Spend the next two weeks concentrating on what you want to put in motion or bring to completion, because these are the last two weeks of the first six months of 2018 that are unencumbered by any retrograde delays, detours, snags, or snafus. Make hay while the Sun shines, as that old cliché advises, because Jupiter begins its retrograde cycle on March 9 and Mercury begins its first retrograde cycle of the year on March 23, and we don’t come up for non-retrograde air for a while.
Jupiter begins the Retro-Slog of 2018—months and months of one planet after another reviewing its previous path—which doesn’t really end until the end of the year. Jupiter Retrograde ends on July 10, but by that time we’re in the midst of Mars Retrograde, which begins on June 26 and persists throughout the summer until August 27. And I hope you’re sitting down, because in the middle of that Martian retrospective, we move into the second Mercury Retrograde of the year which starts on July 26. I think you get the picture and are already refilling your patience-pills prescription.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The first Mercury Retrograde of the year begins on March 23, two weeks after Jupiter Retrograde begins. But as most of us know by now, the weeks before and after any retrograde are characterized by a slower pace than we might like. Yes…it’s a mess, but this year it’s worse than a mess—and I don’t really have a specific word for it other than slog. What I can say is that we will be examining every detail of life for the entire year, and while that may ultimately prove beneficial, it will also be aggravating, irritating and really, really frustrating. So get your priorities straight and use the available energy to put things in motion now. Please don’t procrastinate and wait until the last moment to back up your computer, phone or any other technology that might be vulnerable to retrograde obstacles. Back up now…really…now.
For those readers new to retrogrades, here’s some help: From Earth’s perspective, there are several times a year that planets appear to be moving backwards in their orbits around the Sun. Of course, they aren’t actually moving backwards at all, but astrology assigns significance to those retrograde cycles, and from an astrological perspective, the areas of life associated with those planets seem to encounter obstacles during that review process and thus seem to slow down the activities of daily life.
This week, in addition to being a try-to-get-it-done-before-the-retrograde week, is also a week of great sensitivities. The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune are all in the deeply intuitive Sign of Pisces, a Water Sign that embodies the essence of intuition. And even though Mars, in Sagittarius, squares the Venus/Neptune conjunction, in Pisces, the entire Piscean aggregation softens the Martian tendency to do battle and instead moves the collective psyche toward greater empathy. But by this time next week, Mars begins a trine to Uranus, in Aries, that is exact and separating on March 11, and as the energy builds between these two potent forces, empathy takes a backseat to willpower and the need to take a stand, with or without a cause.
An important note: This is the last Mars/Uranus trine in Fire Signs until 2040, when Uranus moves into Leo in 2039, and between now and then there will be no fiery Mars/Uranus trines. There will be other interactions, of course, but they will be in Earth, Air and Water Signs. From my perspective, the current and final (for the next 22 years) fiery Mars/Uranus trine on March 11 is an exclamation point at the end of the seven-year transit of Uranus, the Planet of revolution, through Aries, the Sign of the warrior. And because it’s the final contact in this cycle, it’s certain to contain a heated charge. Mars is the Ruler of Aries and it’s no slouch when it comes to using its might for whatever stand it is taking, which makes it even more important to keep a cool head during the coming weeks. There are already too many wars in our world, a world that desperately needs peace, so try to contribute to peace by avoiding petty personal wars that seem so important in the moment, but later on are recognized as nonsense.
The problem is that staying peaceful won’t be easy, especially in a world where so much injustice is perpetrated every day upon those with less agency and privilege. And yet there is reason to take heart: The patriarchy is losing and they know it, which is why they are grabbing every little thing they can, and causing so much trouble before they must surrender to the inevitable—those kids speaking truth in Florida are the future.
I have maintained for a while that Mr. Trump is the equivalent of a cultural and social homeopathic remedy, a potent dilution of the poison of the patriarchy and its policies of power, violence, greed, bigotry, misogyny, and oppression. And for those not familiar with homeopathy and how it works, it’s based on the principle that like heals like—the substance that causes the disease can cure it when administered through the proper process, which includes dilutions and dosages. From that perspective, it seems that Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts are just the right dosage to bring to the surface of our collective skin all the social diseases plaguing our evolutionary process since the old white guys took over the world and began ruining it for the rest of us.
Every homeopathic cure includes a healing process, and certainly we are in the midst of a massive healing crisis that’s painful to endure and almost impossible to bear—and it is sure to get worse before it’s over. But love is winning because there is simply no other sane choice if we want to make it through this truly dark night. Remember, love can take many forms including outrage, adamant principles and positive action. So when you can, choose love, and even if it feels like a losing battle, know that kindness, compassion and wisdom are the only way to save our planet.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
Assume the leadership role but stay centered in the idea that the best leaders are those who inspire their followers by example. You don’t have to posture or pose; you simply have to be authentic and clear about what matters to you and how those values are a roadmap for making important decisions.
Taurus April 20-May 20
You can feel oppressed by circumstances beyond your control, or you can concentrate on learning how to train your mind to perceive reality from a variety of viewpoints—not just the one you’re stuck on. Let go and allow yourself to explore different perspectives that will improve your attitude.
Gemini May 21-June 21
You must choose: Be disappointed in the results of your efforts to effectuate lasting change, or embrace the wisdom that everything is impermanent, even the fruits of your labor. Take a moment and grieve for what’s fading away, but also take an equal amount of time to appreciate what is emerging.
Cancer June 22-July 22
Even though this is an extraordinarily busy time, and despite the reality of a year’s worth of retrogrades to reflect upon previous choices, it would still beneficial to make time for quiet contemplation now. You have a lot of decisions to make and you want to be able to approach them all with a clear mind.
Leo July 23-August 22
It’s basically a win/win situation that affords you and significant others opportunities to thrive and prosper. You’ve never been afraid of hard work when you believe in what you’re doing. Be authentic and devote yourself to projects that inspire your creativity—you won’t be disappointed with the results.
Virgo August 23-September 22
Consider the next couple of weeks a unique spiritual offering—you’re offering your gifts and talents to those you love to help them prepare for the future. There’s nothing to worry about and no one is in danger. It’s just that you are the master organizer, and that is a rare quality that others might benefit from.
Libra September 23-October 22
To create your joy and maintain it, you might want to consider taking better care of your health. I’m not suggesting anything is wrong. I’m simply advising you to pay attention to your physical health because you’ve been under a lot of stress, and figuring out how to manage it would be an appropriate endeavor.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
The next couple of weeks are a bit hectic and the best way through is to stay as calm and centered as possible, even if that means saying no to friends and family. If you follow your intuition you’ll steer clear of impossible problems that can’t really be fixed, even with your creative gifts and talents.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
As always, your most important ally is your sense of humor—and you need it now more than ever, if only because you’re dealing with so many intense issues. Rather than scatter your efforts, take as many deep breaths as needed, get yourself centered inside, and then start to deal with external situations.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
You are going to be called upon to help others work their way through the intensities—don’t worry; you can handle it without a hitch. All you have to remember is that when you speak to anyone with kindness and respect, they almost always respond positively to the advice being offered.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
Okay…the eclipse is almost behind you, which means you can start to gain traction in all those areas where you would like to grow. Whether these are personal issues, professional situations, or simply goals you want to set as guidelines for how to spend your time and energy, get busy and identify what matters most.
Pisces February 19-March 20
The message this week isn’t unlike last week’s missive: You have the skill and strength to cut through any obstacles impeding your forward progress. If you’re interested in a specific outcome, you don’t have to worry about starting a brouhaha—all you have to do is be clear about your goals and ethical in your attempts to bring them to fruition.
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