News

by Joan Kiley

The month of February arrived in the midst of one of the most dramatic planetary transitions of our lifetime! Neptune was in the last minute of the last degree of Aquarius, about to move home into its own sign of Pisces, on February 3 at 11:04 AM PST. Neptune remains in Pisces until 2025. Neptune rules the sign of Pisces. The two are similar archetypes. Thus the god of the sea will be much more comfortable and much more powerful in watery Pisces than in the previous two Saturn-ruled earth and air signs it has moved through in the past quarter century.

We’re coming out of a period (1998-2011) where the inspired side of Neptune in Aquarius has given us electronics as artform, theatre in cyberspace (youtube), and the “Internet” as our primary social interchange. The shadow side has brought us the dissolution of rational political discourse, an acceptance of lies as truth (Fox “news” is the most listened to network for news while receiving the worst ratings for factual reporting), and extremist forms of religion as “normal.”

by Madeline Gerwick

How did you do during our first week of Mars retrograde? This cycle started on Monday January 23rd and will last through April 13th. I’ll talk a lot more about this in the next segment of my radio show. For now, this is no time to be starting new projects, introducing new products, services or launching web sites. This is the time to do your strategic plan for where you want to head during the next two years and research how you want to get there. This cycle is also associated with anger, frustration and resentment coming out from under the rug. When this happens, it’s an opportunity to heal an old wound. So get out the book, Non-Violent Language by Marshall Rosenberg or visit Michael Faith's blog Nonviolent Dialog for helpful tools for working with conflict.

The Mars retrograde cycle is also likely to correspond to more people in the streets. Italy is currently shut down with transportation strikes, due to austerity measures in that country. We’ll see a lot more of this around the world in the next 11 weeks. Movements such as Occupy Wall Street or other critical mass actions are likely to gain strength.

by Dena DeCastro

As I reflect on the past year, it's almost hard to imagine that the coming year could be packed any more full of significant events. The forces of revolution and rebellion were fully ignited, from the Arab Spring, to London, to Greece, to the Occupy Wall Street movement. We saw the death of three major figures: Bin Laden, Gaddafi, and Kim Jong Il. And the natural world erupted with tectonic and weather disasters, from the Fukushima quake and tsunami to a record-breaking tornado season in our country. Weather patterns around the globe became even more erratic, with extreme drought to record snowfalls and hurricanes. As if that weren't enough, economic structures continued to crumble world-wide.

So, we now enter into the much-anticipated 2012. What is ahead for us, as individuals and as a species? Of course, this is the big question that most people are asking me as an astrologer.

by Judith Hill

A client called me frantic over a surgery appointment set "while Mercury is retrograde!!"

"All right already," thought I, "I've had enough now of this Mercury retrograde hysteria. It's time to set the record straight."
Mercury is retrograde for 20% of its cycle and is retrograde generally three times per year, for roughly three weeks each. Should we really suspend all activity for one fifth of each year? Obviously not.

Mercury governs those people, activities and objects "ruled" by Mercury, not Mars, Venus or any other planet. For example: Mercury governs all communications equipment, including phones and computers, small vehicles, letters, writings, paperwork. This is just for starters, but you get the drift.

by Joan Kiley

December is a complex month. It blew in with lots of aspects, reminding us that as we head toward the Winter Solstice this is a time of letting go of the old and preparing for the new. The month began with potent energies including the Sun squaring Mars, Venus conjoining Pluto, and the Moon conjoining Neptune. With Mercury deep in its retrograde motion and conjoined the North Node of the Moon, we may have found ourselves feeling a bit spun out of control, even as we may have felt directed in a way - the “way” just not yet articulated.

We need to be reminded that the ending of this year is no ordinary year-end. It is the one that will usher in 2012, the year ancient Mayan tradition says is the ending of a major 5,125 year cycle at the Winter Solstice 2012. Astrologically, 2012 is the beginning of a 3-year Uranus/Pluto square, with seven (yes, seven!) exact conjunctions of these two powerful planets between 2012 and 2015. This phenomenon is unseen by anyone alive today. History tells us that alignments of these two planets are characterized by social upheaval, progress, and likely revolution (with Pluto in Capricorn—it will be in the areas of societal structure, including government, financial, military, etc). Events we’ve seen during the approaching squares have proved history will be repeated.

by Joan Kiley

Welcome to November! We’re deep into the season of Autumn now, making our personal adjustments to the shrinking daylight and naturally finding ourselves with the urge to probe deeper into the motives behind our actions and moods.

We slipped quietly into the month with a Capricorn Moon forming a waxing square to Saturn, increasing our sensitivity but making us less likely to reach out for nurturing. Mercury and Venus, arm in arm, were conjunct in Scorpio forming a still tight but waning square to Neptune in late Aquarius. Two days later Mars in Leo began an opposition to Neptune, thus creating a T-square between the four. This dynamic has brought a psychic sensitivity to the fore, encouraging visionary dreams and “hunches” that may turn out to be eerily accurate.

by Madeline Gerwick

Are you feeling tempted to spend some money to have a good time? Or maybe you want to splurge and get yourself something you’ve been wanting? On October 14th there is a planetary cycle peaking that’s often associated with spending too much money. This cycle, Venus opposite Jupiter, stays in range through October 19th. So if your budget is tight, be careful during this period. If you can make those spending decisions in joy, then your money will return to you quickly. If you feel guilty about spending the money it may not come back. So check in with yourself before you spend this weekend.

On October 13th, a cycle began that will never quite peak. It will get extremely close to exact, and stay in range through November 24th. This cycle of Mercury conjunct Venus is an excellent cycle for writing, speaking, training, or any other method of communication you prefer. Do you have something important to announce? This cycle would be the time to do it. If you’re writing a book, this cycle will help you. If you’re speaking, this cycle is terrific for helping you get your point across in a clever and effective way. Mercury and Venus stay together through two signs: Scorpio and Sagittarius.

by Joan Kiley

Fall is in full bloom as October opens with the Sun and Mercury in a T-square with Pluto and Uranus. Mars is squaring retrograde Jupiter as the Sun is approaching Saturn signaling the end of expansion for now—a sense of contraction has begun. The amount of darkness is increasing rapidly, and Pluto going direct has us, like Persephone, moving to the underworld.

The cyclical slowing down of our instinctual selves with the season may clash with our ego-directed selves that are still trying to move at the speed of the outer world, and what we sense are the demands of the culture. Venus and Saturn sit together in Libra, sorting out what is needed for balancing this growing darkness. Libra is the place these two planets are most comfortable with each other, Saturn exalted and Venus ruling. We may ponder our relationship with authority, outer authority figures, as well as our own inner authority.

by Joan Kiley

It’s September! Think autumn, harvest, the beginning of the end of the year. We begin to see color changes—in the leaves, in the light, in the shortening days. Astrologically, the month started with the personal planets spread out in four signs: Mars in Cancer, Mercury in Leo, the Sun and Venus in Virgo, the Moon in Libra. Later this month, they consolidate in Libra, but early on it’s almost like they are in free spirit mode, each doing their own thing, concerning with wrapping up business from the summer. If we look around, we humans are doing the same - tieing up loose ends with task-oriented Virgo spirit before we can get down to the business of harvesting what we sowed in the spring.

The chart for September 1st includes an earthy grand trine—Sun and Venus in Virgo, Jupiter retrograde in Taurus and Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. The energy of this trine will continue through the first weeks of the month but expect an intensification in the energy midmonth. The flow of earth energy continues nearly through the New Moon, serving to help keep us grounded, with the capacity to accomplish our goals with efficiency and practicality.

by Madeline Gerwick

Sun Trine Jupiter

Today, September 9, is the last day that Sun trine Jupiter is in range. This cycle is known for bringing a lot of growth, and expanding your mind in new ways. So if you can do anything to expand yourself today, I recommend you do it. You could decide to learn something new, go some place new, read a book about something you’ve never considered, or meet new people who expand your life. There are many ways to do this, but be sure you do something today to take advantage of this energy. Today is actually a very good day to start something new too. And this energy is partly why it’s such a good day to start something. So get moving! If possible, do something important today.

Mercury opposite Neptune

Next, through September 12th we are still in range of the cycle associated with mental confusion and/or deceptions. This is the cycle of Mercury opposite Neptune. If you’re feeling confused, just wait until this passes to make important decisions. In general, you cannot rely on logic to help you through this period. Intuition is the better tool. Check in with your guts or your heart, or clear your head with meditation to get the right answer. Just be sure you wait until you’re clear before you make any important decisions.