Open Doors, Revelations and Mercury in Pisces

“Mercury in Pisces encourages you to look at what’s unspoken. The half glimpsed figure,the whisper, the tug towards a transcendent energy-there’s an opportunity to become a conduit for something higher.This is a brief transit (Mercury enters Aries on March 9) but sometimes that’s all you need to dissolve a barrier that’s been preventing you from seeing what’s possible.” Nadia Gilchrist

According to traditional astrology, Mercury is very weak in this sign (it’s the opposite of Mercury ruled Virgo.) But that weakness can open doors that have been locked by rigid logic, analysis and precision- when you let go of what you think you know, you’d be surprised at what emerges.

This is a brief transit (Mercury enters Aries on March 9) but sometimes that’s all you need to dissolve a barrier that’s been preventing you from seeing what’s possible.” Nadia Gilchrist

Venus and Mars the Cosmic Lovers Align

“Why did you do all this for me? ” he asked,”I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.”
“You have been my friend,”replied Charlotte,”That in itself is a tremendous thing.” E.B.White from Charlotte’s Web

“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest forever waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”A.A. Milne

The Cosmic Lovers, Venus and Mars are traveling together this week. The exact conjunction is on Feb 22 at six degrees of Aquarius but the influence will be in effect from Tuesday the 20th through the 23rd.

Chiron is on the North Node now in Aries with the South Node in Libra – the signs ruled by Venus and Mars.

These influences bode well for socializing of all kinds – dating, get togethers with friends  and/or starting a new romantic relationship.

With Mars and Venus in Aquarius it’s wise to keep originality and authenticity in mind as well as cooperation and collaboration.

We’re living in rapidly changing times and the Chiron/North Node conjunction speaks of being able to enter into relationships  with a new or fresh perspective based on lessons learned through an evolving personal journey.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A masked figure performs rituals in a mystery play.

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

 

 

Love, Power, Equilibrium and This Weeks Astrology

“Be of love a little more careful than of anything.” e.e. Cummings

There’s a lot of activity in the starry heavens this week. Today (Tuesday) Mars leaves the steady, traditional sign of Capricorn for the innovative sign of Aquarius and moves up to a conjunction with Pluto. This provides good timing for getting a lot accomplished – just watch for overdoing. It’s also good for taking care of tasks that require physical energy.  This influence will be in effect for a few days. It’s  wise to keep equilibrium in mind as  issues related to the use/misuse of power may be more visible this week.

The Lunar Nodes, which govern life path and destiny, are an active force in the heavens this week. Chiron is conjunct the North Node at 16 Aries and Mercury in Aquarius is forming a favorable alignment to it.  It’s wise to raise awareness and heed any information that surfaces related to what needs to be evolved in your life as you move forward on your life path.

Mercury will be forming a challenging aspect to Uranus indicating that there can be sudden unexpected events or communications. It’s best this week to provide extra downtime to integrate the meaning of fast moving events.

Venus will move out of Capricorn and into Aquarius – joining Pluto on Friday. This alignment can bring up issues of scarcity and loss.

But it is also a good time to get in touch with the deeper meaning of love and its transformational powers.

The Sun will leave the sign of Aquarius for Pisces on Sunday heralding a time that bodes well for creativity and spiritual growth. As the Sun transverses this sometimes otherworldly and sensitive sign it’s  good time to bring more inspiration into your life if needed.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An ancient pottery bowl filled with fresh violets.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

Venus, Chiron, and This Week in Astrology

“You have not grown old, and it is not too late
to dive into your increasing depths
where life calmly gives out its own secret.” Rilke

“You can wander into the wrong classroom,
And hear great poems lovingly spoken
By the wrong professor. And you find your soul.
And greatness has a defender , and even in death you’re safe.” Robert Bly

The week starts off as Mercury – the winged god of communication and travel moves from Capricorn into Aquarius joining Pluto, recently entered into Aquarius as well. Mercury conjunct Pluto favors deep and transformative thinking and conversation. This duo is often found in the charts of private detectives and people involved with research.

There are significant Chiron aspects at the beginning of the week also as Venus in Capricorn squares Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. This alignment can bring up issues related to self esteem, self worth as well as issues related to love and abundance. With Mercury and Pluto together it is possible to have a new level of understanding and healing of issues like this.

Venus in Capricorn likes the old, traditional ways of thinking and can generate fears about changing or changing too much. But Mercury in Aquarius is an innovative change maker and can find new approaches and solutions beyond the fear and doubt.  Chiron is in Aries now so there is more courage for the process.

Venus continues to be busy through the week – squaring the Lunar Nodes and trining Uranus. It’s a good opportunity to evolve relationships and to bring innovative ideas into the realm of work and finances.

Mars in Capricorn will be making a favorable alignment with Neptune – the planet of dreams and creative visions. This is a good week to work on creative projects.

The Sun will form a Sextile to the North Node this week. This bodes well for collaboration and cooperation with like minded people  or groups. Taking action is key.

The week may have its sudden and surprising events as the Sun moves up to a square to Uranus. It’s a good week to stay grounded and provide extra downtime for the integration of events.

The New Moon at 20 Aquarius is on Friday. The Moon will be squaring Uranus at this time. There’s an old expression in astrology to “expect the unexpected” when Uranus is strong in the sky. It’s a good week in general to nourish the nervous system.

Mercury will be moving up to a square with Jupiter this week – making it a good week to strive for equilibrium as this duo is known for excess.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is , ” a large white dove bearing a message.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

Courage, Equilibrium and the Year 2024

Based on numerology, there is a Tarot Card for each year which speaks of the tone and tenor of the year – what kind of challenges we are likely to encounter and how best to meet them.

Determining the Year Card is a simple process – for  example for 2024, it’s 2+2+4 = 8.

The number 8 in the Tarot deck is the Strength Card.  In A.E.Waite’s deck there is a painting of a maiden in a white dress. She holds a lion’s leash with one hand and with her other, is  gently  closing  the lion’s mouth. She wears a white robe with a sash of red roses, the symbolizing that she has balanced the masculine and feminine forces within her. She has befriended and tamed the instincts within her which when not properly tamed, could get out of control.

It is a card that speaks of  equilibrium, taming forces and courage in the face of fear. There is a lemniscate, (the number eight turned sideways) over the maiden’s head. The lemniscate is a symbol for eternity and for the interconnectedness of all things.

Every year a good friend gives me the gift of a Many Moons Lunar Planner for the upcoming year. It has many talented  astrologers, Tarot Card readers, herbalists and others who contribute their writing.

In the calendar there is always a section on the Year Card.  This year there was a paragraph that particularly caught my attention.

“The Strength Card usually shows up when we need it most :it is a reminder of our own reserves and capabilities in times of upheaval as well as shiny new endeavors. It is a reminder that hard, impossible times are the ones that show us what we are truly made of. To be able to stay open-hearted and open-minded -full of grace and generosity -through betrayals, cruelty and impossible moments.It is a reminder that play, pleasure and creativity or part of a well lived life. This card asks you to stop turning away from that which you desire.

This is the year to do things that will develop your strength and stretch outside your comfort zone.” The Many Moons Lunar Planner

 

 

Creativity, Innovation and This Week’s Astrology

“We need to remember that we are all created creative and can invent new scenarios as frequently as they are needed.” Maya Angelou

“Work is love made visible.” Kahlil  Gibran

The week starts off with a  beneficial trine from Mars and Mercury in Capricorn to Uranus in Taurus.  With this alignment there is the opportunity in  pragmatic matters to see innovative approaches or solutions that were not apparent before.

Mars- the planet of energy and desire – is making a challenging aspect to the Lunar Nodes. This is a bit like Mars at an important crossroad. It is a good time to look at how you are using your energy and power  to accomplish your aspirations.  Can the work or project be done more efficiently or with an innovative approach? If so, this is a good time to start..

Mercury in Capricorn  is moving up to a sextile to Neptune – the planet of dreams, visions and creativity. This provides a  good time for tangible work on creative projects.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A hidden choir singing during a religious service.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

Twists and Turns and the Unexpected

“There is a door. It opens.Then it is closed. But a slip of
light stays, like a scrap of unreadable paper left on the floor.”
Jane Hirshfield

“To live is so startling it leaves little time for  anything else.” Emily Dickinson

It’s wise for the next few days to raise awareness about any information that surfaces that represents a culmination of information. Breakthroughs and a sudden shift in awareness  are a possibility – as Uranus, the planet of surprises, unexpected events and awakening will station direct on Saturday  at 19 degrees of Taurus in the wee hours of the morning in EDT.

Uranus  is associated with the nervous system so it’s wise to make an extra effort to stay grounded and in the present for the next few days. It’s best  to provide down time for the integration of events,

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A new continent is rising out of the ocean.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

Patience, Moderation and Thursday’s Full Moon

“One must choose in all things a mean, just and good. Error and confusion dwell in the extremes.” Pythagoras

“Only with winter-patience can we bring the deep- desired, long awaited spring.” Anne Morrow Lindburgh

This is a bit of an edgy week with the Full Moon on Thursday and the Uranus station in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

The Full Moon is at 12:54 AM  on 1/25 at 5 degrees of Leo. The Moon will be forming challenging aspects to both Saturn and Jupiter.

The aspects in general indicate that it may be be easy to feel distracted or pulled in a number of directions. It’s best to focus on your own aspirations at this time and acknowledge accomplishments and success up to this point.  When Saturn and Jupiter are an influence together it’s best to stay grounded and proceed with focus,  determination and patience.

Uranus will station at 19 degrees of Taurus at 2:35 am EST on Saturday morning.  Uranus is the planet of the future and of unexpected events. There can be more impatience with this influence as well as erratic and impulsive behavior.

Moderation is the key.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A bridge being built across a high narrow gorge.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

Organization, Planning and Evolution – This Week’s Astrology

“If you love your work, everyone benefits.” John Whiteside

“Work is love made visible.” Khalil Gibran

This week is a significant time in the starry heavens – as the Sun in the late degrees of Capricorn is forming a harmonious conjunction to Pluto and then they both move into Aquarius on the 20th.

This is a good week for getting more organized and for working on initiatives for the future. A good launch date this week is January 18 after 2:05 PM EST.

At the beginning of the week, Venus in  Sagittarius will be making a favorable aspect to the North Node – which governs life path and destiny. It’s wise to raise awareness and heed information or guidance which surfaces related to finances, values, self love and relationships.

Also the Sun will be making a harmonious alignment with Neptune opening the door to more inspiration and guidance. It’s a good time to entertain creative approaches.

Mercury in Capricorn is moving up to a trine to Jupiter in Taurus, bringing a good time to expand your thinking – for traveling and learning new things.

Pluto, the god of transformation, is at the final degree  of Capricorn- indicating that you can tap into a culmination of information related to what needs to change and how to go about it. It’s a good time to look at what needs to evolve or transform in your life and your work.

Pluto will enter Aquarius on Saturday and dip back and forth in late Capricorn until November this year when he will transit Aquarius through 2043. If you’re curious about how Pluto is affecting you, get in touch for your 2024 astrology forecast reading.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is.”In winter people are cutting ice from a frozen pond for summer use.

 

 

 

 

Hello Saturn !

“The sign Capricorn is symbolized by the mountain goat, solitary and alone, who climbs to the top of the mountain with patience and persistence. ” Isabel Hickey

“Under a sky the color of pea soup
she is looking at her work growing away there
actively, thickly like grapevines or pole beans
as things grow in the real world, slowly enough.
If you tend them properly, if you mulch, if you water,
If you provide birds that eat insects a home and winter food,
If the sun shines and you pick off caterpillars,
If the praying mantis comes and the ladybugs and the bees,
then the plants flourish, but at their own internal clock.”  from The Seven of Pentacles by Marge Piercy

The Seven of Pentacles is a beautiful card which depicts a woman standing near her a flowering plant.  She leans upon a rake and looks down at her garden somewhat wistfully. She looks as if she thinks that perhaps what she had envisioned  for her plot may not happen.

But the answer is that the garden will grow, just at its own pace.

The Sun and Mars and Pluto are all transiting Saturn- ruled Capricorn  now and we are heading into Thursday’s New Moon in this down-to-earth sign. It’s a good time for pragmatics and long term planning, perseverance and determination.  It bodes well  to slow down, take your time and have patience.

Uranus is a player this week too – trining the Sun. Although due to other influences things may feel limited, the way out is through innovative thinking.

January’s  New Moon is Thursday at 20 degrees of Capricorn. At this time, the Moon will be squaring the Moon’s Nodes of karma and life path  indicating an important crossroad and a more powerful time for intention setting.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A hidden choir singing during a religious service.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill