May 2016 - Time to Reflect

As May begins, there are five planets trekking through a retrograde cycle: communicator Mercury, forceful Mars, expansive Jupiter (although Jupiter will turn direct on May 9^th), structured Saturn and transformative Pluto. Despite their poor reputations for disruption and chaos which is not without merit, Retrogrades are also an important time to slow down, step back and correct course. Are you on the best possible path or are you just charging ahead blindly? The Universe is giving us a grace period to sort that all out.

For the next few months, we need to be clear on who we are, what we are doing, where we are going and start practicing it. These 4 months are our gift to learn how to be our true authentic selves.  Here is a short overview of the energy you can experience from each planet:

1. Mars causes feeling of “I want to move forward but I can’t”. It is a fast moving planet and hates slowness but we are forced to re-evaluate how we react and our actions so we can be a more aligned path with our authentic self.

2. Saturn wants us to take slow, steady steps with lots of time for reflection. We learn to look at our beliefs, thoughts, movement, action in life and business. Are you trying to do too much, are you glossing over things and are you not walking your talk.

3. Jupiter asks us to look at how we want to expand our lives and make sure we are being true to who we are. How can you love and honor yourself more?

4. Pluto challenges our beliefs, perceptions, our inner selves and shadow side. It wants us to really dig deep and clear out things that no longer serve.

5. Mercury wants us to look at everything about communication, contacts, technology, appliances and vehicles. What need to be repaired, redone or fixed? Are all your “I’s” dotted and “T’s” crossed.

It is a beautiful gift if we choose to see it that way. Our energy and time is precious. Do the groundwork now. Build your foundation and shine authentically.

Each planet affects a different part of your chart. I can provide you with a road map to help you see what you need to work on and to watch out for during the next few challenging months. If you want a retrograde astrology chart, please click here.

Sun enters Virgo

Sun in Virgo

August 22nd to September 22nd

Virgo, a mutable (flexible) earth (stable) sign, ruled by Mercury and symbolized by the Virgin is the zodiac sign associated with work. Everyday work, not the ambitious 10th house aspect of your life’s purpose. Virgo oversees the 6th house of the natal chart, associated with all those mundane chores that fill up a large portion of our day. All kind of work falls within Virgo's domain – it’s what we must do each day to make life work. It is Virgo who maps out the sensible path, bringing that Leo passion from last month down-to-earth all in a responsible, level-headed action plan.

We are looking at energy that is practical, analytical, dependable and adaptable. And the perfectionist aspect can be both a blessing and a curse depending on the circumstances.  In addition we need to be careful not to become overly critical, worrisome, nit-picky and fault-finding. Virgo has a reputation for being coolly analytical and critical, but done with a loving heart criticism is constructive and allows growth to occur.

Sun Enters Gemini

Now that the seedling is secure it begins to branch out and interconnect with a complex root system. The Gemini principle is driven by the compelling need to connect objects with one another to form ever greater links. Their job is to experience a diversity of sensations, thoughts and encounters so that they can create systems or theories of knowledge that are then disseminated to others.

Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac and is ruled by Mercury. When a planet or house cusp is in the sign of Gemini, the planet or house will describe how or where you communicate the most. It also represents the conscious mind and the thinking process. In general, a person born under the sign of Gemini will tend to need constant change and variety in their lives; as well as the need to communicate on all levels. They are the happiest when they have more than one interest to pursue. Sometimes this can lead to inconsistency and irresponsibility because they fail to complete what they start. In spite of this trait, they have excellent memory, quick minds and can be very logical and rational people.

We have set off on a cosmic journey starting with Aries and Taurus. The Aries cycle brought a great burst of life force and initiative, like a seed being shed from the husk of previous journeys. This seed contained an explosion of potential and possibilities in our lives. In the Taurus cycle, we planted this seed and stabilized its growth to ensure it has the fuel and endurance to survive the long process ahead. Taurus provided an opportunity to explore our attitudes about resources. Now we reach the Gemini phase of our journey. In Gemini, we're challenged to increase our awareness and connect this new potential to our immediate environment. Hence, Gemini and the 3rd House are associated with neighbors and siblings, local travel and the vehicles that get us there. They're also connected to the conceptual neighborhood. We are also part of our own neighborhood. Psychologically, Gemini is the beginning of objective self-awareness. This is not to say that Aries or Taurus people are not self-aware; rather, Gemini energy brings the most basic forms of awareness into focus for everyone. Developing objective self-awareness is a long-term process that grows and evolves. In terms of external projects and activities, Gemini is the stage in which we start to become aware of what we're trying to do and what will be involved.  How do we become aware? When we want to look at ourselves physically, we need a mirror. A mirror provides us with a means to observe ourselves objectively, as separate objects. Similarly, to perceive our personality objectively, we need a mirror of some sort in the form of communication, relationships and the community. This mirroring effect introduces the idea of duality. In Gemini, we have our first awareness of the multiplicity of Self. For all of us, archetypal Gemini brings us to an awareness of the many facets of ourselves. The Air Signs form an evolutionary process of observing ourselves through the mirror of other people. In Gemini, we begin with information exchange. Through communication, we increase our awareness of the world around.

This is the quest of the Gemini, to gather together as much information about their world as possible. It is their medium for knowing themselves and their navigation tool through life, gathering and sharing information.