Mercury is now at home in Gemini. This enhances rational thinking and learning. However, today it starts to square off with Neptune. Where Mercury is rational, Neptune is fuzzy and Quixotic. How do they get along? Not usually well. The combination can raise issues of prevarication- whether we lie to others or lie to ourselves- we have to face those issues.

It is a great time to determine how truthful you are to yourself…and how honest those closest to you are to you. In short – where do your secrets lie?

The Sun and Mercury are in Taurus for a short time. However, I want to talk about big, slow and “far-out” in so many ways Uranus being there. While Taurus screams security and safety – Uranus wants to send electrical bolts of change to everything it sees. How do the two combine?

At its worse, this combination will shake to the core, “little things” like financial markets, 401 ks, home prices – all of those areas controlled by Taurus.

However, it can also juice up our creative skills – and invite those home-projects such as cleaning clutter and changing old, faded wall paint. It is like spring cleaning on steroids time.

So before the stocks go crazier – go buy some paint and some cleaning fluid and use the energy of Taurus to the most

Then perhaps you should wait until Wednesday to get creative, especially if your Moon is in a water sign. On Wednesday the Moon will move in it’s ruler, watery Cancer. It will also make a flowing aspect to the Mercury-Uranus conjunction that will hang around for a few more weeks.

Water signs are good conduits for inspiration and ideas. Mercury, the communicator, gets an extra jolt of electricity or spark from Uranus. All together they will help you get the mental sparks flying.

Saturn, the ruler of time, authority, duty and discipline turns retrograde this week. It does sit sitting very close to the equally karmic South Node. The South Node is your comfort zone- where the universe wants you to leave, grow and move on. Unfortunately, it is where we usually hate to leave – creatures of comfort and routine you know.

If you are resisting taking authority over your actions, if you are trying to hide from duty and responsibility you will feel this retrograde. This is not a good time for Peter Pans!

However, if you are ready to be a grown up use the retrograde to find how you are blocking yourself from doing just that! Onward!

The Roman’s dedicated the month of Venus. Veneralia was the first day of the month in the Roman calendar. The first day of her month was a day of celebration and games when the Roman’s tasted the first fruits of spring.

Men would wear women’s clothing, women would remove their jewels and adornments. All would jump into the men’s pools together and….frolic. It was a fine day to wear masks, play tricks and just get a good case of spring fever.

Throughout time, this evolved into a day April Fools Day. Frankly, I think the Romans had more fun!

Use it don’t fear it

I don’t know why this one little retrograde strikes such panic in people but when Mercury takes a rest from its forward movement people go hysterical. It could be that because of its close proximity to Earth, more people feel the impact. However, instead of worrying about lost communications, we should think about what those losses mean – that maybe we need to slow down and turn off all of our electronics and stop communicating – for a minute!

This is also a great time to think before you speak – what have you been meaning to say to someone – what should you be saying to someone? 

Mercury will be in Pisces during this retrograde giving you the opportunity to develop better “spiritual communication” – a meditation practice, for instance. Use Mercury- don’t fear it. 

If you are looking for some joy and hope in the middle of the winter and “shutdown” doldrums, look toward Venus.

Venus is in Sagittarius, the sign ruled by Jupiter, while she is making a positive aspect to Jupiter. Sag. and Jupiter are all about outward movement and growth. They are the masters of exuberance, optimism and new experiences. When coupled with the goddess of love (Venus) they will give us the desire to be bold, explore new relationships – believe in ourselves.

Venus also rules money so be sure that you do go too overboard with throwing your money away on new adventures!

This will be especially true if you have Venus rising, Sun or Node but we all can take in some expansion of joy right now.

January 20 will see a full lunar eclipse in volatile Leo. The Sun will be in the opposite sign of Aquarius placing the emphasis of this event on moving our dreams from our heads (Aquarius) and into our hearts (Leo.)

There are several planets in fire during the this time. Mars and Uranus are in Aries – a potential danger zone – and Venus and Jupiter in Sagittarius. For those prone to insisting they are always right and always ready to fight, this will, unfortunately, reinforce those beliefs.

For those willing to learn and grow – it is a time to be realistic and encompassing about our dreams and work to make them heartfelt and real.

If you have Scorpio Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Venus, Mercury or Node this is a great month to work on your empowerment. As the New Year opens Venus, Ceres and the Moon will all be in Scorpio in the eighth house – the one that Scorpio is most comfortable. You can work on finding your core power in the emotional/financial realms. Are you too much of a giver – do you allow others to walk on your feelings and your needs? Tune into this powerful house for answers.

Chiron is in Pisces now. Finding deep even karmic wounds and bringing them to the surface to heal is much easier now. Clean out the painful closet. Just don’t get overwhelmed by the Saturn/Sun conjunction in authoritarian Capricorn. This is not the time to lay blame. It is a time to turn the page without hate.

All of this authoritarian karmic energy might make it a tough months for potential dictators….stay tuned!

The Sun enters Capricorn this week making a square or disharmonious aspect to Chiron, the keeper of our inner wounds.  So as we enter this darkest day of the year – take a minute to flesh out your deepest wounds and make a plan to toss them to the light as it returns.

There is no more perfect time to get out of the “old gunk” of past hurts and face the new year with a fresh start and lightened load!