Get Clear, Get Moving + Pluto in Aquarius It's snowy and blistery cold in Portland, and I am happy to bring you my mid-January astrological forecast with a warm welcome to new readers! Have you heard that slow-moving Pluto is leaving Capricorn and entering Aquarius on January 20th? I have included a unique addition to the bi-weekly forecast to explain more about Pluto transiting into Aquarius - the beginning of a new era of global transformation. January 16th - 20th Mercury Sextile Saturn Mercury Trine Jupiter January 17th - 20th are good days to open and ground your mind with doable ideas and thoughts. Mercury, the planet that moves and grooves with our mental activities (thinking, processing, communicating), has a positive relationship with Saturn and Jupiter during these dates. It’s an interesting combo with Saturn and Jupiter because the principles of these planets couldn’t be more opposite. Jupiter is “all in” about opportunities for growth, expansion, optimism, and big faith in things working out. Saturn is about containment, focus, and showing up to do the real work to manifest what needs doing to accomplish necessary goals. With Saturn, faith comes when you see the tangible results. Jupiter opens us to possibilities and makes positive relationships with The World: resources, allies, teachers . . . things feel more narrowed and focused with Saturn’s grounding, stabilizing practical influence. With Saturn and Jupiter arriving at your table with Mercury from the 17th - 20th, you can find the required groundedness clearly at the center of whatever is expanding your mind. Sometimes, we can get excited about an idea and go off the deep end without good planning or direction, AND this is less likely to happen during this transit. Saturn’s influence helps you discern what’s worth your time and what is accomplishable. You may simply feel more optimistic about your existing to-do list and refine some of the essential matters of consequence on your list! And if you are making decisions, these days could provide you with an excellent window of opportunity for open-hearted and sound processing. Take notice: Mercury transits out of its post-retrograde shadow on the 21st. I recommend waiting until Mercury emerges from its shadow to put the planetary seal of approval on your now well-clarified final decision. January 18th - 20th Venus Square Neptune During these same dates, and also on the topic of decisions (see above) - Venus is in a challenging Square aspect with Neptune in the sky during the 18th - 20th. While the Jupiter/Saturn inspiration and resolve may be emerging and fermenting nicely, these would not be good days to make financial decisions or big purchases. The sublime enchantments can carry shimmering layers that are more illusionary with the Venus/Neptune square dynamic, and both are planets we consider in astrology when wanting to know about money. And, as mentioned above, it’s advisable to wait until Mercury is out of its post-retrograde shadow (Jan 21st) to make final decisions on significant things. As the Venus Neptune influence passes, Mercury will be out of its shadow, and it will be a better time to finalize your decisions on money if you have any such decisions to make. Venus/Neptune can serve to highlight and illuminate the possibilities of poetic sparkle that are present in your visions. With a few pounds of well-navigated intention, glints in that sparkle can become a reality. Venus and Neptune, in aspect to each other, can also call on and awaken our heart space in relationships into play. The square aspect between these two during the 18th and 20th can make dynamics in your relationship less clear, and you may not be aware of it. A dreamy, romantic/idealistic quality comes with Venus/Neptune planetary combos, and you may see what you want while overlooking things that may also be important to pay attention to. Romance and fun can also ping your awareness of what relationship issues need attention. Best outcome: enjoy the romance and grow with the awareness and attunement. Enjoy the good feelings of Neptune and Venus during these days, and I wouldn’t recommend having serious relationship conversations because that’s when things may get confusing. The aspects with Mercury/Jupiter/Saturn also occurring on this day, as I discussed above, could help this Venus/Neptune dynamic be in service of something worthy. However, again, I recommend pausing until after the 20th to trust in the good vision of clarity about what's presently happening in your relationship dynamics . . . if anything interesting comes up between the 18th and 20th. January 26th - 29th Mercury conjunct Mars With Mercury Trine Uranus January 26th - 29th are “busy-mind” days as Mercury makes aspects with Mars and Uranus. Mercury connects to our minds, and Mars is the planet that moves with the spirit in us to take action. Both will come together in Capricorn. Mercury connects with our communications, and as it blends its energies with Mars from the 26th to the 29th, you may be inclined towards being more assertive and expressive in your voice. Be mindful of situations that could become argumentative. This planetary duo could activate that energy stronger. If you’re having a conflict, remember to communicate from your own experience using “I” statements and avoid blaming the other person. Yes, it is a good rule in general and an especially worthy one under the Mercury/Mars conjunction aspect. The strength in your voice can be greater for speaking more empowered words in service of your truth at this time. Mercury is also in the Trine aspect with Uranus during these days, further opening the flow to novel, creative expression and not feeling so affected by or attached to what others think. This open flow could make any Mercury/Mars matters I mentioned above more impulsive if any arise during this time. The 26th - 29th are also good days to connect with your unique self and see what creative ideas emerge from your mind. Write them down! You may be able to act on these ideas with Mars in the mix, and if you can’t when they are coming, you can reference your thoughts later when you’re ready to implement your ideas. January 28th - 31st Mars Trine Uranus January ends with a nice flowing dynamic between Mars and Uranus when they make a Trine aspect in the heavens from the 28th through the 31st. Mars correlates with our movements and how we act on things we want to do. Uranus connects with our creative selves and the part of us that needs to do things exactly how they are coming through us - the visionary, finding new ways to do things and opening up to more awareness that allows these downloads to come in. When the energy of action-oriented Mars flows with the creative expression of Uranus, it is an excellent time to take some steps in (or towards) those new pathways. The flow of energy between Mercury and Uranus (Jan 26th-29th), mentioned in the previous section, will overlap with this Mars/Uranus dynamic. If you have those sparks of inspiration coming through your mind, the end of January offers a supportive time to act upon those plans if you have the clarity and ability. This Mars/Uranus energy also supports moving away from things, situations, and people that hold you back. Things can change suddenly with Uranus, and you may easily break free in a moment you weren’t expecting or planning. Ultimately, you will most likely feel relieved and more open to a new vision. Explore that space.  Image of Pluto Pluto Enters Aquarius (2024 -2044) Sun Enters Aquarius January 20th On January 20th, slow-moving Pluto leaves its 16-year transit through Capricorn and enters Aquarius. Also, the Sun enters Aquarius on the same day (Celestial Trumpets), highlighting this significant Plutonian shift. Pluto’s movement into a new zodiac sign marks the start of a new era in humanity. Pluto will be slowly transiting through Aquarius until 2044, so although it's a shift, these potent effects take the stage and evolve their depths with slow, steady surety over the next 20 years. Pluto moves with the tides as a great transformer; its effects align with the death and rebirth processes of the significant changes in your life. The experiences during Pluto transits can become “blessings in disguise,” where things change and force you to let go of old ways and attachments so new energy can come in. It can feel hard to experience at the time, but the birth of new things makes it worth it. Aquarius symbolizes the qualities of a radical visionary, opening you to discovering new ideas and ways of making the path forward even better than the one you've left behind. In the highest expression, Aquiarians are humanitarians, working for the greater good of the community and seeing how humanity can progress into better places that serve the collective as a whole. When you combine the above qualities of Pluto with Aquarius, systems that aren’t working anymore for the greater good of humanity will hasten in their breakdown, and the urge to create new ways of existing and being will come in like a strong, unavoidable force. Pluto transits are slow enough that its effects are generational. You can go back in time and learn how the signature stamp of an era correlates with Pluto’s long years of transit through the zodiac sign it was transiting through in those years. In understanding what shifting energies may come as Pluto enters a new sign, it’s helpful to go back in time and see what was happening in history the last time Pluto was in that particular sign. The last time Pluto was at the tail-end of its transit through Capricorn (the sign it will be leaving on January 20th) was the birth of the United States in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. During this time, we had the American Revolution, whose fiery force emerged in concert with the parallel passions that ignited the French Revolution (1778), manifesting just as Pluto entered Aquarius in 1777. Pluto stayed in Aquarius until 1798, just about the entire duration of the French Revolution. Some of the major overarching themes of both these revolutions were a shift in power related to economics, Monarchy, and equal rights of the people. When you study this period and connect it to the operations of our world today - you can notice similar correlations to these late 1700s revolts (different songs, yet the same dances as today). If the current issues follow the same suit as the last time Pluto was in Aquarius, these next 20 years will have us in a global revolution. Click the button below for a more in depth understanding of Pluto and how it relates to you ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns
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Happy New Year - Mercury Goes Direct Northwest Astrologer dancing in a mandala on the Oregon coast Welcome, 2024! The first day of the year brings a feeling of renewal and taking the measure of our times. As we start this new year, Mercury goes direct on New Year's Day, accenting the air of new possibilities. With all the dramatic events happening worldwide, there is a welcome note of optimism as Mercury gets out of retrograde on New Year's Day. In this blog, I will focus on Mercury going direct with important dates to consider and resume my regular bi-weekly astrological forecasting in mid-January. Mercury has been in retrograde for the last three weeks and goes direct on January 1st. As Mercury marched backward (or as it appears in the sky) through the December holidays, you might have noticed numerous schedule changes and difficulties in getting clear on planning. If so, things may start to manifest more clearly in the coming days - All in good time for the start of the New Year. Now that Mercury is in Direct motion, it will take some time to get back to where it was before it went retrograde. This period is called the Shadow Time and will go until January 21st. During this time, you may still be revisiting conversations and getting clear on plans that were coming up since December 12th (the day Mercury went retrograde) and after. Suppose you have a significant decision in the works. In that case, I recommend allowing more time to process your decision mentally and waiting until Mercury leaves its shadow on the 21st to decide fully. The Next Mercury Retrograde is April 1st - No Fools! ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns  Creating Clarity Before the Holidays As the holiday season approaches, we have golden opportunities to create ever greater positive focus in our loving relationships and planning process before we festoon our festivities. 12/1/23 - 12/4/23 Mercury Sextile Saturn As December begins, Mercury and Saturn influence each other in a positive Sextile aspect, creating an excellent field for enhanced organized thinking and planning structure. This brief, helpful transit offers a boon for ease in sharpening mental focus on what’s important to wrap your mind around. The 1st - 4th are good days to make sound decisions on things you’ve been contemplating. Mercury influences our minds and thought processes, while Saturn connects us to life's practical and realistic aspects. These two, in connection, can get your month started with solid planning and focus on what matters the most in how you spend your time and energy. It is also a good time to schedule intentional, productive conversations with whomever you need to clarify plans. This Mercury/Saturn transit also makes having serious conversations easier if you have any in the works. 12/3/23 - 12/5/23 Venus Square Pluto During the 3rd through the 5th, Venus Squares Pluto can bring any internal tensions you’re experiencing in relationships to the surface. If you are more aware of relationship conflicts in the first week of December, this Venus/Pluto dynamic can provide dynamic power to change old patterns. Notice if you’re in a familiar pattern or story regarding love - especially how you receive love. Squares between Pluto and other planets can take us into the more intense internal spaces where our shadows and power live. Understanding how these shadow parts are unconsciously operating in our lives can allow more light to see where we have more choices in responding than what our hidden shadow parts want us to believe. Therefore, if you’re noticing an internal conflict (or external conflict) regarding love and relationships getting awakened from the 3rd through the 5th, allow this time to see where you can choose differently than your usual pattern and see what new ways love can be consciously cultivated in your life. Awareness of our often autopilot patterns of relating can empower deeper access to our authentic, loving nature. Sometimes, we have to “fight for love”; all relationships provide grist for the mill through conflict. This transit can bring such opportunities; it’s all about how we work with it!  12/5/23 - 12/7/23 Venus Trine Saturn Following the Pluto/Venus transit mentioned above, the energy around love and relationships continues to be highlighted with Venus and Saturn in a harmonious Trine from the 5th - 7th. If there have been any struggles in this area of your life leading up to the 5th, then this planetary transit can help create more stability and balance. With Venus and Saturn in a Trine aspect, it is easier to flow with the practical matters of relationships. This planetary configuration can support coming into a landing that allows for creating grounded, realistic solutions to relationship issues that may be currently active. The 5th through the 7th can be a sweet time for creating beauty in your essential relationship(s). Make plans to do something magical, decorate, or do an artistic, creative project during the holidays. This Venus/Saturn transit is a great time for manifesting expressions of love and beauty for you and yours. 12/7/23 - 12/10/23 Mercury Trine Jupiter December 7th and 10th are good days to open your mind more expansively. Jupiter influences our ability to reach out and access inspiration, information, and resources that help us grow in new ways. Mercury influences our mental processes and how we communicate. From the 7th to the 10th, optimism flows easily in your thoughts and conversations with others. If you are feeling mentally blocked or simply want to catalyze more creative potential, utilize the 7th - 10th to open your mind to possibilities that may have been harder to access. It’s an especially good opportunity to do this awakened polishing of your personal programming before Mercury goes retrograde on the 12th. This Mercury/Jupiter energy can also be helpful for writing projects, brainstorming, being in a think tank, and learning something new that expands your world. One caveat is that your thoughts can expand in too many directions simultaneously, making it hard to stay focused. Jupiter’s optimistic influence on your mind can have you thinking all is possible, so make sure you’re not overwhelming yourself with too many irons in the pot from the 7th to the 10th. Choose how you want to harness this expansive, creative astrological weather. 12/12/23 New Moon in Sagittarius Mercury Retrograde As the holiday season warms our spirits, and right on the very day of the New Moon in Sagittarius, our beloved Mercury goes retrograde on Dec 12th. Mercury’s retrograde periods last for three weeks; it’s a supportive time to be more reflective and review the recent weeks leading up to the retrograde. I recommend getting as much of your holiday planning done before the 12th to allow for the mental spaciousness Mercury in retrograde requires. I always want to remind you that Mercury Retrogrades are a time to review, reprocess, and integrate your current thinking about your life. It’s good for recollecting, reflecting on, and metabolizing your recent thoughts about your experiences - journaling, talking things over with confidants, walking, hiking - taking time to gain perspective. When we avoid this opportunity and try to conduct our affairs by charging ahead as if Mercury were moving with a direct forward motion, communication and thinking processes go haywire and run wonky. When we allow the retrograde period as an opportunity to welcome a retreat into integration, we can take the opportunity to recalibrate ourselves and move in harmony with the nature of this time. In all practical matters, allow yourself more time to get from point A to B in your travels (local and long-distance). Delays, setbacks, or needing an alternate route are common during Mercury Retrograde time. Also, decision-making and processing may not be fully clear during Mercury retrograde, and it’s advisable to hold off (if possible) on making big decisions until after January 2nd when Mercury goes Direct again. ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns  How's Mars Moving Through You? As we enter late Autumn and a season of holiday gatherings, your physical energy needs may be coming more into focus. We find ourselves amidst the natural processes of the earth's seasonal changes - trees let go of their leaves, and plants get down to their seeds. Nourishing the roots becomes the focus. Similarly, It’s a natural time of the year to wind down and rein in your outward movements. Still, our mechanized, tech culture doesn’t usually demand less because the seasons have changed. However, when we intentionally turn towards the natural rhythm of this time, It can feel super nourishing to have quieter evenings and sleep more as daylight decreases. Allowing this inward shift aligns you with a natural state of rest and rejuvenation. So, lovelies, let’s look at Mars’s transits over the next couple of weeks, the planet that influences our movements and energy, and see how to best work with the astrological guidance.  11/15/23 - 11/18/23 Mars Trine Neptune Mars and Neptune influence each other in a Trine aspect from the 15th - 18th, creating more of a “just be in the flow” energy. Mars is quick and ready to go, and Neptune blurs the boundaries of the structure of your day and has you connecting to what your soul would like to be doing. This Neptunian flow may be unorganized yet meaningful and different from the day’s tasks. You may want to stroll through the woods or find a cozy spot to read that soul-nourishing book. All to say is that these may not be as productive days as you might want them to be. However, when you follow your bliss, things in your day connect in ways you weren’t expecting, opening you to the magic of how the Universe works. Therefore, from November 15th through the 18th, be intentional about letting the magic move through you. These are great days to allow for soulful, artistic, and intuitive experiences. If you feel a sense to do something you weren’t planning, I encourage you to go in that direction. See what else becomes possible in your day. When we follow the flow of what’s moving through us rather than what our head is telling us we must do, things happen better than we could have planned. Leave the need to be productive for the 19th - 24th when Pluto influences Mars. 11/19/23 - 11/24/23 Mars Sextile Pluto Mars and Pluto connect in a positive and stimulating Sextile aspect from the 19th through the 24th. Unlike the Trine mentioned above, Sextile aspects between planets open more active energy with the planetary influences involved. Additionally, Mars IS an activator, and Pluto intensifies an already dynamic Martian energy, allowing for a more productive time. If the days leading up to the 19th had a level of ungroundedness for you, this Mars/Pluto transit might anchor your movements with strong intentions during these days. Another aspect of consideration for the 19th - 24th is that Mars/Pluto transits can activate the urge for more active, intense expression and even aggression in and around you. The Mars energy in you can say, “This is what I want,” and the Pluto energy in you may do whatever it takes to get it. This energy could be helpful if you need an extra push of assertiveness around things you want to be involved in or accomplish. Just be mindful of strong and quick responses/movements that might not be helpful, as this transit can also intensely activate the ego. Notice where your deep urges are coming from and respond consciously.  11/23/23 - 11/28/23 Mars Square Saturn Mars will move into a square with Saturn as the Thanksgiving holiday arrives. This transit from the 23rd to the 28th will likely slow your physical energy down and help you focus more on what’s essential. The slower influence of a square by Saturn’s sobering realism on Mars can put the kibosh on visions of getting it all done. Some things on your “to-do list” might serve your best interests better by being taken off the list! This transit will help you sort it out. Whether or not “going overboard for the holidays” is customary to you, this year, it is worth asking what would improve your enjoyment to let go of. Saturn’s influence narrows our attention to allow us to focus on finishing the job without getting scattered in too many directions. The Square aspect with Mars (the activator and the doer) can manifest as internal conflicts between what you want to accomplish and what is reasonable. If you push beyond the limitations under this transit, you may get more frustrated by what’s not working out. It’s best to align and focus on what is working and keep moving in that direction. It’s important to mention this transit with the holiday energy, as there may be many community and family gatherings, travel, planning and organizing, and everything else. I recommend slowing down, planning well ahead, and keeping it simple. Notice if you feel like you’re beating yourself up against a wall during the 23rd through the 28th trying to make something happen. If so, turn towards what is moving and flowing, and you will find more successful results. ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns Saturn Turns Direct November begins with a slowed-down Saturn getting ready to turn Direct on the 4th. Saturn has been in retrograde since June 17th. Just before it turns Direct, it will become stationary on the 2nd and 3rd. The first three days of the month may feel more like getting through molasses before Saturn turns Direct and starts moving with forward motion again on the 4th. Saturn goes Retrograde once a year for about 4.5 months, its motion is slower than the orbit periods of the inner solar system planets. It takes approximately 29 Earth years for Saturn to complete one revolution around the Sun, the same cycle that brings our first Saturn return as we approach age 29. This is the time in your late twenties when Saturn returns to the exact place it was in the sky at the time of your birth and resets your course to become more refined on your path and life purpose. Life circumstances will change if needed, depending on one’s level of grounded direction and alignment on their path of manifesting adulthood. If you are over 30 years old, think back and see what changes happened when you were 28-30. If you’re not 27 yet, then you have this still to come, and if you don’t know what you’re doing with your life, the changes during this period will help you sort it out. If one has placed the wheel of their life on an axil with an authentic sense of purpose, such that their worldly actions are truly a reflection of their care for life manifesting… then the Saturn return cycle can stabilize and support that calling. Suppose a young adult entering the Saturn return cycle is looking only for fun or is lost and not interested or able to initiate a true sense of purpose and calling. In that case, the Saturn Return period tends to be fraught with challenges as Saturn demands we cultivate grounded, purposeful intentions. Saturn influences the aspects of your life that relate to the realities of being human on this Earth. In the most basic terms, it’s how you create the structures that allow us to sustain our lives. It’s the drive inside of you to put forth the effort towards building the things in your life that allow you to have a fruitful living - the career/job, financial income, home, food, etc. Saturn’s rulership is Capricorn, the Mountain Goat that steadily makes its way up to the top, doing the hard work that’s required to be successful. Saturn is not so much connected to our Soul’s desire, which is where our creativity and joy can be easily activated, but it tunes us into the level of thinking that arises from doing the hard work in life so that we can have the things that bring us joy. I am not saying this is the only way to create success or joy, but this is Saturn’s way, and we all have a Saturn energy living inside us at varying degrees. The key is not to get bogged down by the forces of this planetary influence that may have you asking yourself: “Is this good enough?” and “Am I good enough?”. The answer is “yes,” but a Saturn invasion into your psyche can make you feel like you must keep working harder to achieve this “enough” -ness. Stemming from these internal voices are fears and insecurities about how you show up in life or about life itself. The power of Saturn is that in making your way through the fears and insecurities and overcoming them by restructuring your thinking, behaviors, and patterns comes incredible personal growth and success. This brings me to an important understanding about Saturn in our lives: if things aren’t working out for you, a good Saturn transit will restructure things to set them right. Depending on how far you were off your course or your level of attachment to how things were (even if not good) determines how challenging a Saturn transit to upright things will be.  11/4/23 Saturn turns Direct Currently, Saturn is transiting through Pisces and is turning to Direct motion on November 4th after being in Retrograde since June 17th. As previously mentioned, anytime planets move in and out of Retrogrades, their transition causes the planet’s appearance, from the Earth’s view, to come to a standstill (stationary) before shifting directions. It’s like the planet is in a holding place before changing directions, and with Saturn, this will occur on Nov 3rd and 4th. Saturn’s influence in our lives has a level of slowing things down, and when it’s stationary, it’s better to just be with the flow of the day instead of trying too hard to make things happen. With Saturn being retrograde for the last 4.5 months, any structures you have been changing may have taken longer than anticipated to see results. Or perhaps you have felt like you have been in the same process for a while and wondering when things will shift. It’s important to recognize that when things take longer to get worked out under a Saturn influence, all the details have been tweaked, i’s dotted, t’s crossed, and the result is typically solid - a stark contrast to rushing to the finishing line haphazardly. As an astrologer, I am always including Saturn transits in my readings as they show the area of life where things are changing or being called to do the work to create new structures. More presently, you can see what part of your life has been influenced by Saturn’s retrograde motion since June. If you’ve been in the midst of changes in your life, such as home renovations, moving, job shifts or new career decisions, changes in your community/friends, intimate relationships, family, or greater changes within yourself, etc., and feeling like it’s slow going, the forward motion of Saturn beginning on the 4th, starts moving things again. However, for most of November, Saturn’s forward motion is progressing slowly. By the end of the month and into December could start to show things are finally coming together. Such processes will likely really gain momentum in the new year, around the time Saturn gets out of its Shadow on Feb 6th. When Feb 6th, 2024, rounds the corner, you can look back on the last seven months and see how all the internal and outward directed efforts were worth it with whatever major structure required your allowance for change in 2023. 11/9 - 11/12 Mercury Square Saturn Days after Saturn turns Direct, it will come into a more challenging Square aspect with Mercury during the 9th - 12th. This planetary configuration focuses on where you may find difficulty around how your mind operates, your thought patterns, and how you engage in conversations. During these days, it will be helpful to slow your communications down and allow yourself more time to process what you’d like to say. The Square aspect between Saturn and Mercury may make conversations more challenging, and it is harder to formulate all your words quickly, as you might want. These aren’t the most optimal days to schedule a meeting or to resolve conflict with another. I recommend waiting until after the 12th to have these conversations if possible. However, If you find yourself in must-needed negotiations, meetings, or having a heart-to-heart talk, keep this Saturn/Mercury dynamic in mind. Remember, Saturn can bring out fears and insecurities. In connection with a Square with Mercury, struggling to find the confidence around speaking can show up, and you may be called to shift some internal patterns so you can access your voice with more self-authority. As Mercury influences your mind and when it’s in a challenging aspect with Saturn, it’s possible that more negative thought patterns could pop up during the 9th - 12th, getting you mentally down. If you find this happening to you, recognize that these are simply thought patterns that can keep you feeling bad about yourself if you let them. The square aspect urges you to wake up, see how your mind is being influenced by negative thinking, broaden your perspective, and create new thought patterns. Perhaps easier said than done, but it is a helpful way to work with the Mercury/Saturn Square dynamic. 11/10 - 11/14 Mars opposing Uranus Mars and Uranus move into opposition during the 10th - 14th, opening up more active and assertive energy in and around you. When Mars and Uranus influence each other, you may be more quick about your movements with how you bounce around your day or even behind the wheel. Mars is our get-up-and-go planet. From an astrological perspective, when we feel what we want to do, Mars is the impetus to make it happen. With Uranus’ need for change, novelty, and renewal in the mix, movements become more sudden or erratic as its influence can have us feeling the need to create more freedom - physically and expressively. When these planetary energies are in opposition, they can feel like opposing forces inside you that need integration. From Nov 10th - 14th, you may notice more nervous energy running through you that can have you jumping from one thing to the next without clear intention. Accidents, including vehicles, are more prone to happen with Mars/Uranus transits. If you notice yourself in a more heightened, frenetic, or labile emotional state during these dates, then consciously slow yourself down and become more mindful of your needs and how you approach your present moments to meet those needs. Some of this Mars/Uranus energy overlaps with the above timing of the Saturn Square Mercury transit, potentially adding more tension, even frustration, to the mix. These dynamics could generate abrupt or curt communication: saying and doing things in an attempt to vent irritations. It may be helpful to take care and exercise compassion with yourself and others with these possibilities, especially on November 11th and 12th. Again, these are good days to tune in to your state of mind. Notice if you’re feeling urgent to break away from situations (even when driving on the road) that are frustrating. Slow down and get intentional. In personal and collective affairs, this planetary transit can be a potent time for abrupt changes. ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns Harvest Intentional Communication During late October, the Astrological energies activate communications themes as Mercury makes aspects with Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter sequentially. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, making it the fastest-orbiting planet in our Solar System, completing one solar revolution in 88 Earth days. In astrology, Mercury influences our thinking, communications, and mental processes. When looking at Mercury in your natal/birth astrology chart, the zodiac sign it occupies at the time of your birth describes the character of how you mentally process and communicate. In learning your natal astrological chart, the sign/house/aspects of Mercury are a valuable package to understand. As Mercury is making connections with Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter in the coming weeks and influencing various aspects of how you mentally process things, this late October period is punctuated by a Full Moon that includes a partial Lunar Eclipse in Taurus. Before you read the planetary transits for specific dates described below, take a moment to reflect on any areas of life where you are having significant communications and thought processes with others or even with yourself. Notice your internal dialogues and the mental processes you’re in regarding the more salient situations in your life, whether related to dynamics with others or circumstances you need to sort out individually. Identify the most significant affairs that require communications and sorting through and consider them as you read Mercury’s transit descriptions below. Oct 20th - Oct 22nd Mercury Square Pluto The weekend of October 20th heads off with Mercury (the ruler of the mind), making a Square aspect with Pluto (the ruler of transformation). Planets create Square aspects when positioned at a 90-degree angle with each other from the Earth’s vantage point. Ninety-degree angles between two forces pose conflicts like two rivers meeting up directly perpendicularly. The place of contact between the rivers will show rough waters - ones you may not want to get caught up in as the forces are more intense at the point of contact. Eventually, the two rivers mix, smooth out beyond the point of contact and flow together. This concept is similar to two planets afflicting each other in the Square aspect. With the Mercury/Pluto Square from the 20th through the 22nd, your thinking and communications can become dramatic with Pluto’s powerful forces coming in. Pluto’s energy takes things to a more intense place. Your point of view may come out more emphatically, which, depending on the situation, may or may not be beneficial. Mercury/Pluto transits can help us find our voice more powerfully or show us with clarity where we are trying to overpower or dominate conversations. This transit between Mercury and Pluto can be a potent time to speak with authority. It can also be a time that brings conflict decisively into focus in communication and negotiations. The current collective conflicts around the world could intensify under this transit. As always, astrology allows us to witness the resonant archetypes at a particular time. We are free to act and create from our alignment; the energies move and offer possibilities. At the highest expression, this transit could allow for powerful negotiations, and at its most basic capacity, it can inflame tensions and violence. In contemplating what type of conversations you continue to have from the first half of October, focus on your thoughts and communications related to these dynamics from the 20th to the 22nd. Notice your attachments to ways of thinking and being that keep you engaged in the same internal and external conflicts you’re accustomed to. Ask yourself: What needs letting go to allow new levels of mental engagement to occur? What truths need acknowledging? Over the weekend of the 20th, notice if you’re in situations, conversations, or cognitive processes that require you to honor and/or to part with certain aspects of your thinking that are holding you back from entering new ground with yourself and others. If your mind is stuck on rehashing the past, see what patterns you can consciously shift. As you begin to notice and make shifts, the following days will continue to support you in communications and thinking as Mercury makes a positive Trine with Saturn. Oct 22nd - 24th Mercury Trine Saturn Mercury and Saturn move into a supportive Trine aspect with each other on the 22nd - 24th, supporting ease and flow in thinking and communications with well-grounded, practical roots holding your thought formations. Saturn’s influence anchors us by creating structures in our lives based on the practical and realistic side of things. Your mind can feel more organized in a Trine connection with Saturn and Mercury. If you had any communication conflicts arise during the above Mercury/Pluto transit, then use the after period on the 22nd - 24th to come back to your center. The realizations you had around your thinking patterns or communications during the Pluto Square will have an opportunity to evolve and settle into new and solid mental constructs with the Saturn Trine. You may feel more practical in your approaches to situations as you allow a new structure pattern in your mind to take form. The 22nd - 24th is also an excellent time to put your mind towards accomplishing tasks. If you often struggle to get into a suitable mental space to start working on things, I recommend taking advantage of the supportive Mercury/Saturn energy during these days. It is also an opportune time to organize organize organize! If you prioritize this, you may find you’ll have success.  Oct 28th - 30th Mercury & Mars Oppose Jupiter Oct 28th Full Moon in Taurus & Partial Lunar Eclipse Conjunct Jupiter October 28th is an astrologically active day, with Mercury and Mars joining and blending their energies and opposing Jupiter with a Full Moon accompanied by a partial Lunar Eclipse. When Mercury and Mars come together, there’s often more you want to say. Communication with others becomes more active, and there’s usually no holdback when speaking up. The 28th could be a good day to stand up for yourself! The blending of these two planets alone could be enough, but they also make an opposition to Jupiter at the same time. Expressive, expansive, active communication abounds! Jupiter’s influence can create enormous energy around whatever matters are going on. It allows for a more optimistic outlook, but when it’s in opposition to another planet, there’s a challenge to integrate that energy. Whatever you may be involved with on the 28th - 30th may come with more energy than anticipated. Oppositions between planets show what needs integration, and during these days, you may have more abundant energy and could get lost in feeling scattered in too many directions. When Mercury and Mars oppose Jupiter, you may find your mind and actions wanting to go everywhere and take care of things all at once. This optimism may render you scattered by over excitement. Therefore, pay attention to your thoughts/communications and what you want to put your energy into during these dates. It’s powerful energy if worked with intentionally, or it could be just a whirlwind. The Taurus Full Moon on the 28th can help you get centered in all this expansive energy. The Full Moon reflects our emotional body, and Taurus is an Earth sign and brings supportive layers of emotional stability and groundedness to the mix. The Moon will join up with Jupiter in Taurus. Jupiter’s influence expands the energy of whatever it is involved in, making emotions bigger than usual on the 28th. A Full Moon that includes a Lunar Eclipse (darkening and reappearing) adds extra emphasis on letting go. Ask yourself: what behaviors, thoughts, or actions do you notice yourself having that create emotional leakage or instability that want to come into the light? You may be able to feel this more acutely with Jupiter’s involvement in this eclipse. Explore this inquiry and notice/journal and what comes up for you. See if you’re too attached to the ways of thinking and doing things that hold you stuck in unhealthy patterns. You can use these noticings and/or journal notes in the future to reflect on when you’re feeling ungrounded or off your rocker and see if you notice any patterns related to what you wrote down showing up for you. Get back on your rocker with clear eyes, and Rock on! ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns Think. Talk. Act. With the astrological insights covering the next few weeks, I will focus on the current transits of Mercury and Mars; these dynamics influence the patterns of tones and textures in your thinking/communications and actions/will. Our dear Mercury stopped Retrograding on September 15th. As October begins, Mercury, the astrological influencer of your mind and communications, will be out of its post-retrograde shadow - allowing you to move forward from the re-visiting and re-hashing of plans mode you may have been experiencing into a dance routine that brings more mental clarity. Whatever Mercurial matters (realms of your psyche experienced in words, cognitive processes, communications, travel, plans, etc.) you’ve been with since August and September can now present you with a more solid basis for understanding your decisions and planning. Mars influences our will and the aspects of ourselves that want to take action, execute plans, and go after what we want. If you want to learn more about how this aspect personally affects you, look to what house and sign Mars is in your natal/birth astrology chart. The energy of the zodiac sign Mars is in your birth chart indicates how you take action in your day and life. Some astrology signs, such as the Fire (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius), will ignite the Martian energy into movement, resulting in an “I am just going to go for it,” whatever the “it” may be. However, Mars in Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) can add a layer of taking action from a more sensitive/intuitive place and following your gut instincts - feeling it out to see if it “feels” right. Currently, Mars is in Libra, a secondary Air sign (Gemini is the first, and Aquarius is the third). Libra connects us to our relationships, sharing with others and being concerned for their well-being. With Mar’s action influenced by its current transit through Libra, there tends to be a need to find ways to act that bring balance to what's happening around you. What you are putting your energy towards is more likely to keep you connected to others. There is also an aspect of indecisiveness that comes with the Libra energy - the ability to find merit in the reason for both sides of things; decisions are more complex with Libra’s influence. When it comes to taking action, these next couple of weeks could come with decisions that have you thoroughly thinking of all the aspects before making the call to action. It is just the way it is with Libra! We can see how Mercury (our languaging mind) and Mars (our drive for action) can influence us to get to the next places in our lives. Their up-and-coming transits will be helpful in this pursuit. Also, both planets will connect with Pluto in the next few weeks, allowing a more profound transformative shift to the everyday areas where you engage your mind and energy. Mercury opposes Neptune 1-3rd Mercury opposes Neptune on the 1st through the 3rd. Neptune connects to the soul aspect of ourselves in the greater universe, and as it opposes Mercury, it can challenge the everyday world in which your mind is engaged. Neptune’s influence dissolves the boundaries we create in this earthly life to form a more meaningful, soulful existence. The energy of Neptune wants to melt away and dissolve linear systems into watery depths of wonderment and whimsy. One way to understand this influence: Have you ever reached a point at a given time in your life where you weren’t interested in the same things anymore? These feelings often get attributed to depression, but it’s also the aspect of Neptune helping you shift towards more meaningful things. In the in-between stage, the things that used to bring you joy don’t seem to anymore. As time passes, new things that you hadn’t been able to see yet start emerging. The key is not to get trapped in what’s not having your attention anymore, which can feel like depression. These first three days of October may offer similar feelings but on a lesser scale. If you have difficulty getting grounded with tasks that require mental focus, see what more significant aspects of your existence are calling to be more integrated within you. Your everyday affairs may need some soul integration, allowing these activities to become more aligned with what’s soulful and truly meaningful to you. As Mercury influences your thinking, you may feel a little spacey in your mind during this opposition from Neptune transit. If you’ve got your mind set on things you want to do and then feel like there is something you would rather be doing - follow this knowing. Neptune’s instincts can get us to be in the right place at the right time for something more meaningful, magical, and serendipitous to happen. These moments often come when we don’t allow our mind to talk us out of our gut instincts at the moment. While you have to tend to the daily needs of your charges, surrender and trust your instinctual knowing!  Mercury Trine Pluto 3rd - 7th As Mercury’s oppositional position with Neptune fades in its influence on the 3rd, Mercury will orbit into a Trine aspect with Pluto on the same day through the 7th. Trines between planets allow for the ease and flow of the astrological energetic influences of the planets involved to work in harmony. From here, opportunities come your way. In other words, Mercury’s mental influence connects with Pluto’s transformative power to create a more potent energy expression of new thoughts and ideas. Pluto’s influence in our lives helps us become more aware of habits, patterns, and reactions to life that have us responding from our subconscious realms. Pluto’s transits at certain times make us more aware of these. Sometimes, it’s not what we want to see, but ultimately, it is best for our growth and transformation and allows new life aspects to emerge. It creates a death and birth process, where letting things go brings something new into your life. During the 3rd through the 7th, with the Trine between Mercury and Pluto, there is more support to help you get out of old ways of thinking and shift into new places of awareness. Pluto’s influence can also give you more power to your voice. These are great days to schedule a meeting or an interview if you want to communicate well and impress others. It’s also a potent time to think things through honestly. Pluto’s trine brings positive power to communication and thinking. Mars square Pluto 7th - 10th As the old saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words”. Following these mind-influencing Mercury transits, Mars, the take-action planet, begins to make transits with both Pluto and Saturn, getting your new thoughts into taking action in the second week of October. From the 7th through the 10th, Mars will make a Square with Pluto, challenging your old ways of doing things while looking for a new pathway of expression and action. As described under the Mercury/Pluto Trine section, Pluto urges us to transform through a death and birth process. When presented in a Square aspect with Mars, you may find yourself in an internal conflict regarding a habitual way of responding to things that don’t feel right. This discomfort won’t abate unless you find new ways to respond. It could arise from an external circumstance that internally triggers you. Pay close attention to your internal responses to situations you may have from Oct 7th - 10th. Squares in astrology encourage us to grow as we make our way out of patterns of doing things that keep us stuck in the past. Pluto Square Mars energy can be intense as it brings awareness to old psychological patterns that need to shift for you to align better with your present self. In these moments, it may feel like we have no choice but to change and grow!  Mars Trine Saturn 12th - 15th As we round off the first half of October, Mars moves into an opportune Trine with Saturn, adding a layer of groundedness to how you move about in your day. Any Intense internal conflicts that may have come up for you during the Mars/Pluto Square transit (7th - 10th) may have come with urges to change what’s no longer working for you. This Mars Trine Saturn transit from the 12th - 15th can allow you to feel more supported towards creating a reliable new structure for yourself with more ease and flow. Saturn’s influence helps us stay connected to reality and the practical side. There can be a feeling of restriction that doesn’t allow you to tend to all the irons in the pot but instead has your attention centered on the most important things to work on. Mars has fast energy, and Saturn is slow. A Trine between Mars and Saturn can allow you to balance the need to act on something with the need to take it slow to allow and make sure you’re covering all your bases. ~  With astrology, the most helpful advice is always individual and personalized based on your astrology birth chart and life situations. Astrology readings with Laura can help you: ~ Align with your unique talents and opportunities ~ Move through life's challenges more intentionally ~ Gain a new awareness of major life changes ~ Know when is the best time to take action ~ Find clarity on self-limiting patterns Relationship and Finances |
AuthorLaura Allmacher RN, LAc, has been practicing in the field of medicine for over 20 years, dedicating most of this time to the healing arts and natural medicine. Along with a current acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice, Laura also provides professional astrology readings as a form of a guide to help bring timing, meaning and perspective to deeper life patterns and situations so one can make the most out of their incarnation. Archives
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