Astrology by Mary MacLean

We are all looking forward to the results of Saturn direct.   What have you learned in the last 5 months?  It has been tumultuous for some of us.  This last Full Moon has left you with a direction.  Maybe not the one you wanted but definitely a way for you to proceed.  You can think of it this way.  Last September you were on your way somewhere with a direction in mind.  Now you are at the same position but you are free of the obstructions that were not working for you.  This may or may not be what you wanted but it is reality.   The genius of the Saturn direct is that in the next 4 months you will make definite headway in your life. Let me digress for a moment. The next cycle contains a change in signs for Saturn and with that a specific course of aspects come into play.  The last 6 months of the Saturn in Virgo cycle is the most important to us.  This is a culmination of the last 2 years.  What you were seeking then is on the current horizon now.  As Saturn moves into Libra, we will have a distinct change in energy.  We will go from dealing with changes to initiating the changes we desire.  Libra is a Cardinal Air Sign and whatever house it is in is where you will spend the next 2 ½ years redefining.  So much for dealing with Saturn.

This New Moon takes place in the sign of Gemini at 3 degrees.  The chart for this New Moon holds a couple of interesting aspects.  This New Moon is in a 150 degree aspect to Pluto.  This is called an inconjunct.    Inconjuncts between any two planets cause some adjustment in the houses they occupy.  In this instance it is part of a New Moon promising to linger until after the Full Moon next month.  Mercury is in square to Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune of which all three are conjunct.  This is a perfect example of chaos. This is definitely very meaningful for you if you have planets or points at 26 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio or Taurus.  Gemini is the planet of duality.  It is very changeable and with an inconjunct to Pluto, there is a certain major adjustment that is taking place in your life.  We are all making this adjustment, just in different areas of our lives.   

As we move into the summer, Mercury is retrograde in Taurus and you will find yourself back in that practical frame of mind.  You will be tying up loose ends and making your life a bit more comfortable.  Mercury in Taurus is in trine to Saturn in Virgo so it has to be something you’ve wanted to do.  Mercury goes direct on May 31, clearing the path for Mercury in Gemini.  Where is Taurus in your chart?  That’s where Mercury is establishing some continuity.

Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron are conjunct in Aquarius.  These three planets together form an uncomfortable trio.  Jupiter, the planet of expansion; Chiron, the asteroid of the wounded healer; and Neptune the planet of illusion and delusion all joined together to square Mercury.   There are a lot of unknowns bouncing around and your desire to be perfect feels conflicted.  I think you will find that this is all part of working thru a certain situation.  Ease up….watch it work out, don’t help it work out.

The Sun Moon conjunction is at 3 degrees of Gemini establishing a new water mark on your chart. 

Uranus is at 26 degrees of Pisces and 30 degrees away from our trio of bouncing unknowns.  This is called a combust aspect and acts as a conjunction.  So now we have the trio of bouncing unknowns conjunct an unexpected event.  This I have to see!  

I think I’m having some fun with words.  I have dissected the New Moon and its aspects on a general forum so I will now do your individual rising signs. 

Below you will find the explanation of this New Moon in your chart.  Please read your rising sign as it will be more accurate to you personally.

ARIES-(March 21-April 19)

This New Moon takes place in your 3^rd house of communication and community.  You may notice that there is a major adjustment taking place very close to home base, as the NM inconjuncts transiting Pluto in your 10^th house of career. These changes prove to be very important to you as they are personal challenges to your career and standing in the community.  There is a trio of transiting planets that are perfecting the meaning of chaos.  Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune are conjunct and in square to Mercury.  Luckily, Mercury is back in Taurus trining Saturn so untangling this web of inconsistencies is going to be your main focus.  This is not something that you can dismiss in a day or a week.  It will stick around till the end of the month or longer.  Mercury retrograde in Taurus is communicating some concerns about money or values and trying to dispel any negative unknowns.  Saturn in your 6^th house continues on its direct journey to redefine your 6^th house of work and health. 

TAURUS-(April 20-May 20)

This New Moon takes place in your 2^nd house of personal finances and values and makes an inconjunct to your 9^th house of philosophy, legal matters, foreign affairs and education.  This constitutes a major adjustment in your values and in the things that you hold dear.  This is an important time for you to realize what is important to you and how you have to adjust your current philosophy to accommodate your new ideas.  Saturn, is direct in Virgo, making this a very comfortable adjustment.  Mercury is retrograde in your 2^nd house of finances and values and probably causing you undue amounts of anxiety because of bouncing trio of unknowns.  It all works out well for you, my Earth Angel.

 GEMINI-(May 21-June 20)

This New Moon takes place in your 1^st house of personality and how people see you.  You have Pluto transiting your 8^th house of partnership finances, sex, death and taxes and in an inconjunct aspect to this New Moon.  There are issues here that are signifying a change deep within you, engaging your beliefs with partnership finances, mortality and money from others.  Quite a range, but if you look closely they all boil down to the same thing, an adjustment in the money that you receive from others. What you give for what you get.  Mercury is still retrograde and will delay things for a bit.  Saturn is direct and solidifying core issues in your belief system.  Your major question is always, “Is this what I really want?”

CANCER-(June 21-July 22)

This New Moon takes place in your 12^th house of past, behind-the- scenes activity and institutions.   It is in aspect to Pluto in your 7^th house of partnership, promising a major adjustment is in the making when it comes to partnerships, either business or personal. This can be a very sensitive time for you and your sensitivity is showing. Saturn is direct and continuing its journey thru your 3^rd house of communications and community redefining relations with your neighbors and close relatives.  Mercury is retrograde in Taurus your 11^th house of goals trying to clear up any misgivings or bothersome unknowns in this area of your life.

 LEO-(July 23-August 22)

This New Moon takes place in your 11^th house of goals, hopes and wishes.   The inconjunct aspect between the New Moon and Pluto signals some important adjustments that have to be made within your work environment or with health issues.  You are in a process that requires your clear attention and ability to distinguish the real issues from the pie-in- the sky dreams.   Saturn in your 2^nd house of personal money and values has been under redefinition for awhile and the lessons you have learned have not been easy.  Take heart, you are a better person for what you have learned.  Mercury retrograde in your 10^th house brings back practicality to your career life and goals.  Partnership issues seem to only provide you with more questions.

VIRGO-(August 23-September 22)

This New Moon takes place in your 10^th house of career and standing in the community.  The inconjuct aspect between the New Moon and Pluto in your 5^th house of children, creativity and love affairs can prove to be problematic.  There is an adjustment about to take place and the indication is that it will work better for you.

Saturn in your 1^st house going direct in your 1^st house of personality has not been the most comfortable ride in the amusement park.  If anything, it has had its moments of total fear.  It’s not so easy to create the new you.  Communications don’t offer a lot of consolation at this point but they do help you to work things thru.  You are in a process. 

LIBRA-(September 23-October 22)

This New Moon takes place in your 9^th house of philosophy, legal matters, foreign affairs and education and forms an inconjunct aspect to Pluto transiting your 4^th house of home and core issues.   You have been called upon to change some of your core beliefs; this adjustment is necessary and will open you more to life than you know. You are in a process of recognizing your value and worth as an individual.  Core issues are changing as is your philosophy dealing with self worth.  There are many things you may be talking about but nothing seems to have the answers you can count on.  You are on the right track.  Mercury retrograde will impart practical and useful ideas into the mix but it definitely delays the outcome.

SCORPIO-(October 24-November 22)

This New Moon takes place in your 8^th house of partnership funds, sex, death and taxes bringing new dimensions to your Scorpio intensity.  The inconjunct between the New Moon in your 8^th house and transiting Pluto informs you of a pending adjustment that has to be made in your 3^rd house of communications and community.  This can be a negotiation or some type of movement.  The  object of this aspect involves your  home issues or work issues. This is about money, just not your money.  There seem to be a lot of unknowns and creative ideas circling around but none you feel comfortable with yet.  This is a time of discovery and there is no way to rush it.   Ride the wave and see where it takes you.  Uranus in your 5^th house of creativity is combust or 30 degrees from our trio of Neptune, Jupiter and Chiron in the 4^th house of home and core issues bringing in expectation, excitement and the unexpected to your home.  You will love it.

SAGITTARIUS-(November 22-December 21)

This New Moon takes place in your 7^th house of partnerships, either business or personal.  The major aspect that this New Moon involves is an inconjunct to transiting Pluto in your 2^nd house of personal money and values.  Inconjuncts, invariably always initiate some form of adjustment.  If we look at the houses involved, we see that the adjustment deals with partnerships or dealing with the public and personal values.   Like all adjustments they are not accomplished in a day so this may take a bit of time.  There are still a lot of unknowns to deal with and try to put into some kind of order.  It’s like trying to unknot all the wires hidden behind your desk.  There is a lot of fun attached to the coming month.  Take your time and enjoy.

CAPRICORN-(December 22-January 19)

This New Moon takes place in your 6^th house of everyday work and health.  You may be reluctant to make any permanent decisions until all the facts are in but this is definitely a time for major adjustments in your everyday work and health and your presentation to the world.  This is a time for practical thinking, of which Mercury retrograde in Taurus will be of a great advantage.  If you are not a patient person, here is your time to present that part of you.  Finances are a major concern as concrete facts are not available at this time.   Communications play a major role in trying to communicate your dilemma. Unexpected communications and concerns seem to control the oxygen content available to you at any given time.  This is a process and you need to trust the path.

AQUARIUS-(January 20-February 19)

This New Moon takes place in your 5^th house of children, creativity and love affairs.  This N M makes an inconjuct aspect to transiting Pluto in your 12^th house of the past and behind-the-scenes activity.  There is a major adjustment taking place between these two alignments.  Many 12^th house issues are hard to interpret because they take up residence in the recesses of your life.  The adjustment may have to do with children, or any creative element in your life.  What we know for sure is that your thinking will be involved and that the adjustment takes place in the background of your life.  There are other things that are of great concern and that is the trio of planets that inhabit your first house of personality, Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune a threesome of chaotic intent.  These three planets will lead you down a primrose path or deliver you into the depths of confusion.  Communication does help and will make things clearer in time. 

PISCES-(February 20-March 20)

This New Moon takes place in your 4^th house of home and signals that an adjustment must be made to your current goals.  Home and core issues are the focal point of this inconjunct aspect between the New Moon and your current goals.  You will be asked to make an adjustment and you will see the writing on the wall.   The prospect of a life changing event is possible but not in the way that you expect.  There is a trio of planets in your 12^th house that takes you on a fantasy voyage and then let you languish in the reality of the present.  For some of us this can be interesting, and for others a constant skinny dip into the lake of the unknown.   Try to stay centered;  go for concrete ideas and avoid the trip to la la land.

I am looking outside and the thermometer reads 40 degrees.  Is it possible that this is summer?  I will not be able to plant my tomatoes until it is at least 50 degrees in the evening consistently.  I do love my home grown tomatoes.   Umm-mm

I am looking at this Full Moon as something that brings about change.    If you look back at the Eclipse of Feb. 9^th, 2009, the Full Moon Eclipse was at 20 degrees of Leo.   Where does this point fall in your chart?  This area was a major concern at that time.  Each house has a multitude of areas that it governs.   As a Libra rising, it landed in my 11^th house of goals and, if I remember correctly, I was very concerned about the direction of my web site.  I am sure that the listing below will help you determine where the challenges were for you in February.  This last month brought the beginnings of your current Eclipse turning point.  The majestic aspects that come with this Full Moon are all about deep change.  If you look back at February 2009, the FM Eclipse took place in Leo at 20 degrees.  The following list is to help you remember what was challenging you at the time.  This is the area of your life where the Full Moon Eclipse took place.

 Aries, Leo is in your 5^th house of children, creativity, love affairs

Taurus, Leo is in your 4^th house of home, inner self

Gemini, Leo is in your 3^rd house of communications and community

Cancer, Leo is in your 2^nd house of personal finances and values

Leo is your ascendant or 1^st house of self, self promotion, personality

Virgo, Leo is in your 12^th house of the past, institutions, the subconscious

Libra, Leo is in your 11^th house of your goals and friends

Scorpio, Leo is in your 10^th house of career

Sagittarius, Leo is in your 9^th house of legal matters, publishing and foreign affairs

Capricorn, Leo is in your 8^th house of partnership finances, other people’s money

Aquarius, Leo is in your 7^th house of partnerships, either business or personal

Pisces, Leo is in your 6^th   house of everyday work or health.

I am listing these rising signs and where Leo landed in your chart at the February 9^th Eclipse.  This is only correct if you have no interceptions in your chart.  If you do have interceptions, you will have to adjust the house position.  I want to jog your memory and bring the essence of that February 9^th into your consciousness for a bit of show and tell.

Now that you know what you were thinking and worrying about then, you can see the natural progression that has been achieved since then.  This Full Moon is at 18 degrees of Scorpio in opposition to the Sun culminating issues from the last 3 weeks and energizing the square aspect it makes to last February’s Eclipse point of 20 degrees of Leo.  The other aspects in this Full Moon chart are direct squares to Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune from the Full Moon completing a Grand Fixed T square. This in itself promises to be a life changer.  Adding to this is a trine from the Sun to Saturn promising added stability and the Full Moon in trine to Uranus bringing about unexpected realizations.  This scenario seems to indicate a stepping stone in personal evolution.  

I know you have read Catherine Schultz’s articles and love them as much as I do.  This week she has an article on the Mercury retrograde that informs and entertains.  She is technically correct in her summation of the Mercury retrograde and is able to accomplish this with a distinct ability to carry us off on her personal astrological adventure.  

Speaking of the Mercury retrograde that seems to be happening on May 7^th, 2009….  Just a note…in and around May 7^th, you will notice things seem to go awry.  Mainly, you will need more information before you are allowed to complete some issues.

I will leave the Mercury retrograde for Catherine to explain to you.

Her article is just below mine.

Please be sure to read your rising sign as it will resonate with your personal chart.

If you have intercepted signs, you will need to check it more closely and make adjustments.

ARIES-(March 21-April 19)

This Full Moon takes place in your 8^th house of partnership finances and other people’s money and completes some issues that deal with your personal values.  The square to Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune form a fixed T square that releases all of its energy into your 5^th house of children, creativity and love affairs.  (Also the previous Full Moon Eclipse of Feb 9^th.)  All of this indicates a shift in values and desires.    With Aries as your ascendant, you will not hesitate to make this a new attraction in your repertoire of creative achievements.  The Full Moon forms a trine aspect to Uranus in the 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activity ushering in unexpected changes that bubble up from the past. The Sun forms a trine Saturn in the 6^th house of everyday work or health perfecting stability.  Mercury goes retrograde in your 3^rd house of communications and community.  Pay special attention to contracts.

TAURUS-(April 20-May 20)

This Full Moon takes place in your 7^th house of partnerships, business or personal.  The object of the last 4 months has been the dealing with issues that grew out of concern for your home.  I say home but it can also mean the constancy of your inner core and how you deal with changes therein.  You are currently dealing with partnership issues but, at the same time, you may find that changes are taking place in the major areas of your life.   Consider this Full Moon to bring change to your home, career, partnership and perception of your self.   As these changes take place, you will find yourself in transition on many levels-physical, emotional, and intellectual. You are going in the right direction.  The Full Moon forms a trines Uranus in the 11^th house of goals setting you on the right path to reach your current goals.  The Sun forms a trine to Saturn in the 5^th stabilizing any plans that you put into effect.  Mercury goes retrograde in Gemini in your 2^nd house of personal finances and values delaying any money or love arrangements.

GEMINI-(May 21-June 20)

This Full Moon takes place in your 6^th house of everyday work and health.   The original FM Eclipse of February took place in your 3^rd house of communication, community and brothers and sisters.  You have been dealing with these issues for awhile.  This Full Moon in Scorpio forms a Fixed Tsquare to Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in the 9^th house and indicates strong movement in this area of your life.  The 9^th house rules law, higher education, foreign affairs, publishing and philosophy.   Any one of these areas will be highly energized forcing you to make or break partnership ties.  This can take place more on an intellectual level than on a physical level.  The Sun in trine to Saturn in the 4^th opens new doors of stability in your current consciousness.  The Moon in trine to Uranus in the 10^th offers unexpected opportunities in terms of career.  Mercury goes retrograde in your 1^st house indicating that there is more research to do before you are ready to jump into anything new.

CANCER-(June 21-July 22)

This Full Moon takes place in your 5^th house of creativity, children and love affairs.  The original FM Eclipse in February landed in your 2^nd house of personal finances and values.  The issues you have been dealing with for the last 4 months have been your personal worth, finances and values.  There are changes taking place with this Full Moon that should enable you to put your financial worries to bed.  This Full Moon takes place in your 5^th house of children, creativity and love affairs signaling some major moves in that direction.  This Full Moon forms a trine Uranus in the 9^th producing exciting news from a distance or legal matters.   The Sun forms a trine Saturn in the 3^rd allowing communication to be delivered concisely to your immediate family.  Mercury goes retrograde in your 12^th house of the past and intuitions making you re-examine the past in relation to current issues.

LEO-(July 23-August 22)

This Full Moon takes place in your 4^th house of home and core issues completing an opposition to the sun in the 10^th house of career and standing in the community.  The previous FM Eclipse took place in your 1^st house of personality and how you appear to the outside world.  You are now seeing a distinct difference in how people see and experience you.  This Full Moon is in a Fixed Grand Cross with the February Eclipse point and changes a lot of aspects of your life.  This is different and it could all be just attitude but I think not.  This Full Moon forms a trine to Uranus in the 8^th house of partnership finances or other people’s money increasing opportunities for financial gain.  This is a plus for you financially. The Sun forms a trine aspect to Saturn in the 2^nd house of personal finances stabilizing this area of your life.  Mercury goes retrograde in your 11^th house of goals asking you to double check your current goals.

 VIRGO-(August 23-September 22)

This Full Moon takes place in your 3^rd house of community and communications bringing certain issues that began 3 weeks ago to a completion.  Negotiations seem to have taken a major role in the last 4 months as the FM Eclipse of Feb. 9^th  took place in your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activity setting some behind-the-scenes challenges.   With this Full Moon taking place in your 3^rd house contracts and communication have reached a new point of understanding.  The Sun in the 9^th house trines Saturn in the 1^st letting you know that stability is not lost.  This Full Moon is in trine to Uranus in the 7^th indicating unexpected but possible new partnerships.  Mercury will be going retrograde in your 10^th delaying some career opportunities until later.

LIBRA-(September 23-October 22)

 This Full Moon takes place in your 2^nd house of personal finances and values.  There are definite changes in your finances and but the usual fanaticism is absent from your demeanor.  This FM forms a Grande Fixed Cross with the February Eclipse point and makes some deliberate changes in your attitude.  I seem to be talking about finances and I do believe that people will experience this turning point more on a financial level but there will be other options.  This is all about where you are going in life and the new world that is slowly opening up to you.  This FM trines Uranus in the 6^th and brings in unexpected opportunity in your everyday work area.  The Sun forms a trine to Saturn in your 12^th house opening the door to your subconscious and performing feats of brilliance with your deep-seated fears.  Mercury is going retrograde in your 9^th house delaying education issues and contracts until a later date. 

SCORPIO-(October 24-November 22)

This Full Moon takes place in your 1^st house of personality and how people see you.  I think you have created some changes for yourself and now are seeing the consequences of what you have created.  Most of you will be ecstatic; some of you will just be ho-hum; and a very few of you will have no reaction at all.  This Full Moon forms a Grand Fixed Cross with the February Eclipse point ushering in changes in the most important areas of your life-career, partnerships, home and self.  I would say that you have had a breakthrough in terms of goals that you have set up for yourselves.  The Sun does make a trine aspect to Saturn in the 11^th house of goals. The Full Moon makes a trine aspect to Uranus in the 5^th house of creativity, children and love affairs.  Sounds like good times is on the agenda.  Mercury will be going retrograde in your 8^th house of partnership finances and other people’s money delaying additional finances until later.   

SAGITTARIUS-(November 22-December 21)

This Full Moon takes place in your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activity bringing to completion some issues that you have been dealing with for the last 3 weeks.  In the process you will notice that this Full Moon creates a Grand Fixed Cross with the February 9^th, Eclipse point.  The houses that are affected are the 12^th, 6^th, 3^rd and 9^th.  The main challenge comes from the 9^th house of legal matters, foreign affairs and philosophy where the original FM Eclipse took place.  This is the turning point to that time and now you know where all the chips are going to land.  They may not have landed yet but they will.  The Sun is in trine aspect to Saturn in the 10^th and gives stability to career plans.  The FM is in trine aspect to Uranus in the 4^th house ushering in some truly deserved celebrations.  Mercury is going retrograde in the 7^th house of partnerships and indicates some disruptions in dealing with partnership issues.  

CAPRICORN-(December 22-January 19)

This Full Moon takes place in your 11^th house of goals.  You may have noticed that some of your financial goals are starting to bear fruit.  This Full Moon in concert with the FM Eclipse of February 9^th forms a Grand Fixed Cross and produces changes that help redefine your current challenges.  The door to your experience has opened and you are experiencing some new found paths to go down.  The original challenge of February 9^th had to do with partnership finances or other people’s money.  Now you see the wheels turning in your direction.  Yippee!   The Sun is in trine aspect to Saturn in the 9^th opening the doors of your mind to possible new opportunities.  The F M is in trine aspect to Uranus in the 3^rd providing you with community communications that can change the status quo.  Mercury is going retrograde in your 6^th house of everyday work and health delaying some issues for a couple of weeks.

AQUARIUS-(January 20-February 19)

This Full Moon takes place in your 10^th house of career and standing in the community.  Changes that deal with career are apt to change a bit with this Full Moon, but in the larger picture,  it completes a challenge from the February Eclipse point of 20 degrees of Leo that landed in your 7^th house of partnerships.  There are many things that have come before you and now some important issues have finally made their way into your life.  There has been a lot of expansion for you so far and it continues.  My only suggestion would be to not be blinded by unproved schemes of financial success.  The FM has a trine aspect to Uranus in your 2^nd house of personal finances with visions of sugar plums wrapped in dollar bills. The Sun is in trine aspect to Saturn in the 8^th house reassuring you about money from others.  Mercury is going retrograde in Gemini your 5^th house of creativity, children and love affairs.  Some of these issues may be delayed for awhile.

PISCES-(February 20-March 20)

This Full Moon takes place in your 9^th house of philosophy, legal matters, foreign affairs and higher education.   There are definite changes here.  If we look at the larger picture, you will see that this Full Moon is in square to the FM Eclipse of February 9, 2009.  Together they form a Grand Fixed Cross promising changes that you will not be able to escape from.  The original FM Eclipse of Feb. 9^th delivered challenges to you with regard to the 6^th house of everyday work and health.  This FM brings in new events and situations that release you from the stranglehold of a past situation.  Your eyes are open now and the future is different.  The changes are in your perception of reality.  The Sun forms a trine to Saturn in the 7^th house of partnerships and it promotes stability there.  The FM forms a trine aspect to Uranus in your 1^st house of personality offering you the ability to see things in your life as exciting gifts.  Mercury is going retrograde in your 4^th house so get ready for some delays in home and core issues.

Ah, at last…the moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived, the coming together of Venus and Mars for a beautiful embrace in mystical Pisces, which are now set to enter fiery Aries…the sign famous for initiating new beginnings without much thought or foresight.  When Aries gets a hold of an idea, it wastes little time thinking about the “what if’s” before marching off to fulfill its innate instinct to initiate something new.   It’s all too easy to get caught up in the thrill of the moment and get carried away by all the enthusiasm generated by this dynamic sign.  Out of my own personal curiosity, I wanted to know the last time Venus and Mars traveled together through Aries.  To my surprise, it’s been 24 years!!!  You may be wondering why I’m even mentioning this when my article is entitled Mercury Retrograde…how are these two related, and what does one have to do with the other you ask?  Life is an unfolding process where everything is interconnected.  Like the signs of the zodiac…each evolves from the preceding sign before it until we reach the end.   The upcoming Mercury retrograde, which is set to begin May 7^th, is intimately linked to the recent Venus/Mars conjunction that occurred on April 22^nd because Mercury will retrograde all the way back to 22 degrees Taurus…the same degree he was at on April 22^nd.   The fact that Mercury will retrograde back to this point in time makes this retrograde significant and important.

I love how Venus and Mars made their conjunction at 29 degrees Pisces…the very last degree of the zodiac, the end of all things before moving in to Aries.  Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and represent new beginnings.  Aries is associated with the spring equinox, the time of year when life begins anew.  Nobody like endings, but it’s a necessary step in the process called life…we were asked to end something, or to let someone go because it wasn’t serving our highest good…yes it was painful, but no doubt necessary.   Try to see it this way…you wouldn’t plant a beautiful garden without first preparing the soil.  You gotta pull the weeds that are decaying and fermenting your life so that new seeds have a chance to take root and grow.  What did you eliminated from your life?  Was it a person, a relationship, or a job?  A self-defeating attitude or belief, or long held dream or vision?  Whatever you thought you lost will now be replaced with something completely wonderful.  When one door closes another one opens simultaneously, and once again you’ll have something new and exciting to look forward to.  I feel I need to warn you not to get too excited or carried away with all the exciting energy because Mercury is about to go retrograde on May 7^th,  giving us extra time to think about our new ideas before moving us forward to the future…which is a good thing because Aries can be impulsive. 

Mercury rules our mind, thoughts, conversations, messages, short distance travel, technology, electronics, planes, trains, and automobiles, contracts, education and learning, siblings, aunts and uncles, and neighbors.  When Mercury turns retrograde we usually experience a disruption or delay to the things mentioned above.  The word retro means to go back and redo and repeat something.  The best advice I can give you during this three week interval is to make allowances for and expect some interference with your plans.  Nothing should be set in stone just yet.  In fact, it’s recommended not to sign important documents or put your name on the dotted line.  Do not start anything new or make major purchases…especially with electronics.  If you’re traveling, allow for delays and cancelled flights…you may want to give yourself some extra time to get where you’re going because there’s sure to be traffic jams!!!  Be careful while driving too…Mars in Aries makes you more impatient, and with Mercury retrograde, that’s could be a recipe for road rage!!!

 Whenever a planet goes retrograde it brings up people, things, and situations from the past.  We get to go back and review or re-due situations that have already taken place.  Whatever comes up is usually something that was left unsaid or unfinished…whether it’s our thoughts about a particular person or situation, or something that was over looked in the past, Mercury retrograde gives us a chance to slow down and repair what’s needed before moving us forward.  

Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo…to know how this retrograde will affect you, look to see what houses have these two signs on the cusps…you’ll also want to know where Mercury is currently traveling to know what area of life all the action is taking place and where you’ll feel it most.   You’ll need to know your rising sign to find this.  One particular note I want to make is that Mercury will be going retrograde in the sign of Gemini, and will be changing signs as it goes all the way back to 22 degrees Taurus before turning direct.  This means we will change our mind about something.  Both Gemini and Virgo are mutable signs, meaning we should remain open and flexible for the time being.  As Mercury enters Taurus, we may become too fixed in our thoughts and ideas which isn’t a good thing right now especially where communicating with others is concerned.   It may also suggest whatever delays or obstacles we encounter; we will have the patience to see it through.

Here’s a little visual to summarize…Spring is finally here in all its glory!  We waited for what feels like eternity for its arrival and now that it’s here, you can’t wait to get started on making plans for your future.  It was a long winter for sure, which gave us a little extra time to see what needed to be released from our lives and preventing us from reaching our future destiny (Venus/Mars conjunction at 29 degrees Pisces…symbolizing the last day of winter).  Then on March 22^nd, Venus and Mars made a conjunction with Venus direct, symbolizing a new beginning…just in time for the spring equinox, coincidence???  Think of a garden…before you can think about what seeds to plant, you first had to take a closer look at the garden to see what needed eliminating.  It’s amazing how fast those pesky weeds grow!!!  Ok, so you pulled out the weeds and everything else that was rotting and decaying in preparation for your new garden…yes, it was a lot of work!!!  But, doesn’t it feel good to have all that hard work behind you now?  I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait to visit my local nursery to buy new plants and flowers for my garden.  I have to admit though, there are times when I do things on a whim without putting much thought into them…I get this idea in my head and I just have to do it.  Sometimes I jump the gun a little too fast, and because I’m an Aries…prone to impulsiveness, I’m not always happy with the final outcome.  With Mercury going retrograde, we are given a little extra time to think about our garden and the seeds we want to sow before planting them into the soil where they will take root and grow.  So while you’re eager to plant those seeds, my best advice is to wait until Mercury turns direct on May 31^st before moving forward…chances are you’ll change your mind a million times over before finally settling on a plan or design that will truly make you happy.

Happy planting J

Catherine Schultz 5-1-09