Tag Archives: Mercury

The Day of the Group Representative: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is July 4
The Day of the Group Representative | Order Your 2019-20 Cancer Reading | All Other Signs

You were born on Independence Day, and for you, the only meaning of that word comes from having your own resources, control of your finances, and the motivation to be a success. You simply must tap your drive, and at the same time, you must be wise with your resources. There’s the clear potential for having plenty of motivation and desire for success, and then making bad choices financially. This is not necessary. You must fully inform yourself, and triple-check your sources; and put a delay in between you and any major moves you want to make.
Hear Eric describe the impressive eclipses involving your Sun sign or rising sign in your 2019-20 Cancer Astrology Studio Reading — now available for instant access.

Written in the Planets

We’re now entering the ‘storm’ phase prior to Mercury stationing retrograde on July 7. This is the 2-3 days on either side of a station retrograde or station direct, when communication, technological gadgets and life in general can often seem especially disruptive. If you can slow down your general pace of thought and action, you may find it easier to navigate any hiccups you encounter in the next several days. If you’re in the U.S. and celebrate Independence Day, please be especially careful with fire, alcohol, travel and your temper.

Several of today’s exact aspects appear to describe a certain theme: how you experience and express caring, especially when you meet challenging situations. For one, Venus in Cancer is making an opposition to the centaur Pholus in Capricorn. When faced with a potentially out-of-control situation, what do you do with your concern about it? Do you let yourself spiral off into worry, or do you figure out how to meet it with empathy-in-action? The same questions apply if you’re confronting the result of generations’ worth of cause and effect that have rippled down through the years to this present moment. You have a choice in how you channel your emotional responses.

The Cancer Sun opposite the centaur Hylonome suggests a similar dynamic: some form of caring self-expression in response to a “cry of the poor,” particularly when that cry is emerging as a result of institutional (such as governmental) systems, policies and structures. If you’ve been watching the news, you know there are very real opportunities for this. Meanwhile Mars, newly in Leo, is conjunct Varuna — an object that carries the keyphrase “the great equalizer.” True courage — which, like the word’s root, comes from the heart — may be the greatest equalizer of all. As Bayard Taylor once wrote, “The loving are the daring.”


Partial Lunar Eclipse: Dec. 31, 2009. Photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

Partial Lunar Eclipse: Dec. 31, 2009. Photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

New in the Special Readings Series
Magnum Opus on Eclipses, Now Through Late 2020

Eric’s new 90-minute discussion of all things related to eclipses, in any sign — with a focus on Cancer and Capricorn eclipses, from the current pair through 2020 — is available now for instant access. Part audio reading, part astrology class, it offers you a lot of help processing the solar eclipse on July 2 and the lunar eclipse on July 16, and features original music. Hear it as part of the 2019-2020 Astrology Studio for Cancer, or purchase the Eclipses Reading separately for only $33.

Written in the Planets for Thursday, July 4

We’re now entering the ‘storm’ phase prior to Mercury stationing retrograde on July 7. This is the 2-3 days on either side of a station retrograde or station direct, when communication, technological gadgets and life in general can often seem especially disruptive. If you can slow down your general pace of thought and action, you may find it easier to navigate any hiccups you encounter in the next several days. If you’re in the U.S. and celebrate Independence Day, please be especially careful with fire, alcohol, travel and your temper.

Several of today’s exact aspects appear to describe a certain theme: how you experience and express caring, especially when you meet challenging situations. For one, Venus in Cancer is making an opposition to the centaur Pholus in Capricorn. When faced with a potentially out-of-control situation, what do you do with your concern about it? Do you let yourself spiral off into worry, or do you figure out how to meet it with empathy-in-action? The same questions apply if you’re confronting the result of generations’ worth of cause and effect that have rippled down through the years to this present moment. You have a choice in how you channel your emotional responses.

The Cancer Sun opposite the centaur Hylonome suggests a similar dynamic: some form of caring self-expression in response to a “cry of the poor,” particularly when that cry is emerging as a result of institutional (such as governmental) systems, policies and structures. If you’ve been watching the news, you know there are very real opportunities for this. Meanwhile Mars, newly in Leo, is conjunct Varuna — an object that carries the keyphrase “the great equalizer.” True courage — which, like the word’s root, comes from the heart — may be the greatest equalizer of all. As Bayard Taylor once wrote, “The loving are the daring.”

The Day of the Commemorator: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is July 3
The Day of the Commemorator | Order Your 2019-20 Cancer Reading | All Other Signs

If you find yourself in an awesome new beginning of some kind, and then hit turbulence, do not be dissuaded, distracted or sidetracked. Just keep going, though you might need to make certain adjustments — however, these will be minor in comparison to the larger plan you are involved with. Pay special attention to professional relationships, and make sure everyone is good on the level of commitment, mutual appreciation, and the energy needed to get the job done. And remember: a little chaos is good for creativity. Not a lot; just enough to shake the tree.
— by Eric Francis

Hear Eric describe the impressive eclipses involving your Sun sign or rising sign in your 2019-20 Cancer Astrology Studio Reading — now available for instant access.

Written in the Planets

With yesterday’s total solar eclipse in Cancer over, we are in The Eclipse Zone: the two weeks between eclipses. (The companion partial lunar eclipse with the Capricorn Full Moon occurs on July 16-17, depending on time zone). Continue focusing on what you love to do, look where you want to be, and recognize unusual opportunities for what they are, to make the most of the pattern shifting potential of these two weeks.

Venus enters Cancer today at 11:18 am EDT (15:17:58 UTC). Compared to the breeziness of Gemini, this may bring a more emotional, security-focused tone to relationships of all sorts. With Venus coming into contact with the slow-moving planets early in the cardinal signs, there’s a reminder here to channel any tendencies to worry into more constructive, proactive forms of taking care of others who truly need it; issues you are passionate about will benefit from this approach, too.

Note also that Mercury stations retrograde on July 7. You may wish to back up your computer if you have not done so very recently, and begin raising your awareness around how and what you communicate, particularly when it comes to emotionally sensitive topics.

The Cancer Sun’s gentle contact with the centaur Nessus in Pisces suggests an extra layer of inner healing power available today, linked with yesterday’s eclipse. Emotional patterns can be some of the toughest to shift, and often have roots deep in the past — stretching into parts of our childhood when we had few words to articulate our experience and few tools at our disposal to process it. You may be able to access an especially compassionate form of initiative today — such as through self-forgiveness — in addressing anything fitting this description. Be gentle with yourself, and remember that everyone has their struggles.
— by Amanda Painter


Partial Lunar Eclipse: Dec. 31, 2009. Photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

Partial Lunar Eclipse: Dec. 31, 2009. Photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

New in the Special Readings Series
Magnum Opus on Eclipses, Now Through Late 2020

Eric’s new 90-minute discussion of all things related to eclipses, in any sign — with a focus on Cancer and Capricorn eclipses, from the current pair through 2020 — is available now for instant access. Part audio reading, part astrology class, it offers you a lot of help processing the solar eclipse on July 2 and the lunar eclipse on July 16, and features original music. Hear it as part of the 2019-2020 Astrology Studio for Cancer, or purchase the Eclipses Reading separately for only $33.

Today is The Day of Stamina: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is June 26
The Day of Stamina | Order Your 2019-20 Cancer Reading | All Other Signs

You seem impatient to reach a new phase in your professional life, though it would help to ensure you follow all the necessary steps. If you want to fit into a specific role but don’t yet have the qualifications needed, get the training, or apprentice yourself to someone who will teach you and answer your questions. You are never too old to learn new skills, and few prizes worth gaining require zero effort. Set aside any preconceptions you have of how things ‘should’ be, though your enthusiasm can serve as an excellent source of fuel to drive you onward.
— by Amy Elliott
Hear Eric describe the impressive eclipses involving your Sun sign or rising sign in your 2019-20 Cancer Astrology Studio Reading

Written in the Planets

Our current sky appears to be describing a particular idea a few ways: who we are in our sexual identity, how we express that, and the ways that such a personal matter has taken on out-sized political significance in Western culture. Astrologically, these ideas are described by the Cancer Sun (consciousness and self-expression) square Chiron (awareness, healing) and Salacia (sexual secrets and ‘scandalous’ material) in Aries, in a T-square with Eros in Libra (what turns you on, in any sense).

It’s worth bearing in mind that while the sign Cancer has that spark of initiative all the cardinal signs are known for, there can also be an element of indirectness to it. Think of the way crabs run sideways for an image of how that can work. Many people go to great pains in order to sidestep any kind of direct acknowledgement and overt embodiment of such topics as their most private sexual longings and leanings, their deepest wounds to identity, and even any kind of passionate excitement or curiosity (gotta be cool and ironic, right?). You can probably see the potential for tension here, even if you’re not feeling it yourself.

If you are feeling tension around these themes, communication — at least of the verbal sort — could feel less vulnerable after Mercury enters Leo later tonight, at 8:19 pm EDT / 00:19:17 UTC Thursday. You don’t need to be dramatic to claim your right to be who you are; even small experiments in self-expression could feel bold and get results.
— by Amanda Painter

Did you know that Eric Francis recorded insight-rich videos for all 12 signs, specifically investigating Mars interacting with some of astrology’s most influential planets this season? His Call the Astrologer readings are available individually or as a 12-sign set to share with your loved ones. Check out samples here and here.

The Day of Romantic Exaltation: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is June 22
The Day of Romantic Exaltation | Pre-order Your 2019-20 Cancer Reading | All Other Signs

You’ve been through some unusual events the past year and a half, by which I mean on a lifetime scale. The thought of another year may be filling you with a sense of both optimism and some concern about repeat performances of some challenging situations. You are well past most of them, though one particular scenario involving your family will benefit from your sustained attention. Do not get dragged in; take it to therapy. It’s time to learn this lesson and move on.
— by Eric Francis Coppolino
Hear Eric describe the impressive eclipses involving your Sun sign or rising sign in your 2019-20 Cancer Astrology Studio Reading

Written in the Planets

Myths involving both Mars and Eris don’t get a lot of airtime; usually we hear about Mars on his own (whether as fighter or wooer), and Eris on her own (sowing subversive discord with the golden apple that catalyzed the Trojan War). Yet Mars and Eris were siblings, and she is said to have accompanied him on the battlefield, which gives a major clue to their shared energy. Today the planet Mars in Cancer squares Eris in Aries, the final stage of this season’s often-challenging (and at times combative) Mars aspects.

Could this square be interpreted as a sort of sibling rivalry — possibly for someone’s attention? Do you feel as though some facet of yourself is jockeying to be expressed more strongly than another? Or like you have dual urges: to be direct and assertive on the one hand, and to be indirect and passive-aggressive on the other? Is some situation triggering a sense that your identity or security is being threatened?

Even though Mercury in Cancer is right in the thick of it, and also square Eris, it may hold a key to navigating these dynamics. Consider speaking in “I” statements about how you feel (not how someone else has “made you” feel), while staying sensitive to your environment — which includes the feelings of others.

With the Cancer Sun exactly opposite the centaur planet Pholus today, the ripple effects of how you present yourself in the world could reach far. The more you can think a few steps down the line in terms of possible consequences (or understand the sequence of events leading to your current position), the better position you’ll likely be no matter who you encounter or what the situation. A little empathy and understanding often go a long way, whether you offer it to another or to yourself — which, to be honest, can be a great starting point.
— by Amanda Painter

Did you know that Eric Francis recorded insight-rich videos for all 12 signs, specifically investigating Mars interacting with some of astrology’s most influential planets this season? His Call the Astrologer readings are available individually or as a 12-sign set to share with your loved ones. Check out samples here and here.

Children dance to music after lunch Wednesday at the Portland (Maine) Expo. Photo by Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Cancer Solstice Calling

By Amanda Painter

On Friday, at 11:54 am EDT / 15:54:07 UTC, the Sun enters Cancer for the solstice: the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s one of the year’s four major, seasonal turning points, by which ancient cultures once organized their practical lives and their understanding of the cosmos.

Children dance to music after lunch Wednesday at the Portland (Maine) Expo. Photo by Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Children seeking asylum dance to music after lunch Wednesday at the Portland (Maine) Expo. Photo by Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Most modern cultures have become rather detached from this rhythm — thanks to things like electric lights and other industrial and agricultural innovations obviating our complete dependence on seasonal shifts; along with what we’ve gained in that, there have surely also been losses. Astrologically, the Sun entering Cancer also signals us to be aware of the Aries Point: those first degrees of Aries — extended to the other cardinal signs (Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) — that describe events and issues where the political and personal weave together.

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The Day of Ecstatic Appeal: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is June 20
The Day of Ecstatic Appeal | Order Your 2019-20 Gemini Reading | All Other Signs

You can earn money by selling your time, your labor or your ideas. Which of these do you prefer, or in what combination? In any event, remind yourself regularly that you must take the initiative on your own success, and that means daily effort, aspiration and refinement of your approach. There is no one solution — in fact there may be many solutions even to simple equations, situations or problems. Use your full intelligence, and be aware that the chance encounter or mental disruption can lead to the most brilliant approach.
— by Eric Francis Coppolino
Hear Eric speak about your year in-depth in your 2019-20 Gemini Astrology Studio Reading.

Written in the Planets

Mercury enters its pre-retrograde ‘shadow’ or ‘echo’ phase today; it will station retrograde in Leo on July 7, and stations direct in late Cancer on July 31. This lets you know a couple of things. One is that this would be a good time to tie up loose ends prior to the retrograde proper. The other is that since Mercury will station direct in aspect to Pluto and Eris — just like it is now — you may wish to make note of the key themes most prominent in your awareness currently. You might be revisiting this mental landscape in late July.

Also today Juno enters Leo, moving into a trine with Ceres in Sagittarius. As much as you may desire a partner or prospect to shine on you like the Sun, keep in mind that generosity of spirit nourishes the giver as much as the receiver — so why not offer some to others? No need to get offended if you don’t feel like you’re getting the attention you desire. The Sun will rise on you again soon enough; in the meantime, what you share will likely keep your spirit lit.

Tomorrow the Sun enters Cancer for the solstice. While it travels the last degree of Gemini today, things could feel a little edgy, or mentally agitated. Anytime you feel about to race ahead of yourself, consider slowing back down and re-focusing on what’s actually at hand. All seasons turn in their own time, and that time is imminent.
— by Amanda Painter

Did you know that Eric Francis has recorded new videos for all 12 signs, specifically investigating Mars interacting with some of astrology’s most influential planets this season? His Call the Astrologer readings are available individually or as a 12-sign set to share with your loved ones. Check out samples here and here.

The Day of the Spark: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is June 19
The Day of the Spark | Order Your 2019-20 Gemini Reading | All Other Signs

Do not let push come to shove over joint financial, investment or taxation situations. Be proactive, and take steps to secure your best interests and protect your assets, now and in the long run. Proactive begins with having full knowledge of what are in truth your affairs down to the last detail, and ensuring that the numbers add up. The more you know, and the sooner you know it, the more likely you are to avoid confrontations and work toward mutually beneficial solutions.
— by Eric Francis Coppolino
Hear Eric speak about your year in-depth in your 2019-20 Gemini Astrology Studio Reading.

Written in the Planets

As Mars and Mercury in Cancer oppose Pluto in Capricorn today, they also start getting into range of Eris in Aries. Mars, Mercury and Pluto are all making squares to Eris. One interpretation: this looks like a reminder to notice whether any of your emotional reactions to authority figures are being fueled by feeling left out or pushed aside. Even if that does not describe the reality of the current situation, consider asking yourself if something similar from the past is being triggered or echoed by your responses.

The Gemini Sun is also opposite the Galactic Center and a centaur planet called Ixion. How you encounter things that are ineffable or spiritually complex, or the vast spectrum of humanity, or second chances to behave ethically, could emerge as themes today. It’s also possible that you may find yourself entertaining two very different perspectives on whatever it is you’re facing today. Can you recognize your role in the causes and effects of the circumstances of your life, and what it means to learn from those experiences?

Finally, note that we’re getting closer to the solstice: the Sun enters Cancer on Friday. And the day before that, on Thursday, Mercury enters its pre-retrograde ‘shadow’ or ‘echo’ phase. As busy as your mind — and therefore, your life — may be, it could feel helpful to look for this past month’s loose ends and start tying a couple of them up.
— by Amanda Painter

Did you know that Eric Francis has recorded new videos for all 12 signs, specifically investigating Mars interacting with some of astrology’s most influential planets this season? His Call the Astrologer readings are available individually or as a 12-sign set to share with your loved ones. Check out samples here and here.

The Day of Financial Security: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is June 18
The Day of Financial Security | Order Your 2019-20 Gemini Reading | All Other Signs

Your life must become an exercise in claiming your power back rather than giving it away. Sadly, for most people, these are just words. You will, however, know that you have an opportunity to do either of these things when you feel yourself unable to speak or make a decision, and you’re wondering why that is. When you assess the situation honestly, you will notice that someone else has influence, control or authority where they should not, and that’s when it’s time to speak up — clearly, not loudly.
— by Eric Francis Coppolino
Hear Eric speak about your year in-depth in your 2019-20 Gemini Astrology Studio Reading.

Written in the Planets

Mercury makes its conjunction to Mars today in Cancer, opposite Pluto in Capricorn (exact tomorrow), and chances are you’ve been feeling it one way or another. Pluto can represent power and change; it can signify the need to let go of what’s not working — a kind of metaphorical death; and in combination with certain planets it can also come through as compelling, hormone-level lust. On a good day, Mercury and Mars in combination can describe a very energized mind that can accomplish much.

Yet Mercury-Mars can also get very competitive, defensive and irritable, and often represents an ego too closely identified with everything a person thinks, says and believes. That spells combativeness; and Mars opposite Pluto tends to be a blueprint for power struggles. If you feel like you’re experiencing any of these dynamics in projected form — that is, someone else is defensive and combative even if you are not — you’ll want to be especially careful to avoid potentially dangerous situations today.

Conflict may pop up internally as well as externally, with a square between Venus in Gemini and Nessus in Pisces speaking to that possibility. If you’ve been holding two different stories in mind regarding a relationship, love in general, or your overall emotional reality, it may be wise to watch your boundaries. Are you sure you know which story is running the show? Squares signify something needing to be expressed; this one in particular suggests that an awareness of past patterns and their consequences will be helpful in that. Meanwhile, a Saturn-Neptune aspect indicates that if you engage in serious thought, especially in support of your higher ideals, it’s best not to take yourself too seriously. Given the overall astrological picture right now, a hearty sense of humor and humility could go a long way no matter what your situation.
— by Amanda Painter

Did you know that Eric Francis has recorded new videos for all 12 signs, specifically investigating Mars interacting with some of astrology’s most influential planets this season? His Call the Astrologer readings are available individually or as a 12-sign set to share with your loved ones. Check out samples here and here.