 The second Mercury retrograde of 2024 occurs from August 4 to August 28. The frustrating part about a mercury retrograde often includes misunderstandings, delays, misinterpretations, travel snags, mechanical failures and general miscommunication via phone, text, emails and any of the myriad ways we have of communicating in the 21st century.
The positive side of a retrograde helps us refine our communication skills by doing more research, analysis and editing. Communication may fail us momentarily but eventually we are able to improve those skills through further learning and education. Retrograde Mercury is a wonderful period for reflection and planning something through ironing out the details and snags so that after the retrograde you are in a better position to launch a project and move forward. This retrograde starts on Monday, August 5 in the sign of Virgo, enters Leo on Wednesday. August 14 turns direct on Wednesday, August 28 and re-enters Virgo on Monday, September 9. The midpoint when Cazimi (conjunct the Sun) offers a brief period of intense clarity and insight on August 18. The signs are important. While in dignity and exaltation in Virgo Mercury is not relying on another planet to help or get in the way. She’s able to work from a more confident narrative for better or worse because there is more power to act without taking anything else into consideration. It is also in its own bounds which further strengthens its confidence level. While in Virgo and its own bounds Mercury has a green light and may be better for solving a problem quickly or getting one’s way – even if getting one’s way may not be the best thing – because you may not take anyone else’s opinion into consideration due to intense tunnel vision. It depends on how well you apply commons sense. A Virgo retrograde is a suitable time to revisit a health issue from the past that resurfaces. An old injury may flair up on a retrograde and that would be a perfect time to re-address the problem. A second surgery is fine if that part of the body has already been operated on. Reconnecting with a doctor from your past is ideal especially if your health insurance has changed and they now accept the new one. Mercury in Virgo may be even more concerned with health, work, details, minutiae, and organizational skills. It would be wise to back up all computer data and update home and office equipment. Mercury will conjunct Venus in Virgo on August 7 and that would be a particularly good day to receive help and understanding from others. When entering Leo Mercury will be more dependent on the Sun therefore ego problems may get in the way of solving problems. Your ego vs. those of others. There may be more battles of the wills in this sign where the Sun reigns supreme. Breakdowns and flareups may be more dramatic. Leo is the sign of sports so keep an eye over what is happening at the Paris Olympics. Other Leo topics are entertainment, romance, sex, children, people who act like kings and queens, and amusements so challenges in those areas of life may surface. Mercury will be in the bounds of Mars from August 18 through August 22 and that adds to anger, bullying, aggression, competition, courage and more abrupt and nasty outbursts. It will retrograde and turn direct through the bounds of Mercury from August 23 through September 4th where reason will gain the upper hand. The recent Mars/Uranus conjunction from July 15 will be triggered by Mercury on August 19 and September 6 so be aware of those dates as they relate to that very intense and dramatic week from mid-July. That was the period of the attempted assassination on Donald Trump, followed by Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election. Mercury will square Uranus three times during its complete retrograde period. That configuration adds chaos, reversals and changes in direction. Those dates are July 21, (the day Biden made his announcement), August 18, and September 6. Another aspect to note during the retrograde period is when Mars conjuncts Jupiter in the sign of Gemini on 8/14. What pops out at that time further elucidates, exacerbates or explains events from the recent past or antagonizes those past events especially from mid-July. You will gain more understanding and meaning or see a stronger expression of opinion and double talk. Enjoy the roller-coaster ride and do not forget that after the Mercury retrograde period completes it ushers in a Lunar Eclipse on September 17 at 24° Pisces followed two weeks later by a Solar Eclipse on October 2 at 10° Libra.  Many astrologers have weighed in regarding the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Here is my two cents. This is strictly from an astrological perspective without any political opinion, so if inclined to comment keep that in mind. Any comments I deem inflammatory or disrespectful will be deleted.
We have two charts: Donald Trump’s birth chart and the time of the shooting in Butler, PA. We can look at them as stand-alone charts, but for our purposes let’s look at a dual wheel with the transit chart on the outside wheel and Trump’s natal chart on the inner wheel. The most obvious thing as stated by everyone is the tight Mars/Uranus conjunction on his 24.21 Taurus MC and square his natal Leo Mars of 26.40 and natal Leo ascendant at 29.58. The tightness of the conjunction at the MC shows it to be a shocking, unexpected public attack. Events on the MC are in full view for everyone to see. This volatile conjunction also tightly squares his natal Mars and Ascendant which would represent attacks on his physical body. When Mars is so prominent on the natal angles in tandem with the shock value of Uranus squaring natal Mars we get a less enlightened version played out on the public stage having to do with violence, guns, shooting, attempted assassination. So many phrases come to mind: sudden attacks, violent outbursts, shocking sniper attacks, unexpected chaos – the list could go on and on. Because Donald Trump has natal Mars smack on the ascendant the attack was on his physical body and the event was highly dramatic as one would expect with the sign of Leo being activated. As many astrologers have noted we could add the fixed star Algol to the mixed which sits at 26.10 of Taurus and is triggered by the transiting Mars/Uranus conjunction. This fixed star is associated with losing one’s head. The interpretation is so literal in this case as a bullet was aimed at his head to inflict death. Even without the fixed star activated, just having Mars, the planet that rules the head and face as well as violence, guns and attacks is quite enough for me. Algol is like the cherry on top of the sundae so to speak. Its interpretation is obvious, but it only adds more meaning to what is already there. Transiting Neptune is at 29.53 Pisces, a sensitive degree for equal house cusps particularly the 8th house which is the place of death. Donald Trump is 78 years old therefore he is in a 7th house profection year making Saturn the lord of the year so we would look to the condition of this planet in the natal chart and how it is receiving and giving transits. Saturn is transiting the 7th house of open enemies and is co-present with transiting Neptune. This could account for being blindsided by the attack and someone who should have been perceived as an “open enemy” becomes invisible and more hidden. Transiting Saturn squares natal Sun (ruler of the Ascendant and Mars) as well as the natal Moon in Sagittarius. The Moon is affiliated with the physical health of the body and in this case so is the Sun as it rules the ascendant. Saturn squaring both can be interpreted as the attempt to block or end someone’s life and the culprit would come from the 7th house of open enemies. The luck here is transiting Jupiter in his birth sign of Gemini which is directly responsible for counteracting some of the negativity of transiting Saturn and Mars/Uranus. Another good transit helping him is the Moon in Libra conjunct natal Jupiter (also trine natal Sun and sextile natal Moon). The only other thing I want to say at this point is that the volatility and revolutionary quality of the transiting Mars/Uranus conjunction at 26.19 Taurus will be triggered on these dates in the future: Uranus will get to this degree again between October 19-22, 2024 and the very end of April and beginning of May in 2025. Pay attention to those times. Uranus symbolism is revolution, chaos, shocks, divorces, splits and unexpected twists and turns like being on a rollercoaster. It can represent breakups and breakdowns or breakthroughs and breakouts. It can also be enlightenment. Mars will trigger this degree around June 10, 2025 after a very long retrograde. This will also happen very near Donald Trump’s 79th birthday when he will enter an 8th house profection year. Regardless of who wins the presidential election we are heading towards major evolutionary changes in the United States. Pluto will be fully in Aquarius by 2025. Let’s not forget the United States has the Moon at 27.10 Aquarius and transiting Pluto will conjoin that degree between 2040 and 2042.  I have a great personal story from the Memorial Day weekend that is clearly representative of Jupiter having entered Gemini on May 25th just five days after the Sun. The Sun in Gemini highlights Jupiter’s new persona. The King of the Gods has a place of honor especially now, at its ingress, by having Sol shine its light on Jupiter’s Geminian actions and activities. He has a larger place on the world stage during the season of the twins. Everyone should pay attention to things coming into consciousness in the Jupiter/Gemini area of your chart right now. These announcements are making themselves known and will define certain aspects of life for the next year.
I took the train up to Hudson, New York on Saturday, May 25. My friend Bill picked me up in his car and we proceeded to drive back to his home. We were on a two-lane roadway and a traffic police officer was on the side of the road with a pulled over motorist as we passed him. About 30 seconds later Bill noticed a police car signaling him from behind with flashing lights to pull over. The police officer came out of his car and asked if we had known why he pulled us over and we said no. Well, there is a law that says when an officer, or anyone for that matter, is stopped along the side of the road, cars approaching must move into the left lane to avoid hitting the vehicles and people stopped on the shoulder. We pleaded ignorance, were lucky, and let off with a warning. So far, the imagery is great. Gemini is local travel by train and car, Jupiter represents the law. Here the combination of Jupiter being in the sign of its detriment brings something negative such as being ignorant about a traffic law, but we had some luck because after all Jupiter is a lucky planet and exactly on the day of its Gemini ingress shined some luck our way, especially for Bill who has natal Jupiter in Libra in an overcoming trine to his Sun/Mercury/Venus conjunction in Aquarius. This entire year Jupiter in Gemini will form a zodiacal grand trine in air for him so he will manifest some more luck even in challenging situations. The story does not end there because Jupiter is in detriment in Gemini and can easily flip and manifest the tricky two-faced energy of the planet sign combination, that being said………… Fast forward to Tuesday, May 28. We were driving back to Hudson to catch the train to NYC. Bill is driving, I am in the passenger seat and our friend George is in the back seat. As we approach Hudson there is a large police presence on the road leading into town. They are stopping vehicles for random inspection. We pulled up thinking they would let us pass. The officer looked at us, asked where we were going and then said to please pull over. He asked for the car registration and like a repeat of the previous traffic incident asked if we knew why we were pulled over, to which we again said no. Bill and I had our seatbelts on, while George, being in the back seat, had not buckled up. It is against the law to not be buckled up, even in the back seat. Something that none of us were aware of. This time our luck was not so good. This office was stern, did not care that George was 80 and presented him with a ticket that if he pleads guilty will cost anywhere between $150 - $200. The good luck promised by Jupiter did not strike twice which is a common scenario in Gemini. Things happen in pairs and if luck hits first, it will not the second time - as in this story - and conversely if bad luck strikes the first time, then it often reverses on try number two! The clue as to why George did not have that good luck that Bill had is predicated on the condition of Jupiter in the natal chart. George has Jupiter in Virgo (the other sign of its detriment), and it squares his natal Sun/Mercury in Gemini. It is already an excessive and sloppy Jupiter when it comes to the details and this transit of Jupiter into his birth sign will only exacerbate some of the carelessness of these planetary/sign combinations. It will also bring him some luck as well in the future, most likely in his Gemini 11th house matters. But you can see where his natal positions act like a double-edge sword with Jupiter being uncomfortable in both Gemini and Virgo. Jupiter in detriment is known for not dotting its “I’s” or crossing its “T’s.” There is a sloppiness with the details and the knowledge or information is unfocused. In the above two stories we were ignorant of the law. In one instance we experienced “dumb luck” and in the other, by not knowing the simple details and rudimentary facts of law, were made to suffer the consequences. If only George had his seatbelt on! If you would like to schedule a reading please message me.  On Wednesday, April 17 hundreds of protestors occupied the South Lawn calling for Columbia’s divestment from companies with ties to Israel. The encampment became known as “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction of April 20, 2024 at 21° 50’ Taurus set the stage for student protests at Columbia and across the nation. It’s an easy analogy: Jupiter represents universities and Uranus is the planet of rebellions and revolutions. This combination desires global humanitarianism, although everyone’s interpretation of what is right and just is different. Jupiter is very opinionated, and Uranus is very chaotic. The sign placement of Taurus is about questioning our values and how we use our resources.
These college protests place a strong focus on our education system and herald the imminent ingress of Jupiter into Gemini on May 25, 2024. The planet that has dominion over higher education (Jupiter) enters the sign of ABC education, conversations and sisterhood, Gemini. It will be a year where discussion throughout universities across the nation will be a major focus in the media. There will be strong opinions from students and faculty as they gain the opportunity to hold the microphone and voice their philosophies to a larger audience. It will be a year of learning how to juggle several points of view in a serious philosophical discussion. It’s important to stay adaptable, flexible, and open to new ideas with this placement. Jupiter provides hope to open the conversation intelligently and, above all, gain understanding. It’s essential to expand the dialogue with broader vocabulary, and have a more detached bird’s-eye view, while steering away from religiously zealous behavior and rigid opinions. We must learn to debate and listen to others’ points of view. Jupiter is in detriment in the sign of the twins. Jupiter in Gemini does not understand the concept of less is more. This is like asking someone for directions, and instead of giving concise steps, they deliver a diatribe with lots of extraneous detail that only makes those directions undecipherable. This is a combination that can make mountains out of molehills.There can be a tendency towards accumulating too much useless information. The world is already overloaded with information, and this only adds fuel to the fire. There’s a lack of focus with this planetary sign combination that can lead to sloppiness and making mistakes because one hasn’t double checked work. One must be careful not to slough off on the necessary details. At its best, this combination is about taking big/small steps and improving one’s skill set. I liken it to taking an abundance of small weekend trips that opens the mind to new roads and horizons. Take a risk to learn or teach something new! Jupiter in Gemini Square Saturn in Pisces: Big Little Lies! Shortly after Jupiter enters Gemini, he will square Saturn in Pisces twice during the upcoming year: August 19 and December 24. By nature, a Saturn-Jupiter connection is great for checks and balances, although the signs involved make this a deceptive and smarmy type of square. It’s the continuation of not knowing who’s telling the truth and who’s lying, and what to believe in! Jupiter is a truth seeker, but in Gemini there is way too much information to sift through. The facts get scattered. Saturn cares about reality, and Pisces could care less about practicality or logical truth. Pisces is more concerned with heartfelt beliefs based on feelings and not mental logic. The truth of Pisces is hidden and coded and needs to be deciphered. Highly elevated Piscean energy is about discovering universal truths through the creation of art, music, poetry, photography, and fiction. Pisces sees the truth in the illusion. Negative Pisces energy willfully creates a hazy cloud of illusion and obfuscation around the truth and can have you believe in false prophets. The frustration of this square is best used through working with and bending the imagination through creative metaphor. Jupiter and Saturn must play a game of seesaw to keep each other in check so that neither goes overboard. Those whose work or hobbies involve the stretching of truth and imagination will benefit greatly from this square. It will become increasingly necessary to solve mental health issues. We may find that disciplines such as meditation and yoga become ways to calm down the overactive and paranoid mind. This will be an interesting and ongoing conundrum with using Artificial Intelligence (AI). We are now getting information (Gemini) via invisible voices in the dark (Pisces). This is only the beginning of this new technology and coming face-to-face with this challenging square at the beginning of the process will enlighten us on both the negative and positive manifestations of AI’s potential. Saturn likes limits and regulation while Jupiter prefers growth, expansion, and freedom of choice. The law is mutable and new ones must be introduced into society to regulate the rapid changes to our infrastructure. There are new ways to expand our education system and new systems being put in place for learning in the 21st century, as the technology boom will continue to revolutionize learning and teaching. Via rulership there is a guest/host relationship between Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn in Pisces is ruled by Jupiter in Gemini. Jupiter receives Saturn in his sign, therefore Jupiter is obligated to treat Saturn as a guest in his home. Jupiter’s home in Gemini is rather sloppy and disorganized. There’s thievery in the house somewhere with these two interacting in such a frustrating way. Our national election occurs during this square, and we won’t know who or what to believe as the campaigns really begin to rev up. Which politician is lying, and which is telling the truth? They lie when it suits their storyline, and conversely tell the truth when it benefits them. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Chris Brennan states in his book Hellenistic Astrology on page 491: “….reception is usually defined as an applying aspect that will perfect or become exact between two planets, in which one of the planets has some form of zodiacal rulership over the other.” This helps mitigate the frustration of the square because the planet that receives the other in its sign (in this case Jupiter receives Saturn in one of its home signs) is obligated to take care of its guest so they work in more compatible ways, rather than if the planets were not configured to its domicile lord or in aversion. In this example Jupiter is obligated to take care of Saturn, especially because they are also in aspect by square. This may mean that Jupiter’s quest for truth and facts in Gemini will force Saturn in Pisces to stay honest and not block or obfuscate. Saturn will limit Jupiter’s tendency towards exaggeration. We live in a vast information age and this aspect is asking us to sort it all out and find our own truth. There is factual truth such as two plus two equals four, and there are more subtle and mutable truths that are not so clearly defined. Jupiter in Gemini must sift through massive amounts of facts and figures to gain an understanding based on all those imprints. Will you know the difference between talking to a real person vs. an AI? All those sci-fi movies from the past such as Westworld, Sleeper, Logan’s Run, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and countless others don’t seem all that unreal anymore. It’s scary! Another important astrological insight is to look at the past Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at 0.29 Aquarius that occurred on December 21, 2020. We are at the opening square from that conjunction which symbolizes a crisis of consciousness. In addition, transiting Pluto is crossing that degree several times as it moves between Capricorn and Aquarius. This is the continuing slow death of the past and the painful birth of the future. Pluto makes this sign ingress in four incremental stages: between March 23 and June 11, 2023, between January 21 and February 23, 2024, between July 18 and September 2, 2024, and fully enters Aquarius on November 19, 2024 where it remains for twenty years. Society is evolving in monumental ways and the opening square will force new laws into existence to deal with the major paradigm shifts the world is now experiencing. Joseph Addeo is a Level IV NCGR-PAA Certified Astrologer and serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Chapter. He can be reached via his website at www.josephaddeo.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/josephaddeoastrologer.  Saturday, April 27. Mars and Neptune conjunct this weekend and that’s big news. The actual time is early Monday morning at 12:31 am ET and late Sunday night at 9:31 pm PT. Its effects are more keenly felt all weekend but will linger throughout next week.
Take action to carry out your fantasies! Whatever’s in the imagination has emotional energy to be projected outside yourself into material form. Push creative ideas. This can be an aspect to get you out of the doldrums or exacerbates them depending on your mood. If you remain sluggish and tired, then you’ll have to wait till Mars enters Aries on May 1. There can be a new idea, philosophy, or way of looking at life. Perhaps to act upon a feeling of being more compassionate and healing towards yourself and others. There may be an unselfish desire to do more charitable work and take a demonstrative step to reach out and touch someone. Start a new spiritual journey. This is a great aspect under which to explore wild sexual fantasies and heightened realities. The mythological image of Euripides’ play “The Bacchae” comes to mind. A story in which Pentheus is torn to pieces by the women of Thebes after they are induced into a bacchanalian state of lust, passion, revelry and ultimately violence by none other than the God Dionysus (Bacchus) himself. I don’t urge going that far, but it would not be uncalled for to imbibe a little or partake of mind-altering substances. People that are dealing with addiction challenges may find this a difficult time. If that’s the case it would be wise to channel this energy towards a spiritual pursuit or renew a healing regiment or attend a counseling program. There could be irrational bursts of anger surfacing similar to a rageful hurricane on the open sea that decides to make landfall. Remember that scene in THE GODFATHER when Sonny receives a delivery of a bullet proof vest containing two fish? It’s a Sicilian-mob symbol sending a clear message albeit in poetic form that, “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes!” meaning he’s murdered and lying at the bottom of the river! Again, don’t go that far, but be aware. You can believe in magic with this aspect. Show people the type of magic you possess in a particular area of life whether it be through work, friendship, family or on the stage. Fantasy life in action! Experience a version of Shangri-La or OZ. Many of you are still percolating ideas, probing images as Mars plows through this mutable and last sign of the zodiac. Therefore, you may wait till May 1 to act with full force. Saturn is co-present in Pisces with Mars and Neptune, all three currently ruled by Jupiter in Taurus. That would be something like Saturn tempering the gluttonous pleasures in which Jupiter in Taurus would like to indulge. Saturn will either constructively limit them, whereby you’ll enjoy pleasures without going overboard, or negatively make you pay the price in the days afterwards for overindulging way too much. This combination is like good cop, bad cop. Enjoy the weekend and at the very least take a yoga class, go to church, the cinema, visit a museum and attend a musical concert. Go for a swim and take a deep dive!  Jupiter conjunct Uranus. The Jupiter/Uranus conjunction perfects on Saturday, April 20 at 21.49 Taurus. This conjunction occurs approximately every 14 years. This is the standout aspect of 2024. When these two independent loving planets meet up make way for the birth of exciting growth, expansion, and enlightenment. This is a combustible combination for unique and original breakthroughs. It highlights innovation and invention and electrical magnetism.
Like all major conjunctions it serves a collective and personal purpose. On the collective level we will continue to see a rapid acceleration of progressive new inventions and discoveries using cutting-edge technologies in a wide arena ostensibly to help us navigate the material world more efficiently. It will be challenging to keep up with groundbreaking discoveries in a wide variety of industries; finance, environmental, food, agriculture, banking and money. Changes will be tangibly felt, experienced - but rather difficult to stay synchronized with the ever-faster pace and revolving door of change. Just when you thought you learned something new it will change yet again. This will be a tough energy for those that don’t learn or adapt quickly, which is many of us, therefore society will have to rev up its infrastructure systems to make sure the population can adapt without short-circuiting. There will be a conscious effort for society to make better use of material, financial and environmental resources. How will we experience mother nature in the future? How do make more efficient use of oil, the ocean, the animals, the food supply and all those earthly pleasures that enhance physical life. It’s an explosion of new productivity that is hopefully cleaner and more sustainable. It also has a chaotic unpredictability about it. Revolution, revolts, and rebellion will be happening at every turn. The combination of freedom and independence combined with the stubborn nature of Taurus reminds me of the French Revolution when everyone was beheaded once the so called “democracy” came into power because if you didn’t align with the “right” way of thinking and the new regime, then you were excised, ostracized, and guillotined from the group. Beware of religious organizations and zealots dictating who the right and wrong God is according to their self-righteous way of thinking. This planet/sign combination can literally signify great tectonic shifts of the Earth’s fault systems so don’t be surprised if we witness more noticeable earthquakes in the coming year. Let’s see what the future holds for Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. How will we invest our money in this world of heightened technology? On a personal level it is important to shake-up the area of life as represented by the Taurus house in which this conjunction takes place in your natal chart. Support, as best you can, innovative ways to shake things up. Try something new, take a risk and get out of your comfort zone. Expect the unexpected and be open to the unusual and quirky. Out of the blue events and opportunities will arise in serendipitous ways but you must be in tune with the electrical waves and pick them up on your antennae. This is a roller-coaster ride that brings in more excitement. Jupiter and Uranus will give you confidence to break free from restrictive situations that have been holding you back. Divorce yourself from ossified and outmoded habits, people, places, and things that have kept you straitjacketed. Even though the exact conjunction is on April 20 the influence of this aspect will be felt for quite some time. The energy of this aspect has been around on a low simmer all year but now it’s peaking in intensity through the end of May. Whatever new beginnings occur between March and June will be felt for years to come. This is the period for planting seeds. The growth cycle of those seeds spreads out over the next 12-14 years until the next conjunction. Here are the future dates when you will see the effects of today’s conjunction peak and grow: Opening square on 9/10/27 at 9.56 degrees of the signs Gemini/Virgo. This will be a crisis of consciousness to take the project begun at the conjunction to the next level. A time to ask yourself what is working and what is not working and what changes do I have to make to forge more growth? The seeds planted on the conjunction have sprouted and need nourishment and fertilizer to capitalize on gains, make necessary changes and foster further productivity. Opposition on 1/20/31 at 19.23 degrees of Gemini/Sagittarius (there will be three exact hits of this aspect throughout the year). This is a culmination and full moon type of visibility of how the new beginning from 2024 is now projected and received in the world. It’s a make it or break it time. Do I stay the course or change direction? How the seeds planted have manifested in the outside world. It’s a very relational aspect. Closing square on 5/7/34 at 3.26 degrees of Cancer/Aries (there will be three exact hits of this aspect throughout the year). This is a shit or get off the pot aspect. It is the payoff of what was started at the conjunction. The final product in its full usefulness and any last-minute changes to reap as many rewards as possible in the growth process. The next conjunction will then happen on September 8, 2037, at 23.02 Cancer when the process starts all over again. It is very important this entire weekend to set your intentions. Do a personal meditation of some kind to make a commitment to the possibilities of this energy. Like an eclipse, some of you may already know what this planetary combination represents for you, but others may be in the dark, anxious as they know something is percolating but may not have conscious awareness of what it may be. Where can you breakout, expand, grow, and experience new ideas and try new ways of doing things? It’s about enlightenment and understanding the options of what your future can be! We only grow by taking risks. Don’t be afraid if the risk doesn’t pan out right away because Jupiter will always say try again until it does! Please contact me for a reading to help navigate these changing times.  Today is the Lunar Eclipse at 15° Scorpio. The full moon in Scorpio happens once a year. It’s always a more emotionally sensitive lunation than others because it brings to light things most of us would generally like to keep hidden, whether consciously or unconsciously. A Lunar Eclipse intensifies this in more fated ways summoning up from the underworld even more evolutionary and transitional types of life cycles.
This lunation has to be read, like all astrology, in combination with other planetary action. The potent station of Pluto, dark lord of the underworld, is making his presence known by setting an even more seething and powerful tone as it sits practically motionless at 0°21’ Aquarius. This Scorpio eclipse is ruled by the planet Mars in Cancer, not a sign the warrior god favors, so it already thrusts feelings into a rather crabby and cantankerous modality. These powerful water signs stir up deep feelings from the past and unconscious desires, wants and needs that may have lain dormant for quite a while as they suddenly rear their ugly side once again. Stuff from the past is being excavated. Whether or not you have control over the issues at hand is personal to each individual. Yet, we all must be alert to old habit patterns manifesting right now and learn to deal with them in healthy ways. Scorpio things such as secrets, jealousies, lies, betrayal, murderous feelings can be revealed. Conversely the deep buried treasure of passion, love, trust and intimacy can also be strengthened and exalted. Even though both the Moon and Mars are in the signs of their fall which make them harder to work with they are mitigated by being in mutual reception. That is a hidden blessing. That provides a wonderful opportunity to psychologically deal with eclipse issues in a much more mature way. You can gain awareness, understanding, empathy and deep connection with any difficult challenges and complexes. The answers will be there for you if you do some detective work and are willing to probe more deeply into what motivates the heart. Even in difficult situations that may be out of your control like death, health or acts of nature you’ll be able to find help, guidance and resolution. Be kind to yourself and others if there are painful setbacks and you’re stuck in the mire and muck. There might be past aspects of our behavior, and that of others, erupting that we find repulsive and unacceptable. The kind of murky stuff that re-emerges just when you thought it was dead and vanquished. It’s good to look in the mirror. The Taurus/Scorpio polarity has much to do with one’s relationship with money. Patterns around wealth and the lack thereof can come to light. It might be time to reinvent the financial wheel. Also be aware of sexual and emotional patterns and how you negotiate what goes on behind closed doors with all intimate relationships. There may be a storm brewing but there is a light shining through. Allow Uranus to provide enlightenment on seeking new ways to achieve material and emotional security and retrograde Mercury to do some deep mental introspection around what you value.  I have an interesting Eclipse/Mercury retrograde story. I noticed on Thursday, April 20th, the day of the Solar Eclipse at 29°50’ Aries that the battery on my laptop wasn't charging properly. It was at 50% and I didn't think much of it. I plugged it in to another outlet, but nothing seemed to change. I still did not worry because I felt if the battery wasn't recharging it wouldn't be that big a deal since I use my laptop exclusively on power source and rarely take it off. I thought of opening the computer and reinstalling the battery but after looking at some YouTube instructions it felt too much like rocket science. This isn’t one of the older batteries that you slip in and out from the rear. You must take off the bottom panel of the computer by unscrewing 10 screws and then locate the battery, lift it out and make sure it’s aligned properly. That’s just too much for me to handle before falling into the depths of depression. I slowly saw the power diminish even further over the next few days.
Ignoring my own astrological advice, I just let it ride thinking I could just use the laptop on power source because it was operating fine. When I mentioned this in a Facebook post all computer geeks advised it was urgent that I had the battery replaced for any number of reasons that could destroy the integrity of the computer not the least of which the battery could possibly explode. A friend suggested contacting a place in Manhattan called IFIX-NY. I bought it in on Tuesday, April 25, now several days into the Mercury retrograde. Oh, I forgot to mention that the eclipse at 29°50’ Aries is within a 2° conjunction to my natal Mercury so there’s a double whammy regarding the chances of this Mercury retrograde being more potent. When I bought it up to IFIX they were very helpful but of course they didn’t have the battery in stock and it had to be ordered. I couldn’t leave my computer because I needed it for work so I ordered the part, left a deposit, went home to wait for the piece to be shipped. The battery arrived on Monday, May 1st the day of Pluto stationing retrograde and a Mercury Cazimi. I headed up to IFIX around 4:00 pm and within the hour they replaced the battery, and my computer was once again made whole. The astrology lesson here is enlightening so let me outline it very clearly.
I love Astrology!  Sunday, April 23. Let’s talk a little about Mercury and Jupiter. Mercury turned retrograde at 15° 36’ Taurus on Friday, April 21 just one day after the Solar Eclipse at 29° 50’ of Aries. Remember how I said this season has a double edged sword around endings and beginnings? Solar Eclipses are about planting seeds for new beginnings and the sign of Aries is the first sign of the zodiac indicating speed, birth and initiation. Yet, the degree of the eclipse is 29° 50 Aries indicates something coming to an end and now Mercury retrograde added to the picture doubles down on the review process of what is being ended from the past before moving forward and making that new beginning. In essence it’s all happening at once. It’s like selling an old house while buying a new one or the death of an elderly relative at the same time a baby is born into the family. These are the evolution cycles of life and time.
Mercury is quicksilver and light on its feet while the sign of Taurus is slow and languid. Mercury retrograde in Taurus is slow down your thinking. Everyone’s motto right now should be: Think before you speak. Absorb the information and digest it before you express a reply or give an answer. Choose words that carry more weight and value and have a bigger bang for the buck. It’s important to consider appropriate language and pick fewer words that carry more substance. A diatribe is not needed with this placement like Mercury in Sagittarius. Rethink old habit patterns, routines and the daily structure of life. Let the review process aid in making changes during the next three weeks to break out of a rut. Walk more slowly and observantly through the local neighborhood and environment and appreciate your surroundings more carefully. Ponder nature walks through the mountains, forests, trees, beaches or anywhere that Mother Nature is in full bloom. Breathe in the scent and beauty of the Earth and feel it rush through the lungs, body and all the senses. Let your thoughts be inspired by the physical word as the brain becomes an electrical transmitter of thought stimulating and illuminating all the physical senses. There’s a reason why Taurus is the most sensual sign of the zodiac. It experiences life physically and activates all the chakras. Taurus is visceral, raw and primal. Leave yourself space for rumination and contemplation. Hone the ability to deeply listen because you’re slowing down the thought process and lingering more carefully over the information. Think about how you feel in the body so that instinct mingles with logic. Think about the things that bring you peace and add beauty to your life. The beauty of words, language and grammar. How does the sound of your voice make others feel through the tone and words you choose? Rediscover how to improve an existing talent and gift that adds worth, value, self-esteem into your soul and money into your pocket. Mercury retrograde in Taurus is a good time to rethink old bad habits such as diet, weight, overindulgence and overspending. Reflect and review those poor habits and revitalize a physical regiment. Rethink your financial plans for the future (more on that below). There will probably be more tax extensions and larger payouts to the government. Mercury retrograde in Taurus is very interesting and has longer ramifications this time around because it happens just before the Jupiter ingress into Taurus. Mercury retrogrades on April 21 at 15.36 Taurus and turns direct on May 15 at 5.54 Taurus. The following day on May 16 Jupiter enters Taurus where it will remain until June of 2024. That’s very interesting. Mercury is setting us up for Jupiter. Both are communication planets. Mercury likes to collect facts and information while Jupiter likes to synthesize, broaden and disseminate those facts and information through opinions, philosophies and spouting its beliefs. Mercury is lower education and Jupiter is higher education. It’s as if Mercury is giving us a preparatory step to relearn some ABCs before Jupiter comes in to allow us to see the bigger picture. As I said, Mercury retrograde will cover between 5-16 degrees of Taurus. That’s a very important three weeks that will have ramifications throughout the rest of the year. Pay attention to what issues come to light around this very important time because Jupiter immediately will cross those same degrees as a review and growth process from May 16 through September 4th on its direct motion. Jupiter will then retrograde over those exact degrees a second time from September 4 through December 30 and a third time on its direct motion from December 31 through March 26 2024. That’s almost a year long period where the degrees between 5-16 degrees of Taurus being activated now by Mercury, are reactivated by Jupiter over and over. Jupiter will synthesize and adapt all the information that Mercury collects from the past and present as the King of the Gods goes over the same ground. Jupiter will till the soil and gather the seeds that were planted by Mercury. I recently had a client asking me about investment plans and told him Mercury retrograde was a good time to rethink financial plan for the future and when Jupiter enters Taurus make those new investments. Mercury retrograde is an ideal time to rethink, investigate and re-plan a financial course for the future. Those three weeks from April 21 through May 15 are optimum to study financial trends and review strategies and then when Jupiter enters Taurus on May 16 will be the time to carry out the new strategy and make the financial investments based upon the research done on Mercury retrograde. Mercury likes to collect facts and information and Jupiter likes to disseminate and spread it around so that it grows. This March, April, May and June is a precursor of greater things to come. Watch carefully what is percolating in the world and your own personal life because it will intensify during for first quarter of 2024. It’s of great importance to pay attention to what is happening now:
All these astrological phenomena have set up an appetizer course of major events. The main entrée will be served during the first three months of 2024 when everything that is popping up now will intensify.  Wednesday, April 19. Today is the years first Solar Eclipse at 29° 50’ Aries that takes place at 9:13 pm PT, 12:13 am ET (on the 20th). It’s a Hybrid eclipse which is unusual but it’s interesting because it’s the 2nd New Moon in Aries and that’s not a frequent occurrence. There was a new moon at 0° 50’ Aries on March 21.
A Solar Eclipse is about planting seeds for new beginnings. This one is rather unusual in that it is at the Anaretic degree of 29.50 Aries. The very, very, last degree and minutes of the sign. When planets or eclipses travel at an anaretic degree it usually represents an ending and a finishing up. That feels rather contradictory since by definition a Solar Eclipse is about new beginnings and Aries is the first sign of the zodiac which only emphasizes births, launchings and beginnings. The language I would use in this case is that it is a time of endings in order to make new beginnings. At this time of life something is being wrapped up in order make way for new horizons. A slate is being wiped clean. It also has a more urgent and extreme nature in the last degree because it’s on the precipice of being in the next sign, so the Aries nature is more extreme and loud in its announcement of the end of something and the start of something else. For many they are linked, so for example, it can be the end of the way a job has existed for many years and the new beginning is a fresh start in the old job moving forward. Or maybe it literally is the ending of one job as another begins. For others the subjects may be different. This is also the first eclipse we will have in the Aries/Libra polarity for the next 19 months so it’s hitting the relationship signs. We often think of relationships with people and that is usually first and foremost with Aries/Libra, but do not forget about a relationship with ideas, places, things and situations. The house position of the eclipse gives meaning to “where” the eclipse is happening, planets supply information on “what” is being changed and the signs represent the “style” of change. The Aries new moon at 0.50 on March 21 was Astrology’s way of announcing a new beginning with the energy associated with the planet Mars. The warrior God had been traveling in Gemini for the past 8 months having been retrograde a good 2 ½ months during that time. He ended his travels in Gemini on March 15. The vernal equinox in conjunction with the new moon announced the rebirth of Mars. It’s time for Mars to assert itself once again after 8 months of rehabilitation during its retrograde period. The retrograde in Gemini was like a car going into a body shop for a complete overhaul and upgrade. That 0° new moon in particular was Mars’ way of saying I’m back and ready for action. Bigger, bolder, braver and stronger than ever. The major aspect in this eclipse is the tight square to Pluto. That planet is traveling over the 0 degree point of Aquarius and back into late Capricorn over the course of the next two years so this eclipse is very representative of a gateway into destruction of the old to make way for the new. Things that are rotting and decaying in society and your personal lives are coming up for continued review, to purge, transform and let go in order to make way for a new beginning. If you read me on a regular basis you’re aware that I’ve been talking about this Plutonian energy for a long time. Pluto triggering the eclipse degree and traveling back and forth between Aquarius/Capricorn has the energy of a new world order. The Aries vision of the eclipse is ending and destroying things which have reached their expiration date to make way for evolutionary progress as represented by Pluto in Aquarius. That kind of energy is painful, uprooting, and rather volcanic in nature. It’s like a plumber sucking out the sludge from the toilet because things have gotten way too clogged over years and years of mire, muck and build-up. We see major upheavals in the political sphere, with wars, with forms of government including democracy, socialism, communism, fascism and autocracies. Polarities become even more polarized as the old guard represented by Capricorn digs its heels in even stronger to hold on to traditions that the new guard wants to change. The new guard will equally dig in their heels for what they believe is progress for the future. We will see how the infrastructure of society is changed via technology, economy, ecology, government, social values and social security. Is it a period of enlightenment or a blood bath? Revolutions leading to evolution are always a combination of the two. Pluto in Capricorn has been uncovering the flaws in old, stalwart, standard institutions and destroying the ossified. Aquarius will try to democratize everything for better and worse. The new and radical can be scary because in some cases there is the fear that the abuse of technology at its most extreme is akin to Dr. Frankenstein playing God with creating life in his own image. Artificial Intelligence technology comes to mind here. One can see the positive side but also imagine the tremendously creepy monster-like energy that can be created if abused. Here we have the forces of nature as represented by Capricorn coming in conflict with the alien and new in terms of artificial intelligence and new technology as represented by Aquarius. Pluto is the struggle between how much do we accept of the new before it corrupts us with misuse. Aquarius is the sign of infrastructure and we are destroying the old systems because we need a new power grid that rewires our electrical infrastructure. Are you doing everything you can to get ready for the new electrical currency or will it short-circuit your body and mind. Sometimes major events happen around the day of the eclipse, sometimes they don’t. Often seeds are planted that are triggered and opened up at a later date. In some cases the eclipse is foreshadowed by a month if a planet triggers the degree before. Here are planetary triggers to be aware of: Pluto at 29° 50’ Capricorn – 3/15/2023 Jupiter at 29°50’ Aries – 5/15/2023 Mars at 29° 50 Cancer – 5/20/2023 Pluto again at 29° 50’ Capricorn – 6/21/23 North Node of the Moon at 29° 50 Aries – 7/15-19/2023 Sun at 29° 50 Cancer – 7/23/2023
Don’t forget that Mercury turns retrograde at 15° 36’ Taurus the day after the eclipse on April 21 so that colors a lot of what is being reviewed during eclipse season. More on Mercury retrograde in Taurus, Jupiter entering Taurus on May 16 and Taurus season in general in another posting to come soon! |