The Lord of Karma Slows Us Down as Saturn Retrogrades in Sagittarius

They say that lunar eclipses are all about revelations and we are just coming off the heels of a lunar eclipse in 3 degrees of Libra on March 23, 2016.  Now we have Saturn in the truth seeking sign of Sagittarius stationing retrograde in 16 degrees of Sagittarius to bring us more revelations until August 13, 2016 when it stations direct in 9 degrees of Sagittarius.

Saturn is not so fondly referred to as the Lord of Karma because it literally holds you accountable and responsible for your actions.  As an astrologer, I frequently hear collective groans about the havoc Saturn wreaks on lives. When it is retrograde, you have no choice but to slow down and reevaluate. It is a time to take care of unfinished business and tie up loose ends that are hindering our progress. We will have to work hard, but we can’t expect immediate results because we may also find ourselves saddled with additional obligations.  Saturn retrograde can also make us feel like we have lost all control over time as the past, present and future are all blurred.

Speaking of that blurred feeling, let’s not forget Neptune’s role in the Saturn saga. Neptune is currently in the watery, dreamy sign of Pisces.  It is at home there, while Saturn is not that comfortable in Sagittarius.  Saturn is at home when it is in Capricorn, which it will enter on December 19, 2017. Since November 26, 2015 we have all been collectively undergoing a Saturn Neptune square.  We will continue to feel the effects of this aspect until September 2016.  The square aspect is exact on November 26, 2015, June 18, 2016 and September 10, 2016.

What are the effects of a Saturn Neptune square?  Well, for starters, Saturn and Neptune are not exactly best buds because their intrinsic natures are so diametrically opposed.  Saturn loves to build structures while Neptune loves to dissolve them.  This aspect is bound to produce disappointments, setbacks, fear, anxiety, deception and downright paranoia.  These two planets don’t play well together in the sandbox, but clearly they have to learn now to coexist.  I happen to have both of these planets in my 1^st house in different signs, and I can attest to the work required in maintaining some semblance of sanity in my life with these two planets taking up residence there.  Neptune is conjunct my Libra ascendant while Saturn is conjunct my Scorpio sun in the 2^nd house.  I suppose I should be grateful that Saturn is at the end of my 1^st house and not within striking distance of my Neptune.  The people who know me best tend to describe me as Neptunian, which is appropriate for a healer and astrologer.  But that Saturn in the 1^st house has always made me feel like I am uber responsible for everything and I know that I am perceived as reliable. Responsibility is part of my astrological DNA.

The best advice that I can give to everyone regarding the next 4 ½ months of Saturn retrograde is to proceed slowly and carefully. Take time to reevaluate what is and isn’t working for you.  Above all, take personal responsibility because when Saturn is retrograde, the Lord of Karma is knocking at our doors and we will be held accountable for our actions.  It is truly time to pay the piper.  But if we have been diligent and working hard, we could be on the receiving end of some pretty sweet rewards.  What impact will Saturn retrograding from 16 to 9 degrees of Sagittarius have on you?  I am still processing Saturn’s opposition to my Gemini moon, which is not exactly a party, but I am becoming more comfortable in taking responsibility for getting my emotional needs met.  If you are curious as to how this transit will affect you, please consider getting an astrological reading with me.

In the spirit of the two recent eclipses impacting my creativity, spirituality, finances, and business, I am also including shorter astrological forecasts as part of my services.  Many of my clients purchase solar returns for a yearly tune up, but for those of you who can’t wait for your birthday, I can also do forecasts for three or six months.  So my world is expanding!  I am also offering shorter tarot readings in the form of one or two questions.  I am really excited to be offering distant Reiki treatments to my repertoire. So far these have been on existing clients, but a preliminary intake can be done by email or telephone and I tend to follow up a Reiki distant session with a phone call. Feel free to contact me at lindasim54@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these options. 

The north node in Virgo has an underlying theme of service to others.  In that spirit of pursuing my path as a healer, I am channeling that north node and Jupiter in Virgo energy by offering my Reiki services. If you are in the Boston area, please consider getting a Reiki treatment at Acupuncture for Everyone in Copley Square to destress, revitalize and remove blockages to healing.  It’s a perfect way to start your weekend off and can also be described as a spa for the soul to boot!   Reiki is the most profound treatment for stress relief because it concentrates on CALMING your body. 

For more information on my Reiki services, please see this page on my site:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

I have also recently become a member of the Fellowship of Massachusetts Energywork Practitioners.  It is a great resource for those seeking energyworkers.  Please feel free to check out this site at:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/

The link to my profile is below:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/#!directory-page-2/qp4zw

If you are contemplating an astrological reading to obtain more insight in your life, especially with the recent eclipses in March, 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

Hello to Aries,Spring and A Lunar Eclipse

The month of March 2016 has been quite astrologically active so far and shows no sign of ceasing its activity anytime soon.  We had a super moon solar eclipse on March 8^th in 19 degrees of Pisces and this week we had Pluto in Capricorn trining Jupiter in Virgo on March 16^th.  On March 16^th I tweeted:

“Jupiter in Virgo trining Pluto in Capricorn today gives us a big boost in terms of empowering us to attain our goals.”

Many of us are still processing that first eclipse on March 8^th.  A major theme of that eclipse was letting go of the old.  This was doubly emphasized by the fact that it was a south node eclipse (old karmic baggage) in the sign of Pisces, which is the last sign of the zodiac.

The Sun will enter the sign of Aries on March 20^th and it signifies the vernal equinox, which is the beginning of Spring.  It is also the beginning of the astrological New Year.  There is a lot going on astrologically on March 20^th.  Neptune, Chiron, Venus, Mercury, the south node, and Ceres are still in Pisces, so we are being given yet another opportunity to heal old patterns of helplessness and powerlessness.  Venus and Neptune are actually conjunct in 10 degrees of Pisces on March 20^th, which is pretty sweet in terms of amplifying the themes of compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love.  The only caveat with this aspect is not to be too idealistic, which both Neptune and Pisces share as calling cards. This comes on the heels of a week in which many of us may have had to face some pretty hurtful truths.  The phrase “no pain, no gain” was especially relevant this week.  It’s been a pretty weird time energy wise, this period between eclipses.  I have had my share of painful revelations about family, which shouldn’t surprise me because I do have Chiron in the 4^th house. And Chiron is a pretty heavy hitter these days astrologically.  But I have been hearing similar stories from friends and clients as well.

So the next major astrological event is the lunar eclipse on March 23^rd in 3 degrees of Libra.  The sabian symbol for 3 degrees of Libra literally means “The Dawn of a New Day Reveals Everything Changed.”  This is a great way of reminding us that eclipses don’t necessarily have to be all gloom and doom; they can bring wonderful opportunities. I can personally attest to the effects of the solar eclipse on March 8^th that formed a grand water trine with my Sun and Venus in Scorpio in my 2^nd house and my Cancer midheaven because my business is increasing and I am finding new opportunities to share Reiki.  Last weekend I made a house call to an existing Reiki client and I have also begun sending distant healing to other clients.  I am also including shorter astrological forecasts as part of my services.  Many of my clients purchase solar returns for a yearly tune up, but for those of you who can’t wait for your birthday, I can also do forecasts for three or six months.  So my world is expanding!  Feel free to contact me at lindasim54@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these options.

Mercury will be conjunct the Sun in Aries on March 23, 2016, so don’t be surprised if you wind up reevaluating your friendships as a result of this eclipse.  Relationships are bound to change as a result of this lunar eclipse which falls in the relationship oriented sign of Libra.  The lunar eclipse on September 27, 2015 occurred in 4 degrees of Aries, so these two eclipses are in direct opposition to each other.  We might be facing similar issues in our lives now that could reach a final resolution during this eclipse.

We are also under the influence of a mutable T-square in the form of Jupiter in 16 degrees of Virgo squaring Saturn in 16 degrees of Sagittarius on March 23^rd with a wide opposition to Neptune in 10 degrees of Pisces. Jupiter is already retrograde and Saturn stations retrograde on March 25^th.  The themes involved with this astrological configuration which will persist through August 2016 include chaos, order, turbulence, tension, global economic meltdowns and more issues with refugees.  It certainly reflects the current political climate.

The north node in Virgo has an underlying theme of service to others.  In that spirit of pursuing my path as a healer, I am channeling that north node and Jupiter in Virgo energy by offering my Reiki services. If you are in the Boston area, please consider getting a Reiki treatment at Acupuncture for Everyone in Copley Square to destress, revitalize and remove blockages to healing.  It’s a perfect way to start your weekend off and can also be described as a spa for the soul to boot!   Reiki is the most profound treatment for stress relief because it concentrates on CALMING your body. 

For more information on my Reiki services, please see this page on my site:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

I have also recently become a member of the Fellowship of Massachusetts Energywork Practitioners.  It is a great resource for those seeking energyworkers.  Please feel free to check out this site at:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/

The link to my profile is below:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/#!directory-page-2/qp4zw

If you are contemplating an astrological reading to obtain more insight in your life, especially with the upcoming eclipses in March, 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

Happy Spring, everyone!

The Pisces Party Continues During the Aftermath of the Solar Eclipse

The solar eclipse on March 8, 2016 in 19 degrees of Pisces is still being felt and that Piscean energy is ramping up its intensity.  On March 8^th I posted two tweets on Twitter that seemed to resonate with a lot of folks.

“Powerful #solareclipse today in Pisces conjuncts Neptune.  What do you need to surrender to or release in your life to move on?”

“Saturn in Sagittarius squaring #solareclipse in Pisces today represents obstacles to be overcome for spiritual growth. Hang in for payoff.”

I don’t know about you, but I felt extremely emotional and somewhat anxious, but in a good way, about whatever changes this eclipse would bring to my life. That might very well be caused by Jupiter in Virgo, which is still conjunct the north node and its opposition to the eclipse.  I choose to interpret it that as an incentive to have faith that letting go will pave the way for more positive changes. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and that in itself is indicative of an ending on some level before a new era can be ushered in.  Pisces is all about surrender to a Higher Power and letting go so that we can experience more freedom and growth.  But Saturn was featured pretty heavily in this eclipse because of its square aspect.  We need to let go, but Saturn craves structure while simultaneously testing us to take a leap of faith.  At least it was a mutable square and not a fixed one; we need to be grateful for small favors.  But Saturn is also engaging in a square to Neptune which will be exact on June 17^th.  Neptune’s veil is being pierced by the reality of Saturn in Sagittarius, the seeker of truth.

Pluto was not one to lie idle during this eclipse, either. It was in 17 degrees of Capricorn forming a favorable sextile to the sun and moon.  How sweet is that?  It’s like a cosmic boost from the universe cheering us on to ride the wave of transformation, no matter what obstacles Saturn throws our way.

Chiron in Pisces conjuncted the moon shortly after midnight on March 9^th and this added fuel to the healing fires. It may have also led to some incredibly healing dreams as well.

Mercury in Pisces conjuncts Neptune on March 11^th, empowering us to go even deeper in our spiritual quest for deeper realities. Intuition will soar.  And we can still anticipate the conjunction of Mercury to Chiron in Pisces on March 17^th.  Then we can really heal those old wounds by communicating in a more compassionate manner.

Venus joins the Pisces party March 12^th when it enters the sign of Pisces.  Venus is reputed to be exalted in Pisces because of its compassionate, forgiving, dreamy quality.  But it does have a tendency to long for the hard to reach or sometimes just plain unattainable things. Pisces is a dreamer and sometimes those dreams can be impossible, but you never know until you try.

That grand water trine the Pisces solar eclipse formed to my Cancer midheaven and Sun and Venus in Scorpio in my 2^nd house has helped to increase my business this past week, for which I am very grateful.  And so far, knock on wood, having a solar eclipse in my 6^th house got me a clean bill of health on my annual physical.

Jupiter in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn, who featured prominently in this solar eclipse, are forming a nice little trine in 17 degrees of their respective sign on March 16, 2016. This augurs well for finances to improve on a global level.

On another note, I was reflecting this week on how the Downton Abbey finale on March 6^th perfectly encapsulated the themes of the solar eclipse in Pisces.  I joined the Downton Abbey fan club a little late, in its 3^rd season, at the urging of a couple of friends.  The Neptunian side of me (Neptune in Libra in the 1^st house) quickly became addicted to the glamor and sense of escapism that it provided.  But as a Scorpio, I always sensed an underlying Plutonian theme to the show in terms of the characters trying to navigate the changing times.  The world saw massive changes between 1912 and 1926, which is the time period that the PBS show spanned.  Transformation (Pluto’s theme song) was unavoidable, although there were certainly many characters who did their best to try to cling to the old ways.  

But by the final episode, several characters managed to let go of behaviors that no longer served them, take risks to overcome their fears and adapt to a rapidly changing world.  Sisters Mary and Edith let go of their toxic sibling rivalry and made amends to each other. Talk about a dose of healing Pisces energy! Their relationship was transformed in the process as it embarked on a healthier path.  Edith conquered her fear that telling the truth would cost her happiness based on past experiences when she told her future mother-in-law about her illegitimate daughter.  She wound up gaining her respect .and the marriage took place.  This was such a clear example to me of trusting in your Higher Power.  She took a leap of faith, and trusted her intuition.  Edith freed herself from her self-defeating behaviors and got her chance to be happy.  Even the Dowager Countess let go of her animosity towards her daughter-in-law Cora by telling her that she was doing a fine job as head of the hospital board, a position that she had previously held.  The Dowager still hinted that she’d like to be given the choice of going back, but even she knew she had to adapt to changing times.  Cora embraced change in her role as head of the hospital board.  This is just another emphasis on the healing energy that Pisces embodies.  Julian Fellowes managed to brilliantly depict the transformation of his characters and show the redemptive power of letting go of what no longer serves us.   

The north node in Virgo has an underlying theme of service to others.  In that spirit of pursuing my path as a healer, I am channeling that north node and Jupiter in Virgo energy by offering my Reiki services. If you are in the Boston area, please consider getting a Reiki treatment at Acupuncture for Everyone in Copley Square to destress, revitalize and remove blockages to healing.  It’s a perfect way to start your weekend off and can also be described as a spa for the soul to boot!   Reiki is the most profound treatment for stress relief because it concentrates on CALMING your body.  

For more information on my Reiki services, please see this page on my site:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

I have also recently become a member of the Fellowship of Massachusetts Energywork Practitioners.  It is a great resource for those seeking energyworkers.  Please feel free to check out this site at:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/

The link to my profile is below:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/#!directory-page-2/qp4zw

If you are contemplating an astrological reading to obtain more insight in your life, especially with the upcoming eclipses in March, 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

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Solar Eclipse in Pisces as Mars and Mercury Join the Mutable Mix

Eclipse season is coming, folks.  We have our first eclipse of 2016 on March 8, 2016 in 19 degrees of Pisces.  It is a Supermoon solar eclipse to boot because it occurs one day before the moon reaches lunar perigee, which is when the moon reaches its closest point to the earth.  The best place to view this total solar eclipse is probably Indonesia, but trust me when I say that the rest of the world will still feel its impact.

Solar eclipses are renowned for triggering upsetting changes that can be felt for up to three months before and up to one year afterwards.  I frequently tell my clients to think of solar eclipses as new moons on steroids and lunar eclipses as full moons on steroids.  And since eclipses come in pairs, we get a lunar eclipse on March 23, 2016 in 3 degrees of Libra.

But on March 5^th both Mars and Mercury change signs.  Both will leave fixed signs and enter mutable signs.  Mars moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius and Mercury moves from Aquarius into Pisces.  Mars in Sagittarius will probably leave us feeling freer and more courageous so that we can let go of whatever fears that have been holding us back.  But Mars will station retrograde in 8 degrees of Sagittarius on April 17^th and move back into Scorpio on May 27^th.  Then Mars will re-enter Sagittarius on August 3^rd, where it will remain throughout most of September.  So all told, Mars is spending a huge chunk of 2016 in the signs of Scorpio and Sagittarius.  Scorpio is intense and passionate while Sagittarius is freedom loving, courageous and seeks out the truth.  It should be an interesting year with ample opportunities to achieve our goals with such a heavy emphasis on Mars in both signs of Scorpio and Sagittarius.

Speaking of fears, on March 2^nd, I was deeply inspired by an email that I received from Daily OM written by Madisyn Taylor called The Wisdom of Fear. Its theme was that anything worth doing always has fear attached to it.  This is due in part to the fact that the fear of change (and let’s face it, eclipses are all about change) always throws us off balance and makes us realize that we are at the edge of our comfort zone.  The bottom line is that if you want to move forward you need to release and grieve some part of your past.

So if you are contemplating significant change in your life, I urge you to get in touch with those fears and face them head on.  I believe that meditation is one of the most potent ways to do that.  I have been somewhat lax about my meditation practice lately and in an effort to become more disciplined (I do have the Sun conjunct Saturn, after all), I discovered a couple of guided meditation apps that I highly recommend.  It is quite appropriate that this occurred during the Sun in Pisces. I have one app on my Android devices called Take a Break that is free on Google Play and it features a 7 minute Work Break meditation and a 13 minute Stress Relief Meditation.  I also purchased for $1.99 an app called Simply Being for my iPod.  I really love this one because it offers you the flexibility to program your mediation time from 5-30 minutes with your choice of music or nature sounds.

As for Mercury being in Pisces, this is also a big deal because Mercury will conjunct Neptune on March 11^th, so we will be able to access deeper consciousness of inner realities.  This really favors following our intuition.  Mercury in Pisces will also be conjunct Chiron in Pisces by mid-March and this can assist us in healing old wounds by communicating in a more compassionate tone.

The solar eclipse on March 8, 2016 in 19 degrees of Pisces will be extremely powerful.  It will help us connect emotionally with our desires by providing energy to move forward.  The theme of this eclipse is Trust Your Intuition. How could it not be with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Neptune, Chiron and the south node in Pisces?  We are also blessed with Jupiter and the north node in Virgo (yet another mutable sign) nicely trining Pluto in Capricorn.

The changes this eclipse delivers may be upsetting on some level, but with so much mutable energy in the mix that we should be able to deal with them and come out ahead if we remain open to and follow our intuition.  Mutable energy is all about the ability to adapt and go with the flow.  Take a look at your chart to see where 19 degrees of Pisces falls, or better yet, consider having an astrological consultation with me to learn more about the impact this eclipse will have on your life.

This solar eclipse trines my Cancer midheaven and Sun and Venus in Scorpio in my 2^nd house.  It will be forming a grand water trine in my chart, so it will probably be a very emotional and intuitive time for me.  It falls in my 6^th house of health, service to others and daily routines.  I have been contemplating some changes in my work and I am hoping that the favorable aspects this eclipse makes to my 2^nd and 10^th houses will help propel me forward on my healing path with a financial boost.  On another note, I am also having my annual physical the day after the eclipse, so I am hoping for a clean bill of health.

The north node in Virgo has an underlying theme of service to others.  In that spirit of pursuing my path as a healer, I am channeling that north node and Jupiter in Virgo energy by offering my Reiki services. If you are in the Boston area, please consider getting a Reiki treatment at Acupuncture for Everyone in Copley Square to destress, revitalize and remove blockages to healing.  It’s a perfect way to start your weekend off and can also be described as a spa for the soul to boot!   Reiki is the most profound treatment for stress relief because it concentrates on CALMING your body. 

For more information on my Reiki services, please see this page on my site:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

I have also recently become a member of the Fellowship of Massachusetts Energywork Practitioners.  It is a great resource for those seeking energyworkers.  Please feel free to check out this site at:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/

The link to my profile is below:

http://www.maenergyworkfellowship.com/#!directory-page-2/qp4zw

If you are contemplating an astrological reading to obtain more insight in your life, especially with the upcoming eclipses in March, 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

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