JULY 2019 – ECLIPSE SEASON + MERCURY RETRO

“Ancestors or Poem”
Remedios Varo

July will see 3 major astrological happenings mainly: Mercury retrograde in Leo/Cancer and, two eclipses in Cancer/Capricorn.

Art by Tomislav Jagnjic

MERCURY RETROGRADE 

Mercury will station retrograde in Leo on July 7th and move back into the sign of Cancer on July 19th. Mercury stations direct on July 31st. This means that we have to contend with Mercury retrograde for the whole month of July.

Simply knowing this will make it a lot easier already. Rule of thumbs during Mercury retrogrades are: No major purchases, commitments and signing contracts if possible, but if you have to, don’t sweat it, it’s meant to be that way. Lay low if you can, and wait until August for major decisions or commitments. On a mundane level, the news will probably be far more fear-inducing than usual so if you can unplug for the month, do it!

THE NEW AND FULL MOON IN JULY WILL BE ECLIPSES

The New Moon in Cancer on July 2nd is a total solar eclipse and the Full Moon in Capricorn on July 19th is a partial lunar eclipse.

Eclipse season is a time of change and movement which often contains unforeseen elements. It’s not necessarily negative or positive but eclipses are associated with new elements being introduced in the picture while other ones are being removed. These can range from small to major occurrences. Not everyone will be affected the same way, and it really depends on your birth chart. Look at where Cancer and Capricorn sits in your chart.

People who have the Sun/Moon or their Ascendant(rising sign) in Cancer or Capricorn will be the ones handling this astrological weather the most in July.

The time between eclipses, is considered a liminal space. If you add the Mercury retrograde to the mix, July and especially mid-July is not a super good time to make major decisions as it will be more of a transitional space with some back and forth re-visiting/re-shaping/re-questioning and all the *re* associated with Mercury retrograde.

All this heavy lifting happening on the Cancer-Capricorn axis (this year) and in July is bringing some understanding in regards to the structures in our lives and how they sustain us, or fail to do so. There is a lot of anxiety and fears associated with security, nourishment, the ecological crisis (our mother Gaia who sustains us (Cancer), and how the system (Capricorn) is failing us. On a personal level, people are working on healing themselves through understanding generational trauma, doing ancestral work and getting at the roots of some of their emotions.

Time and time management is also on the radar and we are super aware of where and who is waisting our time. We are de-constructing the structures that are not sustaining/nourishing/supportive. Before we are able to build stronger foundations, we have to deal with a lot of garbage and darkness personally but also on a societal level. Ultimately, I think this process also brings genuine healing and connections to our roots, our deep past but also closer to our tribe within and without.

Brian Kershisnik Angels

 

WEEK OF MARCH 25, 2019

The week begins with the Moon in the ever joyful fire sign of Sagittarius which could have us feeling elated, hopeful, ”Spring is in the air” vibe. It’s all about the potentiality of our big ideas, our projects and what we are going to do in the future. The Sun in Aries increases courage, impulsivity, passion, momentum and help getting the week started on the right foot. Take advantage of Monday and Tuesday to get moving, and bring some heat and passion to your projects.

Mercury is still retrograde so it’s very easy to gloss over the details or miss an important one right now but paradoxically, it allows us to not be overly critical or nit picky about things. Mercury retrograde in Pisces is also conjunct with Neptune making it hard to actually concentrate on our work. You could feel easily distracted but don’t be too hard on yourself, soon we will start regaining that clarity and focus.

Mercury turns direct on Thursday morning and will remain close to Neptune until late next week. The potential for confusion and misunderstanding, and a general lack of clarity will continue to be a side effect until April 5th or so. *Dream life can also be very vivid or busy under this configuration.

Venus enters Pisces tomorrow, one of her favourite place. Venus here is excellent for artist, musician and creative folks. Venus in Pisces increases our desire for beauty, harmony and compassion. Venus will be in Pisces from March 26 to April 20 and this period of time is excellent for all Venusian matters like art, aesthetics, fashion, beauty, worth, relating or attraction.

On Wednesday and for the rest of the week the Moon will travel in the Saturn-ruled signs of Capricorn and Aquarius casting a bit of a shadow on our hopes and dreams and switching the tone to a more serious and practical one.

Upon entering the sign of Capricorn on Wednesday morning, the Moon squares Chiron and the Sun in Aries casting doubt in our minds about the viability of our project/ideas/ambitions and asking us to take some practical steps to achieve our aim. The last quarter Moon signifies a time in the lunar month when our ideas and projects get tested.

On Sunday, Mars enters the sign of Gemini and the pace of things will start speeding up. Mars in Gemini until mid-may will definitely increase the tempo, especially in intellectual matters encouraging debates and exchanges of ideas via all social platforms.

Have a fantastic week, take advantage of the next 2 days to charge up your optimistic batteries and don’t let the confusing or gloomy vibe of the second part of the week cast too much doubt in your mind about your worth and contributions to this world.

 

WEEK OF MARCH 18: ARIES INGRESS/FULL MOON IN LIBRA

Spring Beauty by Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov 1885

Only 2 more days before the Sun enters the Cardinal Fire sign of Aries signalling the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Upon entering Aries, the Sun will almost immediately start opposing the Moon in Libra. Late Wednesday night, the powerful rays of the Sun will illuminate the Moon creating a dramatic landscape to celebrate the first night of Spring. The Full Moon in Libra will be exact Wednesday night at 21:43 EDT and casts a bright light on the tension created by our inner and outer dualities. Partnerships will come to the forefront this week as freedom versus commitment battle for attention.

In Aries, the Sun shines willfully and illuminates a desire for independence and sovereignty. However, the Full Moon in Libra brings attention to the agreements and contracts that must be respected and the compromises that must be made in order to continue on a peaceful path and reach our aim. Dynamics within our relationships need to be weighed out in order to understand the exchange of powers and to make sure they are equal. The ”give and take” required and the compromises made by both parties will need to be revised. Inequalities that have become problematic or that are reaching a saturation points will need to be dealt with. The Full Moon in Libra highlights a need to recalibrate. This process can happen peacefully as long as both parties are willing to dialogue. Anything that feels unfair will most likely become very apparent this week and will need to be addressed.

Since the Sun conjunct Chiron at the moment of the Full Moon and the following day, it is likely to highlight where we feel most vulnerable and raw right now. Chiron is associated with woundedness and pain which in turn brings much knowledge and wisdom. Chiron is beginning its journey through Aries which will bring remedies and healing opportunities in regards to our ego, our identity, the masculine or yang qualities, our libido, our sense of power and potency in the world. Its important to be honest about our vulnerabilities during this process so that we find the proper medicine. A good opportunity to swallow the bitter herbs as “good medicine always tastes bitter.”

*Look at where Aries and Libra sits in your chart to zoom in on where these dynamics are more likely to play out in your life.

Wishing you a joyful and fruitful Aries season🔥

NEW MOON IN LIBRA: A TENSE EQUILIBRIUM

The New Moon in Libra occurs on October 19 at 15:13 EDT in the very last degrees of the Scales just a few days before the Sun’s ingress into Scorpio.

THE TIPPING POINT

The New Moon at 26º Libra will be in a tight opposition to rebel planet Uranus which is at 26º Aries. Uranus is often associated with sudden breakthroughs and shocks that serves to jolt us out of complacency. Uranus in Aries is like an untamed, wild and defiant teenager who will do exactly the opposite of what you ask him to do. Uranus in the sign of Aries doesn’t have patience for conventions and niceties; it forges ahead without foresight straight into the eye of the storm to challenge the Gods. Uranus is that voice that says: ”just go for it, try it and see what happens”. Acting on impulse, following a crazy idea, a revelation that brings a revolution, it’s the lightning that strikes the genius and the mad ones. It’s that impetuous urge to move against the docile heard to find a new direction, a new way of doing things; a different way.

Then, we have this New Moon in Libra which is all about fairness and compromises or at least finding the balance between ”what you want” and ”what I want”. Venus just entered the sign of Libra on October 14 and is at home here. Venus rules over the New Moon and accentuates the  themes of partnerships and agreements. The focus is on finding a peaceful way to remediate the disequilibrium we might be experiencing in our lives. The desire for collaboration is strong, we want to get along and both parties are looking for ways to reconcile their difference. The idea of harmony and balance is held high like a precious gem that seems to be just out of reach. We stretch our arms towards it, trying to catch its rare glow only to find a molten piece of poisonous  lead.

This New Moon points its finger directly at what is out of synch an unbalance in our lives. It’s the trigger that urges us to find new and better ways to deal with it. We could feel a sense of urgency in regards to establishing some form of harmony that would rectify the chaos and disorder. Partnership are especially susceptible to this at the moment as we weigh the pros and cons of our agreements. The grass always seems greener somewhere else and Libra loves to keep her options open. Uranus opposing the Sun and Moon in Libra could bring a sudden desire to break free from something that feels too restrictive. With the Sun, the Moon and Venus in Libra we must bow down to our current agreements and fulfill our part of the contract. Even though peace seems to be a complicated and elusive notion at this time it must remain a guiding ideal.

It is in this paradoxical landscape that this new lunar cycle begins. We will soon enter the Fixed season of Scorpio and descend even further into our commitments but also the decisions we make towards transformation. Now is the time to use the power of reason to decide what we want so that our attention and focus can be well directed for the month ahead.

 

Mercury Cazimi

Mercury’s superior conjunction is today at 16:42 EST

 

Mercury will pass very close to the Sun in the sky as its orbit carries it around the far side of the solar system from the Earth. If a planet is right at the core of the Sun, then it is utterly consumed and this is called being ‘cazimi’. Mercury going into the heart of the Sun means that for a small window of time Mercury is super powered while sitting on the royal throne.

Mercury briefly strengthened by its union with the Solar principle, gives us an opportunity to unite mind and spirit. Our thoughts can be purified, clarified and renewed in the Solar forge.

Mercury and the Sun together in Libra could give us insights as to where things might have gotten unbalanced, unfair, unjust and, the solutions needed to rectify the scales.

The Sun in Libra is considered in its ”fall” and pretty weak. It’s also the time of the year when things are dying as opposed to coming to life. With Mercury conjunct the Sun today I imagine realization and clarity will tend to be more around endings, death and decay as oppose to new beginnings and there is a definite liminal quality to this time of the year.

Mercury and the Sun will also square Pluto at the moment of their conjunction. This means that the unusual clarity we receive today could be combined with the urge to tear down and transform some of the existing structures in our lives.

Do not expect today’s sharpness to be long-lasting. The lucidity that comes with the Sun/Mercury conjunction will quickly vanish once Mercury leaves the Solar throne. Then, the real work of implementing what was revealed begins.

There is a long and arduous road ahead, but today’s answers can be kept in your mind’s eye to illuminate the path.

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Mercury conjunct the Sun @ 15º Libra and square Pluto @ 16º Capricorn

 

This week in Astrology: Sorting out the essential from your heart

Monday opens with the Moon in the last degrees of Taurus on the Fixed star Algol or the Head of Medusa; don’t lose your mind. We are building towards the Jupiter/Uranus opposition that will be exact on the 27/28 of September. This is a revolutionary aspect which is excellent for visionaries and artists and for people who have the ability to see the silver lining in chaotic  circumstances but also have the guts to do things differently. On a mundane level it can feel destabilizing if you are holding to the status quo at all cost or need predictable outcomes. Small and large shifts are happening in our awareness and in the world at large and intuition is at an all time high. Flashes of insights and new bold ideas are available if you adjust your vision. With Uranus in Aries closing in on its opposition to Jupiter in Libra there is an urge to liberate ourselves while also searching for ”the other” to reflect us. It can feel polarizing to oscillate between our need for freedom and liberation versus our need for feedback, fairness and equilibrium.

The Moon enters Gemini at 15:30 EDT on Monday which will accentuate the current Mercury/Mars conjunction building up in Virgo. The next 2 days are excellent for analyzing, editing, and cutting through the superfluous. The mind can have a tendency to race and anxiety will be higher than usual. Finding the right measure of applied diligence and focus is possible as long as we don’t scatter ourselves. Mindfulness and disconnecting from the media, the internet and the constant chatter is one of the best remedies for this kind of astrological weather. Difficulties with communication, getting our message across, misunderstandings and harsh words are possible with the Mercury/Mars conjunction building up and, so are fried phones and electronics.

With the last quarter Moon in Gemini we can feel stimulated, talkative, and curious but there is also the tendency to get lost in chatter instead of being productive. Basically, don’t fry your brain with coffee and stress and find the right balance of intellectual work and simple manual or physical work. We could have the urge to communicate in many directions at once but essentially we can only do one thing at a time. Give your brain the right intellectual food and remember that words and symbols can be very powerful in shaping our experience of reality; use them wisely.

The last quarter Moon in Gemini supports finalizing the details of a project or idea that began at the New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 21st.

Venus in Leo trine Saturn in Sagittarius on Tuesday and this is a supportive but also sobering aspect in regards to relationship. We could feel serious and more realistic about our desires. Long-term commitments and maturity could feel more important at the moment and feelings could be reserved and controlled. Venus trine Saturn is beneficial for artist and creators who are looking to structure and give shape to their muse. This can be a productive time for creative work, social engagements, and public relations.

On Wednesday night the Moon enters her own sign of Cancer and this should help ease the mental tension creating a fluid and intuitive rhythm until Friday night.

Even though we are in the darkest of the Moon (before the New Moon in Virgo on September 20th) the weekend will feel quite dynamic with the Moon entering the Fire sign of Leo late on Friday night and Mercury and Mars perfecting their conjunction in Virgo on Saturday, September 16. Conversation around pride, identity, the need for acknowledgement and having  the courage to express oneself truthfully and courageously will all be aroused.

Happy Vernal Equinox

The Sun just entered the sign of Aries while crossing the celestial equator from South to North which marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the Astrological New Year.

Power & Revelations

The Moon in Capricorn will shortly join Pluto and trigger the current Mars/Pluto square. Mars is at home in the sign of Aries which means it can fully express its martial qualities while Pluto is often compared to the latent powers hidden in the underworld.

When these 2 powerful planets are in a difficult aspect we can expect themes associated with anger and frustration to surface. We can also expect hidden or secret information to be revealed. Pluto often serves as a difficult catalyst for transformation while Mars pushes our instinctual and animalistic side to fearlessly assert itself.

A lot of power and stamina are available right now to help us succeed. The urge to transform and let go of stale modalities could feel urgent.

What irritates us could be extremely obvious now and this awareness can be used to bring the necessary changes. However it is very likely that we perceive our currant limitations as outside of our control which will result in anger and confrontation.

Things have the potential to escalate quickly today so stay cool and level headed and avoid charged situations if possible!

Meeting the Devil at the Crossroads

Mercury went direct early this morning in the sign of Sagittarius.
For the next few weeks, it will travel back over the same degrees of the zodiac it was in early December and will meet with Pluto in Capricorn on January 29th.

It could be that something you were working on back in December will start gaining momentum by the end of the month. An internal process is ready to be externalized.
Some ideas are taking shape and gaining traction. Important clues or answers are finally coming to you that will illuminate the path ahead.

Since Mercury is heading towards Pluto, the importance of honesty is crucial. Lying will only slow down the process. Speak your truth even if it’s a difficult one. Taking shortcuts might help you in the short term but at what cost? Be willing to face a difficult process. Acknowledge your progress.

If you find yourself at a crossroad, choose the path that leads you to your heart’s integrity.

Winter Solstice

Solstice Blessings to all!

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the beginning of the winter. It is the shortest day of the year, featuring the least amount of daylight between sunrise and sunset.

The Sun just moved into the sign of Capricorn (the Goatfish). Capricorn is a Cardinal Earth sign ruled by Saturn. The Romans celebrated the Sun’s ingress into Capricorn as Saturnalia, a festival which welcomed back the return of the Sun’s power after the shortest day of the year.

The Sun will remain here until January 19th when it moves into Aquarius. While in Capricorn some of its major astrological aspects will include a conjunction to Pluto on January 7th, a square to Uranus in Aries on January 10th and a square to Jupiter on January 11th.