On May 27, 2009 Jupiter and Neptune will join together in the sign of Aquarius. This is a rare and most positive conjoining of energies. Since Jupiter brings good fortune and luck, while Neptune is the planet of the visionary and artist, this could be a beneficial time for those who are in need of inspiration and a break from the mundane.  If you have been working really hard and would like a vacation, this is a good time to take one. If you have a long term goal or project you’ve been focused on, it may bear fruit at ...<< MORE >>

On May 16, Saturn will station direct as it has been retrograde since New Year’s Eve. Saturn is still in the sign of Virgo, which is a sign related to health and work. During the retrograde cycle, Saturn provided all of us with the opportunity to review and change these facets of our lives. Some possibilities could include being more realistic about our health, taking better care of ourselves, clearing out toxicity, undertaking a new healing or exercise program, finding a new well-being practitioner. While Saturn is in Virgo, it’s also very important to focus on work that truly fulfills us and make moves us towards realistic achievement. It may indicate an important change in career path or course, a time to build a new business or perhaps take a step back from current employment and re-evaluate all facets of the job.

Recall what you were doing those last two weeks of December, 2008. Of course you were probably preparing for and celebrating a holiday, perhaps with family or friends. But underlying those festivities there was a feeling of somberness as Saturn was stationing.  It was a strange holiday season and you may have felt blue or experienced a void in your life. Something more profound was going on in the background - an area of life was shifting and changing. Those changes and decisions made then can now bear fruit. Perhaps a healing will occur now.

On a global or collective level, Saturn in Virgo is about employment/unemployment issues, tightening our belts and facing reality about society’s financial health.  It’s time to call the fiscal doctor and sometimes the most effective medicine is a bitter tonic. Speaking of health, it’s time for a universal health care system and we would also benefit incorporating more natural and holistic methods of healing. These are all dear to Virgo’s heart and intestines!

Saturn will stay in Virgo until October 30, 2009 and then move into the sign of Libra. I’ll save the transit through Libra for another post. Between now and October 30, we all need to continue to re-assess our health, physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially.

Yes, it’s that time again. Mercury will start its retrograde cycle on Thursday May 7 in the early part of Gemini, then spend most of the period in Taurus. Time to re-think, renew, revisit  - all those "re's.”  And since it’s in the earthy sign of Taurus, it will be everyone’s chance to re-evaluate their finances.  That’s correct, despite the Dow’s recent upswing, financial life as we used to know it isn’t returning anytime soon. Pluto will be in Capricorn for a long time (more on that later).

So, use the next three weeks to look at those finances and do some homework, some cleaning up, re-assess your assets, pay off some bills, and iron out your money matters. You may have to pay out some money that you were not expecting.

This is not a prudent time to negotiate for a raise, wait until June for that.  Clutter clearing in the home, office or studio is an excellent task right now. Give away any material items you don’t need or want anymore - clearing out your space makes room for new and fresher energies to come in.

No new work projects get off the ground now, it’s best to spend time finishing old projects, reviewing and working with plans that are already in process. As always, Mercury’s antics can cause glitches in communications, so be certain to re-read any fine print and important documents.

Mercury retrograde especially indicates a time to take a step back. Everyone needs a respite now and again and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.  Take a trip if you can, Mercury’s transit of Taurus encourages being surrounded by nature and beauty.  Tend your garden, if you have one and get rid of those weeds!

Taurus is a “back to basics” sign, keep this in mind as you pass through this latest cycle. It’s good to contemplate your roots, return to what feels natural to you in your life. By the time Mercury is direct on May 30, you will have a fresh perspective and be ready to move forward.

Today, on Tuesday April 28th, the Moon is void of course in Gemini from 12:23 pm until 6:38 pm EDT. During the hours of a void Moon it‘s best not to initiate any new projects or ideas. This is not a time when seeds take root, it’s like planting your garden in gravel. These types of days are most productive when spent doing typical work or household chores. Save the new client or new relationship calls and meetings for after the void Moon. It’s not a good time to apply for a new job, a loan or a mortgage. Typical ...<< MORE >>

What are the traits we associate with Taurus? The typical key words are often stubborn, slow, un-movable, laid back, calm, loyal, steadfast. A sign that doesn’t let you see when they get hot under the collar. And they have extraordinary patience.

Taurus truly is a most patient sign. After all, they are a fixed sign and probably have the highest degree of fixity of any sign in the zodiac. Patience comes very naturally to Taurus. If you know a Taurus, you may understand this about their nature. And if you know a Taurus that is impatient, well, they most likely have ...<< MORE >>

It doesn’t happen very often at all, but when the planet Pluto, god of the underworld, changes astrological signs, many people feel an increasing itch to change their lives. It seems that the collective influence of Pluto seeps in when we’re sleeping and one day we awaken to the realization that some part of our lives is ready to go. This is where Pluto is right now, bidding farewell to the sign of Sagittarius and hello to the sign of Capricorn.

Pluto is always about deep and profound transformation of one’s life and one’s cultural climate. Pluto brings what is hiding ...<< MORE >>

There never ceases to be a bevy of Mercury retrograde stories. This one is a classic from the most recent cycle.

An author was supposed to receive a contract for a new collaborative book from her literary agent. (Yes, the author was signing a contract during Mercury retrograde, more on that later.) The office of the literary agent was waiting for the messenger service on a Friday afternoon (Mercury is the winged messenger in mythology), but the service never arrived. Realizing that the contract needed to get to the author, the agent’s assistant went into the office on a Saturday to pick up the contract and take it directly to the author’s house. The assistant took a cab and with many bags in hand, got out of the cab at the destination, only to realize afterwards that the envelope with the contract was left behind in the taxi.

So, Monday was a new day, the contract was picked up by the messenger service and delivered from the agent’s office to the author without a hitch. The author signed it and sent it back. The above story was unbeknownst to the author. So, a week later when the author received a second set of identical contracts, it caused the author to wonder. Especially since it had arrived in the mail, not by messenger and with large, swirly handwriting on the envelope. The agent’s office was called and they explained the above story, which gave everyone a good laugh. But, funnier - some stranger actually took the time to fully address the envelope, apply postage and mail it. This restores one’s faith in humanity!

Now, about that author signing a contract during this cycle. One advantage was that the project was well underway before the contract was drawn.  So, the collaborative team made their creative choices prior to Mercury retrograde. Whether the contract is changed during the process remains to be seen. We’ll see what happens on the next Mercury retrograde!

There’s the old saying that when one makes several attempts at doing something three times, it’s usually “three times a charm” - meaning that the third attempt should work.  Well, with Saturn involved, anything attempted should bear fruit after the third time - but it’s a long road to get there. This summer into autumn we will see three conjunctions of the planets Venus and Saturn - highly unusual. Venus can certainly be a charming energy. But before anything charmed happens, Saturn is going to make sure this period feels more like three times a worm. Yechh!

This is all happening ...<< MORE >>

Saturn and Neptune have been in opposition for over a year now. Back and forth they have gone, in and out of aspect.  They met for the last time on June 25th. Saturn is in Leo, Neptune is in Aquarius.  Globally and personally, this has lots of definitions and usually they involve a balance between Utopian ideals and reality as we know it.

Saturn will bring into clarity and focus the issues that have been up until now experiencing the Neptune blurry or confusion. The art of confusion is a survival mechanism that we all use, such as living in ...<< MORE >>

In current times, more and more people who are not astrologers are hearing about and referring to Mercury retrograde. They are even aware of when it is happening. It’s becoming as popular an astrological statement as the Full Moon. But what does it mean, anyway? What does it feel like, and more importantly, how does it affect one’s life?<< MORE >>