Note to Readers: Today we had planned to distribute the Moonshine Horoscope, however, I had several projects backed up and didn’t have time to get to it. We will have that for you next week. This article is adapted from Monday’s blog post and covers this week’s exciting astrology. — efc
Dear Friend and Reader:

This is going to be an interesting week — astrologically and otherwise (however in astrology, “astrology” and “otherwise” are the same thing). The two most significant moves in the sky involve Mercury and Venus — the two known ‘major’ planets whose orbits are shorter than that of the Earth. Mercury and Venus are considered personal planets in that we often experience their effects viscerally, as emotions, sensory data and ideas. When they form patterns with slower-moving points, as is happening now, they can have dramatic effects.

Chart for Mercury stationing direct on Wednesday. Note that its number value is similar to that of several other points shown — including Venus, Neptune and the lunar nodes. You read the chart by reading the numbers; I have selected a grouping where everything is working on everything else, in a way that’s obvious. The numbers tell a story, based on the motion and speed of the points involved.

Let’s start with Mercury stationing direct, which happens Wednesday at 1:40 am EDT. This is a planetary setup that is packed with tension, energy and potential. It’s in full color and suggests that a process underneath the obvious is gradually unfurling. The dharma piece is that the lunar nodes are involved; this is a potential point of action.

As you likely know, Mercury retrograde is associated with things (such as computers) acting weird, and people’s minds acting even weirder. All the usual suggestions apply: Don’t buy things. Back up your work. Do one thing at a time. This is NOT the time to update your software, or to fix minor problems that you can live with for a few days.

And pay attention. However, with this event, there’s a lot more.

When any Mercury retrograde ends or begins, Mercury stays in the same little zone of the zodiac for about a week (usually it goes whipping along). In the midst of going so slowly, it then switches directions, which has a charming way of fucking with the minds of the unwitting, the hapless and even, occasionally, the pros. This phase is usually called the ‘Mercury storm’ and it tends to be the most chaotic part of the retrograde. There are two for each retrograde — one at the beginning and one at the end. We are in one of them now.

Mercury is stationing direct in a close aspect to three other points: it’s trine the North Node of the Moon, and sextile the South Node (amplifying the communication power of Mercury); and it’s quincunx Neptune (a slippery-feeling aspect that could make it difficult to discern true from false). Neptune for its part is square the lunar nodes, meaning that everything hinges on sorting out truth from illusion. How much is everything? It depends on what happens this week (it’s only Tuesday and it’s been a heck of a week so far).

About three hours after Mercury stations direct, the Moon comes along, enters Taurus, and gives it a bump. If you set a hockey puck on the kitchen floor and push it, it will hardly budge. If you set it on slick ice and push it, it will take a little ride — and that’s what the Moon’s square to Mercury from Taurus feels like.

First, the cautionary part of the story. The upshot of all of this is to slow down and pay attention. Sunday evening I was noticing how many cars were being driven through a thunderstorm without the headlights on. In whatever the heck you’re doing, if you’re driving through the rain, slow down, turn on your headlights.

Hail and farewell Venus in Gemini. Photo of the 2012 transit of Venus by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

That is a metaphor; it will help you avoid colliding with the dork who is simultaneously stuffing Chick-fil-A down his throat while speeding, tweaking his GPS and talking on the phone. Slowing down in the rain is a good idea because the road is slippery and your slower speed will increase your available reaction time in an emergency.

Then we have the creative part of the story. This is a fantastic chart for putting ideas into motion. It’s especially true for interesting, creative ideas that blend words and pictures, words and music, or all of the above. So if you’ve got something brewing, get it going. If you’re the camera type, keep yours on you at all times. This is the week that all those “iReporters” at CNN are going to do their best work while the gabbing heads can’t shut up about the stock market.

As for that second transit. Venus enters Cancer today at 9:43 am EDT. This happens a bit before Mercury stations direct, but the two events are close enough to be synchronous; that is, part of the same thing. Notably, they are in aspect, a subtle contact called a semi-sextile, which tends to bridge two opposing concepts (for example, Cancer is a water sign and Leo is a fire sign).

Normally, Venus changing signs is not a big deal (though it’s always fodder for daily horoscopes because it will be dependably interesting, you can see the theme, and it lends itself to writing a good story).

However, this Venus sign-change is special because 1) Venus has been in Gemini since April 3 of this year 2) where it was retrograde for six weeks during that time, 3) where we also had the big transit of Venus, the last such event till 2117 and 4) because Venus is ingressing a cardinal sign, aspecting the Aries Point, Uranus and Pluto.

We have the whole Venus in Gemini story coming to an end this week, and a new story begins as Venus jumps onto the cardinal cross and starts dancing with the Uranus-Pluto square. I cover that in Tuesday’s daily edition. And I’ll see you with a new subscriber edition Friday morning.

Lovingly,

Dear Friend and Reader:

My monthly sign interpretations for August will be distributed Friday. I wrote the horoscopes last week, working slowly and carefully over four work sessions. My monthly horoscope is an unusually in-depth analysis of your astrology and that of the people close to you. I recommend reading your Sun and rising signs (at the least). You can find your ascendant by visiting Astro.com — though you do need your birth time for that. It’s also helpful to know your Moon sign, particularly given that we have a Moon sign horoscope that publishes monthly.

The Sri Yantra, which represents the co-mingling of the masculine and feminine divine. This one is from Nepal, c. 1700. Gouache on cloth 20 x 24 in.

Covering the current astrology we have two pieces from Daily Astrology & Adventure — one on the Sun’s ingress into Leo, and another on the Sun’s aspect to asteroid Kassandra.

In today’s short edition I’m here to preview tonight’s Planet Waves FM (the first of a series of programs). For many years I’ve both wondered about the concept of ‘tantric sex’ and also been on the prowl for anyone who really understands the concept in a way they can relate it to others, shorn of jargon and pretense.

So I asked my friend and neighbor Sheri Winston, herself a sex educator and author, if she knew anyone and she recommended Patricia Johnson and Mark Michaels. I wanted not an academic description but rather a discussion with people who were both informed and living their path — and I hit the jackpot.

Tonight, however, I start a special four-part series on sexuality with an interview with Sheri, who introduces the topic of pleasure, play and healing. This is a friendly, informative one-hour conversation that includes how to focus your quest for connection, pleasure and creativity. Look for that tonight on Daily Astrology & Adventure. In the intro I cover the current astrology and make contact with a few recent news events.

Next week, we’ll move on to the somewhat more complex subject of tantra. That word represents a whole cosmology, not just a set of Eastern erotic techniques (that’s called the Kama Sutra). In a 90-minute interview that I will divide between two programs, Patricia and Mark describe in an accessible way the ideas and life-path associated with this difficult-to-describe term. Speaking with them this past Friday afternoon, I felt like I was handed a missing key to my understanding of the world.

One other thing, from the recent past — in case you missed our announcements, I went down to New Orleans in May and covered the United Astrology Conference (UAC), a once-every-four-years conference. While I was there, I did many interviews with some of the brightest astrologers I know, as well as healers and other thinkers. That’s been posted to a permanent archive on Planet Waves, which I think you’ll appreciate.

Thanks to your subscriptions and product purchases, Planet Waves FM is presented without commercial interruption. Use your imagination and consider what it would be like to be pelted by advertisements for 20 minutes out of every hour, then relax and appreciate the uninterrupted calm. Here is an archive of recent programs.

I will see you Friday morning with the monthly horoscope, a look ahead at the astrology of August and a short reading of the chart for the 2012 Olympic games, which begin Friday night.

Lovingly,

Dear Friend and Reader:

I’m here with a short note about today’s astrology. At the moment the Moon is in Cancer (sensitive, receptive, moody), making many aspects to planets you may be familiar with: the Uranus-Pluto square, which currently includes Mars in Libra. Mars, Uranus and Pluto are now in a very close alignment — and today the Moon is aspecting all of these planets at once.

This is emotionally edgy astrology. I would not be surprised if even the most level-headed person was feeling out of sorts, reactive, pissed off or sad today.

You can also harness this energy and focus it, though that will require some mental override, just as we’re at the beginning of a Mercury retrograde. It is an option, though it will take clarity and honoring the values that matter to you the most (signified by Mercury in Leo). Borrowing some common sense from A Course in Miracles, remember that what matters matters, and what doesn’t matter does not.

The aspects are peaking now and the sensation associated with them doesn’t start to cool down a bit until later today, though where the emotions are involved, the settling down period can be longer. Here are a couple of other elements in the sequence as it unfolds over the next day or so.

Soon after the Moon passes through the cardinal grand cross, it trines Chiron in Pisces (water sign to water sign). This provides an opening for healing. That might come in the form of figuring out what was really bothering you, making amends, opening up emotionally where you were previously responding by shutting down, or finding yourself in smoother waters. Do your best to pass that forward.

Chiron in Pisces is involved; music will help.

Also remember that the Moon is at the end of its monthly cycle — the New Moon is late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning in most of our readership areas (Thursday at 12:24 am EDT). This suggests that a cycle of experience is coming to a close. Work out your emotions, wrap up your business and get ready to invoke a new vision.

While you’re at it, make sure you get enough food, air, water and human contact. Spend some time at home; we’re talking about the Cancer New Moon here.

See you with a regular edition on Friday morning.

With love,

PS — don’t miss part 2 of my interview with Elisa Novick tonight on Planet Waves FM, available on Daily Astrology & Adventure.

Note to Readers: The July monthly horoscope will be distributed Friday morning, after the Sun has ingressed the sign Cancer. If you would like to review your June horoscope, here is the link. — efc

Dear Friend and Reader:

In yesterday’s edition of Daily Astrology, I explained the background on the past 11 years of stressful astrology — a long series of aspects involving Saturn, which have felt like one test after the next, without our ever finding out our grade. If you want to know a bit about what you’ve been through since 2001, that post may give you a clue.

The fixed star Betelgeuse, associated with fame, success and ‘rare engines of war’. I guess that could mean success in war — for the winner.

Today is the second Gemini New Moon within 30 days. The first happened with the Sun in the first degree of Gemini — that was an annular (not annual) solar eclipse. It’s unusual to have two New Moon events in the same sign the same year, though it’s possible when the first one happens on the first or second day the Sun is in the sign.

Today we have a New Moon at the very end of Gemini, in something I’ve come to describe as the Atlantis degree — 28+ Gemini, properly known as the 29th degree of Gemini. As I mentioned, this degree is like the eye of a needle through which you can thread the charts for the Sept. 11 incident, the Boxing Day earthquake of 2004, WikiLeaks, the Fukushima nuclear meltdown and a number of other world horoscopes. I’ve been watching the horoscopes of news and historic events for a while and I would rate this in the top three strangest things I’ve ever seen. I’ve long pondered what it’s about — and I’ve done some digging. I cover the territory in this subscriber series article from 2011 — though here are some additional thoughts.

This time of year when we face toward the Sun in the direction of Gemini, we have our back to the Galactic Center (which is located directly across the sky in late Sagittarius). I believe the Galactic Center, the core of our little (300 billion star) spiral island in space, serves as a homing signal; it pulls us into the galaxy, toward our spiritual home. When we face away from the core, we’re looking out into the vast — and understandably frightening — expanse of intergalactic space. That can have a lonely feel. Some evening this time of year, get a feeling for how comforting the night sky is when we face away from the Sun and into the center of the milky cosmic clouds of our galaxy. That is the direction of home.

When we face late Gemini, we’re also facing in the precise direction of the fixed star Betelgeuse (a star within our own galaxy, located about 1,800 light years from our Sun). Bernadette Brady describes Betelgeuse as having an influence that can bring “unbridled success without complications.”

The question is, success for what, or for whom? That works both ways — successful happy ventures, and successful disasters. Brady, one of the fixed star masters of our day, also describes Betelgeuse as “everlasting fame.” William Lilly, the 17th century maestro, says the star represents “rare engines of war” — not a bad description of the Sept. 11 incident.

The location of Betelgeuse, a reddish star near the famous Belt of Orion. Photo: Wikipedia.

So, with these options, I am going to put my chips on unbridled success without complications — though I am concerned about how this New Moon activates so many charts that have wrought so much trouble for so many. I think we can use it as a release point; as a thing we can go beyond.

Speaking of going beyond, today is the day that Mars leaves the degrees where it was retrograde much of the winter — it reaches the end of its second ‘shadow phase’ today at 4:18 pm EDT.

The New Moon is followed Wednesday by the Cancer ingress of the Sun, or the northern summer solstice (southern winter solstice). This is by definition an Aries Point event, as the Sun is square one of the tropics and thus in aspect to the spot where the zodiac begins. This zone of the zodiac (involving early Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) is like an intersection of private life and public life, something true not just in theory but also apparent in the study of many charts.

Then on Sunday, June 24, we have the first of the long-anticipated Uranus-Pluto squares. This is what I’ve been calling the 2012 aspect. There will be seven of these between Sunday and early 2015, so this is really the beginning of an astrological era that’s been warming up for at least two years; that’s how Uranus-Pluto aspects work. They take so long to develop (this one has its roots in a conjunction of the same two planets in 1965-66) that they are once-in-a-lifetime events. And they always arrive with turns of history, usually in liberationist style.

On Monday, June 25, Jupiter and Neptune form their one and only square for this cycle; Jupiter is in Gemini and Neptune is in Pisces. This is a slippery aspect, suggesting that one not be too idealistic — realism is the key. Investigate something until you know the truth of the matter. Misunderstandings can happen with the best intentions, so maintain a posture of gentle, persistent, non-accusatory inquiry till you figure out what’s really going on.

Next, Venus stations direct in early Gemini, after a six-week retrograde. That happens Wednesday, June 27. So will end the third inner planet retrograde of the year. As this happens, the Sun in Cancer moves into an exact square to Uranus in Aries and an opposition to Pluto in Capricorn, which will activate the still-exact Uranus-Pluto square. Notably, this is within hours of the first quarter Moon, which is to say that the Moon and the Sun pass through the Uranus-Pluto square within about 48 hours of one another, just as Venus stations direct.

This all leads up to the Capricorn Full Moon on July 3, which happens the same day that Mars ingresses Libra and jumps onto the cardinal cross, into the mix of Uranus and Pluto.

Now, if you think all of this is a lot, you’re right — it is. These events are closely concentrated, and happening one after the next. But we’ve already been through a lot; and there is some good news amidst the concentrated sequence of events. Venus and Mars are making moves associated with direct motion, which will release energy and help unravel complications. We can also be grateful that the eclipses are behind us.

Uranus square Pluto has been building up for decades like a thunderstorm that many of us wish would just finally happen — it’s been a long time coming, and this aspect is going to torture some people with dark agendas (or who are parked on a low density level) while it spurs on those who are seeking liberation. There may be some tension (as described by the aspect I talked about yesterday — Saturn opposite Eris, and the Jupiter-Neptune square), but at least we will get to play a good game. If you have to kick some ass, or tell it like it is, be a good sport.

All in all, I think the moral of the story is KNOW YOUR FACTS. Capital letters in italics. This is cautionary information from Jupiter square Neptune. Take things one step at a time. Allow things to develop, and guide your life gently. Remember — this is all part of one process. There’s one story arc involved, and that would be the path of your life. Remember too that what happens over the next few weeks is an extension of the events that commenced with the solar eclipse on the first day of Gemini.

Recalling a line from the Patric Walker horoscope, the stars in their courses may guide us, but it is we who must row the boat.

With love,

Dear Friend and Reader:

My old therapist Joe once said if he were to hang a sign over his counseling room door, it would say, “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” If I were to hang one it would say, “Curiosity will set you free.” One of the most certain ways to grow — indeed, the essential ingredient — is to be curious about yourself.

One of many ‘dick sticks’ made by sculptor Dan Zeigler of Flint, MI. This one is being used as a paperweight to hold open Esoteric Astrology by Alice A. Bailey (AAB) and the Tibetan, Djwal Khul.

Gemini is nothing if not curious. It’s a whole sign dedicated to the interplay of polar forces, of opposites, of little kids who are motivated by nothing but their quest for experience. Cue: Esoteric Astrology by Alice Bailey, page 391 of the paperback edition. “In Gemini, Venus reveals the desire for the pairs of opposites for each other for this is the underlying theme of the entire creative and evolutionary process — the interplay of opposites.”

Today at 10:33 am EDT, Venus stations retrograde in Gemini. For the next 43 days, Venus will take us on an introspective journey into many of the opposites and inner polarities that we contain, many of them emotional and psychological. Venus is one of the guardians of the sexual realm, and in Gemini, the dance of opposites will have an extended opportunity to explore within those polarities, which are being livened up by the attractive quality of Venus.

For this experience, remember to take your curiosity and use it like one of those awesome overpowered Maglites as you investigate who you are and what you’re made of. Curiosity needs to be balanced by compassion, and Venus will help provide that element. What you get with Venus in an air sign (associated with yang energy) is a quality of assertiveness that’s not usually present when Venus is in a water or earth sign. Curiosity is one form that assertiveness might take. Another could be the desire to communicate about things you don’t usually talk about.

Many times I’ve observed that Venus is the planet that grants intelligence. Mercury can bestow wit, it moves information, it has ideas — but true intelligence, emotionally grounded and supported by authentic values, I believe is often described by Venus. In Gemini, Venus will be in a Mercury-ruled sign, doing something that Mercury does a lot of — being retrograde. So we will have all the tools we need to conduct an adventurous inner investigation, which will be safe as long as you remember curiosity and compassion.

You may not have words for the things you discover. Twins have an interesting property — when left alone and unattended by adults, they will develop speech unique to them. This is called an ideoglossia or sometimes cryptophasia. Think of this as a language that manifests between two people that cannot be understood by anyone else. Occasionally, ideoglossia manifests within a single individual — a language between you and yourself.

You don’t need a lot of people to understand you; you understanding you is a good start and even one other person will make a difference. The contact will likely be synchronous or seemingly coincidental. As you move through your inner spaces, notice who seems to understand you intuitively. Let your curiosity guide you!

Venus stations retrograde on May 15, 2012. Chart is set for Kingston. Notice the grand air trine — Venus in Gemini (blue, left side with a 24 next to it), Saturn in Libra (yellow, bottom of chart, with at 24 next to it) and Nessus in Aquarius (very light blue, right side of chart with a 26 next to it). Eris (red, very top of chart, with at 22 next to it) turns this into a kite pattern — it’s the exit point from the cycle indicated by the grand trine. If you get stuck in your head, the bold escape from that is to take action, but you might not be able to predict the results.

Here are couple of facts from the chart for Venus stationing retrograde.

♥ Venus is opposite the Galactic Core (three degrees away) when it stations retrograde. It’s been close to this degree for a few days. I think of this point as being directly in line with the messages emanating from the heart of our galaxy; imagine this as a homing signal that is viscerally spiritual.

♥ The Moon is in Pisces, square Venus. Moon square Venus can have an emotionally needy feeling, and the Pisces Moon is the astrological definition of emotive. If you handle your sense of need with compassion and curiosity, it can be a dependable way to translate your feelings into the realm of desire. Desire feels more voluntary and gentler than need.

♥ Venus is stationing retrograde exactly trine Saturn in Libra. Venus is the ruler of Libra and Saturn is exalted in Libra. This trine suggests that there will be actual flow of emotions, though on the level of air signs — easier to move through and to describe in language. I suggest being careful about over-talking. If you’re going to overdo anything with language, make it writing, so that this way you have something to show for it.

♥ Venus is trine Nessus, the bad boy of the centaurs who is most often associated with shadowy sexual material. Nessus and Saturn are also in a trine, so this is a grand air trine. That has the hint of caution about going in circles (one way that grand trines can manifest — a feeling of being caught in a loop). To find your way out, indulge in the divine chaos or focus on a specific subject or theme.

♥ Mars is about to oppose Chiron. That aspect is exact on Thursday, but it’s going at full strength right now. This is the spirit of the healing-spiritual ‘warrior’ (if there can be such a thing). Think of it as a brave heart and the ability to focus your intentions on the greatest good for all concerned.

One last thing I would note is that because Venus is in a Mercury-ruled sign, we may have something of a Mercury retrograde kind of effect for the next few weeks. Be mindful if communication seems to get slippery — pause for a review, or switch modes (for example, change from email to telephone to get a better grip). I suggest backing off on the outbound cash flow if you can; avoid making investments in anything other than something you actually need. (I am watching with one eye to see how the Facebook IPO turns out, but that’s another topic entirely.)

For today: all hail the goddess of curiosity.

Lovingly,

I cover Venus retrograde in Spring Checkpoint 2012.