Author Archives: Amanda Painter

The Mysterious Case of Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio

Posted by Amanda Painter

From the 2016 Sacred and Profane Festival, Peaks Island. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio today. Mercury is associated with tricks, especially during its retrogrades, yet it does bestow treats as well — though as Amanda Painter notes, it requires actively seeking that perspective, in the form of recognizing the lessons hidden in the mischief and frustration.

Secrets and Surprises

Posted by Amanda Painter

Illuminated offering at the 2016 Sacred and Profane Festival, Peaks Island, Maine. Photo by Amanda Painter.

In one week, Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio. This Saturday is the Scorpio New Moon, opposite Uranus. One translation of all this: the next seven-plus days may well be characterized by secrets and surprises. Amanda Painter asks: what determines whether such things feel like tricks or treats?

Chaos, Balance and Birth

Posted by Amanda Painter

Fire engine abstract #2; Photo by Amanda Painter.

Mercury may still be two weeks from its station retrograde in Scorpio on Oct. 31, but its effects have been emerging all week. Amanda Painter considers the Sun-Eris opposition against this backdrop, along with the potential for rewarding (if intensive) self-awareness and new ways of relating.

More Kicks than Pricks?* The Aries Full Moon

Posted by Amanda Painter

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Sunday night’s Aries Full Moon, which will be exact at 5:08 pm EDT (21:07:45 UTC), brings the Saturn-Pluto conjunction to the forefront. Full Moons are one of the most palpable astrological events we experience — both internally, and through witnessing others’ behavior. This one is like running the essence of Saturn-Pluto in through an IV […]

The Aries Full Moon and Friends

Posted by Amanda Painter

Photo by Amanda Painter

How’s your sleep this week? And your relationship to authority figures — the ‘real’ ones and the internalized ones? Where are your thoughts going, and how do you feel about it? Amanda Painter considers the Full Moon that’s brewing amidst Mercury entering its pre-retrograde ‘echo’ phase, and Venus opposite Uranus.

Action and Resolution at the Quarter Moon

Posted by Amanda Painter

What's in there? Mercury in Scorpio wants to find out. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Full Moons and New Moons tend to carry more weight in astrology writing. Yet as Amanda Painter notes, this weekend’s first quarter Moon connects with one of the more important aspects we’re building up to, as does Pluto stationing direct in Capricorn this week. Mercury and Mars both changing signs rounds things out.