Mars Going Back to Its Direct Motion

Well, it’s not the most exciting title I’ve ever come up with for an article, but given the fact that Mars has been retrograde for 10 weeks, the fact that it is about to return to its normal direct motion, will hopefully be exciting enough for us. The end of any retrograde cycle is often the most difficult part to handle. The reason is that on one hand we’ve been working with whatever the cycle demands of us for a long time but yet we’re somehow not quite done.

Venus Making Its Appearance

While we have focused as of late on the Mars retrograde cycle, which is still in effect and the even tougher aspect of Saturn squaring Pluto, beginning this week Venus is rising to get our attention. But this is a less personal Venus since it will have a very Piscean tone to it. It may start out feeling a bit subtle, but it will be gaining strength in the next week. It began by conjuncting Neptune on Sunday, February 6th at 25 degrees of Aquarius and then will amplify its Neptunian ambiance as it enters Pisces on February 11, 2010 (the ruler of Neptune) and then conjuncts expansive Jupiter at 7 Pisces on February 16. Not only does this conjunction occur in Pisces, but Jupiter is the co-ruler of this compassionate water sign and Venus is exalted in it as well. We are about to experience this archetypal energy in a very powerful way.

Mars Retrograde and More on Jack and Jill

The variety of ways people are being affected by the present Mars retrograde cycle is too numerous to describe fully. Some of the more notable events I’ve seen first-hand are motorcycle accidents, an increased number of injuries by athletes, fights with co-workers, medical diagnoses that have powerful effects, inflammations and infections at a higher than normal rate and much more. This is the physical way Mars can affect us. The reason why Mars is amped up at this time is that during its retrograde motion, Mars is closer to the Earth than usual thereby increasing its effect.

A Very Telling Week Ahead

The job of an astrologer becomes very interesting whenever three transits occur at the same time. But when those same transits are also unusually significant in themselves, one can assume that we are in for a very important week. By important I mean that the events and shifts of that week are likely to signal the kind of things that will affect us for many months or even years to come.

The Solar Eclipse & Jack Part 2

Although there are many readers with some degree of astrological knowledge, the vast majority do not have this education. So quite appropriately, I have been asked why I’m presenting articles that go into the transits of what a person is experiencing. It might be helpful therefore to state the reasons for this.

Opening Hearts & Changing Minds

Although you will be reading this newsletter after the New Year, marking the beginning of 2010 (I’ve heard one should pronounce it Twenty Ten), it is being written a few hours after the Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) on December 31, 2009. By the way, it is considered to be a Blue Moon (meaning that there are two Full Moons this month), but as far as I know that fact has no astrological significance. The fact that it is an Eclipse, however, is another matter entirely. That’s what makes this Full Moon significant. It is occurring at 10 degs. of Cancer and Capricorn and it strongly affects any planets one has at 10 Aries and 10 Libra as well. A Solar Eclipse (New Moon) will occur in two weeks on January 14, 2010 at 25 degs. of Capricorn, so the eclipse of today is a harbinger of things to come.

Jill – Part 2

It’s time to begin taking a deeper look at the transits that Jill is experiencing and the effects these are having in her life. Above, you see the chart of the most recent New Moon (December 16th) overlaying Jill’s natal chart. Before describing what is happening with Jill, let me outline the major astrological significators that are in play.

Jack – Part I

INTRODUCTION: Let’s begin by introducing Jack. Right now, Jack is in the process of getting his MFT license so that he can become a practicing therapist. Not surprisingly Jack is very interested in learning more about himself and others. In his interviews with me, Jack was very open and immediately began to talk about the biggest issues in his life. One of the first things he emphasized is his love for writing and singing. But although the creative arts are his passion, he is also frustrated in his ability to be able to express his talents more fully.

The Coming Mars Retrograde

On December 21, 2009, Mars will go retrograde at 19 degrees of Leo and will remain retrograde for about 10 weeks when it will return to its normal direct motion on March 10, 2010 at 0 degrees of Leo. If you have the Sun, Moon or Ascendant in Leo or Aquarius in that range, it is likely you will be doing a lot of fundamental review of your life. However, as many of my readers may know, my view of retrograde planets is that the cycle actually starts much earlier. The moment Mars touched 0 degrees of Leo, the Mars retrograde cycle actually began. That was on October 17, 2009. Let’s go into this more deeply.

Jill – Part I

Welcome to the first article in the “Jack” and “Jill series. Unlike the children’s story, our Jack and Jill do not know each other, although if they did, my optimistic Sagittarius rising nature would certainly believe that they would be getting along famously. The process of making these selections was not easy. Since there were many applicants, I received help from several graduates of the School and especially from LeeAnn Lambright, who reviewed half of the original submissions. Many thanks to her for her help.