The major news today is that Venus enters the sign of its dignity; Taurus at 2:22 pm ET. When a planet travels through the sign of its dignity it has a generally easier time attaining the wants and needs of what the planet represents. Venus is about want, desire, pleasure, money and relationships and that means through May 9 it will be easier to evaluate what it is you want and like. That she is in Taurus will make this easier but the sign of the bull will also emphasize the more luxurious, sensual side of the planet along with matters of money and material security. You may find greater pleasure in being in the country and amidst mother nature. The senses come more alive as does the gift of experiencing pleasure. There's a good instinct for spending money on things that enhance physical security. Look for greater value when shopping. Indulging in the 7 deadly sins may be more prominent but because it's a dignified Venus you'll understand the body and how to indulge intensely yet appropriately.
​
Find pleasure in music, art and especially singing. Pay attention to the tone of the voice when speaking to influence others. The sound, tone and timbre of the voice can persuade others in subtle ways.

Glorify Mother Earth and whatever house contains the sign of Taurus. You may find the pleasure mantra being something like this: Cook, eat, have sex, sleep........repeat!

I'm back from my Palm Springs Vacation just in time for the Aries New Moon. This lunation is perfect for clearing your plate and making fresh starts and fresh beginnings. The Sun entered Aries back on March 20th but this is the first new moon of the astrological new year and it's all about a new vision. Covid has been around for over a year and it's time to adapt to our new paradigm and forge forward, aware of the changes that have been made and getting the fuel back in the car! Aries is a fiery and dynamic sign that must have projects with which to focus it's amazing amount of energy. Tomorrow the planet Mars, the ruler of Aries, will trigger the solar eclipse from 12/14/20 so you may have activity surrounding end of the year events that are now resolved or pushing forward in some way. Information is coming to light and there is a clearer path and direction.

On this lunation I have my first Board Meeting with Kepler College having been elected to that position last month. This is symbolic of my new beginning and new future. Take charge and demonstrate some dynamic leadership abilities in some area of your life. Aries doesn't dwell on the past. We've had plenty of time to learn, mourn and spend time with our feelings. Aries is the first step towards spiraling out of the past, processing feelings and moving forth into a rebirth of power, energy and life. Feel the fire coming back into your life and experience it with the zeal of a warrior. There's excitement in this sign as it creates something new. There's often a raw and bombastic side to Aries because it hasn't quite learned to tame it's wildness, yet it is an extremely honest sign in terms of saying things face to face even if those statements are blunt, insensitive and bold. You can fight back and debate with Aries energy because it is forging new paths and it doesn't mind making mistakes if it learns from them.
​
Take a leap into the future!

The Capricorn Moon aspects Uranus all day. This is an excellent dynamic for giving a new spin or twist on old structures. There's an opportunity for a break-out, break-through or enlightenment in some aspect of your life whether it be a thought pattern, friendship, relationship, situation or other area. The specificity depends on what houses in your chart today's energy highlights. This can also be about the reversal of a situation encouraging a move in an opposite direction. See things from a different perspective today.

The major news occurs late today at 11:41 pm ET when Mercury ingresses into Aries. This now gives us a stellium in this fiery, action-oriented sign. The first sign of Spring that heralds new beginnings. What Mercury adds to this energy is very important because he'll be in mutual reception with Mars through April 20th. That is an excellent mitigating factor for the planet Mars. It means that Mercury and Mars are in a friendly relationship and help each other. The tendency for Mars to bully with words is tempered and there's a powerful positive energy for words to be put into action in appropriate, productive and powerful ways. This would be true for all matters pertaining to communication, writing, education, thinking, lecturing and how you make the mental connection and communicate it outwardly towards others. This is a more ambitious time of year and this energy can be used to great advantage towards career and high productivity levels. When it comes to matters of debate and arguing you'll be able to back up your point of view with facts and push your agenda forcefully while keeping the urge to bully at bay.

It's a good time to branch out and give equal attention to dual projects. There's plenty more energy to go around where you'll be able to split your time without taking away from anything.

This is also a tremendously helpful aspect for opening up travel and seeing things moving in that direction once again after such a prolonged Covid lockdown. You will see the urge to get out and about. There will be more openings and a hustle bustle step coming back to your local neighborhood as well as a noticeable increase in train, plane and automobile traffic.

We've entered the Aries time of year which is the first day of the astrological new year. Aries is the first sign of spring and is associated with birth, new beginnings, high energy and has a dynamic visionary feeling to it. You may not be totally on board with this energy just yet as the Pisces new moon is still in effect. There's some residue of fog left over that's melding with the urge to generate new action. The Aries energy most likely won't come in at full speed until the full moon breaks us out of any remaining doldrums on March 28. Meanwhile you will start to feel some heat in your step especially since Venus has also entered Aries. This will promote more energy for socializing. Things are opening and there's more thrust to get together with others as restrictions continue to be lifted.

Today Mercury squares Mars. That's a tense aspect around communication. This can veer towards negative outbursts that are loud, crude and not well thought out. Mars and Mercury can go on a verbal attack so make sure when you're giving directions or directives you're not overly bombastic or caustic. Verbal abuse is a key phrase under this aspect. People will be moving and thinking too fast and that goes for transportation issues so take extra caution and pay attention especially if you're in a rush. This can be an accident prone aspect so don't speed!

There's an extremely positive side to this square in terms of creative writing in the areas of poetry, fiction or music. Mars can receive a lot of imaginative support from Mercury if you direct it in a focused and disciplined way. This can be used for creative storytelling, creative thinking and speaking - but on the other hand those that have a talent for lying, being a thief or trickster can use this aspect to their benefit. Be careful of being taken advantage by a "used car salesman" type of personality. It can be easy to stretch the truth and believe false facts.
​
Put on your listening ears and if things sound fishy they most likely are.

This recent Pisces new moon which is in effect through the full moon on the 28th is a dilly. Monitor all thoughts and feelings with a healthy dose of Saturn. This lunation has a tendency to inflate, sensitize and magnify current events, thoughts and feelings in your life. Make sure you're periodically listening to the stern but supportive side of Saturn in your other ear to tell you if you're going overboard in any way.

Heightened awareness is the name of the game so expressing artistic and creative talents can get a beautiful infusion of energy. It's all about allowing the imagination to help rather than hinder. Of course, it all depends on the aspects going on in your personal chart but just know that whether things are positive or negative it will all be balanced and recalibrated as we approach the Libra Full Moon on March 28.

Mars is triggering the lunar eclipse from November 30 so you may have memories being evoked from that time. Perhaps what came to light or fruition at the end of 2020 is brought back into consciousness in some way or something else happens that reminds you of that time period and what was going on.

Monitor intake of drugs and alcohol as the body's sensitivities will be heightened. If you're receiving your COVID vaccine you may feel the effects more acutely on your immune system. Nothing to worry about but everything is absorbed more intensely right now mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Moods will shift, ebb and flow like the waves on the shores of the coast. Try to go with the flow and steer your ship with more adaptability. It's okay to be a little lost knowing that you'll soon get right back on track.
Sensitive folks may be more sensitive and those that aren't normally that sensitive will either feel a shift or effect others by hurting feelings and not being aware of boundaries.
​
Key Phrase Awareness: Blowing things out of proportion.

The remainder of the week will be colored by the conjunction of the Sun to Neptune that carries over to the new moon in Pisces on March 13.
​
The challenging side of a Sun/Neptune conjunction is not seeing things clearly and being in a fog or lost in some way. To that end it's not a propitious time for signing a contract, doing anything very technical and left-brain oriented or for details, practical logic or sticking to a schedule. Instead it is a good time to take some time off to escape into the imagination. Take a walk by the water, sleep late, pay attention to dreams and allow your thoughts to free associate. You never know what kind of magical thinking can come into your being by just being open to free floating energies.

This energy can be very valuable in stimulating your daily routine if you bend it for the next few days and infuse it with something more imaginative. It just may be something you incorporate into the daily routine in more practical ways in the coming months, but the point of infusion occurs now because of something more imaginative and magical accessible in the air.

You may find yourself sleeping more, a little more listless, and even wanting to drink alcohol or partake in mind altering drugs. If you're the type who can monitor this type of activity then it can be a good thing to do, but if you're not then be aware of falling off the wagon.

You may have to deal with fog, haze and mist in literal and metaphorical ways. They will dissipate but while walking through that murky bog just experience the moment without making any definitive decisions.  A bubble may be burst that deflates a mood that has maybe been at an unrealistic high. For some this energy can lead to disappointment or disillusionment. Just wade through it and process the feelings for it will shapeshift. ​

The new moon coming up on the 13th will trigger the recent solar eclipse from 12/14/20 so be aware of issues around the eclipse progressing to new levels this weekend. This could be the moment when something is revealed or uncovered from the seeds planted in December.

Listen to music, expand the mind through yoga, meditation, paint, read poetry and do something that makes you connect to the a more spiritual side of life. Tap into more compassionate and selfless behavior. Care for others and help the sick and infirm. Don’t ask for anything in return, just give.

The Moon's conjunction with Mercury today in Aquarius presents a wonderful opportunity to connect with others. This is a good day for charitable work and networking. Social activities also get a boost so make a date with friends that you haven't seen in a while. Loosen up lockdowns rules and protocols to a point where you feel comfortable. The mood is toward freedom and opening up to the possibilities.
​
Enjoy the night. Live, laugh, lover, learn!

2020 was shaped by the evolutionary forces of the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn. 2021 will be dominated by Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus which perfects three times:  February 17, June 14 and December 24. Saturn is in charge of the material world and preserving our earthly existence. He’s a task master, making us conscious and accountable for the productive use of time. He pressures us, sometimes through fear and guilt, to build careers and reputations and, perhaps, leave a legacy behind showing an impact of our existence on planet Earth. The outer planets don’t really care about mundane earthly existence. They deal with psychological and transpersonal themes beyond our immediate personal awareness and therefore have a tendency to throw things off balance and spinning out of control. It is Saturn’s job and responsibility to ground and make sense of the simultaneously creative and destructive forces of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto in forms that we can practically utilize. Saturn must filter alien energy in a way that makes the unknown less fearful and more constructive. The outer planets can be experienced as a destructive transpersonal power or can transmute, transform and transcend by being woven into our earthly fabric in ways that enlighten and contain energy rather than short circuit it. 
​
2020 was the year of a pandemic that was a catalyst for revealing cracks in our society, system and century old structures and institutions. Pluto’s terrain encompasses death, disease, destruction and evolutionary power. Pluto may violently erupt and break through Saturn’s protective walls and boundaries and in the process cause much terror, but it is Saturn’s job to responsibly limit destructive power. Saturn must fix what is broken by doing the necessary work to rebuild and reestablish the balance of law and order. Lest we forget, Lord Saturn is exalted in Libra.   

The Saturn/Uranus square of 2021 is about reining in chaotic craziness so society can incorporate the new, innovative, progressive and technological into some sane form of earthly manageability. The square signifies that the new, progressive and innovative will meet up with blocks, frustrations, limitations and restrictions in how it is assimilated. We all know this will have a great deal to do with speed and effectiveness in rolling out the Covid vaccine, as well as its efficacy, and whether or not half the population refuses it. The configuration will also continue the political polarization in our country and throughout the world. All you need to do is watch the news to see these planetary configurations playing out in real time. 
I’d like to talk more about the psychological effect on us personally, and how we can use this aspect to prepare for inevitable change and make way for a “new order,” so that the energy has some place to be received within our body, mind, heart and spirit. 

The mythology of Saturn and Uranus is fairly violent, and the imagery gives us some glaring lessons and insights on how to deal with this challenging square. Uranus mated with Gaia (Earth) and produced the first race of Titans, of whom Saturn was the youngest. Unfortunately, Uranus viewed his progeny with horror because of their imperfections. They were ugly and made of flesh, so he banished them to the depths of the underworld where they could not offend his sight. Gaia naturally became enraged and planned revenge. She recruited the services of her youngest, Cronus (Saturn), and gave him a sharp scythe. While Uranus laid asleep, Cronus castrated his father and cast the bleeding genitals into the sea. The genitals floated to the surface producing a white foam out of which rose Aphrodite (Venus). Thus we get the phrase, “Out of chaos comes creativity.” It’s also a symbol of the procreative powers of the sky god Uranus. 

Saturn square Uranus says we have to prepare for the future now, in the present, so that we have a vessel to hold and contain the new procreative power that is coming out of the ensuing chaos. Revolutions are bloody. Uranus in Taurus suggests that Gaia is unleashing something from her bowels, and that can be pretty terrifying unless Saturn takes control and channels that unleashed wildness with a new infrastructure. 

Uranus is the first planet beyond Saturn, so it harkens and says there’s a light in outer space that provides further enlightenment and knowledge. He wants to break through the ceiling and walls of Saturn, and if he has to crash into that ceiling, he will, in order to capture attention. Saturn’s initial negative response to foreign forces is to block, but once the fear is faced a more positive and constructive Saturn realizes that he must assimilate. Saturn in Aquarius says, “I’m willing to allow that enlightenment, but you have to let it in according to the dictates of time. I will not permit you to crash into the psyche of mankind and short circuit my children.”  There are flashes of brilliance coming through the dark from beyond, and you have to make sure your wiring and hard drive is up to date and ready to receive the voltage, otherwise you can check out.

Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus can easily be fearful of the eruptive changes to material security forced upon us by technology, ideological shifts, climate change, and political upheavals, as well as the general disruptive nature to our material security. Yet, don’t forget that Saturn has dignity in Aquarius, so he’s at home doing the necessary work to incorporate the change through filtering all the new stuff through a new set of rules and regulations. If you do the Saturn homework, then the fear of the unknown subsides as you start saying to yourself, “Ah, I can work with the new; I can learn to integrate more diversity; and I don’t have to allow fear to banish me into a smaller and more narrowed group of like-minded people that only support a special interest community.” That way of thinking is like the stereotypical rich, white wasp that moves into a restricted community that doesn’t allow Blacks, Jews, different religions, ethnicities or anyone who doesn’t earn a certain amount of money to move in. 

As we get older, Saturn has a way of making us pay attention to our knees, bones, teeth and skin as they start to break down and cause more problems. On a daily basis we are constantly reminded by Saturn to pay attention to these parts of the body. Saturn in Aquarius says it’s time to pay attention to what we are doing in the present moment, for it will determine our future. When a wise person pays attention to a problematic knee, they will work with it, go to the doctor, do more exercise, listen to the pain and put in the effort to buttress and support it in some way. That’s what we have to do psychologically in the Aquarius part of our chart. If you ignore the pain and sweep it under the carpet or hide it away, it festers and only gets worse, and then like all Gaia’s banished children, the ignored comes forth in more grotesque terms. Yet, by working with it and doing what you can to meet the challenge, you may not alleviate all the pain but you are able to discover ways to work with it.  

Saturn rules the end of time. We can gain a lot of knowledge and understanding from watching our elders and how they prepare for death and leaving the physical realm. The physical body breaks down for all. It is a common theme we all share, but how we prepare for that on a mental, spiritual and soul level can make a monumental shift when dealing with pain and suffering. You see the difference in those that enter their golden years with a continued, albeit more restrained life force vs. those whose light is visibly extinguished and darkness takes over.  The Saturn/Uranus square begs the questions, “How will you deal with life now and prepare for the future?” Those that prepare for death both physically and psychologically are better equipped to deal with the unknown. Getting our personal infrastructure ready will prepare us for the future, just like the government has to work on the infrastructure of society towards putting money into public services. We have to take care of our own internal wiring to be prepared for the evolutions and revolutions within society. 

The generation born with Uranus in the first decanate of Aquarius (January 1996 through December 1998) will have to mature, step up to the plate and start taking responsibility for their vision of the future. This generation will be responsible for breaking past the old, ossified and outworn, and begin making their voices and actions heard to restructure laws, rules and regulations into something that holds more hope for the future. Saturn/Pluto said the old guard is dead, and Saturn/Uranus pushes past the old forms into a new paradigm based on the past.
​
Look at the positions of transiting Saturn and Uranus in the natal chart to see the areas of life where the two energies play out the back and forth game of building and rebuilding, structure and re-structure, old vs. new, young vs. old and any other combination you can think of. I subscribe to the ancient rulership scheme; therefore Saturn rules both Capricorn and Aquarius, so check out the houses ruled by both signs for further insight. Pay attention the entire year when this fixed square is triggered by lunations in the fixed signs, as well as Mercury, Venus and Mars transiting the fixed signs and the stations direct and retrograde of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Saturn has dignity and power for the next two years while being in Aquarius and in a superior square overcoming Uranus. In traditional astrology, this is a dignified position for Saturn, so while there will be struggle, there is also great hope for the Uranian energy to enter our consciousness. Finally, because Uranus is in a sign ruled by Venus, pay careful attention to shifts in the structure of your value system, including money, career, earning potential and relationships when Venus enters her shadow and turns retrograde in the sign of Capricorn beginning on November 17, 2021 and lasting through March 2, 2022. 
 

Mercury retrograde conjoins the Sun. This is a time of rebirth in the area of communication and all mercurial matters. Burn off the old and non-essential, and plant the seeds in preparation for the start of a new beginning. For some it can be the processing of death. It's a good time to get to the heart of a matter. Siblings are a major Mercury issue so you may be experiencing more contact with them.
​
For those involved in writing, education or teaching there can be great strides made at this point of the Mercury retrograde. Mercury will square Mars on the 10th so be aware of how you direct words towards others. This is an action-oriented aspect that can lead to miscommunication and anger. This is the second of three three squares. Look back to what was initiated on 1/8 because at this time the story will deepen and progress. The three squares are: 1/8, 2/10 and 3/23. That's a three month period of an unraveling story that develops, is put into action and needs resolution. This pass is definitely about being well in the heart of the matter. Because Mercury is in Aquarius and Mars is in Taurus it's important to get a detachment from material concerns and learn to see things in a new light. It's about money, values, society and community. Personal wants vs. communal needs.

With Mercury retrograde in Aquarius in my 4th Whole Sign house and 5th Equal Sign house I thought I would celebrate the family heritage and creativity. My Dad was a Capricorn and my Brother is an Aquarius so its time to honor the past contributions of my Dad and the present and future creativity of my Brother.

Addeo Bakers & Sons, Arthur Avenue, Bronx, NY - Little Italy. A family business whose legacy is worth celebrating. The bakery was established by my Grandparents Gennaro and Vincenzina who came over on that vast wave of southern Italian immigration in the 1920s. It was passed on to the loving and nurturing arms of my Father Larry and Uncle Sal in whose hands it flourished and grew. It is currently in the creative care and control of my brother Laurence Addeo and cousin Thomas Addeo who are keeping the family legacy alive, growing and thriving through a sustained commitment to quality. Bakers like my Grandparents, Father, Uncle, Brother and cousin are artists and artisans.

Bread is the staff of life and that is truer now more than ever during a pandemic when we all are forced to review the simple and essential values that are most important. I’m so proud of my brother, cousin and entire crew for supplying life and love to the Bronx Community every day. In these crazy and evolutionary times they are adapting and taking daily risks so that the community can continue to be safe, be alive and grow.

Family Businesses are the heart and soul of the community. They enhance our value and secure our future. Please support them.
​
"Addeo and Sons Bakery, Arthur Avenue, Bronx NYC" by artist Thor Wickstrom.