My motto today is to try to stay relaxed, patient, and flexible as things may not be accomplished quickly, pinned down easily, or sorted out clearly at the moment. Not only is the Moon void of course all day, making it a great day for internal musings and non goal oriented activities, but Mercury — ruler of commerce, transportation, and communication, etc — has basically come to a standstill, about to turn retrograde tomorrow morning (and will be retrograde until July 1st). Mercury is already revealing the trouble spots of things that need repairs. It’s not Mercury’s fault that things break down. Mercury is only the messenger, letting us know, for our own benefit, that something is not working. Thank-you, Mercury. 

The energy has officially shifted. Dynamic, enterprising, and passionate Mars is direct after 2 ½ months (since March 1st) of being retrograde. When a planet is retrograde its associated qualities can seem subdued or suppressed, because the archetypal life of the planet changes from the usual outward manifestation to a more internalized expression, which may be difficult to see, understand, or access. Mars is most comfortable when he gets to play the superhero, warrior, pioneer, or all out go-getter. While retrograde and in Libra he was needing to be peaceful, reserved, and patient before taking action — and if he wasn’t he probably lost in battle. Now that Mars is direct all of that pent up energy is allowed to flow freely again. New ideas, desires, and opportunities may be appearing where there was a sense of stagnation or indecision before. It’s exciting and yet still very uncertain. Things are moving, but which way are they going? It may not be clear for a little while as Mars first has to retrace his steps before he actually moves into new territory. The Sun also just shifted from spending a month in slow and steady Taurus to now being in quick-moving and changeable Gemini, which is contributing to the new thought-forms popping up. 

There is a quality of stillness or hesitancy right now, as Mars is stationary at 9º2’ Libra May 18-21. Action-oriented Mars has slowed down to an almost imperceptible crawl as he prepares to shift and turn direct Monday night. On the other hand, when a planet stations, its energy is heightened and intensified, so some people may be experiencing the Mars station as an active and stimulating energy. Mars, who is normally confident, quick, decisive, and independent with strong determination to achieve his goals and win any battle, is going through an unusually long and possibly uncomfortable journey through Venus’s territory, Libra, from Dec 7, 2013 thru Jul 25, 2014. Libra is the sign that epitomizes the opposite of Mar’s nature. The Libran way values careful deliberation, cooperation, harmony, and balance. So with Mars in Libra and including a long retrograde phase, we’ve had an interesting journey over the last few months of integrating opposing forces. Some possibilities include: seeing the value of sitting with anger or other strong feelings or impulses instead of acting on them; or trying to express anger or our individualistic choices in a diplomatic and considerate way. These practices might feel as though they require superhuman strength at times, but while Mars is in Libra we are especially likely to benefit greatly from attempting them. 

The timing of the 3 phases of this retrograde may be of interest: Read more...

Today I am beginning an 8 week course in Compassionate Communication (also known as Nonviolent Communication). This is something I’ve wanted to pursue a serious study of for awhile after reading books and trying to practice on my own (which proved difficult!). Everything lined up for me with this endeavor now while Mars is retrograde in Libra. How perfect! Why is the period when Mars is retrograde in Libra perfect for focusing on compassionate/non-violent communication? Firstly, because Libra rules the art of listening and speaking skillfully, diplomatically, and most importantly empathically — balancing awareness and sensitivity between self and other. This is challenging, to say the least, especially when strong emotions are triggered. Secondly, Mars rules self-assertion, leadership, and frankness, but also aggression and violence on the shadow side (every archetype has a shadow side). Mars retrograde on the other hand, supports holding aggression back, turning it within, contemplating it, and transmuting it. We all feel anger and aggression sometimes, which is often a surface layer over suppressed hurt or fear. To be able to express those deeper feelings and in a way that inspires giving and receiving from the heart, as opposed to creating more hurt feelings, anger, defensiveness, and chronic unmet needs in our relationships, is a great way to utilize the energy of Mars retrograde in Libra. I am happy for this opportunity. 

Sweet relief from Venus, the archetype of love and beauty — specifically tonight, tomorrow, and on April 25th — as she makes harmonious aspects with Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn. If we look around we may see there are ample sources of support and stability as well as opportunities to tap into the experiences of connection, healing, and empowerment amidst the Grand Cross challenges that peak this month.

April is a uniquely intense month, with the Cardinal Grand Cross peaking Apr 20th thru 23rd, sandwiched in-between two eclipses (Apr 15th and 29th). The revolutionizing Uranus/Pluto square has been in action for a couple of years now, and we’ve been dealing with the preliminary energy of the Grand Cross since Mars entered Libra in Dec of 2013. However this month we experience the exact hits of Mars opposing Uranus, Jupiter opposing Pluto, and all 4 planets squaring each other. This is a moment of climax and possibly crisis as we experience extreme tension between conflicting or opposing forces, that will lead to sweeping changes or big breakthroughs for many people. If you have planets or points in the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, especially if they are near 13 degrees, you will feel this Grand Cross quite personally. Read more...

Now that Mercury is direct again, here is an observation I made about this recent Mercury retrograde cycle:

When the Sun and Mercury were conjunct during the retrograde phase on Mar 4th, a new seed may have indeed been planted in your life, related to the house that Mercury was retrograding through (wherever Pisces is in your birth chart). This new seed/idea/process gathered momentum at the New Moon on Mar 11th. Yet in my experience, I found that clarity around the newly planted seed was obscured until after Mercury went direct on Mar 17th. Read more...

Today I noticed I was having an unusually hard time moving at a normal pace, that is, I’m moving extra slowly. Then I remembered that Mercury, god of motion, is also currently moving more slowly than normal — as he prepares to stop and reverse directions early Saturday morning. I am consoled. I am simply in tune :) . We are preparing for another 3 week retrograde period of reviewing, re-doing, renewing, repairing, revisiting, re-visioning, and resting. Mercury slowing down and going backwards, gives us a chance to do all this. 

There was a New Moon Solar Eclipse on Nov 13th, followed by Chiron, the wounded healer, going direct on Nov 14th. Whichever house in your natal chart contains 22º Scorpio ♏ is the area of life that was profoundly affected by this New Moon eclipse. Since the eclipse was aligned with the North Node, or dragon’s head, it represents an opportunity to allow something new to come into your experience. Yet a North Node eclipse can also feel uncomfortable as the new and unknown can be frightening and can trigger resistance. If you have planets in your chart near 22º of any of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius), you may have felt this more personally. Read more...