In the Zone - The Week Between Eclipses

This has been a strange week astrologically speaking. There were no major, mind-blowing aspects like last week's Uranus Pluto square and solar eclipse in the last degree of Pisces on March 20th before the Sun entered Aries. But there has definitely been an undercurrent of highly sensitive energy that is preparing us for the lunar eclipse on April 4th in 14 degrees of Libra. If we are wise, we will tune in to our higher self to facilitate the implementation of the changes that are coming. It is well known that eclipses are the harbingers of massive change and there is usually a two week period between eclipses that afford us the opportunity to catch our breath. It is literally a bridge between two worlds. Michael Lutin brilliantly described the time between two eclipses as: "Swinging between a past it's hard to let go of, and uncertain future, but hey, that's evolution!"

Venus entered the sign of Taurus on March 17th and formed a dreamy sextile with Neptune in Pisces on March 23rd after conjuncting the moon in Taurus the previous day. The vibe on both days was kind of laid back, and people were more in a mood to enjoy themselves. We may have been seeing life through rose colored glasses on the 23rd with that aspect to Neptune. Venus rules Taurus and Taurus does love the finer things in life. So if you engaged in a little retail therapy, fine dining, culture and the arts, or even a massage, blame it on Venus in Taurus. And Venus in Taurus squares Jupiter in Leo on March 27th, which only serves to amplify that theme of too much of a good thing.

But we can't ignore the Sun in Aries. I swear that I can always tell when the Sun is in Aries because I become more impatient and irritable. Waiting in lines at the grocery store nearly gives me a meltdown! I just want to get my food and get it home. We experienced a semblance of ambition on March 25th when the Aries Sun trined Saturn in Sagittarius. It was a good day to start on projects and get some structure going in our lives. I actually accomplished a lot that day with my Reiki, psychic reading and astrology clients.

On March 26th I read a post on Twitter that resonated for me about this energy I was feeling and I retweeted it. It was about becoming aware of old patterns because the Sun is diving into the south node of the moon and releasing people, relationships and past cycles. I subsequently posted a tweet that it's spring cleaning of the soul!  This aspect will be exact on April 1, 2015. What perfect timing as a prelude to a lunar eclipse in the relationship oriented sign of Libra on April 4th! Aspects or transits to the south node are all about letting of what no longer serves our highest good, but most of us have a tendency to cling to them for dear life. Indeed, the south node is our comfort zone, our security blanket. When the south node is activated, we are literally pushed and propelled forward towards our north node, which is our soul's mission. It may not be an easy mission, but it is worthwhile. So let's practice a little mindfulness in this zone that doesn't quite feel real and soon enough we will get to our soul's destination where there will be a new reality.

If you are confused during these challenging times and need some guidance in empowering you to move forward, please consider getting an astrological reading.  You can learn more about my menu of astrological services at:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/services-offered.html

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for my daily astrological insights at:

https://twitter.com/danceofphoenix

Solar Eclipse in Pisces- The Official Start of Eclipse Season and Spring

Eclipse season for 2015 has officially begun and so has Spring, although the east coast is expecting snow today. The year 2015 will host four eclipses: a solar eclipse on March 20th, a lunar eclipse in Libra on April 4th, a solar eclipse in Virgo on September 13th, and a lunar eclipse in Aries on September 28th. Eclipses tend to be a time of crisis and show us where change is necessary. They bring unexpected changes in direction and indicate that something will end, but something new will begin. They describe the crossroads of our lives and enable us to break out of our old habit patterns so that we can move forward and fulfill our life purpose.

The solar eclipse on March 20th is particularly potent because it comes on the heels of the 7th and final Uranus Pluto square, which many of us are still reeling from, and because it occurs in 29 degrees of Pisces, which is considered to be the "anaretic" degree. What is the significance of the anaretic degree?  The anaretic degree is the 29th degree of a sign and it represents the end of a cycle, bestowing it with karmic significance. Some astrologers have described having a planet in 29 degrees as a point of weakness, indicating that the lessons of that planet in the sign have not fully been learned and assimilated. It has a last chance to get it right feeling. And the anaretic degree can also indicate that we need to learn moderation.

There is no doubt that this is literally a loaded eclipse. With both the Sun and Moon in 29 degrees of Pisces, we are shifting from mutable water to cardinal fire. This is the end of a subconscious or exiled cycle with strong themes of a desire for change and an end to emotionally tumultuous events. We need to forge a new sense of identity and develop a sense of control over our emotions.

This new moon is also conjunct the south node of the moon in Aries, which further emphasizes the theme that emotional attachments from the past come up and need to be released. We may feel ungrounded, experience a sense of urgency and want to take a leap. The solar eclipse occurs at 5:36 a.m. on the 20th, the moon enters Aries at 6:28 a.m. and the Sun enters Aries at 6:45 p.m. The Sun's entrance into Aries also marks the official start of spring.

This solar eclipse symbolizes that a shift is underway, major changes are coming, and there is enormous capacity for self-transformation. It forces us to confront the message of our life right now because Mercury in Pisces has been prominently involved. On March 18th, Mercury conjuncted both the moon and Neptune, affording us the opportunity to do some deep soul searching.

The bottom line with this eclipse is that unexpected or unusual circumstances will occur in the areas of our lives related to the house the eclipse falls in or any planets in our chart that it touches. This eclipse occurs in my 6th house but it also exactly trines my Jupiter in 29 degrees of Cancer in my 10th house. Oops, there is that anaretic degree theme again! This is forcing me to accept that part of my karma is to learn about the bigger picture and embrace a more universal point of view. And I have come to realize that is why I never felt like I was reaping the full benefits of Jupiter's so-called exaltation in Cancer. I hadn't completed the work of Jupiter in Cancer because there was always a part of me that wanted to be creative and shine in the spotlight that Jupiter in Leo craved. But I can honestly say that I am definitely working on it by utilizing my intuitive healing abilities and have developed a talent for seeing the big picture. I think that this solar eclipse is really shedding light on and illuminating that issue for me. I need to focus more on doing my healing work and less on the attention seeking. More heart and soul with less ego. I need to develop the faith (Jupiter) that the recognition will come in due time.  It's a challenge to balance the two, but one that I am definitely up for as my work schedule changes and new clients come into my life.

Happy Spring, everyone!

If you are confused during these challenging times and need some guidance in empowering you to move forward, please consider getting an astrological reading.  You can learn more about my menu of astrological services at:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/services-offered.html

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for my daily astrological insights at:

https://twitter.com/danceofphoenix

Mars Uranus Pluto in Action Gearing Up for the Last Uranus Pluto Square

Brace yourself, folks. The intensity really got pumped up this week. We had a nice little calm before the proverbial storm on Monday, March 9th with no major aspects and the moon's entrance into Scorpio. On Tuesday, March 10th, Jupiter in Leo trined Mars in Aries giving us a feeling that anything is possible.  It infused us with inspiration, courage, and a sense of over exuberance.

But all bets were off on Wednesday, March 11th when Mars conjuncted Uranus in 14 degrees of Aries. The planet of desire and action collided with the planet of change and liberation. This is bound to trigger the effects of the 7th and final Uranus Pluto square of March 17th. Mars conjunct Uranus cautions us to look before we leap. Astrologer Kristin Fontana urged us to respond, rather than react, to this volatile energy, and I couldn't agree more. On March 11th I tweeted:

"Watch out today as Mars conjuncts Uranus in Aries & squares Pluto in Capricorn. Major explosions & power struggles. Breathe!"

We need to face the reality that anything happening this week acts as a catalyst to help us get unstuck and dismantle structures that no longer serve us because Mars also squared Pluto on the 11th. This aspect hit me hard, literally where I live, because Mars and Uranus in Aries sextiled my Mars in 14 degrees of Aquarius in my 4th house. The first hit was an usually large electric bill, which actually prompted me to rant on Twitter about Eversource raising rates and not replying to its customers.  I heard back from others on Twitter that Eversource had raised rates 60%. One tweet directed me to a link with a petition to the Attorney General in Massachusetts to repeal the 2015 rate increase, which I promptly signed and posted about on Twitter.

"Just signed petition to repeal #Eversource #rate #hike. Mars Uranus Pluto in action!"

The next hit arrived in the form of a $130 monthly rent increase and a demand to sign a No-Smoking Addendum which would prohibit me or any guests from smoking in the apartment, building, patios, balconies, foyers, driveways, parking areas, fire escapes and rooftops. Now I am not a smoker but my Mars in Aquarius was really riled up at the downright unfairness of this Plutonian measure. I deeply resent being told that no one can even smoke outside or anywhere on the property or that the Landlord will pursue all available remedies for violations. March 11th really lived up to all of the astrological hype of Mars, Uranus and Pluto in full force.

Michael Lutin wrote extensively about the Mars Uranus conjunction in Aries squaring Pluto in Capricorn on his site this week:

www.michaellutin.com

I loved what he had to say about the Uranus involvement meaning that you can't guess what can happen and that if you think it can't happen it might. He observed that this aspect reflected a break with the past and that it could occur with a violent rupture or a carefully integrated agreement and specially crafted separation. He talked about enforced change and a major break with previous associations.

On March 11th I went to my weekly meditation group, which was sorely needed. I wound up running into someone who had been a student in the graduate program I had administered at my previous job at a local university. Talk about Uranus in action! I left that position over a year and a half ago and it now seems like a past life. He had dropped by to chat with the minister of the church and was on his way out as I was entering for the meditation. But he admitted that he had dropped by my old office a few months ago to deliver a thank you gift for my helping him and was saddened by the news that I was gone and he would never get the chance to thank me. So Uranus was really working overtime for me on March 11th!

On Thursday, March 12th, Mercury left the air sign of Aquarius and entered watery, nebulous Pisces. This will pretty much ensure that confusion and uncertainty will run the gamut. Mercury will be at the midpoint of all this highly disruptive Pluto and Uranus action. But we did have an ace in the hole with the moon in Sagittarius. On the 12th, it trined Jupiter in Leo and Uranus in Aries, inspiring me to tweet:

"Sag moon trining Jupiter in Leo and Uranus in Aries today sets off a grand fire trine & potential for more pleasant surprises."

As Uranus in Aries winds up its transit of my 6th house (it enters my 7th house on April 10th), I began reflecting on the changes that had swept over those areas of my life. As recently as two years ago, my health and work situation were in dire straits. I was so stressed out from my job that I resigned for reasons of declining health. Transiting Uranus in Aries literally forced me to recreate a new work environment for myself and restore my health. I began pursuing my passion for astrology and psychic readings and started a Reiki practice. I am a healer, but I needed to heal myself. Last week I had my annual physical with a new doctor who pronounced me "very healthy with a very healthy lifestyle."  I may not have achieved the financial success or stability I aspired to, but at least I was able to restore my health and am doing work that I love. My work situation is still in a state of flux, but that is Uranus for you. I have definitely learned the hard way that you can't resist its theme of change; resistance is futile and only makes life harder. Embrace change, as uncomfortable as it may be. It is indeed worth the effort.

I am fully aware that I need to survive that last Uranus Pluto square on March 17th. All of us have that to anticipate. My Libra ascendant is in the crossfire, so undoubtedly there are more surprises in store for me. And we all need to accept that the repercussions of this last square will probably be felt through the remainder of 2015 and into 2016.

As wild as this energy may feel, we are getting some preparation for it courtesy of Saturn. Saturn is stationing retrograde in 4 degrees of Sagittarius on March 14th. Initially it may make us feel pessimistic and serious, but it can also help us be more practical and responsible and that type of grounding influence can serve as a welcome ballast in the days ahead.

If you are confused during these challenging times and need some guidance in empowering you to move forward, please consider getting an astrological reading.  You can learn more about my menu of astrological services at:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/services-offered.html

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for my daily astrological insights at:

https://twitter.com/danceofphoenix

Full Moon in Virgo as Uranus Kicks It Up a Notch

The month of March started out like the proverbial lion and will probably end up the same way.  On Tuesday, March 3^rd, Uranus in Aries trined Jupiter in Leo, inspiring me to tweet:

“Big day today as we have a beautiful fire trine between Jupiter in Leo and Uranus in Aries.  Unexpected blessings could come.”

This bold fire energy could have brought many of us some unusual good luck very spontaneously because that is how fire trines operate, especially when Uranus is involved.  I am no stranger to Jupiter Uranus aspects myself, as I have a natal conjunction of these two planets in the late degrees of Cancer.

The theme of this Jupiter Uranus trine is to inspire us to take risks, be open to new experiences  and follow those hunches.  We had a Jupiter Uranus trine back in September 2014 and we get the opportunity to experience it again on June 21, 2015.  It’s all about change, folks and the less resistance we have, the easier it will be.

On Wednesday, March 4^th, Venus in Aries conjuncted Uranus and squared Pluto in Capricorn.  Granted, it was nice to have Venus join the party with a focus on love and finances, but its square to Pluto is kind of like a dress rehearsal for March 17^th, when the square between Pluto and Uranus will be exact.  Venus squaring Pluto may have triggered some rebellion against controlling influences or inequality in relationships. Power struggles may have prevailed on the eve of the full moon.

The full moon occurred in 14 degrees of Virgo on Thursday, March 5^th.  It was bound to create tension because Virgo is always tied to being practical and useful while controlling all of the details.  The devil is in the details as far as Virgo is concerned.  Yet the Sun in Pisces is all about having faith and trusting in the process.  On that day I tweeted:

“Full moon in Virgo today opposing Pisces Sun challenges us to find balance between analyzing and trusting to go with the flow.”

The Virgo full moon nudges us to translate our ideals into actions.  Another complication of this full moon is that it opposed Chiron in Pisces, which may have brought  up some old emotional wounds for healing.  I can relate to this piece, as the Virgo moon squared my natal moon in Gemini and I found myself encountering  a familiar issue that has caused me emotional pain in the past.

The moon enters Libra on the 6^th and it will be opposing Mars in Aries on the 7^th and opposing Uranus on the 8^th. I mentioned Mars in Aries because it too is a major player in the astrological weather  forecast for this month.  Mars in Aries is also crossing the south node of the moon in Aries and is exactly conjunct it on March 6^th.  It is fueling the fire of the Uranus Pluto square and providing the courage we may need to break free of what is no longer serving our best interests.  And tempers could very well flare on March 11^th when Mars conjuncts Uranus in Aries and squares Pluto in Capricorn.  Angry confrontations  could be the rule and not the exception on that day.

On the sunnier side of this astrological street, the Sun conjuncts Chiron in Pisces on March 7^th and hopefully this will illuminate any fears that are running (or ruining) our lives so that we can release them once and for all.  The trick to remember  with any healing transit is that you sometimes need to feel more pain in order to get to the other side.  Forewarned is forearmed!

Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead this weekend to get an extra hour of sunlight!

If you are confused during these challenging times and need some guidance in empowering you to move forward, please consider getting an astrological reading.  You can learn more about my menu of astrological services at:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/services-offered.html

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for my daily astrological insights at:

https://twitter.com/danceofphoenix