Tag Archives: Mercury retrograde

Saturday Extra: Observations on Retrograde Mercury

Tiepolo's Mercury Appearing to AeneasMercury went retrograde a week ago, and while many of us didn’t experience any effects right away, now that he’s gaining momentum on his reverse course, a few springs are starting to pop.

We can start with the bizarre airplane accident in New York on Thursday, which apparently was the result of a collision with a flock of birds right after take-off. Air travel is ruled by Aquarius, the sign in which Mercury currently is retrograde. It was interesting that the jet went down in water. Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, currently is in Pisces. Jupiter, meanwhile, is also in Aquarius, with Mercury only a few degrees away. Jupiter typically is a lucky influence, and it was nothing short of a miracle that there were no fatal injuries.

Yesterday, my ferry was 15 minutes late leaving the dock because the captain missed the boat! He had to catch the next one, which wasn’t scheduled to dock at Vashon and had to make an emergency stop to deliver him. Of course, that meant all the boats on our route were behind schedule for the rest of the day.

U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama is making his way to Washington for his inauguration on Tuesday, and while I haven’t read about any delays or incidents on his historic train trip, his first days in office will be spent cleaning up big messes left by the previous administration. For that matter, retrograde Mercury in the inauguration chart suggests that he may spend his entire term in office that way. Mercury retrograde actually should help him in this regard, as retrograde periods are great for research, review, and revision.

Mercury is retrograde in my first house and will cross back over my Ascendant twice. The events I’m experiencing are a bit too personal to recount here, but one of them involves a grievance before a labor union, and unions are ruled by Aquarius. A couple of old friends also resurfaced after months of silence. Aquarius is the sign of friendship.

On Tuesday, right after the inauguration, Mercury retrogrades back into Capricorn. This may temporarily tip the balance back in the favor of authoritarian rule, or it could frustrate those forces even more, as Saturn, Capricorn’s ruling planet, also is retrograde. By this time, the Sun will have entered Aquarius, and we’ll be only days away from a solar eclipse. I think it’s safe to say that many unpredictable events and surprises are in the works.

I’ll have more on the eclipse in my weekly forecast on Monday. Until then, much love and many blessings…
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mercury Appearing to Aeneas, by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1696-1770.

Weekly Forecast January 12: Mercury Retrograde

Janus, Roman god of doorwaysThis should be a relatively quiet week, although there are undercurrents that may leave the more sensitive among us feeling prickly.

Our work week begins with Mercury retrograde. He just went into reverse (what it looks like from down here) on Sunday, so he’s barely moving on Monday morning. This is usually a recipe for traffic jams, missed connections, late arrivals, and general mix-ups — not exactly getting off on the right foot.

As the week progresses, expect communications to get more difficult. You may think you said what you said, but someone else heard it entirely differently. This is one of the more fascinating phenomena of retrograde Mercury. How two people can hear something entirely different and both be right can be a real eye-opener, and you might even get a good laugh if you keep an open mind.

Neith is always fond of encouraging forgiveness, and that is my usual refrain for Mercury retrograde as well. Otherwise intelligent people say and do stupid things, and none of us is immune. Admit your mistakes, forgive them in others, forget it, and move on.

Because Aquarius is the sign associated with technology, we’ll likely experience more computer-related screw-ups than usual, too. Back up your files, and try not to get frustrated if you can’t reach tech support. Chances are, they’re overloaded.

Now, those are all the predictable negative events associated with Mercury retrograde. There are some positive things, and that will be all the more true for this one, given the positions of the other planets. The way I see things shaping up, we are in a period of sweeping change, largely as a result of Jupiter’s entry into Aquarius last week. There is a continuing tug-of-war, however, between the forces desperately clinging to the status quo and the winds of change. This applies both to the world at large and within our individual hearts and souls.

As you know if you’re a regular reader of my weekly forecasts, the astrological influence behind this push for change is the opposition between Saturn and Uranus. Even when the aspect isn’t that close, we still feel it, particularly when other planets act as a trigger. That happens on Wednesday of this week, when the Moon in Virgo opposes Uranus and conjoins Saturn. If you get a little jolt, pay attention.

In fact, “pay attention” is my primary advice to you this week. As Mercury makes his retrograde path through Aquarius and back into Capricorn, we all will have a chance to think through where we need to make changes and what we need to let go of in order for the new reality to manifest. Recognition is 90 percent of success. This is normally way easier said than done, but now we’ve got an edge, so put these energies to work for you. Take time to stare out the window, and write down the thoughts that come to you. If you keep a journal, record your observations there. Even the back of an envelope will work in a pinch.

As the week begins, we’re still in the wake of Saturday’s Full Moon in Cancer, which packed a powerful punch. But that means we’re also heading into the eclipses, the first of which is a solar eclipse in Aquarius on January 25. Even with Mercury retrograde, you may start getting hints this week and next of what’s to come … or not. Some of us may experience a turnaround so surprising that we can’t even imagine it right now.

Wishing you all much love,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Bust of the Roman god Janus, for whom the month of January was named, in the Vatican Museum. Janus was the god of gates, doorways, beginnings, and endings, and according to some sources was paired with Jana (Diana), together symbolizing Sun and Moon.

Full Moon in Cancer, January 10

Full Moon in CancerThe first lunation of 2009, the Full Moon in Cancer on January 10 (January 11 in the Eastern Hemisphere), reflects light from the Sun in Capricorn and is a reminder we need to tend to the practical side of our lives. Perhaps this is the reason so many of us are inclined to make New Year’s resolutions during this time of year.

Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn, is just beginning the retrograde phase for the coming year, giving us an opportunity to review and revise what was set into motion in roughly the second half of 2008. For many of us, it was a quite a ride as we saw what we thought were financial gains disappear into thin air. Now we need to give serious thought to working in more tangible ways to regroup.

In the chart for this Full Moon, the Sun is part of a mystic rectangle with Saturn in Virgo, Uranus in Pisces, and the Moon in Cancer – all water and earth signs. A mystic rectangle features two oppositions, two trines and two sextiles, uniting four planets in a manner capable of manifesting the energies represented by the planets into physical reality. Dane Rudhyar interpreted this pattern as “practical mysticism.”

Capricorn and Cancer are both cardinal signs and both are negative in polarity, so their way of asserting themselves is very different from the Gemini-Sagittarius axis of the last Full Moon. That does not mean they are any less powerful in expression, just more subtle about it. There is great potential here for healing on many levels, drawing on the nurturance of the Moon in Cancer, the practical caring of Saturn in Virgo, the endurance of the Sun in Capricorn, and the marvelous compassionate touch of Uranus in Pisces. Perhaps seeds will be planted for new healing technologies that could help many people.

Jupiter and Mercury have moved into Aquarius from Capricorn and remind us of the need to work as part of a group to achieve our dreams. Jupiter has just begun his year-long stay in Aquarius, and we are just beginning to get some idea of what it means to have Jupiter’s magnifying properties promoting Aquarian agendas instead of Capricorn’s. It is a whole new world, folks!

Mercury will station retrograde within a few hours after the peak of the Full Moon, further underlining the need to be open to revamping our agendas without prejudice. The lunar North Node in Aquarius is traveling with this pair, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and staying in touch with the collective vision.

Neptune in Aquarius is the apex, or focal point, of a Yod with Saturn in Virgo sextile the Moon in Cancer as the base. Saturn and the Moon represent the need to care for our loved ones and families in a sensible and nurturing fashion, and if we do that we can gain understanding of how to move this same attitude of caring to all members of our collective. The Aquarius New Moon on January 26 will pick this theme up and ratchet it up a notch with six planets in this most visionary of signs.

After taking center stage at the New Moon, Pluto in Capricorn is letting us catch our breath on the Full Moon  . . . thankfully. Mars in Capricorn is in a waxing sextile with Venus in Pisces, a gentle blessing for friends and lovers. Venus is kind and sympathetic in Pisces and encourages us to listen closely to others when they share their thoughts and feelings, while Mars in Capricorn is solid and dependable. We do need to be clear about our boundaries, though, and avoid misinterpreting a sympathetic ear as something more intimate.

We have two Sabian symbols to consider on the Full Moons, one for the Moon and one for the Sun. The symbol for the Moon at 22 Cancer is, “A young woman awaiting a sailboat,” with the keyword EXPECTANCY. We need to draw on the grounding energy of the Sun in Capricorn to focus on what is, rather than what might be. This is about the danger of always seeking an ideal fantasy solution when we are better served to look more deeply at those already in our lives, or to look within to work on our relationship with ourselves.

For the Sun at 22 Capricorn, the Sabian symbol is, “By accepting defeat gracefully, a general reveals nobility of character,” with the keyword INNER STRENGTH. Learning to accept that winning is not everything is an important step on the road to maturity, and many of us need this reminder. Pluto in Capricorn can teach this concept the hard way if we don’t make a conscious effort to work on developing inner strength and integrity.

Even if New Year’s resolutions are not your thing, this is still a good time to lay out some general guidelines for the coming year. We can take advantage of the grounding energy of the mystic rectangle in earth and water, so when the New Moon solar eclipse in Aquarius conjoined with Jupiter blows into town, we’ll have a structure in place to build on. Remember, always practice kindness to everyone you come in contact with!

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast January 5: Full Moon in Cancer, Mercury Retrograde

Riding the WavesDoes it seem to you like everyone has gone berserk, yourself included?

I had three meltdowns over the past week, and let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty. All three were in response to someone else’s meltdown, and I’ve since heard from friends and co-workers that everywhere they turn, people are acting crazy. There’s a lot of anger and frustration out there, that’s for sure.

In circumstances such as these, the first thing the astrologer does is to try to figure out what’s “causing” it — remembering, of course, that the planets don’t cause anything to happen to us, but are just indicators of what’s happening with the invisible energies flowing through the Cosmos. We might surmise, then, that there’s a major traffic jam and that these energies are colliding with each other and wreaking general havoc.

One of the toughest puzzles in astrology is to identify which planetary indicators are at work at any given time. My money is on the Saturn-Uranus opposition, which got a jolt this morning when Jupiter entered Aquarius. Jupiter is bigger than all of the other planets in our solar system combined, and when the Big Guy moves, we know it.

In Capricorn for the past year, Jupiter has been feeding Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, one of the more conservative signs that tends to favor the status quo. Conversely, Aquarius is about sudden, unpredictable change. The Water-Bearer’s ruler is Uranus, the sky god of storms and electricity. Meanwhile, Uranus himself is in the watery sign of Pisces, which is associated with the vast void of the collective unconscious.

Whew! What a way to start a week — or a new year, for that matter!

As if that’s not enough, there will be a Full Moon on Saturday, with the Sun in Capricorn and the Moon in Cancer, the sign she rules. Neith will have more on this on Wednesday, so be sure to check back. Fortunately, this Full Moon has a lot of earth energy associated with it, so we probably won’t experience all hell breaking loose, but we’ll be agitated all the same, and I think this may be in part due to the struggle between wanting to keep things as they are and the irresistible pull toward the changes we all know are necessary but that are very scary.

We’ll get plenty of opportunity to think about all of this over the next several weeks, as Mercury turns retrograde in Aquarius this Sunday and then retrogrades back into Capricorn on January 21. If we’re confused now (I know I am), we should gain a lot of clarity, although I think we’re going to feel awfully uncomfortable for a bit.

As they say in French, bon courage! Lots of love to all, and hang in there!

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Kerby Brown, a daredevil champion surfer from Western Australia, rides a 41-foot wave. He eventually wiped out and said he was lucky to be alive! I thought it was appropriate for this week because it feels like we are all riding big waves, and a lot of us are wiping out, but hey, we’re still alive. This photo was taken last July (with the Sun in Cancer) by Andrew Buckley for REUTERS.

Weekly Forecast October 13: Full Moon in Aries, Mercury Direct

Mercury and Psyche, by Adriaan de Vries I won’t be so bold as to proclaim that all hell is going to break loose this week, but do be prepared for major movement.

With the Full Moon in dynamic Aries just as Mercury is stationing direct, much of the activity that has been stalled over the past three weeks could take place all at once. To get an idea of how you may be impacted personally, look at where Libra and Aries fall in your natal chart.

Neith already has written a complete report for Tuesday’s Full Moon, and I will add only that growth and change, even when positive, can be unsettling. When we seek to fulfill our heart’s deepest desires, we typically have to go through a period of testing and challenge, and we need to do the work. Rarely do we value what is handed to us on a silver platter.

On Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the Full Moon, Mercury stations at 7 degrees Libra. The Messenger passed this degree on September 3. Think back to what was happening around that time for you and what has (or hasn’t) transpired since then. This will give you a clue about what to expect this week. It may take a few days for Mercury to gather speed before you see any results. I’d give it until Friday.

As I was searching for an appropriate image for this week’s forecast, I found reference to Mercury in the story of Cupid and Psyche. Quick and dirty plot summary:

Venus, jealous of Psyche’s beauty, sends her son Cupid to foul up the young woman’s love life. He botches the job and falls in love with her, but he attempts to keep his identity secret by coming to her only at night, in the dark. Through trickery encouraged by her sisters, she discovers who he is, and he flees. She is so desolate that she wants to kill herself and eventually appeals to Venus, who makes her perform a series of tasks until she is deemed worthy of true love.

The sculpture in the photo depicts Mercury, transporter of souls, carrying Psyche to Mount Olympus, where she is granted immortality and allowed to marry her beloved.

In classical mythology, Mercury is the only god who has free passage to and from the underworld. Symbolically, this speaks to our thought processes and how our thoughts impact our lives. Libra not only is an intellectual air sign, but it is the ruler of relationships. For women especially (but not exclusively), the trials and tribulations of love are among the most painful in our lives, and they are often what causes us to grow, evolve, and attain higher consciousness.

Speaking of Venus, the planet of love leaves jealous Scorpio on Saturday and enters merry Sagittarius, where she is more light-hearted. Her downfall here is only that she may party a little too hard and overindulge herself and her friends. She also can be competitive, but as long as you keep it fun and friendly, there’s no harm in a good contest.

Love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mercury and Psyche, by Adriaan de Vries, 1593. The Louvre, Paris. Mercury bears Psyche aloft to Olympus where, after forced to undergo many trials by a jealous Venus, she attains immortality and is reunited with Cupid, her beloved.

Weekly Forecast October 6: Mercury Retrograde, Venus and Mars in Scorpio

The Hallucenogenic Toreador, by Salvador DaliWe’re in a holding pattern this week, with Mercury moving through the final stage of his retrograde phase, Mars well-established in his own sign of Scorpio, and no highly challenging aspects.

As the week begins, Mercury has a week and a half left to go in his three-week retrograde period. Some of you have written to say that you haven’t noticed any major effects of this Mercury retrograde, and I have to agree with you. I’ve seen a few minor glitches here and there, but no major mix-ups. I’ve even heard a couple of good stories, and my own experience has been mostly positive. A relationship with a co-worker began getting back on track after several weeks of discord.

Because Mercury is in Libra, the sign of relationships, I do believe it’s possible that this retrograde period has been good for revisiting old wounds and unresolved issues, especially as Mercury forms harmonious trines with Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius.

On Monday, the Sun conjoins retrograde Mercury, and both bodies square Jupiter in Capricorn. If you don’t like the way a certain relationship is going, this is a great opportunity to make some real changes. Depending on where Mercury is transiting your chart, you may also have a window of opportunity to change some other part of your life. With Mercury and the Sun in an intellectual air sign and Jupiter in a practical earth sign, thinking through how you’d like things to be different is a good start. Visualization exercises and affirmations will work well with this planetary configuration.

The effects of this triple aspect will continue into Tuesday as the Moon in Capricorn squares Mercury and the Sun and conjoins Jupiter. We manifest much more effectively when we back our thoughts with emotion. Put another way, when there’s a real need, the energy we send out into the Universe is much more powerful.

Matters also start getting complicated, though, with Venus in Scorpio squaring Chiron on Tuesday and Neptune on Saturday. We can’t be truly intimate with another person if we don’t express our hurts and fears. Often we’re afraid to do this, either because it exposes our vulnerability or makes us appear less desirable. Or we may be afraid that the other person will be angry, perhaps even angry enough to leave us. Withholding information from an intimate partner or someone else close to you is a means of manipulation and control, and while you may get what you want in the short term, this will harm your relationship over time. If nothing else, be ruthlessly honest with yourself about your motives.

As she makes these difficult aspects with Chiron and Neptune, Venus also sextiles Saturn early in the week. This is good energy for solidifying your committed relationships, provided you are willing to do the work. In financial matters, this positive Venus-Saturn contact can help you make progress, even with Mercury retrograde.

The Moon in Aquarius conjoins Chiron on Thursday and Neptune on Friday, triggering the Mercury-Sun aspect earlier in the week. Also on Thursday and Friday, Venus forms a happy trine to unpredictable Uranus. Typically the surprises that arrive under this aspect are happy ones. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready for some of that!

Overall, we’ll get a bit of a breather this week, so take advantage while you can. Next week is the Full Moon in Aries, the day before Mercury turns direct, and I’m betting that a lot of pent-up energy will be released at that time. Neith will have more on this in a day or two.

Love and blessings,

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image:  The Hallucinogenic Toreador, by Salvador Dalí, 1968-1970. Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida. I chose this image because it so nicely represents the confused, complicated energies of Venus this week. However, on a deeper level, this painting contains symbolism for suddenly seeing the whole, a psychological phenomenon called “emergence” in Gestalt theory.

Weekly Forecast September 29: New Moon in Libra, Mars enters Scorpio

BUSTED!We’ll feel a major energy shift this week as Mars enters his own sign of Scorpio. Relationships continue to be our focus, but there are twists and complications.

That’s not until Friday, though, so I’m getting ahead of myself. The week begins with the New Moon in Libra, which Neith wrote about at length in a post last week. By the way, her lunation posts are drawing record numbers of page views for us, and we are now read in all 50 states and nearly 100 countries around the world!

The Moon remains in Libra on Tuesday and conjoins Mercury and Mars and trines Neptune. Mercury just turned retrograde and either is wreaking havoc with your relationships or allowing you to go back and review where you took a wrong turn — not that these two effects are mutually exclusive. Sometimes we need to be forced to deal with issues we’d rather avoid. Put another way, the more deeply you’re in denial, the harsher the wakeup call. But if you’ve been hoping for an opportunity for a healing heart-to-heart talk, you can have it now. Embrace all that comes your way, and make a special effort not to avoid necessary confrontation. Used properly, conflict leads to growth.

On Thursday (Friday in the Eastern Hemisphere), Mars sextiles Pluto. Modern astrologers use Pluto as the ruler of Scorpio, but Mars remains Scorpio’s co-ruler. When these two are in a favorable relationship, their combined energies are available to help us shift out of thought and behavior patterns that may be keeping us stuck. Mars will carry this powerful Plutonian charge with him as he enters Scorpio at 9:34 p.m. Friday on the West Coast of the United States.

Since mid-August, the Warrior has been in Libra, where he is decidedly less warlike but stripped of his vital energy. Until last week, Venus also was in Libra, one of the two signs she rules. These symbols of divine masculine and feminine conjoined on September 11 in her sign, giving the upper hand to feminine qualities of diplomacy and compromise. He went along, but he may have whined about it, or perhaps he expressed his displeasure through passive-aggressive means such as little digs or inner rebellion.

Well, now the tables are turned. He is at his best, while she is not. Mars in Scorpio knows what he wants, and he knows how to get it. It is not through cajoling or gentle persuasion, but through targeted action. If he meets with resistance, he will resort to whatever means necessary. Some of those means might not be very nice, but they will be effective.

Venus in Scorpio knows what she wants, too, or at least she thinks she does. She may obsess endlessly on it and use underhanded means such as manipulation and subtle lies. Then, once she gets it, she may not want it anymore.

So what does all of this mean for you?

You may notice after Friday that you are tired of endless negotiating and putting up with less than you want and deserve. If you’re not getting what you want in a relationship, a job, or some other situation, be honest and open, and be firm. Demands and threats won’t work. You’ll need to put your money where your mouth is.

At every step of the way, examine your motives, especially if others are standing in your way. Do you really want what you think you want? Are you engaging in a hidden struggle for power and control? Or are you perhaps standing in your own way by controlling a part of you that needs to be expressed and heard? Are you telling yourself you need to be nice, when a tougher stance may be more appropriate?

If you do need to discuss a relationship, Saturday’s trine between Mercury and Chiron will help you discuss hurt feelings. Don’t expect any immediate resolution. Just be content to get the issues out in the open.

Sunday’s Venus-Jupiter sextile brings some relief in the way of a little self-indulgence. Remember, a little will go a long way, so there’s no need to go overboard and leave yourself with the equivalent of a hangover on Monday.

Hang in there.

Love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mars and Venus Surprised by Apollo, by Hendrick de Clerck (1570-1629). I concede that there’s a certain cheesiness to this image, and you have to wonder whether the artist used a female model for Venus. But several artists from this era painted this theme, which for some reason was very popular at the time.

Weekly Forecast September 22: Mercury Retrograde

The Cadence of Autumn, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1905Well, the first thing you might notice is that this forecast is a day late. I blame retrograde Mercury!

Before I talk about that, though, let’s welcome the Sun in Libra, also known as the fall equinox. I have to admit that I’m not feeling it all that much, not with Mercury, Mars, and Venus all in Libra since August 30. We’ve had a good dose of Libra energy since then, so the Sun’s passage through the sign of balance is somewhat anticlimactic, except for the Libra and Aries lunations, which Neith will have more on shortly.

It is “officially” the first day of fall, though, and that has a psychological effect. The process of harvesting, gathering, and preservation is programmed into our DNA, as are the shorter days and longer, chillier nights. We are aware that winter is on the way.

Venus leaves Libra and enters Scorpio on Tuesday. Venus is in her fall in Scorpio, and while many astrologers consider this a sexy and even psychic placement of Venus, she also can be obsessive and manipulative, neither of which help foster honest and open communications with those you love. We will all have to mindful of giving up control over situations and other people.

This will be all the more important with Mercury conjoining Mars in Libra earlier Tuesday. Difficult Mercury-Mars aspects are notorious for heated words. Because Libra is a more balanced sign, those words might be disguised as “nice” when they are meant to inflict pain or to express anger.

The Messenger goes into “reverse” on Wednesday at nearly 23 degrees Libra and will retrograde back to about 7 degrees Libra before returning direct on October 15. Relationship issues will be vulnerable to revisiting and rehashing, especially those that come up on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. There’s almost no point in trying to figure out where you stand, because that could change in the next three weeks, and more than once. Just try to remain as open-minded and as open-hearted as possible, and look inward to your desires and motivations. If you don’t feel ready to admit them to others, at least be honest with yourself.

The rest of the week is fairly low-key, with no aspects between major planets Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, retrograde Mercury trines Neptune, marking the first opportunity to have a healing discussion. Don’t expect much from this, though, and if you can’t get your message through, step back and wait for a couple of weeks, difficult as that may be. Trying to force discussions while Mercury is retrograde can get us in trouble even deeper, and Neptune is known for clouding the issues.

By this weekend, we’ll start feeling the New Moon in Libra on Monday. Other than occurring during Mercury retrograde, this should be a fairly easy lunation. Look for Neith’s post tomorrow.

Until then, love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. For more information on the upcoming Mercury retrograde, see my recent Saturday Extra post.

Image: The Cadence of Autumn, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1905.

Weekly Forecast September 15: Full Moon in Pisces

With the Full Moon in Pisces on Monday, this week starts out with a bang!

Neith already has written at length on this lunation, and I discussed it in last week’s forecast. Because the Sun opposed Uranus on Friday (Saturday in the Eastern Hemisphere), you may already have felt the impact of this volatile Full Moon, but with Uranus involved, it’s almost impossible to know.

Tempest, by Maxfield Parrish

Hurricane Ike was an interesting manifestation of this Full Moon energy. This storm puzzled forecasters, because it wasn’t behaving like most hurricanes. In the days before landfall, they were getting inconsistent readings, and their forecasting tools were at odds, some showing that Ike would pass over warm currents and strengthen significantly, while others indicated passing over cold currents and weakening. In the end, Ike caused severe damage, but didn’t develop into a stronger Category 3 storm.

Hopefully, that will be the case in our personal lives as well. And unlike hurricanes, which leave death, destruction, and personal tragedy, emotional storms can clear our lives of accumulated debris and set us on a new course more in line with our authentic selves.

Mercury, Venus, and Mars all conjoined in Libra last week, which resulted in productive discussions, especially regarding relationships. A lot of anger may have been released, which I believe is a good thing in the long run, but some emotional turbulence may linger through this Wednesday, when the Moon in Aries opposes Mars, Mercury, and Venus all within a few hours. Keep talking, and don’t fear confrontation. Ultimately, it will help you grow and break through to higher ground.

Indeed, barely two hours after the Moon opposes Venus, the planet of love forms a harmonious trine to Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions. Which you get depends on whether you’ve done your work. Mercury trines Neptune on Friday, and Mars follows on Sunday. The bigger picture should come through now. There’s nothing like putting things in perspective to help you heal. Do keep in mind that Mercury turns retrograde next week, and so some of the issues you’ve been experiencing in your closest relationships likely will come up for rehashing and review for the next several weeks. Having a big picture for context will help us keep our sanity through it all.

On Saturday, the Sun in Virgo squares Pluto in Sagittarius, putting practical considerations in conflict with religious and political beliefs. Expect a new round of campaign mudslinging, at the very least.

Speaking of Pluto, the planet of death and transformation has just returned direct, as has Jupiter, the planet of expansion and good fortune. Breakthroughs should be happening for us left and right this week, in possibly miraculous ways. I sure could use a miracle, and wish the same for you.

Love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. For more information on the upcoming Mercury retrograde, see my recent Saturday Extra post.

Image: The Tempest, by Maxfield Parrish, 1909.

Saturday Extra: Mercury Retrograde

Mercury, by Simeon SolomonWith all the drama going on this week, our attention has been diverted from the effects of Mercury’s imminent retrograde.

The shadow period began on September 2, although we began experiencing the effects even sooner due to Mars passing through Mercury’s retrograde path. Mars acts as a trigger, and this can happen before an aspect occurs as well as afterward. I’m already seeing communications mix-ups, especially in relationships. As usual, the ferry schedules are totally mixed up, and I’m also seeing some breakdowns (Mars rules moving parts in a machine).

All of the usual warnings will apply to this Mercury retrograde, such as backing up your computer files, double-checking reservations, and making sure that you are clear in all of your communications. Those are all things you can start doing now.

Likewise, if someone isn’t clear with you, don’t jump to conclusions. If there are miscommunications, they may not be anyone’s fault. Forgive and forget, especially with Mercury in Libra.

Now, there will be a couple of interesting facets to this Mercury retrograde that will bear watching. First, Venus and Mars just conjoined on September 11, with Mercury in close conjunction (Mercury and Venus are exactly conjunct tomorrow, Sunday). Whatever has been going on for you in the past couple of days, especially regarding your relationships, may come up for revisiting and review over the next month or so. My guess is that you’ll find resolution, but the interim period could be frustrating.

Second, Mercury will be retrograde at the New Moon in Libra on September 29, so any movement associated with that New Moon likely will be delayed until Mercury returns direct on October 15, which is the day after the Full Moon in Aries. Patience will be required.

This is all information to keep in the back of your mind as you sail this week’s stormy seas.

Love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mercury, by Simeon Solomon, a Libra, born October 8, 1840.