THE CHALLENGE TO DISCOVER OUR TRUEST, DEEPEST, HIGHEST VALUES AND HOW TO EXPRESS THEM PHYSICALLY !!!

The SUN began its yearly transit through the patient, practical sign of Taurus on Thursday, April 20th, at 4:14 AM EDT ... the pace of life slows down somewhat and shifts into a slower mode of energy in Taurus which is an earth sign ... with the Sun in Taurus, we need comfort, to be recognized deliberately, thrive through ones own dependability, and have a drive for recognition which manifests itself through sensuality and/or personal possessions ... this energy is persistent, determined yet cautious !!!

Taurus is a feminine, fixed, earth sign therefore its tendency to nurture and comfort through a methodical but slower and more stable course of action ... its key phrase is "I Have" and its keyword is "stability" ... being a fixed sign, Taurus can appear to be quiet, affectionate, patient, stable, determined and practical, stubborn and resistant to change ... its symbol is the Bull and its glyph is the head and horns of the Bull - symbolically the glyph is a half-moon forming a cup that rests on the circle of the Sun ... the cup representing material wealth and power derived through the force of the will (the circle) ... the Bull can be strong, stubborn, plodding, and can be both fierce and gentle ... this energy can be quite headstrong but slow to anger .... HOWEVER ... when it does get angry LOOK OUT because it can become extremely furious !!!



Anatomically, Taurus rules the neck and the throat - there are a lot of Taurus born people that have beautiful speaking and singing voices, but their vulnerability is to colds, laryngitis, sore throats and thyroid problems ... Taurus is the sign directly opposite to Scorpio in the natural zodiac !!!

Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus - the Roman goddess of beauty and the arts, pleasure and the emotions ... Venus bestows an influence towards a love of luxury and exceptional creative ability ... it is NOT the planet of SEX for those of you who think otherwise!!! ... Venus rules the throat, chin, cheeks, and the sense of taste, art, culture, aesthetics, possessions, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sentimentality, sweets and sugar, color, harmony, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, drama, and music ... it governs emotional contacts,  tenderness, moral character, marriage and unions of every kind as well as sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasure and appreciation ... in your natal chart, the place where you find Venus shows what you really enjoy !!!



Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house of the horoscope which is a house of substance with its keyword being "values" ... this house indicates financial affairs, possessions (excluding real estate), investments, earning  power, and any gain or loss through your own personal efforts ... it shows your inner talents and resources, your need for fulfillment, your emotional feelings, your sense of self-worth including your sense of values ... since there is a widespread belief that liberty is largely related to the money, the 2nd house is also the house of personal liberty ... it is also considered the house of material debt !!!



The Sun in Taurus show us how to live through learning to stabilize ... here we have the beauty (Venus) and the beast (the Bull) !!! ... the purpose of the Sun here is to help maintain the stability of earthly things ... one may find it surprising to realize that the important main possessions here are a sense of Earthly harmony and wholesomeness, and not necessarily a substantial amount of money and material possessions ... there is the distinct ability to endure change with this energy ... it is also interesting to note that - WHEN CHANGE HAS TO BE MADE AND SOMETHING MUST BE LET GO OF, WHEN YOU LET GO AND ENDURE THE CHANGE YOU ULTIMATELY DISCOVER HOW MUCH MORE STABLE THINGS ACTUALLY BECOME !!!



The greatest indication of values is beauty which is something that cannot be owned but only appreciated ... this energy likes stability, being attracted, natural things, time to think, and comfort and pleasure ... it does not like disruption, being pushed, being hurried and sensory deprivation ... the energy of the Sun in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: earthy, sensuous/artistic, productive, practical provider, steadfast and stable, unruffled and calm, even-tempered, soothing, self-trusting, loyal, persevering, trustworthy, appreciative, admiring, affectionate, aesthetic, physically comforting, magnetically healing, attractive

NEGATIVE: materialistic, gross and extravagant, plodding and ponderous, sluggish and lazy, boneheaded, boring, self-satisfied, possessive, stubborn, bigoted/fanatical, self-gratifying, idolatrous, lecherous, aloof, unaware of the "unseen", sucker for good looks, easily attached



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN TAURUS BORN !!! ... you are beginning a new Solar year ... this is your time to "SHINE" while all of us try to incorporate your natural born energy into our daily lives and learn through experiencing it !!!



We are all now being challenged to try to discover our truest, deepest and highest values and then realize how well we can express them physically ... hopefully one will come to the realization during the next thirty days that the value of Earthly things is simply that they serve to keep bodies happy and  healthy !!!



The Sun joins Mercury, currently retrograde, and Uranus - already grazing, quite rebelliously no doubt, transiting through Taurus ... the Sun remains in Taurus until May 21st !!!



So that hectic pace of  the Sun in Aries which is often a more restless, feeling of being helpless, begins to diffuse and slows down to a point hopefully allowing our feet to be more firmly planted beneath us as we strive for security ... just be careful about becoming so bullish on trying to get life back to whatever the new normal will become, you don't end up making unwise decisions and get too carried away by your frustrated emotions !!!

And certainly the burning question here is just how productive will this energy end up being with Mercury retrograde energy in Taurus as well for 24 days of this 34 day solar transit ???

But for now, let's all get out there, carefully and cautiously, and grab this crazy thing we call life by those proverbial "Taurus horns" - OLE !!! 

A RAGING CURRENT OF COSMIC CHAOS AND CONFUSION ??? - TIME TO SINK OR SWIM ... AGAIN !!!

  

MERCURY began its second RETROGRADE journey for 2023 today, April 21st, at 4:53 AM EDT, with this one being the first full complete retrograde this year as we came into 2023 under a Mercury retrograde that began on December 29th, 2022 ... as always if you've been following my blogs, then you know exactly what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED !!!  

This second Mercury retrograde period for 2023 is completely in the sign of Taurus ... this Mercury retrograde will go from 15 degrees 37 minutes Taurus back to 5 degrees 50 minutes Taurus ... this will be a 23 day Mercury retrograde period  !!!

Some of you may have noticed the backward energy beginning to make itself apparent already as Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on May 14th - back on April 7th when it reached 5 degrees 50 minutes of Taurus ... 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 - think of all the words that begin with the letters "RE" - things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ... of course  it is not unusual to have people from our past come back around but it usually ends up being for only what I refer to as a "pass and review" ... obviously there is always the chance that something done within a previous Mercury retrograde may come back to "bite" us and require that we address the issue and resolve it !!!

During a Mercury retrograde period it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm and get back in sync with it ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses these signs and degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where in life the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life especially in regard to your mental processing and communicating ... it's where issues most often will arise for you in addition to the other general issues that can annoy everyone during the retrograde period !!!

Don't be surprised if issues arise from previous Mercury retrogrades that need to be addressed or simply let go of because they never worked out for some reason ... Mercury was last retrograde from December 29th, 2022 through January 18th of this year ... before that the most recent Mercury retrograde periods included September 10th - October 2nd, May 10th - June 3rd, and January 14th - February 4th all occurring in 2022 !!!

It is very important to understand that planetary 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 and rethink and review our actions being generated by the planet which is retrograde, especially as the energy relates to the sign and house and or houses in ones natal chart that planet is currently 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 !!! 

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 ... nor is it a good time to purchase computers or anything that involves electronics ... also 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 also 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 that in some natal 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 ... if you proceed with a wedding have someone mark the time you are officially pronounced married and then have a reputable astrologer run a natal chart for the "birth" of the partnership .... then look in which house retrograde Mercury falls and you might get an idea in what area of life problems could potentially arise within the relationship !!!

Mercury retrograde in Taurus, ruled by Venus, will certainly cause relationships to be given a serious reviewing and rethinking if there is something that needs to be addressed  ... Mercury in Taurus already "slows" down the mental process with Taurus being an Earth sign, and adding retrograde energy to it just complicates matters ... if you've had a natal chart done and know where 15 degrees 37 minutes back to 5 degrees 50 minutes degrees of Taurus lies in your chart, then you may get a good idea as to what this Mercury retrograde has in store for you !!!  

Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house, a house of substance, of the horoscope ... as such, in addition to the usual suspects of a Mercury retrograde, there is the potential for 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 and your material debt !!!

Venus is the ruling planet of Taurus, so there could also be issues arising as well in the areas of art, culture, aesthetics, partnerships - more in particular to personal ones, 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 !!!

Venus also happens to be the natural planetary ruler of the 7th house, via ruling the sign of Libra as well ... so there is also the potential for issues to arise with marital and business relationships, marriage, divorce, contracts, lawsuits, bargain, agreements, dealings with the public and the public's response, open enemies, your cooperation or lack thereof with others, what you most lack in yourself, attitudes towards marriage - your mate, the kind and quality of the marriage, how many marriages you may have, grandparents, and any people who act as your agent or act on your behalf !!!

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 Taurus  there could be issues that arise with the throat and neck as these are the anatomical areas of the body Taurus rules as well as the chin, cheeks and sense of taste these being the anatomical areas Venus rules !!!

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

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" !!! 

Gemini and Virgo born, as this is your planetary ruler, it is once again time for you to step back to review and re-evaluate what has been going on in your life particularly since January 18th ... have you moved to fast on some particular course of action, and is it now time to redirect that initiative or simply end it and move on once Mercury stations direct again ???

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 (May 14th)

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 if it does last, I want to be the first to know about it. E-mail me and let me know). And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either - wait until after May 14th !!!

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. When you do go to purchase your parts after May 14th, you will find better deals and buys ...

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, dear heart ???

And so it is. Three, sometimes four, 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 April 22nd and May 13th will definitely get Mercury retrograde in their solar return - birthday chart - for the year ahead ... those born April 21st and May 14th may or may not get this retrograde energy depending on what time their solar return occurs 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 !!! "

Mercury remains retrograde until May 14th at 11:17 PM EDT ... there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads as well as other lights going OUT while this Mercury Retrograde energy produces its cosmic disruption for the next 23 days ... so slow down and try not to act too impulsively or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... tempers will flare and patience may become scarce, but that personal sense of humor, being one of your greatest allies, should be called upon frequently as the Mercury Retrograde merrily wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment to each one of  us !!! 

In the end my fellow beings of light, as this second Mercury Retrograde period of 2023 is now upon us, the question as always once again is : Will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ??? 

Best to go with the flow and not try to swim upstream against a raging current of cosmic confusion in order to stay afloat and successfully navigate the tempest tossed sea of cosmic chaos and confusion that Mercury retrogrades have the potential to produce !!!

LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART - EXPRESSING YOUR FEELINGS VERBALLY WITHOUT BEING OVERBEARING TO OPEN NEW DOORS SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY !!! !!! !!!

 

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, April 11th, at 12:47  AM EDT ... This Venus is both lighthearted and emotionally objective, and Gemini, being an air sign, encourages Venus to move about a lot ...VARIETY is indeed the spice of life which includes objects, foods, experiences, and most importantly PEOPLE ... Venus was last in Gemini from May 22nd/23rd through July 17th/18th, 2022 !!!

Venus in Gemini likes intellectual stimulation as much as romance ... this Venus can be "fickle as a pickle" as there is a tendency towards a lack of commitment since 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 !!! 

Venus in Gemini is extremely oral, so to speak, as it thrives on 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 bestows the lesson to us that the most effective way we learn to love is 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 !!!

Venus now joins Mercury currently in transit through the sign of Gemini ... obviously there is the potential for a lot of communication and thinking that will occur in reference to who and/or what it is we think we are attracted to ... Venus remains in Gemini until May 7th ... keep in mind that Venus is now considered to be in a planetary "relationship" with Mercury which is the ruler of Gemini ... so just how effective or productive will this transit be as Mercury takes its first full retrograde journey for 2023 from April 21st through May 14th completely in the sign of Taurus which happens to be ruled by Venus ... and therein lies the rub so to speak ... they will be considered to be in mutual reception but one, Venus, will be going forward and the other one, Mercury, backwards ... got to love that cosmic sense of humor ... or not !!! 

Speaking of retrogrades, there is only one more full sign transit, that being Cancer, for Venus to complete ere it begins its retrograde journey for 2023 completely in the sign of Leo which is the sign that naturally rules the 5th house of romance, creativity and pleasure - look out !!! ... Venus will be retrograde from July 22nd through September 4th going from 28 degrees 36 minutes back to 12 degrees 12 minutes Leo ... Venus enters its next shadow point on June 19th when it reaches 12 degrees 12 minutes Leo !!! 

During this transit, try your best 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 !!!  

A HIGHLY PRACTICAL AND GROUNDED MINDSET THAT SOMETIMES CAN GET STUCK IN MENTAL RUTS !!!

  

MERCURY began its highly focused and concentrated transit through the sign of Taurus today, April 3rd, at 12:22 PM EDT ... our mode of thinking and communicating now shifts from the rapid fire energy of Aries into the slower and more methodical energy of Taurus ... Mercury was last in the sign of Taurus from April 10th through June 13th, 2022 - a longer than normal transit for Mercury due to a retrograde period embedded in the transit, and that will be the case again this time !!!

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 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 here that experience teaches one the most valuable lessons in life !!!

Mercury in Taurus helps 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 - leave that to Mercury in Aquarius, 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

Mercury now joins Venus and Uranus already in transit through Taurus !!!

Mercury will not complete its full transit through Taurus until June 11th due to its upcoming second retrograde journey for 2023 ... this will occur from April 21st through June 15th going from 15 degrees 37 minutes back to 5 degrees 50 minutes Taurus ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on April 7th when it reaches 5 degrees 50 minutes Taurus !!!

Taurus born individuals, are you beginning to feel the tempo picking up in your thinking and communicating somewhat or at least being inspired with many new ideas ??? ... now is your chance - along with the rest of us - to get a lot accomplished and get our minds anchored to a firmer foundation of rational and practical thinking with this earth energy !!!

Thinking and rethinking is exactly what Mercury in Taurus naturally likes to do and will do over and over during this extended transit ... and that is no "BULL" !!! 

A GREAT NEED FOR EMOTIONAL SECURITY AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL TO BEING PRONE TO SEVERE EMOTIONAL OUTBURTS !!!

MARS - the planet representing the urge to get what you want, personal drive, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy, as well as selfishness, abuse and violence - FINALLY completed its transit through the sign of Gemini which began back on August 20th, 2022 and began its transit through the emotional, nurturing sign of Cancer today, March 25th, at 7:45 AM EDT ... Mars being a fiery planet does not fare too well in a water sign like Cancer as water tends to rain on its parade of aggression and initiative which in some cases can be a very good thing and in others cases very detrimental to its course of intended action !!!

Mars in Cancer is said to be in the sign of its "Fall" - that is it's in the sign opposite of Capricorn, where it is Exalted and tends to function even more efficiently than in the sign it naturally rules which is Aries ... so this Mars often has trouble expressing its true nature ... it's "fire" gets "watered" down and that can either produce irritating steam or sensual steamy energy ... it is like staying in someone's home where you do not feel comfortable !!! ... Mars was last in Cancer from April 23rd through June 11tth, 2021 - anything come to mind from that period in regards to this kind of energy produced when Mars transits Cancer ???

Mars in Cancer can be highly emotional and is pulled between expressing its feelings and holding them in ... there is a great need for emotional security ... one may assert themselves here indirectly, shyly, sensitively or carefully, but this Mars is definitely prone to emotional outbursts ... identity is closely tied to home, family, and feelings ... energy levels seem to rise and fall with ones moods ... if your heart is involved in something, then this energy can truly accomplish anything it sets its mind out to do ... anger is more often expressed through crying rather than screaming and yelling ... one has to be careful with this energy not to give too much to others just to avoid confrontation !!!



Mars in Cancer shows us that to get what we want, we must do so through nurturing ... its fighting or taking flight ... the sex drive is usually very strong here but that can be good or bad depending on how the energy is expressed ... one of the challenges with this energy is to find out what is really making you angry and deal with it ... figure out who or what it is that you genuinely care about also ... ultimately we must learn where the fine line falls between stimulation and outright aggravation !!! ... We now leave behind our minds being set on fire for a thirst of knowledge as well as the desire to move about and that drive becomes turned deeply inward to address our emotions and what we feel we must nurture !!! 

As Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and the Moon naturally rules the 4th house, we may encounter problems with the stomach - there could be a lot of you out there that become the victim of  acid indigestion, heartburn, and frequent upset stomach issues ... also the home, family, the mother or a maternal figure, women in general and the public in general are areas where one could find issues arising if you react too quick without thinking things through ... and of course whichever house or houses the complete degrees of Cancer fall in your natal chart is certainly where you will find this increased "watered down burning" drive to occur !!!

This Martian energy likes close involvements, a secure sex life, and an active home life ... it does not like mild mannered emotions, distress within the family setting, inner doubts and domestic "fires" ... the energy of Mars in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: sensuous, provocative, passionate, sexually subtle, tenacious, protective, bold, hardworking, complex, adaptable, sensitive, healing, intuitive, original, occultist


NEGATIVE: irritable, evasive, too intense, sexually unsure, possessive, defensive, compulsive, neurotic, moody, quarrelsome, confusing, fatalistic, weird, spooky/spooked



Mars is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of  Cancer and that may be enough at the moment considering all of the emotional issues we all are trying to deal with in our lives ... Mars remains in Cancer until May 19th/20th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!

CANCER BORN, there exists the potential for you to become restless and/or "fired up" about something and/or someone during the next eight weeks - remember Mars just returned to "full speed" back on March 15th, when it exited its retrograde zone, so it is still gaining forward momentum which cause the normal roughly six week per sign transit to take a little longer ... as always be careful not to incinerate, or in this case should I say perhaps be careful not to flood others with your heightened emotional state, the object of your increased drive and desire - and that goes for everyone as well !!!



We all will be experiencing this energy on some level of our lives ... we will be urged to keep the "home fires" brightly lit, but we must be careful not to go overboard and end up  "burning down the house" or "crying yourself a river" !!!

HAPPY "ASTROLOGICAL" NEW YEAR - TIME TO "OPEN A NEW WINDOW ... OPEN A NEW DOOR" !!!

 

The SUN blazed its way into the fiery, intense sign of Aries yesterday, March 20th, at 5:25 PM EDT ... being the first sign of the natural zodiac, you will find many astrologers who will joyfully say - HAPPY ASTROLOGICAL NEW YEAR !!! ... also known as the Vernal Equinox, equal days/equal  nights, but more readily known as the beginning of Spring - something we are all bound to put a little more of in our step for now !!! ... however, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere it's the first day of Fall - lucky you !!! ... the astrological alarm clock has rung and we are awakened from the dream like state the Sun transiting through Pisces may have put many of us in ... we now emerge from those deep emotional waters of Pisces and "dry out" as we proceed to move forward and make potential numerous new beginnings somewhere in our lives as we start taking direct action ... this also happens to be the day that Astrology is celebrated internationally !!!

The Sun is considered to be in exaltation in Aries ... every planet, or luminary in this case, has a sign, apart from the one it naturally rules, in this case Leo, where its energy is expressed harmoniously ... it is said that the complimentary forces are increased and the virtues are magnified !!!

With the Sun in Aries, one needs to shine in the following ways: through valor and bravery; assertively; being first; seek recognition energetically and impetuously; and enhance ones total self-expression ... Since Aries is a fire sign, the Sun is very comfortable here, and maybe works a little more efficiently ... we are energized with a desire to start getting things done and begin new projects !!!

Aries is a masculine/fire/cardinal (beginnings) sign ... it is active, energetic, excitable, impulsive, optimistic, and open to change and new experiences ... its symbol is the Ram - assertive, sexual and able to climb to great heights ... its glyph represents the horns and long nose of the Ram ... symbolically the glyph is two half Moons joined by a straight line, which indicates idealism tied to authority and leadership ... its key phrase is "I AM" and keyword is "ACTIVITY" ... anatomically Aries rules the head - Aries born people are often prone to headaches, and sometimes subject to minor injuries around the head and face, and they are also susceptible to harm from fire and sharp instruments as well as being prone to accidents involving high speed ... sometimes they have a tendency to get into violent and dangerous situations ... Aries is the sign opposite of Libra !!!

Aries is ruled by the planet Mars - the ancient God of war, aggression and conflict ... it indicates courage, passion, and competition ... Mars deals with your animal nature, desire and sexual energies ... it shows assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, and competition ... it also governs surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammation, wounds and cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron, and steel ... the action of Mars is sudden, self-assertive, and sometimes very disruptive ... its energy can be used destructively and angrily, in a fighting manner, or with courage and strength ... if you've had a natal chart done, where you find Mars is usually where you expend the greatest energy ... my natal Mars is in the 4th house - the house of home among other things - and I mostly work out of my home !!!

Aries is the natural ruler of the 1st house of the zodiac ... the 1st house keyword is "IDENTITY" and it is a house of life ... the cusp of the 1st house is known as the Ascendant or Rising sign - a very important point in the natal chart - often said to be the "mask" you wear to the outside world !!! ... it shows what the exact degree and sign was on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth - now you know why birth time is so important in Astrology ... the 1st house mirrors your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself outwardly ... it shows how people see you - which may be totally different from your natal Sun sign - and the way you want others to see you ... the 1st house represents the way you "package" and "market" yourself ... it represents your physical body, your health and your early childhood years ... it usually characterizes your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and bearing, and the beginnings of all enterprises !!!

The Sun in Aries is all about how to LIVE THROUGH DOING !!! ... its the pioneer, the champion !!! ... this energy simply wants to get something started as the Will has free reign to express itself in this sign ... challenges that stir one to action are usually met with great enthusiasm ... patience is a lesson to be learned under this energy as the drive is so strong to move and MOVE NOW!!! ... physical, emotional and mental extremes are all desired in Aries which usually make one all the better for experiencing them - but go too far and one can expect to be extremely lonely ... remember what springs from your body or mind is only as good as what dwells in your heart ... the energy of the Sun in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: assertive, go-getting, crusading, enthusiastic, direct, frank, one-pointed, straightforward, spontaneous, energetic, stimulating, courageous, good starter, warrior caste, leader type, confident, independent, strong-willed, single-minded, original being

NEGATIVE: overly aggressive, unreflective, fanatical, arrogant, blunt, tactless, blind to side-issues, simplistic, impatient, restless, irritating, foolhardy, bad finisher, argumentative, uncooperative, pompous, self-centered, headstrong, thoughtless, intolerant

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ARIES BORN !!! ... not only is this the time of year to begin a new astrological cycle, but also for YOU to SHINE - which you like to do naturally !!! ... for everyone, it is a time for fresh new beginnings on many levels of ones life ... and even better yet - IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING - at least in the Northern hemisphere right ???   

The Sun is now transiting through with Mercury and Jupiter as well as the Moon but only very temporarily for the Moon as it will shift signs on the 23rd ... The Sun remains in the sign of Aries until April  20th !!!

Time to OPEN A NEW WINDOW ... OPEN A NEW DOOR - that is if the pollen count isn't too high ... and, as Auntie Mame herself so vivaciously expressed - what many would agree describes the feeling one experiences as the Sun transits through the sign of Aries - it's time to  LIVE ... LIVE ... LIVE !!!  

PERSONAL ENERGY IN OVERDRIVE - WILL IT BE INSPIRING, CREATIVE AND INDEPENDENT OR IMPULSIVE, AGGRESSIVE AND CONFRONTATIONAL ???

 

MERCURY began its quick witted transit through the spontaneous, expressive sign of Aries today, March 19, at 12:24 AM EDT ... it has now initiated another spin through the natural zodiac ... Mercury takes  approximately 1 year to go through the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... it spends anywhere from 15 days to roughly two months in each sign - the longer amount of time being the roughly 20 to 24 days during each of its usual three, sometimes four, retrograde periods per year ... Mercury was last in Aries from March 27th through April 10th/11th, 2022 !!!

With Mercury transiting through the sign of Aries, and with Aries being a Fire sign, energy and action will be expressed either in an inspiring, creative, independent, or impulsive, aggressive, confrontational manner - thus we can end up being extremely constructive or extremely destructive depending on how we harness this energy ... Mercury in Aries means it is now in a dynamic relationship with Mars - the ruler of Aries - and the Mercurial energy is being pushed into overdrive ... but just how far into overdrive it is pushed remains the question ... nevertheless the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find ourselves moving too quickly and causing mishaps or accidents - especially behind the wheel where some of us will no doubt be using even more hand gestures than usual !!!

We will most likely come up with what we determine to be "scathingly brilliant" ideas but not all will be driven to fruition after they lose their initial novelty ... a lot of us will constantly be the victim of "foot-in-mouth" disease as we will have the tendency to speak before we think since the mind is processing so much so fast ... we may also experience sleepless nights or have difficulty going to sleep as we find that when our head hits the pillow the mind is still racing .... we will certainly have to be on guard about starting arguments and trying to stir up controversy simply because we feel like our words are the ultimate authority !!!

With the mind and the tongue working rather quickly here, there is definitely a talent for debate and/or using words that are biting, ironic, and sarcastic ... communication will be made directly, forcefully and with confidence ... new ideas are always being sought here as it becomes necessary to be active in order to learn - even if the lessons end up being harder than we anticipated ... under this energy one is usually interested in courage, self-reliance, freedom and self-expression !!!

Mercury in Aries encourages us to learn to think through doing ... this energy truly expresses the well known phrase that actions speak louder than words !!! ... just as fresh new ideas and experiences are sought out, there is the tendency at times to dwell on old grievances as well as on outworn interests ... if there is a failure to sustain enough mental input or assertion of ones intellectual outlook, there is the risk of nervous and/or physical restlessness that can develop into more serious mental or emotional conditions accompanied by matching circumstances ... slow down to clarify your objectives and then have the faith that you'll rise to the occasion ... make sure your force has a worthy cause attached to it ... realize that the tongue is indeed a sensitive muscle - so learn to "hold it", by learning to "bite" it gracefully, and appreciate what it is attached to !!! ... the energy of Mercury in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: quick-thinking, spontaneous, quick-acting, decisive, mentally forceful, stimulating, fighting spirit, fiery, frank, witty, to the point, observant, initiates ideas, thinks on ones feet, mentally active and agile, eloquent, verbally assertive, intellectually confident

NEGATIVE: impatient, irritable, quick-tempered, premature, headstrong, quarrelsome, spitting, thoughtless, sarcastic, terse, precocious, snap opinionated, snap decisions, verbally/mentally restless, one-sided viewpoint, intellectually arrogant



Mercury joins Jupiter currently transiting through Aries with the Sun joining the party tomorrow ... Mercury remains in Aries until April 3rd !!!

This is the last full sign transit before Mercury takes its first full retrograde journey for 2023  which occurs from April 21st through May 14th completely in the sign of Taurus going from 15 degrees 37 minutes back to 5 degrees 50 minutes Taurus ... Mercury enters its first shadow point for 2023 on April 7th !!!

Aries born individuals, you may become infused with an overabundance of ideas and plans in addition to speaking out, sometimes to your own detriment, more so than usual - but indeed we all may do so even if we aren't Aries born !!!

While Mercury transits though Aries, one might be well advised to keep a lot of ice cream or something cool and soothing on hand as we are sure to have a sore tongue from having to bite it so often, well at least those who are wise enough to do so, to keep from allowing our hasty words to cause too much uproar, misunderstandings and unnecessary verbal confrontations which yields the well known caveat -

"LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS" !!!