Super Full Moon in Pisces Has Potential for Making Dreams Come True

Full Moon Alert- we have a full moon in 6 degrees of Pisces coming up on August 29, 2015.  I'm not exaggerating when I call it a super full moon because it is especially close to the earth. I also think it would be a fair assessment to say that most people have been feeling the effects of this full moon for the better part of this past week.  Everyone I know has been stressed out to the max and there has been a plethora of bad news out there, between the stock market volatility and more senseless shootings.  But we did have that nice Sun Jupiter conjunction in Virgo on August 26th which definitely helped alleviate some of that stress.  On that day I tweeted:

"Super good luck abounds today as Sun and Jupiter hook up in Virgo. It's a cosmic green light to make things happen.  Run with it!"

I wouldn't be surprised if the stock market having a somewhat upward turn was influenced by that Sun/Jupiter aspect.

This full moon has a special connection with Neptune because it conjuncts Neptune in 8 degrees of Pisces, Its alignment with Neptune can lift us to imaginative heights but it can also confuse us and cast a Neptunian fog over what's real and what isn't.  Fear could also run rampant in the light of the recent bad news that has enveloped us.

How do we deal with this full moon?  Keep in mind that this Pisces moon is opposing the Virgo Sun. so we will do well to embrace the concept of practical magic.It will also be opposing Jupiter in Virgo, so there is ample reason to expect something good to come out of this full moon.  Healing is an important theme of this full moon.  Of course, fantasy, escapism, unconditional love, sacrifice and potential loss of self also figure in the mix.  Yes, it can be a loaded, emotional full moon in the watery sign of Pisces which, like Pisces itself, can go either way.  Our best bet is to integrate our spirituality more fully into our daily lives and somehow make both intuition (Pisces) and analysis (Virgo) work as a team to manifest our dreams.

Saturn is still concluding its final weeks in Scorpio (can September 17th come soon enough, although we will have a Mercury retrograde to deal with as well on that day) and it is still making its influence felt.  If you haven't checked out Michael Lutin's site lately, I highly encourage you to do so.

www.michaellutin.com

I could definitely relate to what he said about feeling helpless while awaiting a change in direction while feeling like you are in a state of feeling suspended in a vacuum or stuck in a void.  He talks about the eight root causes of desperation as Saturn leaves Scorpio and I think that many people besides me are feeling that we are on the verge of a major change in direction in our lives but are extremely frustrated with the delays in manifesting those changes.  Anxiety is at an all-time high. And I believe that Michael is right when he says that holding on to improper attachments is a major cause of that desperation.

This full moon is trining my south node in Cancer, which is all about the past.  For the past couple of weeks I have been encountering situations that reflect unresolved issues from the past and triggering old emotional wounds that I thought had healed. It is a very humbling experience to realize that I haven't totally forgiven some people  and that there is more work to be done on my end to reach that state. A Pisces full moon is all about love and surrender. The answers may come when we literally let go and release our expectations of how a situation will play out.  No matter how old I get, it never ceases to amaze me how much things do not happen on my timeline or in the manner that I envision. Trusting in the process is a hard fought lesson for me. That will probably be the greatest challenge for me with the Pisces Full Moon.

One way to embrace the Neptunian piece of this Super Full Moon in Pisces is to go to the movies. Neptune rules film, so if you really need to escape this weekend, that may be your safest bet.  And depending on the film you decide to see, it may give you some inspiration.

Venus is still in Leo until October 8^th due to the retrograde. If you are curious as to how this extended Venus retrograde in Leo period will affect you, please consider getting an astrological reading with me.  A little insight is always a powerful tool.  Just ask for the Venus Retrograde Special, which will be $25 through the month of September 2015. Contact me directly at lindasim54@gmail.com.

I am also offering a Summer Solstice Special for only $25 at this link:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/summer-solstice-special.html

This special is literally being offered through the entire summer season and features a two question tarot telephone reading with a look at your astrological chart to see how the summer planetary action is affecting you.  This is a great little reading if you just have a couple of questions and are curious about your astrological chart, but are a little hesitant to committing to a full 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 Blue Moon in Aquarius and Saturn Goes Direct

Change is in the air these days.  Last week we had the Sun and Mercury move into Leo, and Venus and Uranus stationed retrograde.  This week we have our second full moon of the month (hence the moniker Blue Moon) on July 31^st in 8 degrees of Aquarius and Saturn stations direct in 28 degrees of Scorpio on August 2^nd on the east coast.

A full moon in Aquarius is future-oriented, determined to let go of the past and open to new possibilities.   This theme is reinforced by Mercury in Leo trining Uranus in Aries.  Even though Uranus is retrograde, it is still seeking new concepts with that trine to Mercury.  This full moon can help us release stuck psychic energies. 

This full moon is conjunct my natal Mars in the 4^th house, so I am eagerly anticipating a fresh blast of energy in this area of my life.  I work out of my home a great deal in addition to my one day a week giving Reiki treatments at a community clinic, and I sense that changes are in the offing.  For one thing, I desperately need to get a new computer, and that is pretty Uranian.  I am also switching cell phone carriers after 11 years because the erratic coverage is causing dropped calls and inability to answer some calls.  This is just not acceptable for a home based business.  A friend of mine wryly observed that it is a perfect phone for the 21^st century because while it lets me text, email and have Internet access, I can't complete a conversation on it.  And for those of us old enough to remember when all that you could do with telephones was talk, it is a pretty sad commentary. The full moon is also squaring my natal Saturn in Scorpio, so it may also feel a little heavy.  The transfer process from one carrier to another was quite frustrating and I am sure that aspect played a role in that.  I need to remember that the key to utilizing this energy is the theme of constructive change.  After all, a full moon in Aquarius is all about new ideas and spiritual growth.

Saturn in late Scorpio factors heavily into this mix.  It is trining Mars in Cancer, which facilitates us in the transformation of feelings.  It is also encouraging us to take risks and helping us restructure our psyche.  Saturn has been retrograde since March 14^th, so if you feel like a certain project or goal has been on hold or felt like the brakes were put on, you are not imagining things.  Saturn assuming direct motion gives us the green light to move forward with our goals.  If you’ve been itching to start a new business, this is your time to strike while the iron is hot. Saturn will move back into the sign of Sagittarius on September 17^th, where it remains through December 2017 and it won’t return to Scorpio until 2041.  I know that many Scorpios, myself included, are breathing a collected sigh of relief over that!

Meanwhile, we are still dealing with Venus retrograde.  Venus stationed retrograde in 0 degrees of Virgo on July 25^th, but on July 31st on the day of the full moon, Venus re-enters Leo, where it will reside until October 8^th.  The best way to utilize this period is to give yourself some space and reflect on your past if necessary, but don’t glorify it.  Venus retrograde is also an opportunity to acknowledge any codependent traits that we have in relationships and stop excusing others who don’t treat us respectfully.  It is definitely a time to cultivate a little self-love and possibly do some repair work on current relationships by reassessing and reevaluating.  I love working on my clients' astrological charts and realized this past week that while I am totally useless at reading regular maps, I have come to regard the astrological chart as a map of the soul.  That map is one that I can read and it offers a wealth of tools and resources to help navigate the roads in life.

If you are curious as to how this extended Venus retrograde in Leo period will affect you, please consider getting an astrological reading with me.  A little insight is always a powerful tool.  Just ask for the Venus Retrograde Special, which will be $25 through the month of September 2015. Contact me directly at lindasim54@gmail.com.

I am also offering a Summer Solstice Special for only $25 at this link:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/summer-solstice-special.html

This special is literally being offered through the entire summer season and features a two question tarot telephone reading with a look at your astrological chart to see how the summer planetary action is affecting you.

  

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

Neptune Retrograde and Saturn Returns to Scorpio

We are all breathing a collective sigh of relief now that Mercury has stationed direct in its home sign of Gemini.  The forward movement for Mercury began on June 11^{th in} 4 degrees of Gemini.  This has been a particularly intense, grueling Mercury retrograde for many people.  At least that has been my experience with retrograde Mercury in my 8^th house and I have certainly been hearing it from my clients.

On June 12^th, Neptune will station retrograde in 9 degrees of Pisces for five months and resume direct motion at 7 degrees of Pisces on November 18^th.  Obviously, Neptune is a much slower moving planet than Mercury, but what can we expect from this transit?  Neptune works behind the scenes, so this may be a boon for healers, counselors, artists and writers because it favors spiritual and creative pursuits.  I strongly endorse utilizing this powerful energy for meditation and journaling as well.  But Neptune is also about confusion, self-deception, escapism,   nebulousness, lack of direction and dissolving old boundaries, limitations and attachments that no longer serve us.  Neptune pertains to boundaries—either dissolving or creating them if necessary.  It is not uncommon during Neptune retrograde to feel adrift and sense that things are floating away from us.  Neptune is associated with the sea, and with Neptune retrograde in the watery sign of Pisces, the quality of feeling adrift is amplified. 

The highest vibrations of Neptune can manifest as enlightenment, spirituality, idealism, and inspiration.  The lower vibrations of Neptune can play out in addiction, deceiving others and the self, delusion and engaging in a martyr complex.  Neptune is very much about dreams as well.  Don’t be surprised if your dreams become very vivid and meaningful during the next five months.  When Neptune is retrograde, logic appears to go on vacation, but we may become more attuned to the flow of life and our intuition.  Retrograde planets slow things down and force us to reexamine the meanings of that planet.  In Neptune’s case, that may not be such a bad thing because Neptune at its best is about spirituality and enlightenment.  So if you are forced to go within and confront some issues, it can ultimately serve your highest good. In addition to our nocturnal dreams, we have the opportunity to become more in touch with our personal and collective dreams. 

We are also on the receiving end of a planetary assist in attaining our dreams from the Jupiter in Leo trine to Uranus in Aries that will be in effect through the month of June.  This is the time to follow our hearts and instincts to engage in the transformations that are essential for us. Jupiter, the Greater Benefic, is making nice with Uranus, the planet of surprises and sudden changes, so take advantage of this energy and run with it.  This kind of lightning doesn’t strike twice.

How is this going to play out for me?  I am already feeling the effects of Neptune retrograde, and in a good way.  While Venus is technically the ruler of my chart, I consider myself to be a full-blown Neptunian because it is conjunct my Libra ascendant.  I am relishing this opportunity to drift along in the passage to change.  And Neptune is considered to be the higher octave of Venus because it involves more compassion and love on a collective level.  One example of this is that I am learning to incorporate astrology into my tarot readings, which have been increasing lately.  One client called me this week to book a tarot reading and I had the strongest urge to look at his chart, which I did prior to the reading.  It really helped to clarify the issues he was facing.  I am also more mindful of the fact that I have a tendency to attract clients with similar issues to mine so that I can follow the advice that I give them.  I am enormously grateful for that benefit because otherwise I would probably not figure out the solutions on my own!

And speaking of the watery depths, on June 14^th retrograde Saturn slips back into Scorpio.  Saturn will be in 29-28 degrees of Scorpio from June 14^th through September 17^th before it goes back into Sagittarius through December 2017.  The 29^th degree of any sign is frequently referred to as the “anaretic” or “karmic” degree.  The karmic 29^th degree of Scorpio has to do with forgiveness. The next few months will provide us with the opportunity to review lessons learned from October 2012 through December 23, 2014.  We will have one last chance to address internal changes that need to be made and get in touch with our motivations and desires.  I experienced my second Saturn Return during this period, and believe me, it was no cake walk.  But I can honestly say that it was well worth the pain to be able to come out on the other side as a much stronger, happier person. I hope that I addressed all of the issues that I needed to by December 2014, but if there is unfinished business, I won’t flinch or run from them.  There is no doubt that Scorpio is a tough sign, not for lightweights, but it has stamina, perseverance and can go the distance.  Michael Lutin has said that if one sign could survive a nuclear holocaust, it would be Scorpio.  So let Saturn dig up whatever needs to be released  so that we can move forward.  I know that Saturn has a bad rep for punishing and limiting us, but we also need to remember that it can reward us for doing the hard work.  That is the silver lining of Saturn.

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

I'd like to leave you with an image of a painting called Through the Eye of Safe Passage which encapsulates the whole Neptune retrograde experience for me.   Many thanks to the artist, Harvey Low Simons, for his permission in letting me use it.

You can see this and more of his paintings at:

http://home.comcast.net/~harvey.simons/painting01.html

This painting is on page 4 of his site.

I wish you all an enlightened and safe passage during this season of Neptune retrograde!

Change of Seasons - The Winter Solstice and a Sign Change for Saturn

Once again, folks, there are big things happening astrologically this week. Many of us are still recovering from the recent Uranus Pluto square on December 15th (I know I am), but on December 21st, the Sun and moon move into the sign of Capricorn for a new moon that marks the Winter Solstice and the official beginning of winter. Adding to the mix is the fact that Uranus stations direct at 12 degrees of Aries. Could there be a possibility for things to calm down?

As someone who has Uranus retrograde natally, I am usually quite comfortable with Uranus retrograde, but even I have to confess that the past couple of weeks have been uber frenetic and I am looking forward to a little more stability.

Enter the season of Capricorn. On December 21st, the sun and moon join Mercury, Venus and Pluto in Capricorn. This heralds a more serious tone signaling a time to rest and reflect. It is also a perfect time to set plans and intentions and create goals for the new year. On December 20th, Venus conjuncts Pluto, deepening connections and memories of emotional loss. But on the 21st, the day of the winter solstice, Venus in Capricorn sextiles Chiron in Pisces, so there is room and the opportunity for healing of those painful emotions. That winter solstice creates a healing space for light to shine on those wounds. Bring it on! Mercury will be conjunct Pluto in Capricorn on Christmas Day as well as sextiling Chiron in Pisces, so don't count out a Merry Christmas full of honest, compassionate communication.

But as a true Scorpio, I can think of yet another important reason that Christmas 2014 will be a Merry Christmas. Drum roll, please - Saturn enters the sign of Sagittarius on December 23rd! I'd wager that Scorpios are rejoicing about this across the world after the past two and a half years!

There is definitely a chance for new possibilities with Saturn in the sign of Sagittarius because it is ruled by Jupiter, whose expansive nature tends to lighten up Saturn's restrictive energy. Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Pluto, which tends to create a lot of drama and sturm and drang. And it is no cosmic accident that Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is changing signs when the sun is in Capricorn.

As Saturn completes its transit through the last degree of Scorpio, a lot of dark thoughts rise up from the depths so that we can release our worst fears. It's important to remember that becoming conscious of our worst fears doesn't necessarily mean that they are real; it makes infinitely much more sense to interpret them as manifestations of our worst nightmares.

I love what Michael Lutin said earlier this week in his Week in Review section on his site:

www.michaellutin.com 

about Saturn leaving Scorpio:

"The departure of Saturn from Scorpio can be that ecstatic moment after a bout with constipation. Everything that has been stuffed inside mercifully comes out. It is a time of healing. The process, however, demands that all the darkest material is also released. Relationships always pass through the MOST scary crisis, mainly because in a couple or partnership or even friend/colleague situation, much time is spent AVOIDING REAL ISSUES and discussing movies, politics, family or everything EXCEPT the real dynamics driving you apart and keeping you from being close. Now only reality is possible."

So could the departing gift of Saturn in Scorpio be reality, an entrance into the light  and the new possibilities that Saturn in Sagittarius will make us work for? Time will tell.

I am also an energy healer and Reiki, in addition to my psychic and astrology work, is another tool at my disposal to help people heal and feel better. But Reiki can actually help you feel better physically, whether you have a headache, backache, muscle spasm, fibromyalgia, or any kind of physical pain. It is a noninvasive, relaxing treatment. If you are in the Boston area, I urge you to consider this as a holiday gift for yourself or loved ones.

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/reikiholiday-promotion-why-not.html

My astrological readings are being offered at a 20% discount through the month of December to assist you in your holiday shopping. For more details please see this link:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_719.html

If you are feeling confused during these challenging times, please consider getting an astrological reading to obtain more insight and assistance. I have also added a one question astrology reading to my list of services for $40 that is an even more intuitive approach based on your natal and progressed charts with transits to both.

Check out my services page on this site 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

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Hot Times with the Solar Eclipse in Taurus

The solar eclipse in Taurus on April 29^th packed quite a punch this week.  I foolishly thought that the worst was over after the lunar eclipse on April 15^th and the Uranus Pluto square on April 21^st.  I think that I must have still been feeling the high from the Reiki conference that I attended on April 27^th not to see this one coming.  I thoroughly enjoyed the conference; I learned a lot and met some very interesting people.  The sun in Taurus had sextiled Neptune in Pisces that day and the moon followed suit the next day.  I was still in a Neptunian fog not to see that a solar eclipse could manifest some very disturbing energy.  It was literally red hot; the moon in Taurus was conjunct Mercury and both the moon and Mercury trined Pluto in Capricorn.  But the moon was also inconjunct Mars in Libra, which contributed to some very angry energy that day.  I witnessed several cars driving through walk signs, nearly mowing down several pedestrians, myself included.   

And I wound up not having the aspiration treatment I had requested at the radiology clinic because I decided not to opt for the package deal of aspiration, biopsy and mammogram.  The doctor told me that it could be a complex cyst or a lesion that would require more action than I was prepared to undergo at this time.  It might not be a cyst, although it was causing me some discomfort.  So I opted for the six month follow up ultrasound.  The whole experience was frustrating, to say the least.  I had tried to make my feelings clear when I scheduled the appointment, but apparently nothing is simple anymore and the standard operating procedure is to operate on everything at once.  My instincts are telling me that whatever it is benign and I am trying to have faith in that belief by giving myself Reiki and visualizing it being gone by that next ultrasound.

Then there was the second cooking fire within a week in my apartment building that evening.  This one was much more serious than the one the previous Friday night.  We were actually told to evacuate the building and when the fire truck pulled up they extended the apparatus to the seventh floor in case the occupants were trapped inside. Fortunately they got out, but the sprinkler system went off and they weren’t allowed to spend the night because the apartment appeared to be flooded.  Yes, I went with neighbor to take a look at the apartment and it was not a pretty sight.  So that moon in Taurus inconjunct Mars in Libra led to some pretty heated events, no pun intended.  I spoke with a couple of friends after my medical non-experience that afternoon and they also had their own tales of frustrating experiences that day to share with me.

What was the deal with all of this frustration and delay?  Well, this solar eclipse was also opposing Saturn in Scorpio, and I think that was the final piece.  Saturn is all about delays, frustrations and feeling restricted. Saturn is on my sun right now, which is never a fun transit and the solar eclipse also opposed my natal Saturn in Scorpio.  My natal Saturn is at the end of my first house, so I tend to experience the effects of Saturn in both the first and second houses.  That tends to happen when you have a planet at the end of one house—you are prone to feeling its effects in both houses. The eclipse opposed my natal Saturn, which triggered issues about my body, self-worth and financial security.  Business has been slow again this week, but I did hear some interesting ideas about attracting clients which I intend to implement.  I have updated my Services Offered page on my blog to include my Reiki treatments at the acupuncture clinic, for starters.

The solar eclipse in Taurus also has to do with values and prosperity consciousness, as well as the Taurus traits of beauty and sensuality.  The opportunity of a solar eclipse in Taurus is to create a new beginning that expresses our personal feelings and values while finding a balanced relationship with matter—our bodies, our possessions and our environment. 

Solar eclipses symbolize super-charged new beginnings because they amplify the new moon energy.  This was a south node solar eclipse and it can bring public exposure by having things come out into the open and revealing someone’s true character and motivations.   A clearing away and cleaning up process can accompany this eclipse as well.  Eclipses are wild cards, no doubt about it.  Ironically, we may feel as if we are in the dark at the actual time of the eclipse, but it is important to remember that eclipses have second acts and the truth may not be fully revealed for a few weeks.  Eclipses also act as catalysts for major life decisions.  So don’t panic if all is not clear yet.

I am offering a Mother’s Day Special promotion during the first two weeks in May with a 20% discount on all of my astrological services. If you are looking for a unique gift to give your mother this year, or to nurture yourself while the sun is still in Taurus, consider an astrology reading or a Reiki treatment, which is a wonderfully relaxing, stress relieving experience. 

You will need to contact me directly by email at lindasim54@gmail.com or call me at 617-304-2205 to receive this special discount.

You can learn more about this promotion at this link:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/mothers-day-promo.html

Mercury Square Saturn and Health

Mercury in Aquarius is still in the retrograde shadow period until March 21^st, and I felt it in a big way this week.  I would attribute the majority of its impact to the square between Mercury and retrograde Saturn in Scorpio on March 10^th and 11^th.  Mercury in 22 degrees of Aquarius squared Saturn in 23 degrees of Scorpio, and it was intense.  I know that a common description of this aspect can be problems on the home front, and this played out big time for me this week.  Saturn in Scorpio conjuncted my natal Venus, which is never a fun transit.  It also conjuncted my progressed Black Moon, which triggered all of my worst fears about losing someone to death when a loved one spent 5 ½ hours in the ER after experiencing shortness of breath.  I was with him for 4 ½ excruciating hours until we knew that he would be admitted to the hospital.  All they could tell us was that he had fluid in his lung and an enlarged heart that was only working at 15% capacity.  He would need further tests which would need to be performed at another hospital and medication, dietary changes and an outpatient rehabilitation program in the future.

What was happening with his chart that day?  I generally like the moon in Cancer, but not so much that day.  For starters, it squared his north node in Libra in his 6^th house of health  and the moon squaring Uranus aspect that day was right on his ascendant.  Transiting Mars in Libra was conjunct his moon in the 7^th house and lest we not forget Saturn, it was conjunct his Ceres in Scorpio in the 8^th house.  He really needed to be taken care of that day or he could have died.

I’m not through dissecting that moon in Cancer squaring Uranus in Aries quite yet. The moon in Cancer, which was also conjunct Jupiter that day, happened to be conjunct my south node in the 9^th house.  Was there ever a day that faith was required! 

Mercury and Saturn did not play well together this week.  On Tuesday I received an email from a friend who had sprained her ankle while running for a bus.  Her exact words to me were: “What’s up with the stars????”

While Mercury was still squaring Saturn on March 11^th at 2:14 a.m., the sun in Pisces trined the moon in Cancer, which also trined Saturn in Scorpio. That water trine brought some much needed emotional stability before the moon moved into the sign of Leo at 10:09 p.m.  I felt much calmer and more centered in spite of the emotional chaos in my life.  I actually managed to do a tarot reading for someone that proved to be a source of comfort and support.

On Wednesday, March 12^th the moon in Leo trined Uranus in Aries, which was a big improvement over the moon squaring Uranus on Monday.  I wound up running into an old friend by accident, which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.  So there is some proof that unexpected things can be beneficial and pleasant.  On March 13th, the moon in Leo inconjunced Pluto, Chiron and the sun, not so good while squaring Saturn and opposing Mercury.  How did this play out?  Well, my loved one got the news that he has severe blockage in two arteries and may need bypass surgery.  So Saturn was in play once again, indicating that restructuring of his health habits and routines was in order.  Saturn loves to deliver wakeup calls which can appear harsh, to say the least, but sometimes it is necessary.  In the long run, this may turn out to the best thing that ever happened for him in terms of extending the quality and length of his life.

And this weekend we have the full moon in Virgo, the sign of health.  On Sunday, March 16^th, we have a full moon in 26 degrees of Virgo.  I love what the great astrologer Isabel Hickey said about the Pisces/Virgo polarity: “Serve or suffer.”   I don’t know about you, but I prefer serving to suffering any day of the week!

Mars and Saturn Retrograde Mercury Direct

  

This is a very big week astrologically.  Mercury, which has been retrograde since February 6^th, is moving forward, stationing direct at 18 degrees of Aquarius at 9:00 a.m. on February 28^th.  While many of us are heaving collective sighs of relief at the end of this Mercury retrograde transit, we need to be mindful of the fact that Mercury will not officially be out of its retrograde shadow until March 21^st, when it hits 3 degrees of Pisces, which is where it stationed for this retrograde transit.  But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

But Mars is stationing retrograde at 27 degrees of Libra on March 1^st and Saturn follows suit at 23 degrees of Scorpio on March 2^nd. Mars in this extended stay in Libra will definitely put the focus on relationships.  Mars is retrograde until May 19^th, when it will resume direct motion at 9 degrees of Libra.  So we will get the full treatment of reviewing and realigning relationships.  A focus on pleasing others is definitely up for consideration.  I liked what Michael Lutin had to say about this Mars retrograde: that it would be like a time machine because the station of Mars would take us back to the feelings of 1983 and 1984.  What was going on then?  Plenty—Pluto was in the late degrees of Libra transforming relationships and the Mars station will be passing right over that.  Pluto has a tendency to transform the area of life governed by the sign it transits.  And Pluto in Libra was all about relationships.  Pluto in Capricorn is transforming business and government now.  He commented that it would also trigger feelings from that rare Venus transit back in June 2012 which helped usher in a shift in relationships.

This station of Mars is right on my Neptune, so it is definitely personal and pertinent to relationships.  I have Neptune conjunct my Libra ascendant, as well as my Juno, aka the marriage asteroid.  I am not one prone to substance abuse, but I suspect that my dreams and creativity will be heightened as a result of this transit.  And I have no doubt that this transit will have a huge impact on my relationships.

And then there is Saturn.    The themes of Saturn are patience, discipline and responsibility.  Saturn retrograde will probably cause many of us to feel that there are delays in progress towards personal goals.  Strong Saturn transits to personal planets between 16 and 24 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) will feel it the most.  Saturn’s initial station on March 2^ndwill conjunct my Venus.  In addition to relationships, this brings up financial issues for me.  I will need to be investing some money for business with the hope that my investment will pay off in terms of attracting new clients. And in June and July transiting Saturn will be conjuncting my Black Moon.  This transit will not be pretty because Saturn and the Black Moon are not exactly BFFs. It is known for encapsulating the struggle between the polarities of masculine and feminine.  I suspect that it will either propel me to take more action in the outside world or let go of my feminine tendency to rescue others.  Balance will need to be restored.  When Saturn goes retrograde on March 2^nd, it will be squaring Mercury in Aquarius for a couple of days, undoubtedly causing more glitches.  So if you need to set anything in motion, it is prudent to wait until at least March 4^th to proceed.  I know that the best advice for dealing with Saturn frustrations is to make adjustments, but for many of us, that is a bitter pill to swallow.

Basically, I am trying to believe that in spite of the fact that these two planets are appearing to move backwards with their retrograde motion, we are moving forward, even if it takes some major reviewing and reassessment to get us there. Hasn’t history shown us that you need to learn from the past in order to have any progress?

On the plus side, we do have a new moon in Pisces this weekend to look forward to.  The new moon will occur in 10 degrees of Pisces at 3:00 a.m. on March 1^st.  We can anticipate a reenergization of our inner journey.  This new moon will also trine Jupiter in 10 degrees of Cancer and I like Molly Hall’s interpretation of this aspect—go for the inspired path!  With a new moon in Pisces we may feel lost because everything is changing, but give yourself plenty of space to deal with it.  This is still Pisces season and we need to be mindful of its particular energy.  This new moon falls in my 5^th house, so I am eagerly anticipating a surge in creativity.  And to add some frosting to the cake, Jupiter in Cancer finally goes direct on March 6, 2014.  I can hardly wait!