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February Astrology: Neptune in Pisces, and Shadow Work for Valentine's Day

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley AstrologerThe 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.”

 

Riding the Rocky Energy of January 2012

by Madeline Gerwick

Madeline Gerwick Astrologer 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.

 

2012: Confronting the Big Questions

by Dena DeCastro

Dena DeCastro Astrologer

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.

 

Mercury Retrograde: Why All the Fuss?

by Judith Hill

Judith Hill astrologerA 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.

 

December Lunar Eclipse and Planetary Retrogrades

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley AstrologerDecember 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.

 

November Cycles and the New Moon in Sag

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley AstrologerWelcome 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.

 

Careful With Your Spending

by Madeline Gerwick

Madeline Gerwick Astrologer 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.

 

October Astrocycles

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley AstrologerFall 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.

 

The Portents of the September Lunar Cycle

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley Astrologer 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.

 

Great Opportunities Now At Hand

by Madeline Gerwick

Madeline Gerwick Astrologer

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.

 

Time Lords, Transits and Tradition

by Austin Coppock

Austin Coppock Astrologer

Traditional astrology has a bad reputation.It’s hard to discuss it without getting stuck on the grim determinism that traditional astrologers were supposed to have ascribed to, a nightmarishly linear and choiceless march to the grave. Indeed, the difference between traditional and modern astrology is most commonly identified with the extremes of the Free Will/Fate debate, with “modern” standing for “Free Will” and “traditional” standing for “Fate.”Yet this is not entirely fair, or accurate.

These philosophical extremes have been present for virtually the entire recorded history of astrology, with different authors presenting different positions.Each period presents a complex intertwining of choices and obstacles, destiny and decisions.Taking the time to understand how people in different places and periods saw this tangle is wonderfully educational, as it opens our eyes to different astrologies as the complex systems they are.

In the spirit of dispelling misconceptions and encouraging exploration, I’d like to present a small offering on how predictive techniques, philosophical positions and therapeutic solutions intersect in modern and traditional astrologies.By traditional, I refer primarily to Vedic, Hellenistic, Arabic, Medieval and Renaissance astrologies.

   

Full Moon in Aquarius

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley Astrologer August is traditionally the month for vacation, relaxation and recreation. All good ideas! But while you're at it this year, stay aware of your surroundings, inner and outer. Don't let this be a month for not attending to personal matters. Rather, with Mercury retrograde in Virgo, look at personal commitments and routines, see what needs clearing, and take time for you.

The early days of August provide lots of changes. The royal Leo Sun and its companion Venus in Leo begin the month with a stimulating trine to Uranus retrograde, increasing excitement as well as anxiety over finances. The debt ceiling issue looms, but real solutions for real people seem remote for now.

   

Mercury Retrograde and the Debt Crisis

by Dena DeCastro

Dena DeCastro Astrologer

The current shenanigans on Capitol Hill would almost be amusing to watch if the potential repercussions were not so serious. (OK, I did laugh quite a lot at McCain going off on his own party calling their plan “bizarro.”) But throughout most of the current Debt Ceiling Crisis, I have been watching in mounting disbelief as the government plays an extended game of “chicken” with our economy. I noted with apprehension that the deadline for the Debt Ceiling to be raised is August 2nd – the very same day Mercury Stations retrograde. I looked to the Mercury Station Chart, and its transits to the U.S. Chart in order to get a sense of what kind of situation we might be looking at in August. I also considered the overall transits for the U.S. in the upcoming month.

   

The July 2011 Astro Weather Update

by Madeline Gerwick

Madeline Gerwick Astrologer

Venus Square Saturn

The first important cycle I have to tell you about this July is one associated with scarcity, or feeling like there’s not enough money. This cycle is Venus square Saturn, while the Moon opposes Venus and also squares Saturn. This cycle is most intense July 15, so you may feel like you have too many expenses that week compared to the amount of your pay check. In any case, this is temporary, so if this impacts you, just take a deep breath. You may need to conserve your funds this weekend, but you will be fine soon.

Another way these cycles can show up is in needing to account for your money, doing those bank reconciliations so you know how much money you really have. Long-term relationships or feelings of depression can also be challenging under this cycle, especially if there are money issues in the relationship. It’s better to focus on creating enough, rather than feeling like you don’t have enough.

Speaking of not having enough, I want to mention that this week there were towns in Iowa that were completely destroyed. Unless you’re in that situation, chances are you’re better off than you realize. Be grateful for whatever you do have in moments such as these. Venus square Saturn peaked this week and stays in range through July 19th.  

   

Expand Your Reach: Pluto Trine Jupiter July 2011

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley Astrologer Wham! Pow! Shazam! The July 1st New Moon in Cancer arrives with its powerful eclipse in a Cardinal Grand Cross and we see the beginning of a powerful web of changes—globally, institutionally, individually and in our communities!

Now, you could easily say, “but I thought we were making powerful changes last month, last year, with the last eclipses, and…” AND you’d be right! But there is still more to come. I hope you’re not too out of breath.

The New Moon in Cancer at 1:54 AM PDT Friday July 1 2011 is trined to Neptune in Pisces. This hints at warm and fuzzy feelings with a focus on nurturing, safety, and family connections. But let's take a better look. The Sun and Moon are also opposing transformational Pluto and forming tense squares with wild and crazy Uranus and stodgy, fear mongering Saturn! This suggests a strong undercurrent of slow-moving, deeply intense and dramatically change-producing influences are working on us.

   

The Jupiter-Pluto Trine in Earth: 2011 – 2012

by Dena DeCastro

Dena DeCastro Astrologer

Jupiter enters Taurus, cooling his heels after a year-long trek through Aries on June 4th, 2011. Jupiter and Pluto will then enjoy a trine to each other for about a nine month period from June 2011 through March of 2012 (with three exact trines: July, October, and March). Jolly, optimistic Jupiter meets brooding, intense Pluto…hmmm. At first glance, these two don’t seem too compatible. However, they are meeting by the trine, a harmonious aspect. The trine aspect generally means that both planets will be in the same element. Jupiter is in matter-of-fact Taurus, and Pluto is in let’s-get-real Capricorn. So what happens when these two planets meet by a trine in the earth element?

   

The Cardinal Grand Cross and Lunar Ecplise June 2011

by Joan Kiley

Joan Kiley Astrologer

June is chock full of important astrological events. The Gemini New Moon arrives accompanied by a partial Solar Eclipse at 2:02 PM PDT on June 1. This "darkening" of the Sun is only visible on certain parts of the earth (according to NASA, this eclipse is visible in e Asia, n N. America, and Iceland), but its importance extends to the entire planet. The term "Solar Eclipse" defines an alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth, such that the Moon is located between the Sun and the Earth, causing the Sun to be hidden from view on the Earth. Because it always occurs on a New Moon, a solar eclipse marks a time of new beginnings.

   

June 2011 Eclipses and Opportunities

by Madeline Gerwick

Madeline Gerwick AstrologerAt the start of this June we’re in a cycle that’s associated with not seeing something clearly. This is the cycle of Mercury conjunct Sun and it’s due to the fact that Mercury cannot be seen when it’s too close to the Sun. However, when this cycle peaks on Sunday June 12th we get several hours of perfect clarity. This occurs between 11:32 AM – 10:10 PM PST June 13th. This period feels like being in the eye of a hurricane, the one place of calm. After that period of clarity, this cycle continues to present challenges to seeing clearly until it’s out of range on June 19th.

Wait to make important decisions during this period, unless you make them on June 12th. Also, if you have my Good Timing Guide, you'll notice that June 12th has an Orange Final Result, which indicates that deals or situations that are expected to come together are likely to later fall apart. Pay attention on June 12 if you’re about to make a deal.

On Wednesday June 15th, we’ll see the second of three eclipses, which will be a total Lunar Eclipse. However it occurs during the afternoon on our side of the planet, so we won’t get to see it. This eclipse has the same primary meaning as the one we had on June 1st. It is related to growth and expansion, but it comes with loss, separation, aggravation or inihibition.

   

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Newsflash

EngagedHeart.com has just posted their extensive series of interviews with many top astrologers at NORWAC 2009, and has posted them for free listening and download. Listen to interviews with Richard Tarnas, Steven Forrest, Demetra George, Alan Oken, Jeff Jawer and more! Thanks to EngagedHeart.com for sharing this great work. Stop by the EngagedHeart website for a full list of interviews. 
TimePassages Astrology Software

2012 ASTROLOGICAL ALMANAC

Austin Coppock's 2012 Almanac NOW AVAILABLE in print or download format. Austin Coppock

Weekly Good Timing Tip

Madeline GerwickYour key to Good Timing This week February 3-10, 2012.

There are five days this week when it’s easy to make money: Sunday (the 5th), Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Of those days, Wednesday is the best. If you have something important to do next week, do it on Wednesday, February 8th. Monday February 6th has a falling out though, when something doesn’t come together as expected. So avoid doing anything important on that date.
This week's tip courtesy of Madeline Gerwick and her Good Timing Guide

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