Retrogrades are an excellent opportunity to release and let go of what’s not serving us anymore. Here’s a tarot read for all signs. It’s timeless, and when you find it, it’s there for you.
Tag: astrology
2021: A Venusian YEar
The new year starts on a Friday. It’s a Venusian year. We are called to love–love ourselves, love our partner, love our neighbor.
Venus rules all things related to beauty. Beauty and fashion will make big headlines. If by the second part of the year social-distancing relaxes, I predict a fashion boom. People want to be seen again. Luxury fashion and goods do exceptionally well under this kind of energy. Cosmetics, cosmetology, massage therapists, et al, bounce back big.
The fine art market thrives under the influence of Venus. Venus is one of the most painted figures in all of art.
Taurus and Libra will have an amplified year, especially those born on a Friday. Friday the 13th in 2021 might have extra oomph.
Matters of the heart, love and sex all get a boost for better or worse under Venus. If we can get COVID under control, it will be a banner year for the wedding industry.
The Card of The Year–The Knight of Pentacles, Reversed, clarified by the Chariot
Money will come very slowly. The recovery will be slow. After a warp pace 2020, things will seem at a snail’s pace for the first six months of the year. New thinking has to be implemented. After July, things move much faster under the influence of the Chariot. Patience wins the day in the first six months of the year. 2021 is not a time to get emotionally hung up on the past. Stay present as you move ever so slowly towards the future.
Banking processes and money transfers may be slow for the first part of the year. There will be stalls in funding.
Car sales are up in the second part of the year. Home sales, mortgage lenders, real estate and their ancillaries also see a boom in the second part of the year. It seems that equilibrium is re-established and that there’s a predictable trajectory most people can rely on. Our psycho-emotional GPS is back.
Now, for the individual signs:
Aries–The Emperor–The card of 2021 for you is The Emperor, which is your tarot card! You’re in your element. You’re thinking and building big and stepping into higher levels of leadership and mastery this year. Be careful to build teams while building your empire. Your leadership skills, courage and can-do attitude will be highly prized in 2021. Your best time of year will be when the sun is in your sign, so celebrate your birthday to the max and start new ventures around your birthday.
Taurus–7 of Pentacles–The seeds you planted in 2020, probably fertilized with blood, sweat, tears and a good dash of poo are starting to sprout, but continue to keep patient. Prune away what’s blocking these seedling ideas and ventures from getting the time and attention they deserve. Keep your feet firmly on the ground. You will continue to have great seedling ideas, but ask yourself “How can I ground this into reality?”. Your best seasons are when the sun is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn this year. Grow your visions into reality during these times. Waning moons in Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus are watershed times for you. Use them.
Gemini–Queen of Cups, Reversed–In 2021, it’s time to ask yourself the big head-versus-heart questions, Gemini. Are you pouring precious energy into people and situations that aren’t filling your cup? Reciprocity is your big challenge in 2021. Don’t let others drain you dry emotionally. It’s time to balance how you are giving and receiving. Chances are you are giving way too much to people that have too little to offer you. Give some of that love and care to yourself in 2021. This will become really clear when the sun or moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces. Keep a lunar journal!
Cancer–2 of Wands–You’re re-envisioning a bigger, better, bolder future for yourself, dear Cancer. What you desire has global reach and impact. Go for it, but be sure to also look at what’s happening right in front of you too. Think globally and act locally this year. You have a tremendous need for stability. Don’t lean on others too hard for support as you transform. Part of this journey is learning how to lean on yourself more. You’ll have the most momentum when the sun is Aries, Leo or Sagittarius. The second half of the year, you’ll be moving so fast you’re head will spin. Hope you like race car driving!
Leo–8 of Pentacles–You’ll be working hard in 2021, but the good news is that you’ll be making a mint for yourself in the process. You’re perfecting the details of your process. Your stamina and tenacity inspire others. Keep up the good work and the good work you’re doing will keep you flush in 2021. New doors open for you throughout the year. Keep a dry cleaned suit or dress ready in your closet at all times “just in case”. Opportunity opens up when you least expect it. You’ll feel this energy most when the sun is in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Virgo–9 of Pentacles, Reversed–This is a card full of native Virgo energy. The new year may not have you feeling quite yourself. You want to be partnered, as a opposed to going it alone. The old maxim “Wealth is empty when it is not shared” may be ringing too true for you. You long to share your abundance. You’re being called to do some intense self-love this year. Yes, even more. Scout out new directions and possibilities. The tried and true has become the boring and blah. Experiment. You’ll have clarity when the sun is Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Libra–Page of Swords, Reversed–Libra, you’re learning a new skill or a new process in 2021. Stick with it. It’s a bit of an uphill battle for you. Don’t give up too soon. Just when you want to give up and drop it, it comes to you. Allow your process. Every mistake is part of the process. Get clear on your “why” this year in all areas of your life. Why do you want this partner, that job, that car, etc? You’ll find there’s much going on below the surface that needs unpacking. Breakthroughs in insight come when the Sun, Moon or Mercury is in Aquarius, Gemini or Libra.
Scorpio–10 of Wands–Time to drop some burdens. You’re carrying too many people, projects, products, regrets. Too much of a good thing even….It’s time to halve what isn’t yielding results or happiness. Clinging to the past won’t bring the good feelings associated with it back. Get clear on your priorities or you stand to wear yourself out in 2021. Yes, you’re strong. However, there’s no point in arriving to your personal version of success and happiness half dead. It will be clearest to you when the sun is in Aries, Leo and Sagittarius what dross needs to be burned away.
Sagittarius–4 of Cups–Apathy and indecision may cloud your judgment this year. Offers are coming to you, but you may not be able to give them a whole-hearted yes. Cycles of four are important. Give things four hours, four days, four weeks, four months before saying no or yes as appropriate. There’s been a longstanding tension between having to do what perceived you must do and what your heart truly, deeply wanted. This year is the year to bridge that. Add some orange to your life to restore your zest. You’ll feel this when the moon is in Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer.
Capricorn–King of Pentacles, Reversed–Capricorn, you start 2021 a little off. After some major astrological energy in your sign in 2020, suddenly, it’s a ceasefire. Its’ time to drop your defenses and re-invest in yourself a bit. Most of your siege is over. Let your passion come through. Your reserve has been running your life for too long. Capricorns walk their walk. It’s time to talk and to advertise to monetize more. Things are dropping out of your life like autumn leaves. Allow nature to take it’s course. You’re feeling this now, as the sun is in Capricorn, again when the sun is in Taurus and in Virgo and again in late December. Allow this release so the new can come in gracefully.
Aquarius–Ace of Wands, Reversed–In 2021, you’ll want to take action, Aquarius, but feel intimidated by the task at hand. Take the first step, even if it’s scary. Walk softly and carry that big wand and you’ll see big results. You have to direct others at this time. Be sure what you’re asking for is crystal clear and actionable and the results will be compelling. Acting large and in charge is your calling in 2021. Go big or go home when the sun is in Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. You’ll see huge gains.
Pisces–Temperance, Reversed–Pisces, 2021 is a balancing act. Remember titration from high school chemistry class? You’ll be titrating all year long. Subtle, careful moves are called for, but you also need to know when to say “enough is enough”. You’ll be shepherding a lot of transitions this year: graduations, changing schools, moving and other life or business events in that vein. The culmination of this will be when the sun is in Sagittarius, but you’ll feel it during the last week of every sun sign and at the equinoxes. Embrace your inner alchemist in 2021.
May your 2021, be safe, well, prosperous, happy and beautiful!
Book me now and get a personalized reading for 2021!
Fear of the Future
Create a brighter future…The future is yours…
The “future” is an abstraction we often associate with positivity, progress and something we can shape. The truth is we love the future and often fear it at the same time. I read tarot cards. I do astrology readings, which more often than not are ways of looking into the future or what’s possible. However, I know and need to point out that fear of the future often motivates us more often than we care to admit and acknowledge.
As we look towards a post-quarantine, post pandemic world, there is a lot to consider. Whether we fear future or not is our choice. Resisting the present undermines our ability to shape the future. We need to admit that we’re scared, we’ve been naive or neglectful about certain realities. We need to admit that the world has changed, will not “go back” to where it was and where we were wasn’t all that great either. We have to shape the future with clear eyes, open minds and open hearts.
How do we do that? We need to ask some questions.
Who am I now? Answer this honestly. Own the good and the bad and respect the neutral.
Who do I desire to be?
What changes, adjustments or work do I need to close the gap between who I am and want to be?
NOW…
What’s the best step I can take, NOW, TODAY, to make those adjustments?
We must also take up these questions as communities, states, and nations. Who we are today shapes who we become. We only ever have the present, no matter how much we speculate about what the future could or should be. It’s time to get deeply present about what our pain points are and what we can do to change them, for the better, in a changed world.
The future is ours, once we fully invest ourselves in the present.
Spring Equinox & Re-Calibrating
Happy Spring Equinox!
Let’s face it, we’re still fighting the corona virus. It’s not spring-as-usual. It’s easy to escape into thoughts of Easter eggs, bunnies and chickadees. All these things are nice and help us to feel good, but right now, I feel the world is called to restore balance.
So many us are chronically over-stressed, busy in lieu of being present, and not balancing rest, repose and activity. Our environment is over-burdened by the pollution caused by our commutes. Our psyches are now overburdened by fear, anxiety and panic. We need to embrace this pause, this balance point, offered by the vernal equinox.
Looking ahead, this spring equinox we have a void-of-course moon on March 20th for most of the day, if you are in the US. Check your local times. Void-of-course moons are ideal times for reflection, study and meditation. Take this opportunity to re-calibrate your body, mind and spirit.
I did a tarot and Lenormand pull by sign pairs, regarding what needs to be brought back into harmony and balance. Every Aries has a deep part of them that’s Libran, acknowledged or not, and vice-versa, as so with all the sign pairs. When restoring balance, it’s helpful to think of the signs as a story with a theme that’s playing out between the “opposing” or complementary energies. Look at your sun, moon and ascendant to see what areas to re-balance.
ARIES/LIBRA
The Sun, reversed
The Queen of Wands, reversed
The Key
It’s time to stop and smell the flowers for Aries and Libras. Too much doing is scattering your energy and robbing you of joy. Don’t keep knocking on metaphorical doors, looking for approval from everyone. You have the keys. Use them. Your mission is to set yourself free of the approval trap this equinox.
Saturn moves out of Capricorn around the equinox. It’s now time to put the old criticisms of a boss or your own father to bed. This is especially true for Libra and Aries women. You don’t have to earn daddy’s love now or ever. Build a new life around an empowering POV, instead of answering for “mistakes” you made deep in the past.
TAURUS/SCORPIO
The Chariot, Reversed
The Anchor
Taurus and Scorpio, how you feel about a matter is not moving you forward. Now is not the time to choose freeze or hide. How can you move forward valiantly and purposefully? Old, unprocessed emotions are keeping you stuck. Get grounded to get in a safer emotional space.
Both Scorpio and Taurus need to keep expecting the unexpected, with Uranus in Taurus. Some surprises are good, some not what we’d hope for, but from now til the next equinox, you are asked to make the best of everything. You’re being a called to alchemize the inconvenient and adopt the attitude that all things are ultimately moving in your favor. What’s needed most is a deep surrender. Pull the anchor up and trust the tides.
GEMINI/SAGITTARIUS
The Ace of Swords
The Mask
The truth sets Gemini and Sagittarius free for the next six months. Commit to the truth, speak it, write it, teach it and preach it. You’re keenly aware of other’s masks, pretensions and follies. People who put on a nice persona around you may be eager to take from you. Be careful of flattery and ask yourself what’s truly behind it. Your gut will know what’s a sincere compliment versus one that’s intended to get something out of you. The strength of your will and character are being tested. Choose integrity over shortcuts.
Venus enters Gemini in early April. Venus, being the lover, the coquette and seductress of the zodiac, brings pleasant distractions to you this spring. That in mind, keep it real in dating and romance. Opt for deeper conversations and don’t just hear what you want to hear in the game of love. Deep listening in matters of the heart is called for. Does the beautiful lover you desire have beautiful thoughts? A beautiful spirit? Look at the whole package.
CANCER/CAPRICORN
The Four of Pentacles, Reversed
The Nine of Wands, Reversed
The Key
The Man
Capricorns and Cancers, are your defense mechanisms working? Your strong self-protective streak may be backfiring. Your equinox goal is to dismantle the deep tiredness and apathy you’ve been feeling. Give a little, especially to yourself. It’s safe to splurge on something that will revivify you at this time. Likewise, look at what you tend to hoard–things, bad memories, resentments. It’s time to purge all the past junk that’s not serving you. Stop chasing. The truth that you seek is seeking you too. It’s time for stillness. I am talking to you, Capricorn and Cancer men, especially. Sit down, chill, meditate. You have a deep, unacknowledged need for space. Give it to yourself.
Saturn moves out of Capricorn at the equinox, so the long-held burdens weighing down the Capricorns and Cancerians are lifting. Pluto, Mars and Jupiter are all in Capricorn at this time. This is a powerful, transformative, activating energy at work. It’s time to drop the past and build the future. Don’t build your new future with stones of anger, resentment and regret.
LEO/AQUARIUS
Strength
The Mice
For Leo and Aquarius, it’s time to identify the small things that are taking up too much time and energy. It’s time to gently and deeply investigate your work processes, habits and impulse buys. You are called to make the best use of your resources and rid yourself of the tiny thieves of your life. What’s robbing you of joy, calm and peace of mind especially? Leo will be deeply in their element with this inquiry, as the Strength card resonates with their sign. Aquarius, keep this purging gentle, like you would a fast or detox.
Saturn enters Aquarius near the equinox and for Aquarius, it’s time to take stock. Ask yourself, “am I making the best use of my time?” For Leo, Saturn in Aquarius rewards them for being and staying on mission and purpose, using their natural leadership skills to lead others towards a better life. Both signs need to examine how they want to grow as leaders and what they want their legacy to be.
VIRGO/PISCES
The Magician, Reversed
The 8 of Wands
The Coffin
Pisces and Virgo need to be more intentional with their actions at this time. Both signs are in the trap of feeling like they have to work themselves to death to accomplish something, anything. They may also be trying to prop up a situation that’s far outlived its usefulness to them. It’s time to say “enough” and acknowledge there’s no more you can or should do. Meditate on right effort, right mindedness and right actions. There’s no magic words you’ll be able to conjure to bring something back to life. Let it be.
Mercury is in Pisces til about mid April with Neptune in Pisces. Both Virgo and Pisces need to trust their intuition, but not indulge in too many fantasies, what-ifs and such. The situation or burden they are facing will undo or unravel itself. Let it settle. No more effort is needed.
Wishing you a beautiful, restorative spring journey, full of health, wealth and love.
Dreams and Surprises this Mercury Retrograde
So many people bewail a Mercury retrograde period–the lost emails, poorly chosen words, broken contracts and travel mishaps. Even people who know nothing more than their sun sign somehow know to blame a Mercury retrograde for all their whoopsy-daisies during this period. This particular Mercury retrograde starts in dreamy, watery Pisces and moves to forward-thinking, eccentric Aquarius. I’d like to break down this down some more.
Mercury retrograde in Pisces is dreams of the past, dreams lost and reclaimed. This is the energy of a person who gave up a dream to raise a family or made some other sacrifice who is now rediscovering their purpose or mission. Those who are lucid dreamers or experience night terrors may have more intense dreams about the past or may be extra wakeful at this time. Keeping a dream journal is advised for all who have strong Piscean, Mercury or 12th house aspects. Something in your dreams is opening the door to your future. Follow the clues.
Since Pisces rules the 12th house, home of institutions, asylums and jails, there could be headlines about the prison system, mental health facilities and the like. If you have interactions or work in any of these types of facilities, take extra care at this time, especially since Neptune is also in Pisces. Those who work with or in the water, maritime or boating fields should also exercise caution.
Many will be frustrated because things will not seem to move fast enough. Be still and know. Pisces corresponds to The Hanged Man in the tarot. It’s time to be still and get a fresh perspective and approach anyone or anything that claims to be your savior with caution. Cults might also garner headlines.
Mercury and Neptune together in Pisces connotes the “deceit that gets us to the real, transcendent truth”. Are you a willing party to your own delusions or suffering? This is a perfect time, up til the 4th of March, to bust any illusions or savior fantasies you might be entertaining.
Mercury in Pisces makes us prone to forgetting. It makes us soporific and at worst dissociated. Keep mindful and wakeful, especially in Piscean ruled environments.
Mercury moves into rebellious Aquarius on March 4th. Looking into the past helps us discover and build the future under this influence. Aquarian energy is humanistic, altruistic and liberating and many may rediscover a cause or charity that speaks to them.
At a more mundane level, we could have power outages. Aquarius rules electricity. Have your flashlights and batteries ready if you’re experiencing strong winds. The winds of change are here.
Mercury in Aquarius squares stubborn, lavish Taurus at this time. A surprise communication may come up late in the retrograde for those with strong fixed signs in their chart or prominent 11th or 2nd houses. The tension here will be between the intellectual and the tangible. For some, this means that an idea is not materializing (literally) the way they want. A model or prototype may delight or disappoint. A communications failure (Mercury in Aquarius retrograde) that costs a substantial amount of money (Uranus in Taurus) could also be possible.
Mercury in Aquarius is very much the communication of evangelization. It’s about larger social movements, as opposed to one-to-one communications. You may feel in a time warp of sorts with social movements from bygone eras getting a resurgence of sorts.
Above all, commit to honesty with Mercury in Aquarius. There’s no romancing the injustices of the past under this influence. This is very much the “air of air”, akin to the Knight of Swords of the tarot, who will cut through everything to move forward. Expect a quick change of pace, where things almost seem to move recklessly after March 4th. Check impulses and flights of fancy and intense emotions in favor of a more grounded approach. Don’t be too quick to make your Piscean illusion from earlier in the retrograde an Aquarian crusade.
Above all, you are in charge of your Mercury retrograde experience. Mercury retrograde is great time to take stock and revisit. It’s also a reminder to respond rather than react.
Affirmations:
Mercury retrograde in Pisces: I reclaim my dreams.
Mercury retrograde in Aquarius: My honesty and sincerity moves me forward.
Wishing you a positive, productive Mercury retrograde.
2020: A Mercurial Year
2020 is ruled by the planet Mercury. What’s that mean!? It’s time to communicate, be aware of fraud, and more. Listen up as we go through the major Mercury retrogrades of the year and how they could affect you.
https://anchor.fm/starpower/episodes/2020-A-Mercurial-Year-e9u9pv/a-a18ht6o
Your Eclipse Mini Tarot Reading
This reading combines the wisdom of the tarot with the astrological house most affected by the eclipse on December 26, 2019. Listen in to your sun, moon and rising signs to get the most complete picture of what the next six months have in store for you. Eclipses influence us for six months at a time and are the major themes of transformation. Check your sign for what’s ahead for you in 2020.
2:46 Sagittarius 6:30 Scorpio 11:45 Libra 15:23 Virgo 19:38 Leo 24:13 Cancer 30:10 Gemini 34:34 Taurus 39:33 Aries 43:18 Pisces 47:40 Aquarius 53:22 Capricorn
Your Eclipse Tarot-Scope
Eclipses give us a special window into what’s ahead for the next six months. Today’s partial lunar eclipse happens during the Capricorn full moon, and is especially connected with our careers, our karmic burden, fathers and fatherhood and how we build ourselves to be the best version of ourselves. The moon itself is ruled by nurturing, motherly Cancer, the sign of house and home. To get the full picture of your eclipse vibes, I suggest reading your sun sign, your moon sign and your North and South Nodes if you know them.
ARIES– 9 of Pentacles– It’s time to stand on your own two feet. You don’t need a partner for a venture to be successful. As long as you stay true to yourself, your values and know your value, you’ll prosper for the next six months. You may have to steady some of your impulses to fully mature some of the opportunities available to you.
TAURUS– Knight of Pentacles Reversed –Time is money and money is time. Some rewards you’ve been seeking in career are taking a longer time getting to you. Keep all your projects going at a steady pace and don’t give up. Endurance is your watchword for the next six months.
GEMINI–The Tower — A sudden insight or disruptive event may rock your world and test your foundations. Let what needs to fall, fall. It’s not on you to stabilize everything and everyone, especially if the foundations are shaky. You have an awesome opportunity in the next six months to build bigger, better and bolder if you have the stomach to succeed.
CANCER– King of Wands Reversed–Be careful of being all talk and no action. It’s fine to plan, but don’t commit to a person or project without a giving wholehearted yes. When you find yourself saying, “I don’t know what to do,” ask yourself “What am I really afraid of?” Fortune favors the bold. Be careful of being a spitfire. Unexpressed anger easily festers into resentment, so get an emotional hygiene regimen to get yourself through the challenges of the next six months.
LEO– 2 of Cups Reversed– You’re not seeing eye to eye with a business or romantic partner, especially on the day-to-day, routine matters. The fundamentals of the relationship, the shared values are still intact. Don’t make mountains out of molehills and celebrate the small victories. Celebrating the small things girds you both against conflict on larger issues for the next six months.
VIRGO– 10 of Wands Reversed — You’re about to drop a big burden that you’ve been carrying for too long. Congratulations. Be choosy, though, about what you choose to shoulder next. Discernment is key for the coming six months. Let others carry their own weight. Helping is fine. Enabling is not. Keep walking towards your “true home”, with a much lighter load.
LIBRA — The Wheel of Fortune — Lucky you! You’re about to get a fresh start and some awesome opportunities coming your way. Stay true to your values and principles. Doing so will help you create more opportunities for yourself. It’s also time to look at the cycles of your life, of your relationships and gently detach from that which is not serving you anymore. If things get too emotional, center yourself. A good centering meditation will serve you well in the coming months.
SCORPIO — The Page of Swords Reversed — Think hard before you speak, Scorpio. Your words have extra power in the coming months and you’d do well to take a spoonful of sugar each day. Also, listen to the voice of your inner child. If you find that you’re self-sabotaging, especially in what you say, or don’t say, it might be time do some inner child work in the coming months. What secrets are you keeping from yourself?
SAGITTARIUS — 6 of Wands Reversed — You have the success you’ve been aiming for, but not the fame. Ask yourself why the fame is so important to you. You might find the answer surprises you. Also, be careful of those whose praise comes too readily. It may feel good to get a lot of compliments, but ulterior motives may be at play with some of those around you. In the next six months, you’re going to redefine what success is to you and then seize it.
CAPRICORN — 10 of Cups — Your wish is granted, Capricorn. Be sure to share your joy in order to increase it. The next six months, right up until the sun re-enters your sign, portend immense emotional and personal fulfillment. All is well. Your inner skeptic may think that all this is too good to be true. Don’t listen to that inner skeptic. You’ve been working your plan for a long time and you deserve all the good your receive.
AQUARIUS — 3 of Swords Reversed — Be gentle with yourself, Aquarius. You’re still healing from a loss. Listen to your heart and take extra care not to distract yourself from its yearnings. It’s all too easy to ruminate to try to distance yourself from pain, but it’s time to really get to the heart of a matter. In six months, you’ll feel more available to love and be creative.
PISCES –4 of Cups — Pisces, you’ve got a lot of offers coming toward you, but that small voice of your intuition keeps saying, “no”. It’s time to get to the heart of what you can say a deep, resounding “yes” to. Apathy is holding you back. It’s time to get to the core of what’s emotionally burdening you. How is being stuck or immobile protecting you? This is the question at hand until December. It’s time to get unstuck and passionate again.
Pluto: An Examination of Conscience
Lately, I’ve been fascinated by how the Christian idea of the devil plays out in astrological terms. Here’s some thoughts about Pluto and how Pluto manifests as our Western idea of evil or The Devil.
In mythology, Pluto is the king of the dead. In astrology, Pluto rules that which must be transformed and resurrected. The mythical Pluto is an abductor. He’s a rapist. He holds his young niece Persephone captive and makes her a child bride. Pluto is the taker of innocence. He entraps Persephone by feeding her pomegranates. By eating, she doesn’t understand there’s an unspoken contract. She eats in the land of the dead, therefore, she must stay. She doesn’t see that Pluto’s gesture of seeming care is a means of binding her to him. Pluto initiates what seems like an eternal winter until Persephone’s mother makes a deal with him and Zeus to get her back, at least part of the time.
“Innocence”–that which is without darkness (Latin: nox). When Pluto captures Persephone, the darkness settles in. Barren lands are the dark night of the soul. There’s no fertility, no life, no joy. Persephone becomes the queen of the dead.
She’s powerful. She has so many subjects, but her kingdom is joyless. In fact, everyone becomes her subject eventually because everyone dies.
Pluto represents the loss of our naivete, often through shocking, hellish circumstances. One day we’re fine, picking flowers, closely guarded, as Persephone was. The next day we’re in situation, perhaps even a “situationship”. Our innocence cannot be restored. We’re forever changed by what we’ve seen and heard in the Underworld. Our quest then is to return to joy, to rediscover what once made us happy, but with more adult eyes.
My Catholic school girl days required regular trips to the confessional, where I had to do an “examination of conscience”, list out my sins and confess them.
A Pluto-themed examination of conscience:
~What is dead in my life?
~Is propping up a “dead” or “dying” situation compassionate or selfish?
~What is rotting that I have not buried?
~What is still torturing me?
~What season is this person, job, project, etc., inhabiting in my life?
~Who am I punishing and why?
~Do I have any unfinished business with dead relatives, friends?
~Do I have someone I’m obsessed with romantically?
~What makes me think I am entitled to be with a particular woman or man?
~How do I manipulate by pretending to care when I really don’t?
~What unspoken agreements have I made with others, with or without their consent?
~What must I cut out to make room for the “new” in my life?
~What “deals with the devil” have I made lately?
~Do I get off on corrupting people or taking them down a peg, especially those who I perceive to be less savvy or experienced than me?
~What are my control issues really hiding?
~Do I get pleasure from overpowering others mentally, physically or emotionally?
~What traps have I laid recently to bind someone or something to me?
~How often do I abuse my power?
~How often do I consider others needs and feelings as I pursue what I want?
~If the person I loved didn’t love me back, would I bless them and release them or would I attempt to further bind them to me?
~In order to be “king” or “queen”, do I beat people down to keep them in their place?
~Do I believe in redemption or punishment?
~What have I hoarded to maintain a sense of closeness? A sense of control?
~In what areas of my life am I stifling growth or change?
~What secrets am I keeping to maintain control of a situation or person?
~How do I control my fears?
Hell is a very real fear for many people. There’s many that advocate that hell is not a place, not a chthonic underworld, but a state of mind.
When you compare the Christian Devil to Pluto, they are similar enough. Whether or not hell is a destination is debatable, but it’s certainly evident some have a hellish state of mind.
Pluto rules Scorpio-the sign of sex, death, transformation and secrets. Scorpio rules the liminal time of year before Halloween, a time we confront our deep fears, especially of death. As humans, many of us make our whole lives about avoiding death, avoiding Pluto, avoiding The Devil. What if we looked at devilish and Plutonic energies head-on? How less fearful would we be? How much needless control would we yield?
Venus in Pisces: Love is a Glamorous Prison with Sea Monsters
So many folks are excited about Venus in Pisces. Yes, it’s an ideal time for love. Venus is in exaltation with Pisces, but my Capricornian caution needs to air out some stuff about Venus in Pisces.
Full Disclosure: I have Venus in Pisces in my natal 10th.
I know this placement. I walk this placement.
First things first, look around you and think about a Pisces you’ve known. A bestie? A challenging teacher? A parent? An ex? How do you feel about them? Good, bad or indifferent? With Venus in Pisces, that Pisces that you may have never even thought about or would have considered now has a touch of Venusian glamour–and friends, glamour is fleeting. Cupid may have struck you with his little arrow, but that love wound may hurt and bleed once Venus moves out of Pisces. Use your common sense. If you have a bad past with a Pisces ex now may not be the time to revisit that relationship unless you’ve both done some major inner work.
Pisces is linked to Neptune and the Twelfth House. Neptune is the planet of illusions. Neptune is the planet of movie-making, of myths and of sacrifice. There’s definitely a “risking it all for love” vibe floating around. Now that’s lovely, but your mythic, epic lover-hero may have need to pass a credit and background check first. Attend to the practicals. We’re more likely to feel spiritually attuned to a mate, but “as above, so below”, so be sure to attend to the below, real world stuff! Don’t make excuses for bad behavior because the target of your infatuation is healing his or her core spiritual wound. Keep it real, even if it feels like a dream-come-true. That’s Neptune, causing that dreaminess.
The Twelfth House is also identified with the Latin word “carcer”, which means “prison”. With Venus in Pisces, love is a prison–albeit a glamorous prison. It’s very tempting with Venus in Pisces to create or consent to a little gilded cage for you and lovey. This can be little rules and protocols that eventually become big co-dependency. This can also feel like being taken hostage, especially if you’re in an unrequited love scenario, or waiting on someone to decide whether to commit or not. There’s also some atonement here, or a debt that has to be repaid. We go to prison because we owe a debt to society. Spiritual debts become due and sometimes the repayment terms are not to our liking. Unlike the Saturnian Tenth House, where we can clearly see the obstacles in our path, the Neptunian Twelfth House presents challenges that seem to surface seemingly from nowhere. The truth is, the challenges were always there, we just were deluded into NOT acknowledging them, often because we failed to go deep enough. When Venus is Pisces, it’s easy to mistake the charming Venusian surface for a deep, spiritual, transcendent connection if we are not present and aware. Feel the love but keep those feet on the ground and your eyes and ears open!
The Twelfth House also rules our subconscious–and with Venus in Pisces, love is like a deep ocean with some interesting sea monsters just floating around. One minute, all is fine and well and the next minute you’ve discovered you’re in love with the Kraken. The inner sea monster of bae becomes painfully visible, often without warning. With Venus in Pisces happening while the sun is in Aries, be aware that the lover that may be charming and accommodating now may expect it to be all about them by late April.
Venus in Pisces is a charmed time, in every sense. Just because the stars have aligned though, doesn’t mean that you should lose yourself in love. That’s exactly what the more toxic Venus in Pisces seems to want us to do–merge and enmesh completely with the beloved. Look at the glyph for Pisces, though. It’s two fish, close together, but not tethered, not caged, free to swim how they please, but choosing to swim together, and that’s what Venus in Pisces should be. Now go find that swimming buddy!
Why “Stupid” Rhymes with “Cupid”
There’s a reason “Cupid” rhymes with “stupid”.
Love and lust are in the air. Has Cupid made you stupid? Naturally as Valentine’s Day creeps up on us on the heels of dreamy Pisces, our thoughts naturally turn to love. What is love? Why are we so perplexed by it?
So often, I get asked “I am a ________, so would a Taurus be good for me?” And the answer is “I don’t know.” We’re so accustomed to just looking at sun signs in pop astrology. A chart is complex. It has angles and conflicts–and that’s just one person’s chart. When you look at two people’s charts, it gets vastly more complicated–the same way people themselves are complicated. The relationship becomes an entity in and of itself.
There’s a lot of great astrology experts out there who really nail it with synastry in detail-the pesky angles and such. Volumes have been written on this. Two of the best books out there about the down and dirty of love and sex are Sextrology and Cosmic Coupling, both by Starsky & Cox. If you’re really wanting to know about that special Taurus and their kinks (or lack thereof), those are the tomes for you. My discussion here is based on heterosexual relationships, but Starksky & Cox really illuminate LGBTQ astrology couplings in awesome ways and I recommend their books whatever your sexual preference is.
Here are some of my observations about synastry.
Venus–Yes, Venus is the planet of love. You’ll want to really pay attention to Venusian aspects in the charts, but Venus is also a planet of glamour. People often forget that glamour has it’s origins in magick, particularly deceit. Venus had her “bag of tricks” and Venus can deceive you to get what she wants and make you enjoy it. Venus is often how a woman deceives and/or how man is vulnerable to romantic deception in a heterosexual relationship. Venus is not faithful. She does not inspire or look for fealty. Venus is not a wifely archetype. True love may not be signaled by Venus aspects alone.
Mars–Mars is passion. What would you fight for and what would you die for? Mars also makes war and if you’re not sure someone is “The One”, this is the place to gauge what they’ll be like in a break-up or a divorce. Mars is how we fight and what we weaponize. The tension between Mars and Venus is often what most of our love and lust games are, the push/pull of attraction.
If you really want to see Mars in action at the most basic, primal level, watch the NatGeo channel and watch two stags gore each other during mating season competing for a mate. That’s Mars. Crimes of passion come from Mars while Venus looks on reveling in what her glamour has caused.
The Moon and Saturn also lights the way here. Of course, the moon is important in synastry. The moon is our deep yin, our emotional well that waxes and wanes. The moon is also attractive, like Venus, but it’s rhythmic, like the tides. The moon in a chart is also talking about our mothers. Who are we because of how we were mothered?
Saturn is an outer planet and mostly we talk about Saturn and career, obstacles, time and the infamous Saturn return. Saturn also rules our fathers and fatherhood. Any tensions or dissonance between parenting styles, any commitment baggage you have because of your parents’ relationship will reveal itself when the Moon and Saturn have tense aspects. So many people get hitched right around the first Saturn return near age 27 or divorced that Saturn needs to be paid attention to in synastry. Saturn is also the lord of karma and so many relationships are veritable Russian nesting dolls of karmic baggage. Both the moon and Saturn are keepers of time and when a relationship “clicks” or you feel in “the same place” it very well may be that moons and Saturns are manifesting positive aspects.
To that end, if you’re meditating every damn day, cleansing those chakras regularly and still unlucky in love, it might be time to take a nice honest look at your lunar nodes. This is not a medical procedure! The North Node of the moon or the dragon’s head, is your true North–the direction you are supposed to go, what you need to learn. The South Node, the dragon’s tail, is the skills and coping mechanisms from prior lives that you need to rely less on. Some relationships are deeply karmic–for better or worse. You’re either on the path together or pulling each other off the path. Sometimes you’re exchanging gifts and teaching each other, in healthy enough relationships where the nodes are in opposition between the lovers. Feel like you’re chasing your tail with bae? The answer might be here in the Dragon’s tail.
If you thought that was heavy, let’s talk about Lilith. Hellenic Zeus (Jupiter in the chart) and Judaic Adam have something in common–a wife they got in a power struggle with before they “settled” with their principal wives, Hera and Eve, respectively. For Zeus, this starter wife was Metis, mother of Athena and for Adam, this was Lilith. Metis was the mother of the son who was prophecied to overthrow Zeus. Metis helped Zeus overthrow Cronus (Saturn) with her potion-making skills and then Zeus swallowed her whole. Before Eve, there’s a tale that Adam’s first wife, Lilith, was also formed from clay. She refused to have sex in missionary position and submit to him and she rebelled and fornicated with demons. Fun! There’s a lot of back and forth about Lilith–whether to use the asteroid or do what’s called a Black Moon Lilith calculation. I look at both.
For a man, Lilith is a threat to his autonomy and his status. She is the one who got away most likely because he pushed her away. She is the one he wasn’t quite mature enough to handle. She’s also the type of woman he’d have an affair with but not commit to. She’s powerful. She’s forbidden and she’s totally necessary to his story, even if she’s not what he “settles” for.
In a woman’s chart, Lilith impels a woman to buck male authority when it doesn’t suit her. Lilith starts her demon fornication binge when she feels used, treated like dirt, subjugated instead of cherished, when she feels like a stepping stone and when she’s hemmed in to the detriment of her own freedom and personal development. For this reason, I’d argue that Jupiter and Lilith need to be looked at together too. If a man’s Jupiter makes a tense aspect to a woman’s Lilith, it will probably start hot and end up heartbreaking. Lilith is a woman’s capacity for vengeance when provoked.
The planets dance in and out of “houses”. House placements are determined by your rising sign, the time of your birth, and the rising sign for me is the first impression or mask that you wear for the world. The first place most astrologers look for marriage compatibility at is the 7th house, the house of Marriage and Partnership. If you have many planets in a particular house, that house will probably need a lot of attention. I have five planets in my natal 7th and it gets COMPLICATED.
For me, all houses may have info I need.The natal 4th house, how we make a home together is important. I would also suggest a nice, long look in the natal 12th house, which elucidates illusions, fantasies, delusions and captivity. Too often, we project our fantasies and fears on our partners.
My last pro-tip is this: How much of your natal sun and/or natal moon is reflected in your partner’s chart? How much light are your bringing to their life and they to yours? The sun lights and powers everything and the moon illuminates us through the darkest of times. Conjunctions to the natal sun and moon bode well in synastry. Look for the light.
I am usually very cocksure about my astrological opinions. However, in the game or dance or drama of love, astrology is NOT destiny. A perfect chart, with beautiful trines and conjunctions, does not guarantee an epic love story. So often, we look for the good in a chart and a person and just ignore what doesn’t suit us or make excuses for it. That’s when we have the heavy-hitting outer planets, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto and Uranus–limits, illusions, transformation and disruption, respectively, to shake our relationships up during their planetary transits. The chart itself doesn’t speak to the spiritual or emotional maturity of the people either. All the beautiful conjunctions and trines in the chart won’t make you a mature, self-aware, self-actualizing adult. That’s on you.
My wish for you this Valentine’s Day is that you find the sync in synastry. If you want me to pull your chart, contact me here.
Quincunx Coupling Issues
“Couples who have quincunx signs — signs that are 150 degrees apart — have tremendous difficulties relating,” Kristin West, celebrity astrology expert, tells Bustle. “They are neither similar or complementary.”
Kristin West 