian interests ... did your mind become filled with creative, cutting edge ideas as you tried to determine how to incorporate them into your life ... did computers and electronics truly become victims of mayhem ??? 

In regards to overall health, as Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, were there incidences of elevated  health issues in general during this Mercury retrograde ??? ... in Aquarius the area of the ankles and the nervous system could have been vulnerable as well ...  

Mercury now moves forward to complete its journey through Aquarius ... and just a quick reminder of what this energy is all about follows: 

The mind and tongue tend to be unconventional sometimes to the extreme of shocking other people ... communication is made intelligently, objectively, openly, and independently... language used can be very individualistic and sometimes rebellious ... one thinks for them self and usually resists other people's answers ... learning is best done through questioning authority and seeking out unique experiences ... the mind is experimental, innovative, and future oriented ... one wants to explore all possibilities while keeping options open ... there is the tendency to jump from idea to idea resulting perhaps from an intuitive flash or brainstorming ... one must be careful not to become a victim of fragmented or erratic thinking ... there are usually excellent verbal skills here ... one can be quite objective allowing them to talk with just about anyone ... connections are best made on an individual basis ... interests usually include anything new age - oh say like astrology, numerology and tarot - and anything unusual, different, technological or progressive ... this energy frequently gives one the mind of a computer and the soul of a rebel !!!

Mercury in Aquarius usually indicates a fine and clever mind that is accurate, inventive and inquisitive ... people born under this energy - like yours truly!!! - often take a great interest in other people and have excellent judgement of human nature ... there is a love of analyzing character and motivation, and the finely tuned powers of observation that accompany this energy allow one to predict accurately how someone will react in a given situation ... Mercury here makes one a rather notorious people-watcher, and gives one a broad and emotionally detached outlook ... Aquarius is known as the sign of the truth-seeker and that characterizes the way this mind works ... sometimes one may seem eccentric as the ideas are so advanced ... and one may also enjoy saying things simply to shock other people - absolutely priceless, right ???

Mercury in Aquarius gives the mind the need for a lot of stimulation and activity ... interests are pursued thoroughly because of the capability of pursuing a train of thought for very long periods ... one is also capable of great inventive originality ... there is a desire to understand how the Universe is linked together ... one must be careful here of the powerful tendency toward abstraction causing one to become too detached and end up living in a mental environment that may be a long way from the reality of others around you ... also one may find that the thoughts speed so fast that one forgets to finish sentences - thinking others will understand where your thoughts were going - or one finishes other people's sentences for them in order to get on to the next topic ... a benefit of this energy is becoming aware that the individual mind is ultimately NOT separated from the Universal mind !!! ...

The lesson of Mercury in Aquarius is learning to think through liberating ... one perceives things mentally in a manner that seems to others as highly unlikely or even odd ... there is a definite streak of stubbornness running through the mind which is a result of having a sense of the "Truth" and understanding how things really  are ... one has to be careful of the inherent blind spot which is detached objectivity to the point of missing the emotional factors in a given situation ... one of the main challenges of this energy is to learn to communicate ones vision and help others see life from a point beyond their personal hopes and fears ...

Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end ... how have you been enlightened ??? ... your ruling planet now resumes forward motion and much to your delight so will you !!! ... and Aquarius born, how was your life affected by having Mercury retrograding in your birth sign ???

Mercury remains in Aquarius until March 12th ... Mercury will be back up to full speed on March 3rd when it exits the retrograde zone - the point where it began the actual retrograde period - as it returns to 17 degrees 5 minutes Aquarius ... Mercury remains in direct motion until May 18th when it will begin its second retrograde journey for 2015 which will be completely in the sign of Gemini ... for now though, it's time for everyone -

ALL SYSTEMS GO !!!

TESTING OUR FAITH, BELIEFS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE "BIG PICTURE" !!!

Saturn – planet symbolizing the lessons we have to learn in life; what we fear; force of circumstances through which we are driven to find the discipline, effort and sense of order to overcome limitations and obstacles; the taskmaster and teacher – emerged from the watery depths of Scorpio, where it has been transiting since October 5th, 2012, and began its initial transit through the philosophical, broad-minded, religious, fiery sign of Sagittarius back on December 23rd, at 11:33 AM EST … Saturn's energy now shifts its focus from deeply personal issues - sex, personal power, joint finances, psychological issues, deep emotional issues and spiritual matters ... now  its mission is to test our faith, higher beliefs, philosophical views, our personal understanding of life and what our relationship to it is in relation to how and where we individually fit into the greater scheme of the expansive universal picture ... in other words a major shift from validating our deep emotions to validating and in many cases adjusting our mental processes - a daunting task no doubt !!! ... wherever Saturn goes, it brings a heaviness with it that slows us down and in many cases restricts and limits us in order for us to hopefully take an honest, hard look at whatever area of life is represented by the sign it is in ... if we are strong and patient enough to deal with the pressure, Saturn will ultimately reward us with a much stronger foundation even though we often must be willing to release and give up something or even someone in order to bring about greater personal and spiritual growth !!! ... Saturn was last in Sagittarius from 11/17/85 through 11/12/88 ... if you were born during that period, you are now entering the year of your first Saturn return which usually occurs between the ages of 29 - 30 ... that means Saturn has now made one complete transit around your natal chart since birth having taught you valuable life lessons in each area of life represented by the house it was transiting through ... have you gained wisdom and helpful insight from the "cosmic teacher" ???

Many would say that Saturn is not favorably placed transiting through Sagittarius ... Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter so it can be said that now Saturn and Jupiter are in a "working relationship" ... here we have restrictive yet highly organized Saturn working with free-spirited, expansive Jupiter ... yet this combination can actually yield extremely positive results ... as Saturn elevates our concentration it compliments the urge to study to increase our intellectual and philosophical beliefs and views of life ... this transit encourages honesty and being straightforward as well as bestowing the ability to speak up ... here we have the potential to manifest inspirational energies and raise higher thought forms on a global scale ... Saturn in Sagittarius will empower us to take a serious approach to religion, philosophy and higher education ... it may encourage us to be more honorable and adhere to a more strict moral code ... this energy is independent and capable allowing us to search for truth and justice ... it can yield intellectual discipline and bestow great powers of concentration ... those born with this natal energy, in addition to those who harness the energy of this powerful transit, can become excellent teachers, religious or spiritual leaders, or even political leaders - but we should not forget that "sometimes it is the enthusiasm of the messenger that is more important than the details of the message" ... physical exercise to promote circulation is very important ...

One of the greatest challenges of Saturn in Sagittarius is to guard against the tendency to set high hopes and then be fearful that they will be decimated or not going to come off the way we had planned ... but if there is one thing that Saturn repeatedly tries to teach us is NOT to give into fear but keep moving forward one step at a time and not rush ... this is why Saturn is known as the teacher and the taskmaster ... and as such while it is transiting the sign of Sagittarius restrictions, lessons and tasks to improve may present themselves in the following areas : wealth, leisure time, big business, the higher mind, optimism, growth, morality, prosperity, indulgence, higher education, philosophic reasoning, aspirations, vision, idealism, sports, luck, long-distance travel, hunting and fondness for animals - all of these areas ruled by Jupiter ... also there could be issues to deal with involving the super conscious, law, religion, science, psychology, profound mental study, your dreams and your visions, foreigners and foreign cultures, commerce, imports, exports, the church as a spiritual factor, the clergy, in-laws, grandchildren, intuition, ethics, public opinions, and the lessons we learn just by living - all of these being areas governed by Sagittarius the natural ruler of the 9th house of the horoscope ... as far as health is concerned, there could be issues during this transit in regards to the liver, hips and thighs which are the areas of the body ruled by Sagittarius ...

Saturn in Sagittarius through its testing what we seek hopefully allows us to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground as our minds are seeking a higher meaning ... realize that the most valuable knowledge comes from within so contemplate and even meditate ... realize that in your personal journey you must take both the high and the low road in life ... this Saturn likes searching for the truth, furthering ones education, adventures that serve a particular purpose, a good reputation, physical as well as metaphysical exercise ... it does not having what we hope to discover blocked in any way, being aimless and simply wondering about, being dishonored, and simply being static failing to move forward ... the energy of Saturn in Sagittarius can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: honorable, high moral fiber, prudent, superior but not in an obnoxious way, philosophical, able to reflect intellectually on life's meaning, devoted, fearless, earnest, trustworthy, a good teacher, well informed, highly focused attention, strict yet simple way of living, skillful and clever

NEGATIVE: high-minded, self-righteous, superior in a snobbish manner, offensive or irritating in a pointed manner, intellectual pride, hypocritical, easily hurt, lacking tact, insincere, fearing disapproval, brow beating, smug

Sagittarius born, the Universe has placed you on a huge learning curve in the "school of life" for the next two and a half years giving you the opportunity to achieve positive personal and spiritual growth even though at times it might not be easy … my fellow Capricorns, our planetary ruler has moved into a new sign and is now ready to teach us another set of lessons that will do the same for us if we release fear and allow change to take place … but we all will experience restriction, challenge, necessary change that hopefully produces beneficial growth somewhere in our lives through this transit … if you’ve had a natal chart done, you will probably get a good idea where Saturn transiting through Sagittarius is going to “school” you especially in regards to the area or areas of life governed by which house or houses of your natal chart are affected by Saturn's transit !!!

Scorpio born, no doubt you are breathing a sigh of relief at what has truly been a challenging period of over two years - and for many, not just Scorpio born, it is not over just yet !!! ... due to retrograde motion, Saturn will return to Scorpio for some last minute business from June 14th - September 17th ... it will only be going from 29 degrees back to 28 degrees Scorpio in its retrograde journey ... many of us may be reviewing what was occurring in our lives from December 6th through December 23rd when Saturn was transiting through these last two degrees of Scorpio ... in addition there are many of us dealing with two energies of Saturn in our lives ... those born from December 23rd back to January 1st of 2014 are still being influenced by Saturn in Scorpio until your birthday occurs this year ... HOWEVER, the exception will be those with birthdays this year from June 14th through September 17th who, as a result of their solar return, will have this dual Saturn energy for one more year until their birthday in 2016 ... the universe is obviously still trying to bring something to our attention from deep within - how many will release the fear and deal with it once and for all and move on ???

Saturn is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Sagittarius … Saturn remains in Sagittarius until December 20th, 2017 ... 

Once again,I feel it necessary, as a Capricorn born who will be ruled lifelong by Saturn, to explain, especially from personal experience, that 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 person by taking a deep, serious and honest look at where we are and where we should be going by making sure our foundations in life are strong and solid !!!

HAPPILY EVER AFTER - FAIRY TALE ENDINGS !!!

Venus began its transit through the sympathetic, emotional sign of Pisces yesterday, 1/27, at 10:00 AM EST ... Venus was last in Pisces from April 5th - May 2nd, 2014 and the entire time Mars was retrograde in Libra which, of course, is ruled by Venus ... anything come to mind from that period ??? ... this Venus is all about dreams and wishes, fairy tale endings, love at first sight, and happily ever after ... Venus is exalted in Pisces - a planet that is exalted in a sign expresses its energy more harmoniously and visibly, especially since Pisces ruler Neptune is the higher vibrational octave of Venus ...

Venus in Pisces enjoys being compassionate, tenderhearted and helpful ... often one relates to others by taking the role of either the rescuer or a person looking for help ... affection is usually expressed idealistically, romantically, sympathetically, or sometimes evasively ... there is a deep desire for magic and romance in love ... one of the obstacles here can be a lack of clarity about what you want or a failure to be objective in regards to others which can ultimately set you up for disappointment, disillusionment, or possibly deception ... it is very easy under this energy to idealize love and loved ones, and one must guard against putting people and love on the proverbial "pedestal" as when reality sinks in the results can be devastating ... sometimes a lack of discrimination can lead to highly frustrating attachments ... in this energy, one often wants a beautiful dream in their love relationships, yearns for a true soul mate, or can be psychically attuned to ones partner ... since Pisces is a water sign, Venus traveling here is especially subject to the emotions being a large part of the drive - even more so than usual!!!

Venus in Pisces can give great sensitivity to hurt that makes one feel as though they are being picked on ... one must guard against clinging to illusory loves just because they are far more beautiful than real life ... and this could ultimately prevent one from finding true closeness with another ... the bottom line here is that this Venus wants to experience the perfect, unselfish love ... tastes are frequently very refined here ... music is usually a natural means of self-expression as well as art ...

Venus in Pisces teaches us to love through accepting - the love of all ... in fact, LOVE IS ALL ... this  energy sees the Eternal Life principle flowing through every manifestation and therefore uniting the soul with all of life ... it is said that this placement of Venus most likely has more innate ability for inspired artistic creativity than any other ... also at heart one knows and feels that love is everything ... everything is regarded as being alive and sacred ...

Venus in Pisces can yield a complex love nature ... this is due to having a highly evolved sense of love as unconditional and of beauty as a healing property, but on the other hand the fears and doubts that can accompany this energy can make one inclined to see love as something one "needs" and beauty as something to "get" or to "own" ... the truth here is that each one of us is a thing of love and beauty, but if one begins to doubt this, then one can open them self up to being used and abused ... and in the end, it comes down to the fact that you can only love the world and those in it as much as you love yourself as a part of the world !!! ... the energy of Venus in Pisces can express itself in the following ways :

POSITIVE: compassionate, sympathetic, appreciates unity of all life, congenial, evocative, sensitive lover, easygoing, artistically inspired, natural healer, self-sacrificing, selfless, highly affectionate, altruistic, very generous, loves unconditionally, gentle, philanthropic, peaceful

NEGATIVE: martyr, too sentimental, too passive, seducing, idealizes lover, romantically deluding, hypersensitive, self-pitying, weak-willed, wanton, no self-value, undiscerning, fears rejection, indulging, evasive, overly impressionable

Venus remains in Pisces until February 20th ... Venus now joins Mars and Neptune in this dreamy swim through the emotional "waters" of Pisces ... BUT - beginning a new relationship during this transit of Venus, even though it may seem "perfect" and just what you have been searching for, is advised against until after February 11th as Mercury is currently in its first retrograde journey for 2015 ... and given that Pisces planetary ruler Neptune often causes us to seek the ideal, sometimes too much so, while at the same time blurring boundaries and making things subject to lack of clarity, in the end what we value, who and what we love, and how we earn and spend our money could change greatly or become the victim of very challenging, confused and irrational decisions  ...

Pisces born individuals, this is the time when Venus shines its beautiful "love light" upon you ... it is usually a good time to ask for what you want, even given the conflicting planetary energy with Mercury retrograde, as    you're still likely to be pretty much irresistible !!! ... for everyone, it's time to keep "carefully" searching for the perfect "ahhhh" and seeking  love with all the trimmings ... and it may be waiting - all for YOU !!!

TURNING INWARD - A UNIVERSAL TIMEOUT !!!

Whether we like it or not - most will say NOT !!! - Mercury began its first RETROGRADE journey for 2015 today, January 21st, at 10:54 AM EST ... if you've been following my blogs, then you know pretty much what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde … as always - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED - especially as this first retrograde period occurs entirely in the sign of Aquarius which is ruled by Uranus the planet of the sudden and unexpected !!! ... the last time Mercury was retrograde the entire period in Aquarius was 2008 from January 28th - February 18th going from 23 degrees 53 minutes back down to 8 degrees 19 minutes ... anything come to mind from that period especially in relation as to what area of life was involved in whichever house or houses of your natal chart the retrograde occurred ???

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

Some of you may have noticed the beginning of this backwards energy when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on February 11th - back on January 5th at 1 degree 18 minutes Aquarius ... 

It practically goes without saying that things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned, and we often find ourselves re-doing things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ...  Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars, a big NO NO - and that goes double for USED CARS, as well as computers or anything that involves electronics especially as this retrograde is in Aquarius ... purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!! .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is any way to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it ...

To RE-peat, Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision - as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... this first Mercury retrograde journey for 2015 takes place from 17 degrees 5 minutes Aquarius back down to 1 degree 18 minutes Aquarius ... during a retrograde journey it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses these degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life ...

Mercury retrograde in the sign of Aquarius yields an emphasis to ones friendships, ideas, and goals in life as those are issues addressed in the 11th house of the natural horoscope which is ruled by Uranus the planet ruling Aquarius ... to that end, there may also be issues with groups to which one belongs, non-emotional relationships, the love one receives, money obtained  from ones profession or business, step children, adopted children and foster children, circumstances in life over which you have little control, and ones humanitarian interests ... the mind can also become filled with many creative, cutting edge ideas as one tries to determine how to incorporate them into ones life ...

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Aquarius there could particular issues in the area of the ankles and the nervous system ...  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 !!!

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

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

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

Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (February 11th).

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

Recall - Your mind will wonder back. You will think of people from the past or you will encounter someone from the past. If old lovers show up, don't bet that it will stick. Believe me... it is just for a "review." And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either - wait until after February 11th !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Re-examine – Well, just about everything.

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

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

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


Back to me now ... Those born between January 21st and February 11th will have this Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... the exceptions here being those born on January 21st and February 11th may or may not get this energy depending on what time you solar return occurs - some may be lucky enough to escape it for this year !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

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

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

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

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

Gemini and Virgo born, as Mercury is your planetary ruler, once again it is time for you to "try" to slow down and review and reexamine what is going on in your life especially since the last Mercury retrograde ended back on October 25th !!!

For all of us, this becomes a time to review and rethink what is going on in our lives and especially what may have been started or done during the last Mercury Retrograde, that being October 4th through October 25th, 2014 ...  actions taken during previous retrograde periods could come back to haunt us as well - for 2014 that would be June 7th through July 1st, and February 6th  through February 28th ... whatever the case, it is for sure that there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads regarding these actions as well as other lights going OUT as this Mercury Retrograde energy potentially wreaks its cosmic havoc for the next 22 days ... as previously stated, Mercury remains retrograde until February 11th ... 

SO ... slow down, try not to act too impulsively, and go with the universal flow ... don't try to swim up stream in a raging current of cosmic chaos or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... be aware tempers will flare and patience may become scarce, but that personal sense of humor, being one of your greatest allies, should be kept very close by and called upon frequently as the Mercury Retrograde merrily wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment ... so in the end my fellow beings of light, as this first Mercury Retrograde period of 2015 is now upon us, the question is will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ???