Aquarium Age: March 21 – 27

It’s almost an impossible week to unpack: The madness of King Donald persists, and as his heartless reign continues to wreak havoc across the land, his cadre of Hungry Ghosts continue to ravage the countryside, while his misanthropic minions continue to poison cyberspace and actual space with their evil intent to obscure the truth. You could say it’s just another week on Planet Earth, where daily her inhabitants are asked to tolerate mendacious behavior that so blatantly disregards common decency…so blatantly that I keep asking myself: Didn’t Frodo throw the ring into Mount Doom? (Yes, I know it was ultimately Gollum’s greed that saved us from Sauron.) So why are the Nazgul still flying overhead generating terror with every screech and wing flap? And most importantly—Where the fuck is Gandalf when you need him? I thought he was the Wizard who conquered death—he fought and survived the Balrog, didn’t he? Seriously…this movie has gone on far too long.

Alas, it’s not a movie; it’s real life—or a cartoonish version of it—but I’m still holding out that the eagles will rescue Gandalf and fly him to Washington, D.C., where he can take care of this mess with a wave of his magic staff. In the meantime, I guess it’s up to us to keep forging ahead, no matter what the obstacles—and there are plenty—so here’s the breakdown for another week of high intensity.

The Sun entered Aries yesterday, signaling the start of spring and the end of winter’s hibernation. Aries can be as restless as the wind, which is why it thrives on action. As this restless Aries Sun illuminates a new season, it immediately moves into a square with Mars, in Capricorn. Squares symbolize friction, and as the Sun bumps up against Mars, that fractious interaction is sure to exacerbate the need to do something with that restlessness. This Sun/Mars square is certain to make everyone more than a little cranky-pants. And patience will be at a premium.

But that’s not all. Mars, in Capricorn, moves into a conjunction with Saturn, also in Capricorn, which means that they will both square the Sun—and that’s a hard interaction. A Mars/Saturn conjunction often indicates a judgmental, demanding energy that is unable to tolerate mistakes. It’s fantastic for detail work, but not such a swell influence for tolerance and compassion. When it squares the Sun, obstacles seem to appear out of nowhere, and even simple tasks seem hard and frustrating. And human interactions can turn into test of strength, as in who has the bigger you-know-what.

The Sun/Mars square begins this week, is exact and separating on March 24, and finally ends on April 7. The Mars/Saturn conjunction begins this week, is exact and separating on April 4.  For those new to astrology…when hard interactions separate, the tension releases and we tend to experience those releases as intense events.

And there’s more. This Sun/Mars/Saturn configuration tightens its grip as Mercury Retrograde, in Aries, begins on March 23 and lasts until April 15. Experienced retrograders know that for at least 3 days before and after an actual retrograde, daily life seems to slow to a crawl; and when you add in the frustration of the Sun/Mars/Saturn mess, the next several weeks are likely to be rife with frustration. And that frustration is likely to manifest as tantrums, yours or others’. Do your best to refrain from taking out your frustrations on those around you. Be especially tender with children—they tend to channel these energies not knowing anything about what’s happening, and the next few weeks could generate a lot of hyperactivity. And also, please don’t kick the dog or blame it or the cat for things just because you can.

I’ve been playing David Bowie’s Space Oddity while I wait for Gandalf to get here. I’m hoping that if Gandalf can’t make it, the extraterrestrials monitoring Earth will finally intervene and save us from ourselves. Please don’t confuse my longing for fantasy heroics as a refusal to deal with reality—I’m more than willing to deal. But a steady dose of Trump reality hurts the heart, and humor is one of the best ways of healing that despair—at least for the moment. The next several weeks are not easy, and each of us will need to do whatever it is we do to keep our sanity—just do your best to keep it healthy. As always, try to be kind to your fellow travelers, most of whom are just as weary from the constant bombardment of cruelty and ignorance emanating from the White House. If we can stay strong and connected, we will make it through this next phase.

Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.

Aries March 21-April 19
When I was younger I used to think that patience was the only virtue, but as I got older I changed my mind and put compassion at the top of the list. However, for the next several weeks, I’m promoting patience again. Make it your constant companion, especially during this retrograde phase when you’re likely to be repeating yourself a lot.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Mercury Retrograde is certain to awaken a brain worm, especially if you chew compulsively on all the coulda’s, shoulda’s and woulda’s from the past you wish you’d handled with greater skill. But here’s the thing: You can review, reflect, reconsider, and learn from your mistakes, but regret will get you nowhere. A positive attitude keeps the brain worm calm and the heart happy.

Gemini May 21-June 21
It’s never easy to synthesize the past with the present and the present with the future, unless you’re open to the idea that it’s all happening simultaneously. Unfortunately, few of us are able to handle that idea. Nevertheless, as you review the past, do so with an eye toward how you can improve the present, which will help you prepare for the future. It’s a big task, but you’re up to it.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Mercury Retrograde has been known to drive people mad, but it isn’t really necessary to be so reactive. Instead of fretting over what isn’t getting done or what hasn’t been done correctly, make it a point to take your time as you review each and every detail. And if you find an error, be moderate in your response, whether you made the mistake or someone else did.

Leo July 23-August 22
Mercury Retrograde is certain to create the need to go over the details of your plans with a fine-toothed comb, looking for snags and snafus you didn’t catch the first time—or even the second or third time you did a review. The best advice I can offer is do not be in a hurry—there’s no need to skimp on time or effort. You have plenty of both, even if you don’t think you do.

Virgo August 23-September 22
You’re right—it is about the money, and by that I mean you are reviewing your finances and figuring out how to establish a healthier approach. There’s no need to worry and every reason to pay careful attention. Be precise, honest with yourself and enthusiastic about the process and you’ll be surprised at the stability you will be able to create.

Libra September 23-October 22
I don’t know how to break this to you gently, so I’m just going to be blunt: For the next several weeks you are reviewing, reflecting and reconsidering aspects of all your relationships, including spouses, friends, business alliances, and your relationship with yourself. Don’t sweep anything under the rug—what’s important right now is your desire to be authentic. Honor it.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Discipline is the key to navigating Mercury Retrograde, so rather than just leave things to chance, pay attention to the details of any and all projects you are involved in or would like to become involved in. I’m suggesting you stay present because even though there might be delays and detours, in the long run your attention to detail will reap rewards.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You’re revisiting lots of creative ideas, and in between those inspirational ruminations you may find yourself connecting with romantic partners from the past. I’m not suggesting all those encounters will support positive choices, but I am thinking that hidden treasures could be found in all your interactions, romantic or not—and believe it or not, this retrograde might be good for you.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Your first inclination is to focus on home improvements—clean closets, paint the kitchen, redo the blah, blah, blah. And while there’s nothing wrong with using retrograde energy to refine your external living space, it might also be a good idea to refine your internal home. So think about how you can also improve your meditation, contemplation and mindfulness practices.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
It’s all about conversations—past, present and future—so think about how you can communicate skillfully and compassionately, for while it might be tempting to argue with commands and demands, an argumentative attitude won’t work. Think about how you would like to be talked to and then turn it around. Remember, no one wants to be patronized—and everyone deserves respect.

Pisces February 19-March 20
The retrograde will help you swallow your pride and tell the truth about your finances. Be honest about your situation, and if you’ve been lying to yourself about what you can afford, now is the time to come clean and put yourself back on track. Honesty is always a wise choice because it eliminates the burden of deceit—and that’s a weight you don’t need to carry.