Forecast Overview:

Here we go folks! Eclipse season is upon us, and what an outstanding freeze-the-frame moment it shall be. A number of staging transits have already been at work to set critical paving stones in place. If you think back, you’ll probably note that something key has been in development since the late summer or fall of 2011, perhaps as far back as the fall of 2010, or even earlier. While astrology can give the heads-up, often we don’t really understand or appreciate the full implication of our experience until we can make use of our hindsight viewfinder.

Out of retrograde since the middle of April, Mars is now on the corrective leg of its lengthy tour of Virgo. Through the third week of the month, Mars will continue a productive (trine) dialogue with Pluto in Capricorn. Completing the triad of a grand trine in the element of earth, Vesta, the safeguard archetype, is also in on the conversation. Together, this trio put the focus on gaps that need filling, the goals and agendas that need tightening, and on procuring and securing that which will better sustain emotional, physical, and material needs.

The Scorpio full moon on May 5 is a super moon. It is the second of three in a row and the second of five for the year. Watch for matters to do with finances, sex, intimacy, trust, and/or survival matters to reach a break-through or break-point. Taxes, debt, bankruptcy, inheritance matters, corporate mergers, crime, espionage, scandal, and corruption, etc. make headline news too. Also on the radar: power-play agendas, a personal or relationship power struggle, secrets or secrecy, obsession, addiction, enmeshment, abandonment, or betrayal. When Scorpio is ignited we face inner or outer demons. We can stumble, buckle, and crumble, or we can find our hidden keys and/or true grit reservoir. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. While we can be undermined, or undermine ourselves, it is also a time when we can make significant and empowering turnarounds.

Building in the first week of the month, Mercury’s opposition to Saturn shortly after the full moon adds a pressure ceiling and a more serious spin. This is a cementing or sobering realization influence. It is one of finalization or finality, of reaching an end or deadline, of taking an official stand or step, of legitimizing the line in the sand. Whether it is goodbye or commitment time, Venus in harmony (trine) to Saturn suggests whatever shapes up has reached it’s time of reckoning. Jupiter and Sedna suggest a big thaw or big freeze/shut-out. Certainly there’s a lot more riding on the moment. We all have more than the usual to face. The full moon could start out as subdued, stifled, or muffled, but don’t be seduced. This is a high impact, perhaps dislodging, carpet-pull full moon. It could be one of economic intensity and market run-offs.  Just after the full moon, we will see more unleashing (crime wave, an outbreak of violence, harsh weather, etc.)  Note the occurrences in your private life and in the world too. This full moon is precursor or a staging platform for the new moon solar eclipse of Nov 13, which holds jurisdiction over the US presidential election.

Venus in Gemini finds an ally in Saturn through most of May. Due to her retrograde cycle which begins on May 15, she will not complete her discourse (i.e. perfect the trine aspect) with Saturn until July 31, a full month after her retrograde cycle completes. Throughout May, June, and July, Venus will prove to be an especially potent and active magnet/draw.

A series of critical planetary aspects from May 7 to 16 are staging for both the Solar Eclipse and the start of the Venus retrograde cycle on May 15. With Jupiter, sun, and Sedna in close alignment between May 11 and 13, there’s a precious lot at stake. (Consider them on the bounty hunt.) Whatever has been held in a captive or frozen state is about to breathe a new life. Venus in retrograde will materialize the unfinished and/or ripe and ready from our karmic storyboard. This potent cycle and the rare Venus/sun alignment of June 5/6 will bring each and every one of us to a destiny-writing chapter of major significance. As stated above, this karmic storyboard is already in development. The plot is about to thicken. Across time and space, and regarding our current stage of evolution, we are developing a multi-dimensional, past, present, and future, holographic platform. The reverberation of the rare alignment of June 5/6 is one of creative transformation pulsing through creation. The Mayan Calendar may end on the winter solstice of 2012, but this rare Venus alignment marks the transition of a new age of Man. This is a key and critical time for the evolution of our physical reality, our conceptual framework, and our soul growth too. It is a profound moment for humanity.

Occurring at the starting degree of Gemini, the Solar Eclipse on May 20 suggests a significant or climatic point for all things and persons Gemini ruled: information, communications, media, social networks, social and cultural trends, transportation, trade and commerce, networks, television, games, sports, and other popular interests, trends and past-times.  New lines of communications can open, social media may make headlines. It can be mobilizing time for important talks, negotiations, trades, amalgamations, social trends, movements or uprisings. Solar Eclipses are event generating, so there should be plenty more information, news, wheeling and dealing, or people in circulation. Twins, neighbours, agents, media moguls, educators, messengers, students, players, gamers, or other popular names in the news are likely to give us plenty more to talk about. Noting that Mercury, ruler of Gemini, is in aspect to Sedna and Jupiter and that all three tenant the sign of Taurus, we are likely to hear of large financial transactions. Watch the money markets for run-offs or sell-offs. Even though our Canadian economy continues at pretty much the same level, there has been talk that the banks are ready to raise rates.  This eclipse may set the stage for Vancouver Cannuck’s goalie Robert Luongo to be traded. (He currently holds a lengthy no-trade contract.) The eclipse can also be one of cover-ups, save your neck first, play both sides of the fence, or opportunistic agendas exposed – or gone wrong. The eclipse is in aspect to Neptune in Pisces (and in wide aspect to Chiron too) suggests stirring potentials are about to unfold/make themselves known. Neptune adds mystery, uncertainty, illusion, deception, and secrecy. There’s more than meets the eye; not all is visible or disclosed, but it soon will be. There is likely to be plenty of political backroom dealings. The controversial pipeline projects are likely to see action from all sides (corporate, political, and public.)

With such important transits covering Gemini ground, it is important not to take things at face value, or to discount something as only a passing trend. On the other hand, it is also important not to make a bigger deal out of something that may be temporary or fleeting. When the trickster side of Gemini is ignited, we can have duality, double talk, double take, contradiction, and superficial, half truths, or second hand information passed on as the whole truth. Ask your heart and you should be able to discern what’s truly what.

The solar eclipse of May 20 is the first central eclipse of the 21^st century to occur in the continental (western) USA. Albuquerque is on the central path. Kanarraville Utah will be a perfect place to view it. It is one of a metonic series and references the solar eclipse of May 10, 1994. Can you identify this date as an important start point or transition? You are at a full circle with it now and are about to move onto the next platform.

Mercury, one of the two rulers of the karmic axis, advances into Gemini on May 24. You can expect the buzz to keep going strong through month’s end.

May 5:   Super Full Moon 8:35 pm (16 Scorpio 01)

May 20: New Moon Solar Eclipse 4:47 pm (0 Gemini 21)

June 4:  Super Full Moon Lunar Eclipse 4:12 am (14 Sagittarius 14)

June 5:  Venus occultation 6:31 pm (15 Gemini 44)

                (Venus/Sun conjunction, duration 6 hours)

May 8: Mercury enters Taurus (10:15 pm)

May 15: Venus stations retrograde (7:33 am) (Venus retro: May 15 to June 27)

May 16: Juno retrograde revisits Scorpio (11:56 pm)

May 17: Pallas Athene enters Aries (9:56 pm)

May 20: Sun enters Gemini (8:16 am)

May 24: Venus enters Gemini (4:12 am)

**Note all times listed are PDT; please check your local listings

Dates to watch: May 5- 7, 8 – 16, 19 – 23, 25 – 27

ARIES (March 21- April 19)

Getting yourself out from under that rock can be challenging through the super full moon May 5. There’s only so much you can try and only so far you can get. Mercury in Aries is challenged by both Saturn and Eris through this first week, so you may find you don’t quite net the results you seek. Even so, it’s worth it for you to keep going. Apply good effort but try not to engage in unnecessary struggle. Your battles may be decided for you, but you have a choice as to how you respond in any given moment.

Mercury advances into Taurus on May 8 and progressively joins the group of planets forming an earth grand trine. May 13 to 16, Mercury in Taurus, Mars in Virgo, and Pluto in Capricorn will bring their grand trine relationship to its peak. In doing so, they serve to lock-in what Venus retrograde is about to call forth.  This earth configuration sets an important corner stone into place regarding the following: finances, professional development, work, working it out, legitimizing yourself or your position, contracts, and/or making it official.

As stated in the intro, it is likely that a situation has been in the works since fall of 2011 and perhaps even earlier. Friends, siblings, neighbours, agents, youth, students, clients, and/or people who populate your everyday world can be key players for you now. Retrograde Venus in Gemini, May 15 to June 27, will animate the unfinished business of this lifetime and others too. That sense of “been here before” is an important clue. You can find yourself on a repeating loop, or repeating similar but different circumstances or relationship involvements. The informing Venus retrograde cycle will take this situation or relationship through a compressed developmental and crystallization period. By the time the retrograde cycle is complete at the end of June, you should have learned, experienced, negotiated, qualified, or hatched enough to see the outline better defined. Look to the end of July for the time when more colour, hue and texture will fill in.

If the first half of the month doesn’t get you up and out of your chair yet, the solar eclipse, launching on May 20 may do the trick. It could thrust you into a social whirlwind. You’ll find more opportunity to meet and greet, to network, market, share or swap. It’s also a time when you can advance writing projects, marketing, or education. It can stimulate ideas, open lines of communications, launch you onto an exploration track, or a scavenger hunt. There can be a movement or a bandwagon with your name on it. This Venus cycle can also prompt you to explore alternative options, or entering possibilities that you hadn’t considered so far. Someone of significance can make a re-appearance. Something you thought was finished or complete can prove to have yet one more go around. Stay open to the moment and take your clues from what is presented in the here and now.

TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)

Holding steady is something Taurus excels at, but working your way out of a rut is usually more of a challenge than it can be for other signs. It’s about to get a lot easier for you. When it comes to self preservation and safeguarding, creative navigation and hedging your best bets, Vesta, Ceres, and Jupiter provide you with the impetuous and ample instinctual know-how. Together they are a clever follow your gut combination. Try it a new way and you should find your new track to be a ready and natural fit.

Mars is on the corrective leg of its tour through Virgo, and although it has likely has moved you forward to some extent, there’s still more critical ground to cover on the road ahead.

The push-come-to-shove full moon in Scorpio on May 5 can totally transform your outer reality. Someone in particular may be a powerful catalyst. You could feel undermined, mesmerized, or empowered by this individual, or by a play-out of circumstance. What may initially look like a loss or even a betrayal could prove to put you on the plus or winning side of things. An attitude, personal, or appearance make-over could be among the best of things you’ve done for yourself in awhile. Go bold, go all the way. Toss the old you overboard. This is a time when experimentation, risk-taking and giving-up-to- get can pay-off big. Of course, I am not recommending for you to be reckless or foolish, but rather that you should allow yourself to open up to/explore what’s already been knocking on your door.

The upcoming Venus retrograde cycle is of major importance to you. As you know, Venus is your ruling planet. While in retrograde, Venus will help you to get in touch with your deeper self, your inner core, your inner reservoir, your deeper needs. The cycle will help you to hold an important dialogue, to play devil’s advocate or to trade places with yourself, to discover a rich, as yet untapped vein of personal resource. Whether you seek through therapy or whether you find your head and heart are simply more sharply attuned, it is a rich time for uncovering the buried treasure held in the safe of your unconscious memory banks. This information can be from the past of this lifetime or of many others. What you uncover is key and essential. It sets your next step/next program into play.

Venus in retrograde intensifies the need to re-center and regroup. It asks you to remember who you most naturally are. It is a time to be your own best lover. Venus in retrograde also increases your personal magnetism and your fertility. You are in a potent call-forth cycle. Take none of it for granted.

The Solar Eclipse on May 20 can drive earning potentials, financial, material and/or relationship circumstances or ambitions. You can be directly or indirectly influenced by others. Watch for something unexpected in the days leading up to this eclipse. Appearances can be deceiving. What looks like a loss or even a disaster could prove to offer an advantage. A new doorway or path can open up where you least expect it. A health matter could flare up unexpectedly. Don’t take unnecessary risks with your body or your wallet.

GEMINI (May 20-June 21)

Mars retrograde may have put you through the grinding mill, but Venus in Gemini (to Aug 7) aims to set you on the visible plus. Venus will attract, enhance, synthesize, and call-it-forth. Receiving good support from Saturn in Libra through May, you should find life pieces it together for you fairly well. This facilitating planetary duo helps you to find/create good inner and outer accord. So much can shape up now. The next three months are a manifesting and crystallization time for plans, ambitions, career matters and key relationships. You are moving into a lucrative contract cycle, actual/material, and karmic too.  Saturn’s influence serves to create greater stability, harmony, and security, even amid change, flux and uncertainty. Venus in trine to Saturn helps to anchor and/or solidify key relationships, especially your relationship with your lover, children, parents, or people who are important to your career aspirations (i.e. clients, financers, and authority figures.)

While Venus is in retrograde (May 15 to June 27), you can find you are just as good on your own as you are when you team up or join forces. Venus retrograde can be a pull-back and/or a heating up influence. Either way, you’ll find yourself in the thick of something major. This Venus cycle will be especially forward thrusting for those born May 26 to 28, and especially fruitful, shaping, and crystallizing for those born June 13 to 16. Those of you born June 3 to 7 are in for an exceptional life-altering year ahead. Key destiny will come to call for all, especially those born May 20 to 24 who will be directly affected by the new moon solar eclipse.

Strongly influenced by Neptune in Pisces, and Jupiter’s alignment with Sedna in Taurus, the solar eclipse on May 20 can spring you free. It can release, unleash, or unchain you, perhaps unexpectedly so. By force or by choice, this solar eclipse can signal a significant bailout or buy-out time. Whether it has been in the works or whether it takes you by surprise, watch for a career opportunity/change can present itself. There can be new responsibilities, a saving grace, or a contract or bank term to negotiate. While it appears that you are ready to do whatever it takes, know you probably haven’t seen the full breadth of it yet. Be careful not to take on more than is reasonable. This solar eclipse suggests hidden elements are part of the package. They could prove to be a hindrance or burden at some later point. Do not sign on casually. Make sure you know what the fine print says. Check to make sure all your necessary provisions or checkmarks are covered, or that there’s an easy out if you need one.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

The May 5 super full moon in Scorpio is a tide turner. Your luck, fortunes, social or love life can be redirected in some significant way. An epiphany or revelation could prompt a major change of heart or mind. A let down, loss, or sabotaged hope could do the same. This full moon may be a precursor, preview, seeding, or launch point for the super new moon solar eclipse of Nov 13. Pay attention to the happenings, the undercurrents, and also to your impressions, obsessions, yearnings and needs too.  Everything is important. Do not discount a thing, especially when it comes to your health, wealth and safety, or that of your loved ones, especially your children. When Scorpio is activated, there’s always something more. Something can be hidden within plain view. The full moon can help you to seize an advantage that another has missed. It can be empowering or tantalizing for you.

The transit of Venus stirs it up from a background position for your sign. Pay attention to impressions, inklings, intuitions, and synchronicities. Stay observant and monitor the trends. Always look to read between the lines, to see what’s behind their eyes. While Venus tours retrograde, May 15 to June 27, it will be a time to review your ultimate ideals and aspirations. It is a time to search for your ultimate social purpose, and that which will provide more meaning for your private life too. If you’ve already found it, it’s time to add another layer to it. Venus in retrograde is an ideal time to hold more conversations with your higher self and with god/dess or Source. Through the beginning of August, it is an ideal time to immerse in study, reflection, or creative endeavour. If you have a story to tell, it’s the ideal time to work on writing that book.

Through the middle of August, Venus is in a staging, incubating, and/or grooming phase. A spark of idea, an introduction or invitation could be the start of something major. Someone who enters your life can prove to be a significant influence or relationship. They can be a special friend, mentor, supporter, saviour, or even a soul mate. When new love or that opportunity of a life time presents itself, savour each step and give each building block your complete and total attention. Even though it is a karmic fruition or recall, we really only pass this way but once. The moment may be fleeting, but the experience transcends this space and time reality.

The new moon solar eclipse on May 20 can set something unexpected in motion. This eclipse is critically staging for your future. You may not realize its full implications or potentials until sometime later. Do not under estimate the moment! Too, this solar eclipse can also start you a new spiritual quest.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Feeling stalled or stuck? Is the pressure or inertia getting the better of you? Running out of ideas, avenues, or courage? The super full moon on May 5 can be a particularly rough one, but one way or another it will pull you out from under that rock. Despite a few beneficial transits, your coping skills are likely to be tested by monumental pressure and hard-line decisions through mid month (at least). Be sure to stay real/know what you are getting into next or you could end up trading one shackle for another. Don’t be casual about agreements or signatures. Don’t divide your attention, time or resources. If you want to ensure the outcome you desire, you’ll have to give it your complete all.

Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, can redirect an ambition, goal, or social involvement. An income source could dry up, be replaced, or need a top-up. It can be time to consider switching career or education tracks, to add another product, to change your marketing or investment strategy. Perhaps a new advisor, agent, bank, broker, lender, or second opinion is necessary. Too, it might be time to change your status with an association, group, or community.

One door closes, another opens, the Solar Eclipse of May 20 can make you see situations or people in a much different light. This eclipse prompts an important script rewrite. It can set you on a hunt for better and more; it can flick the switch onto an alternate way of thinking, a new tangent, plan, or goal. A legal issue, professional contract, important bank matter or financial transaction can consume your priority attention. There cam be important talks to have, campaigns to launch, negotiations to undertake, or scores to settle. A second look or second go ‘round could thrust you onto a completely new and unexpected track. It can move something from the past in a new direction. You could find yourself facing a critical next step and or find the necessity to redefine your line in the sand. What was thought of as a closed door or a done deal can prove just the opposite. It can also be a time to pass the baton, or to lay the past to rest, once and for all. There can be matters of finality, legalities to sort out, or issues to do with parents (living or no longer here). It can be time to rewrite an important script, whether it is an inner tape, a perspective on the past, or a self-defeating attitude. A look back at your history or a review of your progress to date, will add an important clue you may not have seen previously. You are likely revisit, and perhaps to rewrite an important piece of your history.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You have more strength and courage than you may truly recognize. Too, you hold more power and sway than you may think. Through this first week, Mercury and Saturn keep you trudging along. It seems you aren’t about to give it up without a giving it a good show. Look to the super full moon in Scorpio on May 5 to be a tide turner. This full moon can reveal where you may have self sabotaged or where you have been undermined. It will uncover the forces, secrets, mysteries, hidden motivations or reservoirs that are setting your present agenda and reality. Mercury’s opposition to Saturn occurring just two hours prior to the full moon brings you to the end of your endurance test. Saturn in Libra provides you with inner wisdom. If you listen to yourself honestly, you’ll know when to cut your losses and/or when it is worth it to keep going.

Now that Mars retrograde has finished its subjective review and reprogramming, Venus will spend time tuning inward and tuning up too. Due to her slowed orbit (this happens whenever a planet changes direction), Venus will hold a facilitating (trine) alignment with Saturn through most of this month.  Together they will help you to take yourself and your ambitions seriously. They can help you to stay even keeled and committed, to ease your way along; to be self honouring, productive, reasonable, and realistic.

Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, calls forth your unfinished business. Consider the start of the retrograde cycle as the photographic capture or freeze frame moment. You’ll reference it frequently as story-line continues to develop. Watch May 11 to 13. Jupiter, sun, and Sedna are on the bounty hunt, packaging it up for your benefit.

Venus in retrograde will take you through an intensified internal and external re-structuring phase.  It will ask and answer your questions. A career, material, or commitment change is afoot. By the time the cycle completes, you should feel more secure about what’s necessary, advancing, and best for you. You may not know how to connect all the dots just yet, but know that circumstances will set up for you. The last week of June is when Venus retrograde ends and the full thrust action begins.

Although we’ll all see a switch flick, the solar eclipse on May 20 is particularly animating for those born at the start of Virgo. It’s all about your game plans, how you structure them and give them form, how you navigate and negotiate. It’s about how you communicate, with yourself and with priority others, it’s about setting guidelines and deadlines, about representing yourself, about settling the score, proving your authority, expertise, or intent. It’s about negotiating the best deal or contract you can. It’s about accepting what is while you work toward what could be. It’s about retraining and reprogramming.  It’s about forging proper links, and setting the right paving stones in place. This also represents the work of Venus retrograde. The eclipses in November set another book-mark the karmic undertakings and learning of these next couple of months.

LIBRA (Sept 22-Oct 22)

This first week of May can keep you on a pause, a wait, a slowdown, or a flat-line. You are likely to be taking everything more seriously. Too, you can find more deliberate effort is required to simply maintain the average/the status quo. Of course, things may be running okay, but even so, it can always be better. Mercury’s opposition to Saturn will perfect (complete) just two hours before the super full moon in Scorpio on May 5. Look to the unleashing full moon to re-establish a momentum and to juice it or spice it up.  It will release for whatever’s been pent up, developing, brewing, or stewing and launch a fertile, illuminating, and staging platform. The full moon brings major financial and emotional investments, empowerment and improvement mandates, and intimacy needs/issues/interests to a major transition peak.

Venus in facilitating alignment (trine) to Saturn through May helps you to not only hold steady, but to make the most of the moment too. You should find you can connect your dots with more than the usual ease. This planetary alignment helps you to stay focused and dedicated. You should find that you can reason, negotiate, articulate, and explain what’s important to you; that you can make good use of your study and research and retain information readily. You should also find ready acceptance and respect for your expertise and knowledge. It’s a good time to hash out contracts, agreements, and terms, and to set plans in motion. Most essentially, Venus and Saturn will remind you to stay self-honouring.

Once Venus turns retrograde, (May 15 to June 27) you can find the necessity to pull back more. It will be necessary to be more discriminating regarding social activities, and/or investments of time, resources, and heart. A specific involvement, project, plan, circumstance, career aspiration, or financial matter can occupy your priority attention. Venus retrograde prompts you to reconsider your future and to steer it more proactively. Relocation, a study program, a long distance relationship, mentoring, marketing development, or a new goal can be in the mix. You can find yourself working toward becoming a free agent or making significant change to your lifestyle. It’s an ideal time to formulate a new business or business plan. Among the many possibilities for this Venus transit: publishing, performing, expanding your contacts, clients, or repertoire, broadening your experience or sphere of influence.

Venus retrograde is the time to plan, consider, investigate and develop it. Venus direct (June 27 onward) is the time to do/actualize it. Venus retrograde calls forth the destiny that is ripe, ready, and waiting for you.

The solar eclipse in Gemini on May 20 shortens your actualizing time-lines and provides you with a better glimpse of you future. In fact, you’ll see your past, present, and future intermingle. Travel, for business or pleasure, could introduce you to a missing key. No matter what you do or where you find yourself, you will re-meet with a significant key of your karmic history. It could be person, place, or thing.

SCORPIO (Oct 23~Nov 22)

Over this first week, you could spin your wheels or angst needlessly. You can’t push things any faster than they are meant to/naturally go.  However, it is good to keep focused and working toward your objective. Look to the mobilizing super full moon in Scorpio on May 5 and the days following to provide a significant forward thrust. You should also find yourself replenished physically and emotionally.

May 11 to 13, Jupiter, sun, and Sedna can put extra on your plate, plus and/or minus. Although there may be plenty of opportunity, advantages, choices, or pluses, you could reach your saturation point with people, financial outlay, do-good or do-yourself-good programs, or frustrations.  Leading up to the start of Venus retrograde on May 15, this triple alignment is staging. You’ll gain significant insight regarding what and who is most worthy.

Venus in retrograde, May 15 to June 27 takes you through a critical transition. It is a time to finish-off financial or relationship loose ends, and to assess and map what you want to see happens next. Circumstances or relationship involvements may dictate your choices and options. What happens to or for others also creates impact for you.

Venus will transit Gemini through Aug 7. The new moon solar eclipse on May 20 is also in Gemini. Both can push the refresh button in some dynamic way. The eclipse could spark a new idea, plan, project, a new financial avenue or business prospect, an important communiqué or negotiation, or investigative chapter. It can catapult an important alliance, link, or friendship bond into being. Among the other possibilities: a new intimate relationship or a new chapter for lovers can start. For those coming of age, the transits can prompt a sexual coming-out time.

The effects of an eclipse are strongest when they make direct contact to your chart. Déjà vu is a strong hint that you’ve been this way before.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 21~DEC21)

Mercury’s opposition to Saturn in this first week of May can add pressure or force you to work at it harder. The super full moon on May 5 could open up emotional floodgates. Health, financial or relationship wise, watch for something unexpected to hit you or jump out at you. The full moon could offer a healthy release or translate as a good let-off-steam influence, but noting it happens in Scorpio, it’s always good to safeguard or keep something on reserve.

Through July 3, while Mars continues its tour of Virgo, you can’t/shouldn’t coast on your laurels. Stay on top of what’s important to you. To just get by doesn’t cut it well enough. Although I’ve just said that, you will receive good support and benefit from Venus in trine to Saturn throughout May, and again from late July through the beginning of August. Professional, personal, social, and casual relationships should maintain a good communication flow. Isn’t it wonderful when you each know the score, when you can find mutual respect and same page intent?

There’s a reason for everything, and if you don’t know what it is yet, you will soon enough. Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, puts a fated spin on circumstances, especially relationship draws. Watch what builds May 11 to 13, there can be a lot to deal with. Venus retrograde can see you reconnect with a significant other, whether they are from your recent past or another lifetime. They can represent a stepping stone or a bridge, an unfinished loose end, or they can sign on as a permanent fixture in your life.  Venus trine Saturn and Venus retrograde bring destined financial and relationship contracts into being. All Sagittarians will feel the dynamism of the upcoming transits very strongly. Those born Dec 6 to 8 and Dec 14 to 16 will feel the karmic intensity of Venus retrograde and the rare June 5, 6 alignment the strongest. Those born Nov 21, 22 will be strongly influenced by the solar eclipse catalyst of May 20. A new journey begins.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)

You could feel tested and under increasing pressure through to the super full moon on May 5. Despite your good efforts/best foot forward, you can feel thwarted too. Mercury’s completes an opposition to Saturn by the full moon, inching you closer to an important finish line, cut-off point, or a final curtain, but Saturn’s opposition Eris can keep a carrot dangling through this month and next.

The Scorpio super full moon offers the opportunity to clear the air, bare your soul, and/or let off major steam. The makeup sex can almost be worth the fight. A wild night out with friends/on the dance floor could do you justice too.

In closest aspect as her retrograde cycle begins Venus trines Saturn for the entire month. If there’s a way to work it out, you’ll find it. Perseverance is a Capricorn talent; Venus/Saturn keeps you going strong in this regard. This duo also loans you extra tolerance. You can put up with a lot, and if you feel the stakes are worth it, you’ll put up with even more. Whether you find yourself working through a contract that is actual paper or of karmic recall (likely both), Venus and Saturn help you to negotiate the best you can broker for yourself.

Venus trine Saturn can also extend the problem, the pain, the work, the working it out, or the end of the road. Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, can help you to isolate the issue or to address the specifics one step at a time. Venus retrograde can also help you to better self-preservation and self-care (in other words, putting self interests/your own needs first) especially from May 15 to 24. Look to the latter portion of June onward to get yourself on ready, set, go.

The solar eclipse on May 20 can show you what you’ve missed or missed out on. On the positive, it can introduce you to a new technique, formula, solution, or start a new work, training, or healing chapter. Equipment, vehicle, or education upgrades can be necessary. On the more jarring end, it could fire up a new set of problems or challenges, unexpectedly so. Do your best to put safeguards in place and stay alert for clues. One way or another what’s on brew will make itself known. After the fact you may say you should’ve seen it coming, but please remember that you too are only human.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20~Feb 18)

Over the first week of the month, Mercury’s opposition to Saturn finds you facing a difficult reconciliation between life as is and what you feel it should deliver. You may feel boxed in by circumstance or finance, limited by another, or stymied by your own belief system. You could have a sense that the other shoe is about to drop. You may feel impatient to get over a hump, to end the wait, and/or to reach that important finish line. In some ways a future prospect, plan or goal seems to be further off, in other ways, you may feel it is approaching too soon.

It can be hard to keep it stuffed and buried once the Scorpio super moon on May 5 strikes. Once those suppressed emotions hit the surface, they can leave quite a mark.  Keep later regret in mind and try not to be overly reactive or to place yourself in compromising situations, or outright danger. If you can channel pent up energy into something constructive, it could do you great justice.

Venus in Gemini is a benefic influence for your sign. Saturn in Libra can be too. The fact that both these planets are well aligned with each other throughout May suggest that most ambitions, undertakings, and transactions should turn out well. You should find yourself on the plus side, no matter what it may look like in the initiatory phase or the heat of the moment. Venus trine Saturn also suggests you have come to a right place, right time moment. Creative or scholastic endeavour, business, social, and commitment relationships, financial and legal matters, contracts all of kinds (karmic included) relationships with authority, children, peers, agents, etc. – all these topics are favoured by Venus trine Saturn.

Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27 intensifies your ability to attract resources and opportunities. It is a karmic time for key people too, be they lovers, allies, agents, cohorts, team-players, siblings, friends. Watch for this transit to increase your intuitive and creative capacities, your physical agility and magnetic energy field. Venus retrograde is a great influence for writers, visual artists, athletes, dancers, and energy healers. Best of all, Venus retrograde will help you to reconnect with the core of who you are and what you need. The cycle will take you through a priority personal regroup and self re-centering time.

The solar eclipse in Gemini on May 20 launches a fertile and lucrative growth cycle. You may or may not feel its potency as obvious, but know it sets karmic synchronicity into play. All beginnings, introductions, and initiations are highly significant. They are major stepping stones and bridge builders. Don’t under-estimate the fleeting moment. It could leave an indelible mark on you – and on your future too.

PISCES (Feb 19~March 20)

In wait for the check to come in, or in a struggle to balance the books with another? Someone or something could hold it over you through this first week.  Mercury’s opposition to Saturn can put you under added financial or emotional strain. You can feel blocked creatively too. The super full moon on May 5 is a major tide-changer. Opportunity can be found where none appeared to exist. You could find you have more advantage or power than was evident all this time. The full moon in Scorpio can loan you added drive and tenacity. It can make you obsessed too. A little or a lot – and likely the latter – the full moon can revamp your perspective, opinion, plans, or interest level. Just after the full moon peaks, you’ll find the ball rolls a lot faster. May 9 can bring it all together for you.

May 11 to 13, the alignment of the sun, Jupiter, and Sedna suggests the stakes are high and that you expect and/or need a lot from others. It can be a time to raise your prices or your profile. Added effort and investment toward expanding your marketing, products, and services will net the pay-off you are looking for. Overall, Venus trine Saturn for the entire month marks May as a lucrative time to groom/plant seeds. Still, you may have to “pay-it-forward”, especially mid month due to the shift of energy as Venus begins her retrograde tour.

The start of a retrograde cycle can set a play in reverse motion. It can produce an unexpected stall, or the ball can get dropped altogether. That Venus and Saturn are in their closest alignment at the time of retrograde suggests that things can come together well, but there may be stages, steps, prior commitments, or add-ons that will take extend the fresh start, merger, or contract completion time.

The best use of Venus retrograde is to submerge into more processing, study, and observation. It is a critical time to reassess intentions, game plans, programs, wants, relationships and investments.

This high-point, destiny-in-the-making Venus cycle puts an added emphasis on home, real estate, family members and family matters. A particular family member (or two) can face an important career, personal life, or end of life transition. You can be directly or indirectly affected by their changes.

Whether you rent or own, now through the next couple of months is an appropriate/opportune time to search for a new address and/or to aim for a fresh start. Don’t hesitate to move to a new neighbourhood or locality.

Venus retrograde can also be a time of hosting. Visitors show up on your doorstep. Whether from this or another lifetime, watch for key people from your past to reappear. Whether the experience is of a temporary nature, another goodbye, or a make-over fresh start, they will have important unfinished business to share with you. Pay attention to your initial meeting and first impression. It will be a clue as to the nature of the past life karma between you. For some, Venus in Gemini can bring the joy of tiny feet. Adoption brings together those who have travelled a number of lifetimes together. A foster child, an extended family member or a mentorship relationship can produce that same familiar, “been-here-before” bond. There’s no mistake about the people who are in your world now. You have major karma with them.

The new moon solar eclipse in Gemini on May 20 doubles up on this very important Venus cycle. You are at the beginning of a fresh chapter, a new way of doing, being and seeing. You are at the start of the rest of your life. It is a major milestone threshold. You are entering another highlight life moment.

The Saturn/Ceres opposition at month’s start pushes hot buttons to do with personal rights and freedoms, social standards, fairness, justice, hypocrisy, favoritism, boundaries, equitable distribution of resources, and relationship liabilities. Also under scrutiny: the system and how it works or doesn’t work; who’s really in charge/pulling the strings. Watch for both personal and external authority to be “put to the test”. Relationship polarizations and financial pressures can be especially challenging as the super moon rises full on Good Friday.

Advancing into Gemini on April 3, Venus takes an important step forward. Due to her upcoming retrograde cycle, May 15 to June 27, Venus will spend a little over four months on a specific information gathering and evaluating agenda. (Usually Venus spends only a few weeks transiting a sign.) The significance of this particular Venus cycle is due to a number of factors: her retrograde cycle, the karmic axis in the sign polarity of Gemini/Sagittarius, Venus’ current geographic latitude (out of bounds declination), and the upcoming occultation of Venus on June 5/6.  This last point is a major event. I’ll write more about the Venus occultation in future columns.)

Mercury retrograde officially ends on April 4, but resolution, decision making, and envisioning can still be uncertain guesswork through to the illuminating and reconciling super (high tide) full moon in Libra on April 6 and beyond. Mercury began retrograde in inflaming Aries on March 12, but dipped back into dissolving and exposing Pisces on March 23. By April 16, Mercury will re-enter Aries. By April 22, Mercury will form the final of three conjunctions with awakener Uranus. The first two Mercury/Uranus alignments were March 5 and March 18. Each of these “lightening strike” acceleration points have served to progressively inform, inspire, instigate, mobilize, disrupt, shatter illusion, break-down or revamp rationale.

Mars in Virgo completes retrograde on April 13. Since the end of January, Mars has been heating it up in order to draw more alert attention to the driving force behind the experiential steering wheel. In other words, Mars retrograde has been calling for more objective awareness. It calls for each of us to take a step back and into ourselves; to make an essential personal adjustment; to take the initiative to improve, repair, and heal from the inside out; to make productive use of our resources independent of and despite what is or is not occurring “out there”.

This personal regroup and consciousness-raising cycle is the key lead-in for the upcoming Venus retrograde cycle, May 13 to June 27.  Encompassing the first two eclipses of the year, a rare Venus/sun alignment, and the first of the seven monumental/life-altering Uranus/Pluto aspects to occur between 2012 – 2015, this Venus cycle brings us to a karmic intersection of major consequence. Expect to meet with your exceptional destiny in some striking way. In fact, look around you now. It’s already in the works

Ceres enters Taurus on April 9 and Pluto in Capricorn begins retrograde on April 10. Both seeding influences tap into the deeper recesses of soul, they correlate to shadow, reclamation, and re-empowerment mandates.  Mythological Ceres and Pluto (Hades) are siblings. Their current tenancy in complimentary earth signs (Taurus and Capricorn) allows for them to work together to manifest your/our evolutionary mandate in a mutually supportive way. With sharpened attentiveness, relentless dedication, and well-applied effort, the month can finish at a productive, steady, and generating plateau. Ceres trine Pluto provides us something of substance to work with and for. Together they make for a fertile planting season.

Full Moon: April 6: 12:19 pm   Libra (17 Libra 23)

New Moon: April 21: 0:18 am  Taurus (1Taurus 35)

April 3: Venus enters Gemini: 8:18 am

April 4: Mercury in Pisces stations direct (ends retrograde) 3:11 am (23 Pisces 51)

April 9: Ceres enters Taurus: 1:35 pm

April 10: Pluto in Capricorn stations retrograde (9:21 am) 9 Capricorn 34

April 13: Mars in Virgo stations direct (ends retrograde) 8:53 pm (3 Virgo 41)

April 16: Mercury enters Aries (3:42 pm)

April 19: Sun enters Taurus (9:12 am)

April 30: Vesta enters Taurus (9:46 am)

**Please note – all times listed are PST, please check your local listings

ARIES (MARCH 21 ~ APRIL 19)

If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, you will soon enough. The end of Mercury retrograde on April 4 switches the traffic light to “go”. Watch for the full moon in Libra on April 5 to bring relationship, financial, or legal matters to a head or an end. By the middle of the month, the next forward thrust switch will be hit. Look to the end of Mars retrograde on April 13 and Mercury’s sprint through Aries, April 16 to May 8, to stoke a new fire and/or get things cooking faster.

Through July 3, Mars in Virgo will continue to put the focus on work, health, pets, repairs, and improvement mandates. Do what you can, as you can. It all adds up. Again, you should find you can make swifter progress and better use of your time once the Mars retrograde cycle is finished.

April 16 to 23, Mercury supplies you with good fuel. Use this time to initiate, explore, create. April 22, Mercury and Uranus converse for the last of three meetings. Synchronicity is at its peak. Brain-storm, explore, connect, negotiate, discover, participate.

Beyond enhancing your social life, creativity, educational opportunity, and money making prospects, Venus in Gemini, April 3 through Aug 7, walks you through a multi-tiered staging cycle that sets you at both a past life and this life peak. Friendships, colleagues, agents, social networks, and/or siblings figure prominently in this karmic chapter. Déjà vu is a clue to the importance of the moment and/or chance encounters. New friends or interests can ignite a sense of familiarity. Dealings with siblings can have a sense of been here, done this before.

Ceres advance into Taurus on April 9, and Pluto’s switch to retrograde on April 10 can toss something added into the mix. April 9 through 15 can keep the striving alive, but as stated above, April 16 to 23 can be the time when things finally start to come together. By the end of the month and into the start of the next, Ceres in trine Pluto makes for an especially potent and productive seeding time. Working together rather than at cross purposes, they set an especially ripe evolutionary backdrop.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 ~ MAY 20)

Sidetracks and backtracks are to be expected when Mercury tours retrograde. As of April 3 when the cycle ends, you should have better luck regarding work, relationships, and health matters. While there may be yet a battle or two to face or to concede, the strong survives – and thrives. You’ll see what works best or where better advantage lies once both Mercury (April 3) and Mars (April 13) complete their retrograde cycles.

Before things smooth out, there’s the super full moon in Libra to get through. Occurring on Good Friday, April 6, a day off could be a saving grace, as work and health are two areas where this full moon can hit the hardest. Reliability, dependencies, one sided give and take, added expense, broken promises, or lack of good follow through can also be confronting issues. Too, a financial prospect or relationship could be short lived. If it is, don’t dwell on it. It paves the way for something better to come along.

Venus in Gemini, starting April 3, can put you into a better creative flow, especially where the juggling act is concerned. It can help you to diversify your knowledge and/or or to entertain more possibilities for yourself. Too, skills and resources that have sat on the shelf for awhile can now be dusted off and put to use again. Most importantly, Venus in Gemini helps you to hold a more reasonable conversation with yourself. Not only does Venus enhance financial, social, and romantic opportunity, she also enhances biological fertility too.

Ceres in Taurus, April 9 to June 23, takes you through a personal rebirth or resurrection cycle. Along with Venus in Gemini to enhance your prospects, it is a potent time to start a new you and a new life course.

For your sign, Mars in the complimentary earth sign of Virgo will hit its best stride from April 13 through July 2. Occupying one of the best positions in your chart, Mars can help you to create more personal, professional, and material success. Children are you best teachers. Best of all, Mars in Virgo can heal the heart and repair the soul.

The dynamic new moon on April 21 is energized by Ceres in Taurus and the last of the Mercury/Uranus alignments on April 22. You can expect new launches and discoveries to carry an especially vibrant life-force.

GEMINI (MAY 21 ~ JUNE 21)

Maintaining control is always a tricky manoeuvre when Mercury swims through Pisces. Thankfully, Mercury retrograde ends on April 4, but it doesn’t leave the sign of the fish until April 16. Added flexibility is required. Do your best to stay on track but also forgive yourself when you just can’t get there.

Having said that, life is about to hit the fast lane drive, thanks to the end of not only Mercury retrograde on April 4 and Mars retrograde on April 13, but also because of Venus. Due to her upcoming retrograde cycle, Venus will tenant Gemini from April 3 to Aug 7. Leading into to the Easter long weekend and the super full moon on Good Friday, Venus squares Neptune. It is an appropriate transit for religious observance or for taking time off. Then again, this transit flavours the super full moon in Libra. Something important can be exposed that sets a new precedent or priority into play.

Venus is an enhancer and a magnetizer. It will draw people and opportunity to you, so you can look forward to increased popularity and social mobility. Venus in Gemini will get you going more places and doing more things. Try not to spread yourself too thin! It is ideal for the launch of new financial enterprises, relationships, and for enhancing your social or public profile. A style makeover can do a lot for you. If your physical health regime has lagged, this transit can get you back on track.

With Venus in your sign, it’s nice to be on everyone’s pick list, but there may be times when you are overwhelmed by the need you/want you routine.  Especially while Mars in Virgo is retrograde, give and take may be an issue to address.

Mars in Virgo puts the spotlight on personal and home upgrades, family and real estate matters, health, and small business enterprises. It also occupies you with unfinished business, from this or lifetimes past.

The second half of the month can be quite generating and productive, thanks to a creative mix of Aries/Taurus planetary influences.

CANCER (JUNE 22 ~ JULY 22)

Mercury in Pisces can provide you with a fresh perspective on a long standing quandary, goal, or plan. Too, it can increase your options and possibilities. While it is good to expand into new realms, proceed with caution through this first week until the super full moon in Libra on April 6 sheds its full spectrum light. Legal or financial matters can reach a decisive or breaking point threshold. Be careful to read the fine print on purchases, contracts, lease, or loan agreements. Make sure expectations are well laid out and that everyone is clear on the outline of personal or professional agreements. You may be confronted by the fact that you can’t rely on the past, on the previous track record, or on someone in particular. You could feel targeted or treated unfairly by an authority figure. Know that while this full moon is riding you, you can’t get away with much, so make sure to keep it clean. If there’s a residue left behind, the sun’s opposition to Saturn on April 15 can bring this full moon matter to its completion.

Venus in Gemini, April 3 to Aug 7, gets it cooking behind the scenes. In fact, you may have several things on brew at the same time. This Venus placement can increase your intuition and enhances your creative flow. It is ideal time to develop writing or other creative projects, to study, to introduce new product lines or services, or to develop a new line of work. Keep your plans or aces close to your chest until they are more fully developed. Don’t jinx it by letting others offer their opinions, it can run away on you. Nobody has to know if you’ve started a new diet, wait until they notice there’s something new about you. Etcetera. This Venus cycle could start a secret crush or hatch a secret affair. Know what you are getting into!

Once Mars ends retrograde, you should find the kinks will work themselves out of the system better. Starting from the middle of the month, Mars in Virgo helps you to become more productive and industrious. Too, you’ll start to refine the way you communicate or forge relationship links. Through the beginning of July, it is a time to network, socialize, to get yourself better educated, and to clean up your act and your attitude where necessary. Upgrades your transportation or communication devices are likely to be necessary.

Mars now takes you through an important training exercise in the school of life. You’ll learn who and what is worthy, and what or who is a drain or waste. A particular relationship, with a sibling or friend can move through the paces. You may need them, or they may need you. In the second half of the month, you should get a better handle on what’s truly viable. Your efforts will also start to generate more visible results.

LEO (JULY 23 ~ AUG 22)

Have you recently felt that no matter what you do, it’s just a drop in the bucket – that your effort should have proved better results? Gaining ground is always trickier while Mercury tours retrograde, let alone Mars in retrograde too. Then again, if you have been able to face the limitations and have invested yourself in reworking them, then you’ve extracted the best the cycle has to offer. Mercury retrograde ends on April 4 and just a couple of days after Mars retrograde ends on April 13, Mercury will advance into Aries. (It does that on April 16.) By the middle of the month, you should feel you are starting to really get somewhere. Of course, Aries month and Venus in Gemini, starting on April 3, will have already set the wheels into faster motion.

The super full moon in Libra on April 6 can deliver news, social opportunity, or fire you up in some other striking way. Coinciding with Easter weekend, this full moon may simply signal a welcome long weekend break, the joy of getting together with loved ones or favourite folk, and/or a time to nourish your soul.

As the month progresses, it seems you will quickly acclimatize to a new work situation or career focus. You should find you can deal better with authority figures, banks and budgets. While Mars in Virgo suggests there are still holes or gaps to fill, the month end places you at a relatively steady plateau. At least you’ll better know what you are working with and why-for

VIRGO (AUG 23 ~ SEPT 22)

Feeling less enthused or less peppy? As Mars approaches an opposition to Neptune through mid month, you could feel your relationship or your physical motivation is running out of good steam. April can start with great uncertainty but by the end of the month and into next, the direction forward should come into much sharper view.

The stars are busy in the first week of the month. Venus entering Gemini on April 3 can compound matters. Even though Mercury retrograde ends on April 4, things can get even more confusing. The super full moon occurring on Good Friday, April 6 is meant to turn up the light so you can really see what it is that you are working with. When the full moon occurs in Libra, the scales swing to the extreme. You are likely to feel forced to juggle or to make accommodation more than seems fair. Expense or output can ramp up too. This full moon can slam you against wall or see you reach a breaking point. If it isn’t fully completed on the full moon, it could wrap up as the sun and Saturn oppose on April 15 or there about.

Watch Mercury’s advance into Aries on April 16 to set a new play in motion. The pace is fast through April 23. April 22 can bring the unexpected.

You’ll see more shape up once Ceres advance into Taurus, beginning April 9. This influence is a confidence builder and lucrative generator for your sign. Not only will you see more shape up for you, you’ll reach a steadier and more secure stride too, more so in the latter half of the month and beginning of next as it teams up (by trine aspect) with empowering Pluto.

Through middle of August, Venus in Gemini will provide you with a priority education where you need it the most. Don’t waste your time; get serious about career planning and/or job retraining. It’s the right time to revamp ambitions and goals, to uproot or relocate as necessary. Through Venus in Gemini’s first hand education, you will learn to enhance your communication skills so that you can better define your needs, rights, and boundaries. You’ll learn to make adjustments and to assert yourself where it serves you best. You’ll also learn what or who is worth taking on, and who or what is not.

LIBRA (SEPT 22 ~ OCT 22)

Knowing where it’s at, where you stand, or how to play it best – you can blame Mercury’s backtrack into Pisces for the added uncertainty or further unraveling. Take heart, you’ll be on the upswing soon enough. Watch for the super full moon in Libra on Good Friday to show you the ropes in no uncertain terms. Hot buttons can be pushed/polarizations can become even more inflamed, but if so, know the intention for this full moon prompt is for you to take definitive action and to put a stop to it.

Venus in Gemini, April 3 through Aug 7, takes you though a positive growth cycle. Over the next few months, you can greatly expand your knowledge and your experience. Venus in Gemini will introduce you to new possibilities for your future. You’ll find your social and professional popularity grows and that you have more advantages in your corner too. Watch for destiny to set a synchronistic platform. There can be more opportunity to travel, publish, perform, relocate, study, etc. Venus in Gemini will help you to frame a new future and to explore a new you. It’s about keeping your hands on the pulse, and about taking on new involvements.

April 15 can bring you to an end or solidification point. Sun and Saturn can signal an important threshold crossed re contractual agreements, partnerships, and legal matters. April 16 to 23, Mercury in Aries keeps it coming at you fast and strong.

Ceres in Taurus, April 9 to June 23, and Taurus month can help you find greater personal accord, financial and relationship security too. Family and real estate matters can move along better also.

SCORPIO (OCT 23~NOV 22)

Mercury’s backtrack into Pisces has either given you a reprieve or it has kept you swimming in the thick of it like the rest of us. The retrograde portion of the cycle ends on April 4, but continue to stay vigilant and to proceed with extra due diligence for just a little longer. The stars continue on a staging mandate through the super full moon on April 6. There’s also the sun’s opposition to Saturn on April 16, the end of Mars retrograde on April 16, and the final of three Mercury/Uranus alignments on April 22 to get through.

Mercury in Aries, April 16 to May 8, can thrust you back into work and/or work mode. Anything that was sidetracked or delayed can resume. Once Mars goes direct, you can find your efforts are more productive and that you are more effective with the clean up stage. You should find you are able to make better use of your resources and that you can forge better inroads with others too. Through the beginning of July, Mars will help you to refine or redefine the direction forward.

April 3 through Aug 8, Venus in Gemini puts added emphasis on a key investment, be it an ambition, relationship, project, or financial matter. Ceres in Taurus, April 9 to June 23, adds to the karmic potency of circumstances, especially relationship interfacing. People show up or leave for a reason. It’s all part of destiny’s divine plan. Toward the end of the month and into the start of next, Ceres in trine to Pluto can help you to gain steadier ground. This planetary pairing can provide more to work with and toward. It can enhance relationship security, customer loyalty, success in negotiations, legal matters, marketing or creative ventures and professional partnerships.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22~DEC 21)

While Aries stars put you on high charge, the retrograde cycles of Mercury and Mars may have kept parts of your life misfiring. While better progress can now be made, look to mid-month for fuller bounce back. Through April 15, Mercury in Pisces can keep you submerged. Mercury in Aries, April 16 to May 8 sees you laying new tracks. It also gets it all moving a lot faster.

Mars finishes its four month retrograde tour on April 13. Through July 3, Mars in Virgo will continue to keep you ambitious and goal driven. Whether necessity or desire forces you to stay on target, the result is the same. One way or another, the stars want to see you accomplish a lot in a compact period of time.

The full moon in Libra on April 6 can set up something entertaining or social to launch your long weekend. On the other hand, it can ignite a conflict over choices, and/or increase relationship or financial strain. You may feel obliged (or forced) to make good on a promise. Stick to integrity and do what’s right and fair, but also stay true to yourself. Don’t over compensate.

April 22, synchronicity and creativity are well ignited. On this day, Mercury conjoining Uranus sets creativity, ingenuity, and synchronicity into play. Make contact, scout, explore, stay ready for anything goes.

Venus in Gemini, April 3 to Aug 8, puts an added spotlight on key relationships and partnerships. Your social life, product visibility, public profile or involvement can increase significantly. It can be an ideal time to launch a second career or a new business. A new professional or personal relationship can begin, if so, you’ll feel a strong sense of déjà vu right from the get go.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)

As Mars has been traveling in retrograde, a frictional momentum has been building steam. While the sun in Aries continues to stoke the engine, Mercury’s temporary backtrack into Pisces has watered down the intensity – somewhat. Don’t know how to proceed or what to expect next? You can blame Mercury retrograde for the confusion and uncertainty, but don’t expect it to go on for much longer. Mercury retrograde ends on April 4 and two days later comes a super full moon in Libra. Among the issues: contracts, commitments, professional versus personal, financial or relationship liabilities, enmeshments, respect, boundaries. Expect the scales to swing to an extreme again. This full moon calls for you to make it official and/or to define yourself in no uncertain terms. What are you willing to concede, what is a no-go for you? Are your needs being met? Are you being unfairly treated? Is there equal give and take? Is the responsibility or liability all one sided? What can you do to change it? Is it worth it or is it best to walk away?  As Mars works its way to the end of retrograde, it will engage with Neptune by opposition. It can be easy to project what isn’t there or to miss what’s right in front of you, but look to the sun’s opposition to Saturn on April 15 to provide a sharp contrast so that you can better your way clear. April 16 through 23, Mercury in Aries sets you on a faster get-go.

Ceres in Taurus, April 9 through June 23 is your great ally. This is a fertile and profitable influence, so it suggests that your investments can pay off well. Ceres in harmony to Pluto at month’s end suggests you have plenty going for you and that you are making the best of what you have to work with. When good seeds are planted at the right time, you can expect a great harvest.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20~FEB 18)

Venus in Gemini, beginning April 3 and the end of Mercury retrograde on April 4 will help you to regain the ground or momentum you have lost during the past couple of weeks.

As Good Friday’s super full moon rises, more of the bigger picture can colour itself in. Romance, creativity, future prospects, speculative ventures, and/or the spiritual quest rides at high tide. Of course, plenty of questions still remain. Do you have enough faith in yourself and your deserving? How about your faith in another, in the divine, or the divine order?  Do you have a good grip on reality or what it will take for you to get to where you envision you want to be? Trust and legal issues can move to the forefront too. Among the other possibilities for the full moon: important news, a large investment or purchase, a lucrative contract, a win or windfall, social, educational, publishing, or travel opportunity.

Due to its upcoming retrograde, Venus in Gemini will extend her benefits to you through Aug 7. You’ll find your ability to attract favourable circumstances and attention is enhanced. Venus in Gemini augments social, creative, educational, romantic and money-making opportunity.

April 16 to 23, Mercury in Aries can stoke lucrative fires, especially so on April 22 as Mercury aligns for the last of three alignments with Uranus, the synchronicity and “lights on” planet. Seize opportunity as it presents itself. A single moment could be the “it” moment. You could be surprised at how well things fall into place. The sun and Ceres in Taurus help you to lay solid tracks in the latter portion of the month. Feel confident to set long term financial or emotional commitments into place. Investment to enhance home, real estate, family well-being and your own self sufficiency is the best place to bank your resources.

PISCES (FEB 19~MARCH 20)

Mercury’s backtrack through Pisces has lead you to this rethink or start over moment. Venus in Gemini, beginning April 3, and the end of Mercury retrograde on April 4 calls for you to see it from a fresher perspective, to try another angle, option or route.

The super full moon on Good Friday can sharpen your viewfinder and help you to pinpoint what you could not see previously. On a jarring note, the full moon can show you where you may have been overly optimistic or where you have been deluding yourself. On the more positive end of things, a desire could be met, or at the least, it can show more viable promise.

You still have a bit further to go though. Venus in Gemini can keep you juggling or scrambling. As Mars in Virgo winds its way to the end of its retrograde cycle on April 13, it continues to draw opposition from Neptune. Second guessing, self doubt, dissipation of resources, energy drain, weakened immunity, or uncertain circumstances can continue through mid month.

Look to Mercury’s advance into Aries, April 16 to May 8 to refuel you and circumstances too. April 16 to 23 can be the most launching, generating, and advancing days of the month. Finishing out April and leading into May, a predominance in the solidifying element of earth places you at a more stable and surefooted plateau. You should find you have more to work with. Ceres aligned with Pluto set fertile conditions in place for this next important growth chapter.

Waiting for the match to strike its flint? The wait is over. Expect life to pick up speed as of March 2 when Mercury advances into Aries. Mercury will exchange quick notes with Uranus on March 5 and Vesta, the flame keeper, on March 7. These aspects launch a new initiative directed to safety, safeguards, security, protection, securing, self preservation, etc. There can be fences to mend and fences to build, and of course, there are new battles to face. Due to its upcoming retrograde cycle, Mercury will align with Uranus three times: Mar 5, March 18, and April 22. Each of these breakthrough dates will spark the energy in some striking way. Mercury/Uranus aspects can inspire, excite, surprise, incite, inform, announce, invent, liberate, spark, or shock. Mercury/Uranus gets the message and the energy moving a lot quicker; in fact the influence is an instantaneous one. It puts people, ideas and movements into livelier circulation. Occurring in hot brew Aries, it is a feisty, hot-wired, sudden, impulsive, rebellious, reactionary, cutting, severing, shattering, argumentative, and warring combination.

Midday on March 3, the sun will oppose Mars retrograde in Virgo, bringing us to the peak of the Mars retrograde cycle, Jan 23 to April 16. When the sun and Mars oppose, we reach a fuller consciousness in the battle of wills (self to self included). We can better see the target, the goal, the objective; what stands in the way, what needs to be confronted, etc. Stripping it down even further, Venus in opposition to reality check planet Saturn sets the compass dial on the unmistakable the necessities of the moment. Can’t miss it/can’t avoid it now. Reconciliation with reality represents this moment’s critical checkpoint.

Mercury/Uranus can break off communications or stimulate new talks and incentives. A teacher’s strike looms here in British Columbia. (Labour strikes are a common occurrence during Mercury retrograde.) We can see more eruption in Syria and elsewhere.

Who will emerge victorious from the USA Super Tuesday? Noting the Mercury/Uranus aspect the day before and the building full moon in Virgo on March 8, there are sure to be upsets and complaints. The potential for accident, error, failure, loss, or disappointment is a feature of the full moon in Virgo. We can lose treasured ground. It can disappoint or deliver what we don’t want. It can be a matter of too little to late. On the positive, it can offer a platform for healing, repair, correction, and improvement.

Mercury in Aries begins retrograde on Mitt Romney’s birthday March 12. (He was born when Mercury was retrograde too. It’s a signature theme – Mercury will retrograde again on Nov 6, the USA presidential Election Day. Obama was inaugurated during Mercury retrograde too!)

Venus enters Taurus on March 5, the same day that Mercury and Uranus team up. This Venus placement enhances, increases, and attracts. March 11 to 16, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Pluto align in earth signs, forming a grand trine in this element. Even though Mercury turns retrograde on March 12, the middle of the month should be productive, generating, manifesting. It is a peak time for piecing it together and gaining something to show for yourself.

March 18 brings the second of the stimulating Mercury/Uranus alignments. Consider this as another stage setting platform. March 18 to 24, there are a number of planetary alignments to keep the action going strong. On March 29, the day the Canadian Federal Government will release the annual budget, the sun will square Pluto. This launch-pad/new battle aspect re-stimulates the July 1, 2011 eclipse, which has been very catapulting for both Canadian and US politics. Whew! It’s a non-stop, one thing after another, race-is-on, month!

ARIES (March 21- April 19)

Mercury advances into Aries on Friday March 2, and immediately forms aspect to sacred scribe Vesta and the great awakener Uranus. This tight grouping, along with the sun in opposition to Mars and Venus in opposition to Saturn, suggests a specific game plan is its inception stage. Consider these two opposition aspects as outlining and defining. They shine a greater light on conflicts, needs, and goals. On, Monday March 5, the magnetic draw planet, Venus, leaves your sign and enters Taurus. Venus in Taurus serves to materialize that which holds the most value for you now.

All of this is stage setting for the upcoming Mercury retrograde cycle which begins in Aries on March 12. Mercury will tenant your sign through March 23, when it will retrograde back into Pisces. Mercury will revisit Aries just after your ruler Mars completes retrograde on April 13. As such, you can expect that the second half of April will be a dynamic move-it-forward time.

When Mercury pulls back in your sign, it offers a greater degree of separation from the immediacy of circumstances. It allows you to monitor your actions and that of those around you with more objectivity. Once you get it all sorted out, it will lead to greater effectiveness. Mercury retrograde is always a good time for soul searching, for creative development, for getting back in touch with yourself. It helps you to minimize distractions by putting the priority focus on a specific target. March 5, 18, and April 22, Mercury communicates with Uranus. March 21, Mercury aligned with the Sun brings the peak of the retrograde cycle. Expect these dates to put you in the know, to connect-more-dots, to be revealing, instigating, and threshold-crossing in some striking way. In fact, March 18 to 24, there are a number of activating planetary aspects to accelerate your journey.

TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)

Pallas and Chiron in Pisces are in new phase at month’s start. Along with Mercury’s activation in Aries, your budding potentials will begin to form a sharper outline. Too, you’ll find you are more open to exploring the uncharted territory that stands before you. The enhancing influence of Venus in Taurus March 5 to April 3 can increase your self confidence and sense of deserving. It can also attract attention your way and/or draw people to you.  The week of March 11, Venus forms several facilitating aspects, notably a grand trine in the earth element with Jupiter, Mars retrograde and Pluto. Despite the fact that Mercury turns retrograde on March 12, the stars suggest it is an opportunity time for you. Creativity, intuition, and fertility are greatly enhanced. Trust your instincts. No matter how it shapes up for you or what surprises come to pass, know you are being gifted and guided in some twist of fate way. Don’t miss out by letting it slip by. Make sure to use tools you are given.

Off and on, Uranus is activated. Each time it is, you’ll come to another peel-back curtain, realization, or tipping point.  Note the following dates: Mar 3 -5, 17, 18, 23, 24.

Although the retrograde lasts only until April 4, Mercury will dip back into Pisces from March 23 to April 16. While in Pisces, Mercury can re-stimulate your social involvements. As is typical of the cycle, you can re-meet with people who have disappeared from your everyday life. It can also be a time to let go of particular people or associations, or to let go of a lifestyle or a goal that no longer offers anything of significance.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Reinventing yourself? It’s impossible to come up empty when Aries dominates the skies. At month’s start there are six fired-up planetary influences, including Mercury, your ruler and the current ruler of the karmic axis (south node.) Mercury is a busy body in these first few days of the month, so you can expect for your daily get-go to pick up speed. With Uranus as part of the mix, stay alert for the unexpected.

Mercury retrograde, March 12 to April 4, could see you lose time or ground, especially when it dips back into Pisces March 23 through month’s end. (Mercury ends retrograde on April 4, but will continue in Pisces through April 16.) Mercury in Pisces can be a dismantling, or disarming influence. If this is your case, know there’s a good reason for it. Ultimately loss or dissolution paves the way for something more appropriate to come in.

Venus in Taurus on March 5 helps you to explore more of your hidden potentials. You’ll come to appreciate finer, more subtle points of quality over quantity. You’ll crave more sanctuary and relaxation, so by all means carve out time to indulge and escape as you like it best.  Creativity, spirituality, or romance can call to you too.

The weekend of March 17 can be a good time to shake it up a little more. There may be an event to attend. If you don’t have anything planned, let spontaneity choose it for you. There can be a sudden reason to dive in, or to get up and go. As stated in the intro, any time there’s a combination of Mercury, Uranus and Mars or Aries, accidents are within the range of possibilities. Whether on your schedule or unexpectedly so, March 24 through end of the month can be freeing, releasing, or liberating.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

A new reality is setting in. Perhaps it is one that is taking you by surprise. Think back to the eclipses of June 15 and July 1^st, 2011. Did you feel their impact in some striking way? Did your life suddenly take an unexpected twist of fate? Now through May, Pluto’s transit will re-stimulate the sensitive degrees of solar eclipse of July 1^st. Of course, Canada’s birth chart was very strongly affected by this particular eclipse. Our whole political landscape was dramatically changed. Three of our major parties lost their leaders; one succumbed to cancer shortly after navigating a landslide victory for his party. This July 1^st eclipse will also be re-stimulated at the end of the month when Sun squares Pluto (March 28). It’s a new chapter read. Get ready to be cut loose or to catapult head first into something new!

Mercury’s advance into Aries directs the attention to new and pressing priorities. Vesta suggests there are new security needs and options. The best you can do when Uranus fires up is to take it moment to moment. This is not a time to worry so much about the long term, but to do your best with what you have and to take full advantage of opportunity as it is presented. Watch for Mercury and Uranus to speed-up your reaction time.

Of course, with so much Aries firing up, you could come under attack. Accountability can be an especially hot push-come-to-shove button. (It certainly is a hot political trigger for many countries, Canada included.) Those in authority positions can seem unreasonable, reactionary, and at times, even irrational in their demands. Of course, they can be in the mix whenever you run into major conflict. We can already see that the Afghan/USA conflict is on the boil. (The USA birthchart was also strongly affected by the 2011 solar eclipse.)

Mercury retrograde backs into Pisces on March 23 (to April 16). It can re-introduce you to your future through some alternate portal. You could revisit places, faces, truths, or previously held beliefs. Too, you could resume a study, ambition, or project. Mercury in Pisces opens you to a wider range of possibilities and sources. It suggests you have more on the brew than you may be fully aware of. Watch for the end of Mercury retrograde, April 4 to reveal what you can’t see now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

If you have recently felt at a loss, take heart in knowing that Mercury’s advance into revitalizing Aries, starting March 2, will help you to regain a sense of direction. You’ll find plenty of new things to think about and to talk about too. In fact Mercury and Uranus can stir up added excitement, especially March 5 and the weekend of March 17. With Uranus so hotwired, you are likely to be more impetuous than usual. Pretty much everything is a risk these days, but it seems you have more riding on the moment. Go ahead, take a leap of faith – it is a time to put courage first. Still, make sure your higher self agrees before you dive in too deep. It isn’t good to push it on a hard and fast forward, especially in the days leading up to Mercury’s retrograde cycle. If you can wait to make a large purchase or to take some other major action until the retrograde cycle is over (April 4), then great. But, there are times when you can’t put life on hold, when decisions and commitments simply can’t wait. If you have to carry on, the best advice is not to scramble to make it happen, but to respond to life as it is naturally developing.

Mercury returns to Pisces on March 23. This is just after the new moon in Aries on March 22. Watch for a blind-spot or weak spot to be uncovered around this time. (March 4 is also a consciousness raising date.) The new moon may also suggest that it is necessary to go on faith even though you have great uncertainty and can’t see the bridge, the bottom, or the top.

In both your personal and professional life, Venus in Taurus, March 5 to April 3, calls for more investment, commitment, and consistency. Your career and professional involvements can stabilize and grow. Venus in Taurus can bestow greater public favour or bring added praise and acknowledgement from those in authority. Too, it could find you carrying a heftier financial load, but when it comes to professional development or home and family life, it is a good means to an end. Bank and contract renegotiations should go well especially March 14 and 15. These dates are also good for sorting out personal relationship matters.

End of the month, the pace is brisk. It can be a significant release or letting go and moving forward transition. You could surpass an important deadline or scholastic marker. You could cross a significant threshold regarding work, health, or an ambition. The stellar influences could bring a release of significance, or put you on the hunt for new work, greater freedom, or for more recognition.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You certainly have more than the usual to face. Life is asking a lot of you now. Mars in Virgo, continuing in retrograde motion to April 13, makes you especially aware of this fact. It also makes you more conscious of what’s going on inside you and how you have to navigate in order to bridge yourself over to the other side. Precision is paramount in order to balance the scales. Is it where you want to be, what you had hoped for? Perhaps not – or at least, not entirely. Nothing is perfect, it isn’t ideal, but to a certain extent, you have come to accept it may be the best you can do for now.

Mercury’s advance into Aries on March 2 puts an added emphasis on the work that lies ahead. It also offers you something new to plug into. See each day and each experience as an experiment and a teaching tool. You are on a learner’s fast track.

The advance of Venus into Taurus on March 5 should provide you with more relief. It comes in terms of a greater sense of security and fortitude. You intend to see this thing through and that’s admirable. Venus in Taurus is gifting in many ways. It loans you strength and courage, it puts you on the receiving end of the stellar benefits package.

Mercury retrograde dips back into Pisces on March 12. On March 13/14, Venus forms fortuitous alignments with Mars, Jupiter and Pluto. You could find that things go better than you anticipated. These dates can provide second chance to recoup and reclaim, or reach out or connect with someone significant to you.  You may regain lost ground, or you may get the confirmation that was missing previously.

You’ll process and move through even more, March 19 through 24. March 28 through the end of the month delivers yet another threshold crossing of significance.

LIBRA (SEPT 22-OCT 22)

Past this first weekend of the month, you should feel you have a clearer sense of direction. Circumstances can dictate the way forward. Venus and Saturn bring you to a significant finish line but it will already be a thing of the past. Your next evolutionary mandate is already in motion. Mercury in Aries, beginning March 2, brings new reason to get up and go. Mercury conjoins Uranus on March 5, so watch for the week to get off to quick start. There can be new fires lit or new battles to launch/face. Mercury and Uranus in Aries can be stimulating and exciting, but it is also one that hits the hot button. It can spark a breakthrough, break-up or cut-off point. While Mercury/Uranus can be an especially clever or stroke of genius combination, it must be mentioned that it can also be provoking, disruptive, attacking, volatile, or accident prone.

Mercury will make contact with Uranus three times: Mar 5, 18 and April 22. Watch these stimulating dates for new insights, information, social opportunity, etc.

Giving your more to work with and to work toward, Venus, your ruler, advances into Taurus on March 5. This influence can enhance finances and intimate relationships. Venus makes you more aware of what you want and what you need. March 13 and 14, Venus forms a grand trine alignment with Jupiter, Mars, and Pluto. Even though Mercury has just turned retrograde, it is an opportune and come together time.

The full moon on March 8 is likely to make you aware of something you missed or could not see previously. It can bring added work, schedule, or health challenges, or conversely, help you to find better solutions.

Don’t be too quick to call it a done deal. The new moon in Aries on March 22 brings something new to address or to add. March 23 through March 16, Mercury will back into Pisces, again re-emphasizing work, health, schedules and such. It is wise to put extra safeguards in place (back up your computer, pay attention to details, watch your driving and your valuables) and to pump-up your immune system. Regarding making it official, confronting an issue, or getting a move on, March 28, can move you to the next square on the game-board.

SCORPIO (Oct 23~Nov 22)

A new ambition, project, or challenge can get you all jazzed up March 2 to 5 as Mercury advances into Aries forms aspect with Vesta and Uranus. Along with the sun in opposition to Mars, and Venus in opposition to Saturn, you should see things take shape in some definitive way. March 5, Venus advances into Taurus, showing you the value in the act, and who or what is most worthy. As things move along, you’ll learn how to make the most of what you have to work with.

Just after Mercury turns retrograde on March 12, Venus will form a grand trine in earth with Jupiter, Mars retrograde, and Pluto. This “stepping-stone” combination should add more definition to ideas, plans, and relationship matters. Mercury retrograde is always a time when planned or not, you find yourself reconnecting with places and faces.

Mercury dips back into Pisces on Mar 23, staying in this sign past the end of the retrograde cycle (April 3) to April 16. While in Pisces, you can revisit, re-establish, repeat, or recreate with good success. It is favourable for gaining added attention, for creative enterprise and for journeys of the heart.

The full moon March 8 could bring unexpected news, visitor, or extras to deal with. You could be directly or indirectly affected by circumstance. You could stumble upon some thing useful, or there may be social opportunity. Take care not to over-extend yourself. The days following could bring more involvement or headache than you have bargained for. It’s great if you can take a break March 18 to 24. If you can’t, there’s probably plenty of new ground to cover. March 29 is also threshold crossing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22~Dec21)

Stay ambitious and keep forging ahead. The first weekend of the month can be surprisingly productive – or animating. Mercury’s advance into Aries, March 2 to 23 sparks creativity, imagination and showmanship skills. It provides you an extra edge. Aligned with Uranus, you may find yourself on a sudden race track or taking sudden flight especially March 5. March 18 and April 22, hot-wired Mercury and Uranus will do the same again, although the alignments will deliver something new each time. You can’t help but take risks, especially when the stakes are so high, but know that Mercury and Uranus are accident prone, so watch yourself on the ski slopes, ice rink, etc.

The advance of Venus into Taurus March 5 to April 3 puts an added emphasis on having something to show for yourself and your efforts. Where you have passion or need, you should find you have good stamina. Your efforts are supported by a grand trine in earth from March 11 to 16. Even though Mercury has just turned retrograde, the grand trine helps you to hold steady where it counts the most.

Mercury turns retrograde from March 12 to April 4. From March 23, through the end of the retrograde, to April 16, Mercury will revisit Pisces. This influence will help you to get in touch with yourself more. Escape can be on your mind. There’s less need to verbalize it, your emotions say it all. It is a good time to seek sanctuary, to study and reflect, to allow yourself a catch-up or cut-out time, to clear your clutter, and to simply as much as possible. It is also a time to work on the creative end of a personal, home, or business project. Expect the entire month to keep you going on one thing after another. The month will finish as busy as it starts.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)

Off with the old, on with the new. Start of the month catapults you into a new home or home situation and finds you motoring in the fast lane. Mercury in Aries, March 2 – 23, can make you feistier than usual. You are especially quick on the uptake and quick to react too.  With Uranus thrown into the mix, when the urge strikes or when you feel provoked, you won’t hold back much!

Venus in Taurus, March 5 to April 3, brings you a stronger sense of your own worth and worthiness. It provides you with creative juice and it favours your love life too. In fact, even though Mercury has just begun retrograde, you’ll receive the full benefits package of Venus, Jupiter, Pluto and Mars on March 13 and 14. This good stellar run can extend from March 11 to 16. You are in an attractive cycle, so use it to your advantage. It’s an ideal time to promote yourself or your business, to scout for new work or other opportunities, to develop a creative project, to open lines of communications where it counts the most. Spring break is well timed for some. It is a good also time for vacationing, socializing, and pleasure seeking.

Just after the new moon in Aries, March 22, Mercury will dip back into Pisces. Expect to revisit conversations, negotiations, or plans. As is typical of the cycle, serendipity can reconnect you to people you’ve lost touch with.

The last two weeks of the month are just as busy as the first of the month. It’s one thing after another the whole way through. March 29, the sun and Pluto find you surpassing yet another significant line in the sand.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20~Feb 18)

Feeling stuck or at a loss? You won’t be for long. Past this first weekend of the month, you may feel like someone opened a window and let you out. Mercury in Aries, March 2 to 23, provides fresh incentive, new interests, and distractions. This Mercury placement helps you to sharpen your game. It sparks quick wit and clever thinking. Mercury aligned with Uranus can deliver the unexpected, plus and minus. It stimulates inspired initiatives, tantalizing discoveries, new opportunities, same page accord, strokes of genius, amazing insights and synchronicities. It can put you in the right place and time. On the other end of the spectrum, things can jump out at you unexpectedly. When Mercury and Uranus ignite, they can be reactionary or accident prone. Use added caution behind the wheel, especially Mar 5 and 18. Too, impetuousness can get the better of you. While to jump in deep can be exciting, know what you are getting yourself into!

Mercury begins retrograde in Aries on March 12. This is a cut-out or back up influence. An added degree of separation will serve to open up your awareness and objectivity. Too, necessity could require you to pull back or cancel out of plans and involvements because your attention is diverted elsewhere.

Mercury backs into Pisces March 23 to April 4. As it does, more of what has been brewing will reveal itself. At the same time, there can be added confusion, uncertainty or loss. Mercury retrograde in Pisces can bring unexpected expenses, or challenge your immunity or safety, emotional, financial or physical. Feel your way along and you are likely to create advantage where you didn’t see it previously. This is especially so in the middle of the month, specifically March 13 and 14, as Venus forms a grand trine with Jupiter, Mars, and Pluto. Watch for the brewing potentials to take more shape and form. In the manifesting element of earth, this grand trine favours career, investments, finances, and relationship matters. If you have to sign contracts or make commitments during the Mercury retrograde cycle, this is a good time to do it.

The new moon on March 22 is also stage setting. March 24, the sun aligns with Uranus. March 28, the sun is compelled by Pluto. Expect to be on a continuously developing forward thrust from month’s start to finish – and to keep going on the fast track through the entire spring season.

PISCES (Feb 19~March 20)

By the time you get through this first weekend of March, you will have some of your more pressing questions answered. Once you do, you’ll know what your next play will be. Mercury leaves Pisces early March 2, but it won’t be gone for long. Due to its upcoming retrograde cycle, the messenger planet will come back for a revisit to Pisces March 23 through April 16. From March 2 to the start of it’s retrograde on March 12, and through to the early morning of March 23, Mercury will tenant the sign of Aries. You’ll find yourself on a fired up initiative throughout that time. In actuality, you are already on a fired up program, but Mercury’s shift of gears will take the attention off eventualities or the broader picture, and keep your attention more narrowly focused on the immediate objectives.

Venus advances into Taurus on March 5, the same day Mercury and Uranus align for the first of 3 dialogues. The other two threshold crossing dates to watch are March 18 and April 22. Venus in Taurus brings a finer appreciation of the people in your life. It increases social pleasures and creates harmony in communications. You’ll get more value out of your daily get-go and you’ll find yourself able to create more consistency in your communications, presentations, plans, etc. Of course, you could spend more too.

Venus forms a harmonious alignment with Jupiter, Mars, and Pluto mid month. March 13 and 14, things can fall into place quite beautifully, perhaps surprisingly so. It’s of enhancements, of getting yourself better organized. Even though Mercury begins retrograde on March 12, March 11 to 16 you’ll find you are better able to go with the flow, no matter how imperfect it is, or what’s missing. It’s a good time to “let go and let God”.

The new moon in Aries on March 21 through March 29 can rev it up for you up again. Expect to be motoring along at a good clip through month’s end. Where there’s a will, there’s a pathway!

February Forecast Overview:

On the morning of February 3, Neptune’s charter enters Pisces, its ocean home. The last time this happened, California dreaming was gold rush driven. As the last vestiges of slavery continued to divide a nation, Lincoln would become president, Marx and Engels penned the famous phrase “Workers of the world unite” and a revolutionary wave rocked the capitals of Europe.

Today, instead of a gold rush, there’s a race on for oil. Instead of slave to master, we are tethered to the dwindling pay-check and to rising taxes. Every 165 years, Neptune in Pisces removes the blindfold so that we may see again. It prompts the re-envisioning of a reality that will eventually transcend beyond the constraints of the existing social world order. It provokes a more urgent search for collective and personal redemption. To this cause, we must surrender in totality. Through 2026, Neptune in Pisces will represent as a major signature of the times – of this, mankind’s transitional epoch.

Neptune’s entrance into Pisces on Feb 3 may sweep the spotlight away from the Canadian federal budget and the mud slinging White House race while anticipation builds for Super Bowl Sunday.

Hours prior to the full moon in Leo on Feb 7, Saturn in Libra begins retrograde. Acting like a release valve, Saturn retrograde serves to unblock that which has been building momentum and is now sufficiently fueled for action. It dismantles the outworn rationales prompted by “I should”, and instead refortifies personal will to reclaim empowered self rule. The Leo full moon delivers an unmistakable message. It calls for you to recognize yourself as a creator extraordinaire. If you are not happy about what is occurring in your life, then it is time to risk on a new wind. Set a new goal, experiment more and angst less. Where there’s a spark, there’s fire. A few short hours after the full moon peaks, Venus advances into passionate and driven Aries. Aries is a spontaneous energy, let it inspire and energize you. Through mid month, Venus and Ceres in Aries will continue to stoke you with enough fuel to get you up and at ‘em.

It seems we’ll have something extra to talk about as moon rises full. It isn’t Super Tuesday in the USA, but even so, the day can produce a significant buzz. Mercury and the sun in Aquarius align in the early hours of Feb 7 adds a spark and blasts more into circulation. An announcement, discovery, a new trend, or unexpected news awakens “movers and shakers”. Politics may take a twist, perhaps surprisingly so. Will Gingrich concede? Speculative markets are likely to see especially high volume. There can be protests, disruptions, or eruptions. Perhaps we’ll see weather extremes too.

Get a move on as best you can and make productive use of your time and energy this month. Looking to impress the one you love? February 13 could be even sweeter than sweetheart’s day thanks to Mercury’s exit out of Aquarius and into romantic Pisces. By February 26, Mercury will begin to set up for its retrograde cycle which begins on March 12.

February 7: Full Moon: 1:54 pm (18:32 Leo)

February 21: New Moon: 2:25 pm (2:42 Pisces)

February 3: Neptune enters Pisces (10:52 am)

February 7: Saturn in Libra turns retrograde (6:03am) (29:30 Libra)

February 7: Venus enters Aries: (10:01 pm)

February 11: Pallas Athene enters Pisces (9:05pm)

February 13: Mercury enters Pisces (5:38 pm)

February 18: Sun enters Pisces (10:18 pm)

February 25: Vesta enters Aries (11:03 am)

**All times listed are PST

Activated dates: Feb 1, 7, 9, 10, 12 -15, 19, 22, 23.

ARIES (MARCH 19 ~ APRIL 19)

It seems you have something newly brewing at month’s start. Once the moon becomes full, you’ll discover what has so far escaped your consciousness or view. Over this first week, Mercury’s building alignment with the sun can keep you immersed in social activity, or conversely, it can find you aiming for extra breathing space. Think-tank, study, or investigation time is a good focus for now.

Along with the full moon in Leo, Venus in Aries, February 7 to March 5, will light a new fire, perhaps surprisingly so. Feb 9, Venus aligns with Uranus – let spontaneity take the lead.  Feb 14 can bring push come to shove, see you step over a significant threshold and/or make a major breakthrough. You could feel forced to take a stand or declare yourself in some definitive way. A new concern, direction, investigation, or dialogue can launch. Feb 18 through 22 stirs the Pisces depths. Allow the natural currents to take you where they will. Seek sanctuary or spiritual replenishment; rest, slip out of view, conjure, wander; let romance and the creative muses whisk you away.

TAURUS (APRIL 19 ~ MAY 20)

The benefits of Neptune’s advance into Pisces are not to be underestimated. Neptune will open you up to yourself in a way you have not yet fully experienced. As time advances, you’ll feel better integrated, within yourself and in relationships in general.

Allow yourself to dream and to envision where you want to be. If you can’t see it in your heart and mind, how can you expect to get yourself there? Neptune now prompts you to put your creativity to work and to aspire higher.

Mercury aligned with the sun over this first week proves there are more ways to you to reinvent the wheel. Explore new avenues, try a new hat on for size. A new career ambition or project may be just the thing that will build a better bridge into tomorrow. The full moon Feb 7 can illuminate you or catapult you in some unexpected way. You could face an important decision or bare it all talk. The full moon can bring something unexpected to do with home or family matters. When you play your cards right, there’s opportunity for the taking.

Feb 18 through the new moon on February 21, the stars ease you along. Things should progress quite well around this time. The groove is good, so you could coast or bide time and get by just fine, but you’ll seize the best advantage if you apply yourself while the getting runs so smooth.

GEMINI (MAY 20 – JUNE 20)

Ambition looks good on you. Through the full moon Feb 13, Mercury in Aquarius keeps you buzzed up and welcome to new possibilities. Your creative inspiration and ability to make good connections is now at peak. This first week of the month favours attention seeking. Promote, apply, sign-up, study, negotiate, circulate, socialize.  Good things can happen when you least expect it. The informing full moon on Feb 7 can deliver exciting news or an unexpected advantage, good deal, or opportunity. It can bring an occasion to flirt or to show off. The full moon may also provide you with an extra edge of luck or good timing. You could score a good deal. On another note, you could give in to extravagance, indulge in an added luxury or guilty pleasure, or be prompted to take a greater than usual risk. While an educated risk is an opportunity in the making, don’t gamble with what you can’t afford to lose.  Feb 15 can be a day to cut your losses, to let it go, to move on to something new.

In the days prior to and following the new moon on February 21, allow yourself and others extra margin. Creative rather than left brain work is recommended. New prospects or potentials can bud, but don’t bank on the promise until you give it the test of time. If you have to submit paperwork, sign official forms, or renegotiate legal or financial matters, make sure to read the fine print. The propensity for missing important details is higher than usual. Your health and your susceptibility to advertising is more vulnerable too. Make sure to clarify agreements, plans, and intentions so that it doesn’t come back at you later. Mercury retrograde is soon upon us. Don’t fall asleep at the wheel!

CANCER (JUNE 20 – JULY 22)

Neptune’s travel through Pisces will open you to life in ways you can’t imagine now. You’ll feel more attuned to the world and to your higher consciousness too. Your intuitive faculty can grow stronger; your spirituality can gain new life too. For some, this Neptune placement will prompt a vocational calling of great purpose. For some, it can set the stage for fame, for others, true love.

On the more immediately level, over the first week of the month, Mercury’s alignment with the sun can dish up a new financial opportunity. This planetary pairing can also help you to shatter through your own psychological, emotional, or relationship ceilings. What you discover, about yourself or another can be significantly life-altering. The full moon in Leo on Feb 7 is accompanied by Saturn in Libra beginning retrograde in the early a.m., and Venus (ruler of Libra) advancing into Aries by late night. That’s quite a stellar boost. Watch for a personal breakthrough moment, a revealing exchange, or for a sudden change of course. A relationship, legal, or financial impasse can suddenly give way.

Don’t be afraid to give up to get. Mercury’s advance into Pisces by Feb 13, the sun’s advance into Pisces on February 18, and the new moon on Feb 20 dish up your most opportune portion of the month. Relinquish as the moment dictates, follow the natural river flow, stay confident in your creator self. The universe is abundant, even when you can’t recognize that it is.

LEO (JULY 22 – AUG 22)

Fresh starts, next bests, second tries. You are currently steeped in a discovery process that calls for significant experimentation. Stay observant, open to possibilities, and reserve judgment until you have explored more. Mercury’s building alignment with sun over this first week of the month suggests you are crossing a lot of new ground. Someone or something in particular can have you quite buzzed up and/or keep you guessing. So much is up in the air. There’s extra risk to face. Even though you seem to be very aware of this fact, you can still be taken by surprise.

One way or another, the full moon in Leo on Feb 7 will put you in the know. You could have a sudden epiphany or shatter through a personal mindset or impasse. A financial, legal, or relationship matter can suddenly see progress too.  Once past this threshold peak, you’ll find yourself off to the races. Circumstances will fire up or play out fast, especially in the days immediately following the full moon. (Feb 9, 10.) By mid month (Feb 14, 15) you’ll know better where it will lead/settle. Venus in Aries, Feb 7 to March 4, offers fresh perspective and new opportunity. February 18 to 22, go with the flow rather than to push or strain. What’s brewing or possible will naturally reveal itself. If you feel confused or uncertain, pause until you gain a stronger signal. If you still must take action, keep bottom lines in mind, clear your clutter, and aim for what is simple, most productive and useful.

VIRGO (AUG 22 – SEPT 22)

Over this first week or so, Mercury in alignment with the sun can dish up a new challenge for you to face. Positively, this aspect could introduce you to new techniques, solutions, training programs, or job prospects. Someone in your daily get go can create a significant impact, plus or minus. If you can’t quite figure it out how to navigate, look to the revealing full moon on Feb 7, to clarify more and show you how to play it next. A creative insight, lucrative potential, or helpful information can get you re-juiced and/or recommitted. Once Venus lights a fire in Aries, late on Feb 7, you’ll find yourself on a much faster track.

Over the coming year, Neptune’s advance into Virgo will be especially influential for those born around Aug 22, but of course, each of us will attune to Neptune in our own unique ways. For all Virgo folks, Neptune in Pisces will open you up to yourself and the world around you beyond what you have experienced so far. The prompt advocates that you dissolve the consciousness of “I can’t” in order to embrace “I can” more fully. Neptune asks you to lose yourself in order to find yourself – in other words, to surrender who you’ve been in order to step more fully into who you are. Give yourself full creative licence and try a new you on for size.

Feb 18 through 22 can find you completely immersed. These few days can make you conscious of something you had not before considered or realized. You can be especially emotional responsive, perhaps even overly-sensitized to your surroundings. Immunity may be lacking, so make sure to safeguard your health and don’t let yourself get talked into things that are costly or an imposition. On a positive note, Feb 18 to 22 are ideal for dreaming, conjuring, and creative expression; for spiritual replenishment, or a romantic interlude.

LIBRA (SEPT 22-OCT 22)

The full moon on Feb 7 can produce unexpected excitement. You could have an announcement or news to share. Someone could make a surprise visit or entrance into your life. (If your due date is around this time, know the delivery could be an especially quick one.) A windfall, prize or contest win is within the range of possibility. Try your luck with a radio contest, a scratch & win, put your name into the hat, etc. – but don’t risk what you can’t afford to lose. A concert, game, or some other great entertainment can give you plenty to talk about too. Aspire higher, raise your own bar. It’s an ideal time to show off what you can do or to take a stand on something that matters deeply to you.

A new romance can make you feel like you’ve been struck by destiny’s thunderbolt. When it’s right for you, you’ll know it in no uncertain terms. Regarding new interests, relationships, independence, or ambitions, watch for Venus in Aries, Feb 7 to March 4, to keep the fire going strong and to speed things very quickly along.

Neptune in Pisces, beginning Feb 3, and Pisces month beginning Feb 18, adds emphasis on finding more meaning and purpose, in your work and in your life in general. Volunteer activities or concentration on spiritual development can fill in that missing something. Even if you feel you have no time for the extras, know every drop in the bucket adds up. Over time, each thought, each prayer, each contribution will serve to quench the ocean’s needs.

SCORPIO (OCT 22 ~ NOV 21)

“Have to” can weigh heavily on you now. You can feel particularly strained between the crosscurrents of stop and go. Psychological or emotional pressure can get the better of you in this first week of the month, but watch for the full moon catalyst to be a stress reliever. Accompanying the full moon, Saturn’s turn to retrograde and the advance of Venus firing up in Aries can disintegrate blocks, doubt, dilemma, or resistance. You should find you can harness the drive and opportunity you couldn’t claim previously. In fact you could be surprised to find that moving it forward is much easier than you have anticipated.

Neptune in Pisces is a realigning and softening influence. It can also be an exposing influence, making you more obvious to yourself or to others. Positively, the coming Neptune in Pisces years will make you more pliable (in the best of ways), more open to sharing more of yourself, and more willing to explore beyond where you have been so far. It can keep you inspired and hopeful regarding love and life in general. It opens up new potentials and can help you to resource more of your natural talents and creativity. Feb 18 to 22, you can feel very much at one and/or at peace within yourself. Should you find yourself lost within your thoughts or heart, or floating “elsewhere”, well that’s fine too. A temporary escape or cut-out is as good as a rest. This is a great few days to submerge yourself; to dive into a creative project, to seek sanctuary and healing, to gift yourself more, to let romance sweep you away, or to let go and let God. It’s also a good time to start a marketing campaign. For some, Neptune in Pisces can open the pathway to your ultimate path of service. For some, it is a fame generating influence.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 21 ~ DEC 21)

Neptune in Pisces, beginning Feb 4, ushers you into a poignant life chapter. It is one that will find you craving more time to escape into the recesses of your consciousness. This is where you conjure and create the best, where you can commune directly with your soul. Peace, quiet, solitude, privacy, and spiritual replenishment will become even more vital a requirement. This Neptune placement and the Pisces concentration later in the month, especially Feb 18 to 22, can make you especially responsive and sensitized to environments, moods, and people. Too, you’ll find that you grow more protective regarding your family and those closest to your heart. As Pisces month gets under way, your vulnerabilities can be exposed. This can be a good thing when it sweetens the moment, but of course it is not such a good thing if you feel it marks you as prey.

On another note, it is important to face yourself honesty. Are you hiding something that you know is not in your best interest? It’s an ideal time to come clean with yourself and to seek professional help if you have addictions, food issues, etc.

The match-strike Leo full moon on Feb 7 (and the few days following) can be the highlight of the month. Luck and synchronicity is on your side. You could receive special attention, good news, a surprise invitation, a gift, or an award. Watch for someone or something unexpected, and be ready to take a big leap of faith.

CAPRICORN (DEC 21 ~ JAN 20)

While subtle, Neptune’s advance into Pisces can usher in a breath of fresh air. If you are sensitive enough, you’ll notice that you have a new attitude or approach to life, and that you have begun to express more of yourself. As you attune to Neptune, you can find it is easier to tap into your creativity and natural resources; also that it’s easier to simply be yourself in social situations. This natural progression fits on you like a glove.

Over this first week you can expect to stay busy, both physically and mentally. You can come up with some clever creative ideas or you could discover more lucrative money-making prospects. It is wise to also turn your attention to financial improvement. Better progress can be made.

Too, Mercury and the sun can stimulate a fresh perspective on wants, needs, resources and capacities. Progressively, you’ll get clearer on an issue, relationship, plan, or goal. To a large extent, you can feel like things are really coming together very well. Your intuition can partner with a great sense of timing. Act or speak up when the impulse strikes. Even when the results aren’t what you expect, understand it as a piece of the bigger picture puzzle.

If you find yourself channelling your inner rebel, there’s like to be a root cause. Don’t stuff it, observe and analyze instead. It can be an appropriate time to push your boundaries or to be a risk taker, just make sure you stay smart about it.

This first week of the month can also find you wrestling or racing ahead of yourself. Premonitions or intuitive flashes are worth heeding. You could feel anxious to see what’s around the corner or to get onto that fresh page. You’ll get there soon enough. Watch the triggering full moon Feb 7 for a release, a momentous meeting or exchange, or to put you in the know, perhaps unexpectedly so. Relationship or financial matters can reach a break-though or breaking point. From here, you’ll be able to navigate your way with a freer conscience.

Once Pisces month begins (Feb 18), a new trend, study, interest, or remedy could grab hold of you. It (or they) could be just the ticket. Follow what builds most naturally. It could lead you somewhere good.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 ~ FEB 18)

A new objective or interest seems to have claimed your attention. You’ll stay peaked and curious right through the full moon on Feb 7. In the mood for a makeover? Shake it up a little, change it a lot. Whatever strikes your fancy.  Through this first week, Mercury and the sun bring the ideal time to hit your own refresh button.

On another note, this first week can see you grow more consciously aware of your instincts, impulses, and reactions. You could have a sense of watching yourself in a mirror. Your heightened perception can be a great teacher, listen up!

On Feb 3, Neptune will leave the sign of Aquarius for good. You’ve had plenty of time to try life on for size. Neptune’s advance into Pisces will help you to utilize and apply what you have learned so far. You’ll reclaim and resource more from your hidden depths. Positively, this Neptune placement can help you tap into more of your creativity and potentials, to feel better integrated at the core. If you find yourself feeling uncertain or confused, remember to respond rather than react and you’ll eventually get yourself back on track.

The full moon can bring an opportunity for new independence and a fresh start. It can be an ideal time to launch a new business venture. Someone significant could make their presence or intentions better known. A first meet and greet, an invitation, an intuitive flash, news, a new contract or relationship is a start of so much more to come.
PISCES (FEB 18 ~ MARCH 19)

Neptune’s advance into Pisces will open you up to life in ways you have not yet experienced. Now and over the coming years, this bigger picture transit positions you at ripened stage of soul evolution. You are just at the start of so much more coming down the pike. Maintain faith in your deserving and don’t ever give up on your dreams!

In the more immediate program, start of the month makes you very aware of the world around you – what’s missing from it, and what it will take for you to move from A to B. Relationship and financial matters come into sharper view now too. You’ll see that some of the writing on the wall is too obvious to be ignored any longer.

Over this first week, stay observant and act on your intuitive flashes. Tuesday’s full moon can fire up a new incentive. A sudden insight, new technique, piece of information or a fresh challenge can be a positive stimulant. You could stumble upon a better plan or more useful information. A closed door could open; a lucrative new job, money making prospect, or better technique may suddenly appear. Venus in Aries, Feb 7 to March 4, increases your confidence and creativity. It also provides you with freshly refuelled initiative. This Venus placement is good for your libido too.

Feb 18 to 22 is a time to go submerge yourself in the immediacy of the moment, to go by feel, and to allow the natural flow to guide you. It can be a time of creative exploration, romance, or self promotion. Its also an ideal time to take a pause, to rest, heal and recharge.

Collective Awakening and the Momentous 2012 Planetary Alignments

I will email you soon with a link from which you can download the recorded file.

Rose

Healthylife.net

Listen to me live at  10 am Pacific time

on the last Wednesday of every month.

If you miss the show, it’s archived. Check the podcast listing….

Please contact me directly if you are interested: rose_marcus (Email address: rose_marcus #AT# shaw.ca - replace #AT# with @ )

Overview of 2012:

2012 begins with Mars on an extended tour of Virgo. The transit began mid November and will complete by July 3. Mars is usually a quick transit, averaging 6 – 8 weeks through a sign. Due to its retrograde cycle, Jan 23 to April 4, Mars will spend almost 8 months on its current target practice. While lack of jobs remains critical to each nation’s economic wellbeing, Mars will keep each one of us hard at work on our own fix-it programs. With great precision, Mars in Virgo will target the weak, vulnerable, or damaged. The transit serves to uncover what’s lacking, what’s flawed, what isn’t working. In so doing, we’ll get to the core of what needs to be corrected, fixed and healed.
When Mars tours Virgo, the common complaint from the receiving end is often one of “too little, too late”. This or other growing dissatisfactions will set the groundwork for the Mars retrograde, pull-back-and-shift-target cycle. From the end of January through the beginning of April, circumstances shift, we shift. Mars retrograde serves to redirect attention and to refortify ambition. Rather than focus on the external objectives or goal posts, we transfer attention back to self and to personal reconciliation. By creating an added degree of separation or disengagement, Mars retrograde sharpens objectivity and perspective. Mars in retrograde is an internal “heating” influence; a specific momentum builds more steam. Although it may not be in your range of vision, know it is firing up all the same. Certainly this is so for Kim John-Un and the North Korean military machine, Iran’s nuclear program, etc.

Through the middle of January, Mars is well aligned (in trine) with the sun. Pay close attention to events and impressions. What you undertake or become conscious of during this time can be useful and productive. It paves a pathway to improvement and healing.
February 3, Neptune advances into Pisces, its home sign. This is a rare occurrence, in fact, it only happens once every 165 years. From April through August 2011, Neptune dipped a toe into Pisces. During this entire cycle, Kaddafi was invisible. On the other hand, hiding Osama bin Laden, living in seclusion in the middle of an urban center, was found. In gridlock the whole time, just two days prior to Neptune backing out of Pisces, Obama and Congress past legislation that would allow the debt ceiling to be raised. On the day Neptune actually backed out of Pisces the USA lost its triple A credit rating.
Neptune in Pisces will encompass the entirety of Pluto’s transit through Capricorn. It is an iconic time to be alive and an iconic chapter in our planet’s evolution. Through 2026, Neptune in Pisces will continue to raise the collective consciousness and to co-navigate the search for collective redemption.

The Piscean archetype has already been activated by the 2003 to 2011 transit of Uranus in Pisces. Neptune is a much subtler influence that zap planet Uranus, but its influence is equally profound and life-altering. Pisces unlocks the latent potentials, stirs the primordial waters of creation, dissolves separateness consciousness, and awakens us to our ultimate purpose. Many of us will find our true calling, many of us will also find our ultimate other, whether they show up as a lover or that cherished special one (a dear friend, child, parent, healer, etc.). Neptune in Pisces also serves to expand our relationship to the ultimate or divine other. In the coming years, iconic figures will pen momentous chapters of history.Neptune in Pisces is a transcendent influence. It dissolves boundaries and reaches beyond time and space constraints. The Pisces archetype also correlates to our ultimate ideals and inspirations, our imaginings and envisioning. On the flip-side, the Pisces archetype correlates to illusion, disillusionment, disintegration, and loss. It is this mass consciousness that is growing all too common now. The recent concentration in shockwave Aquarius has been awakening. The switch to Pisces increases unification, but it isn’t always a beautiful tale. Over the coming years, we will learn that we are all in it together, that there is no escape from the collective reality we have brought upon ourselves. Intensifying the Piscean experience, Chiron, the wounded healer/teacher, also travels through the sign of the fish (through 2019). Chiron in Pisces suggests the greatest collective teaching may occur through the massive loss of our most precious resource – that of the waters of life – in other words, that which sustains us figuratively (i.e. hope, trust, faith) – and literally. We can no longer afford to compromise our water, food, air, and shelter.
Shortly after Mars completes retrograde, Venus in Gemini does the same. Venus in retrograde, May 15 to June 27 advances relationships and financial matters to a critical and/or fated peak. Consider Mars retrograde as a fore-runner or set-up phase for Venus retrograde. Together, they accelerate our personal, relationship, and social evolution.
Changing signs every year, Jupiter joins Venus in Gemini on 11. Jupiter, planet of expansion, increase, and inflation, is sure to put even more on the move and into circulation. This concentration in Gemini puts the spotlight on growing social, cultural, political and economic trends, on the dualities, the stories, on newsmakers, neighbours, agents, friends, and siblings.
Last year we had 6 eclipses, this year we will have 4. The dates for the solar eclipses are: May 20, Nov 13; the lunar eclipses occur on June 4, and Nov 28. The lunar eclipse on June 4 is a super moon, an astrological high tide. It is even more potent and noteworthy due to the fact that Venus will form a very rare alignment with the sun and earth on June 5 or 6, depending on your time zone. An occultation is a transit similar to an eclipse. Venus is too small to block the sun entirely. An eclipse is usually a few minutes in duration, the Venus occultation will occur over a six hour period. This eclipse and occultation marks one of two critical peaks of the year. Whatever materializes around this time will set the cornerstone for our new reality for the long term. That which survives will begin an important new chapter. Venus in Gemini suggests we’ll see important communication links, agreements, and party lines forged. Important papers and policies can be inked around this time. Certainly it speaks to the Canada/US working together to standardize regulations for the auto and food industries, and the sharing of border information. Noting that a lunar eclipse is a full moon and therefore polarizing, it is likely that this event will see the contentious oil pipeline issue reach a major turning point. This Venus occultation is likely to bring important news or announcements. Among the numerous possibilities: media, technology, medical advances (stem cell research, dna splicing/reproduction, artificial organ transplants, etc.), transportation, mergers, alliances, politics, commerce, currencies, etc. Occurring in the sign of Gemini, watch for double, twin, duplicate, multiple, compounding, parallel, or repetition to occur. Venus retrograde creates a stronger magnetic pull. If it is karmically destined for you, it will come into being.
The most formidable and history shaping of all planetary hook-ups, 2012 delivers the first of the hard angle alignments between Uranus and Pluto. There will be seven alignments between 2012 and 2015. The two dates for 2012 are June 24 and Sept 19. Note that and Saturn completes retrograde on June 25 and Venus completes retrograde on June 27. This combination constitutes a major energy surge happening all at once at the end of June.
The shake, rattle, and roll Uranus/Pluto influence has been building throughout 2011. We have seen this in the spontaneous combustion of rebellion and uprisings on the planet, through the extreme weather, mass displacements of people, shattering of common lives, and the world economic volatility too. Uranus in dynamic aspect to Pluto serves to accelerate radical change. Their eventfulness can be sudden and instant. Their aftermath will extend well beyond 2016. Uranus square Pluto can spark major shockwaves, sudden upheaval, chaos, rebellion, and destruction, but they also force into being great ingenuity, risk taking, pioneering, and amazing acts of courage. Complacency is shattered, but in its wake comes liberation and amazing new opportunity.
As of the end of August, the karmic (nodal) axis switches from Gemini/Sagittarius (the moving target; everything all at once) to the Taurus/Scorpio survival axis. As of this point, we should start to gain a better fix on things. Noting that one of Scorpio’s correlations is oil, we are sure to see major developments for this industry, not only for the Canada/USA pipeline deal, but also in other areas of the world. Africa is a new frontier. This Taurus/Scorpio axis keeps economic survival and political agendas on the front burner.
Oct 5, Saturn leaves Libra, to begin a two year trek through Scorpio. When Saturn tenants Scorpio, the squeeze gets a lot more serious. Necessity dictates that we get a lot more ambitious. When push comes to shove, Saturn in Scorpio can accomplish great feats. This planetary placement is one of hidden power plays, corrupt motives, self-serving agendas, manipulation of the system, and control at all costs. It is also one of exposing and putting an end to corruption and the subversive element where-ever it exists. While those in positions of power and influence can manipulate and cheat, they can’t do it for long. Still, it’s always darkest in the middle of the tunnel, and that’s exactly where the Saturn in Scorpio years will position our collective reality. On the positive, Saturn in Scorpio offers the opportunity to harness great power, to resource from the past in an empowering way, to regenerate and rebuild, and to crystallize substantial transformation. This is exactly what we need in order to create the new day’s dawn, our new reality base.

Mercury retrograde begins Nov 6, the day of the US presidential election. Obama was inaugurated during Mercury retrograde too. His karmic public service is not yet fulfilled. Expect his re-election.

The solar eclipse on Nov 13 is a super moon in Scorpio, sign of rebirth, transformation, agendas, and power-plays. The lunar eclipse on Nov 28 re-energizes Venus from the end of June. Accompanying the lunar eclipse, Mars conjoining Pluto in Capricorn set us onto a new evolutionary program.

ARIES (March 21- April 19)

Mars in Virgo calls you to task and keeps you striving harder through the first half of the year. This is a productive placement for Virgo, so long as you align with the program rather than fight it. Aim to refine your skills, methods and coping skills. Concentrate on improving your diet and health regimes too. If you have loose ends to attend to, don’t procrastinate. By the time Venus (April 3) and Jupiter enter Gemini (June 11) you’ll be primed for something new to open up.

A sibling, friend, neighbour, agent, colleague, or rival can be a key catalyst in the year ahead. Venus retrograde, mid May through the end of June, takes you to a critical karmic threshold. You are offered an opportunity to tie up loose ends, to step forward your unfinished business, and/or to harvest that which you have accumulated over many lifetimes. As you grow, you will discover more resources than you knew existed inside of you. Person, place, or thing, more than one new avenue can open for you. When destiny strikes you’ll feel a strong sense of déjà vu.

You’ll feel Uranus square Pluto the strongest if you are born March 25 to 30, but of course we’ll all feel the effects.

Saturn in Libra has been maturing you in a multitude of ways. It has brought you to this present stage of relationship ripening. The face you show to the world has been chiselled into the map it now is. As of October, you will move into the next phase of your evolution. You will learn to forge a more intimate relationship with your conscious self, your closest relationships, your intimate needs and experiences. In fact, you present self will forge a more intimate relationship with your own soul. Saturn in Scorpio also puts the spotlight on financial matters (inheritances, debt, taxes, joint resources, consolidation, down sizing, etc.)

TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)

2012 continues your accelerated growth curve, thanks largely to the transits of Jupiter in Taurus to June 11, and Mars in Virgo, to July 3. Your energy and enthusiasm is your winning ticket. Put it to work and watch how far it gets you.  This first half of the year directs your attention to improving yourself physical and material status.

You’ll feel the strong hand of fate pulling the strings as Venus tours retrograde, mid May through end of June. Venus in aspect to the sun at the beginning of June brings you to a significant opportunity, harvest and fruition threshold. Venus and sun ignite a rich and fertile manifesting cycle. It is a highlight time of self-discovery, creativity, self mastery, and of coming into your own. What you resource or tap from within can prove to be your golden ticket. You could discover a special talent or knack, become a protégé or chosen one. If a new love or a pregnancy occurs, the bond/the karma/the one is special. If you reach this point and as good as it gets isn’t good enough, well, that’s an answer too.

Saturn’s advance into Scorpio in October brings circumstances and relationships to a maturation point. You’ll either feel you have successfully achieved what you have aimed for, and can work to further solidify and grow, or necessity will dictate that you start over again.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Restless for something new? Mars in Virgo suggests you can feel you are outgrowing your life circumstances. Home, family, health, and security needs can keep you juggling. A new business, training program, or self-employment can take it out of you too, but you know upfront effort is necessary. You seem quite ready for it. In this first half of the year, Mars and Jupiter are seeding and stage setting. Either you are building to a launch point when you can take what’s been developing to the next level, or you are building to a release point when its time to let go and move in an altogether new direction. You should readily know the difference. Mars in retrograde, Jan 23 through April 13 is heating up influence. You should feel reinvigorated and ready to launch as early as April 3, when Venus moves into Gemini. You’ll spread your wings even further by the start of June, thanks to the lunar eclipse (June 4), Venus eclipsing (occulting) the sun and Jupiter entrance into Gemini (June 11). The first ten days of June delivers an actual or karmic contract peak. This time will be significantly shaping for the long haul. Expect to take a major step forward.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

Whether you study in the school of life or sign up for formal training, Mars in Virgo aims to sharp your deductive reasoning through the beginning of July.  Mars in Virgo can necessitate a change of plans, or upgrades to transportation, marketing, communications, or schedules. Too, problematic relationships will need to be addressed. If you aren’t getting enough help or you aren’t satisfied with the advice or offerings, explore alternate options. A new agent, advisor, counsellor, or career focus could be the ticket. Those born June 25 to 30 will feel the catapulting effects of Uranus square Pluto the strongest, but of course we’ll all feel it at some level. Career wise, personally, relationship wise, Uranus/Pluto require that you rise to the challenge of completely restructuring your life. Let the past go and allow the evolving new course to set its own watermark. In other words, take dictation from moment. Don’t try to control what is naturally developing, align with it instead.

Neptune’s advance into Pisces in February and Saturn’s advance into Scorpio in October help to create a smoother sail. Along with the Venus retrograde cycle earlier in the year (May to July), they can help you to unlock vocational, creative, or romantic potentials that have so far eluded you. Saturn can bring some of you to a pinnacle of achievement and professional recognition, perhaps even significant notoriety. Marriage or a new family can be in the works for some. Neptune and Saturn are also of great support to those pursuing a spiritual calling.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

It seems you have a lot of working it out to do. Mars in Virgo will concentrate your attention on your climbing-up-and-out mandate through the beginning of July. It will be especially so during the Mars retrograde cycle (Jan 23 to April 13). Financial improvement is one of the chief areas of concern. Belt tightening is a good place to start. You can help yourself along by cutting back on wasteful spending. A little here and there, it adds up to more than you realize. Pay closer attention and you’ll see how much you fritter away without notice. Body, mind, and/or soul, health is another major area to upgrade. Turn off the mindless TV watching, sign up at the gym, and do yourself the good you know you deserve. By the middle of March, you should have a good handle on what works and what is most worthy of your time, heart, and money. This is a productive and solidifying time, when career, work, finances, and health matters can come together in some substantial way.

Both Mars retrograde and Venus retrograde can be separation, single out or pull back influences.  Mid May through the end of June can redirect your involvements or change your lifestyle in some significant way. You can feel the need to withdrawal from specific people, groups or communities, or you’ll feel the strong arm of fate pull you in. It can be a time to franchise, to transfer to a satellite office, to change your marketing strategy or product offerings, to switch gears altogether. A legal matter (personal or professional) can peak at this time too. Jupiter’s one year tour of Gemini, starting June 11 increases your social life and your social awareness. New interests grow more significant. You’ll move from the staging or biding time phase into the take-flight chapter.

Launching Oct 5, Saturn’s 2 ½ year tour of Scorpio can restructure your career, your ambitions, and your life’s priorities in some significant, even profound way.  You could step into a more influential role, become a mentor, authority figure, parent (or parent to a parent), or accredited professional, or you could put an official end to a career, personal, professional, or relationship status.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
January keeps you motoring through one thing after another at a steady clip. Mars in Virgo keeps your physical energy high and your libido too.
Don’t take chances on your health. Do everything you can to keep body, mind and soul in good running order. Don’t mess with drugs, alcohol, or toxic substances, people included! Things can come back to bite you, and you will not like the sting. (Do not drink and drive!)
On the other hand, apply yourself and watch how far you can get. Your courage, creativity and initiative can meet with great reward, especially while Jupiter tenants Taurus (through the start of June). Mars in Virgo can signal your “break out” time. Mars retrograde (Jan 23 to April 13) puts you through a refining and staging cycle. You could pull back a little during this time, but once the retrograde is over, you are like a race horse out the gate. Of course, the cycle itself can be very productive. Even though Mercury is retrograde, the middle of March can be quite lucrative; things could fall into place quite beautifully, perhaps surprisingly so. It is a key staging time for what comes next.
April through July will redirect the course of your life in some significant way. Venus retrograde can see you through a career or relationship status change. Consider returning to school, diversifying your portfolio, your client base, or your product offerings, move into a different line of work, job share, or relocate for better opportunity. Write your memoires or rewrite your life. Team up, sign up. Adopt a child, an extended family, a community, or a new approach to money, life, and love.
Neptune in Pisces, beginning in February, and Saturn in Scorpio, starting in October, will help you to resource relationships and to express yourself in a more open and empowered way.

LIBRA (Sept 22-Oct 22)
You have more going on, and more going for you than readily meets the eye. Mars in Virgo keeps plenty on brew through the beginning of July. For some, this Mars influence can produce free floating anxiety that can be hard to pin down. For others, it can be a hermit or healing cycle. For all Libra, it is one of study, personal reflection, and of building up one’s stamina and self confidence. If you can’t find it naturally, you’ll have to manufacture it. How you say? Through the active practice of trial and error; experience is always the best teacher. Trust more and you will get there. In fact, by the middle of March you are likely to make a significant breakthrough for yourself.
It can be a whole other ball game once Venus (starting April 3) and Jupiter (starting June 11) move into Gemini. Both these planetary influences can set you free and/or open up your consciousness or your life in ways you may not have imagined previously. April through August is the active highpoint of your year. Relocate, publish, broadcast, perform, study, teach, increase your public profile, connect with the world, jump on a bandwagon, try your luck, say I do or bust loose.
Uranus square Pluto is radically transforming for those of you born Sept 28 to Oct 3, but of course major lifestyle and career changes are afoot for all of us. June 24 and Sept 19 can signify major pressure and sudden release threshold points, but the influence of this dynamic hook-up is activated all year.

By the time Saturn exits Libra and enters Scorpio on Oct 5, you will have completed a critical qualifying step in your ongoing evolution. Saturn in transforming Scorpio takes you into much deeper waters. You’ll naturally become more committed to your material, emotional, and spiritual aspirations. Saturn in Scorpio can secure an intimate relationship, or it can end one. When push comes to shove, you will find you become much more resourceful, even shrewd. Saturn in Scorpio takes you through a definitive mapping it out cycle. When it comes to your personal empowerment, and a life worth living, it is got to be all of you and all the way.

SCORPIO (Oct 23~Nov 22)
Didn’t expect to be here now, or to see things turn out the way they have? Has your life taken an unexpected turn or detour? Sidelined, broadsided or simply striving, you have plenty of adjusting to do yet. Through July, Mars in Virgo will continue to busy you with a major life style change. And if it hasn’t happened yet, it will soon enough. Mars in retrograde, Jan 23 to April 13, can reconnect you in some significant way. It can also signal a cut-out or cut-off time.
Uranus in Aries square Pluto can introduce you to plenty of new avenues, resources, ideas, potentials, etc. It can radically transform the nature of your work and/or your everyday activities and habits. This influence will be operative for a few years to come, so you’ll have plenty of time to try something new on for size. Uranus in Aries is an appropriate influence for self employment, for getting off the grid or other independence initiatives. Too, Uranus can bring new and unexpected challenges. If it nags you, don’t put it off. Prioritize health, safety, and safeguards.
The advances of Venus, starting April 3, and Jupiter, starting June 11, into Gemini, put the added spotlight on finances, legal matters, paperwork, on teaming up, pooling or dividing resources or liabilities. There’s important negotiating, revisiting or sorting out to do while Venus tours retrograde, mid May through the end of June. By mid to late August, you’ll start to feel you can take back the reigns, that you feel more sure footed or in control. By October 3, Saturn in Scorpio will walk you over a major threshold and into a new life chapter.

Sagittarius (Nov 22~Dec21)
Mars in Virgo finds you doing target practice on the ceilings or barriers that have prevented you from getting to where you want to and need to be. You know you can create more security and self consistency. You know you can improve upon your material and emotional baselines. You know you have a lot more to accomplish.
Mars in Virgo also makes you aware of the difficulties out there in the world that are diminishing your better options. It makes you aware of how much you are aging, how little time is left, and how much of it has been wasted so far. When you add all this together, it can seem as though ambition is climbing in through the back door, but that is of no matter. What is important, even critical, is that you continue to stay fired up to get a move on, to plug those holes, to fill those gaps, and to get somewhere better than you are.
Mars in retrograde, Jan 23 to April 13, requires that you redirect the attention to inner rather than outer productivity. It’s a good time for reassessment and study, for re-organization, creative undertakings, and for renegotiating contracts or responsibilities. Career wise and in personal life dealings too, it is time to stand apart from the crowd, and to create more distinction for yourself. Along with Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, it is time to address a specific issue or relationship. It can be time to back off with hands on parenting and to allow another to find their own way, skinned knees and all. Both retrograde cycles revisit critical karmic crossroads.
The lunar eclipse and Venus occultation mark the beginning of June as a leap moment for relationships, finances and legal matters. Your social life or public profile can move, perhaps even explode, into a new direction too. The eclipse and occultation are particularly igniting for those born Dec 5 to 7. Those born near the end of November may experience a delayed reaction time; watch the eclipse catalyst on November 28 to reference back to this June timeframe. Whether it shows up as a compelling call to action or an inner yearning, all Sagittarians will feel a sense of being summoned by the stronger winds of fate.
Ready or not, Uranus square Pluto spurs you to your personal liberation. When the iron strikes hot, you could surprise even yourself. There’s no road map for this one. The new pathway is uniquely yours to create. Progressively, you will express and create with great dynamism. Can you hear that Star-trek line playing in the back of your head? “To boldly go..” While Uranus tenants Aries (to 2019), it’s a good motto to adopt.
Saturn’s advance into Scorpio beginning in October signals a refortifying-from-within chapter. Whether you are conscious of the bigger picture or not, you’ll eventually come to deepen your commitment to the evolutionary program your soul has already chosen for you.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)
Through the beginning of July, discriminating Mars in Virgo will help you to get clearer about the direction forward and what works best for you. This influence gives you better access into your own psychology. It helps you to address your fears and insecurities, and it helps you to put intention into action too.
Mars in retrograde, Jan 23 to April 13, is a time to retrace steps, revisit places, plans, projects or agreements. Signalizing a preparatory, editing, or finalization phase, it is also a time to get into specifics and to clear away the loose ends.
Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, can see you revisit a work, health, communication, equipment, or transportation issue. You can run into added complexity with paperwork or permits too. Noting Venus retrograde occurs soon after taxes are due, make sure to do your proper due diligence when compiling data. The first week or so of June is a time to stay especially alert, especially when travelling, planning, or connecting. The lunar eclipse and Venus occultation can ignite something completely unexpected.
Uranus square Pluto is especially revolutionizing for those of you born Dec 26 to 30. This influence speeds you along your personal and private life reinvention. It sets circumstances into play and loans you the courage you need to break free of the old you and the old life.
Saturn’s advance into Scorpio, beginning Oct 3, empowers you to take the next important step in your ongoing evolution.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20~Feb 18)
Neptune has travelled through Aquarius since 1998. On Feb 3, Neptune will advance into Pisces, to remain until 2026. In the coming years, you will unlock even more of the treasure trove that you brought with you when you entered this life and you’ll make more use of the resources, talents, and capacities you have already discovered. This Neptune placement can help you to find your true calling and perhaps even your true love too. It is a subtle influence and it grows over time.
Through July, Mars in Virgo calls you to task to correct relationship or financial shortfalls. This Mars placement can also suggest a need for surgery or specialized medical treatment. It’s always good to take care of things sooner rather than later, but try to avoid Mercury retrograde if you need to schedule a procedure, unless of course it’s a repeat or something minor, in which case, feel free to schedule what works for you best. Interest rates will continue low, so you need to borrow (for new wheels perhaps?), go right ahead.
Venus in Gemini (April 3 to Aug 7) and Jupiter in Gemini (June 11 through June 2012) bring opportunity and increase where you’ll appreciate it the most. Venus retrograde, May 15 to June 27, is a very potent, karmically destined time for creative expression, career, social involvement, love and children (having them, raising them, letting them go.) Thanks to the lunar eclipse and Venus occultation, you can see catapulting circumstances and/or feel a sense of a new portal opening as of the beginning June.
The beginning and middle of June, and the end of July can be a time to sign a contract, to say I do, to relocate, or to commit to a new plan for yourself and your life. This can be a significant time of career or scholastic accomplishment; of taking a stand, spreading your wings, or making your presence known in some official way. It’s also a good time for market exploration, publishing, performing, exhibiting, consulting, mentoring, apprenticeship, agenting, media involvement, etc.
Uranus in Aries helps you to see the world around you in a new way. It introduces you to new ideas, people and helps you to make important new inroads. Uranus sharpens your intuition, your reaction time and makes you quicker on the ball. Uranus square Pluto places you on the cutting edge of trends; in fact, it can catapult you to the forefront.
Saturn in Scorpio, beginning Oct 3 can radically transform the structure of your life. If you have thought of making a career change, start training for it now.

PISCES (Feb 19 ~March 20)
Through July, Mars in Virgo will keep the focus on others, their needs, weakness, health, etc. Too, it will put an added spotlight on the dissatisfactions and shortfalls of relationships. This Mars placement can put you on a continuous search for more viable prospects, clients, or reward; for better advice, better support, and for more money too. Mars in retrograde, Jan 23 to April 13 can temporarily redirect your attention onto a specific project or an alternate concern. It may give you the chance to pull back a little more.
Venus and Jupiter in Gemini (April 3, June 11) turn home into a hub of activity, with more than the usual comings and goings. Jupiter could put you on the hunt for a new residence, or see you welcome a new household member. Anything you do to enhance property value, to add comfort, or to beautify surroundings is money well spent. Rental income or investment in a home based business is a good idea too. Venus and Jupiter can see family grow and thrive; they take you through a positive personal growth cycle too.
The lunar eclipse and Venus occultation mark the beginning of June as a critical turning point in the war against yourself, and the polarizations between your inner and outer needs. Things could snowball in some unexpected way. This eclipse/occult catalyst could suddenly unleash you or set you free. It could provide a moment of truth, a significant release point, or an opportunity you can’t afford to miss out on. Too, you could see a family member or partner could take a big career or personal step forward.
Neptune’s advance into Pisces, beginning Feb 3, launches your “time has come” chapter. You will feel the benefits of this influence and that of Saturn in Scorpio (starting Oct 3), the strongest if you are born Feb 18 to 22. By the end of August, and more so, October through December, you’ll find your best water mark. The stellar backdrop bodes well for financial ambitions, career and creative endeavour, and for affairs of the heart.

~~~

January 2012 Month Overview:

For the month of January, Saturn and Neptune will remain in harmony. Along with Jupiter in Taurus recently out of retrograde, and Mars continuing in Virgo, we should find the forward march in these first few weeks of the New Year to continue pretty much as expected. The second and third weeks of the month are the most productive and generating. Apply yourself, don’t let yourself miss out.

The Cancer full moon on January 8 can raise emotional tides and vulnerabilities. It can bring up the past in some significant way. Issues of job or financial security, personal safety, domestic issues, and family matters can need tending. Mercury’s alignments with Jupiter and Uranus at the time of the full moon are informing and enlightening. They suggest the ability to articulate needs, to set plans in motion, and to find workable or creative solutions.

Mars in Virgo stations retrograde, Jan 23 to April 13.  The transit began mid November and will complete by July 3. Mars is usually a quick transit, averaging 6 – 8 weeks through a sign. Due to its retrograde cycle, Jan 23 to April 4, Mars will spend almost 8 months on its current target practice. While lack of jobs or adequate compensation remains a critical issue, Mars will keep each of us hard at work on our own fix-it programs. With great precision, Mars in Virgo will target the weak, vulnerable or damaged. The transit serves to uncover what’s lacking, what’s wrong, what isn’t working, what’s flawed. In so doing, we’ll get to the core of what needs to be corrected, fixed and healed.

When Mars tours Virgo, the common complaint from the receiving end is often one of “too little, too late”. This or other growing dissatisfactions will set the groundwork for the Mars retrograde, pull-back-and-shift-target cycle. From the end of January through the beginning of April, Mars retrograde serves to invert the attention and to refortify the ambition. Rather than focus on the external objectives, we turn the primarily attention back to self and to personal reconciliation. By creating an added degree of separation or disengagement, Mars retrograde allows for more objectivity and perspective. Mars in retrograde is an internal “heating” influence; a specific momentum builds more steam. We may see less of Kim Jong-Un, but know there is plenty of industry happening all the same. Through the middle of January, Mars is well aligned (in trine) with the sun. Pay close attention to events and impressions. What you undertake or become conscious of during this time can be useful and productive. It paves a pathway to improvement and healing.

A sequence of enlivening planetary advances between Jan 19 and 24 fires up the energy and redirects it onto something new. Watch for fresh trends, considerations, options, or concerns claim our attention.

Jan 8: Full Moon: 11:30 pm – 18 Cancer 26

Jan 22: New Moon: 11:39 pm – 2 Aquarius 42 ~ Chinese New Year – Water Dragon

Jan 7: Mercury enters Capricorn: 10:34 pm

Jan 13: Venus enters Pisces: 9:47 pm

Jan 19: Ceres enters Aries: 10:35 am (to April 9)

Jan 20: Sun enters Aquarius: 8:10 am

Jan 23: Mars stations retrograde: 4:54 pm (23 Virgo 05) (to April 13)

Jan 27: Mercury enters Aquarius 10:12 am

All times listed are PST

Dates to watch: 6 – 13, 18, 19 – 24, 27

ARIES (March 21- April 19)

There’s no time to waste. Calling for you to get on to task, Mars begins the year in fix-it Virgo. This is a productive placement for Mars, so long as you get with the program rather than fight it. In fact, Mars is well aligned with the sun, so while there may not be much let up through the full moon Jan 8, it appears you can accomplish plenty. Mercury in Capricorn, Jan 7 to 27 helps you to stay organized and focused. While Mars tours Virgo, its time to upgrade skills, knowledge, methods, and coping skills. Practice mindfulness, stay attentive to diet, health, and other good for you measures and you’ll build the right bridge. Once Mars begins retrograde on Jan 23, it will be time to stop pushing the rocks uphill, and to allow what is already in motion to play itself out. Ceres in Aries, beginning Jan 19 and the new moon in “fresh brew” Aquarius Jan 23 gets you going on something new.

TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)

Start of the year finds you on a good growth curve, thanks to Jupiter in Taurus, (recently out of retrograde), Mercury in Capricorn, and Mars in Virgo. Your energy and enthusiasm is your winning ticket. Put it to work and watch how far it gets you. In the next couple of weeks you can handle more and accomplish more than you normally would. Great relationship, career, and financial strides can be made. The full moon could bring official recognition or status, an acknowledgement, a job offer, or other important news. An important relationship can be cemented. Once wheels are set in motion, there’s a whole new journey to take. The liberating new moon Jan 22 can set you free in some unexpected way. A new project or place to be can be well timed. Noting that Mars begins retrograde on Jan 23, you are likely to run into fresh challenges. Consider the new as a test run or trial period and let the moment dictate your power plays. Mars will help you to be a quick learner.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Clearing your clutter, downsizing, upgrading, renovating, Mars in Virgo puts you to task on a home or personal improvement project. The full moon Jan 8 can put you under added financial or relationship strain. A new home based business or training program can take it out of you too, but you know that upfront effort is necessary. You also know you are as ready as you’ll ever be. The full moon can bring you to an important financial or personal decision, you should feel that it is fairly clearly cut. Just past the full moon, things should fall into place ready and well. Venus in Aquarius to Jan 13 helps you to take life in good stride. The refreshing new moon Jan 22 and Mars retrograde, beginning Jan 23 shifts your attention and lightens your load. Look for new interests and opportunities to keep you well stimulated and on the go. There’s plenty more to explore.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

Whether you study in the school of life or sign up for formal training, Mars in Virgo aims to put you on a faster learning curve. It’s time to strip it down to whom and what serves you best. Don’t waste your time with the marginal. Mars in Virgo can change your plans or can necessitate upgrades to transportation, marketing, communications, or schedules. Personal and professional relationships that are already on a good level will continue to deliver well. On the other hand, if you aren’t getting enough help or you aren’t satisfied with the advice or offerings, it is an appropriate time to explore alternate options. A new agent, advisor, counsellor, or career focus could be the ticket. Jan 11 to 20 can be a good time to negotiate contracts or sign agreements, to commit your dollars, time, or heart. The revitalizing new moon Jan 22 can deliver a financial or relationship fresh start.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

It seems you have a lot of working it out to do. Mars in Virgo concentrates your attention on your climbing-up-and-out mandate. Financial improvement is an area that requires your due diligence and your creativity. Belt tightening is a good place to start. You can help yourself along by cutting back on wasteful spending. A little here and there, it adds up to more than you realize. Pay closer attention and you’ll see how much you fritter away without notice. Body, mind, and/or soul, health is another major area to upgrade. Turn off the mindless TV watching, sign up at the gym, etc. The sun in Capricorn can help you to stay organized and committed, and that’s half the battle done. By the new moon in Aquarius, Jan 22, you’ll be able to switch onto a fresh new track. Consider this new moon and Mars retrograde, beginning Jan 23, as a window of opportunity. Go exploring and be willing to try something new on for size.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

January keeps you motoring through one thing after another at a steady clip. Mars in Virgo keeps your bravado and physical energy high, your creativity and libido too. Supported by Mercury and the sun in Capricorn, you should accomplish well, especially in the second week of the month, after you have surpassed the full moon crunch on Jan 8.  This full moon can put you under added emotional or financial pressure. Are you taking on the brunt of responsibility for another? Are you getting your needs met? Don’t be afraid to speak your mind or heart. It is time to clear the air. Supportive stars help you to organize and to articulate very well.

Mars in retrograde, beginning Jan 23 can shift your objectives or attention. Regarding your job, money making prospects, social life, fitness routines, and love life, you’ll feel a need to freshen things up. It’s appropriate to look for something new to keep things stimulating.

LIBRA (Sept 22-Oct 22)

Whether it travels by direct or retrograde motion, Mars in Virgo continues as a background influence. There are times when you feel fine and times when you don’t. There can be times when you appreciate solitude and times when you feel out of the loop. Off and on, you can be aware of sense of uncertainty or free floating anxiety that can be hard to pinpoint.  Productively, Mars in Virgo suggests that you have something substantial on go, whether it’s a study, ambition, creative project, or budding relationship. Whatever is brewing will make its presence better known in due course. For now, do what you can, while you can. The most important thing is not to your ignore intuitive prompts, especially when it comes to health or improvement mandates.

The full moon Jan 8 puts you under added pressure. You may find the necessity to fend for yourself or to take on more than you have initially planned. This is a time when you can handle more, so trust yourself more and question yourself less. Yes, you have what it takes.

Watch for Ceres in Aries, Jan 19, the new moon in Aquarius, Jan 22, and Mercury’s advance into Aquarius, Jan 27, to get things rolling in a new direction.

SCORPIO (Oct 23~Nov 22)

You have some time to go yet before you sort it all out, but January’s start sees you making good stride. The full moon Jan 8 can bring important news, legal matters to address, or a contract to negotiate. It can put you back in touch with family, your community, or social life. It is also the prompt that will settle you back into a productive work flow. The mid two weeks of the month make for a smooth forward march. You should see a significant corner turned by the time the sun advances into Aquarius Jan 20. The new moon Jan 22 puts you onto a fired up initiative. You’ll feel quite ready to dive into a new chapter.  Once you get onto this new track, you should find you can make faster progress than you have over the past few months.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22~DEC21)

Mars in Virgo suggests you still have a lot of legwork to do, but Mercury (beginning Jan 7) and the sun in Capricorn help you to make productive use of your time and resources. This will be especially so from the full moon Jan 8 to the sun’s advance into Aquarius on Jan 20. The full moon Jan 8 can be emotional or financially challenging, but it also helps you to lay the cards on the table and figure out what the priorities are.

Ceres entrance into Aries on Jan 19 can fire you up and unleash you in some positive way. This is a very creative influence. Along with the new moon in Aquarius, and Mercury’s entrance into this sign on Jan 27, you should find plenty of fresh stimulus to keep you going. Mars retrograde, beginning Jan 23, can redirect your attention away from the “should” category. You’ll find less reason to yield, buckle, or bide time. It arms you with a fresh attitude and approach which can help you to make faster progress.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)

Saturn in harmony with Neptune for the whole month suggests a fairly smooth roll. No matter what the stars throw at you, it looks like you’ll take it good stride. Mercury’s advance into Capricorn on Jan 7, just before the full moon Jan 8, loans you added strength and stamina. It seems the shots are yours to call. This full moon can bring you to clarity on an important relationship, financial, or career matter. The full moon or the days that follow could see you negotiate an important contract, or set some other important paving stone. Past Jan 19, you’ll cross another threshold and find yourself onto a new program. The new moon Jan 22 through Jan 24 fires up a new initiative. There can be an unexpected detour or redirection, fresh considerations, interests, or prospects. Be open to synchronicity and modify as the moment dictates. Don’t hesitate to follow inspirations or to dive right into something new.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20~Feb 18)

Venus continuing in Aquarius to Jan 13 makes for an easy go for the most part. You can take your time getting back on track in this first week, but by the time Mercury  advances into Capricorn on Jan 7 it will be time to commit more fully to better work, spending, and health habits. Calling added attention to safeguards and self preservation needs, the full moon Jan 8 can put you under pressure to build a better cushion for yourself. Look at it as a timely prompt. Keep good effort going in the second and third weeks and you’ll give yourself a good running start. Once you have established a routine, it can get easier to maintain it. In fact, rather than it feeling like a requirement, you can develop a craving for it instead.

The bunch-up of planetary activity between Jan 20 and Jan 23 can feel like someone pushed the refresh button. It could produce a wake-up call, or an adrenaline buzz. To be sure, there will be plenty of fresh stimuli to get you going.

PISCES (Feb 19~March 20)

By the time the full moon rises on Jan 8, you’ll feel that the holidays have receded fast. In fact, you’ll be itching to leave the past where it belongs, but there may be some revisiting, loose ends, or finishing off to do. Over all, it seems you’ll have it pretty well worked out.

Jan 13 to 16 are ideal dates for diving into something new. You’ll find synchronicity works well. You’ll find yourself feeling empowered, creatively inspired, and in good command both physically and mentally. The stars help you to be an effective communicator, performer, negotiator, and a good influence on others. It’s easy to impress others, so it’s a good time to interview for a job, etc.  Venus in Pisces, Jan 13 to Feb 7, puts you into a positive attraction and enhancement cycle. Freshen up your appearance or something more. Mars retrograde, beginning Jan 23, increases your independence. It takes the attention off what you aren’t getting from others and onto finding it within yourself.  You’ll find need others less and that you want yourself more.

Forecast Overview for Dec 2011

Feeling bombarded? Scrambling to catch up? Join the crowd; it’s the same for everyone. Mercury retrograde continues to Dec 13, so stay present and keep alert, especially over these first few days of the month when the propensity for accident, error, and over-shooting-the-mark is higher than average.

Mercury’s alignment with the sun in Sagittarius in the early morning of Dec 4 brings the cycle to its peak. This is when the message reaches the full light of day. Mercury retrograde is informing and educating. It pulls back the curtain on a misconception or truth that must be faced.  We find ourselves sifting through the story-lines and party-lines, through the contradictions and dualities, through the truths and half-truths. When Mercury in Sagittarius travels retrograde, we learn the folly of our tunnel vision. Our faith, beliefs, knowledge, and envisioning comes under question.

Dec 10 delivers the final lunar eclipse of the year. An average year will have a total of four eclipses; we’ve had six this year (four lunar, two solar.) No wonder we have had such an intense year.

The lunar eclipse of Dec 10 is particularly hot-wired. This is due to the trigger Uranus which stations direct and ends a five month retrograde cycle, on just before midnight PST on Dec 9. Expect circumstances to accelerate and intensify. Eruptions and disruptions are to be expected. The European Union is expected to meet to discuss unification measures, Dec 9. Egyptians may hear the results of recent elections. Syria and the growing situation between England and Iran are currently building steam. The daily news continues to churn out big headlines.

A full moon polarizes and illuminates. Occurring across the Gemini/Sagittarius axis, this lunar eclipse brings communications to a critical peak. Are we saying one thing and demonstrating something else? Are we speaking the same language? How do we get on the same page? Among the possible issues for this eclipse: the many against the one; compromising tomorrow for today; going the distance, too many opinions or variables, how to keep everyone on board and happy. Also on topic: currency measures and money exchanges, religious differences, alienation, isolation, language barriers, immigration, import/export, travel, transport, social networks, the media.

Mars in Virgo and Ceres in Pisces also flavour this eclipse. Mars in Virgo suggests a major complaint can be that of “not enough and not fast enough”. When Mars is in Virgo, more fixing, improving and refining becomes necessary. Positively, Mars in Virgo intensifies the drive to keep plugging away for better solutions. Head-on and with both feet on the ground is the only way to face the moment. It speeds the way to correction.

The influence of Ceres in Pisces suggests we are all in it together. No one is immune. Nothing remains in isolation. Collective consciousness is a lively breeding pool now. Will there be more disillusionment, confusion, and loss, or will resurrected hope find its safe harbour? In its positive application, Ceres in Pisces can be unifying and operate as merger or synthesis point for the eclipse. It offers a potential for currently polarized worlds or differing viewpoints to live side by side, to put aside differences long enough to find a workable and productive accord.

The new moon in Capricorn on Dec 24 and Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 suggest Christmas/Hanukkah will meet with expectations for less spending and toned down holiday observance. Make it about the food, the company, and the relaxation, not the dollars you can’t afford to spend.

The moon is in Aries for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Many of us may ring in the New Year alone, but those of us who are out in the crowds will make enough noise for all of us.

Dec 10: Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse: 6:36 am (18:11 Gemini)

Dec 24: New Moon: 10:06 am (2:34 Capricorn)

Dec 9: Uranus stations direct: 11:05 pm (0 Aries 38)

Dec 13: Mercury stations direct: 5:43 pm (3 Sagittarius 51)

Dec 20: Venus enters Aquarius: 10:26 am

Dec 21: Winter Solstice; Sun enters Capricorn: 9:30 pm

Dec 25: Jupiter stations direct: 2:09 pm (0 Taurus 21)

• Note all times are PST, please check your local listings

ARIES (March 20- April 19)

Mercury’s retrograde cycle keeps “what’s next” as the top subject du jour.  What you expected was just around the corner may be taking a lot longer or call for more planning and pruning. On the other hand, things you hoped would still be a long way off can require you hop-to-it now. Such is the nature of the trickster cycle.

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius can bring big news and/or put you back in touch with those who live a long distance away. While the upcoming holidays are obviously on your mind, you can also have your hands full with a legal matter, a publication project, marketing, educational or vocational prospects, or travel plans. Too, restlessness can get the better of you.

The lunar eclipse on Dec 10 is preceded by Uranus stationing direct. Those born on or around March 20 can feel the jolting influence of Uranus and this eclipse the strongest, but of course we’ll all feel it at one level or another. Once something energizes or erupts, expect a domino effect. There can be service interruptions, communication cut-offs or new fires lit. The eclipse can involve a sibling, friend, teacher or mentor. Departures or arrivals of significance are possible too.

The new moon in Capricorn on Dec 24 and Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 suggest Christmas will transpire pretty much as you plan it, and that is likely to on a minimum of expense or fuss. There’s no reason to spend beyond your means. Make it relaxing instead. Enjoy the food, the company, the quiet time.

The moon switches into Aries for New Year’s Eve. Whether you plan to get out and celebrate or you choose to be alone, you’ll find yourself well entertained.

TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)

You seem to be acclimatizing well to a new way of being, seeing, and functioning. Progressively, your resistance is being replaced with acceptance, and this is a major turning point.

The lunar eclipse is polarizing. It can prompt a breakthrough or break-up. You may have to face something you have known all along but did not want to accept. There may be more than one factor, option, story, or person to reconcile with. A debt or promise may come due; an added expense can put the squeeze on you too. Conversely, the eclipse can bring the return of something or someone long lost. If Mercury retrograde puts you on a backtrack, past Dec 13, you should find yourself on the upswing again.

Dec 18 can pile on pressure or bring you to an end of the road. Once you get it sorted out, you are over a major hump. Dec 20 through 22 can be especially busy, demanding, on the go days. The new moon in Capricorn on Dec 24 and the end of Jupiter retrograde on Dec 25 brings the holidays to a soft, everything-is-in-order, landing. On your own, or with your lover, a quiet hideaway is ideal for your New Year Eve celebrations.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Destiny plays a stronger hand now, thanks not only to Mercury retrograde, but also the Dec 10 eclipse in Gemini. Those of you born June 4, 8 – 10 can feel the blast-off effect more fully, but of course the tides will crest for each of us in one way or another. Remember that an eclipse is energized over an extended period of time. With or without your conscious awareness, it is likely that something has been accelerating since the last week or so of November. The involvement of Ceres in this eclipse can bring a sense of loss or a lack of control or restraint. To, that which has been stuffed, snuffed, or covered up could make an untimely entrance. You can be subjected to forces beyond your control. Some times things just don’t make sense, some times it is especially hard to forgive and forget. Once you can get your head and your heart around these facts, you can speed up your healing and repair process.

Venus in Aquarius, Dec 20 to Jan 13, will help you to enjoy and entertain more; to accept more and to worry a little less. The new moon in Capricorn on Dec 24 and Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 suggest you feel you have a good handle on yourself and that you have made the right choices, for the holidays and regarding self-honouring too. When it comes to ringing in the New Year, something unfettered or different than your usual will hold the most appeal.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

While the approaching holidays seem to be upon us far too soon, Venus aligned with Pluto at month’s start suggests you are at a personal time is ripe moment. Your new outer life trajectory has been in the works for quite some time. Of course while Mercury continues in Sagittarius through Jan 7, you’ll still have more deciphering to do.

The lunar eclipse on Dec 10 is likely to expose what you haven’t put your finger on yet. Too, you’ll move out of “if”, “maybe” or “someday” into “here it goes/here we go” much quicker than you may feel prepared for. There can be confusion, contradiction, misinterpretation, a misstep or a loss of opportunity. Emotions or fears can get the better of you. Make sure you pay close attention to details and travel matters. Don’t drink or dial when you drive, and take extra caution with medications. Accidents can happen.

The now can be a budding time for your career and creative development. When faced with the dilemma of trading up, make sure you are choosing that which offers you something solid and real. The influence of Uranus on this eclipse suggests a time of major restructuring, not only actually, but also within your consciousness too. Stay courageous and do what you know is right/best for you. You can’t fall back on the way it was. It’s time to invent/embrace something new. You are at a point where you can handle change and independence better now than you could have only a short time ago. You are stronger and more seasoned than you may fully recognize.

Dec 20 to 22 delivers a significant energy shift. The new moon Dec 24 puts the emphasis on obligations to others, but of course, given the holidays, it is par for the course. You may find you are simply going through the motions, like you are “here, but not really here”. Looking back, you’ll probably say it all worked just fine. Minimize expectations for New Year’s Eve and take it as is comes.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Start of the month can find you off in your own bubble. Put to good use, Mercury retrograde can be a creative cycle. Stay career and financially ambitious, and also put maximum attention toward where you want to be physically and emotionally.

The lunar eclipse on Dec 10 gives you plenty more to consider. You may feel the need to scramble quick, to retrace steps or to backtrack on a promise or to explain yourself further. There can be an unexpected communiqué, exchange, news or expense. Someone could extend an invitation, provide an opportunity, or make things more complicated for you. Remember there is always a story behind a story. Positively, a new financial or career prospect could open up. On another note, the eclipse could simply deliver a fun social opportunity and the chance to reconnect.

Just in time for the holidays, Venus in Aquarius, Dec 20 (through Jan 13) refreshes your social life. The new moon in Capricorn on Dec 24 and Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 24 suggest minimizing on the extras and playing it down this holiday. Of course, we’ll all be doing the same. Quality over quantity does it best. Don’t let yourself feel obligated to do what you think others expect from you. This new moon offers belt-tightening reinforcement for your health regimes too. You should be able to stay on track with your all-good-things-in-moderation program.

New Year’s eve, the moon in Aries finds you ready for action. It may be up to you to get a party happening. Get out and make some noise.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Mercury retrograde continues to keep you submerged in your own world. You have a lot on your plate, there’s no choice but to stay on top of things. Nicely, Jupiter in Taurus loans you tenacity and courage – even when you don’t think you have it within you. You know you deserve more. Now is time to take the necessary steps and to force the envelope in whatever way you need to in order to create more abundance for yourself.

Mars will tenant Virgo until July of 2012, so you can expect that life will continue to speed along for sometime yet. Mars and the lunar eclipse on Dec 10 aim to thrust you onto the fast track where it counts the most, i.e.: personal development, health, home, family, social life, and career. (Geez, is there anything left?)

The lunar eclipse can reveal something unexpected. A romantic relationship could resume. Too, you could revisit something long buried or long forgotten.

Venus in Aquarius, Dec 20, offers you more objectivity. The new moon on Dec 24 can be grounding and solidifying. It suggests you’ll have it well under control for Christmas. Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 gives you a finer appreciation for your blessings.

New Year’s Eve is best spent away from the crowds, one on one, or on your own.

LIBRA (SEPT 23-OCT 22)

While Mercury retrograde can sidetrack plans or derail communications, for the most part you seem to be moving along just fine. Saturn well aligned with Neptune through February helps you to go with the flow and to manage what’s necessary. So much is falling into place for you now. Venus aligned with Pluto at month’s start begins a new chapter for home, family, real estate career, and financial ambitions. Of course, there can be added pressure and responsibility, but you’ll find you have refined your coping skills. You will and you are, handling it.

Uranus stationing direct is especially influential and stimulating for those born around Sept 23. Uranus in Aries introduces you to new people and a new lifestyle. Expect the unexpected, from yourself and from others too. Along with the lunar eclipse, there can be unexpected news or visitors, perhaps from afar. Too, legal or health matters may be front and center. Noting that Mercury is still in retrograde to Dec 13, there can be added expenses to do with travel, transportation, and the holidays.

Dec 18 can bring you to a finish line. Venus in Aquarius, Dec 20 through Jan 13, increases your sparkle, your creativity, and your social life. Traditional and toned down is ideal for Christmas day. Quality time spent with loved ones is the best gift you can give.

Get out and party New Year’s Eve, enjoy it one on one or alone. Let the mood of the moment dictate how you play it.

SCORPIO (Oct 23~Nov 22)

Overwhelmed? Don’t want to be where you are? You have plenty to ponder and to get through. Survival matters and finances are the main concerns of Mercury’s retrograde cycle. The holidays, travel, and your future weigh heavily on you. The lunar eclipse on Dec 10 is likely to thrust a specific relationship or financial matter onto the next step. There can be critical news, information, talks, negotiations, documents to file, terms to renew, more planning to do, and decisions to be made regarding assets, debts or other legal issues.  Mercury will continue to keep you entrenched and sorting it out through the end of its retrograde cycle and into the beginning of January. Watch for igniting Uranus direct on Dec 9 and the lunar eclipse on Dec 10 to speed you along your way.

Venus in Aquarius, Dec 20 to Jan 13, can keep you busy with family and home related matters. Give yourself time to acclimatize to new circumstances or surroundings. The new moon on Dec 24 and the end of Jupiter retrograde on Dec 25 begin a new get-it-together chapter. You should find you can handle your days and dealings with greater practicality, efficiency, and resourcefulness. Support networks are there for a reason, use them. Put others in charge Christmas Day and let yourself be pampered. New Year’s Eve you may prefer to hang out on your own. If you do celebrate, keep healthy limits in mind.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22~Dec21)

Mercury retrograde will continue to keep you ironing it out through Dec 13. The lunar eclipse Dec 10 could necessitate a complete start over. You may have to scrap something you have put great energy or resource toward. Too, a relationship or relationship issue can reach a breaking point. Once you can get if off your chest or address what has been avoided or overlooked, you’ll speed forward with a clearer conscience. This eclipse makes it impossible to sweep things under the rug, to play both sides, or to sit on the fence, but if there is something to salvage, it can hasten solution finding. Whether it is an object, an ambition, feeling, or a passion, the eclipse catalyst is poised to help you find what you have lost. Creative juices can flow again. Influencing career, social life, private life, home, and health, the eclipse will be particularly intense if your birthday falls or near the eclipse. Expect a sudden switch to flick.

Pressure can build to Dec 18, but once past this point, you are onto a new program. The new moon Dec 24 renews your resolve and helps you to re-establish your boundaries. Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 helps you to appreciate the small stuff too. You’ll naturally increase your efforts toward health and other good for you regimes. No matter what you do New Year’s Eve, you’ll make it good for yourself.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)

Venus aligned with Pluto at month’s start brings you a fresh start, find-yourself-again chapter. It’s time to redefine yourself not only to the world, but to yourself too. You are well seasoned now, trust your instincts to help you to recalibrate.  Mercury retrograde keeps you busy making plans. The transition you are working on is a bigger project than you may fully realize. Place yourself in observation mode and you’ll gain a much broader insight, into yourself and the world around you.

The lunar eclipse is likely to bring extra to juggle or process. It may put you under pressure to make a major decision or be two places at once. It can make you question what you know, cause you to second guess yourself or another. Too you could suddenly have to deal with a health issue, added expense, or communication, equipment, or transportation complications. Someone in your everyday world could suddenly upset your apple cart or they may need your help. The lunar eclipse is in Gemini, so double check the facts, figures, and stories; don’t bank on a promise, get it in writing. Don’t accept gossip or second hand info as gospel and be especially careful when driving, dialling, shopping, or negotiating.

Life can smooth out past Dec 18. The new moon in Capricorn on Dec 24 and Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 puts a refreshing spin on things. You should find you are nicely revitalized and back on your game. The holidays should prove predictable. Kick back and take it as it comes. Entertain at home on New Year ’s Eve, or cozy up on your own.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20~Feb 18)

Mercury retrograde finds you thinking and planning well ahead. Stick to what you know best and choose based on gut instincts, not on what you think others expect from you. The lunar eclipse Dec 10 can see you take a couple of steps forward or a couple of steps back. Watch for news, or a departure or arrival of significance. Someone can surprise you by showing another side. Too, a key relationship (a friend, a lover, a child) can occupy your attention. Note an eclipse is influential only if it makes a direct contact to your chart, otherwise you can feel the intensity as you would usually feel a full moon. Either way, the Gemini eclipse will bring extra to juggle. You could be faced with the dilemma of having to choose one over the other. If that happens, try not to let guilt or insecurity rule as the deciding factor. Aim for true value instead.

Venus in Aquarius, Dec 20 to Jan 13, brings you extra shine and attracts people to you. While your popularity is on the gain, aim to groom a higher profile. Venus can enhance creativity, health, career, finances, and romantic prospects.

The new moon Dec 24 and Jupiter’s return to direct motion on Dec 25 suggest quiet observance and quality time with loved ones hits the spot. A getaway can be good too. Join friends for a kick back on New Year’s Eve or get out in the streets and enjoy the energy.

PISCES (Feb 19~March 20)

You can’t escape while Mercury is retrograde, although that is probably exactly what you wish you could do. Responsibilities and pressures can pile up high. Mercury retrograde can also put you on a hunt – for a new career, better pay, more respect and acknowledgement, or for that elusive missing key that will unlock a sense of greater purpose and fulfillment. You can find yourself looking into the rear view mirror. Did you miss the last turn? Could you have done it differently? Is there a way to re-write the past?  How about today’s script? The lunar eclipse can make you even more conscious of what’s missing or what’s out of reach. The eclipse also features the past, home, family, real estate, and parenting issues. A key family member, perhaps a parent, a sibling, or a family member who is a distance away, could have important news to share, or be of sudden concern. For some, it can be time to make a relationship or business partnership official. If a marriage is on shaky ground, the eclipse can hasten a separation. Should this occur, both sides are likely to admit it is best for all.

Venus in Aquarius (Dec 20 to Jan 13) and the new moon in Capricorn Dec 22 finds you ready to disconnect and to slow the pace down to relax mode. If you don’t have to do it, don’t. There’s no place better to be than where you choose to park yourself. Dec 31 you could find yourself out and about during the day, but by evening, you are likely to prefer quite, simple, and no fuss.

November begins with both Venus and Mercury advancing into Sagittarius, a sign that moves great multitudes over great distances. Uranus adds spark and speed to the journey, especially in these first few days and again around the solar eclipse Nov 24. Expect the intensity and high volume to continue.

Several important stellar occurrences precede and follow the full moon in Taurus on Nov 10. Ceres in Pisces, correlating to a collective change of season, resumes direct motion on Nov 7. Ceres in trine to the sun and Mars in opposition to Neptune infuse great potency into the moment. Weather extremes are likely to continue. This Mars in Leo/Neptune in Aquarius aspect can be one for all and all for one, or, all for one, all for not. It can be creative, idealistic, and romantic, or it can be fragmenting. It stirs political climates, social waves and trends. The polarization between the social classes can reach a peak. What’s next for the Occupy movement? Did those who joined the revolution in the 1960’s know how iconic the times were?

Mars opposing Neptune is exposing, unleashing, unhinging, revealing, and targeting. It puts the famous, and/or scandalous in the news.  Neptune, the planet of collective consciousness, is particularly potent as it will station direct on Nov 9, the day before the moon rises full.

The day after the full moon Nov 11, Chiron in Pisces resumes direct motion. Both Neptune and Chiron are outer planets and their directional shift can be subtle, but they are potent none-the-less. Certainly they will add an extra intensity. The full moon in Taurus puts the emphasis on finances and the economy, on what it is that we need in order to sustain and preserve ourselves. This full moon can be a critical time for addressing what is of true value and meaning, what lives, what carries on, what’s stuck, what’s undermining, and what must be reformed.

Mars advances into Virgo on Nov 10 to stay until July 3. This very long stay is due to the upcoming Mars retrograde cycle, late Jan to mid April. Mars will form several favourable aspects, namely to Jupiter (Nov 16) and Pluto (Nov 23) suggesting the potential for a productive move-it-forward, iron-out-the kinks cycle. One way or another Mars in Virgo will put all of us back to work.

The sun advances into Sagittarius on Nov 22, the day before Mercury turns retrograde and two days before the last solar eclipse of the year. This eclipse is also a super new moon, an astrological high tide. It will be particularly catapulting if your birthday falls on or around this date, or if the eclipse makes direct contact to your chart. The solar eclipse on Nov 24 coincides with the American Thanksgiving Holiday. Considering the climate of frustration for those unable to find work, etc. this USA holiday is likely to be harsh for many.

Mercury retrograde occurs Nov 23 to Dec 13. In the sign of Sagittarius, it can put a dent in the holidays. It creates havoc with schedules, plans, and transportation, especially airline travel. Put extra precautions in place. Stay flexible, shop early; try not to over do it, especially when it comes to the stress.

Nov 10 Full Moon: 12:36 pm (18:05 Taurus)

Nov 24: Partial Solar Eclipse (Super New Moon): 10:10 pm (2:37 Sagittarius)

Nov 2: Venus enters Sagittarius: 1:51 am

Nov 2: Mercury enters Sagittarius: 9: 45 am

Nov 7: Ceres stations direct: 2:48 am

Nov 9: Neptune stations direct: 10:55 am

Nov 10: Mars enters Virgo: 8:15 pm

Nov 11: Chiron stations direct:

Nov 22: Sun enters Sagittarius: 8:08 am

Nov 23: Mercury stations retrograde: 11:21 pm

Nov 26: Venus enters Capricorn: 4:36 am

**All times listed are PDT

ARIES (March 21- April 19)

Start of the month can get you going in a new direction. Venus and Mercury suggest it is an ideal time to travel, to explore new ideas, to expand your public image/profile, and to introduce yourself to new places and faces. Mars forms an opposition to Neptune through Nov 7. While creativity, romance, and social activity ARE favoured, it is best to go with the flow and allow for synchronicity to show you the way, rather than to struggle or push forth on agendas. Neptune will be particularly potent due to its directional switch on November 9, the day prior to the full moon in Taurus. You can be opened and inspired by something or someone special, or you could feel overwhelmed, drained, and at a loss. Chiron’s return to direct motion on Nov 11 suggests karmic destiny of this full moon in Taurus will be especially evident.

The full moon in Taurus brings finances and intimate relationship matters to a turning point. Something long awaited could finally occur. There can be news from a distance, a major opportunity, a big event to attend or plan, a departure or arrival of significance.

Mars will advance into Virgo after the moon rises full on Nov 10. Due to its upcoming retrograde tour, Mars will spend six months in Virgo. You can expect to work your way through a lot through the beginning of July. Work, health, repair work, renovations, upgrades, and improvement agendas will keep you especially busy.  Continual adjustment will be required on the job and in your private life too. There may be times when you’ll be asked to put out more than you feel you have to give or to spare. Aim to pace your energy, your heart, and your money.

Mercury in Sagittarius begins retrograde Nov 23 through December 13. Coinciding with the solar eclipse in Sagittarius occurring on November 23, expect for life to get a lot bigger. A lot of everything can happen all at once. If travel isn’t on your agenda, it may sudden be. Holiday plans, future or long range objectives can change, and extra expense can occur, added personal or professional attention can come your way. You may resume something, hear back from an application or bid, etc., or reconnect with those who live long distance or whom you haven’t seen for awhile.  The usual Mercury retrograde advice applies. Try not to get too far ahead of yourself.

 TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)

The end of last month and the beginning of this one sets you on a new trajectory. Put ambition and creativity to work, stretch your money, and aim to get yourself ahead financially. Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius can bring financial increase, so it is a good time to scout for a new job, to ask for more money, or direct attention to increasing your client base. A new relationship can get off the ground, but this can also be a time when going it alone is your preference (or your path.)

With so many planetary contributors prior to and after the full moon in Taurus (Neptune direct, Mars into Virgo, Chiron direct), you are sure to find yourself in the thick of it.  You could feel overwhelmed or overcome; so much can suddenly come together or fall apart. If the latter, Mars in Virgo suggests there’s something better on the way. Overall, it should be a great opportunity time. Of course it is important to see reality for what it is and not to risk what you can’t afford to loose. If you project what you want to see, once Mercury begins retrograde, you’ll see what you missed previously.

Mercury retrograde (Nov 23 to Dec 13) and the solar eclipse in Sagittarius on Nov 24 can put you under extra financial expense or pressure. Big change can be dictated by circumstances rather than something you have chosen. This is a time when the past can catch up to you. You can find yourself doing a lot of soul searching.

Mars in Virgo, Nov 10 to July 3, occupies one of the best positions for your sign. It should make you ambitious to get on with the improvements you know are so essential for you to make.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Has it been all work and struggle as of late? Venus and Mercury into Sagittarius at month’s start can fire up your social life again. They can also launch a new search; it’s the right time to look for more clients, better teachers or advisors, or to date. You are wise to plan ahead for the holiday season. Mercury retrograde, Nov 23 to Dec 13 can interfere with shopping, so try to do it as early as you can. Same goes for booking travel hotels, or tickets for those must-see events.

Use extra caution in the week of the full moon Nov 10. Mars opposing Neptune on Nov 7 and Neptune’s station direct on Nov 9 suggest a greater potential to miss or forget something, or to divulge or slip-up on something you wish you had not. Be especially careful when travelling and avoid close contact with sick people. On a positive note, your creativity can be quite inspired. Nov 16 and 17 are optimum dates, so use them well. Anything you aim for should turn out well.

As is typical of Mercury retrograde and the holiday season, you’ll reconnect with all kinds of people, near and far. The solar eclipse occurs in your partnership and social sector. Someone of significance can make an appearance or a departure. The eclipse can signal a special event, move a legal matter or an important contract forward, see you gain added public attention or special acknowledgement. Too, the eclipse could prompt a major career, financial, or relationship change. You may even win something. Remember that an eclipse can produce eventfulness when it occurs, but energizes prior to and remains active over a period of time. This eclipse is more effective for those born around May 23 give or take a couple of days, but of course it all depends on whether the eclipse makes a direct contact to your chart. (That’s a good reason to consult an astrologer.)

Mars in Virgo, Nov 10 to July 3, takes you through a lengthy personal renovation chapter. It is an ideal transit to launch or groom a small business. Mars in Virgo also puts the spotlight onto home, health, family relations, maintenance or abstinence programs, family finances, health or legal matters, separation arrangements, pets, and real estate matters.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

The advance of both Venus and Mercury into Sagittarius on Nov 1 can put you on the upswing with a work or health situation. The job or client hunt can go better too. Nov 1, 2 is a good time to approach a banker or loans officer, the boss or someone else in charge. You’ll find them more approachable. You can get away with a little more now too, but don’t take advantage of this point needlessly as it can come back at you later.

The days preceding and following the full moon in Taurus on Nov 10 can rock what otherwise seemed stable or secure. You may be confronted or taken by surprise, have to make unexpected adjustments, or spring into gear faster than you had wanted to, but even so, change paves the way to improvement. Perhaps you will say that it was only a matter of time anyway.

Mercury retrograde, Nov 23 to Dec 13 can pile up the work or the problems, (transportation, communications, legalities, employee or co-worker relations, financial shortfalls, etc.) You could face a health relapse, but on the flip side, it can see you revive your health regimes or other good-for-you programs. The solar eclipse on Nov 24 increases the intensity of work, equipment, transportation, legal, and health related issues. You may feel like there is no one to turn to or no ease up. When you do find the right person, (agent, advisor, helper, teacher, healer) solution, or avenue, it can be a true blessing.

Mars in Virgo, Nov 10 to July 3, can keep you sorting out personal or business related matters with a friend or sibling. During this time, you’ll qualify who you need in your life and who you don’t.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Your efforts should start to show for themselves now. The advance of Venus and Mercury into Sagittarius on Nov 1 can feel like a dark cloud has lifted. Watch for your energy and creativity to gain a revitalizing boost. Fresh opportunity is out there for the taking. Use the momentum to go exploring and to try something new on for size.

The first day back to work after the clock changes, Mars opposes Neptune. Nov 7 can be a day when your creativity, charm, and social exchanges flow. Then again, it can be a day of absenteeism, yours or theirs. In the days preceding the full moon on Nov 10, try not to be overly casual, take it easy but don’t slack off too much, don’t make assumptions or take anything for granted, and guard your health. If you haven’t paid close attention, you could be taken by surprise.

Mars leaves your sign just after the moon reaches fullness. Through the beginning of July, Mars in Virgo will keep you busy and ambitious for more. You’ll work harder to create the necessary improvements and upgrades, especially in the areas of finance and health. It can be time to develop a new employment skill. You can feel the lack or the minus category particularly strong. If you are in a new relationship, you’ll work hard to be a new and improved version of yourself. If you are in a less than satisfactory relationship, job or lifestyle, you won’t be able to hold on to it much longer. If you aren’t in a relationship, you may feel the sense that you are missing out, but rather than pine away, use Mars in Virgo to clean up your act and to prepare for the gift relationship that will come when you are finally ready for it.

The solar eclipse on Nov 24 can set you free in some unexpected way. Too, it can launch a creative enterprise, see you relocate, or make some other significant change. Teaching, publishing or performance projects can take off. A teacher can enter your life, whether they do so via written word or in person. Whether you have them or not, children can feature in some prominent way. Mercury retrograde, Nov 23 to Dec 13, can see you retrace important steps or previous successes, or find you returning to a place or a project. Special people reappear. It puts added emphasis on holiday plans, travel, and memory lane. Mercury retrograde can also make you feel singled out or distanced from some of the things you want the most. The holidays can be fun, but they can also be a reminder of how far you have yet to travel to feel truly satisfied with life and/or with love.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A new home, project, goal, relationship, or attitude – start of the month is a ripe staging time for a new life to begin. It may be a matter of letting go or giving up but don’t dwell on it, look to your opportune new horizons instead. Now that the wheels are in motion, you’ll find it is all moves quite quickly along. Doors can open that were previously closed.

The full moon Nov 10 can preoccupy you with your changing future. Things are shaping up now to a point where there is less guesswork and more reality. While there is still plenty of change ahead, a critical bottom-line is now being established.

Mars enters Virgo on Nov 10. Usually Mars spends about six weeks transiting a sign, but due to a retrograde cycle (end of Jan to mid April) Mars will tenant your sign through July 3. You’ll have plenty of time to acclimatize to a new circumstance, and to test drive a new you. While this transit suggests the best way to go is to take each day one step at time and invent it as you go along, it is also a good idea to set a goal to work on for the duration of the transit. The transit is ideal for the following goal setting: weight loss, quit smoking, and other health or abstinence programs, a training program or skills upgrade, writing or other creative projects, budgets, exploring new career possibilities, relocation, relationship trial runs, etc.

Mercury retrograde (Nov 23 to Dec 13) put the added focus on home, holidays, and family matters. If you are planning to fly or travel somewhere, try to get your arrangements made prior to the retrograde cycle and also buy travel insurance or find out what cancellation fees there may be. Mercury retrograde usually creates an unexpected need to revise plans.  There can be a pile up of unforeseen expenses to do with home appliances, renovations, moving costs, the holidays, etc…

The solar eclipse Nov 24 falls in the same sign as Mercury retrograde, so you can expect it to involve the same as the above. Family finances and real estate matters can occupy you too. Mars is favourable to Pluto on this eclipse, and Uranus is in good place too, so it is likely whatever the eclipse generates will point you in a positive direction. No matter what it looks like to begin with, the eclipse can be prompting, improving, securing, launching, advancing, useful, lucrative, beneficial, etc.

LIBRA (SEPT 22-OCT 22)

Start of the month can bring plenty of new things to think about and perhaps someone new and refreshing to talk to also. Planning for the upcoming holidays, a trip or some other special event can keep you motoring along in the fast lane too. Anything you can do to stay a step ahead is wise, give yourself as much margin as you can to shop, scout, and make arrangements, etc. prior to Mercury’s retrograde cycle (Nov 23 to Dec 13). Nov 7, 8 can fire up your creativity, your social or romantic potentials. You could have a truly inspired moment. Something potent could be ready to hatch. Neptune direct on Nov 9, the full moon in Taurus on Nov 10 and the advance of Mars into Virgo also on Nov 10 could bring it into much fuller view.

Mars in Virgo, Nov 10 to July 3 takes you through a lengthy gestational or discovery cycle. It can be a time to heal, soul search, study, and to resource more of your as yet untapped potential. The journey can lead you to discover your true calling/your path of service. It can help you to dialogue with your soul in some new way; it can put you in touch with that missing part of yourself/your life that you yearn for. On another note, it is wise to proactive with your health; do not take any unnecessary risks. It may be time for a complete physical, to undergo medical tests, an eye check up, etc.

Mercury retrograde can see you revisit (or revisit issues) with friends or siblings. It can re-stimulate your social life; rekindle interests, hobbies, or writing projects, etc. It can see you change your mind, your plans, your scholastic or vocational direction. Travel planned or unplanned; transportation, communication, and employment problems are typical of the cycle.  It can be also be time to change agents or advisors, or to look for a new place to rent. Re all the above, the opportune solar eclipse on Nov 24 can be the catalyst that sets wheels in faster motion.

SCORPIO (Oct 23~Nov 22)

The recent new moon and now the advance of Venus and Mercury into Sagittarius are sure to revitalize your energy and your enthusiasm. It also provides you with a new approach to your health and to your work. You should feel quite gun-ho for a new job or project. You’ll give it your all like you always do, and then some. Ambition serves you well when it comes to the money chase too.

Impatience can get the better of you. Even though you can see instant progress or results, it is likely that it still doesn’t move quickly enough for you. Nov 7 can see something of significance dissolve or evaporate. Too, someone important to you can take a departure, or move in a new, perhaps unexpected direction. Transitions can occur in your home and family life, or changes can occur in the professional arena.

If you have felt stuck with a particular situation, watch for the full moon on Nov 10 to bring relationship or financial matters to a decisive peak. You may come to the conclusion that you are not getting out of it what you put into it. Too, your buttons can get pushed if you feel you are being limited, used, underrated, under paid, discriminated against, etc. Then again, if you are travelling the right track, the empowering full moon can deliver reward and fruition. An important contract or partnership can be solidified.

Through the Mars in Virgo cycle, Nov 10 to July 3, you will start to qualify who, what and where is worthy of your efforts and investments. A particular goal, project, study, apprenticeship or training program, or healing mandate could consume you during this time. You may find that friends, associations, community or group involvements, projects, or lifestyle choices no longer hold viable potential or interest. Too, you may find the need to put added effort upfront, to pay it forward, or work for less in order to set yourself up for future benefit. Mars in Virgo will reward your due diligence. Pit yourself against a challenge and watch the good it will do you.

Mercury retrograde, Nov 23 to Dec 13, is an ideal time to narrow the focus and to work on setting the stage re finances, legal or relationship matters. You may have to revise or renegotiate contracts, agreements, legal arrangements, etc. Added expense can occur. It is also a time to review marketing and financial strategies, to put yourself through a relationship trial run or to give someone or something a second change. Too, someone important can reappear.

Pertaining to work, income, health, personal development or a legal matter, the solar return on Nov 24 can fire up something new, additional or unexpected. The timing can see premature or quick, but it is well worth exploring, incorporating, etc. Remember also, that the eclipse has a range of influence that extends over a period of time.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22~DEC21)

One way or another you are on the move as of Nov 1. This is when both Venus and Mercury advance into Sagittarius. You should feel emotionally, socially, and intellectually revitalized. Your health can be on the upswing too. Venus will advance into Capricorn by Nov 26, but Mercury will tenant your sign through Jan 7, due to its retrograde cycle, Nov 24 to Dec 13. While Mercury is retrograde, a particular circumstance or key individual can occupy most of your attention. It is also a time when you do more inner review, or when, for one reason or another, you create more distancing between you and your environment. That most of you will have Mercury retrograde in your solar return chart for this birthday is a suggestion of more specific “tuning out to tune in”. Mercury’s retrograde cycle extends the time you have to work on developing a new direction for yourself. It gives you an added grace period to refine and process.

While Mars is in Leo you can gain favour and attention quite easily. Mars in Leo is the time to expand, to conceptualize, and explore beyond what you have accomplished or amassed to date. Once Mars advances into Virgo, it is time to commit, implement, and actualize.  Mars in Virgo, Nov 23 to July 3, suggests there is a need that needs filing. You may feel a sense of timing growing short, especially if you feel you have not yet achieved what you desire personally, or have set out to accomplish professionally. It can put added emphasis on restructuring, on new career needs and goals, on professional education or on the job learning, on volunteering, or a path of service. It can be time to take health matters or financial goals more seriously. It is an ideal time to apprentice or to seek mentorship. A path of service or a volunteer potential can grow. A lot more can be asked of you, but even though you don’t feel you have enough of what it takes, you pull it from somewhere.

The solar eclipse Nov 24 can be especially opportune for those born on or around this date. There can be positive/new developments in the following areas: employment, professional/business development, creative projects, financial aid, investment, or growth, parenting, healing, and romance.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22~JAN 19)

You are gaining a particularly astute feel for “the lay of the land”. With Venus and Mercury advancing into Sagittarius, you can continue to bank on your intuition to guide you to where you want to go. For the most part, Mars in Virgo, Nov 23 to July 3, is another helpful influence. With this transit, you can expect to be on an accelerate program of learning, earning, and living. Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today. Your future has arrived, get on board with it. Formal study or training programs are recommended, of course.

Something very appealing or revealing could start to brew in the days leading up to the full moon Nov 10.  It can call for out of the box thinking or creative financing. You could be driven, inspired, romanced, even mesmerized, but just a word of caution, don’t let yourself be fooled by advertising or promises. For the most part, I suggest indulge and enjoy, but also keep tabs on how much you spend and don’t gamble with what you can’t afford to loose. On another note, the full moon could bring the need to rearrange plans or priorities. It can also be time to address a relationship conflict, to get something off your chest or to force someone else to reveal their hand.

Mercury’s retrograde can make you lose your way/lose your confidence temporarily. It is an ideal time to withdraw from active “out there” participation and to take time for meditation, soul searching, spiritual development, creative endeavours, study, or to simply get away from it all for a spell. Of course, you could be busied with holiday preparations, in which case, you’ll have plenty of secrets to hold. On the other hand, Mercury retrograde can reveal to you what you didn’t already know, or what you have avoided. The solar eclipse on Nov 24 can be exposing in some unexpected way. The usual cautions for the retrograde cycle are advised: guard your health and your belongings, check everything twice, and be prepared with an extra, a reserve, or a backup or exit plan.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20~FEB 18)

Pressure can ease from month’s start. In fact, Nov 1, anything launched will strike a good match right from the get-go. As Venus and Mercury begin their trek through Sagittarius, something you have worked toward can start to bear fruit. Too, a long awaited or hoped for potential can start to shape up.

Nov 7 starts the full moon week with an opposition between Mars and Neptune in Aquarius. A potential can reveal itself; you could get a preview or a premonition of what could come next. The transit is an opportune one for exploring creativity, for social involvement. It can also be a good day to impress a potential client or love interest. Let spontaneity and stream of consciousness lead the way.

The full moon in Scorpio on Nov 10 can deliver power-play time, so give it your best shot. It could place you at an unexpected advantage, provide a fresh opportunity, and/or get things going in a new direction. Someone important could change their mind, which can have a direct or indirect impact on you. Revise your strategy as you see fit, try to avoid drama or office politics as best you can. Negotiations and financial matters can reach a peak. It can be an important day to deal with an authority, boss, or someone in charge.

Also on Nov 10, Mars advances into Virgo. Through the beginning of July 2012, Mars will call you to task on your relationship and financial shortfalls. If you aren’t satisfied with where you are at, then what are you going to do to create improvement? Mars will push you to make the necessary change. Even if you feel it as “no pain, no gain” this Mars placement is one of constructive application. Apply the effort, do what must be done, gain the results. Yes, it can be a lot of work, but the equation is a simple one.

As is typical of Mercury retrograde, you can expect to re-meet, revisit, and repeat. For some, the solar eclipse on Nov 24 can signal the beginning of a new life chapter, one that is a significant departure from yesterday.

PISCES (FEB 19~MARCH 20)

In no time at all, the holidays are upon us. It is time to start thinking and planning ahead. The advance of Venus and Mercury into Sagittarius on Nov 1 can pile on added responsibilities, pressure and expense, but then again, it goes with the season. Then again, Venus and Mercury can get you excited about a new plan or new life direction. Nov 7 onward can set you free or open new doors.

The empowering full moon Nov 10 could get something good off the ground. It can be a time to show your face around, to broach an important subject, market your talents or products, to negotiate a financial transaction, to make future plans, or to say I do. At the very least, attend an event, sign-up for something; scout around, research, etc.

Mercury retrograde, Nov 23 to Jan 3 can be the time to make a break from tradition or conversely, to visit your past. It can be a time to take a hiatus, to travel, or to explore future career options, or to consider relocation. Of course, it isn’t the time to start something new, but you can start preliminary investigations and plans. It is a time of restructuring and of revisiting commitments and obligations. You could get pulled back into unfinished business, actual or karmic. Mercury retrograde can be a good time to retrace steps and/or to go back to something that worked well for you previously. It may also be a time when you need to borrow more, or seek more assistance. It is always wise to get a second opinion or estimate, especially during Mercury’s retrograde cycle.

Mars in Virgo, Nov 10 to July 3 puts an added spotlight on partnerships, your social life and the people around you. You can see a starker contrast between you and another. It is a time to explore a new way of presenting yourself to the world. If you aren’t where you want to be financially, socially, relationship wise, Mars in Virgo will help you to figure out what you need to do to get yourself there.

The solar eclipse on Nov 24 can set you on a new career or personal life trajectory. This can be especially so for those born Feb 20 to 23. The next few months can set major wheels in motion.