Showdown as Mars Opposes Saturn and Hope with a Taurus New Moon

Mars entered Gemini on May 11^th.  On that day I tweeted:

“Prepare for diversity and less focus in how we go about our activities as Mars enters Gemini today.  We may have too many choices.”

Let’s face it, Gemini loves variety and considers it the spice of life. Mars has a major face-off with Saturn in Sagittarius on May 15^th in two degrees of each sign.  When Mars and Saturn are in challenging aspect to each other, it is not a pretty sight.  Mars opposing Saturn is a stormy aspect regarding boundaries and limitations of our personal and collective limitations.  Our thinking, as represented by Gemini, needs to align with Sagittarian ideals. This aspect forces a major reality check and clashes with authority are to be expected. Don’t initiate any conflicts if you can help it, because you will probably lose.  It has a strong theme of frustrated action and energy levels may feel restricted.  After all, Saturn is all about restrictions and limitations, as well as teaching us valuable lessons.  A stop-start kind of feeling is very common with this aspect.  Especially with Saturn in Sagittarius, this aspect could play out with some rather sticky international standoffs and implications.

We also have Mercury in Gemini entering its official retrograde period on May 18^th, the day of the Taurus new moon.  Mercury in Gemini coupled with Mars in Gemini is bound to bring some tension filled communications and actions. Mercury entered its shadow retrograde period on May 4^th, so some of us may be feeling the retrograde effects already.  On May 12^th, I tweeted:

“It’s going to be a fasten your seat belt bumpy ride kind of Mercury retrograde. Feeling the effects already.”

This tweet was inspired by the Pisces moon conjunction to Neptune on that day, which held the potential for either enlightenment or escapism.  That’s the way Neptune plays, especially when the moon is in the sign Neptune rules. 

The bottom line with Mars opposing Saturn is that we will probably all feel some level of discomfort and struggle in some area of our lives.  My natal Mars in Aquarius squares my Saturn in Scorpio, so I am all too familiar with this energy.  I could never in all honesty say that my life has been easy because whatever I have achieved in my life has come through hard work.  Saturn challenging Mars makes you work for what you want in life; there is no free pass.

While we do have Mercury stationing retrograde in 13 degrees of Gemini on May 18^th, we also have a beautiful new moon in 27 degrees of Taurus on the same day.  How cool is that?  Taurus is ruled by the sign Venus, so this new moon is an optimal time to nurture yourself, be kind to yourself, surround yourself with beauty and plan for wealth.  Remember that Taurus is the sign of the bull.  Taurus is renowned for its determination, persistence and patience because it is a fixed sign.  It is a time to build solid foundations. Be smart and cultivate that Taurean energy before the Sun enters Gemini on May 21^st.

The Taurus New Moon will fall in my 8^th house and oppose my Venus in Scorpio in the 2^nd house while squaring my Pluto in Leo in the 11^th house.  I have no doubt that issues of finances and power will arise.  I will probably need to release some ideas that are no longer serving me well to make room for more viable concepts.  My goals may change and I wouldn’t be surprised if my friendships and group associations undergo some changes as well.  Time will tell.

If you are confused during these challenging times and need some guidance in empowering you to move forward, that is yet another reason to obtain 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