July, 2010

“Celebrate good times” is generally
July's motto, but this year dear little
crustaceans, you are at the very
center of the big Cardinal Cross that
is high in the sky! Cancer's will be
having their hands full with WORK
instead of play. Just make sure that what
you are working on is meaningful to you.
By the way, speaking of good times,
this year, the 4th is scheduled on a
Sunday, the day before Uranus goes
retro, so wobbly we will be! (careful
with those adult beverages!) BE
RESPONSIBLE! (yes mom) On the
22nd of this month @3:21 pm we
slide into the sign that is our Zodiacal
Royalty! Leo here we come!

Mercury is really busy this July.
First he is sensitive (and inclined to
worry) while in the sign of Cancer,
but he mellows once he zips into
playful Leo on the 9th @9:29 am.
Then back to those responsibilities
with Virgo, starting the 27th @2:43 pm

Venus in Leo, is a playful match of
energies. On the 10th @4:32 she enters
the complex but sensual sign of Virgo.

Mars is on the move this month! After
so many months in Leo, he jogs through
Virgo (work, work!) into Libra on the 29th
@4:47 pm. He'll be busy when he first arrives
since in early Libra he'll be opposite
Uranus and aligned with Saturn!

Jupiter in Aries doesn't stay 'straight'
for very long and on the 23rd @5:03 am
turns retro—you'll feel the wobble!

Saturn, having returned to Virgo, has
totally, completely finished with his
time in Virgo—and he won't be back
for 28 years! Virgos rejoice! You can
have your party on the 21st @8:09 am.
Cardinal signs, he's baaaaack!
Headline: Uranus in Aries goes retro!
It's on the 5th @9:49am.....(day after
the Big USA Party) have aspirins ready.
Neptune in Aquarius and Pluto in
Capricorn are still retrograde, and are
the steadiest souls on our space path
this month, they just keep rollin on.
(Even though they roll backward!)

This year's Sun in Gemini party has
a really good cause for celebration!
With Saturn (and soon Uranus) out of
'fighting' aspect with Gems, and on
on really great terms at that (helpful
aspects), Gems will find themselves finally able
to get back on track! Next, stop—it's our longest
day of the year, on the 21st day we
leave Spring and enter Summer. The sign of
Cancer brings us our Summer Solstice @ 4:30 am!
Remember: The longest day begins the
return of longer nights....

Mercury, is briefly in Taurus, but
will leave to enter his home turf of
Gemini on the 9th @10:41 pm. We'll
all be much wittier now! But Merc's on
the move and speeds on to Cancer on the
25th @3:32 am. This is a great mix—our
'minds' (Mercury)enter the sign of 'vision'.
(Cancer).

Venus leaves sweet Cancer only to
find herself deep into drama! On the 14th
@1:50 am she moves to the fiery energy
of Leo! She almost runs into her old flame,
Mars who has spent quite a LONG time there,
but as Fate would have it, Mars will exit
Leo just when she's entering. He's off to the
exotic land of Virgo on the 6th @ 11:11pm.

So, Jupiter who usually stays put for a
whole year in each sign just COULD
NOT miss the Cardinal party—Zap!
Into Aries he goes (on June 5@ 11:29 pm)
so that means...Uranus, Jupiter and
Saturn...OH MY! We're all going to
need our sleep—this is an energy
party—very exciting...shake, rattle
and roll. (Hopefully not the Teutonic
plates!)
Uranus forward in Aries...

Neptune retrograde in Aquarius

Pluto retrograde in Capricorn

Well, if you ever wanted to know what a giant T-Square felt like, all you have to do is pick up a paper, log on to the front page news on your computer, or turn on your TV set, and you'll see one in action ...welcome to the Cardinal T from Hell!
I have been writing and deleting just like the old days. You'd think George Bush was still in office. It's all about the fact that fear and separation are coloring every decision and thought we are all having... I have to watch my “opinions” constantly, they run to “Them” and “Us” stuff all the time before I remember that that's the illusion! I'm exhausted!

There was that ultimate Mercury retrograde event, the giant oil spill in the gulf. (Not to mention the volcano—all the travel plans interrupted for days and weeks!) Remember that in addition to Merc retro being about technical malfunctions, it is also about going over old territory and re-evaluating our previous choices.

There is much to reevaluate. How we live, how we treat each other, and most importantly how we treat (and what we think of) Mother Earth and ALL of her species. This is at the very core of everything that is happening now, things occur as a result of state-of-mind and the many choices that those thoughts allow. These are choices that highly benefit some without regard for the whole... some times it is SO pesky to have to make a choice that will effect “the next 7 generations” but the nature of these new aspects are so intense, my thought is that our “free pass” will be pulled and we will be required to “pay” for these choices, and it has already started with the events in The Gulf and the domino effect that will soon follow . Sigh. These were not choices that most people would have made... but we have all enjoyed the “bitter fruits” of the toxic tree (ala gas in vehicles, TV's from China, there are many, many etcs.)

Separation from each other and from how and what we need and use in our lives is at a critical point, for one thing there is just too much to know and to keep track of. Our lives are SO busy, the amount of change is SO overwhelming, the massive communication, interaction and inter dependency so complex, that we have begun to revert to Neanderthal “simplicity”. “Them” and “Us”... and the thought that the “other” is incidental, inconvenient, wrong or has nothing to do with our lives, but that couldn't be less accurate. Do you really remember how to slaughter a chicken? Can you put your own car/phone/vacuum cleaner together by yourself? (Er, maybe it's just me that can't) we need and rely on each other for absolutely everything. This aspect, (separationalism) therefore, is very self defeating.

Saturn opposition Uranus, the astrological aspect of polarization, has been present in our collective consciousness since 2008. The first time it was exact was November 4, 2008—the day Obama was elected! It IS the aspect of change, and at that time it was in the signs of Pisces (Uranus) and Virgo (Saturn) and these aspects are about the healing crisis of our culture. There is much to heal, and it was indeed ironic that the first time legislation passed to reform insurance company “rules” occurred under this aspect. Dramatic as the whole health reform debate was, it is just a tiny illustration of our ill society. Our sickness isn't about our health, it's about our current detachment from our compassion. If we do not concern ourselves with each other's needs, we ultimately only wound ourselves.

The opposition has been prevalent since then 2008 in Virgo/Pisces, but when this aspect makes its next exact “station”(July 26th) it will be the first time to occur in the new signs, Aries and Libra. Here it will take place along the 1st and 7th house axis, the houses of the Self (1st) and the Other(7th) once again accentuating the illusion of and struggles with our separation from each other....which in turn provides the basis for allowing us to DO such weird stuff to each other and our earth. We SO need an “empathetamy replacement” ...if we could “walk a mile in each other's moccasins” that would most likely change everything.

The bottom line is, if we wished to get off of fossil fuel dependency, we would be off of it so fast Chevron's & BP's head would spin...if we wished to house/feed the homeless we would easily do this (like we did before Ronald Regan invented homelessness). If we wished to create work for, heal or educate the masses we would... but the catch is, we ALL need to wish the same wish for it to happen (or at least a tipping point majority of us) this is the way change always happens. At this point, however, everyone has broken up into small groups of anger and blame and the last thing they want is to “give” someone something they feel they don't deserve—with the illusion that it is taken away from them. Divide and conquer, it always works, and at this point we have been conquered. Sigh. I would feel hopelessly depressed about this, except:

On the 27th of May @ 6:48 pm for the first time since it's last orbit (1927-1935) Uranus, planet of “awakenings” enters Aries!

So, the truth is that it was NOT fun the last time this transit occurred, 84 years ago. If you notice the above dates, those were the most intense years of the Big Depression. Suffering was at an all time high, people lost their jobs, homes, they traveled to find work, there was strange weather effecting agriculture, hey—am I reading today's paper?
So I sez to myself, “What happened 84 years BEFORE the depression, the years of 1843-1850... and that one was interesting as well. That was also a time when the gap between the rich and the poor was huge—Dickens wrote his popular novel, A Christmas Carol at this time and, very pattern-perfect, we had the immigration issues that came along with the Irish Potato Famine (same aggressive stuff only this time the prejudice was against white skin and cute voice patterns). It was also a time of much anti-slavery protest and intellectual exploration (Thoreau began living in Walden Pond) and Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin... you know how it goes, when you have mass ignorance, you always have to balance it, visionary brilliance. 

The chaos was so great, we HAD to find a solution, and we did!  The 1850 end-of-the-transit led straight to the Civil War which changed the laws on slavery and the 1927-35 transit let to the New Deal, which was a BIG deal and saved the lives of millions from then on in to today.

This aspect intensifies our human illusion of separation and then explodes it! Aries is the Self. It can be selfish, self aware, self reflective, (you get the picture...) “The self is required to balance the self” (Delphi Oracle) but we do NOT balance ourselves....willingly, that is. Cardinal T-Squares, however, create balance.. Mother Earth creates balance...she will win, she lasts longer than us. Happiness is about joining, belonging, connecting, and unifying... for the good of all. It is now, and it always has been.

Taurus 2010

All of this conversation about the Earth is appropriate, since we are now arrived at the first earth sign of the year, the magnificent and beautiful Taurus! Have you ever SEEN such a spring? I am surrounded by eye-popping beautiful flowers, and moist clear air. Taurus (my opinion!) is Mother Nature's birthday, and she is always so happy to celebrate the Sun's return and provides extra-special beauty for her birthday party.
Children-of-Taurus, you have been experiencing a trine for the last two years... what has that brought to your lives? How has your world increased, improved, intensified, awakened, changed...? Those trines always bring MORE, but sometimes that more is overwhelming or more challenges.. but the trines always bring opportunity, as well. These new aspects specifically open opportunities in the area of work and health, so there is where your power lies! Jupiter will be here at the end of 2011, so you are now planting seeds that will take root and grow then...make sure you are planting what you want to harvest!

The Sun is in lovely Taurus until the 20th @ 8:34 pm. What then?
Well, it's party time—Gemini here we come!
Whether it's the end of the earth or just another day, Gemini is always a very fun time of the year—and Gems, this is YOUR YEAR...sort of. Well, it's the first time that Saturn is trinning your sun in twenty years—and that means that you have extra special powers of capability, luck, energy and opportunity. You still have to do what you need to do to make it happen, but you have that extra bit of star power to help you along!

Mercury, Gem's ruling planet is retro in Taurus and this will calm the party down.
That is, until the 11th @ 3:27 pm. when Mercury resumes course and forward ho! Mercury, from that time forward, will be un-retrograde until August 20th, so go ahead and make plans, buy appliances and zip at the usual speed that Mercury mentors...unless you want to put effort into slowing down and smelling those roses.
Unfurl the sails, Merc goes steadily forward in Taurus the rest of May.

Venus has been enjoying the party while hanging out in Gemini territory, she's so social here, (all of a sudden everyone is dinner-partying!) and now that we have summer weather, theres so many places to go, and things to do...even WITH the last bits of Saturn and Uranus in a square to Gem. Soon Uranus will soon shift to a more compatible sign to Gemini, easing love issues (for many Gem's) for years to come, but this month when Venus enters the next sign of Cancer (on the 19th @ 6:05 pm) she will run into a veritable traffic jam of fellow cardinal signs to contend with, and this could bring some high drama to the heart department, so go gently on your loved ones.

Mars forges on, ever valiant in Leo...still an aggressive influence...and with its opposition to Neptune (God of the Sea) I think of the oil spill in the Gulf and imagine the intensity, worry, activity going on trying to contain this catastrophe.

Jupiter is traveling at a 'clip' through the sign of Pisces, so you Mer-people, it's best to be clear on what you need
expanded...Jupiter is only here for a little while this spring...in fact, May is the last month till

Saturn, having retrograded back into Virgo, will not linger there for long. On the 30th @ 11:11 am, he turns around
and starts heading back for the big Cardinal Sign meet-up this summer!

And don't forget our Piece de la resistance of spring aspects, (drum rolls, please) for the first time in 84 years, Uranus, planet of Unexpected Changes, Awakenings and Creative Magic leaves the end of the zodiac, Pisces, and
enters the beginning sign of Aries @ 6:48 pm on the 27th, within hours of the full moon! What can it mean? Don't forget—if we ALL vision together, it is the magic that makes things happen. Hey, wasn't that how Tinkerbell survived, too?

After that? Well, there is one more thing. Neptune retrogrades on the 31st @11:50 am. Neptune direction changes are the spaciest of ALL, be aware and remember to drive cautiously that day!

Pluto doesn't even try to compete so he's just sailing forward waiting for all the rest of those Cardinals to catch up... interesting times we live in.
co

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yyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....and Mercury isn't even RETROGRADE yet!

I am suffering with a terrible case of the Cardinal T's, and my computer has fallen prey to its ill effects.  I have been trying to get this info on my site since April 1. 

At first I assumed it was an April Fool's joke from the "Irony Committee" (you remember, "those up there" who I assume run it All) but then it was April 2 then 3...and STILL not fixed, well...then I brought in the 'big guns'...and it took ALL DAY!

Anyway, thanks to Bela my Hungarian Computer Knight, and the ever-extraordinary beautiful Goddess Dianna, today this is up and at ya.  Merci, gracias, sorry and hope it fills you all in during these crazy times.

Aries 2010

Wowie Zowie, Aries—have I got a year for YOU!!! 2010 is one big smörgåsbord of exciting astro-influences! The excitement lasts all year and you are not likely to know whether you are coming or going—which is not necessarily a bad thing, since you know Aries, that you seem to work best when you shoot from the hip and move in all directions at once! Beginning last October, when Saturn entered Libra, you entered an era of much uncertainty. If you were of memory's age between the years of 1980-1983, you will see some pattern similarities to that time, since this was the last time Saturn occupied the sign of Libra. What was happening in your life then? It will not be the same, but there will be clues to what may be in store. In any case, this aspect will have you reexamine all of your “truths” and attempt to align yourself yourself to who and what you have become. Now, this would be a big enough deal, but coming soon (check out May!) Uranus will enter your sign for the first time in 84 years, bringing awakenings! And hey, as if THAT were not enough, Jupiter (which usually remains in a sign for a whole year, this year in January it entered Pisces) simply could NOT miss the party so Jup hops the fence and enters Aries for 5 months starting in June! Whew! These are amazing ingredients for your Cosmic Soup Mix this year, and creativity is the key. Just as it was for Pisces, use it wisely—because you WILL be creating—be it chaos or opportunity. And listen up, to all of you who are not Pisces and not Aries, you are not off the hook....we ALL have Pisces or Aries somewhere in our charts, so this alignment will be affecting us all in some area of our lives...it is an energy that is on the loose and in the collective unconscious, wahoo think what we could accomplish if we used this together for the common good??!!!

It's all so exciting but quite exhausting, and we're ever so grateful to see Taurus rise along the celestial loop! Meander on to May for your years news, lovely Taureans...

Busy spring month, you betcha...Mercury last seen in Aries, moves briskly into Taurus, on the 2nd at 5:06 am. Merc is such a fast-mover...do you realize it takes him just 88 days to circle our Sun? That's why he retrogrades so much...he has to continually stop and wait for the Big Guy (Sol) to catch up!.... so hey, that said, it's time for.....you guessed it—Mercury retrograde! This time our retro begins on April 17th at 8:07 pm, (We're so glad that we got those tax returns in already before this retrograde, right?!) so of course after the 17th we slooooow down and go back over the road we just traveled... till May 11th, to be precise...catching up, sorting out (and putting all of those 2009 receipts into a storage box). Perfect spring cleaning cosmic help. Time to clean up our act with our physical selves as well. With Taurus as our personal trainer, something slow and sensual is best—yoga? Pilate's? Or the best one yet—walking outside in the beautiful new spring world! Especially since Mercury moving slowly backwards will spend some time traveling alongside Venus who is also still in Taurus. Mercury, it seems, appears to be chasing our lovely Goddess Venus, but he never quite catches up for an exact conjunction. By the time Mercury gives up the chase and goes retrograde, these two star-crossed planets are already ten degrees apart. Still, the conjunction of Mercury and Venus in Taurus has permeated the air and given us all a sweet creative energy for our spring projects. Venus moves along and by the time she slips into the last of the spring signs, Gemini on the 24th at 9:05 pm, we're ready for some action! Gemini is just the sign to bring it! Venus is our good time girl in this sign! She's witty, she's energetic and she's very playful. To help the good times roll, this year Gemini is finally on the good side of Saturn, who art in Libra, so some of that flirty action could stick and a relationship could take off and turn into the real deal! Ah, love in the spring—one of the ways “they” (The Committee Who Sent Us Here) talked us into agreeing to be born!

Er, but we might need a bit if time to get this new relationship off the ground, since Saturn is not quite done with traveling through Virgo yet. On April 7 @ 10:51 am Saturn retrogrades back into Virgo, just to make sure there are no tasks have been left undone! So what does this transit DO? Just ask a Virgo born in the middle of September (from the 12th to the 19th ) or a Pisces born between the 10th and the 18th, or a Sag born 13th to the 20th of December or a Gemini born between the 10th and the 18th of June....what do they all have in common? Their Sun is right along the path of a major T-Square that has dominated the star pattern for the entire year of 09 and will wind its way through 2010 not letting our Mutable signs rest till 2011! Still, in spite of (or because of!) this aspect, much has been learned, accomplished, cleared out, and there is a sense of starting over that is wide open to a new range of possibilities!

All other planetary action is fairly straightforward this month (as if this isn't enough chaos for our planetary spring party!) but there IS just one more change......

On the far, far edges of our solar system, demoted, disenfranchised Pluto sits alone at the Galaxy's Edge Bar and Grill, grumbling...he'll show us how significant he is! As if we don't remember—the LAST time he was in Capricorn, we were giving birth to this new, recently 'discovered' (although already occupied!) continent, and revolution was in the air! Pluto was in Capricorn when the USA was born, on July 4, 1776 and we certainly felt the rumble then. So up from his barstool he stands and turns around...April 6 @6:35 pm...retrograding back..he moves slowly and will stay in this sign until 2023. We will learn much about authority throughout this transit. By the way, the root word of authority is author...reminding us that whoever authors the script is in charge! Get out your pens and take charge...but remember the difference between writing a story like Shakespeare or Steven King...you be the judge about what kind of story you want to write for your life!

The kids are in the city tonight and I must admit to a certain amount of paranoia thinking of them hanging out in San Francisco these days, and you know why—it's that Cardinal T-Square and SF's prone-ness to earthquakes!
Yup, this weekend we watched the very, very large quake in Chile join the cosmic mix, and I really don't think it's the end of the rumble... in fact, this is only the beginning. It's weird to see an aspect line up in the star pattern and then see it happen in life, but this always blows my mind anyway, and it always has.
The Cosmic T has been zapping my own chart, and I got the big bad flu. It was the worst I can remember...I am usually so strong (like bull) and I bounce back, I just assumed that would be the case.. but it was relentless and kept morphing into interesting but unpleasant symptoms. Usually resilient, I had the thought, “Hey—people DIE from the flu” and just like that, I realized that I was not an Immortal...it hadn't occurred to me before that... but no worry, I'm back (sort of) and back to work.
Anyway, tomorrow begins March and I am THRILLED to say goodbye to February... although a T-square is a T-square and it just keeps rolling along...but March is a very exciting month, and the month we begin Spring...which I love...so onward, and don't forget your 'earthquake preparative' items...get those batteries, water and canned goods in a nice safe place. And don't forget to love this earth... it keeps our journey here a happy one, and I believe our 'Mother' is always soothed by our love and respect!

March 2010

Mad, marvelous March is always an exciting time, with it's moody weather patterns and unpredictable nature, but it is especially flamboyant this year! As El Sol shines his light through that complex, mystical lens we call Pisces, this year our sun will have company—two other celestial companions will also share the Pisces spot in space: Uranus and Jupiter! For all of you Water Babies, this means opportunity!
Jupiter visits once every twelve years. Generally arriving in a sign and staying put in that sign for the whole year while it weaves its gift-giving magic. Alas, this year, with change as the theme, Jupiter zooms briskly through the thirty degrees of Pisces from January to June and then takes a summer vacation in Aries! Still, in 2010 Pisces is Jup's primary host, and this month is especially powerful with the three-planet power alignment of the Sun, Jupiter and Uranus...so use it to travel, educate and expand your world, as with this aspect your powers are much increased! Remember, though: whatever you give power to will be what is empowered—this means, if you give your power to your fears, they are likely to be more 'creative' and overwhelming than usual! Remember: don't hurt yourself on your imagination but direct that imagination and have it work for you! As it does every year, sweet Pisces brings a conclusion to our Zodiacal journey, we've gone 'all around the block'. After The End?

Absolutely—it's always followed by the beginning—the Vernal Equinox! Spring arrives and stands as the Gatekeeper to Nature's new year; At 9:32 am on March 20 we greet the sign that is always our emissary to the new year—Welcome Aries! (Turn to April for your news little lambkins)

Immediately upon entering March, our zippy messenger Mercury slides into the next sign of Pisces, March 1st at 5:27 am. Merc just wants to join the big Pisces party and he adds even MORE mental energy to the alignment of the Sun, Jupiter and Uranus—yikes! We are certain to feel this one, but hey, life is so weird these days how can we tell that it is even weirder this month? Hum...Ah, well, Mercury doesn't linger here anyway, he's ready for a more sparky and feisty state of mind—seems appropriate for the holiday he lands on when he changes signs—he's just in time for St. Patrick's Day! On March 17th at 8:11 am, into Aries our Mercury plunges...out with the sentimental and in with thoughts of action!

Well, spring has sprung, and who do we want to invite to our party? You GOT IT—enter Venus our beautiful Goddess of Love. This dramatic month of change our Venus is not to be out-done, and she very dramatically swings into the theme of restless, fast-moving, versatile energy shifts! She begins March in sensitive Pisces during those late degree aspects joining with Uranus and Saturn—this could be volatile for Pisces emotions, so it's best to wait until this alignment has passed to have 'that talk'. It MIGHT be safe to come out from under the bed by the 7th of March when our Love Goddess enters frisky Aries...except with Saturn and Pluto creating rough edges, to Aries, this year Venus in this position might be a bit tough, restless and, er, sometimes just a bit insensitive—mostly due to impatience and the desire to get on with things and complete an agenda. When dealing with love and emotions, this whole spring is intense, so if you are having 'conversations' with lovers, or even political discussions with relatives, remember to take extra care to practice diplomacy this month! One last change this month for our lovely Venus, and it's one we will all be grateful for. On March 31st @9:34 am our love Goddess enters Taurus, one of her rulership signs. Since it is her natural home, (Venus' two rulers are Taurus and Libra) we enter beauty and love at its peak—blooming flowers, warming weather and a sense that all is right with the world....for a little while, anyway!

Mars, having moved back, back, back, retrograding through the sign of Leo since Dec.21, skids to a stop on March 10th at 9:09 am begins his journey forward again! On the day that this turnaround occurs, stay tuned and check out Mars stories—like watch for war news and any escalation of wars between different philosophical sides today...Mars often sparks disagreements and days when a planet turns direction often stand out more intensely. Always remember on those days to pay close attention to your driving and emotional reactions, since you don't want to over-react to an energy that's just passing through! One more thought about Mars...the warrior energy is NOT really about war—a warrior is a valiant crusader for deeply held beliefs! We can believe in a goal, each other, overcoming adversity, anything that takes exceptional courage, that's Mars' specialty! The best goal ever? That we All Win! How else will we save the world?

As for our other planetary companions...Saturn is still traveling retrograde in Libra, Uranus in Pisces continues to careen forward, Neptune still floats through Aquarius confusing us all, and Pluto still is seeking dictatorship of The Known Universe...in other words, same old, same old, the circle continues.....

Sorry that the February *Star Scope* comes a bit late—January was a Dickens of a month, and it was touch and go whether my computer would survive, or if my message for February could be salvaged.  You've heard me tell this story before, and you might remember that I have a, err, relationship with Mercury.  Well, last month when Mercury went retrograde, it didn't just go retrograde around here, it went rogue and it took out my entire computer system.  (Again)  Sigh.  Alas, parts are still missing and we ask your patience if you haven't heard from us.  By the way, if you tried to email me the weekend of January 15th, your message is floating in a parallel universe called “Comcast” Land, which is a Neptunian place, with highly confused inhabitants, and things that are lost there are never found.  Best to write again.

All of the resulting chaos meant I was not able to share with you one of my famous fits when The Supremes made certain our land would have NO problem going to the highest bidder.  Humans are a highly suggestible species, and with an advertising budget the size of Texas (ha-remember that metaphor!?) it will be a cakewalk influencing people who have no time, means or inclination to research the issues that are 'reported' on so, err, 'creatively'. 

Ah, Orwell had it all spot on, as did all of the 'Foretellers' of yore.  Also foretold was the earthquake era (now just begin) along the 'Ring of Fire'.  Eureka, California had a greater-shake-than-usual Richter number, but it was soon eclipsed by Haiti of course... so very tragic and dramatic there was no comparison. Yup, January was a rather stressful month, but it is always important to remember that destruction is the first stage of creation--and all of 2010 we have a bird's eye view watching these two 'competing' energies--destruction and creation, re-create the world as we know it!

This is what the Cardinal Cross is all about—taking down what is false and outgrown....one way or another.   Once a structure crumbles to the ground, there is nothing blocking the 'view' of the terrain.  Once we see 'what's out there', the question then is, what will we build in its place?  We can re-create a bigger, meaner version of 'reality' or we can create something more unique and interesting. Every day we have a choice of 'realities'...we call it a mood. This we create out of our personal interpretation and reaction to the world around us.  If we want to change the world, working with our personal window on the world is a really good start.  I forget that sometime, but I'm working on it.

Remember, "The world you live in could be your own!"

February 2010

When we turn our calendar page to February, our Sun is already sailing through the sign of Aquarius—but it's not aqua at all, Aquarius is an air sign!  Still, the truth is that we all DO live in an ocean—only our ocean is one of various gases (mostly oxygen) which we call our atmosphere.  The atmosphere circles the entire earth, all flowing together reminding us that whether we like it or believe it or want it—we're all connected!  The strength of Aquarius is that all things are possible when we all work together for the 'greater good'.  This sign has been 'under reconstruction—somewhat astrologically challenged' since the middle of the 2000's (especially '03-05!) but last year there was the boost of Jupiter prompting a 'break out' of old patterns!  THIS year, the BIG GUNS have come to help you Aqua-babies!  2010 has the potential of being really GOOD news for Aquarians!  Saturn, in residence in the sign of Libra until the fall of 2012, will be in a trine—the most helpful of all support aspects in the Zodiac.   Aquarians, you know what THAT means, don't you ?  Well, it means that this is the time to get what you want!  Oh, you don't know what you want, eh?  Think about that one....don't you really?

Next stop is the end of the line.  On the 18th of February at 10:35 am, El Sol is ready to finish his Zodiac year...if we're in Pisces, it means that we've made the 360 degree trek!   A big year's a-comin for you water babies all right...but heck, it can't be more intense than last year, can it?  Yup, it stays intense but this year we add a heavy does of opportunity to the mix!  Pisces, your news will come in March...

Hey, to help with the plan, Mercury, having started his forward journey last month (went direct, no longer retrograde) moves into the sign of Aquarius on the 10th.  Normally, it's like having Mr. Spock as your second in command, very helpful for objective thought.  The last decade, however, the sign of Aquarius has been occupied by Neptune, the planet of imagination, illusions and delusions, and Mercury, each year while traveling through this sign at one point during his transit will 'hook up' with Neptune, who has lived in this sign since 1998.  This might have created exaggerations and (even) paranoia. (Of course, it is also helpful in creating great art!)  The most intense days of this aspect will be from Feb 25th -March 1st so it's best not to over-indulge in anything that will clog your body or mind. But hey—we're still trying to clean up our act from the holidays anyway, eh?  You'll be fine if you just keep to the Prime Directive:  don't believe everything your mind tells you!

Venus, after her time in the rather aloof zone of Aquarius (great for decorating, less cozy for personal emotional expression) she will enter a much more emotional zone, the sign of Pisces (on 11th 4:09 am)—and what a contrast it is!  Venus in Pisces has flair—whether it's the drama of star-crossed-love, or the drama we see in the news—the type of emotional insecurity this fosters can lead to intense displays of exaggerated emotion.  Grab some popcorn and watch it, don't get carried away by it!  Venus is always a fun artistic influence while in this sign as  well, so take time this month to get your hair re-styled, or go shopping with a friend and who will help you re-do your look, and don't forget to go out and flirt!  What is drama for anyway if we can't enjoy it?

Mars continues to retrograde, and don't forget that in Leo he is opposite Aquarius!  This month he poses  at 180 degrees (opposite) from The Sun, Mercury, Venus (till 11th) Neptune and Chiron!  He brings up contradictions, he  fights legislation (health care reform?)  whatever is happening, it will be an exciting tussle, keep that popcorn comin'. (And be sure to fight for what you believe in!)

Jupiter, having entered Pisces, is getting used to this new turf.  Jupiter expands and this is a very all-inclusive and complex sign.  The sign of drama and emotion and spiritual sensitivity, all true—but did you know that there are more scientists that are Pisces than any other sign?  Yup—it is the sign of science and discovery—since it engages the sub-conscious mind and uses the power of the collective unconscious!  This is a powerful placement made more powerful this year by Jupiter's conjunction with Uranus!

Uranus who art in Pisces—maybe together (Uranus and Jupiter—and coming soon, Chiron!) they can come up with a 'healthy' (for our planet) new energy source!  Keep a collective 'good though'!

Neptune is a little less assertive now that Jupiter has 'left the building'.  Still, all year it travels the far reaches of Aquarius, from the 26th to the 28th degree of this sign...it will make it's big move soon, but not this year!

Pluto continues to be powerful—now that he is squaring Saturn, but more planets continue to align in the dramatic Cardinal Cross.........stay tuned!

...one more significant astro event....from the Far East....  we say adieu to the Year of the Earth Ox, and sit in rapt awe as the Big Cat walks on the stage of life beginning 14th of February.  Welcome to the Year of the Metal Tiger!  Not known to be especially peaceful, this mentor of 2010 brings a history of major political challenge and action and change.  I don't know about you, but  I'm already exhausted!  Lets keep our fingers crossed that this tiger is really a pussy cat after all (but I'm not holding my breath).

January 2010

As it does every year, our new year dawns with our center star The Sun traveling through the sign of Capricorn. This Winter Solstice Cardinal sign (Cardinal means first, and the four cardinal signs are the first sign of every season) is the zodiacal CEO, and with the sun lighting up it's qualities, it is always a great help in 'sizing up' our new year and determining where we want it to take us! Since those cardinal signs are there to help you initiate action, why not let your CEO Sun in Capricorn help you Vision and Structure your intentions for 2010—don't leave your year to chance! One more thing, Caps...2010 is a BIG year in the stars for you—4 out of 5 of the outer planets will nudge your Sun and this means ya gotta move... that is, it's time to get out of that rut! There's lots of Celestial help with that...not the least of the power-players is your long-term resident (in Capricorn till 2023!) Pluto—disenfranchised “God” of the Underworld! Holy Mafia-ally! Big guns all year, big change, big potential for all you Caps...so no excuses!

Of course, January hosts the next sign of the zodiac as well, and on the 19th of January @ 8:27 pm, El Sol shifts over to the next stop on the far edge of our solar year...the 2nd to the last sign of the Zodiac—Aquarius! (All you Aquarians—find your news in February!)

Mercury, next planet up, is El Sol's right hand man! This year our intrepid transportation and communication director begins the year while he is in his famous moon walk backwards through the sign of Capricorn—yup, he's retrograde all right, a direction he began back on December 26, 2009. Retrogrades are an apparent backward movement that all of the planets (except the moon) make at least once a year. The most famous retrograde is Mercury's, which occurs roughly every 3-4 months and it's famous 'cause WE FEEL IT! As the planet of communication and transportation, when he moves backward, we all seem to experience Merc's rather rude interruption to our standard frantic pace to do (everything all at once!) Let's face it, we're all addicted to our speed and we race to work, tap our fingers impatiently while we wait for our high speed computers to take their standard thirty seconds to boot up, etc....geez.. So enter Mercury who's little 'stunt' of causing a bit of mayhem when he retros actually gives us a chance to slow down, breathe and re-think our reasons for rushing. So it is that Merc has thought it would be splendid if we began this new year with all of the joys of breaking machines and mis-fired messages. Actually, won't it be a good thing to get that new malfunctioning Christmas prez back to the store before the warranty expires? This time, Mercury Retrograde is completed on Friday, January 15th, and at 8:52 am Mercury resumes his travels forward, so get your racing shoes on, we're back to the rat race!

Goddess of love Venus, begins this year while also traveling the sexy, passionate sign of Capricorn (Capricorn really IS one of the most sensual of signs—we don't always know it from the cool exterior Cap's put on the surface) but on the 18th she enters a much more 'detached' environment, the sign of Aquarius. Now, detached does not mean without caring, it's just that the air energy of Aquarius is more comfortable standing back and observing. You'll most likely want to 'chill'...just watch movies, put the holiday decorations away, and not talk. Sounds great to me! Let's give ourselves the gift of space here, I mean, if The Goddess of Love sez it's okay to detach, who are we to question her?

Our next planet is the yang to Venus' yin—MARS, the infamous “God of War”, a planet of action, he's able to leap tall buildings, etc...this energy bunny of the Big Z. enters 2010 while also being in retrograde motion....so here's the scoop on Mars...
Mars has an orbit pattern of two years...but while Mars usually moves at a brisk clip around Zodiac Park, (about 1-2 months in each sign) every two years he stops, parks and takes a stand! This time, he's parked in the sign of LEO! Woah, Holy Royal Force...to be reckoned with! Mars in Leo is very ego driven, let's face it, when you are King or Queen, you're right, eh? Well, Mars in this position thinks so! (And that means we ALL feel this, not just Leos!) These next few months it would be wise to be especially diplomatic—watch your temper, an opinion is just that—just another illusion, so let's all not be so attached to it! Whether Mars here will support you (for the most part, it is cozy with fire and air signs) or challenge you, (that would be water signs and earth signs) you will definitely feel Mars' effect in this sign. Our Red Rock first arrived in his Leo home on October 16th of '09. and went retrograde on December 21st last year where he will stay until turning direct on March 10. Don't forget; those retros are all about the energy flowing inward, so be kind to yourself and direct your inner voice to be helpful rather than critical! This is a terrific energy to catch up, get rebalanced and re-evaluate your thoughts and plans.

Jupiter, biggest, boldest, most audacious planet, having been a star player last year with it's dramatic conjunction with Chiron (fears and wounds) and Neptune (illusions, delusions and dreams) now leaves this alignment on the 17th and moves into that curious, complex creative sign of Pisces...FYI...twas last there in 1998...it will definitely be significant to all of you Pisces, not an automatic 'lotto' winner, but an extra edge—and as always, it's up to you what you do with it! It will be a big player this year...stay tuned to Jupiter news!

Saturn is the Big Dude, though...or maybe it's just me, but wherever he is, that's where the action is! Saturn entered Libra on October 29th for the 1st time since 1980-1983! Libra is the sign where Saturn was when the USA was born—July 4, 1776—so welcome fellow Americans to the USA's 8th Saturn return! This is always a big darn deal, it's always major adjustments in the economy and philosophical direction of this country—buckle up, this will be fascinating bit of history to be a part of! This month, Saturn, having arrived at the 4th degree of Libra, turns around and heads on back. This is a very influential and intense time for anyone born in the first week of Libra, Aries, Capricorn or Cancer...decisions?

Uranus—wowie zowie—Uranus has BIG plans for us this year! In Pisces since 2003, it has completely shaken up (planet of awakenings and revolution) all things we have taken for granted. Expect the unexpected! This month's Uranian energy is fairly constant (for the planet of change!) but U. is 'biding time' and 'gathering forces'....and the 'ships' will be launched in a few months.....stay tuned (or skip ahead to May!)

Neptune, God of the Sea and all Other Realms—like foreign countries, other people's beliefs, illusions, delusions, movies and drug states. Neptune is the planet that reminds us that there is no such thing as “normal” and when we really think about it, we realize that the truth of the matter is that we live on a distant outpost planet in a world that we don't understand for reasons that aren't made clear to us for a time that is indeterminate. So, needless to say, this planet is a bit unnerving. Still, we do our best with it by becoming SO attached to our 'beliefs'. Then with a significant Neptune transit, what we believe dissolves and..eek! Still, Neptune helps us tune in in other words, it is the planet of 'veils' and covers is, as it has been, traveling through the sign of Aquarius. (Where it arrived in 1998!) It has a couple of more years to go until it completes it's 14 year 'stint' in this sign, but this last year it made much news while it conjuncted Jupiter and the asteroid Chiron...and this configuration crossed the USA's Moon in Aquarius! (Chiron, by the way, crosses every 50 years). The Moon in any country's chart is the sign that 'rules the people (The Sun rules the President, King, Prime Minister, etc) and this year that planet lent itself to very emotional reactions to various perceptions of “Truth”. Remember: Don't believe everything your mind tells you to believe”!

Pluto, always on the far reaches of our space station Earth, holds his zone from the sign of Capricorn...from this position he can see what is happening back here on Earth. Remember that Pluto entered Capricorn last year around thanksgiving...for the first time in 248 years! It's been a slice alright—this being the first Pluto 'return' since the USA was born (it was in Cap on July 4, 1776!) so the revolution we feel a-rumbling is definitely in the air. EVERYONE feels it, whether you are 'right', 'left' or 'center' (is anyone at center?) it will be here till 2023, so we will observe what this will mean to our space & time here...dum, dum...tatata....