EVERYBODY'S TALKING AT ME - SHUT UP !!!

Mercury began its speedy transit through the curious and inquisitive sign of Gemini today, May 24th, at 7:12 AM EDT .... let the Mental Olympics begin !!! ... Mercury is very much at home here and functions well because this is an air sign and this is also one of the two signs Mercury naturally rules - the other sign being Virgo ...

Mercury in Gemini gives a mind and tongue that can be very restless but very good at absorbing and learning information easily and then sharing it ... one can be quite articulate but sometimes have the tendency to talk or even gossip too much ... there is a skill for verbal expression and the ability to communicate quickly and cleverly ... often the ideas and manner of speech come off a bit superficial due to the urge to communicate perceived information immediately or because one is covering too much ground ... this energy is all about learning and communicating ... there is a high degree of curiosity about everything coupled with an eagerness to learn as much as possible - the world is ones school of life and therein exists a sumptuous, endless and delicious banquet of knowledge !!! ... the mind is likely to be logical, rational, and able to offer information on most any topic ... friendly interchanges are frequent along with the tendency to ask a lot of questions ... there is a high degree of nervous energy which can flow into speech, gestures, writing or manual dexterity in some fashion ... there is also the possibility of physical dexterity and flexibility ...

Those born with Mercury in Gemini, as well as the rest of us that are subject to its transiting influence, can be very hard to pin down ... one often holds down more than one job or may work on a number of projects at one time ... quick, versatile and interested in the world at large, one tends to live mostly on a mental plane ... one MUST have facts and information - there is a basic need to KNOW ... this energy frequently makes one good at languages and math, gives one a love of reading, studying , traveling, and talking with new people about what you have learned or are thinking about ... there is also the potential for a lack of being able to stick-to-it as well as a lack of order in ones life ... usually this energy can produce one who knows a little bit about everything but not a lot about anything !!!

The essence of Mercury in Gemini is thinking through communicating ... the mind is fed and nurtured through making contact with as many people and as many subjects as possible ... the intellect is wired up and ready to go ... it must constantly be stimulated otherwise nervous irritability or restlessness can occur ... the mind is efficient due to its ability to be quick and acquisitive, but the quality of the mind is only as good as what is being fed into it through social, business and educational pursuits - input becomes just as important as output !!! ... there is the capability of thinking on two or more levels at one time ... but one must guard against not having a definite direction to move in or else there can be the result of great mental confusion ... the energy of Mercury in Gemini can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: articulate, curious, well-informed, widely read, quick-witted, lively mind, fast learner, dextrous, clever, humorous, sharp, fluent, inventive, versatile, original, handy, interesting, agreeable, unbiased, logical

NEGATIVE: chatterbox, nosy, gossip, superficial knowledge, highly strung, unruly mind, unperservering, fidgety, crafty, mischievous, flippant, makeshift, imitative, simplistic, trite, scatters energies, unfocused, misses the point

Mercury transiting through Gemini is an excellent time to open your mind to countless new ideas and information ... allow your mind to be like a sponge absorbing as much as it can realistically process ... Mercury now joins the Sun and Venus, currently RETROGRADE, in the sign of Gemini ... and just how will the retrograde energy of Venus affect what comes out of our mouths especially in our personal relationships ??? ... will this be like a mini Mercury retrograde with Venus pulling its energy backwards ??? ... best remember that "loose lips sink ships" !!! Mercury remains in the sign of Gemini until June 7th ... only one and a half more signs to go before the next Mercury retrograde begins on July 14th !!! ... for now, we obviously have a lot of information to absorb and process ... and as much as we will want to share and express our opinions we may find ourselves or someone else saying to us - SHUT UP !!! ...


Ultimately one of the greatest lessons of Mercury in Gemini becomes the ability to respect the value of your own mind : watch what goes into it and what comes out of it !!!

MOVING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT !!!

"Gotta move ... gotta get out ... gotta leave this place ... gotta find some place ... some other place ... some brand new place ... some new place, with new lights and new faces ... " ... and with that thought in mind, the Sun began it's yearly gallop through the sign of Gemini today, May 20th, at 11:16 AM EDT ... the final astrological sign of the Spring season ... this energy is all about aquiring knowledge, communicating in many ways, and constantly being on the MOVE ... sooooo ... get ready ... get set ... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

In Gemini, the Sun encourages us to shine fluently - one may gain or seek recognition for their verbal skills and their ability to be highly creative through perceptiveness and the ability to compare, contrast, and find connections between ideas ... there is a need to shine by being versatile - here is a natural drive towards a wide ranging curiosity which could also get you into trouble or end up causing you to be too scattered ... a wide variety of talents, social contacts and hobbies will assist one in their self-expression ... there is also a need to shine for ones agility and flexibility - one could achieve recognition through their dexterity, adaptability or enhanced eye-hand coordination ... and there is a need to seek recognition for ones mental brilliance - one wants to feel proud of their intelligence, rationality and logic ... there is a tendency here to be ego-vulberable regarding ones mental and communication skills ... pride and shame issues are tied to the mind in this sign ... and ultimately one needs to express themselves verbally and to achieve positive recognition for their intellect ...

Gemini is a masculine/air/mutable(flexible) sign ... its symbol is the Twins - associated with duality, humanism, versatility and communication ... the picture is that of two figures standing side by side with a line over the top and the bottom - also known as the glyph for the Roman numeral 2 ... symbolically, these two upright lines bounded on the top and the bottom represent wisdom, learning, and the power of the mind to synthesize information ... Gemini's key phrase is "I THINK" and its keyword is "VERSATILITY" ... Anatomically it rules the hands, arms, shoulders and lungs thus making this energy prone to strains and accidents with the arms and hands as well as being prone to bronchitis and respiratory ailments ... Gemini is the sign opposite to Sagittarius in the zodiac ...

As you are certainly aware of by now, Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini in addition to the sign of Virgo ... Mercury - the ancient messenger of the Gods ... in astrology it rules travel and communication with its main emphasis being quick cleverness and a nervous temperament ... but it also bestows somewhat of a fickle nature that tends to arouse unexpected anger in others sometimes the depth of which Gemini energy misjudges ... its keyword is "REASONING ABILITY" ... it therefore rules reason, mental and cerebral capacity, ability to communicate, intellect, awareness, dexterity, rationalization, transmission, words, opinion, and sensory perceptions ... its action is quick, uncertain, and volatile ... it deals with travel - especially short trips, brothers and sisters, children, clerking, speaking, writing, bookkeeping, secretaries, neighborhood activities, letters and mailings, means of transportation, trade, and techniques ... in your natal chart the place where you find Mercury shows how and where you communicate the best ... anatomically, Mercury rules the nervous system, brain, sight, hands and arms ...

Gemini is the natural ruler of the 3rd house of the horoscope ... this is the house of side-by-side relationships whose keyword is "AWARENESS" ... the 3rd house shows the local environment you live in, your brothers and sisters, and all forms of communication - speaking, writing, and singing ... it indicates all means of transportation including short trips ... it shows the adaptability of ones mind to learning and to new ideas, the ability to relate to ones environment, and ones taken-for-granted skills ... this house shows the conscious and objective portion of ones mind as well as ones primary schooling ...

The essence of the Sun in Gemini is living through communicating ... the contact maker ... one who is forever young ... Gemini is famous for its dualistic and sometimes contrary nature ... word and mind play is an endless source of amusement here ... versatility rules - everything is equally interesting to Gemini therefore making it most likely one of the least prejudiced of the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... Gemini has an extremely lively imagination making it also one of the most artistically creative Signs as well ... ironically one can lack the imagination to see that in using ones imagination it draws one into a closer intimacy with life itself, but getting deeply involved is the Twins weakest ability ... ultimately one must realize that the answer to the eternal Gemini questioning lies within the imagination and not the brain!!! ... the energy of the Sun in Gemini can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: amusing, perceptive, witty, eloquent, swift, ingenious, quick on the uptake, mobile, versatile, flexible, adaptable, imaginative, non-dogmatic, sees both sides, light touch, objective, clever mind, informative, resourceful

NEGATIVE: cheap, glib, sarcastic, chatterbox, fly, devious, shifty, evasive, dabbler, two-faced, fickle, "chases rainbows", non-commital, indecisive, superficial, aloof, unable to see the whole picture, bluffer, involved in excessive gossip

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEMINI BORN - part of your reason for being here is certainly to educate us,  keep us on our toes and help us understand that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER !!! ... ... the Sun now joins Venus in Gemini with Mercury to follow in four days ... But let's not forget, Venus is currently in its RETROGRADE journey for the year ... so how will this energy affect both the Sun and Mercury as their transits through Gemini will have the Venus retrograde influencing it the entire time ??? ...  yes, this blog is a little longer than some, but after all, information IS what Gemini craves!!! ... the Sun remains in the sign of Gemini until June 20th ... remember to respect your own dreams and avoid cutting corners in your pursuit of them ... more importantly, pay attention to the "value" of what you say ... Gemini is truly a very youthful oriented energy, so for the next few weeks just enjoy "being a kid again" and think about being forever young ... and with all this energy driving us to pursue so much information from so many places, we may end up feeling as though we are indeed moving at the speed of light !!!

ROLLERCOASTER ... SAY WHAT ??? ... OF LOVE !!!

Venus, the planet which rules social urge, sense of values, love and affection, began its RETROGRADE journey for 2012 today, 5/15, at 10:33 AM EDT ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers or friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging ... this is also a time when our personal values get reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere ... the main purpose of a Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract ...

As Venus, anatomically speaking, rules the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste, these areas of the body could encounter some kind of potential problem ... Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde motion out of all of the planets ... within its 584-day cycle, Venus stations retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... it was last retrograde was from October 8th through November 18th, 2010 - what were you doing during that period that may have had to do with anything mentioned in this blog specific to a Venus retrograde that now has come up for review and rethinking or simply falls apart ???

Taurus and Libra born individuals, this is your planetary ruler so you have begun your period of personal "hibernation" so to speak to review and rethink what has transpired in your life since November 18th, 2010 ... but in addition to you, we all will be subjected to a period of reflection in our personal actions in regards to our social urges, sense of values, love and affection, and monetary affairs ...

Some things to remember during a Venus retrograde ... it is NOT a good time to purchase "luxury " items if you can wait because when Venus stations back into direct motion you might well find yourself thinking "Why did I spend that MUCH on something I really didn't need" or you may simply feel you did not get the anticipated value for what you spent your hard earned money to purchase ... often in a Venus retrograde money can become low and scarce and we can end up having to spend money we hadn't counted on spending, but in some cases one may end up getting money "coming back" to them from one source or another!!! ... and it also is not usually a good time to begin a new job if you can wait because you may never get the money you expected out of the job, and the job might well not pan out down the road for some reason ... that being said, unfortunately as a Venus retrograde can indicate the "tightening of the purse strings", salaries could be cut back or the job may be terminated for one reason or another ...

Weddings are most certainly a NO-NO as this is the planet which rules romance, love and affection - do you really want the energy going backwards on the day you say "I Do"??? ... if you were to run an event chart for the day of the wedding you would take the day of the actual wedding and count forward to the end of the retrograde period, then that total number of days would be the actual number of YEARS it would be before the energy turned back into direct motion by progression in the event chart ... most likely there would constantly be issues regarding either love, emotions and/or money and that can make things very shaky!!! ... I'm not saying don't get married, just realize you may be adding an unnecessary challenge to the already challenging task it can be to navigate through the waters of a personal relationship ... to this end, I would also state the hopefully obvious - a Venus retrograde is definitely NOT the time to begin a new romantic relationship !!! ... Gotta love that Cosmic sense of humor subjecting us to a Venus retrograde during the time of year when so many people like to go marching down that infamous aisle !!!

Speaking of relationships, you may find arguments and disagreements rearing their ugly heads and if you sever the ties in a Venus retrograde, when it turns direct you will probably be asking yourself why you cut that person out of your life ... on the other hand, relationships and partnerships that have been constantly challenging and overly stressful will most likely dissolve during a Venus retrograde period and it is usually best to let them go and move forward ... but this can also be a good time in certain cases where there is a chance to allow some healing to occur in a partnership or relationships that somehow managed to fall off track ... keep in mind that in a Venus retrograde people become a little less sociable and frequently forget their manners so it might be a good idea to "drop back and punt" and hold off passing judgment while the energy is moving backwards ...

This Venus retrograde will occur entirely in the sign of Gemini - from 24 degrees back down to 7 degrees ... therefore this retrograde period may prove especially significant/challenging for all Gemini born and particularly those born with their natal Sun placement between 7 and 24 degrees of Gemini as Venus will back over your natal Sun ... also Sagittarian born may be more sensitive to this energy as retrograde Venus will be traveling in OPPOSITION to your Sun sign ... and needless to say if you were born with Venus in Gemini, it will probably be a time where you learn something significant about the way you love and what you truly value ... for those having a birthday between today, May 15th, and June 27th, you will get this Venus retrograde energy in your birthday chart for the whole year ahead ... and what does this mean ????

Below is what astrologer Mary Fortier Shea has to say about having Venus retrograde in your birthday chart for the whole year:

"Venus retrograde indicates a time of comparison and contrast. Your increased ability to distinguish and value inner qualities separate from external situations signals an opportunity to compare and contrast the importance of each. Relationships, finances, and priorities should all be reassessed on the basis of the inner qualities they exhibit in comparison to the external pleasure or stress that they generate. Your focus on internal values will tend to overshadow your need for external manifestation; consequently, you will make adjustments in your pursuit of materialistic and external goals.

Relationships are always more important for the love you give and receive than the external trappings; however, this issue will become more evident during this year. You may be in love with a special person who treats you wonderfully, but refuses to consider marriage. If you were attracted to this person because of his or her inner qualities, it is important to appreciate your feelings for one another, and not get hung up on the legalization process. During this year you will tend to assess relationships you see or experience for the inner and outer qualities which they possess or lax. You can always find others who have the external trappings you desire without genuine caring. (Example: a verbally abusive marriage.)

External, artificial indicators of affection are meaningless. It is the inner and sometimes less apparent qualities that are important. Your attention to this issue will make the incongruity more obvious to you. Part of this discernment process can involve frustration with personal involvements which do not conform to your external expectations of what a relationship or partner should be. Love does not necessarily occur in neat little storybook packages, and frustration results from close attention to external storybook details which cannot truly satisfy internal needs. Outer limitations stress the importance of inner beauty. Because third parties may not easily see the qualities that you appreciate in your loved one, they may criticize your choice. Their criticism will encourage you to further define the inner beauty that attracts you. Those relationships which possess no redeeming inner qualities will seem void and unfulfilling. They can be discarded regardless of the external advantages they supply.

Values must be more closely attuned to the individual's aesthetic appreciation and therefore may be less consistent with societal preferences and standards. One can see unique beauty in what might appear ordinary to others. Your taste in material objects might depend on the emotional qualities associated with those objects. Price or status is unimportant.

Venus retrograde symbolizes an emphasis on the quality of life over the desire for financial gain. The money you earn should not be as important as the quality of your working environment and your satisfaction while on the job. Focusing on your inner need for contentment and fulfillment allows you to let go of a large salary, and search for an enjoyable employment position even though it may involve a pay cut. If you continue to work at a stressful job because of the pay, you may be very unhappy. Materialism will not bring you true happiness this year or any year. If you must remain in a stressful job, develop a strong belief in yourself and your abilities. Set goals that are rewarding and doable. Do not focus on your inability to perform at your best when conditions are at their worst. Some work environments are dysfunctional. Financially, this is generally a time to be conservative with funds. You cannot make good decisions about the quality of your life if you are more concerned with your monetary situation.

Social contacts and involvement in social activities are not emphasized while Venus is retrograde in the solar return. You need more time to focus inward and may withdraw from some or all social functions because you welcome the time alone. You might no longer enjoy these functions, or you might realize that certain social relationships are too difficult and unrewarding to maintain. For those individuals who require counseling, this can be a time of isolation. Withdrawal is common with Venus retrograde, but generally any time alone can be put to good use. You could want to be alone with one special person."

A few other things worth considering .... Gemini is ruled by Mercury as we all know by now, so the question becomes will this Venus retrograde also present itself like a mini Mercury retrograde as Venus is dragging the Mercurial energy backward with it ... and how many of you may find out that something you start back during the Mercury retrograde, from March 12th through April 4th, begins to hit a snag and suddenly you question whether the relationship or financial endeavor you negab then was the best course of action ??? ... also with Venus retrograde in the sign of Gemini, one of the biggest culprits signaling trouble will be problems with COMMUNICATIONS especially with Mercury being thrown into the mix by association !!! ... healthwise there could be issues with the areas ruled by Gemini that being the lungs, hands and arms, where we have to spend money to address the issues we had not counted on ... and as Gemini naturally rules the 3rd house there could well be issues with siblings, communications which I already mentioned, and all forms of transportation - perhaps some will have to spend money on their cars they didn't anticipate or travel plans cost more than expected or we feel we didn't get the value for what we paid ... and finally let's not forget that Saturn is currently retrograde in the sign of Libra adding additional stress to money and relationship issues ... enough already Universe !!! ... but keep in mind, there is somewhat of an up side if you can call it that - sometimes I find that people born with Venus retrograde, like all those coming in during this period, actually find the retrograde period not as challenging !!!

Venus remains retrograde until June 27th ... and with all this being said, try your best to keep your temper in check and mind your manners as they may be trying to take a little vacation from you ... in the end perhaps one of the main results of this Venus retrograde is best summed up by the infamous words of the Bard - that would be Shakespeare for those of you in the dark - himself ... "The course of true love never did run smooth" !!!

THE TRUE "VALUE" OF OUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS !!!

Mercury, steadily and with a logical progression, began its transit through the sign of Taurus today, 5/9, at 1:15 AM EDT ... our mode of thinking and communicating has now shifted from the rapid fire energy of Aries - FINALLY - into the slower and more methodical energy of Taurus ... the keyword for this energy is "factual" ... here the mind and tongue work deliberately and steadily with the tendency to sometimes get stuck in mental ruts ... this energy can be highly practical and grounded ... business skills or any activity that incorporates the use of common sense usually accompanies this energy ... often there can be learning through tactile contact or actual physical manipulation of the world ... perceptions can often be limited due to a desire to learn slowly and carefully ... there is a desire to bring ideas down to earth, and there are usually interests in money, sensuality and physical comfort ...

This Mercury loves to read - anything !!! ... time is taken in order to arrive at all decisions ... this Mercury also loves to "sleep on it" and needs solid, tangible, physical proof in order to really believe in anything ... the thought pattern is developed in terms of worth thus making "value" the ultimate selling point ... there is usually an excellent memory bestowed by this mercurial energy and it makes one a good observer but ironically one is apt to listen inattentively as their mind is almost always already made up and will rarely be changed !!! ... even though there is a love of reading, it is ultimately realized that experience teaches one the most valuable lessons in life ...

The essence of Mercury in Taurus is thinking through stabilizing ... the concrete mind ... SEEING IS BELIEVING!!! ... the mind here likes to chew things over and over in order to acquire a true depth of knowledge ... there is more of a taste for the traditional rather than the abstract and the avant- garde, and one finds it is steady working habits that produce thorough and solid results ... ultimately there is a gift given here to see how any plan will work out in physical terms ... the energy of Mercury in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: sound mind, thorough, patient, cautious, shrewd, resourceful, sensible, realistic, good concentration, mentally sure, deliberating, practical thinker, sense of form, steady mind, enduring, mentally laid-back, docile, undemanding

NEGATIVE: slow minded, plodding, tardy, guarded, mean-minded, money-grubbing, boneheaded, one-track-minded, overburdened, limited thinker, stubborn mind, lazy-minded, dumb, misses the point, couch potato

Mercury now joins the Sun and Jupiter already transiting through Taurus ... now back up to full speed and moving quickly as it likes to do, Mercury remains in the sign of Taurus until May 24th ... but one must keep in mind that Venus is about to begin its Retrograde journey for 2012 on May 15th and it will be completely in the sign of Gemini ... and what rules Gemini ??? ... you got it - MERCURY !!! ... the dynamic between the two should prove to be interesting no doubt !!! ... Taurus born individuals, are you beginning to feel, even though normally slower, the tempo picking up in your thinking and communicating ??? ... now is your chance - along with everyone else - to get a lot accomplished and anchored to a firmer foundation with this earth energy ... and that's no "BULL" !!!

GRABBING THE "BULL OF LIFE" BY THE HORNS !!!!

The Sun began its yearly transit of the sign of Taurus today, 4/19, at 12:12 PM EDT ... the pace of life slows down a little as the Sun has left the fiery sign of Aries and shifts into a slower mode of energy in Taurus ... with the Sun in Taurus, we need to shine comfortably, seek recognition deliberately, shine in ones own dependability, and have a drive for recognition which manifests itself through sensuality and/or personal possessions ... Taurus is a feminine, fixed, earth sign therefore its tendency to nurture and comfort through a methodical but slower and more stable course of action ... its keyphrase is "I Have" and its keyword is "stability" ... being a fixed sign, Taurus can appear to be quiet, affectionate, patient, stable, determined and practical, stubborn and resistant to change ... its symbol is the Bull and its glyph is the head and horns of the Bull - symbolically the glyph is a half-moon forming a cup that rests on the circle of the Sun ... the cup representing material wealth and power derived through the force of the will (the circle) ... the Bull can be strong, stubborn, plodding, and can be both fierce and gentle ... Anatomically, Taurus rules the neck and the throat - there are a lot of Taurus born people that have beautiful speaking and singing voices, but their vulnerability is to colds, laryngitis, sore throats and thyroid problems ... Taurus is the sign directly opposite to Scorpio ...

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

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

The essence of the Sun in Taurus is living through stabilizing ... here we have the beauty (Venus) and the beast (the Bull) !!! ... the purpose of the Sun here is to maintain the stability of earthly things ... one may find it surprising to realize that the important main possessions here are a sense of Earthly harmony and wholesomeness, and not necessarily a substantial amount of money and material possessions ... there is the distinct ability to endure change with this energy ... it is also interesting to note that when change has to be made and something must be let go of, when you let go and endure the change you ultimately discover how much more stable things actually become !!! ... Taurus energy challenges one to discover ones truest, deepest and highest values ... the greatest indication of values is beauty which is something that cannot be owned but only appreciated ... the energy of the Sun in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

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

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

Taurus born individuals you are beginning a new Solar year - HAPPY SOLAR RETURN !!! ... this is your time to really "shine" while all of us try to incorporate your natural born energy into our daily lives and learn from experiencing it ... here we are all challenged to discover our truest and highest values and then realize how well we can express them physically ... hopefully one will come to the realization during the next thirty days that the value of Earthly things is simply that they serve to keep bodies happy and healthy ... the Sun remains in Taurus until May 20th ... now let's all get out there and get "bullish" on Springtime !!!

BRILLIANT THOUGHTS & IDEAS ... OR MENTAL OVERLOAD AND BLOWOUT ???

Mercury, now having completed its first retrograde journey for 2012, has completed its transit through the sign of Pisces and re-entered the sign of Aries today, 4/16, at 6:43 PM EDT ... Mercury originally began its transit through Aries on March 2nd, but due to its retrograde journey which began on March 12th, it returned to Pisces on March 23rd to complete its backward journey ... Now that Mercury has returned to Aries, the mind and communications will begin to pick up speed even though Mercury itself will technically not be back up to full speed until April 23rd ... nevertheless the mind will be processing and the thoughts will be spinning rapidly and we will have to be careful not to engage our mouth before the mind has time to fully process !!! ... below is a review of what the energy of Mercury in Aries is all about :

 

While Mercury transits the sign of Aries, and with it being a Fire sign, energy and action will be expressed either in an inspiring, creative, independent, or impulsive/aggressive manner ... in Aries, the Mercurial energy is being pushed into overdrive ... the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find ourselves moving too quickly and causing mishaps or accidents - especially behind the wheel where we will no doubt be using even more hand gestures than usual !!! - we will also most likely come up with what we determine to be "scathingly brilliant" ideas but not all will be driven to fruition after they lose their initial novelty ... a lot of us will constantly be the victim of "foot-in-mouth" disease as we will have the tendency to speak before we think since the mind is processing so much so fast ... we may also experience sleepless nights or have difficulty going to sleep as we find that when our head hits the pillow the mind is still racing .... we will certainly have to be on guard about starting arguments and trying to stir up controversy simply because we feel like our words are the ultimate authority ...

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

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

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

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

Mercury remains in the sign of Aries until May 9th ... Aries born individuals may become infused with an overabundance of ideas and plans in addition to speaking out more so than usual - yikes ... but indeed we all may even if we aren't Aries born !!! ... as I have stated in past blogs, and I find it to be relevant here, all of us might be well advised to keep a lot of ice cream or something cool and soothing on hand as we are sure to have a sore tongue because we've had to bite it so often to keep from allowing our hasty words causing too much damage !!!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - START YOUR ENGINES !!!

Mars, the planet representing the urge to get what you want, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy and desires, completed its RETROGRADE journey yesterday, 4/13, at 11:53 PM EDT ... to reiterate, the purpose of a Mars retrograde ultimately is to evaluate what it is that motivates you and for you to determine if you are on the correct path to achieve your goal, and if you are doing what you should be doing to get there ... inside a Mars retrograde, it is time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that ones intent is accomplished ... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... also, old resentments and personal issues that haven't been resolved in the past have a tendency of resurfacing during this period which yields the awareness that the time has come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, anger and learning assertiveness ... it is often said that during a Mars retrograde we may become somewhat less "warlike" and that our energy can hit a lull to the point where it seems our get up and go truly got up and went !!!! ... Mars takes a retrograde journey for about 9 - 10 weeks out of its 26 month cycle ... now the question is just which, if any of these actions occurred during the retrograde period ...

This 26th month cycle becomes significant as we are used to Mars energy moving forward since it takes about two years to return to its natal position in ones birth chart and thus spends about two months in each sign ... Mars could be considered a "double twin" of the Earth as it tilts on its axis in almost the same way as the Earth, but Mars has 4 six month seasons instead of 4 three month seasons like we have here on Earth ... the Earth orbits the Sun in 1 year and Mars in 2 years thus the Earth finally catches up with Mars roughly every 2 years and 2 months = 26 month cycle ... often Mars retrograde will bring issues of frustration or hostility to the surface we have deliberately suppressed due to their disruptive qualities which can cause forward movement in our lives to be temporarily delayed ... sudden reversals of interest and drive may occur, as well as the termination of a long term goal as it may become apparent that the effort is innappropriate for the long term ... also old wounds, hurts and frustrations may arise seemingly out of context but usually there is a purpose for this ... during a Mars retrograde it is usually a good idea NOT to undertake any new beginnings per contract or verbally since the energy often isn't there to carry it through ... now sometimes you can't just "sit tight" for nearly two and a half months, but there are good reasons if at all possible, as the waiting may ultimately prove to be a blessing ... often things begun under a Mars retograde will run into problems when it stations back into direct motion at some point during the next two years, or even when Mars begins its next retrograde journey - which will be in March of 2014 ...

This Mars retrograde occurred from 23 degrees of Virgo back down to 3 degrees of Virgo ... if you've had a natal chart done, you can look to where these degrees fall and get an idea of where you might have done some rethinking of some kind of action you have taken, or where you encountered delays or a shift into a different direction ... if you were born with your natal Sun between 3 degrees and 23 degrees of Virgo, at some point Mars crossed back over your natal Sun and, among other things, there could have been a few days when you felt as if someone unplugged your energy outlet !!! ... as with Mercury retrograde periods, sometimes those born with Mars retrograde will find this period was more productive as they are already were comfortable and used to this energy and have a better understanding ...

As Virgo is the natural ruler of the 6th house we may have had issues that arising to do with daily work and service - here jobs could have changed, pay could have been reduced or the job could simply have come to an end; health and nutrition - past issues may have arisen requiring further medical attention or some of us discovered a need to rethink our dietary habits, and family issues may have arisen on some level ... as Virgo is ruled by Mercury, we had a Mercury/Mars relationship working in retrograde motion which will most likely resulted in a weakening of vitality and possibly our minds and tongues getting somewhat out of control ... hopefully a lot of you went out and did some exercise ... also interesting to note, usually in a Mars retrograde we may become less warlike and somewhat more civil but that is not set in stone ... we may also have encountered blocks and hindrances in our intellectual urge, avenues of expression and reasoning ability !!! ... there were many instances I heard of where people, including yours truly, had issues with the respiratory system, and those who had issues in the stomach area especially the intestines ... I know 5 people who had to have an appendectomy !!!

Aries born, was your period of review and rethinking beneficial and productive since Mars is your ruling planet ??? ... what was going on in your life since March of 2010 that may not have worked out after all ... this would also include all of us, and what possibly was begun from December 20th, 2009 through March 10th, 2010 that had to be addressed and reworked or simply came to a necessary ending ??? ... Even though Aries born individuals as well as Virgo born - since Mars was retrograding through the sign of Virgo - may have been more sensitive to this reversal of energy, we all experienced it somewhere in our lives, and lights may begin to come on in our heads that perhaps we should have either waited a while longer before taking action or possibly never have taken action to begin with in certain situations ... and hopefully the issues in regards to daily work/service, health and the family we encountered will begin to subside and clear up ...

For those of you who had birthdays between January 23rd and April 13th remember you have Mars retrograde energy in your birthday chart for the whole year ahead ... now that DOES NOT mean to sit idle for 12 months ... rather to be selective about what you begin, think it out thoroughly, and realize that self-motivation will be one of your biggest challanges in the year ahead !!! ...

Mars remains in the sign of Virgo until July 3rd - yikes a long time to get it's energy back up to speed so it can resume it's normal transit time of roughly six to eight weeks through one sign ... Mars will be back up to full speed when it leaves its Retrograde zone on June 16th when it reaches 23 degrees of Virgo the point where it began its Retrograde journey !!!! ... and what better time for Mars to finally complete it's retrograde journey and instill in all of us that get up and go energy as Spring is underway and now we really need to start thinking about all that "cleaning" we need to do !!!

JUST A WORD OF WARNING ... even though Mars is now thankfully back in direct motion and one can start resuming forward motion again on new projects and undertakings, remember Venus has already entered its shadow point as it is due to begin its Retrograde journey for 2012 on May 15th ... so be VERY careful when beginning new projects that involve money - especially lots of it !!!

But for now, I think it would be safe to say - LADIES & AND GENTLEMEN ... START YOUR ENGINES !!!