Author: Joan Porte

Today is a day to take those ten deep breaths if you are feeling pushed. With Neptune conjuncting Mars, you will have a difficult time finding the root cause for your anger. Both are in dreamy, confusing Pisces which always makes it difficult to figure yourself out.

What we have is a collison of hot and sometimes angry Mars clashing with cold and nebulous Neptune. The thunderstorm that can ensue is a firey eruption but why? Are you really angry at the situation in front of you or is Neptune making it hard to pinpoint your true emotions? More than likely, the answer is yes.

Before you react, think where are those feelings rooted, is it from some unresolved feeling that has nothing to do this situation? Then take those breaths and call on the postive energy of Pisces to allow you to see what is happening with compassion instead of anger.

The Full Moon happens on February 16th this month. (It should be pretty full for Valentine’s Day.) Fortunately for lovers, it will be in the firey sign of Leo. Leo vibrates to the 5th house which deals with, among other things, our sexuality. So make the post of it.

This also gives rise to strong impulses to be creative – Leo and the 5th house are literally where we shine. Remember, Leo is ruled by the Sun. So express yourself, go out there and make an impact – even if you howl at the Moon, let yourself be heard!

Fuor all of you who fear the retrograded Mercruy, breathe easier. It goes out of retrograde on Febraruy 3. Just in time for the New Moon to happen in Aquarius. The Moon will still be in Capricorn so again we have the split between staying with the traditional course (Capricorn) and going with your wild side. Maybe it would be a good time to seek balance. Where can we shed the old that no longer works and bring some new energy into our lives?

This push me-pull you between the old and the new is going to be a theme for the next several years as Pluto pulls in Aquarius after a long run in Capricorn.

The good of Aquaris is compassion and a love of manking where the negative of Capricorn is authoritarianism. Why not, trying to accentuate the postiive and eliminate the negative of each sign.

All of you Aquarian Sun, Rising and Nodes – is the world seeming a bit more grounded now? That is because your ruler, Uranus is finally coming out of a long retrograde in Taurus. Those big, slow planets don’t do anything quickly and this has been a long slog for this trickster planet. I noticed that there was a potential tsunami in the Pacific this weekend. That is one last gasp of this retrograded action. Taurus, you will recall, deals with Earth and the environment.

The good part of Uranus in Taurus as a transit as it makes us open our eyes to new ways of expressing our interest and stewardship of the Earth. Let’s hope that is direct action will keep us focused on the need to protect the Earth because – well it is so very late!

Because of its proximity to Earth orbit, a Venus retrograde is rare. However, starting on December 19 and running through January 29, Venus will indeed be in retrograde.

Venus rules both Libra and Taurus – of course, she is a woman, she has to do both! Her domain is love, relationships in general, money and creativity.

Retrogrades are not bad! They are a time to go within and examine our relationship with the planetary energies. So where do you need to examine your relationship with these Venus areas! Take the time – it is winter – we are supposed to be on an “inward mode” anyway….to take a look at how you can use the Venus energy better.

Happy New Year.

Astronomically, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole (yes, where Santa lives) is tilted the furthest away from the Sun. No wonder Santa wants to get his team and head out, it is dark up there! Seriously, when this happens, the Sun at its southernmost point in the sky. Therefore, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere – “above” the Equator – experience our darkest possible day while those “below” the Equator in the Southern Hemisphere, have the longest. We are heading into winter, they into summer.

This was a day of significance to the ancients as they literally lived and died by the light of Sun. With no Sun, there was no heat, no food. Celebrations of this day began as a literal intercession with the gods, to bring back that Sun.

The exact time of the winter Solstice is 10:58 AM Eastern time – that is the time the North Pole reaches that furthest point.

However, you celebrate this season, I wish you good tidings and great joy. It is always good to remember the roots of our festivities, however, and for this one – it is the bring back warmth and light. How can you allow the light to shine through you in the New Year?

All the best,

J

No one knows the accurate date of the first Thanksgiving. We know that there was a letter written in December 1621 which alluded to the gathering. Most historians assume it took place in mid October. The weather was colder then, and the harvest schedule closer to October. (In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in early-mid October.)

We can’t pinpoint transactions for that day, of course. But we can look at the slow moving planets. For instance, Pluto was in Taurus – the sign of connection to the land, resources and provided. However, it was in retrograde at that time, portending secrets and the issue of both parties having a different view of these issues mean and which is more important. They may have come together on the day but clearly did not understand one another.

However, the intentions at that moment were good. Saturn, the sign ruling authority and government structure was in motherly and benevolent Cancer. There was a real sense of community pervading that time period. Benevolent Jupiter in Gemini, the sign of communication and outreach was strong but also in retrograde.

This reminds me of current Thanksgiving holidays where we come together with people often vastly different than us and we pretend for the day to get along, however, we all retain our own agendas.

Have we learned nothing? Yes, we have and we are learning more – even more than we give ourselves credit. We can learn back and see the positive and shadow aspects of this first celebration and make the vow to be more honest, accepting and aware of our own secret agendas and last prejudices. That is the way to honor and grow from this tradition.

Mars moves into Scorpio on Halloween! How cool is that?

Mars used to rule Scorpio before we discovered Pluto so there is a natural affinity there.

For those who like to be freaked out – they will talk about the dangerous energy of Mars, ruler of the warrior Aries, and Scorpio the vengeance seeker, coming together.

I would like to think of it as just a chance to express your true self – with clarity and certainty. Funny that this would happen on a day we run around in costumes hiding our identities but think of it as a coming forth- an announcing of your true self and beliefs.

Have fun!

Later this week (Sept 2-3), the Leo Moon will be making a trine or flowing aspect to Saturn. Saturn is in Aquarius which is the site on the opposite side of the zodiac to Leo – they balance each other. Leo wants to be seen and admired, Aquarius wants nothing more to blend into the crowd. This is a good time to study how your emotional side (Moon) might crave attention at all costs while your controlling authority (Saturn) might seek a more balanced approach. If you feel you need the approval of others all of that time, ask yourself why? If you give up authority and power for approval and acceptance – then you need to study ways to develop self authority (Saturn.)

This won’t last long – nothing dealing with the fast paced Moon ever does – but it can be a useful, quick exercise.