Scorpio

saturn

Saturn turns direct in Scorpio ♄ Aug 2

Saturn turns direct in Scorpio from Aug 2 - Sep 17, 2015 before reentering Sagittarius

Click here to learn about Saturn. Click here to learn about Scorpio.

From October 2012 to December 2014, Saturn transited Scorpio. Thanks to a recent retrograde period, we had the oh-so-lovely opportunity to experience this very intense transit all over again. So we’re back, moving forward in Scorpio, but only for the next few weeks before Saturn returns to Sagittarius for good. Saturn in Scorpio is a time of intensive scrutiny. Here we examine the dichotomy of faith versus control. If this has been an exceptionally difficult period up until now, it’s about to get a little better. Let us rise up now with unprecedented confidence.

Saturn in Scorpio is a (re)discovery of our worth. Although the retrograde period is arguably a more trying time, we’re still not out of the woods. While Saturn constantly claws at our most hidden, visceral insecurities, Scorpio desperately tries to cover them up: vulnerable yet restricted. Like a scorpion lying flat between rock and earth, we reach blindly for total contact and closeness. In the process, we come ever closer to the Self and are forced to confront fears. We want to bare our soul completely, but this very thing is the most excruciating. This is how Saturn operates! We are asked us to peer into the heart to see all that hurts. We have to feel everything at the deepest level before we can move forward. Can you stand alone? Do you you have total control over the Self? These are questions to ask now. Ultimately Saturn in Scorpio teaches that we cannot be close to another until we learn how to be close to the Self – to know and love the Self inside and out, no fear or judgment. The Self is the only agent who controls and creates reality! These are very difficult lessons that take many lifetimes to perfect.

Saturn in Scorpio demonstrates that we must give up perceived power to gain new understanding – this is not easy! In the process of giving up power, we may push away love, or, alternatively, cling to that which is failing and end up losing health, happiness and appreciation for the present moment. Leaning on others from time to time is perfectly natural, but we must learn how and when these dependencies become unhealthy. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, let’s transform heavy emotional baggage. Saturn in Scorpio does not allow us to cast blame. This is a critical period in which we reclaim personal accountability – only YOU can make yourself happy!

This transit recognizes change as vital. We will be pushed, not led. Saturn in Scorpio renders definitive endings and beginnings that help us grow and mature. Let’s get more comfortable talking and thinking about purpose. Our first inclination may be to shy away from that which is actually there to heal us. The source of bad habits, compulsions, debts and addictions will be revealed so that whatever is truly missing – whatever it was that caused a state of imbalance – can rise to the fore of consciousness. Saturn in Scorpio allows us to see what truly matters and what doesn’t. If balanced, you will walk away now with the ability to love and forgive with ease and find meaning even in darkness, mystery and confusion.

Saturn operates within a framework, structured and disciplined. I know, this doesn’t sound very fun. But here we are again: one last squeeze before we can pop back into lighter times. One last opportunity to move in, straight to the core. I think we’ve all been feeling it coming. Energy lately has been dense, heavy, impossibly difficult. As with all things related to Saturn, we must examine issues of control. I’m with you when you say that you’ve been there, dealing with it, thinking about it. Turn back, go back - there’s more work to be done. Something has been left unattended.

This transit is slow, cumbersome. It’s so important to stay optimistic and lighthearted. Keep moving and breathing - Saturn will work behind the scenes for you. I firmly believe that sitting around and marinating in the scorpion’s brew will not help anything. As much as I love my own scorpion essence, she is an undeniably dark creature. However, she is also profoundly spiritual and at the end of the day, she wants to help you transform into blinding brightness.

Sometimes I wake up and there’s a grinding feeling in my neck bones. Saturn forces us be precise - Zen Ren, what is this pain? Get. To. The. Root. One last haul over this huge fucking mountain. It will quickly become clear who is ready to sweat and who’s just going to cry through the whole thing. LET’S DO THIS. Good luck! You are loved.

Many will now experience a Saturn Return. More to come on that! To find out your Saturn sign and whether he was direct or retrograde at the time of your birth, click here.

Mantra: I am in control

Phases10-5x3w

First Quarter Moon in Scorpio ☽ July 24, 2015

The 1st Quarter in Scorpio comes exact on Thursday July 23, 2015 at 10:04 pm MST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Scorpio.

The First Quarter marks halfway between the new and full moon. The first and last quarter occur when the moon aspects the Sun at a 90 degree angle. (Seen from above, the moon forms a right angle in relation to an invisible line running through the Earth to the sun, hence “square” for the name of this astrological aspect. Here the moon has completed 1/4 of her journey around the earth.) In this particular phase, the Sun in Leo squares the moon in Scorpio. The moon will rise at noon, peak at dusk and set at midnight.

For those who are strongly affected by lunar energy, the quarter moon phases are especially trying. Square aspects are sharp, angular junctions that prompt change. As CafeAstrology notes, the quarter phases feel like a “crisis of consciousness.” We are encouraged now to examine all that was established with the New Moon in Cancer. The waxing moon symbolizes return to total awareness. This is the best time to tweak and improve upon existing strategies. At every full moon we manifest new moon intentions; as such, the week between the first quarter and full moon (July 23 - 31) is quite potent.

We have reached a corner and must choose a new direction. The building energy and excitement you feel is there to inspire you. This phase prompts decisive action, calculated risk-taking and deepened commitment to personal growth. The moon is asking you to gather yourself.

The scorpion domain

I like to imagine each moon cycle as a procession of poignantly themed challenges. Generally speaking, the Leo cycle seeks to empower the individual - freedom of expression is the name of the game. So here we are (already!) at the first stop along the lion path: a seductive, intoxicating encounter with Scorpio, the zodiac’s master of transformation. The First Quarter Moon in Scorpio addresses trust issues as well as power and control struggles. Scorpio and Leo have little in common besides their doggedly fixed nature. Leo is the naive, self-centered, happy-go-lucky child of the zodiac, and Scorpio the dark and brooding introvert with dwindling faith in humanity. Both are amusingly content to be as such! Dialog centers on the following: finding balance between healthy self-appreciation and the constant, inevitable metamorphosis of the ego.

Leo seeks company with direct, straightforward personalities. This is not how Scorpio operates. Moreover, Scorpio is not about to entertain a room full of people, as Leo would have it. Leo fears the scorpion’s complexity, preferring a simple yet playful life. Scorpio, on the other hand, fears letting go, living spontaneously, allowing the Self to be free of cares. The scorpion is easily frustrated by the lion’s insistence on me - Scorpio sees the Self as perpetually evolving. From the Llewellyn Journal:

Leo’s ego … hogs the stage when it can. Scorpio finds that troublesome and wants Leo to do a little honest, inner digging to uncover why it demands so much personal attention and adoration. Always upbeat about itself, the Lion doesn’t feel it needs such psychoanalysis and doesn’t like being investigated. ‘I’ve got nothing to hide. What you see is what you get.’

The First Quarter Moon in Scorpio seeks a path that is not too dark - not too much scorpion suspicion - but not too light either - not too much leonine idealism or unchecked trust in the world; we must be guarded but not closed.

Divine water energy

The First Quarter in Scorpio connects us to water energy, something we are deeply familiar with after a lovely spin through Cancer. However, this transit is more forceful – indeed, Scorpio is a fixed sign. It is interesting to note that Leo is ruled by the Sun, the center of our solar system, and Scorpio by Pluto, the planet farthest from center! With just this metaphor we see how differently these two entities move through life. The purpose of this first quarter moon is rebirth (Scorpio) in our sense of Self and ultimate identity (Leo) - powerful indeed. Imagine the Sun and Pluto stretching their cosmic arms over the vast distance between them, intertwining in some remote asteroid belt. Together they bring about irreversible change. Emotional and psychic energies are at an all-time high. There is a tendency for greater volatility in the form of outbursts and unveiling of secrets.

Scorpio lives cautiously because she is so familiar with the Underworld - she recognizes that at any moment, the shadows within may arise and wreak havoc. She would do well to learn from Leo’s sunny disposition, just as Leo would do well to be more wary, to learn how to read others with more accuracy. I expect that the transition from predominantly Cancer energy to Scorpio will be emotionally trying - deep breaths, fellow stargazers, t’is only a phase. The First Quarter Moon in Scorpio last fell in the beginning of August 2014. Any themes that predominated then will now resurface. The ego is operating in full force, you’ve been warned! Expectations are high - expectations that others will worship and pamper us. Be mindful, stay humble. I suggest meditation near water. Namaste.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I move within

Saturn Retrograde in Scorpio ♄ June 14 - Aug 2

Saturn continues his retrograde transit in Scorpio from June 14 – August 2

Click here to learn about Saturn. Click here to learn about Scorpio.

To be very clear, planets in retrograde are not actually spinning backwards – it is entirely an optical illusion as seen from Earth. Backwards motion appears to happen when Earth passes slower moving planets in the outer solar system. In astrology, this illusion manifests as “backwards” functioning of the planets and their respective roles. Click here to learn more about retrograde motion.

In classic astrology, Saturn rules earthbound Capricorn, but he’s been transiting fiery Sagittarius since December 2014. Saturn in Sagittarius embodies quite the contradiction: Saturn is all about contraction, Sagittarius expansion. Sagittarius stretches us beyond what we believe possible, while Saturn mandates that everything be traditional, concise and orderly. Saturn in Sagittarius grows rapidly, yet still within a framework: structured and disciplined evolution. Sagittarius rules truth, morality and honor. Saturn in this placement seeks philosophies that uplift and empower. Sagittarius is a free thinker, but this is not how I would describe Saturn. Saturn will not indulge the centaur’s propensity for irresponsibility or recklessness.

Saturn in Scorpio

For the last three months, Saturn has been spinning retrograde in Sagittarius, but now we’re dialing all the way back into water-loving Scorpio. Before last winter, Saturn had been hanging out in Scorpio since October 2012. The themes we are about to encounter are therefore already very familiar to all of us on a personal level. Saturn in Scorpio: a time of intense scrutiny. Both Saturn and Scorpio energies can be suspicious and manipulative when imbalanced. Combined, these energies direct our attention towards issues of power. Saturn in Scorpio reveals what makes us feel vulnerable, especially in relation to our dependencies. It is perfectly normal and natural to have dependencies, but now is the time to cut ties with people, support systems and addictions that no longer serve us. Although it is unpleasant, this process will leave us feeling even more empowered and purposeful than before.

While Saturn claws at our most hidden, visceral insecurities, Scorpio desperately attempts to cover them up. Saturn in Scorpio examines intimacy. We have more demands and expectations for others. Any and all illusions are exposed, giving us total insight into the true nature of our relationships. Saturn in Scorpio urges us to share our souls without fear of rejection, but this very thing is the most excruciating. Like a scorpion lying flat between a rock and the earth, we reach blindly for total contact, and in the process come ever closer to the Self. There is an inherent conflict here between control and faith. Ideally we come to realize that we are master of the Self and nothing else - the Self entirely controls and creates reality. How much energy are we expending trying to change that which we cannot? Do we cling to blame and grudges? Where can we be more forgiving? Issues surrounding debt – either material or emotional – may figure prominently in this transit.

Saturn Retrograde

For about 4.5 months out of the year, Saturn is retrograde. Saturn Rx asks us to review and accept our “failures” – but are they really? The Buddha decried that there is no failure, only lessons learned. If you have been working with sincerity radiating from your heart and soul, karma will reward you handsomely now. Saturn delivers his gifts of abundance even if we do “fail.” As with everything in life, intention rules supreme. Acting insincerely permits Saturn Rx to unleash the full glory of his consequences. Whether you’ve been slacking or not, this transit is really just one long test of endurance. Progress must be examined with utmost realism. Saturn Rx wants to know: what are you truly capable of?

Peering into the heart and gut to see all that hurts, all that we’ve lost and all that makes us less than happy is our task now. Saturn Rx in Scorpio asks us to confront our pain so that we can begin healing. It’s time to delve into the subconscious to see which patterns dictate our lives. Before we can conquer these vicious cycles, we must face them head-on. This transit demands that we feel everything at the deepest level before we are allowed to move forward. If you attempt to rush this process, you will be presented with even more challenges. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we can and will transform. This is a critical period in which we reclaim personal accountability – only YOU can make yourself happy!

Slow and steady

Saturn moves slowly and deliberately. He demonstrates that nothing is worth having if it is does not take time and work. I visualize Saturn Rx in Scorpio reaching down into the dark profundity of the psyche to overturn blackened rocks and logs. What’s underneath? Our first inclination may be to shy away from that which is actually a healing force. Let’s face and define spiritual blocks with the knowledge that, in so doing, we effectively dissolve the power of lingering fear, hesitation and mistrust. Indeed, to know the problem is to know the solution. If balanced, you will find meaning even in mystery and confusion.

Saturn teaches that change is necessary to move forward. Nothing about this planet is quick, easy or direct. We will be pushed, not led. Saturn Rx in Scorpio renders definitive endings and beginnings that help us grow and mature. The source of bad habits, compulsions, debts and addictions are revealed so that whatever is truly missing – whatever led to a state of imbalance in the first place – can be illuminated. Life might get messy as we turn to that which we have suppressed. Think of this transit as an expedition into a deep, dark cave: you only want to do it once, so do it well! Expect some fuzziness concerning long-term goals, plans and responsibilities.

I was born when Saturn was retrograde. Those with this disposition may not feel the effects of this period as much, if at all. To find out your Saturn sign and whether he was direct or retrograde at the time of your birth, click here.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: I am in control

Full Moon in Scorpio ❍ May 3, 2015

The Full Moon in Scorpio comes exact on Sunday, May 3 at 11:42 pm EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Scorpio.

All that we aspired to during the Taurus cycle now comes to culmination. This particular full moon is known as the Flower Moon or, according to The Farmer’s Almanac, “Mother’s Moon, Milk Moon, and Corn Planting Moon, mark[ing] a time of increasing fertility with temperatures warm enough for safely bearing young, a near end to late frosts, and plants in bloom.” The Moon will rise at sunset, peak at midnight and set at sunrise.

The Sun and Moon are now in total opposition between fixed earth Taurus and fixed water Scorpio: form vs. formlessness. What I feel most viscerally when I visualize this axis is day vs. night – Taurus basks in the visible light spectrum, Scorpio peers through the darkness with acute night vision. You may recall that we had a Full Moon in Taurus last November 2014. We have now reached the other end, a reversal of the Taurus-Scorpio opposition. Any themes/conflicts that predominated then will now resurface.

Venus vs Pluto

The Taurus-Scorpio polarity presents a wonderful opportunity to work on achieving balance between the senses and intuition. Let’s meditate for a moment on the ruling planets of each sign, Venus and Pluto respectively. Venus rules pleasure and leisure – she lounges in bodily luxury: sensual, sexual, hedonistic. Pluto is the part of our soul that yearns for rebirth. What I’d like to elucidate with this comparison: we cannot “break through” our own personal darkness without first cultivating health, conscious awareness and self-love in the body and immediate surroundings.

Whereas Taurus abides peacefully and effortlessly in the raw forms of physical space, the Full Moon in Scorpio yearns to transform that physical reality in order to see through it, to understand all that is intangible. Opposite signs on the zodiac wheel have inherent differences, but they also have a lot in common. Taurus and Scorpio both want to live a life of quality rather than quantity. The bull and scorpion equally desire total connection, whether that means skin-to-skin or soul-to-soul.

Simplicity vs complexity

Unlike the bull, Scorpio is attracted to crisis and volatility. This makes the imbalanced scorpion quite unpredictable. The bull lives primarily in the external environment, the scorpion below, investigating mysteries within. The conflict here is ultimately between simplicity and complexity. Our greatest challenge is, as always, to recognize the supreme importance of the spectrum. Are you connected to the au-delà? Or, alternatively, do you spend so much time wandering the cosmos that the present moment is neglected?

The endings and beginnings rendered by this full moon are likely a result of spiritual growth. Scorpio lives in the subconscious, particularly in the caverns we avoid. As such, this full moon has a reputation for intensity. Scorpio is the master of metamorphosis. Every time we reach a major turning point in life or make huge, life-altering decisions, scorpion energy is present. The Full Moon in Scorpio represents shift: changeover from one realm to another. Through Scorpio we are symbolically destroyed and renewed.

Your body contains the entire cosmos

Scorpio is more comfortable than Taurus exploring what lies beyond the horizon. Scorpios are often very interested in deep space, spirituality, abstract art, mysticism and the paranormal. However, too much Scorpio energy creates a whirlpool, trapping us in the recesses of the psyche, the past, obsessions, fears. And yet, too much Taurus energy cements us to the false idea that all we can see is all that is. Scorpio reminds the bull that conquering our fear of the unknown is an inevitable task; the bull reminds the scorpion that it’s perfectly acceptable to make sure that our bodies and physical environment reflect inner peace. Taurus molds, sculpts, shapes, builds, fortifies; Scorpio inquires, understands, knows, feels, desires. How can we reconcile this dilemma between that which is visible and invisible? By abiding in the knowledge that the entire cosmos can be known simply be meditating on the power of your very own mind and body.

The Full Moon in Scorpio reaches deep within the soul to understand our truth and purpose. It’s time now to ask: what does it all mean? However, to reach a certain level of understanding, we are forced now to examine even our “ugly side.” This full moon will not allow you to evolve without seeing yourself as you really are, flaws and all. Scorpion energy is often associated with death. In many ways, this is accurate. The lessons of the Full Moon in Scorpio are so all-encompassing and irreversible that it often feels like a part of us has died in the process.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I am powerful

Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio ☾ Feb 11, 2015

The Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio comes exact on February 11, 2015 at 10:50 PM EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Scorpio.

We approach the Last Quarter, halfway between Full and New with the Moon squaring the Sun at 90˚. (Seen from above, the Moon forms a right angle in relation to an invisible line running through the Earth to the Sun, hence “square” as the name for this astrological aspect. Here the Moon has completed 3/4 of her journey around the Earth.) In this particular phase, the Sun in fixed air Aquarius squares the Moon in fixed water Scorpio.

The Moon will rise at midnight, peak at dawn and set at noon. If you view the Moon at midnight, the Sun will be positioned directly beneath your feet. Staring at the Moon during this time will align you so that you are looking right out (approximately) along the forward path of Earth’s orbit around the Sun ^__^

A checkpoint

The Full Moon provides illumination and revelations - total awareness of all that was hidden, lurking in the depths. Now we decide which information and ideas best serve us. The waning light of the Moon represents gradual descent into darkness: a return to the proverbial womb. It is wise to wait now on new endeavors so as to better prepare yourself for what’s next. The week between the Last Quarter and New Moon (February 11-18) is the time to buckle down and wrap up any loose ends of that which was set in place with the New Moon in Aquarius three weeks ago.

Squares mean change

We have come to a corner and must choose a direction. The stress and anxiety you may feel during this phase is there to encourage decision-making. This is a time of release, forgiveness and destruction of useless internal edifices. The Moon is asking you to empty yourself. This phase falls in fixed signs, meaning that the most attractive path now will be one that sustains and fortifies. The entire Aquarius cycle thus far has encouraged us to act boldly on our intellectual and creative impulses as well as socialize, explore and break out of dull routines - let this last week be your best yet, no holds barred, just a mega release of provocative, fearless, inventive and utterly glorious work. This phase is also connected to the First Quarter Moon in Aquarius around Halloween 2014 – whatever themes predominated at that time will now resurface.

Scorpio: journey within

Scorpio is the water bearer’s dark predecessor: emotional, intense; wrought straight from the soul and gut. Scorpio whispers quietly to the Aquarian at night: do you remember? Do you remember the womb, the tomb, the hallowed space where words and time dare not go? This is where I live. And so it is. The last week of our cycle asks us to return with body, mind and spirit to a place that is more familiar than our own flesh and yet somehow escapes us each and every lifetime in a haze of supernatural amnesia. It’s time now to connect all the dots and bring it back to the source. Of what use is our work if it does not speak to something deeper and more meaningful, something eternal, something as black as a moonless night yet blinding as the force of life Herself? The mission of the scorpion resonates in these words from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

[Love] threshes you to make you naked. Love sifts you to free you from your husks. Love grinds you to whiteness. Love kneads you until you are pliant; And then Love assigns you to her sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for the Divine’s sacred feast.

Like a creature of the water, return with great haste from whence you came. Allow yourself to become heavy with delight and weariness so that you may be crushed like grapes in the great cosmic winepress. Allow your own power to consume you so that you may be obliterated, scattered to the stars and reborn. Edge closer to your edge, allow yourself to feel so that you may know the true meaning of sacrifice, of work, of love, of reward. Scorpio lives in the magnificent A U M resonating throughout your body and the rest of the Universe at this very instant. Transform, become! Everything in Existence is conspiring at this very moment to help you achieve whatever you desire. Allow yourself to believe in this truth. Allow yourself to be carried by the cosmic current to a place you thought was only fantasy.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I am powerful

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio - Oct 23, 2014

The New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio comes exact on October 23, 2014 at 5:57 PM EST

Click here to learn more about the Moon. Click here to learn more about Scorpio.

Tomorrow we have the New Moon Solar Eclipse coinciding with both the Sun and Venus moving into Scorpio as well…!

This is not just a New Moon but also a (partial) Solar Eclipse, making it even more powerful. Every New Moon falls in the current sign of the Sun. This is precisely what makes it a New Moon. With the Sun now moving into Scorpio, the New Moon falls in Scorpio also.

From CafeAstrology:

This is the final eclipse in a series falling along the Taurus-Scorpio axis. Even though we are starting fresh, we’re also cleaning up.

Click here for a full report courtesy of timeanddate.com

The New Moon in fixed water sign Scorpio marks the kickoff for the coming month and the official end of the Libra cycle. In classic astrology, Scorpio concerns power, control, intimacy and finance - all that underlies. Scorpio lives in the unseen, the hidden, the omniscient. As a result, our attention is now directed inward to examine both the Self and others. We are curious about what motivates people to act and say the things they do; we also ponder our own habits and reactions - what is really causing me to feel this way? What is the root, the true source? Our objective is to understand every layer of every situation, but not just cerebrally. We want to feel wisdom reverberate in the soul and psyche.

Which elements in your life make you feel out of control? Be honest with yourself about relationships, debts, addictions or other heavy burdens that no longer serve you. The scorpion constantly seeks cathartic release. When balanced, Scorpio energy is deeply spiritual, empathic, intuitive and perhaps even psychic. Sometimes the scorpion is illustrated as a strictly dark and morbid entity. I would like to remind everyone that the scorpion is ultimately swimming towards the depths in order to be reborn. The goal is transformation: endlessly cycling from one blissful metamorphosis to the next, pure joy.

In the process of investigating where we need more control in life, we also come to understand what is really causing us to gravitate toward bad habits. Maybe something is missing, or dragging you down? This is the perfect time to detox from negative behavioral patterns. The scorpion is a masterful minimalist and essentialist. Get rid of anything you don’t need. Be lighter. Take deep breaths, close your eyes. Feel your spirit spiral out into the space you create within.

One more from CafeAstrology:

An intimate partnership may be left behind, or a source of money might end, and either of these situations pushes us to learn to depend on ourselves and to recognize that we don’t necessarily need these things to survive. Ultimately, we are now in a position to understand that changes or endings are necessary for our own growth, and that we can handle these things.

The Libra cycle encouraged us to create order in our surrounding environment. Now we probe the inner workings. In understanding the subconscious motivations of others, we become ever more powerful. The greatest challenge for the scorpion is learning how to use this power correctly. On one hand, being able to read people so accurately allows for manipulation and deceit. However, this can also be channeled as empathy. Insight to the emotions of others makes forgiveness easier. Remember all that we have learned over the past month from Libra: we have a duty to be respectful to both the Self and others lest we superciliously create imbalance in our environment.

The fixed nature of this phase manifests in the apparent urgency of our desires at this time. Our passion is best harnessed when funneled into one major project or relationship. Scorpio values quality over quantity, no exceptions. One key to unlocking scorpion magic is spending time fixedly and passionately on one endeavor; this is much more satisfying than diverting our attention to other things that are not as meaningful.

On a personal note, this New Moon has been, yet again, quite symbolic for me. I am moving into a new apartment! Yay!

If you would like to learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I am fearless

Sun enters Scorpio - Oct 23, 2014

The Sun enters Scorpio on October 23, 2014 and will transit here until November 22, 2014

Click here to learn more about the Sun.

When talking about Sun signs, it’s more accurate to say “the Earth’s relation to the Sun” since the Earth is the one moving. A more appropriate name for this much-celebrated, often oversimplified astrological element would be: Earth Sign.

If you are a Scorpio, for the next month you have a Solar Return. This is your time to shine, as they say. Whatever was set in place when the Sun last transited fixed water sign Scorpio will now come to fruition. With the Sun in Libra for the past month, our attention was directed towards balancing our personal needs with those of others. This was a time of compromise, resolution, negotiation and, most likely, distinct endings and beginnings. Now we move deep into the psyche to explore what lies beneath the conscious realm. The scorpion learns from the inside out, fearlessly uniting mind, body and spirit in the quest for transcendence.

From CafeAstrology:

Who owes what, who owns what, and who decides these things: these are some of the major issues for you at the dawn of the cycle that now begins in your life. The only thing we really own is our consciousness; the only master who is never overthrown is oneself. These are lessons best learned early in this cycle. Master them, and you master everything … Understanding inner motivations, seeing through to the core: that’s your real path of power and enlightenment now.

I like to visualize Scorpio energy as a black widow spider gracefully weaving a web; a witch hurtling through the clouds on a moonless night; a shamanic journey; a juicy secret; a wolf howling on a cold winter night; a mermaid lair at the bottom of the ocean; a whirlpool; an icy lake; the great awakening of the soul. Balanced Scorpios are intuitive, intellectual, spiritual and usually, but not always, notably intense. Scorpios are known for their incredible emotional capacity. As such, they often spend a lot of time talking or writing about their feelings. More so than other signs, the scorpion is constantly seeking cathartic release. There is a tendency here, due to the fixed nature of the sign, to habitually internalize very strong emotions and opinions. On the flip side, being so in touch with their innards allows Scorpios to have an inherent, uncanny understanding of what makes others tick. Because they can read other people so easily, Scorpios are notorious for being suspicious and manipulative when imbalanced. However, when grounded, Scorpios use this remarkable skill to empathize with others in a way that few others can. The scorpion has a great responsibility: one sting can destroy instantaneously with no regard for consequence, or it can serve to completely transform reality, lifting others out of the darkness and into the light.

This cycle will likely be a rigorous test of your patience and stamina as Scorpio energy encourages us to examine our reactions on a deeper level: what habits and recurring patterns are negatively impacting you? What is the source, the root cause? Facing ourselves is never easy, but we can’t avoid this process now. Remember that the scorpion ultimately longs to return to a higher place, a place where words and thoughts are not allowed: Oneness.

The defining characteristic of the scorpion is undoubtedly extremity. Unlike Libra, sign of the scale, Scorpios are often drawn to danger, taboos and secrets. This is not to say that Scorpios are unstable - they just prefer complexity over simplicity. When balanced, this manifests as prolific creative expression, physical prowess, psychic abilities, spiritual leadership and extraordinary humility. Imbalanced Scorpios can be jealous, volatile, vindictive and stuck in the past. Because it is a fixed sign, the scorpion often has difficulty moving forward. Indeed, many Scorpios feel acutely misunderstood. The scorpion must learn to accept unconditionally that darkness and discomfort are inevitable and essential components of life. The more that Scorpios are able to recognize the supreme power and importance of said entities, the better they can tap into their innate capacity to transform, transcend, become. Always waiting just beyond midnight is a brilliant dawn.

Typical Scorpios are stubborn, provocative, passionate, sexual, profound and fiercely loyal. They enjoy connecting with others on the deepest level possible: soul to soul, or perhaps body to body, no words required. Paradoxically, it may take some Scorpios a very long time to open up emotionally, if ever. These natives feel vulnerable and mistrustful at the slightest threat to their privacy or personal power. However, once you have truly befriended a Scorpio, they are tremendously loving and understanding.

This transit favors the following activities: deep cleaning; spending time near water; self-care; dancing; journaling; spiritual retreats; yogic hip openers. Focus on the root chakra and mula bandha in meditation. Dive fearlessly into the unconscious. Prepare to feel. If you are a Scorpio or if you would simply like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: I follow my passion

Venus enters Scorpio - Oct 23, 2014

Venus enters Scorpio on October 23, 2014 and will transit here until November 16, 2014

Click here to learn more about Venus.

Venus moves out of her ruling sign, Libra, and into fixed water sign Scorpio on Thursday. The Libra season is almost over - has it been rough for anyone else? I observed that many people were working through some pretty challenging relationship problems. I hope that everyone said what they needed to say, calmly and mindfully. Time to become fully immersed in the healing waters of the scorpion.

The focus this past month was on communication issues. We were asked to consider: which of my relationships are successful and why? Libra wants, first and foremost, to be peaceful and fair. However, this transit may have pushed you into some incredibly uncomfortable conversations. Venus in Libra reminded us that it is possible, and indeed preferable, to wade through unpleasant negotiations with grace and charm. The cardinal aspect of this transit manifested in the basic yet crucial nature of our collective endeavor: harmony within the community. The energy here was steady, accommodating and contented. If imbalanced, you may have gone to great lengths to avoid confrontation. So, what to expect now as the Goddess of Love begins her descent into holy waters?

The move now is from a level heart to a passionate one. This transit is exceptionally powerful and transformative. Now we crave profound soul connections, sexual transcendence and (potentially) forbidden love affairs - our wants feel like needs. We become drunk on the sheer intensity of our emotions. Herein lies the fixed nature of this placement: we are fiercely driven by lust, self-empowerment, desire. The scorpion stops at nothing to get that fix, whatever it may be. We are masterful at getting to the bottom of things - the scorpion is unsatisfied with surface living. Unlike the scale, Scorpio is extreme, all or nothing. Keywords are intimacy and sensuality.

We show our love ardently with Venus in Scorpio. You may have the urge to become so close to someone that attraction consumes you entirely, but this you probably won’t mind. Our focus is singular, blinding, unstoppable. We are uninterested in small talk and other superficial communication. Scorpio loves the ocean floor, the dark well of the psyche, the locked closet in the basement - but why? By diving down to the bottom, we come ever closer to a breaking point, a breaking through. Blackest black always gives way to light, a light that overwhelms everything, even the Self: enlightenment. This is the true goal of the scorpion - to find the edge and then careen over it at full speed, straight into the abyss: renewal through obliteration. If Venus in Libra was akin to the expertise with which true lovers successfully negotiate, Venus in Scorpio is the divine and eternal union: the stitching together of yin and yang.

When taken to the extreme, Venus in Scorpio may have you feeling suspicious, possessive, jealous or vulnerable. This shadow side is rooted in the fear of losing personal power. In classic astrology, the scorpion is associated with all things related to power, greed, control and fear. However, if balanced, this transit may deliver you to a whole new level of spirituality. The Scorpio cycle is the perfect time to test the strength of your intuition and faith in the Universe.

Expect others to stir things up by intentionally creating drama, if only for the sake of making life interesting. The scorpion feels more alive when there is a crisis at hand! This is why you will often find Scorpios in healing professions, particularly in settings such as emergency rooms. Unless you consider yourself to be very grounded and tapped into your spirituality, this transit has the potential to be volatile. Because the scorpion is drawn to complexity, our relationships often suffer as a result. Scorpios simply have a lot of feelings and sexual/emotional/psychic energy, so things are bound to get a little messy at times. Just remember all that we have learned from Libra about the importance of maintaining equilibrium!

Venus in Scorpio draws our attention to all that is taboo, morbid, sexually aberrant, mystical and metaphysical. I like to visualize the transition from Libra to Scorpio as such: imagine a halo of perfectly still air surrounding one who meditates. Suddenly this energy is rendered straight into the heart and gut: swimming, swirling, creating a gigantic supernatural whirlpool (listening -> feeling). I compared the last transit to a smile and warm heart - this one is a hot-blooded kiss on the lips! We approach our leisure and love life fervently, vehemently, wholeheartedly.

With cardinal cycles, we initiate; fixed cycles such as this one ask us to sustain. Now that we’ve cleared the air and set our relationships right, we dig in: what makes other people tick? Do our relationships have the potential to uplift, renew, revitalize? Now we twist in, penetrate to the core. We feel out our surroundings through the subconscious. Expect to feel connected and meditative if balanced.

To find out your personal Venus sign, click here. If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: I move within

Mercury Rx in Scorpio (!!) October 4 - 10

Mercury will station retrograde in Scorpio from October 4 - 10 before reentering Libra

Click here to learn more about Mercury.

So we’ve talked about Mercury stationing retrograde starting October 4 and Mercury entering fixed water sign Scorpio as of last Saturday. Let’s combine the two and discuss the nature of Mercury Retrograde in this mysterious water sign. Click here to learn more about retrograde motion.

As the word “retrograde” implies, this is a time when we go back to finish, review, redo. With Mercury in deep and emotional Scorpio, we return to the past to address old wounds. If we are balanced, this process should be cathartic and uplifting. However, there is a danger here of revisiting the past and just staying there. Mercury Rx periods tend to make us feel nostalgic, but this can easily be taken to the extreme now. We must be careful not to become reattached to the things and people we loved dearly but then worked so hard to let go.

Not only must we be careful to maintain distance between the people and objects of desire from our past, but also from the feelings that accompanied the (painful) final separation from these powerful entities. Dwelling in retroactive resentment or sadness can be quite tempting. It is better, however, to take care of the Self by allowing our scars to heal completely.

Mercury Rx in Scorpio presents an opportunity to harness the magic of regeneration and transformation. If people and events from your past are no longer causing you problems, perhaps you work instead on correcting unhealthy recurring thought patterns or bad habits. In particular, Scorpio will direct our attention toward jealousy, control issues and secrets.

Scorpio lives at the bottom of the darkest ocean, swimming where others dare not go. This transit may lead you deep down into the netherworld of your psyche in an effort to reveal hidden truths. One word that comes to mind when I think of Mercury Rx is reality: there is simply no escaping! Mercury Rx in Scorpio will clear you out, emotionally speaking, so that you are able to actually see what lies below.

Imagine for a moment that your inner world is like a cave with the door sealed shut. Inside are all your skeletons and ancient pains, festering away. Mercury Rx in Scorpio will fearlessly dive down, remove the block and allow light and fresh air to stream in. Of course this can be painful, too - sometimes we would rather hide than acknowledge the nature of all that rankles within. If you can summon the courage, become Mercury’s aide: help to sweep away the proverbial dust and dirt from your aching soul. Now is the time to detox from the negative people, beliefs and associations in your life which no longer serve you.

Other possibilities for this transit: discovering what seduces us and why - in what ways do our desires control us? Are we unconsciously living in fear by clinging to them? Perhaps an old debt may suddenly resurface; or maybe we adopt a new perspective on a traumatic event from the past. On a global scale, this period will undoubtedly bring more scandals and heretofore hidden agendas to light, particularly concerning hypocrisy and sexual misconduct.

This is an extremely potent transit, I cannot emphasize that enough! To find your Mercury sign and whether he was direct or retrograde at the time of your birth, click here. It is interesting to note that, if you were indeed born with Mercury Rx, you may not notice the effects above as strongly, if at all. More to come on natal Mercury Rx!

YOGA CHALLENGE

In meditation, focus on the mulabandha, the pelvic floor lock, and root chakra. This is our power source, our base. When the root chakra is disturbed, this means that we are not settled. Upon this, everything else rests. Build your foundation securely.

Mantra: I am powerful

Mercury enters Scorpio

Mercury was in Scorpio from September 27 to October 10, upon which Mercury reentered Libra in retrograde motion. Mercury is now back in Scorpio, transiting here through November 27.

Click here to learn more about Mercury. Click here to learn more about Scorpio.

The way we speak, write and present ourselves to the world takes on a more serious tone now. We are not interested in small talk; conversations run deep with an urge to find the root of things.

The fixed modality of this transit manifests in the pointed nature of our communication style. We are direct, straightforward and perhaps even a bit judgmental. Scorpion energy is profound, spiritually and philosophically speaking. Mercury in Libra directed us towards the surface; we did our best to keep the waters calm - smooth sailing or bust. The scorpion wants to know what lies beneath the surface - what makes other people tick? What are they hiding? What are their true motives? In astrology water energy represents our inner body: fantasies, hopes, wishes, dreams, thoughts, emotions. Scorpio lives in the depths of the soul, effortlessly abiding in the mystery and darkness where others dare not go. When balanced, many Scorpios are very intuitive and empathic because they have such an innate understanding of the psyche, top to bottom. Mercury in Libra encouraged us to examine our relationships. Scorpio now wants to probe the mind of the Other for deep insight and understanding, or perhaps to conquer and manipulate.

Scorpio is a rather odd placement for Mercury; in his natural habitat, he moves quickly and freely, rarely dwelling in uncomfortable places. Now we focus like a laser, observing everyone intently. Topics of conversation will be decidedly fatalistic. When taken to the extreme, Mercury in Scorpio may be obsessive, morbid or cutting. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, planet of transformation, rebirth, fear, destruction, power and control. We might have an intellectual interest now in taboos, occultism, sex, unsolved mysteries, deep space or oceanography, among other things. Anything that draws us to the source, ever closer to total awareness. Our minds are sharp, analytical and naturally investigative.

Scorpio is associated with sensuality and sexuality, passion, mysticism and suspicion. When balanced, Scorpios are known for their perseverance and power of sustaining. Many Scorpios love to have long, meaningful conversations about intangible matters in life such as fate or karma. Scorpios are notoriously complex and intellectual. Following things through to completion gives them deep satisfaction.

With Mercury in Scorpio, we are less interested in peacekeeping and more interested in grasping the true essence of our partners and friends. This may be a very emotional time; outbursts will come quickly, surfacing from the well within the heart and gut. This transit will ask you to confront issues that have been lurking undetected, particularly in relation to money, investments or taxes. The scorpion is well equipped to handle arduous and elaborate missions.

Mercury in Scorpio is constantly seeking. We have a one-track mind here that easily sees past what is unnecessary. Scorpion energy is minimalist and purposeful. When balanced, we come into every situation with the ability to read others like a book. We are in touch with our instincts and subconscious mind. When imbalanced, we might be intransigent, unforgiving or cryptic. Stirring things up just for the sake of “making things interesting” is not so far-fetched now. Keywords for this transit are intensity and depth. We choose words that pack a punch: poignant and powerful. If balanced, we have to the opportunity to transcend to new levels of clairvoyance and awareness.

To ascertain your personal Mercury sign, click here.

To learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

YOGA CHALLENGE

In meditation, focus on the mulabandha, the pelvic floor lock, and root chakra. This is our power source, our base. When the root chakra is disturbed, this means that we are not settled. Upon this, everything else rests. Build your foundation securely.

Mantra: I am powerful