Posts tagged Mercury Retrograde

March Horoscopes



The Astrology of March is powerful, and features two important retrogrades: Mars and Mercury, along with the archetypal energies of Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The red planet, still retrograde in Virgo, gets back to almost the beginning of the sign by the end of the month, heading toward its direct motion on April 13th. Mercury also retrogrades this month, from March 12th to nearly the end of April when you take the period of the retrograde shadow into account. We can expect a more deeply meditative and internal time than the usual Mercury retrograde, because Mars is also retrograde in mutual reception with Mercury, and because the mist of numinousity represented by Neptune and the sign of Pisces is so greatly emphasized by the recent Pisces New Moon from February 21st.

Pluto is also highlighted this month, at the time of the mid-month First Quarter Moon, when there is a huge Grand trine in Earth signs that includes Pluto in Capricorn. The initial stages of the Mercury retrograde period that begins a few days prior also emphasize Pluto, with Mercury squaring Pluto and in close conjunction with Uranus. The forming square of Uranus and Pluto – that important world transit aspect that gets progressively more and more intense throughout the spring and early summer – is therefore brought to greater consciousness at precisely this mid-month time. This presages a greater awareness that we have seen thus far regarding the radical transformation and evolutionary or even revolutionary series of insights that are necessary to allow this culture to thrive as it emerges into the 2020’s.

The numinous quality of Neptune, together with the crucial accompanying reliance on Spirit as a significant guidepost, is also quite powerfully constellated now. This is because Neptune was closely conjuncted by the powerful New Moon from the 21st of February which also closely aspected Uranus. The present month will see a repeat of the spacey qualities associated with the ruler of the oceans, combined with the more frequent occurrences of synchronicity that are the specialty of Uranus. Just as throughout February, we will find surprising enlightenment at every turn if we can only open our eyes to see it.

Meanwhile Mercury, after the 11th, begins its retrograde; so that the last two thirds of the month exhibit the usual symptoms of deep introspection, missed connections and mechanical breakdown. Since Mars is also retrograde, this is exacerbated by the factor of the mutual reception between them. Also, during the early part of its retrograde period Mercury will aspect retrograde Mars, as well as Uranus, Chiron and Pluto. Insights will be paramount and supplant action as the most important mode in operation. At the March 14th Last Quarter Moon there is a powerful Grand trine in Earth signs between Venus conjunct Jupiter, retrograde Mars, and Pluto. This phase is normally introspective in any case, and it may well be that during this mid-month period we will be getting down into the deepest places within us, perhaps to a part of ourselves that has been wounded in the past, and attempt to work with these deeper parts of ourselves in a constructive and practical manner.

The March 22nd New Moon in Aries, coming just a few days after the Spring Equinox, also represents an exciting juncture, since very near the Aries point and in conjunction with unpredictable Uranus. The New Moon forms a yod formation with retrograde Mars and with Saturn, retrograde in late Libra, making a bridge for practicality and yet heralding even greater frustration with forward motion. Uranus also is semi-sextile to the Neptune / Chiron midpoint. Epiphanies prevail. This is all and all a very exciting month and one that will be redolent of new understanding regarding where we are in our personal lives and as a collective; thus providing insights that are sorely needed at this climactic stage of our turbulent decade.

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Mercury Retrograde is coming!



By Mark Dodich

On February 26, communications planet Mercury enters the shadow period of its coming retrograde cycle at 23 degrees Pisces. The shadow period before it turns retrograde at 7 degrees Aries gives you hints about the issues in your life you will be dealing with after Mercury actually turns retrograde on March 12th. In Pisces, you want to pay attention to intuition, your immune system, feet, and enhancing your meditation or prayer time. Mercury then moves into Aries on March 2nd, which can help your exercise program. It can also stimulate you to get moving in other areas of your life, but do be careful of impatience or speaking impulsively.

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Dec 10 Lunar Eclipse



By Mark Dodich

The Lunar Eclipse on Sat. Dec. 10 presents a bit of a conflict. Lunar eclipses, by nature, tend to bring up deep emotions. At the same time, a chart cast for the eclipse shows a complete lack of water element signs, and water represents emotions. It may simply be that there is a conflict between your head and heart that needs to be resolved.

So, pay extra attention to your emotional needs and those life events that kick off your emotions. With the moon in mental Gemini, it would not be a surprise to think about your emotions rather than stopping the busyness to feel them. At the same time, revolutionary Uranus ends its retrograde cycle (since early July). This will help you bring innovative ideas into your world in the coming weeks-or maybe, just through a revolution! Perhaps the Oppose Wall Street people will reflect this energy.

Finally, Mercury ends its retrograde period in time for Pacific Coast rush hour traffic on the 13th. Allow extra time and practice flexibility.

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November 24th New Moon



by Henry Seltzer New Moon Chart
The Sagittarius New Moon of Thursday evening, November 24th is in addition a partial Solar Eclipse, although one that will not be seen anywhere in the northern hemisphere. Taking place in the third degree of Sagittarius, it strongly aspects Jupiter, Uranus and Chiron. This is an important New Moon, and it comes at an important time, emphasizing the Uranus – Pluto square that is the exciting and yet scary harbinger of even more difficult times ahead than we have already seen. Mercury is just now turned retrograde, also in Sagittarius, and we are in a thoughtful and reflective period when we might make the attempt to think our way through the difficulties and try to understand in a deeper way the state of grace that, when we can turn our eyes inward, we can see that we equally partake of.

Therefore although Uranus and Pluto are in dynamic alignment and things are rapidly changing, there is also the possibility of relaxation and even enjoyment of the roller coaster ride, especially if we can maintain a somewhat detached attitude and trust our angel guides and other numinous cosmic presences to guide us through. The New Moon and eclipse does highlight the strong square between these heavies, so there will be a lot to manage as we head into the end of a powerfully transformative year that is the but the prelude to another. The strength of this aspect is currently fading slightly but it will return with a rush in the springtime, coming to its first moment of exact alignment in June of 2012.

In addition to the thoughtful and reflective time of the Mercury Retrograde, when we do well to simply acknowledge the situation and refuse to push the river, choosing instead contemplation over frantic activity, this New Moon brings us further riches in the form of outer planet energies. We have the graceful presence of positive and peaceful Jupiter, stationing next month in early Taurus, together with the unexpected enlightenment represented by Uranus, also aspected by this New Moon, and finally the energy of Chiron, the Wounded Healer, occupying the first degree of inner–oriented Pisces and square to the New Moon. This is an unusually spiritual combination, emphasizing the deeper meaning of the events of our lives. We win when we find the positive inner vision to open to these energies, which of course actually reside inside us rather than somewhere ”out there.” Then we might be able to see in our troubles, rather than a deficit, an opportunity. Then we might be able to see in our essentially wounded nature, rather than our personal shortcoming, a fundamental part of the human condition, although of course it is both. Then we might be able to see in our radical transformation, rather than the crunched–up caterpillar, the emerging butterfly of our unique spiritual evolution.

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Nov. 24/25 Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius



By Mark Dodich

We are now moving into the intensity of eclipse season. It begins with communications planet Mercury moving into its retrograde cycle Nov. 23-Dec. 13. Give yourself extra time when traveling and practice good communications skills for the next several weeks.

The Solar Eclipse is on Nov. 24 at 10:10 PM PST at 3 degrees Sagittarius. A solar eclipse asks you to put aside the busyness of life and refocus your priorities based upon a core, spiritual level. It brings aspects up from the bottom for you to look at. Think of Penn State and Joe Paterno with the uncovering of a child abuse scandal. Sagittarius rules religion and is a fire element sign. Think of the Tibetan monks who have been setting themselves on fire to call attention to the abuse they are receiving from China.

On a personal level, invest some time in your higher aspirations. It is too easy to get caught up in all the things you need to do at this time of year, not to mention the added financial burden that comes during the holidays.

Sagittarius calls you to a higher philosophy, to live in a higher integrity. It is the sign that urges you to take a risk on yourself. Explore something new, or allow some underused part of your soul-personality to find expression. Be willing to take a risk on yourself and step out of your comfort zone.

There will also be a lunar eclipse on December 10th, so emotions are up for the next few weeks. Find time to pull away from your world to remember what is really important. Take your journal and jot down some big ideas. You are not limited and it is an abundant universe, just waiting for you to call your good to you.

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