WHEN I "THINK" OF HOME ...

Mercury begins its transit through the domestic, sympathetic sign of Cancer today, June 24th, at 7:24 PM  EDT ... our thought and communicative processes now turn from an intellectual mode towards a more emotional mode of operation as the ruler of Cancer is the Moon which among other things rules the emotions ... Mercury in Cancer has a way of subconsciously picking up signals from everyone else .. the mind becomes as much a receiver as a transmitter under this energy ... here we have a highly intuitive mode of thinking and communicating ... this placement also usually bestows a very good memory along with strong poetic power ... Mercury in Cancer thinks with the heart and often interprets the meaning of others communications through how it "feels" ...

Mercury in Cancer does not always say everything it is feeling as it tries to avoid hurting itself and others as well with careless ill-spoken comments ... one is very protective of their thoughts ... it likes to nurture ideas and encourage growth before sharing ... one uses emotions as well as logic and often may end up letting sensitivities sway ones decisions ... subconscious fears, habits, or prejudices could inhibit ones objectivity or openness to the new ... there is usually an above-average psychic ability ... one learns through absorbing their experiences and making emotional connections ... interest here may include family, the home, the land, the past, the public or security ... Oh yes, we most definitely may find ourselves thinking about food A LOT, and hopefully that thinking doesn't become a nasty habit of overeating causing us to expand in ways we would rather NOT !!!

Mercury in Cancer teaches us the importance of about thinking through nurturing ... its the caring mind ... one has to be careful not to take everything so personally here ... it is important to remember to look at the facts in addition to the opinions of others ... it is also important to remember and be aware that each one of us is our own source of light and warmth ... most importantly it is necessary to make a collection of good memories that will give rise to clear and positive thinking ... the energy of Mercury in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally tenacious, good memory, reliable, sensitive mind, poetic, intuitive, agreeable, absorbs information, attuned to public opinion, profound, polite, softly-spoken, discreet, diplomatic, arouses sympathies, emotionally appealing, persuasive speaker

NEGATIVE: mentally habit-ridden, distracted, inflexible, overly impressionable, impractical, irrational, yes-person, too open, taking things too personally, depressive, self-conscious, unclear, incomprehensible, diffuse,  prejudiced, untruthful

Mercury now joins the Sun and Venus already in transit through the sign of Cancer - that's a lot of "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink" !!! ... Mercury remains in the sign of Cancer until July 13th ... only one more full sign transit to go, that being through Leo, until Mercury begins its third retrograde journey for 2016 on August 30th that being completely in the sign of Virgo, which it will actually almost complete its transit through before going from 29 degrees 5 minutes Virgo back to 14 degrees 49 minutes Virgo where it will conclude on September 21st/22nd depending on the time zone in which you live !!!

While Mercury is transiting through the sign of Cancer, one should realize that the natural ability to influence others is worthy of only the highest motives ... tuning in to ones finer feelings and expressing them is ultimately more rewarding ... and finally, try to focus on what you are after, who you are with and why ... and then stick with that !!! ... and by all means - enjoy the mental trips down memory lane as they will surely "light the corners of your mind" !!!

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME !!!

The Sun began its transit through the emotional, nurturing sign of Cancer Monday, June 20th, at 6:34 PM EDT heralding the arrival of Summer in the Northern hemisphere ... also known as the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year - the days begin getting shorter each day until the Winter Solstice - which began Monday in the Southern hemisphere - in December ... the pace of life now takes on a somewhat slower tempo than the hectic pace it had while the Sun was racing through Gemini - even though it was affected by Mars being in retrograde during that transit, so Cancer energy is certainly a welcome relief to a point !!!

We now begin to process life through a more emotional rather than an intellectual filter ... with the Sun in Cancer one needs to shine through nurturing warmth, through protection, through attracting others through sympathy/dependency, and through family, ancestry or roots ...

Cancer is the sign whose key phrase is its need to give and receive emotional warmth and security, to feel and to give devotion ... Cancer born individuals are warm and understanding but they can be very touchy at times ... wound them or befriend them and they will never forget ... they love to keep in touch and usually have a remarkable memory ... this is probably the most sensitive sign of the Zodiac but it is also often the least likely to let you know what they are feeling deep inside ...

Cancer is a feminine/water/cardinal(beginnings) sign ... its symbol is the Crab - possessing an impenetrable exterior which covers soft flesh below ... the glyph of Cancer is the claws of the Crab which are also representative of the human breasts ... symbolically, the glyph shows two circles of the Sun that are connected to two crescent Moons ... these two Moons represent the Cancer desire to store memories and possessions, and the circles tied to the Moons represent the force which is expressed through the emotions and the imagination ... Cancer rules the breasts and the stomach which explains why Cancer born usually love to eat and often fight the battle of the bulge - unless modified by other energy in the natal chart !!! .. they are also subject to digestive ailments resulting from tension and emotional stress ... anatomically, Cancer also rules digestion, the left eye of the male and the right eye of the female ...

Cancer is ruled by the Moon - maybe you can now understand why Cancer born individuals seem to go through so many mood changes so quickly - after all, the Moon does change signs about every 2 to 2 and a half days ... it takes roughly 28 days to complete a spin around the entire zodiac ... the Moon represents the female principle - mother, wife and women in general ... it also represents the public in general, along with instincts, moods, the tides, phases, receptivity, fluctuation, habit patterns, reflex actions, personal interests, desires, needs, magnetism, growth, fertility, the need to touch, impressionability, consciousness, liquids, commodities, nursing, tradespeople ...

Cancer is the natural ruler of the 4th house of the horoscope ... the 4th house shows property - houses and real estate - and all that is secluded ... it is the house of endings, the closing years of life, the ending of all matters, fame after death and place of burial ... it represents the parent who has greater influence on you as a child, your subjective self, and the foundation on which you build your own unique character ... as a child one may perceive this house as relating to both parents but as one learns through growth and understanding, the 4th house will ultimately reflect the nurturing parent ...

While the Sun transits Cancer, the Universe encourages each one of us to learn to live through nurturing oneself as well as others ... it's holding on with Love - the instinct for survival ... Cancer has  also been often referred to as the "Lighthouse of Welcome" ... the ultimate lesson here is that ones family is the Human Race itself ... emotional awareness is more acute here so use it constructively ... determine and perform your responsibilities generously ... learn to trust in the Universe and understand that all things must pass, and realize each day is a new day a new beginning ... the energy of the Sun in Cancer may be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: emotional, feeling, receptive, sensitive, psychic, gentle, tender, vulnerable, sympathetic, nurturing, providing, caring, protective, maternal, feeding, domestic, patriotic, shy, retiring, collecting, tenacious, oriented toward the past, retentive, emotionally encouraging, thrifty

NEGATIVE: insecure, moody, defensive, devious, over-emotional, non-trusting, hypersensitive, touchy, brooding, smothering, clinging, consuming, over-protective, dependent, fearful, timid, clannish, withdrawn, grasping, stuck in the past, afraid to let go, anti-social, argumentative, apathetic

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN CANCER BORN - this is your time of the year to SHINE !!!

The Sun now joins Venus already in transit through the sign of Cancer ... the Sun remains in Cancer until July 22nd ... so be aware your feelings and emotions will be heightened and challenged ... be prepared to become more in touch with them whether it be through a fleeting glimpse or a deeply profound experience with something or someone near and dear to you ... and, as the Crab always carries its home - its shell - on its back wherever it goes, we all might as well click our heels 3  times and repeat what Cancer energy, as well as Dorothy Gale, so lovingly makes us aware of - THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME !!!

GENTLY NAVIGATING THE EMOTIONAL "WATERS" OF LOVE !!!

Venus, the planet of love, affection, attraction, social interactions and desires began its emotional swim through the nurturing, intuitive sign of Cancer yesterday, June 17th, at 3:39 PM EDT ... Venus was last in Cancer from May 7th through June 5th, 2015 ... 

Transiting through a WATER sign such as this, Venus takes on an even more emotional rather than an intellectual connection to everything it is attracted to ... Venus in Cancer enjoys home, food, nurturing and/or dependency ... it can be very sensitive and protective in relating to people, and it appreciates emotional warmth and attachments ... affection is expressed protectively, tenaciously and in a nurturing manner ... pleasure is found through security ... ones comfort level may well depend on feeling like part of a "family" ... there is a preference here to share within a very closely attached group ... if one should lack faith under this energy, there could be a result of moodiness, shyness, over protection - including self and others, and stinginess which could interfere with the potential for closeness and the ability to enjoy life ... money and possessions are usually handled cautiously ... there is a desire to nurture and/or be nurtured in ones love relationships ... closeness involves dependency, care taking and receptivity ... this Venus energy can be somewhat thin-skinned and truly needs to hear the words "I love you" often !!!

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

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

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

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

Venus is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of Cancer ... Venus remains in the sign of Cancer until July 11th/12th depending on which time zone in which you live ...

Perhaps we all now could try and use Mother Nature as a "role model" for how to nurture and nourish  ourselves as well as others ... allowing others to sometimes lean on you will help prevent you from continuously leaning on others too much ... by admitting to our hopes and what hurts us we can ultimately encourage others to do so as well ... but  be on guard because, with the potential for the love of food being greatly heightened, as the old saying goes, ONE WHO INDULGES - BULGES ... and in the case of this particular loving energy, it could be in more than one way !!! ... for the next 25 days, the Universe is guiding us and teaching us how to gently navigate through the emotional "waters" of love !!!!

TIME FOR PURSUING A SPIRITUAL QUEST !!!

Neptune - the planet of the spiritual, universal, ethereal, mysterious, mystical, enlightenment, psychic, delusional, imagination, escape, surrender, sacrifice, artistic inspiration, musical ability, glamour, fantasy, romantic love, dissolving, uplifting, confusing, consoling, undermining, drugs and alcohol - begins its retrograde journey for 2016 Monday, June 13th, at 4:43 PM EDT ... this retrograde will go from 12 degrees 3 minutes Pisces back to 9 degrees 15 minutes Pisces ...

One of the main purposes of Neptune retrograde is to not just have blind faith ... be it personal spiritual quests or the "collective" quest of society, Neptune retrograde energy means a reexamination of hopes and beliefs ... we may all need to individually question and test all aspects of faith - in fact many may experience some kind of crisis of faith during this period ... we begin to question and develop objectivity in regards to the intangibles of life such as truth, fear, hope and inspiration ... when Neptune is retrograde it is closest to the Earth making its function even more intensified ... artists, musicians, poets and those who are leading a highly spiritual life may especially feel the energy of a Neptune retrograde and be truly inspired ... during a Neptune retrograde if we aren't pursuing a spiritual quest we may become confused, disillusioned or full of illusions ... there is a chance that some may fall into drugs, alcohol or other escapist behaviors ... ideally, this is a time to question the ideas society accepts about faith, fears, truth and understanding ... inspiration and potential for spiritual growth can be greatly enhanced ...

Neptune retrograde periods are a time for everyone to tune into the collective unconscious and realize how our own fears, illusion, confusion or spiritual journey are connected to what is happening with humanity ... this is a time for each one of us to determine whether or not our own individual energies are being used positively to develop faith and spirituality, or if we are simply pursuing a path of illusion, escapism and disappointment ... Neptune retrogrades about 5 - 6 months every year ...

Neptune is currently transiting through the sign of Pisces - the sign it naturally rules ... In Pisces, Neptune’s qualities of spirituality and creative genius are enhanced ... Neptune here does NOT value materialism ... there will be more of a tendency to explore and develop our inner selves yielding the possibility of attaining the capability of harmony between the physical and spiritual world ... this energy makes us potentially more psychic, generous, understanding, responsive to the environment, more mystical and compassionate ... but it  also has the potential to lead us in the other direction making us more gullible, passive, self-destructive and likely becoming a victim to all kinds of addictions especially with this energy turned inwards during its retrograde period ... If we use this retrograde energy positively, we have the potential to become more compassionate, self-sacrificing, intuitive, artistic and creative … used negatively we will end up melancholy, an escapist, a procrastinator, vague, and likely to become a victim of many forms of addiction including drugs and alcohol …

Pisces born, since Neptune is your planetary ruler, this is your yearly time to review and rethink what has been going on in your life since the last Neptune retrograde ended on November 18th, 2015 ... For everyone, if you have had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses 12 degrees 3 minutes back to 9 degrees 15 minutes Pisces falls, then you might get an idea in what area of your life the main thrust of this Neptune retrograde energy will be affecting you ... have you been seeking the "ideal" and been looking at things realistically, or have you been looking at life through the proverbial "rose colored glasses" letting illusion mislead you and not effectively dealing with reality ???

Neptune remains retrograde until November 19th ... it is definitely a good time, if you don't already, to start paying careful attention to your dreams as the Universe will undoubtedly be bringing us vital information while we sleep – keep a dream journal close by and USE IT !!! ... you might be amazed at what information the Universe sends to you in your unconscious state ... your dreams are sure to be enhanced with symbolism and information from the Universe resulting in profitable and/or illuminating and enlightening ideas ... after all, it's been said "a dream is a wish your heart makes" !!!

So now the question is what will you do -  open your heart and mind to divine spiritual and creative energy, or allow yourself to fall into the depths of addiction, deception and escapism and simply become "lost in wonderland" ???

AN UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE !!!

Mercury began its transit through the curious and inquisitive sign of Gemini yesterday, June 12th, at 7:22 PM EDT ... once again it's time to let the Mental Olympics begin !!! ... Mercury is very much at home here and functions well because this is an air sign, and it is also considered to be in dignity as this is one of the two signs Mercury naturally rules - the other sign being Virgo ... the windmills of your mind are definitely going to have the potential to be spinning in overdrive for awhile ... this Mercury likes to talk ... and talk ... and talk ... and talk - this energy has the potential to give many of us a brutal case of "diarrhea of the mouth" !!! ... Mercury was last in Gemini from April 30th, 2015 through July 8th, 2015 due to its second retrograde journey for 2015 which was completely in the sign of Gemini going from 13 degrees 9 minutes back to 4 degrees 34 minutes Gemini ... don't be surprised if some issues from that retrograde period, which occurred from May 18th through June 11th, come back around as Mercury crosses over those degrees during this transit ... 

Mercury in Gemini gives a mind and tongue that can be very restless but very good at absorbing and learning information easily and then sharing it ... one can be quite articulate but sometimes have the tendency to talk or even gossip too much ... there is a skill for verbal expression and the ability to communicate quickly and cleverly ... often the ideas and manner of speech come off a bit superficial due to the urge to communicate perceived information immediately or because one is covering too much ground too fast ... this energy is all about learning and communicating ... there is a high degree of curiosity about everything coupled with an eagerness to learn as much as possible - the world is ones school of life and therein exists a sumptuous, endless and delicious banquet to help quench an almost endless thirst for knowledge !!! ... the mind is likely to be logical, rational, and able to offer information on most any topic ... friendly interchanges are frequent along with the tendency to ask a lot of questions ... there is a high degree of nervous energy which can flow into speech, gestures, writing or manual dexterity in some fashion ... there is also the possibility of physical dexterity and flexibility ...

Those born with Mercury in Gemini, as well as the rest of us that are subject to its transiting influence, can be very hard to pin down ... one often holds down more than one job or may work on a number of projects at one time ... quick, versatile and interested in the world at large, one tends to live mostly on a mental plane ... one MUST have facts and information - there is a basic need to KNOW ... this energy frequently makes one good at languages and math, gives one a love of reading, studying , traveling, and talking with new people about what you have learned or are thinking about ... there is also the potential for a lack of being able to stick-to-it as well as a lack of order in ones life ... usually this energy can produce one who knows a little bit about everything but not a lot about anything !!!

Mercury in Gemini teaches us to learn to think through communicating ... the mind is fed and nurtured through making contact with as many people and as many subjects as possible ... the intellect is wired up and ready to go ... it must constantly be stimulated otherwise nervous irritability or restlessness can occur ... the mind is efficient due to its ability to be quick and acquisitive, but the quality of the mind is only as good as what is being fed into it through social, business and educational pursuits - input becomes just as important as output !!! ... there is the capability of thinking on two or more levels at one time ... but one must guard against not having a definite direction to move in or else there can be the result of great mental confusion ... the energy of Mercury in Gemini can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: articulate, curious, well-informed, widely read, quick-witted, lively mind, fast learner, dexterous, clever, humorous, sharp, fluent, inventive, versatile, original, handy, interesting, agreeable, unbiased, logical

NEGATIVE: chatterbox, nosy, gossip, superficial knowledge, highly strung, unruly mind, non persevering, fidgety, crafty, mischievous, flippant, makeshift, imitative, simplistic, trite, scatters energies, unfocused, misses the point

Mercury transiting through Gemini is an excellent time to open your mind to countless new ideas and information ... allow your mind to be like a sponge absorbing as much as it can realistically process ...  just be very careful about taking action on all those scathingly brilliant ideas you may come up with as Mars is still in retrograde motion ... do your research and planning now and then act on it AFTER Mars resumes forward motion on June 29th otherwise it may prove to be a wasted effort which ends up going nowhere !!! 

Mercury now joins the Sun and Venus currently transiting through the sign of Gemini ... Mercury remains in the sign of Gemini until June 29th making its ingress into Cancer roughly 14 minutes before Mars stations back into direct motion !!!

The universe is now presenting each one of us, individually and collectively, with a lot of information and ideas to absorb, process and perhaps even implement somewhere into our lives ... and as much as we will want to constantly share and express our opinions, we may find ourselves or someone else saying to us - SHUT UP !!!

Ultimately one of the greatest lessons of Mercury in Gemini becomes the following: RESPECT THE VALUE OF YOUR OWN MIND - WATCH WHAT GOES INTO IT AND THEN BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH !!!

LET'S "TALK" ABOUT LOVE !!!

VENUS  - the planet representing love, affection, attraction, beauty, happiness, value and values, indulgence, superficiality, social and artistic expression, and harmony - began its transit through the charming and versatile sign of Gemini today, 5/24, at 5:45 AM EDT ... being an air sign, Gemini encourages Venus to move about a lot and here variety is indeed the spice of life which includes objects, foods, experiences, and most importantly PEOPLE !!! ... Venus was last in Gemini from April 11th  through May 7th, 2015 ...

This Venus is both lighthearted and emotionally objective ... Venus in Gemini really likes intellectual stimulation as much as romance ... there is a tendency towards a lack of commitment as Gemini makes Venus way too lighthearted to remain in one place for too long and can cause it to be very flirty ... often there is literary talent along with a love of language as well as sociability ... it enjoys mental stimulation as well as learning ... there is a pronounced casual air in relating to people ... this Venus just loves good ideas ... affection is expressed playfully, youthfully, verbally and lightheartedly ... the handling of money and possessions is usually objective and logical ... this Venus wants good communications and intellectual give-and-take in love relationships ... flirting and engaging in superficial relationships could occur due to the desire for a lot of variety and new stimulation as well as a desire to keep things cool and steer clear of too much emotional intensity ... intelligence and quick wit is highly attractive here ... this Venus enjoys being amused and entertained, otherwise there will be the tendency to look over ones shoulder at whoever is passing by ... Venus in Gemini is frequently drawn towards younger partners ...

Venus in Gemini teaches us to learn to love through communicating ... it can be a sparkling personality ... there is a strong desire here to prevent stagnation and maintain fluidity so if you fall in love under this energy blindly expecting security and predictability you could be in for great disappointment ... Venus in Gemini is a budding love rather than love in full bloom so it has to be allowed to develop ... loving through communicating means letting the one you love know it rather than sitting on your feelings ... this Venus likes to get around - it is said that sexual or family ties are your "heart", but it is the diversity of social relationships that are the "lungs" which breathe life into your very being ... being a sign of duality, Gemini will cause Venus to be more aware of what it wants than what it thinks it wants ... it is most likely that under this energy one will only attract what they truly desire ... the energy of Venus in Gemini can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: amusing and friendly, coolly affectionate, light-hearted, emotionally objective, socially at ease, emotionally buoyant, stimulating company, lively conversationalist, ear to the ground, good-humored, expressive, agile and witty, socially adaptable, emotionally flexible, well-connected, charming, courteous, tactful, co-operative

NEGATIVE: overly flirtatious, flippant and flighty, makes light of others feelings, emotionally distant, social butterfly, superficial values, lack of commitment, meaningless banter, shallow gossip, empty gestures, verbose, restless and fickle, double standards, inconsistent partner, social opportunist, insincere, easy come - easy go

Gemini born individuals, this is your time to "glow" and become more "attractive" - the "love light" is shining on YOU ... as always, you should seek out and ask for what you want ... you just might get it - especially as your ruling planet has just stationed back into direct motion 2 days ago !!!

Venus now joins the Sun already transiting through the sign of Gemini ... Venus remains in the sign of Gemini until June 17th ... for the next 25 days, we all should try to tap into our natural wit and appeal - it's there somewhere !!! 

Try listening to your heart and not your own voice as well as other peoples voices ... others will appreciate you if you truly appreciate them ... expressing your feelings verbally, without being overbearing, will open new doors both socially and emotionally ... time to get out there and experience the reality of variety truly being the spice of life ... and while you're at it, you just might become proficient at speaking the "language of LOVE"!!!

MOVING FORWARD - CAUTIOUSLY !!!

MERCURY completed its second retrograde journey for 2016 yesterday, May 22nd, and stationed  back into direct motion at 9:20 AM EDT - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... of course I do now that we are getting readjusted to things, well most things that is, moving forward once again ... but I think I'm hearing a lot of uh-ohs as well !!! ... Keep in mind that although this is a very good thing to have Mercury resume direct motion, we are still in the current Mars retrograde which will not be finished until June 29th !!! ... and just how irritating and challenging was this Mercury retrograde for you with it being completely embedded in the Mars retrograde ??? ... one personal planet - Mercury, Venus, Mars - retrograde is challenging enough but two at the same time can really complicate matters ... or did it ???

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 - but rather cautiously with the Mars retrograde still in progress - 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 4/28 through 5/22, and possibly as far back as April 14th when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey yesterday which was at 14 DEGREES 20 MINUTES TAURUS  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from January 5th through January 25th ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from September 17th through October 9th, 2015 ??? ... how many of you had issues resurface from July 25th through September 6th,2015 which was the period of the Venus retrograde and Taurus is one of the signs ruled by Venus ??? ... and it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward again crossing back over the degrees it covered during its retrograde period issues may begin to arise already !!!

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 36 MINUTES TAURUS back to 14 DEGREES 20 MINUTES TAURUS 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 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 perhaps you are simply now trying to figure out why it even 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 surface or resurface - extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde - that you thought surely had been resolved or didn't even realize existed ???  ... how many of you got married - OOPSIE - especially in the Mercury retrograde in Taurus which is ruled by Venus AND coupled with it completely embedded in the Mars retrograde ???



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 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 !!!



In addition to all of the above mentioned areas where there could have been problems, the following are also areas where the retrograde could have produced some unwanted or unexpected issues:



As Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house, a house of substance, of the horoscope, how many had issues regarding financial affairs, possessions (except real estate), investments, earning power, any gain or loss through your own effort, your inner talents and resources, your need for fulfillment, your emotional feelings, your sense of self-worth, your sense of values or your material debt ???



As Venus is the ruling planet of Taurus, how many of you had issues in the areas of art, culture, aesthetics, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sentimentality, sweets and sugar, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, drama, music, emotional contacts, moral character, marriages, unions of all kinds, sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasures and appreciation ???



In matters of health, in addition to overall health, how many had specific issues arise in regards to the throat and the neck which Taurus rules ??? ... did any of you choose to have elective surgery during this period, especially cosmetic surgery, that could have and most likely should have waited until after the retrograde period ??? ... how did that go for you ???



And just how much was the potential for issues arising in any of the above mentioned compounded by Venus being in transit through Taurus for 24 of the 25 days of this second Mercury retrograde ??? ... and let's not forget to consider the issues that could have been arising from the Mars retrograde as well ... a LOT to process ???



Mercury now moves forward to conclude its complete transit through the sign of Taurus ... below is a reminder of what that energy is all about in case some of you need a "re"fresher course now that Mercury is direct :


Mercury continues its highly focused and concentrated transit through the sign of Taurus which began back on April 5th, at 7:10 PM EDT ... our mode of thinking and communicating has shifted from the rapid fire energy of Aries into the slower and more methodical energy of Taurus ... the keyword for this energy is "factual" ... here the mind and tongue work deliberately and steadily with the tendency to sometimes get stuck in mental ruts ... this energy can be highly practical and grounded ... business skills or any activity that incorporates the use of common sense usually accompanies this energy ... often there can be learning through tactile contact or actual physical manipulation of the world ... perceptions can often be limited due to a desire to learn slowly and carefully ... there is a desire to bring ideas down to earth, and there are usually interests in money, sensuality and physical comfort ... Mercury was last in Taurus from April 14th through April 30th, 2015 ...

Mercury in Taurus loves to read - ANYTHING !!! ... time is taken in order to arrive at all decisions ... this Mercury likes to "sleep on it" and needs solid, tangible, physical proof in order to really believe in anything ... the thought pattern is developed in terms of worth thus making "value" the ultimate selling point ... there is usually an excellent memory bestowed by this mercurial energy and it makes one a good observer but ironically one is apt to listen inattentively as their mind is almost always already made up and will rarely be changed !!! ... even though there is a love of reading, it is ultimately realized that experience teaches one the most valuable lessons in life ...

Mercury in Taurus teaches us to think through stabilization ... it's all about the concrete mind - SEEING IS BELIEVING !!! ... the mind here likes to chew things over and over in order to acquire a true depth of knowledge ... and frequently because this energy takes longer to reach a decision, opportunities may be missed ... this energy has its definite likes and dislikes ... there is more of a taste for the traditional rather than the abstract and the avant-garde, and one finds it is steady working habits that produce thorough and solid results ... ultimately there is a gift given here to see how any plan will work out in physical terms ... the energy of Mercury in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: sound mind, thorough, patient, cautious, shrewd, resourceful, sensible, realistic, good concentration, mentally sure, deliberating, practical thinker, sense of form, steady mind, enduring, mentally laid-back, docile, undemanding

NEGATIVE: slow minded, plodding, tardy, guarded, mean-minded, money-grubbing, boneheaded, one-track-minded, overburdened, limited thinker, stubborn mind, lazy-minded, dumb, misses the point, couch potato

Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end ... how have you been enlightened and how was or will your life be affected ??? ... your ruling planet has now resumed forward motion and much to your delight so will you - even though a lot of you were probably trying to do it during the actual retrograde ... right, of course right ... many of us were doing the same thing and you know who you are !!! ... just remember to proceed with caution while Mars is still in retrograde motion !!!

Mercury remains in Taurus until June 12th, and it remains in direct motion until August 30th when it will begin its third retrograde journey for 2016 which will be completely in the sign of Virgo, one of the signs it naturally rules which could have the potential to greatly add to the disruptive potential it normally has, going from 29 degrees 5 minutes back to 14 degrees 49  minutes Virgo ...

And as I usually like to say, now that Mercury is back in direct motion, it's time to "bust a move", but this time the "busting" should be done cautiously especially until Mars completes its current retrograde journey which will switch signs and return to the sign of Scorpio this Friday, 5/27, where it will remain in retrograde motion until June 29th, and in Scorpio Mars yields the potential to stir up multiple problems and issues from deep within as the focus of the retrograde shifts !!!