Astro Doings May 2015

Hi Everyone

Happy May Day! May promises to be a little quieter than March or April. However, it begins with an intense Full Moon and the second Mercury retrograde for this year starts this month. Let’s take them in order.

Full Moon: Sunday, May 3rd

This Full Moon occurs at 11:42 pm EDT at 130 Scorpio. Full Moons occur when the Sun and Moon are on opposites sides of the zodiac from one another – called, fittingly, an opposition. Oppositions generally present us with something (or someone) that is present within us, but that we don’t want to recognize or “own.” Taurus, where the Sun is, is an earth sign that processes information through the five senses and is said to be the most stubborn sign of the zodiac. It has a tendency to be complacent, and seeks stability and comfort. Ruled by Venus, Taureans respond to beauty, most especially of Mother Earth, and like things that are pleasing to the senses. (Think chocolate, bubble bath, massages. . . ) Scorpio, on the other hand, is a water sign and focuses on a deep, intense understanding of what is around him/her, transformation, and the uncanny ability to see below the surface of everything – including you, which can be rather unnerving. It is a sign of power and when the Moon is in Scorpio, emotions and feelings tend to be very intense and deep. We will also tend to hold on to these emotions/feelings longer than is perhaps good for us or helpful.

What makes this Full Moon so powerful is this opposition is squared (read: growth opportunity, shift in perspective) by Jupiter who’s running around in Leo. This is a called a t-square, because it makes a big T in the chart. Leo is a fire sign and is questing for the divine child within by going through a deep-seated sense of unworthiness. Leo, Taurus and Scorpio are all fixed signs. Fixed signs have the reputation of being stubborn – stuck in wherever they are. However, their spiritual task is focus and persistence. Fixed energy is what holds an idea (cardinal energy) long enough to manifest. Without it, nothing would take form. The “solution” to this T-square lies with the fourth fixed sign, Aquarius, the sign of the recognition that we are all equal and that we need to work together. Aquarius, in its highest expression, reminds us of who we really are. There is a second T-Square operating as well. Mercury will be opposed Saturn (in Sagittarius) and square Neptune (in Pisces). This T-Square provides additional impetus to augment our understanding and compassion of ourselves and each other. The “solution” to this T-Square lies in the sign of integration and harvest of self, Virgo.

New Moon: Monday, May 18th          

The Taurus New Moon occurs at midnight at 260. This new beginning occurs hours before Mercury stations retrograde, and once again it is near the end of the sign. Taurus is the sign of the builder and in its highest expression – detachment. Coupled with Mercury stationing retrograde (see below) this is a time to look at what we’re attached to – especially thoughts and behavior patterns – that have come to the end of their usefulness to us.

 Mercury Retrograde: Monday, May 18th

When he changes direction at 1:26 p.m. EDT, Mercury will be at 130 Gemini and will retrograde until June 11 when he will be at 40 Gemini. Because of its retrograde motion, Mercury will be in the sign it rules until July 8, an extremely long transit. I believe that this retrograde period and the three squares that Mercury will make to Neptune (May 9, May 28 and June 23) provide an opportunity for us to re-group, re-think and re-order our priorities, old thought patterns, and to integrate some of the powerful astrological energies that we’ve experienced in March and April. Between the retrograde motion of Mercury and the fixed energy of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter, we’ll have a chance to slow down a little bit and make substantive changes in how we view our world and how we operate in it.

 Sun Enters Gemini: Thursday, May 21 at 4:45 a.m.

The Sun joins the Gemini team with Mercury and Mars. Communication will be emphasized, but things can feel a little scattered as well.

Have a wonderful May!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings February 2015

Hi Everyone

February promises to be somewhat quieter than January or March, so enjoy!

The February Full Moon occurs on the 3rd at 6:09 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 140 degrees Leo. Full moons can be times of increased awareness and looking across the Leo/Aquarius continuum, how do we balance our individual (Leo) needs with the collective (Uranus) needs? How are we using our individual creative (Leo) power for the benefit of humanity (Aquarius)? Continue reading

Astro Doings January 2015

Hi Everyone

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 brings abundant peace, joy and blessings of all kinds to us all.

January begins with a powerful Full Moon on the 4th at 11:53 p.m. The Moon will be at 140 Cancer, opposed the Sun in Capricorn and squaring Uranus in Aries. The Sun is also conjunct (right next to) Pluto. This Full Moon accentuates the Uranus/Pluto square (aka growth opportunity) that I’ve written about previously. Anytime you have slow-moving outer planets, in this case Uranus and Pluto, in relationship to personal inner planets, the Sun (our essence) and the Moon (our feeling nature, our emotions), it increases the opportunity for deep-seated, evolutionary change. In this case, the opportunities are both personal and collective. This Full Moon urges us to examine how we’ve been using power (Capricorn, Pluto) to nurture (Cancer) ourselves and others. It is a time to shed light (Sun, Moon) on our personal and collective shadow (Pluto). Continue reading

Astro Doings October 2014

Hi Everyone

October will be more intense than September because there are two eclipses, the last of 2014 and everyone’s favorite retrograde – also the last one of 2014. So, let’s take them in order.

Mercury goes retrograde on October 4th at 1:02 p.m. at 20 Scorpio. He will back into Libra on the 11th and stay there for the rest of the month. Actually after October 23rd when the Sun moves into Scorpio, Mercury will be the only planet in an air sign. We’ll have all fire and water, with two planets (Pluto and Mars) in earth. This reinforces the theme of the lunar eclipse – balance between ourselves and others, between masculine (fire) and feminine (water) energies. (See below.) Mercury will go direct again on October 25th at 3:17 p.m. at 160 Libra. These three weeks are a wonderful time to re-group, re-pair, re-think and re-treat. These retrogrades also slow us down. Mercury is the planet of how we process information and how we think. This three-week period scramble, if you will, the “normal” flow of information, so we can take time to discern and to think things through. Continue reading

Astro Doings September 2014

Hi Everyone

Hope you had a quiet and lovely August. September won’t be quite as quiet, but not overwhelming. We’ll enter into the harvest season, on every level, reaping the rewards of the work we’ve done this summer.

The Autumnal Equinox, when the Sun enters Libra, occurs on Monday, September 22nd at 10:29 p.m. This will bring a breath of fresh air (literally) into the planetary lineup. For the last two months, we’ve had no planets in the air element, which is the element of ideas and communication. In addition it ushers in the season where days get shorter and we begin to turn inward. Continue reading

Astro Doings August 2014

Hi Everyone

August brings a little breather in that no planets are changing directions and there are no eclipses. Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn are still squaring each other, in their on-going growth-promoting (square) relationship.

The full moon occurs on August 10th at 2:09 p.m. ET.  This will be another “super moon” where the moon is full and is at perigee (closest to the earth). She will be at 18 degrees Aquarius and the Sun will be on the other side of the zodiac at 18 degrees Leo. An opposition always calls for balance — in this case the full expression (Sun) of our divine selves, our creativity, and our zest for life (Leo) and our feelings and psychic impressions (moon) about humanity at large, the collective (Aquarius). This full moon will be intense, especially for those with planets in Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus (the fixed signs), due to a very close square (growth) from Saturn (authority, fear, restriction, teacher) in Scorpio (intensity, depth, power). Saturn will square the sun throughout most of August, until the sun moves into Virgo on the 23rd. Continue reading