Pluto Retrogrades as We Prepare for Some Deep Thinking about Power

Pluto is the planet associated with power and powerlessness and as it prepares to station retrograde in 17 degrees of Capricorn on April 18, 2016, I think that we should all consider the prospect of hunkering down and engaging in some deep soul searching until it stations direct in 14 degrees of Capricorn on September 26, 2016.  It’s really the only way to reap the benefits of this five month long transit.  Pluto stations retrograde one day after Mars stations retrograde in 8 degrees of Sagittarius on April 17^th, which means that Scorpios are going to feel the effects of these retrogrades very intensely.  How could we not when our ruling planets are involved? Even if you are not a Scorpio or have Scorpio planets, you will not escape the effects of this transit, so don’t even think you are immune from its effects.

I loved what fellow astrologer Molly Hall had to say about Pluto retrograde in her weekly about.com astrology blog.  I concur with her succinct assessment that Pluto retrograde’s connection with power and powerlessness calls to mind the Serenity Prayer being helpful in dealing with Pluto retrograde.  She said that Pluto retrograde requires us to determine what we are in control of and what is bigger than us.  That is definitely sage advice.

In case you are not familiar with the Serenity Prayer, I am including it here:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I think that this also resonated for me personally because I spoke about the need to surrender in my last blog with all of these retrograde planets.  By the end of April, we will have Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Pluto and Mercury retrograde.  In many ways, Pluto transits can be compared to the process of recovery—sometimes you just have to hit rock bottom so that you can move forward and into that light at the end of the tunnel.

Pluto retrograde in Capricorn will be showing us the structures that are holding us back as they are shattered.  In the United States, this is playing out in the arena of finances and government.  The upcoming Presidential. Election is a prime example of this.  The last time Pluto was in Capricorn was during the American Revolution.  Need I say more???

All is not gloom and doom, however. We have a Grand Earth Trine from April 14- 20, 2016 involving Jupiter in 14 degrees of Virgo, Pluto in 17 degrees of Capricorn and Mercury in 15 degrees of Taurus.  This is a great time to reach out and ask for help from others because all of this earth energy encourages and empowers us to ask for help.  As a Scorpio, I can tell you this does not come naturally.  Scorpios by nature are reserved, private and self-reliant.  We are quite comfortable with the phrase that Brene Brown calls “over functioning” in her book Rising Strong.  She defines this as stuffing your own feelings so that you help others to the point of controlling too much and tying your self-worth into being such a helper that when you need to ask for help you feel shame.  I don’t think that it is a coincidence that she is a Scorpio, born on November 18^th.

On a personal level, this Grand Earth Trine is playing out with Jupiter at the end of my 11^th house, Pluto is still in my 3^rd house and Mercury is in my 8^th house.  This is hardly a time to go it alone.  In that spirit of reaching out, I recently added a Donate button on my Services Offered page of my blog so that anyone who has felt inspired or helped by my work can make an offering in the amount of their choice to support this blog.

On April 10^th I attended a Reiki conference and found myself incredibly inspired by Kathie Lipinski’s talk on Making Reiki Real. As a healer, I loved what she said about needing to set boundaries and not taking on other people’s stuff while doing Reiki.  I confess to having struggled with setting boundaries in my life and it was very validating to hear that you can’t do the healing for other people if they are not open to the energy.  It was nice to hear about the importance of self-Reiki and I am making more of an effort to incorporate it into my life every day.

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 and all of the action in April with the recent new moon in Aries, upcoming full moon in Scorpio, not to mention Mars, Pluto and Mercury joining Saturn and Jupiter in the retrograde party, 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

Prepare to Surrender for Maximum Healing as Mars Retrogrades

I think that many of us are still reeling from the effects of the Aries New Moon of April 7^th in 18 degrees of Aries.  It had quite a buildup earlier in the week, especially on April 6^th when the Sun in Aries squared Pluto in Capricorn.  On that day I tweeted:

“Aries sun squaring Pluto in Capricorn today has the potential for major power struggles.  Past conflicts could reemerge.”

I know that I have been pretty emphatic recently about how change is coming and that we need to embrace it. But the Sun Pluto square on April 6^th also set off the infamous Uranus Pluto square of 2012-2015, so issues of control are bound to surface.  Uranus will also play its part in triggering the Uranus Pluto square on April 9^th when it conjuncts the sun in Aries.  Those seven squares ruled the astrological climate for the first five years of this decade, and their effects are not going away anytime soon.

I think that I finally had an AHA moment this week when I realized that as much as I want change, I have no power to control how it will manifest in my life.  And that is one tough lesson to learn. I don’t do unpredictable very well, and a preponderance of planets in fire signs, especially a new moon in Aries aspecting both Uranus and Pluto tends to rock my fixed Scorpio core.  Saturn in Sagittarius was prominently featured in this new moon because it trined that new moon.  Trines are easy, flowing aspects, so it was definitely a good thing.  Saturn’s grounding influence should allow us to adapt to the massive changes that are coming a little easier.  But Saturn is also known for its delays and its endless need to test our faith.  

During the past week I have sensed a general slowing down of energy in my business.  I am still getting inquiries, but people are taking their time to consider what I have to offer them. This is not a new occurrence and in the past people have subsequently booked either Reiki sessions or astrology and tarot readings after an initial inquiry.  I’m trying not to take it personally, as I am well aware that Mars will be stationing retrograde on April 17^th. It stations retrograde in 8 degrees of Sagittarius and winds up back in Scorpio on May 28^th.  Mars stations direct in 23 degrees of Scorpio on June 29^th and reenters Sagittarius on August 3^rd.  The Mars retrograde is in my 2^nd house, so no wonder I am feeling this way.  My values in addition to my finances are already feeling the hit. We all know that planets tend to slow down before the retrograde actually occurs which encompasses the shadow period.  When Mars stations direct in August it conjuncts my Venus in the 2^nd house, so I expect that I will reap the harvest then.  I have implemented some changes in the services that I offer but I was very mindful to do so before Mars retrogrades.

Mars only retrogrades every two years, so it literally is a big deal when it happens.  What are the themes of Mars retrograde?  Well, the most important thing to remember is that when Mars is retrograde it tends to deplete vitality, so it is definitely not a good time to initiate new ventures.  Mars retrograde also cautions against buying anything mechanical if you can help it.  So don’t be surprised if computers break down or office machinery malfunctions.  Since Mars rules both Aries and Scorpio, these signs and anyone with planets in these signs will feel the effects.  But I would surmise, based on my own personal experience of coming to terms with the need to slow down and reassess, that Aries and Scorpio natives will find themselves having a little more patience to wait on circumstances, sitting back and reviewing matters in a more detached way.  This is where the concept of surrender comes into play.  It’s time to slow down and reevaluate so that healing can occur to pave the way for change.  There will be plenty of time and a sense of renewed vitality to initiate changes when Mars stations direct this summer.  If you don’t have a lot of Aries or Scorpio energy in your chart, conversely, you may feel more impatient to force matters to a conclusion.  This is NOT a wise move because if you do, things may fall apart.

Healing is very much on my mind these days because I am also attending a Celebration of Reiki conference on April 10^th.  The moon will be in Gemini that day and I am looking forward to some lively conversation with a diverse group of healers.  I am certainly open to learning new things about Reiki and the healing process.

I would also like to include a post that resonated big-time for me from fellow astrologer Robert Ohotto’s site www.ohotto.com

“Healing has to be understood as a verb:

It is a constant process of retrieving our spirit from where it has been frozen, locked in a time warp, then releasing it into the moment, and that’s when you recover.”

Healing is a big component of my soul’s path and after undergoing a challenging Chiron square transit to my moon during the last couple of years, I am now able to feel more empowered by having transiting Chiron in Pisces trining my natal Venus in Scorpio and sextiling my natal Chiron in Capricorn for the next couple of years.  So I do think that Robert Ohotto definitely captured the zeitgeist of the current astrological 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 recent eclipses in March and all of the action in April with the new moon in Aries, and Mars, Pluto and Mercury going retrograde, you can learn more about my revised 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

Change is Coming as Mercury and Venus Change Signs and New Moon in Aries

The month of April is starting off with a bang as both Mercury and Venus change signs on April 5^th and we have a Super New Moon in Aries on April 7^th.  Venus is moving from its place of exaltation in Pisces to one of its signs of detriment in Aries.  Venus, for the record, is in detriment in Aries and Scorpio, and is considered to be in fall in Virgo.  Venus in Aries will bring a completely different vibe to love and finances.  While Venus in Pisces is dreamy and oozing compassion, Venus in Aries takes a much more self-centered approach.  It has a very direct, blunt, spontaneous style.  This can be somewhat problematic but on the flip side, if you have been giving too much in your relationships, this is an excellent time to focus on getting your needs met.  Another constructive use of Venus in Aries is to act on what you are passionate about.

Mercury leaves Aries on April 5^th and enters the earth sign of Taurus, where it will reside through June 12^th due to the upcoming Mercury retrograde.  Mercury will station retrograde in 23 degrees of Taurus on April 28^th, but it enters the shadow period on April 14^th in 14 degrees of Taurus. Then Mercury will station direct on May 22^nd in 14 degrees of Taurus.  Mercury in Taurus is all about communication becoming more measured and practical with common sense prevailing for the most part.  But beware of becoming too rigid in your thinking because Taurus is a fixed sign.  And we have a little over two months to acclimate to this energy.

The new moon in 18 degrees of Aries on April 7, 2016 is a Super New Moon to boot because the moon is closer to the earth and exerts a stronger pull on our psyche.  It is definitely going to be an action-oriented new moon because in addition to the sun and moon in Aries, Venus is in Aries, as well as Uranus and Eris, the goddess of chaos.  Some astrologers have gone so far as to describe Eris as an amped up version of Uranus.  And we have Mars and Saturn in Sagittarius, so there is an abundance of fire energy.  With all of these planets in fire signs, it is much easier to implement change.  We are also in the midst of a mutable T-square involving Jupiter in Virgo, Saturn in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces that is energized by Mars in Sagittarius.  This Mars action literally allows us to see the bigger picture so that we can implement change. This ongoing T-square is all about CHANGE because mutable energy adapts so well to change and literally encourages it.  Change can occur in the blink of an eye with this kind of energy.  And that cardinal Aries energy loves to initiate change.  Mark my words, if you have any planets or points in the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn between 15-20 degrees, you are going to feel the effects of this new moon big time.  Change is coming, so don’t even think of resisting it. A major theme of this new moon in Aries is to live our truth in a brave new way because Aries is after all the sign of the warrior.

I am trying to embrace this energy because this new moon in Aries will be opposing my Libra ascendant and squaring my Cancer midheaven by integrating change into my business through implementing more variety in my menu of 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 and all of the upcoming action in April with the new moon in Aries, and both Mars and Mercury going retrograde, 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

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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