Overview for 2014

 

For the most part, things are going to stay pretty much the same in 2014, but there are some bright spots to mitigate some of the "same old".  We are still dealing with the Uranus/Pluto square, that has been instigating the uneasy global conflicts, economic hardships and societal issues that has been going on since 2012.  It comes to ahead in April when there will be  super-charged Grand Cross.  The good news here is the Grand Cross marks the beginning of the end of this energy that will be gone in 2015.

Mercury retrogrades three times, all beginning in water signs of Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio, but retrograding back into the air signs of Aquarius, Gemini and Libra respectively. Emotional issues have to be revised and updated to align more with our true inner essence, intuition and awareness. Our feelings, intuition and awareness of our inner connection to the Divine becomes the terrain that must be reviewed, revised and infused with spiritual growth and awareness. Mercury brings important information, which bubbles up to the surface as we accept the inner call to explore the inner aspects of our spiritual essence.

This year will be a deciding one for relationships, since we have both a Mars and Venus retrograde this year. Many outdated, outworn and outmoded ones will finally end while new and fulfilling ones will begin. Get out and network the second half of the year. You simply won't believe the potential and possibilities that those efforts will attract.

Saturn continues its long journey through Scorpio. This serious planet in this serious sign will bring a time of reckoning. Those individuals and companies who are in heavy debt will need to acknowledge that this has to be dealt with and cannot be ignored any longer. Expect to see more businesses going bankrupt, more job losses due to this and more people asking for professional guidance on how to sort out their finances.

Some good news is with Neptune in the early degrees of Pisces, those working in psychic fields such as carrying out psychic research will have the benefit of new techniques that are being developed to record paranormal phenomena. People working in alternative medicine and who deliver alternative therapies will find there is increasing demand for their services.

Another major shift will be July when Jupiter moves from Cancer to Leo and it becomes about fire, passion, joy, creativity and opening our hearts. Jupiter has not been in Leo for 12 years and this truly is going to be a year of passion and letting go of much of the fear based mentality and moving into action for many of us.

Creativity will take center stage during this transit and you will find inspiration in the most unlikely places. You can expect to meet interesting, creative and successful new people. And as per Leo's penchant towards infatuation, there is possibilities for new romances either short or long terms.

Sun Enters Capricorn

 

On December 21st, the Sun moved into tenacious, determined Capricorn. As an earth sign and with the goat as its archetype, Capricorn portrays the enduring and irrepressible spirit of nature. In ancient times the goat was a symbol of courage, of high aspirations and a surefootedness that enabled them to climb higher than any other animal. Goats can survive anywhere and on even the scarcest of vegetation. They are true survivors and can endure short term sacrifices and harsh conditions. The feature of the goat deserves special attention in our understanding of this sign. The name 'Capricorn' comes from the Latin caper (“goat”) and cornu (“horn”), literally “the Goat's horn”. In the ancient world horns were symbols of royalty, strength and power, as well as fertility and abundance. The goat's horn thus stands as a representation of the elemental energies of the earth.

Capricorn, being a Cardinal sign, initiates and begins the winter season, a time of scarcity and survival. This energy has to be smart, but also practical. It is earth energy and accomplishes by actions, not words. It has the patience of “time” itself and understands the natural order. We could never have the new life of spring, without the death of winter. All are part of the natural order and Capricorn rules the natural order of life itself.  We are all marched through a process where we reassess our goals, do closure and manifest our hard worked plans.  With its ruling planet Saturn, this sign is associated with structure, priorities, results, endurance, pragmatism, obligation, duty and authority. To most of us, this is a rather formidable list. Capricorn, as a force in our lives, has a reputation for being demanding and lacking in humor, but few of us appreciate Capricorn for being a teacher of valuable lessons which enable us to achieve and progress. Saturn and Capricorn also provide the structure, stamina and endurance that enable us to pursue a dream to its manifest conclusion, but this ability is acquired piece by piece. Saturn has an agenda; to lead us into the experiences that force us to reckon with the necessities and realities of life. His purpose is to challenge us to grow. Saturn, along with Capricorn forms a hierarchical puzzle; each brick of achievement is balanced upon the layers below it.  Later lessons are built upon the foundation of previous ones. If we have not done our homework, we can become lost or mislead when faced with the tests of later learning. The maturation process requires that we have enough of what we need to progress, but sometimes the experience of doing without for a time can strengthen us. We see this when a pruned back tree springs back with stronger or when we build up our muscles through vigorous exercise. Saturn can force us to work harder than usual at something so that we become stronger in that area. The natal house where Saturn resides is often the area where we feel the weakest, yet it’s often where we excel the farthest because we've worked so hard to compensate.

Sun Enters Sagittarius

 

Sagittarius, with its fiery nature and mutable quality, is the part of us that is the Seeker, after ideas, information and experience. It's more than simple curiosity however; it involves a purpose that transcends mere information gathering as in Gemini.  With expansive Jupiter as its ruler, this is about discovering the higher Truth in the facts.  In Scorpio, we faced the Dark Night of the Soul in which we questioned and probed into everything we are. In Sagittarius, we now aspire to the heights of human potential, which would not be possible until we've faced the darkness. When confronting our worst nightmares in Scorpio, Sagittarius leads us into a quest for new meaning, new allegiance and a renewal of spirit. In Sagittarius, we envision the best of what is possible. We begin to reassess our potential and find a new direction.

There are pitfalls and traps in every sign and Sagittarius is no exception. As soon as we start to speak about a higher truth we must ask ourselves if we hold these beliefs because they serve our ego or because there is inherent truth in them. When we have found answers that work for us, it is very easy to believe that those answers must work for everyone. But Sagittarius teaches us about the vast diversity of human expression, needs, vision and values. As our world shrinks and we increasingly connect with each other, we are challenged to meet through mutual respect, appreciation and tolerance, rather than prejudice, judgment and dogmatism. Judgment and assessment are close cousins that are both part of the Sagittarian territory. When we judge others, we hold a moral conclusion about them and assume our perception is an accurate view of their essential nature. Although judgment has its place in our world, it is often used to condemn that which is more a representative of our own Shadow fears and biases. Assessment, on the other hand, is a more neutral medium by which we appraise value, usefulness or validity based on certain criteria. Although this is similar to judgment, it doesn’t necessarily involve a moral perspective. It is more objective and detached. Assessment is essential for our survival in the world. If we did not form assessments of our surroundings we could not make decisions or learn. The Sagittarian qualities of judgment and assessment are two edges of a sword that can ruthlessly cut through the bonds of reason and truth, or it can cut through to reason.

Sagittarius, the archer, is forever shooting arrows far upward and outward, reaching beyond its grasp to touch the edges of the universe and beyond. Sagittarius teaches us that no matter what we think we know, there's something more to learn. If we think we've found the answers, we must ask ourselves if we're asking the right questions. Every truth leads to a new inquiry; every conclusion to a new implication and therefore to a new question. Sagittarius moves toward endless expansion and, as such, represents life's self-perpetuating growth.

Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

 “Review, Reflect, Revise”

Mercury will turn retrograde on October 21st until November 10th.  But what exactly does it mean when a planet is said to be retrograde? A planet is described as retrograde when it seems to be moving backwards through the zodiac. This concept arises in the planetary motion created by the orbital rotation of the earth, with relation to other planets in our solar system. Planets are never actually retrograde or stationary, they just seem that way, it is an optical illusion. During a “reversal,” the areas of life that the retrograde planet rules will feel askew until it catches up to Earth again. Mercury retrograde is perhaps best known of all retrogrades. Since communication is Mercury's main domain, communication is greatly affected by this planet's pull.

Right now and during the retrograde period Mercury is in the Zodiac sign of Scorpio.  Scorpio is a fixed (persistent) water sign (emotions), ruled by Pluto, the planet of transformation and regeneration. Scorpio navigates the undercurrents, the hidden and unspoken.  When Mercury is in Scorpio, emotions become heightened. Honesty will come into question, and you may take on the role of detective while trying to determine the truth in situations romantic, professional and personal. This planet of communication gets down to the depths when it's in Scorpio. The dark side of Mercury in Scorpio is represented by the mistrusting mind, one that holds secrets and fears them at the same time. Communication becomes a means of control, rather than connection. However, seeing our fears doesn't mean that we have to perpetuate them. The opportunities are ripe for discussing heretofore forbidden subjects, resulting in greater degrees of trust and intimacy.

When Mercury is Retrograde in Scorpio, we need to get to the bottom of things; the underlying motives must be revealed and the whole story must be told with nothing left out. We are seeking full understanding and all sides of the story are valid. Mental power struggles are possible and a greater awareness of your own power can protect you from being the victim of manipulative mind games. During Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio, we realize that we do have choices. And during the retrograde period, we have extra time to do further research so we can make informed decisions instead of acting out of fear, coercion, or hidden agendas. However, there is a general mood of skepticism and arrogant tendencies with people being difficult to get along well. Take a raw and honest look at your pain or the parts of your character that are less than savory. In fact, you might even have the courage to allow others to see beneath your beautiful façade. You might be surprised to learn that someone loves and appreciates you even more for this ability to go within and reveal vulnerable truths about yourself. Still, if there are any underhanded communication tactics happening in your world, this retrograde cycle will be the one that forces you to reconsider whether or not you're making the right choices. A white lie or even a lie of omission is still a lie. What amplifies the significance of this Mercury Retrograde cycle is the fact that Saturn is also in Scorpio, suggesting you'll revisit a karmic lesson over the next few weeks. Then on the 23rd the Sun also moves into Scorpio making us listen to our gut feelings more often, nurture our intuitive abilities, and urges us to dig deeper. Seek the source instead of just identifying the symptoms. Also, on November 3, we'll have a Solar Eclipse and the New Moon in Scorpio. This moon turns our awareness inward and gives us the clarity to see what outmoded habits we need to shed. Eclipses have a way of speeding up change and evolution. Plus when you have a new Moon solar eclipse under the influence of the sign ruling death and rebirth you can imagine how potent and alive the changes are at this time. Transformative, willful Scorpio burns away our illusions and reminds us of all that isn't authentic about ourselves. We’re poised for powerful, personal renewal at the deepest level and encouraged to let go of stale behavior in order to manifest new, healthier actions. sets the stage for serious psychological shedding.

With Mercury, Saturn, the Sun and New Moon all in Scorpio this is a profound time of transformation.  Instead of running from it, we should embrace it and learn from it.  There is no sense in holding on to what is longer good for us, working for us or making us unhappy.  The truth, as they say, will set us free.

Sun Enters Virgo

Ruled by Mercury and the 6th sign of the Zodiac, Virgo is a mutable earth sign, which brings balance to the Leo fire of last month with a grounded, pragmatic perspective. The Virgo side of Mercury is focused on organizing, analyzing and applying information. Mercury, being more naturally an Air planet, than an Earth planet, brings a cerebral, detached flavor to Virgo’s earthy manifest nature.

Virgo is concerned with practical matters, and the practical application of these things in the service of others. In Virgo we see greater expectations and potentials in our existence beyond mere creative gratification and self-assuring self-expression that we found in Leo.  Our Virgo nature says it isn’t enough to simply exist, we must put that existence to use by helping others. However, we must be aware that the danger in Virgo is to immerse ourselves so totally in idealized perfection is that the means becomes more important than the end.

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