No matter how good things get for you, there’s always going to be room for improvement. Fortunately, you live in a world where things can (and often do) get better. Even so, and paradoxically, two important conditions that make betterment possible also have a bad reputation.
The first condition necessary for progress is change. Yet, somehow, change can provoke fear as easily as it can stimulate hope. Although it’s not quite as clear a requisite as change, the other proviso for amelioration is uncertainty.
If you stop to think about it, change would be impossible without uncertainty. In spite of that simple fact, however, it’s entirely natural for even the most reasonable person to confront the unknown with apprehension.
So here you are, a reasonable person in between ways of being with your world. You are capable of thinking one way, but also prone to feeling an entirely different way about two of most fundamental conditions of your existence. Fortunately, there are two things you can do to move away from being stuck in between, and move towards improvement.
The first thing you can do is orient yourself. For as long as there have been people on this planet, it’s been essential to know where you are in relation to both where you have been and where you are going. Going back as far as we know of ourselves, one sure way to get your bearings is to look at the sky. Even though the sky is constantly changing, order and patterns are still discernible. Astrology, in turn, provides a systematic way of deriving discernment.
The second thing you can do to welcome change and embrace uncertainty is get perspective. Your own life provides some perspicacity. Insights from your friends and teachers offer a valuable supplement to your experience. Beyond what you and our contemporaries can bring to the table, however, is the perspective only an exceptional astrologer can provide.
Exceptional astrologers combine the distillation of thousands of years of lineage with a stable, realistic personality, a trustworthy ethic and a capacity for innovation. Few offer that combination more reliably and affordability than Eric Francis. Furthermore, seldom has there a better time for you to avail yourself of two of Eric’s current offerings.
Yesterday, Mercury entered the narrow corridor of Taurus in which it will spend nearly eight weeks moving forth, back and forth again.
That’s right, we have a Mercury retrograde coming up, beginning April 28, and Mercury is even now moving over a slice of the zodiac it will revisit two more times. That’s another way of saying Mercury has entered the so-called ‘shadow phase’, which proceeds the actual retrograde by about two weeks.
If there is anything in astrology that provokes the same sort of paradoxes as the words ‘change’ and ‘uncertainty’, it’s a Mercury retrograde. If there is any astrologer who can provide you with orientation and perspective, it’s Eric.
For purposes of figuring out where you are in relationship to where you have been (as well as where you want to go), perhaps nothing can orient you better than Eric’s Spring Reading. That’s because the upcoming Mercury retrograde will not take place in a vacuum.
Find out what the Mars retrograde will mean for you in Eric’s 2016 Spring Reading. You may pre-order all 12 signs here for less than $40. Includes video readings!
Mars is also about to station retrograde for the first time in two years, and for the first time in nearly a decade the Martian retrograde motion will bridge two signs.
Where your own memory of what has gone around to come around again might fail you, Eric will reliably have your back with an innovative video format to serve as your compass for the remainder of this season.
Finally, when it comes to ongoing perspective, Eric and Planet Waves have you covered as well with a Core Community membership. By becoming part of the world’s only comprehensive astrological resource that is not littered with commercial advertising, you will continue to benefit from the astute and grounded perceptions of everybody on the Planet Waves team — long after this particular season of change and uncertainty has concluded.
Eric has purged some of Mercury retrograde’s undeserved reputation by proposing that we refer to its current phase as an ‘echo’ rather than a ‘shadow’. With that simple word substitution, he showed us that it is possible to reorient yourself and gain a more healthy and hopeful perspective about the often paradoxical — yet ultimately fortunate — realities that go with the privilege of being alive on Earth; perhaps the only place in the universe where things can get better.
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That’s funny Len; I thought you were going to talk about Saturn and Uranus when you wrote “The first condition for progress is change” because I believe that’s what the Saturn-Uranus cycle is all about. Especially the cycle we are in now that began within a few degrees of the Galactic Center in Sagittarius. In fact, transiting Pholus is – right now – exactly conjunct the 3rd of 3 conjunctions between Uranus and Saturn in 1988, where the present cycle began. Pholus popped the cork and now all hell has broken loose.
I stumbled upon this while trying to explain Bernie Sanders’ natal conjunction between Uranus and Saturn, and how much he had learned about that particular process over his long life. Saturn strives to maintain the status quo (no change) while Uranus wants only to change the status quo, seemingly in the most volatile way possible. But then, that might stem from the timing of the discovery of Uranus. He was discovered at 24+ Gemini opposite Mars at 23+ Sagittarius and they were both square the Sun (consciousness) at 23+ Pisces. That’s volatile.
This year’s U.S. solar return chart features Mercury at 24+ Gemini, inviting the thunder and lightening of the Uranus discovery down upon all us U.S. citizens. The U.S. solar return Mercury squares U.S. solar return Chiron in Pisces but also opposes U.S. solar return Pholus in Sagittarius. By adding the U.S. natal Sibly Neptune in Virgo to this T-square it creates a mutable grand cross (as it does in the Uranus Discovery chart too) and if that ain’t about progress through change then we are in deep doodoo. And yes, that can provoke fear as well as stimulate hope.
Perhaps, uncharacteristically for Mercury retrograde then, he might even bring about some stability (being in Taurus) in the process of change as he re-trines the U.S. Neptune who serves as the 4th leg of the U.S. solar return T-square. Change IS good if the plan works. Fingers crossed!
be
WoW Be.. thank you so much.
I read with my gut cause you guys beautifullu out-smart me :))
I m feelin’… deep doodoo… soon.
Puma, you flatter me but in fact the more you allow yourself to enter into the world of astrology (and other esoteric arts) the more you understand how the day to day, month to month, year to year experiences add up to meaningful change. It’s only doodoo when you can’t see the big picture for all the doodoo in the way. Get Judith Gayle to tell the joke about the young boy searching for a pony in all that doodoo. That’s what we all must do do, but it can only be done if you are convinced that there is a purpose behind the suffering. Astrology does that for most of us who love it; there’s gotta be a pony in there somewhere!
be
AMEN!
Oh i totally agree with you and judith. There is a purpose in suffering as it’s the tool to human’s alchemy – gold.
Emotional Intelligence is very much available to us now and has been for some time (you smarties interpreting the skydance for us is synchronistic). Obviously not enough takers which is what will result, imho, into deeper doodoo than was actually necessary or destined. Picking ourselves up will be arduous.
Let’s pray the pony is a stallion.
p.s. i so sincerely appreciate the help you guys have brought me over the years and high-5 myself for always working n walking with your guidance :))
Ha, ha that’s good. . a stallion no less? You are the smartie and perhaps you are right; not enough takers puma, but lets give the retrogrades some time to do their work. If we are focusing on the U.S. takers specifically, I believe the transiting Mars retrograde is directly involved with transiting Uranus’ “intention” because of Mars’ rulership of Aries, and Aries being at the IC (root) of the U.S. chart (Sibly version) .
On the 1st entry of Uranus into Aries there was an opposition between Moon at 8+ Sagittarius opposite Sun at 6+ Gemini. There was also a sextile between Venus at 9+ Cancer and Mercury at 11+ Taurus. Put the two aspects together and they form a Boomerang, or a Yod with attitude.
Final destination of the combined Boomerang energy would be the Moon (the People) in Sagittarius. That is where transiting Mars stationed retrograde today and where he will continue to sit for a total of 24 days in a row, 8+ Sagittariius.
He will return to that degree on August 20 and will be (as he is right now for a total of 24 days) opposite the U.S. Uranus (breakthrough) at 8+ Gemini. So that means not only does transiting Mars affect the transiting Uranus, he is also affecting the U.S. natal Uranus. When transiting Mars (direct) returns to the 8+ degree of Sagittarius the transiting Sun in Leo will be exactly opposite (as in full moon style) the U.S. Moon in Aquarius. Transiting Mercury and Jupiter will be conjunct for the 1st of 3 conjunctions, starting their new cycle!
It was May 2010, almost 6 years ago that transiting Uranus landed in Aries and at the root of the U.S. Sibly chart as well. Neptune was conjunct the U.S. Aquarian Moon (the U.S. People) at the time and that same Neptune (+ U.S. Moon) was quincunx (adjust) Saturn in Virgo who was opposite Jupiter in Pisces who was only 2 degrees from Uranus at 0 Aries. I see this “intent” as shorthand for Adjust-the-US-People-by means-of-their-government (Jupiter-Saturn)-using-mass-confusion (Neptune).
This process, now about to enter its 6th year has been pulling at the very roots of this country all that time. Now, with the stationing, transiting Mars (with the aid of transiting Mercury trine transiting Pluto) so focused on the U.S. Uranus, and transiting Uranus sitting atop the U.S. Chiron (20+ Aries), and transiting Sun (consciousness) in Aries sextile the U.S. Moon (the U.S. People), it is time to start reaping the rewards of all that consciousness raising.
Let us see if a Mars review through Sagittarius and Scorpio for a couple of months can’t eliminate enough of the deep do do to see our way clear for progress and change in this country. I’ve enjoyed sharing thoughts with you puma pink.
be
Amen Barbara !! Holy gee what an honour for me to read your wowee explanation. I truly am grateful i spontaneously felt the need to come and peak. It deeply resonated with me (and my personal canadian life story). I thank you for all. I certainly get the rough sketch of the scene you described so intelligently. (You guys all write like poets!!
Now… try and read my mind B. This Process of almost 6 years, if i may humbly share, (hope no one objects) has been deeply personal to me… lindeelou. My husband of 25 years (march aries… scorp rising… sagg moon ran off with a you-know-what to do what-you-know. His name is marsel (so double mars going on right there). They grabbed my son (march pisces.. leo rising at 19 on the 9th with that fore-last eclipse oh and born with comet halley-bop on march 9 1997… aries moon).
May 2010 it was… kidnapped and gone. Erik was 13… just turned 19. I always hear myself say … ‘almost 6 years’ but tonight i hear it from you. I sincerely am floored Dear Barbara and somehow it immediately just felt so good to hear.
Cheers for the stallion!! Or…. what a doodoo it will soon be!! Progress it is!!
Thank you PW and all commentators, LindeeLou xx
Oh… sorry folks… me is libra… cancer rising/cusp leo…. cap moon. Yup… without your guidance and daily relating even if only per written word, i would not have pulled through.
Beautiful blessings Buds
puma pink. . if I’d not seen Len’s remark in the Recent Comments block I would have missed your response. It always amazes me how synchronicity plays into our everyday lives and I’m grateful to read your words finally. If you are from Canada then it’s remarkable that my notes regarding the USA chart compared with the Uranus in Aries cycle connected to you at all. I’m so glad that you gained some understanding of your own experiences from this formidable energy cycle.
And wow, good catch on the double Mars influence of your husband! I second Len’s encouragement to you and again, marvel at how resilient we human beings can be. Please come and comment often on your views.
be
puma pink: i (for one) am really glad that you have pulled through. Please be sure to give yourself the lion’s share of the credit for having done so.
OH MY, B and Len, nice warm heart from your blessings
One never knows how one just might deeply touch another soul. Thank you! Glad to catch you again 
Yes pulled through having my roots pulled out, certainly an on-going work-in-progress. I am responsible for my cosmic-costume and honouring my path has truly been a great on-going love affaire with MOI my entire life, that …teeny piece
for which i am truly grateful. Resiliency B 
and as you say Dear Len, yes, i high-5 myself continuously, its that little something that makes the difference between making it or breaking; it is soooo important!!
B, Boom-er-rang (bell) has been a favourite word of mine for decades, i use it alot. You must have read my mind
A bientot amigos, ll
All our challenges are tailor-made selon our evolution<s phase. Crying is tears, same for all. Love is agendafree, unconditioned and u conditional. Remembering to be the change we wish to see in our world.