“We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born. Astrology does not lay claim to anything more.” ~ Carl Jung
 

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THURSDAY THIS WEEK – MERCURY RETROGRADE BEGINS

4 Simple Steps To Make the Most of Mercury Retrograde

Here we go again!

Mercury turns retrograde from our perspective (16° ARIES) on March 22^nd at 8:19 PM EDT.

Everywhere you turn someone is asking (with trepidation and a touch of fear in their eyes) is Mercury turning retrograde AGAIN??
There is so much unnecessary fear and misinformation around Mercury’s retrograde cycles.
LET’S KEEP THIS SIMPLE
 

#1. Don’t be afraid, worried, or concerned. Don’t listen to those who are

I know that is easier said than done, but please forget all the terrible things you have ever heard about Mercury retrograde!
There are no astrological conditions that we need to block ourselves from in fear!  We simply need to learn how to make the best use of the planetary cycles as we encounter them!
I honestly LOVE Mercury’s retrograde cycle! During these times, I can finally catch up on all the things that have been left undone since Mercury turned direct after the last retrograde cycle (December 22, 2017).
After years of watching and working with Mercury’s retrograde cycles, I have come to love these brief periods scattered throughout the year. I feel that they are a gift. We simply must know how to use them!

#2.  Get a notebook and a pen – Make a list of everything that you have begun but NOT completed since December 22, 2017

Start with a clean sheet of paper, quiet your mind, and think back over these past few months. On December 22^nd, Mercury turned direct at 13° Sagittarius. Since then, he has zipped along through Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, and into Aries where he is now turning retrograde at 16°.
Think about what you have been doing since late December. Look through your calendar, your notebooks, your bills, wherever you will find reminders of everything that you have been thinking about and working on since then. Now, carefully make a list of all the things that you have begun but not completed. Dig deep; there are probably more things than you are aware of.
What about that appointment you have been meaning to make? How about the project that you finally tucked into a drawer because you couldn’t find the time to complete it? I am certain that we all have communications that have fallen through the cracks!

#3. Get to work! Accomplish what is on this list! Only what is on this list!

Once you have this list, it is easy to follow the perfect plan for the next three+ weeks. Mercury turns direct once again on April 15^th, 2018. Get to work, accomplish the things on this list. Nothing more, nothing less.
This is the whole trick of dealing with Mercury retrograde. Stick with this list!
Our lives are so busy; we zip from one project to another, from one communication to another. We never seem to have the time to slow down and carefully complete the tasks that we have begun.

Mercury retrograde brings us the gift of time to wrap up all those loose ends!

#4. Don’t be tempted to start new projects, begin new commitments, new relationships, or new jobs!

This is the time for clean up only. Don’t move forward until Mercury turns direct on April 15^th!
If you follow these simple steps, you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish during this 3 week period!
Good luck and get to work! Do remember that these are guidelines; not rules. There are things that can not be put off. Please be practical and do what must be done.
 
Onto the Dailies:
 
HIGH ENERGY – POTENTIAL AGGRAVATION
Monday, March 19, 2018:
Monday may feel like a fiery day of high energy and potential aggravation as the forceful Aries Moon begins to grow into her waxing crescent phase while making contact with defiant Uranus and power-hungry Pluto.
It is time to explore possibilities and new ways of experiencing your world. Watch yourself for any tendency to push your weight or privilege around as you may want your own way in some situation where you don’t expect the issue of diplomacy to deliver what you want. On Monday you likely want what you want without regard to others. Keep selfishness in check, don’t beat yourself up for it, but try to look beyond your own needs and get curious about how everyone involved may get their needs met.
When the Moon enters stable, slow-moving Taurus at 9:07 PM EDT, you may expect things to calm down for an early night’s sleep, however, shortly after midnight, Mercury and Venus join together at 16° Aries. Your words of love and connection may not be gentle but they will be direct and leave no one wondering what it is you want.
The Aries Moon is VOC* (think of it as being adrift, without focus or connection) from 3:29 PM EDT until she enters Taurus at 9:07 PM EDT. Remember, when the Moon is VOC*, there will be no result from anything that is begun. This is neutral; it is not good or bad, it simply suggests that whatever occurs will not have any significant future impact.
 
MARCH EQUINOX – SUN ENTERS DYNAMIC ARIES
Tuesday, March 20, 2018:
The Moon is steady and solid as she moves through reliable, consistent Taurus but the Sun’s entrance into Aries takes the cake and leaves us little thought for Taurus’s soft, earthy reverence.
At 12:15 PM EDT, we reach the March equinox. This is the vernal (Spring) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal (Fall) equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
The March equinox is the moment of the new astrological year, the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, the imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator, entering the first sign of the Zodiac, dynamic impulsive Aries. It may be a tiny bit less than exact, but conventional wisdom tells us that on the equinox we experience a day and night of equal lengths – 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night time. The name equinox is derived from the Latin words aequus, meaning equal, and nox, meaning night.
At the moment of the Equinox, the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun. This ushers us into the energies of Aries. Aries is a cardinal fire sign.
Think of the birth of Fire. As the Sun increasing in light and entices us to blast forward into new life with determination, courage, and physical, independent energy. Aries is a cardinal fire sign. Think of the birth of Fire.
 

FLOWERS AND BEAUTY
Wednesday, March 21, 2018:
Wednesday will be the first full day with the sun in dynamic, highly energetic Aries. Can you feel springtime in the air? During the month that the Sun is in Aries, Springtime itself is not dependable, we (in the NorthSpringtimeere) may still have days that feel more like late Winter than Spring.
On Wednesday, the Moon is in steadfast Taurus all day, allowing your heart to embrace the expansive excitement and deep pleasure of Spring. Taurus is a fixed, Earth sign that represents the period of time in the year when Spring becomes stable (the Sun will enter Taurus on April 19^th). Taurus represents earth based beauty, reverence, and reliability. We know that warmth, sunshine and new growth are right around the corner. We must practice patience and bring beauty into our lives, encouraging the increase of more warmth, more sun, and more growth.
Bringing fresh flowers into your home, open the windows and let fresh air in; even if it is cold. Think about spring cleaning, you won’t want to work on that today, but plan for it.
Also, remember that on Thursday, Mercury stations retrograde. Begin preparing. Start a list of all that has been left undone over the past few months. I will post a reminder of how to manage Mercury retrograde in Thursday’s post.
The Taurus Moon is VOC* (think of it as being adrift, without focus or connection) from 1:21 PM EDT until she enters Gemini at 1:30 AM EDT on Thursday morning. Remember, when the Moon is VOC*, there will be no result from anything that is begun. This is neutral; it is not good or bad, it simply suggests that whatever occurs will not have any significant future impact.
 
 
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MAKE SURE THE PLAN IS IN PLACE – MERCURY RETROGRADE
Thursday, March 22, 2018:
By the time you wake up on Thursday morning, the Moon has entered inquisitive, restless Gemini. While the Moon moves through Gemini, folks tend to be more talkative, light-hearted, curious, and also more alert and aware of others. However, don’t be surprised if your communications somehow fall flat. Mercury, the planet that rules Gemini, is stationary, turning retrograde at 8:19 PM EDT. This may leave you feeling somehow stuck in your communications.
It may feel difficult to say what you want to say and leave you wondering if you were understood if you even manage to get the words out. It is best not to start new projects or communications. Consider carefully how to manage this Mercury Retrograde which continues until April 15^th. Remember, Mercury retrograde is a powerful time for accomplishment if you plan and prepare accordingly.
Be sure to re-read the “4 Simple Steps To Make the Most of Mercury Retrograde” at the top of this post.
The Taurus Moon is VOC* (think of it as being adrift, without focus or connection) from 1:21 PM EDT briefly until she enters Gemini at 1:30 AM EDT on Thursday morning. By the time you wake up, all will be in order.
 
RELEASE CONTROL 
Friday, March 23, 2018:
Friday brings a powerful transit that suggests the importance of deep change and possibly, profound turmoil to your love relationships. If you are in a less than stable, healthy partnership, this could bring a final break. If the relationship is healthy and you are well matched, you may find that some deep change needs to occur to move forward with full health intact. Dynamics of power and control must be managed carefully.
With Mercury retrograde as well, be acutely aware of communications between yourself and your loved ones. Don’t try to control those around you.
Allow yourself to loosen your grip, allow the future to be uncertain. Release your attachment to the outcome. The reality is that you can’t control others, you can’t control the future, and often, you often can’t even control yourself! Allow profound change to occur.
On January 9^th, Venus and Pluto began their annual cycle of bringing beauty to power. Did something begin at that time that now needs a powerful push to move forward? Question your path forward.
Be cautious of any attraction that feels intensely powerful and fated this week. This is also not a time to make new financial investments.
The Gemini Moon is VOC* for about 8 minutes before midnight on Friday night. She will enter Cancer before you awake on Saturday morning (4:52 AM EDT). Remember, when the Moon is VOC*, there will be no result from anything that is begun. This is neutral; it is not good or bad, it simply suggests that whatever occurs will not have any significant future impact.

 
SOLITARY PHYSICAL EXERTION
Saturday, March 24, 2018:
Before you awake on Saturday morning, the Moon has entered sweet, sensitive Cancer. Generally speaking, the Cancer Moon encourages us to create emotional security within our chosen or biological families. This is not without complication this weekend. The Sun has only been in Aries for a few days and we are just adapting to this assertive, impulsive self-centered energy which is so at odds with the nurturing nature of Cancer.
At 11:35 AM EDT, the tender Cancer Moon forms a challenging square aspect to the fiercely independent Aries Sun. This is the First Quarter phase of the Moon. Think back to Saturday, March 17^th. Did you plant a seed for the Pisces New Moon? Consider what action you can best take now to push that agenda forward.
Along with difficult conversations the Moon has with Mars and Saturn, early afternoon brings a difficult square aspect from the Sun to Mars. You may feel irritable, impatient, and defensive. Find a way to move energy that is healthy. Solitary exercise or hard physical work can help. It is best to be on your own, the energies are simply too inclined to irritation, frustration or even resentment.
The Gemini Moon is VOC* in the wee hours of Saturday morning. She will enter Cancer before you awake (4:52 AM EDT). Remember, when the Moon is VOC*, there will be no result from anything that is begun. This is neutral; it is not good or bad, it simply suggests that whatever occurs will not have any significant future impact.
 
TENDERNESS ENDS THE WEEK
Sunday, March 25, 2018:
I’d like to tell you that Sunday will be better than Saturday for spending time with loved ones but I’m not sure about that. Test it out. Pay attention to your ability to stay connected without falling into old habits of power struggles or simple irritation.
If you notice yourself feeling frustrated and are unable to get a handle on it, pull back and keep yourself out of a defensive stance.
By evening, the aggravation should clear up allowing you to connect with love and affection before heading into another week.
Cook a nice meal or bring your loved ones out to a casual restaurant for dinner. Place kindness on the table as a main dish. The weekend has not been easy, end it on a note of sweet tenderness.
 
 
“Astrology has no more useful function than this, to discover the inmost nature of a man and to bring it out into his consciousness, that he may fulfill it according to the law of light.” ~ Aleister Crowley
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* In these weekly reports, I am exploring the major aspects formed by transits between the planets. I do not consider every aspect that the Moon makes each day as they can be numerous and are often fleeting moods. I will consider the final major aspect formed by the Moon prior to its VOC* time, as that aspect holds its influence throughout the VOC*.
* The aspects under consideration: conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines, and oppositions.
* The planets I work with: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.