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Posted on June 5, 2018 June 22, 2018

The Astrology Of June 2018 – Mars Goes Retrograde

Can you believe we are almost halfway through the year? In 2018 we had an unusual amount of time with all planets in direct motion. Time went by so fast!

The 2^nd half of the year will be pretty much the opposite. Things will start to slow down already this month as Mars, the planet of action, goes retrograde. Mars retrograde is not common, that’s why it’s much more significant than let’s say, Pluto or Uranus retrograde. Yes, even more important than Mercury retrograde.

If transpersonal planets spend almost 50% of the time in retrograde motion, if Mercury spends 20% of time retrograde, Mars only spends 9% of time retrograde! So this is going to be big, especially because Mars retrograde is also closely linked to this summer eclipse season.

But let’s have a look at the most important aspects of the month of June 2018:

On 5 June 2018 Mercury is conjunct the Sun. We are in the middle of the Mercury synodic cycle that started on April 1st 2018. Mercury is now in the heart of the Sun. The Mind the Self become one. Time to ask (Mercury) yourself (Sun) some questions: Who are you? Who are you, really – behind conditionings, false identities, rigid beliefs and preconceived ideas?

On 6 June 2018 Venus, now at 20° Cancer is opposite Pluto in Capricorn. Venus in Cancer is about nurturing love and emotional comfort, and Pluto in Capricorn is about power and … well, power.

Venus opposite Pluto can mean anything from wearing a perfume to seduce your boss, to obsessing over your 7th-grade crush. Your relationships can undergo some tests – this is your opportunity to face your fears and embrace the darker side of love.

In the same day, Mercury at 16° Gemini is square Neptune in Pisces. Right now Mercury is moving at the speed of light (more than 2° in a day) so you may just get a quick glimpse of this transit – an inspiring idea, a confusing conversation, a mind-blowing youtube video – some apparently trivial event will shift your perspective about life.

On 13 June 2018 we have a New Moon in at 22° Gemini. The New Moon is separating from a square to Neptune and from a quincunx to Pluto. New Moons in Gemini are about understanding the duality of life. Things are not black or white, they are black AND white. Opposites do not only co-exist but are a condition of life.

The New Moon in Gemini only makes aspects to transpersonal planets – you can make the best out of this New Moon if you go with the universal flow and follow the path of least resistance. The New Moon is great for starting something to help you integrate what you have learned in the last couple of months.

On 15 June 2018 Venus, now at 1° Leo is square Uranus in Taurus. Venus is love and relationships, and Venus in Leo is about authentic love and relationships. Uranus will shake your beliefs about what authentic love and relationships really are.

There is no reason to fear this transit, because Uranus ultimately brings divine insight and truth. It is much, much more to this aspect than you will be able to grasp on June 15^th. That’s because Venus and Uranus have an intense relationship this year.

Between September – November Venus will oppose Uranus three times – that’s a very long transit. This is going to be ‘interesting’, to say at least! On June 15^th you will only get the first glimpse of this energy.

On 18 June 2018 Neptune goes stationary retrograde at 16° Pisces. When a slow-moving planet changes direction, we feel the energy stronger than at any other time during the year.

Neptune is the planet of inspiration, dreams, ideals, illusions and delusions. Neptune challenges your reality to show you there is another reality you were not even aware of. You can call it an illusion and dismiss it as flimsy. Or you can get inspired to find a higher order and a higher meaning in what you’re doing.

Neptune is about in-betweenness. Neptune is not Pluto, it is not black or white – it has a little bit of every color. Don’t take it all in, but don’t dismiss it either, because if you do, Neptune will completely dissolve what you think your reality is.

Neptune transits can make you feel lost, but instead of being afraid of getting lost, take this transit as an opportunity to discover new dimensions and new possibilities.

On 21 June2018 Sun enters Cancer, bringing us the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sun is reaching an all-time high or an all-time low in the sky.

This is a turning point, a time to reflect on what you have been doing in the 1^st half of the year and what you plan on doing going forward.

In the same day, Venus is opposite Mars. Venus and Mars started a cycle on October 5, 2017 and the Venus-Mars opposition means we are half way through this cycle. Venus and Mars are all about relationships.

The energy of the solstice combined with the energy of Venus opposite Mars suggests that this is the time to make some decisions in your relationships. But there is more to come – don’t forget that both Mars and Venus are going retrograde this year.

On 26 June 2018 Mars goes retrograde at 9° Aquarius. Mars retrograde will last for 2 months – Mars will go direct on 27 August at 28° Capricorn.

Unless you have the patience of a saint or the inner peace of a monk, this transit is going to push your buttons.

When Mars is retrograde, it is, in fact, the closest to the Earth in its cycle. This means it will influence you stronger.

And you know what Mars stands for: assertion, action, fire, heat, war!

Mars is suuuper important this summer not only because it is retrograde, but because it activates the 27 July Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius. Mars will be in fact less than 1° away from the Lunar Eclipse!

This is the most powerful eclipse of the year and Mars plays the lead role. Mars is not only about impulsiveness and anger, Mars is also about being true to your intentions.

Some of your actions or other people’s actions might surprise you – but is important to remember that behind anger and resentment, behind harsh words and fists, your actions (or other people’s actions) come from a place of truth. There is a reason why you lash out. Mars will bring that reason to the surface, so you can work with it, and deal with it.

There is so much to talk about Mars retrograde and this July Eclipse – I will dedicate at least few blog posts to explore these themes in detail.

On 27 June 2018 Sun in Cancer is opposite Saturn in Capricorn. Cancer is all about security and comfort, and Capricorn is about going into the world and making a name for yourself. Sun represents your unique Self, what makes you special. Pluto is about the higher powers you can’t do anything about.

Sun opposite Saturn will ask you to get out of your shell, to step outside your comfort zone. 100% security is an illusion. The higher the walls you’re trying to build around yourself, the more dramatic the demise of your establishment will be.

The aspect is a call for authenticity, but not the type of authenticity “this is who I am, take me or not”. It is about being authentic while fulfilling your mission. It is about finding the right role for you to play in this world. Doing what society expects you to do is not about losing yourself – but about growing up and taking responsibility for your life.

On 28 June 2018 we have a dramatic Full Moon at 6° Capricorn. The Full Moon is conjunct Saturn, and this is, in fact, the first Full Moon we have since Saturn moved into Capricorn in December last year.

You will now see the pure manifestation of Saturn in Capricorn. Both Moon and Saturn are material planets, and while the Moon is about your private life and Saturn is about the society, Moon and Saturn share many things in common.

Moon and Saturn are both about taking responsibility. If you neglect your body’s (Moon) rhythms – sleep, food – you cannot function. If you neglect the role you are expected to play in the world (Saturn) sooner or later, you run into problems.

A Saturn conjunct Full Moon is about taking responsibility, in fact, taking a LOT of responsibility for your life. Have a look at the house you have Capricorn in your chart to see what you need to take responsibility for.

On 30 June2018 Mercury enters Leo and squares Uranus. Uranus is at 1° Taurus, so any planet that moves into Leo is going to square Uranus. Mars and Venus already did it, now Mercury, and the Sun will follow soon. These personal planets transits are a wake-up call for authenticity.

With Mercury square Uranus, you may feel an urge to express yourself, to tell everyone what you really think. The transit favors intellectual work and communication. If you’ve been feeling stuck or bored, this is the spark of genius you were waiting for.

Although you can feel more inspired and hyped up than ever, try to stay away from arguments or from winning for the sake of winning. You will feel the energy stronger if you have personal planets or angles around 1° in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius).

The Astrology of May 2018 – Uranus Enters Taurus

I don’t even know how to start this month’s blog about the Astrology of May, but I promise you that the May 2018 is going to be a month to remember. The month of May might not have started very eventfully (I know, the 1st week of May was pretty quiet – there was was literally not one single major transit)… but things will soon change, and will change BIG time.

Let’s put it this way: the first third of May is the silence before the storm. Mid-May is the storm! And the last week of May (when we have a beautiful Jupiter – Neptune trine) is the blessing after the storm.

The event of the month is by far, the ingress of Uranus into Taurus. Unless you are older than your mid-80s, you were not even born the last time Uranus was in Taurus. Uranus takes 84 years to go around the zodiac, so when it changes signs, it brings big changes.

Last time Uranus changed signs and moved into Aries was 11 March 2011… Fukushima happened on the same day. I don’t want to scare you, Uranus transits are not always bad, but I just want to make you aware of the magnitude of this transit.

You have probably heard it before, and I will remind you again: with Uranus, you can only expect the unexpected. Uranus is the most unpredictable planet. It is the box of chocolates of the zodiac – with Uranus, you never know what you are going to get. What you can be sure though, is that what you will get will bring positive changes in your life, in the long run. Uranus might shake you at first, but Uranus ALWAYS brings freedom and liberation so you can live more authentically and purposefully.

Let’s have a look at the most important aspects of the month of May 2018:

We have the first transits of the month on May 7th 2018: Mercury (21° Aries) is square Pluto in Capricorn, and Venus (16° Gemini) is square Neptune in Pisces. Some little things might start to bother you. Maybe a colleague tries to outsmart you at work, or your partner has stinky breath in the morning.

Try to stay with these feeling of frustration of dissatisfaction. Try to understand where are they really coming from. What is really bothering you? What needs to change? Squares show you different angles of a problem, so you can take action, and do something about it.

On May 9th 2018 the Sun (18° Taurus) is opposite Jupiter in Scorpio. Sun in Taurus is the Builder; Jupiter in Scorpio is the Anthropologist. Sun in Taurus wants to build, Jupiter in Scorpio wants to dig. This conflict will push you to find true stability in your life. The strongest buildings have solid foundations: it is equally important to build on the ruins of the past, AND to erect new structures, designed to better meet your current needs and circumstances.

On May 11th 2018 the Sun (21° Taurus) is trine Pluto in Capricorn. This is a power transit, so make sure you take advantage of it! Today you can get crystal clear about what you should focus your energy on. As a result, you can get a lot done with minimum effort, expense or waste.

On May 12th 2018 Mercury (28° Aries) is square Mars in Capricorn. This transit is the interlude to Uranus’ dramatic entrance into Taurus. Both Mercury and Mars will square Uranus – Mercury immediately before, and Mars immediately after Uranus’ ingress into Taurus. So basically Uranus is sandwiched between Mercury and Mars.

Mercury is about talking and Mars is about action, so when these two get into friction you are asked to walk the talk. Mercury square Mars will point where you are not walking the talk in your life. You don’t have to feel bad about not always walking the talk. You have some reasons for feeling less committed to a particular thing in your life.

Maybe there is something that doesn’t excite you that much anymore, so it is difficult to put your heart where your mouth is. But rest assured, Uranus will change that. Uranus is the breeze of freshness you were longing for.

On May 13th 2018 Mercury applies a conjunction to Uranus just before moving into Taurus. Imagine, Mercury and Uranus meet at the last degree of Aries. This will be the ‘final act’ of Uranus’s transit into Aries. In which house you have Aries in your chart? Get ready to have a revelation about that particular area of your life. Mercury conjunct Uranus will show you what Uranus in Aries was all about.

May 15th 2018 is the big day. We have a New Moon in Taurus and just 3 hours later, Uranus enters Taurus! New Moon = new beginnings and Uranus changing signs = major new beginnings. I will cover this very important transit in future blog posts. But just keep in mind that this is BIG. Something in your life will shift. If you have planets or angles in the first degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) you will feel the shift even stronger.

On May 19th 2018 Venus enters Cancer. Cancer is a sensitive, nurturing and maternal sign. Wherever you have Cancer in your chart, you feel ‘at home’. With Venus in Cancer, your love relationships can become more intimate, more connected. Venus also rules money and finances so you can become more careful with your money in the coming weeks. If your Venus is in Cancer, you will have your Venus return, which will mark the beginning of a new cycle in matters of love, relationships, and finances.

On May 21st 2018 Sun enters Gemini. Happy birthday to all Geminis out there! This is the time of the year when opportunities arise everywhere in nature. No one knows better than a Gemini how to seize opportunities – the Sun transit through Gemini is an invitation to be curious, explore the world with a beginner’s mind, and find what works and what doesn’t through trial and error.

On May 25th 2018 Jupiter in Scorpio is trine Neptune in Pisces. This is a wonderful transit and although it may not bring big changes in your life (not that you need more changes now, with Uranus shaking your life…), it will make you feel more at ease, more in touch with your spiritual nature.

This transit is all about faith – and a reminder that whatever you dream of, IS possible and achievable. If you have planets around 16° in water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) you will especially benefit from this blissful transit.

On May 29th 2018 we have a Full Moon at 8° Sagittarius. The Full Moon in Sagittarius is not engaged in any strong aspect. There might be a sense of confusion about what to do next, now that Uranus changed signs and your life was turned upside down. Listen to your intuition! The ruler of the Full Moon, Jupiter is engaged in a beautiful water trine with Neptune in Pisces and Venus in Cancer, helping you with a smooth transition.

On May 30th 2018 Mercury enters Gemini. Mercury has been busy like a bee this month. He changed signs three times! Mercury was at 13° Aries on May 1st, on 14th of May Mercury moved into Taurus, and end of May finds him already in Gemini! Things can happen so fast this month, that you don’t even have time to make proper sense of what’s going on. Wait until Mercury goes retrograde in July to get a clear retrospective of the May events.

Posted on April 2, 2018 April 25, 2018

Astrology of April 2018 – Chiron in Aries, Saturn and Pluto Go Retrograde

Astrology of April 2018 Highlights

April is one of the most intense months of the year. Chiron changes signs, we have three planetary stations, and Mars makes conjunctions with the ‘bad guys’ of the zodiac, Saturn and Pluto.

Things start to precipitate around mid-April when Mercury changes course, Chiron moves into Aries starting a new journey around the zodiac, and Saturn goes retrograde. Your will will be tested! The best thing you can do is to go with the change and commit to it.

End of April brings some well-deserved relief. The Full Moon on April 30 is one of the best full moons of the year. Your strength and determination will be rewarded, in the end, so stay strong!

Let’s have a look at the most important aspects of the month:

1 April 2018 – 7 April 2018

On April 1 Mercury is conjunct the Sun. Every time retrograde Mercury makes a conjunction to the Sun, a new Mercury cycle starts. So even if Mercury is still retrograde, Mercury conjunct Sun is a good time to initiate a new project.

In the next 2 weeks, focus on formulating your objective (not on launching your idea to the world!).

If you want to dig deeper into Mercury’ cycles check out an article I wrote on Mercury cycles.

On April 2 Mars is conjunct Saturn. This can be a frustrating transit and you may feel that the whole world is against you! When things get tough, remember how diamonds are made. Just like the carbon needs to survive an immense amount of pressure to become a diamond, so do we need to go through some difficult experiences in order to develop our maximum potential. If you want your true beauty to shine through, remember that every test like this will make you stronger.

On April 4 Mercury is square Mars. The frustration that has been building up over the last week will reach a tipping point. Try to stay away from verbal quarrels if you can. Remember Mercury is still retrograde and you may not have the full picture.

8 April 2018 – 15 April 2018

On April 10 Sun is square Pluto and Venus is trine Mars.

What happens when you go for what you want? As long as what you want is also what others want, you will most likely get it. But when what you want goes against what the world wants, you will encounter hostility.

This might sound obvious, but whenever we want something badly we forget about this basic truth. Sun square Pluto is a test of your inner power. You may get what you want, but you will have to pay the price. How far is “too far”? This is a question to ponder upon during this transit.

On April 15 we have a New Moon in Aries. This is the most unpredictable New Moons of the year because it is in a tight conjunction to Uranus, the planet of surprises.

To make things even more interesting, on the same day Mercury goes direct!

This is great news, especially for Gemini and Virgo ascendants who will feel a sense of relief. However, with Mercury stationing plus strong Uranus – expect the unexpected!

You will most likely find out something that will shock you, especially if you have planets in the last degrees of Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) or around 4° Aries.

16 April 2018 – 22 April 2018

On April 16 Venus in Taurus is opposite Jupiter in Scorpio. An opposition is an intense, challenging transit. On the other hand, Venus and Jupiter are the most positive planets of the zodiac. With Venus opposite Jupiter, you can choose to enjoy this ‘friction’ and indulge yourself in pleasurable experiences. Or you can find that no matter what how much you have, you “can’t get no satisfaction”.

Whatever you go for, it is likely you will question your deep-rooted values (Venus in Taurus) and seek a deeper meaning in your life (Jupiter in Scorpio). Venus opposite Jupiter is about striving to find the balance between material pleasure and spiritual pursuits.

On April 17 Saturn goes retrograde. You have done a lot since Saturn moved into Capricorn in December 2017. Now is time for your first revision.

Think about what has changed in your life in the last months. Do you see any patterns? Can you identify any lessons? Can you see where you need to work harder (or smarter) to turn your goals into reality?

On April 18 Chiron moves into Aries. This is one of the most important transits of the year. Chiron hasn’t changed signs since 2010! This transit is particularly important because Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, so Chiron ‘starts again’ a new cycle of healing.

If you have been stuck with your pain for a while, Chiron’s move into Aries is good news! Now you have the chance to start again, to leave behind any wound you haven’t been able to heal, no matter how hard you tried. Chiron in Aries will show you a new perspective and will open new doors of healing for you.

In the same day, Sun is conjunct Uranus. Uranus is the higher end of Chiron’s expression. Sun conjunct Uranus on the same day of Chiron’s entrance in Aries is a promise that Chiron in Aries is truly about the liberation of the self.

In the coming years, you have the chance to leave behind the Saturnian expression of Chiron and embrace the more evolved, liberating expression of the Uranian expression of Chiron.

On April 20, the Sun enters Taurus. Happy birthday to all Taurus out there! As nature starts to bloom, we feel that same need. We want to take concrete steps in improving our lives.

Taurus is all about concrete steps and concrete results. If in the Aries season we felt inspired to take action, now is the time to make it happen. Take advantage of this energy! Taurus will give you all the practical intelligence and stamina you need.

On April 22 Pluto is stationary retrograde. Whenever a slow-moving planet like Pluto changes direction, we feel the energy of the planet stronger than ever.

Pluto always brings transformation. If you resist it, Pluto will bring fear, anxiety, and obsessions. It is normal to find it difficult to detach from the past, so don’t be hard on yourself during this transit.

But try to remember that what seems to be an ending, is always just a new beginning. You may not be seeing it yet, but trust that the universe always works in your favor!

23 April 2018 – 30 April 2018

On April 24 Venus moves into Gemini. No matter what your Venus natal placement is, you will become a little bit more chatty and experimental during the next few weeks.

You will find more pleasure in reading, learning, trying out different things, reaching out to the world.

If your natal Venus is in Gemini, a new Venus cycle will start for you, bringing new opportunities in the sectors of relationships and finances.

On April 26 Mars is conjunct Pluto in Capricorn. This transit is as intense as you can get! I cannot think of anything more intense than this.

Pluto is the most intense planets out there, although you may not always see it like that. Pluto is like a cooker under pressure. It’s like the lava waiting to erupt. You may not see what is going on – but with Pluto, you bet there is A LOT going on! Pluto just changed directions a few days ago and is stronger than ever.

And here comes Mars, the planet of action. Mars will stir the cooker under pressure even more… so it might be that this time you will make a mess in the kitchen. Instead of getting upset, think about what it is that you have been trying to suppress in your life. That part of you is alive and will always come back to haunt you until you learn how to tame it.

On April 30, we have a Full Moon in Scorpio. This is one of the best full Moons of the year because it makes some great aspects to Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune.

Yes, you’ve worked hard (Full Moon sextile Saturn) and now the Universe will reward you with something truly special (Full Moon conjunct Jupiter and trine Neptune). Take it, you deserve it!

You will especially benefit from this transit if you have personal planets or angles around 9° Taurus or Scorpio.

April is not an easy month, but knowing what’s coming up will help you better handle these intense energies. Make sure you mark your calendar with the most important transits so you can keep track of them.

Posted on March 2, 2018 March 4, 2018

Astrology of March 2018 – Triple conjunction Venus, Mercury, Chiron and Mercury Goes Retrograde

March is a very intense month: we have two Full Moons, a triple conjunction between Venus, Mercury and Chiron, and two planets – Mercury and Jupiter – stationing retrograde.

Imagine a room full of Aries people. There are some other signs out there as well, but Aries definitely outnumbers everyone. Ah -and there is no single Aquarian in the room.

This is what March is going to feel like – we have a lot of fire and cardinal energy, and almost no air and fixed energy. This translates into tons of passion and energy, at the expense of reason and objective, long term thinking.

This means that in March your desire to start new things, to embark in new adventures, to do what it feels right for YOU is stronger than ever. As long as you genuinely tap into your deepest longings and desires, you are going to do well. March is a good time to start solo projects as opposed to teamwork or collaborations.

March starts with a beautiful Full Moon at 11° Virgo. This Full Moon is highly romantic and will bring optimism, inspiration and creative ideas. Allow yourself to go with the flow and indulge in whatever it is that you love. Some opportunities that come to you may seem too good to be true! But consider that maybe – just maybe – this is your lucky day.

March 4^th is one of the most important days of the year. By definition, whenever we have conjunctions, things start to precipitate, and events happen. On March 4^th we have a record of 5 planets merging energies: Sun is conjunct Neptune at 13° Pisces and Mercury, Venus and Chiron all line up at 27° Pisces.

Something important will happen to you today – look up in which house you have Pisces to see what you can expect. No matter which area of your life comes into focus, March 4^th will bring a sense of healing and closure.

Philosophically, the truth is to be found where there is a closure of conscious awareness regarding several elements. Truth ’emerges’ when several conditions fit together coherently and make sense as a whole. We know we have found the truth when there is no more gap in knowledge, when a deeper knowledge emerges by fitting all the elements together in the right order and relationship.

In the same way, some broken, some disparate, dissociated parts of yourself can finally come together and fit like a puzzle. In March 4^th you can have a profound a-ha moment about who you are and what is the meaning of your existence. Something will finally make sense to you.

On March 6^th Mercury enters Aries. Our mind will become more alert, and our decision-making process will become faster. Just make sure you make those big decisions in the first 22 days of the month, because on March 23^rd Mercury goes retrograde.

On March 8^th Jupiter is the first planet to break the spell of the ‘almost three months with no retrograde planets’ period. Jupiter goes retrograde at 23° Scorpio – look if you have any sensitive point in your chart around this degree because if so, you are going to experience this energy stronger.

Whenever Jupiter changes sign or direction, something ‘big’ happens. Remember when Jupiter entered Scorpio and the Harvey Weinstein scandal erupted in the media? Around March 8^th we can expect similar big scale (Jupiter) disclosures (Scoprio).

Look at which area of your natal chart is currently transited by Jupiter – some information related to that topic will come to your attention around March 8^th. Now is time to make some adjustments or ‘dig deeper’ into this particular area of your life.

On March 17^th Mars enters Capricorn. This is good news and bad news. The good news is that Mars is in exaltation in Capricorn, which means he feels good here. Mars in Capricorn is brave, bold, militaristic, determined and hard working. Even the laziest of us will find it easier than usual to bring projects to completion in the next two months.

The bad news is that Mars is joining Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn – Saturn and Pluto are not by any means easy going planets. Mars will most likely want to ignite what Saturn and Pluto have been concocting since December last year, so you can expect some very intense events and experiences in the area of your life where you have Capricorn.

On March 18^th Sun is conjunct Chiron at 28° Pisces. This is your opportunity to connect with your inner shaman. You don’t have to be a healer or therapist to embrace the shaman inside you. The shaman is that part of you which can connect effortlessly with nature on all its fronts.

This is the last time we have this conjunction in Pisces – next year the conjunction will take place in Aries, and the next Sun Chiron conjunction will take place 50 years from now! Today is your final chance to embrace a part of yourself you don’t feel naturally comfortable with. Because this aspect takes place right at the end of the zodiac, it will likely bring a completion of some sort.

On March 19^th Mercury is conjunct Venus at 16° Aries. This is a good day for communication or verbal expression of any kind. If you have a presentation or a performance today, you are going to be more at ease than usual with your creative expression. Conjunctions in general bring new opportunities so if you have planets or angles around 16° Aries an interesting opportunity can knock at your door.

On March 20^th the Sun enters Aries and a new Solar year begins. The New Solar year, or the Equinox takes place at 0° Aries. This is undoubtedly the most potent degree of the zodiac, because this is where the zodiac starts! Anything is possible right now – at 0° we can start afresh, with no strings attached. If the rest of your natal chart further supports it, now is the best time to start something new.

On March 23^rd Venus at 21° Aries is square Pluto at 21° Capricorn. This transit is going to be intense! Venus and Pluto are known to bring obsession, jealousy but also tons of passion. The key to navigating Pluto transits is not to try to ‘control’ the events in the external world. If you can do that, you will most likely be able to enjoy the passion and the dramatism of this transit, if not, Venus square Pluto can bring you pain and frustration.

In the same day, Mercury goes retrograde at 16° Aries. As always, avoid stating big projects today, unless you want them to change their course later. If you are bored and you consider breaking up the routine, going on an adventure trip when Mercury goes retrograde can be a great idea! But if this is not what you are necessarily looking for, best to postpone important projects for a few more days at least, or even better, until Mercury goes direct in mid-April.

On March 28^th Venus is conjunct Uranus at 27° Aries. Venus and Uranus will aspect each other more than ever this year, especially in October / November when retrograde Venus will spend an unusual amount of time in an opposition to Uranus. If you have planets or angles in the last degrees of Libra or Aries you can expect a lot of surprises this year in the area of relationships.

March ends on the same spectacular note it had begun, with a 2^nd Full Moon. The Full Moon on March 31^st is at 10° Libra. This Full Moon is much more challenging than the Full Moon we had on March 1^st, because it is engaged in a T-square with Mars and Saturn in Capricorn.

Mars and Capricorn are known as the ‘malefics’ in traditional astrology, and it doesn’t help that the two ‘bad guys of the zodiac’ join forces at this powerful time of manifestation. What it does help is that Mars and Saturn are in Capricorn, and both planets feel good in this sign (Saturn is in domicile in Capricorn and Mars is in exaltation).

This means that right now they will most likely show their positive qualities. Mars and Saturn are very determined and efficient in Capricorn so you can expect to get a lot done at the time of the Full Moon (not without effort and obstacles, though). Venus, the ruler of the Full Moon enters its domicile, Taurus, just before the Full Moon so this is another positive aspect that will mitigate the effects of this dramatic Full Moon.

If you have planets or angles around 10° in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) or around 0° Taurus, you can expect important changes in your life. To see what area of your life will come into focus look in which house you have Libra and Taurus. If you have Aries ascendant for example, the areas of focus will be your relationships (Libra in the 7^th house) and your finances (Taurus in your 2^nd house).

Posted on January 2, 2018 January 31, 2018

Astrology of January 2018 – Lunar Eclipse in Leo and All Planets in Direct Motion

2018 starts with a bang! More exactly with a Full Moon in Cancer which is also a Supermoon. January ends with a 2^nd Full Moon in Leo, which this time is also a Lunar Eclipse.

The first month of the year starts and ends with a Full Moon. Is not only that we have 2 Full Moons instead of one within one month, but what makes January so special is that both lunations are super potent – the first one takes place in its home sign Cancer, and the 2^nd is a Lunar Eclipse.

At the beginning of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest strength (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere), the Moon is more powerful than ever. The Moon is usually associated with the feminine principle – if you are a woman, in January things will come easier to you. The Moon is – together with Saturn – the most material planet. The Moon manifests whatever the Sun imagines and designs, the Moon is consciousness in action. So you will likely get a lot done in January!

Apart from the Moon, we have another interesting event taking place in January: between 14^th– 16^th of January we will have a record of 6 planets in Capricorn. That’s a lot of Capricorn energy! It’s quite unusual to have more than 4 planets at a time in a given sign – it only happens when we also have slow moving planets in that particular sign.

The Sun, the Moon, Mercury and Venus will join Saturn and Pluto in the sign of the goat. Pay attention to what happens this month, what area of your life comes into focus, because it is likely that you will deal with this topic in the next 3 years of your life. All these planets gathered together in Capricorn will give you clues about the role Saturn in Capricorn is going to play in your chart.

Another important event in January is that starting with January 2^nd, when Uranus goes direct we will have zero planets retrograde in the sky. All planets will be in direct motion! The universe is giving you a window of opportunity to act, to move forward, to achieve what you want to achieve without hurdles.

Do you know that feeling when Mercury is retrograde, and misunderstandings, delays, errors drain you of energy – and you need at least twice the amount of time and energy you usually need to get things done? Having all planets in direct motion is the opposite of that!

If you have many planets retrograde in your natal chart, this energy can feel a bit too strong for you. You may feel pressured to act without having all the details figured out. Go with the flow and trust that everything will work out in your favor in the end!

To sum up, in January we have a strong Moon, a strong Saturn, a stellium in Capricorn and all planets in direct motion. The Moon, Saturn, Capricorn, are all action oriented, practical, they manifest, they transform ideas and vision into tangible reality. January is the best time of the year to act and turn your vision into action.

Let’s have a look at the major aspects of the month:

On January 1^st we have a Full Moon – which is also a Supermoon – in Cancer. The Moon is engaged into a Grand Water Trine with Mars is Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces and is opposite Venus. The Full Moon in Cancer will set the tone for the new year: 2018 will be the time to manifest what you have started to build in 2017. To do that, you need to reconcile the needs of your most intimate self, who wants to preserve what it has (Cancer) with the needs of your future self, who wants to grow and evolve (Capricorn).

On January 2^nd Uranus goes direct. There are now literally ZERO retrograde planets in the sky. You have a green light from the universe to go for what you want. It’s not a coincidence that the last planet to go direct is Uranus – the planet of liberation. Now is the time to liberate yourself from any old patterns of thinking and go full steam ahead for Renewal.

On January 6^th Mars is conjunct Jupiter. Mars conjunct Jupiter is one of the best aspects we can have, especially given that Mars is at home in Scorpio. Now is time to go for what you really want, for your most impossible dreams and desires. You are especially favored if you have planets or angles around 17° Scorpio.

On January 8^th and 9^th we have a triple conjunction between the Sun, Venus and Pluto. Venus is halfway in her cycle right now, highlighting the themes of the synodic cycle that started on March 25^th 2017 and will end on October 25^th 2018.

This conjunction is one of the highlights of the year – triple conjunctions are pretty rare, and this one is especially important because it involves one luminary, the Sun, one personal planet, Venus, and one interpersonal planet, Pluto.

The personal realm will intersect with the interpersonal plan, and this is when important events take place. Something will definitely happen in your life if you have planets at 18-19° in Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn.

On January 11^th Mercury enters Capricorn and one day later on January 12^th Mercury conjoins Saturn. Mercury is finally out of the sign of its detriment and out of the retrograde shadow. Mercury is ambitious and determined in Capricorn and during this transit he will be even more so because the cycle starts with a conjunction to Saturn. Use your mental energy to get things done.

On January 13^th Venus squares Uranus and one day later on January 14^th Sun squares Uranus as well. Something will have to go around these dates – Uranus will make sure you will get liberation from some old patterns of relating which do not longer serve you. Maybe you are too compromising, maybe in your desire to please others you sacrifice an important part of yourself. These squares to Uranus will show you what exactly needs to change. A few days later, at the time of the New Moon, you will have the chance to start anew.

On January 16^th we have New Moon at 26° Capricorn and a record of 6 planets in Capricorn: Sun, Moon, Mercury,Venus, Saturn and Pluto. The New Moon will be the trademark of Saturn in Capricorn and will tell us know – without a doubt – what Saturn in Capricorn will be all about.

The New Moon takes place around the same degrees where we will experience the Saturn-Pluto-Jupiter alignment in two years from now, so pay extra attention to the messages that come to you around this date. The New Moon in Capricorn will shed light into what will keep you busy in the coming years. When you know what to expect you can get better prepared for the future.

On January 17^th Venus enters Aquarius and on January 19^th Sun also enters Aquarius, balancing the elemental energy in the sky. If the first two weeks of January have been infused with Cardinal and Earth energy, the 2^nd half of January will be much more balanced, especially thanks to Venus and the Sun who move into Aquarius. Aquarius brings Air and Fixed energy, helping us get the clarity we need to focus on what is really important.

On January 26^th Mars enters Sagittarius. Mars feels good in the fiery sign of Sagittarius – he is still as assertive and bold as in Aries and Leo, but in Sagittarius, Mars acts with the bigger picture in mind, and wants to align his personal will with the divine will. This is a good time to expand your horizons, to do strategy work, to mingle with people with a different outlook on life than yours, to travel to a far away destination.

January ends on an even more intense tone than it started, with a Lunar Eclipse at 11°Leo on January 31^st. Just like the first Full Moon of the month, this Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse is opposite Venus. Having two Full Moons in opposition to the planet of love is very interesting, especially given that both the Moon and Venus are the two celestial bodies symbolizing the two facets of the feminine principle.

Moon and Venus describe the two feminine archetypes: on one side we have the the Moon, the most primal aspect of our psyche, representing our emotions, our day-to-day behaviors, what we do in order to survive, our memory, our instinct to protect ourselves and protect the others.

On the other side, together with the Sun, we have Venus, the planet of relating, of giving and receiving, of what we like and dislike. In a nuthshell, the Moon describes the relationship we have with ourselves, so we can get our primal needs met, whereas Venus describes our relationship with the outside world, so we can get our social needs met.

The two feminine principles are now in opposition. While the Moon is very close to the Earth and therefore has an even stronger influence on us, Venus is at the farthest away point from the Earth right now, and is willing to sacrifice her needs in order to please the Sun.

Let’s see how the two feminine principles will reconcile. Have a look at which houses in your natal chart you have Leo and Aquarius to get more clues about which area of your life (represented by the Leo-Aquarius axis) needs reconciliation.

Posted on November 28, 2017 December 21, 2017

Astrology Of December 2017 – Saturn Moves Into Capricorn And Messages From The Galactic Center

December is the month when Saturn, the great teacher, changes signs and moves into Capricorn, just before the solstice on December 21^st. The last week of December makes the best time for New Year’s resolutions – and with Saturn changing signs, you don’t want to limit yourself to one year goals. Aim higher! Focus on your vision for the next 3 years – this is how much time Saturn will spend in his own sign, Capricorn. There has never been a better time to put your long term goals into action!

Saturn transit in Capricorn is extra potent because whenever a planet transits its own sign, it manifest the themes of the house ruled by Capricorn in your natal chart. A planet in its own sign transits the same house it rules!

Let’s take an example. If you have Capricorn ascendant, then Saturn rules your 1^st house. When Saturn was in Sagittarius, it transited your 12^th house. So you had the ruler of the 1^st house transiting the 12^th house. But now, when Saturn moves into Capricorn, you will have the ruler of your 1^st house also transiting the 1^st house. This is a double whammy and means that Saturn is not only twice stronger, but is also focused on one thing – the particular house that it transits.

That’s why Saturn Capricorn is great news for all of us, as it will help us finally manifest the area of our life ruled by Capricorn.

Are you a Cancer Ascendant? Saturn is the ruler of your 7^th house and it will also transit the 7^th house, manifesting the themes of the 7^th house. So Saturn will bring you new relationships, or it will bring commitment in existing relationships. The focus is clear: relationships.

This does not mean Saturn will manifest the themes of the house overnight. Saturn is the planet of Time. Saturn always manifests his promise, but slowly. With Saturn, you won’t get it right away. Saturn asks for discipline and patience. But if you take it slowly, if do every day a little more, step by step, you will eventually succeed.

On December 1^st we have good news and bad news: the good news is that Venus leaves Scorpio, the sign of her detriment, and enters flamboyant Sagittarius. If you found it difficult lately to give and receive love, you can expect an overall improvement in your relationships with Venus’ entrance in Sagittarius.

Love needs faith, and in the open, generous Sagittarius, love can flow more easily. You will especially benefit from this transit if you have your Venus in a Fire or Air sign.

The ‘not so good’ news is that Mars opposes Uranus in the same day. This is an explosive combination which can bring erratic and even aggressive behavior, so try to stay away from any kind of altercations.

On December 2^nd we have the first Jupiter Neptune trine – the other two trines will take place in 2018. Jupiter trine Neptune is one of the most important transits of 2018, because it involves two slow moving planets.

Jupiter trine Neptune is a wonderful transit favoring spiritual and artistic endeavors. Jupiter will increase everything Neptune stands for – higher love, spirituality, being one with the universe, while Neptune will make Jupiter more accessible. Jupiter stands for abundance, growth, living in integrity, the truth. So Neptune will make it easier for us to benefit from Jupiter’s grace.

You will especially benefit from this aspect if you have Sagittarius or Pisces ascendant, or if you have planets in the middle of the Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). This 1^st trine is at 11° Scorpio (Jupiter) and 11° Pisces (Neptune).

December 3^rd is one of the most important days of the month: not only we have a Full Moon at 11° Gemini, but the Full Moon’s ruler, Mercury goes retrograde in the same day. Mercury retrograde is also approaching a conjunction to Saturn in the last degrees of Sagittarius. Not to mention that the Full Moon is square Neptune – all happens in the same day! The Full Moon takes place on the Gemini/ Sagittarius axis, the axis of Truth.

This Full Moon in Gemini will let you know what Saturn in Sagittarius was all about – in a way, it marks the ‘final chapter’ of Saturn in Sagittarius. But the message is not so clear, although it comes from the Galactic Center (Mercury and Saturn are conjunct the Galactic Center). The Full Moon squares Neptune. You might not want to hear the truth…or at least, not yet. Who wants to listen to Saturn?

Ultimately, if you do listen, you will finally figure out what is stopping you from aligning yourself with the truth of who you are. What lies have you been telling yourself? What do you have to open your eyes to see today?

On December 5^th Chiron goes direct at 24° Pisces. Chiron is the archetype of the wounded healer. When retrograde, Chiron digs into his own wounds and aims to heal himself – when direct, Chiron becomes a healer himself. If you have planets around 24° Pisces or you have a strong Chiron in your natal chart, you will become more in touch with the healer inside you.

On December 6^th Mercury retrograde will conjunct Saturn at 28° Sagittarius. This is the 2^nd Mercury Saturn conjunction – we had the 1^st one on November 27^th when Mercury was still direct. The 3^rd conjunction between Mercury and Saturn will take place on 13^th on January, but this time the conjunction will be in Capricorn.

Therefore, December 6^th is your last chance to revisit the Saturn in Sagittarius lessons, before you move on. Mercury conjunct Saturn will bring the culmination, the resolution of the Saturn in Sagittarius transit, before you move on to greener pastures. It has been a long journey – but all journeys come to an end. Or at least, a very important milestone has been reached.

Pay attention to the events, news, thoughts that come your way on December 6^th. What makes the Mercury Saturn conjunction truly special is that it takes place very close to the Galactic Center – bringing you divine insights. The Universe will whisper you something very important – just listen!

On December 9^th Mars enters Scorpio, which is the sign of his domicile. This is great news! Mars represents our drive, our assertiveness, and in Scorpio, Mars finds the strength and focus to channel his energy into what is important for him. No more “let’s compromise”, “let’s leave it like this for a while”….Mars in Scorpio goes for what he truly wants, and so will you. If you have planets in Scorpio, you will get an extra boost of energy from Mars’ transit.

On December 13^th Sun and Mercury meet for an interior conjunction and a new Mercury cycle starts. Because this Mercury cycle is connected to Saturn in Sagittarius, now is time to bring your best message, your most important learning, to reveal your greatest masterpiece to the world. Sagittarius represents higher knowledge and the truth. What is your truth? What can others learn from it? Bring your greatest insight forward.

On December 15^th Mercury is conjunct Venus at 17° Sagittarius, and both planets trine the North Node in Leo. The big picture will become more clear to you right now, you will feel more enthusiastic about your prospects, about your ability to reach your goals. You know where you are going to, and most important, you know why you’re going there.

On December 16^th Sun is trine Uranus. Sun (the self) in harmonious aspect to Uranus (the planet of freedom and liberation) will make even the most self-critical persons feel at ease, feel good about themselves. Sun trine Uranus brings a feeling or rightness. Everything flows easily and we will finally be able to feel comfortable in our own skin. There has never been a better time to be YOU. You will especially benefit from this transit if you have planets in the last decan of the fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius).

On December 18^th we have a New Moon at 26° Sagittarius. The New Moon is conjunct Saturn, Venus and the Galactic Center, and it is also trine Uranus. After a challenging Full Moon on December 3^rd, we now have a wonderful New Moon on December 18^th. This is the New Moon you were waiting for to set intentions which will eventually become a reality.

Saturn and the Galactic Center will do the trick. Whatever you start right now it is in full alignment with the womb of the universe. It will be very, very difficult for you to get it wrong this time. The Universe has your back!

December 20^th is the big day. Saturn changes signs and moves into Capricorn. What makes this particular planetary ingress so special is that it happens – literally – hours apart from the solstice (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere). The winter solstice is one of the 4 key dates of the year, corresponding in astrology to the 0° of the Cardinal signs (we have the equinoxes at 0° in Aries and 0° Libra, and the solstices at 0° in Cancer and 0° Capricorn).

I’ve seen it over and over again, from my own experience and from my client’s experiences – whatever seed you plant at the time when the Sun is at one of these 4 key positions – it will sprout! It is magic how nature works. I met my partner years ago exactly at the summer solstice (when the Sun was at 0°00’ Cancer) and I started the Astro Butterfly site at the equinox (when the Sun was at 0°20’ Libra).

So make sure you take advantage of this extremely potent energy. Don’t forget, Saturn is the manifestor. Saturn has the patience and the diligence to make things happen, to turn abstract goals into reality. I prepared something for you to help you with the Saturn transit, more details in the coming weeks, stay tuned!

On December 21^st Sun enters Capricorn, marking the winter/summer solstice, and immediately after, he meets Saturn at 0° Capricorn. The area of your life ruled by Saturn, that thing you need to focus on in the coming 3 years, will suddenly be brought to your awareness – depending on how well you embrace it, it can feel like a slap in the face or like a breakthrough “I knew it all along”. Sun with Saturn is manifestation in action. Now is time to set that goal, to make the plan on how you are going to climb that mountain.

On December 23^rd Mercury goes direct at 13° Sagittarius and life will go back to normal. Mercury will exit the shadow zone on January 11^th, when it will also change signs and move into Capricorn. So you still have two more weeks to fully digest and integrate Saturn in Sagittarius’ lessons.

On December 25^th Venus enters Capricorn. In Capricorn, Venus wants to become the best version of herself. But Venus in Capricorn is also pragmatic and realistic – she wants to make sure her goals are attainable. Venus in Capricorn is as cardinal as Venus in Aries, but in Capricorn, it’s not only about her. She knows that only those goals, whose aspirations which are aligned with the socio-economic context, with what the world wants from us – are attainable.

On December 26^th Venus also conjuncts Saturn at 0° Capricorn. This is a highly active transit because it takes place at the 0° of a cardinal sign, one of the four most active degrees of the zodiac. After you figured out what is going to keep you busy in the coming years (with Sun conjunct Saturn) now it is time to align your goal to your wants and beliefs.

On December 27^th Mars is trine Neptune. Mars is our assertive drive and Neptune is the spiritual “no borders” planet. Mars in positive aspect to Neptune will make you feel more optimistic about your prospects for success, you will be more likely to go for what you want, to pursue your dreams. Mars trine Neptune also increase your desire to lose yourself into another, to merge with another person. You will benefit from this transit if you have planets around 11° in Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).

December is a very important month – events are likely to happen again and again. On the 3^rd of December avoid any rash decisions, as you may have a hard time in discerning personal truths from facts. Better to wait for the New Moon on 18^th of December, or even better, for 20-23^rd of December, when we have the solstice, Saturn changes signs, and Mercury goes direct. The last week of December is the time to commit – and act. The sky is the limit!

Posted on November 10, 2017 February 28, 2018

How Do The Moon Cycles Affect You

Are you a ‘Moon person’?

There are two different types of people. People who are influenced by the Moon, and people who don’t know they are influenced by the Moon.

Indeed, the closest celestial body, our beloved Moon, affects all of us. Artists, lovers, astrologers and scientists all agree with that.

You cannot help but notice it. The Moon will stare at you in the night sky and will catch your glimpse even if you don’t particularly look for her.

The Moon has fascinated people since the beginning of times. There is something magic about the way she shines, about the way she changes shape every day, about the clockwise precision of her cycles.

As seen from Earth, the discs of the Sun and the Moon are identical in size. This is because, although the Moon is 400 time smaller than the Sun, is also 400 times closer to the Earth. Isn’t this amazing? Even the most skeptical mind cannot think that this is simply a coincidence.

The Moon changes shape every night, revealing a little bit more or a little bit less of herself, depending whether she is waxing or waning. The light we see is not coming from the Moon. The Moon only projects the Sun’s light, so depending on the relative position of the Sun, Moon and Earth we get to see the Moon from different angles.

Each night, a different amount of light is given off by the Moon according to its changing relationship with the Sun. Within an approximate 28-day cycle, the Moon passes through 8 phases, each phase lasting about 45° or 3.5 days.

Because the Moon does not have a light of her own, in astrology the Moon represents our unconscious mind. And because the Moon is the Earth’s satellite, it ‘belongs’ to the Earth. The Moon also rules our body, the flow of blood and our physiological processes.

The Moon describes our moods, but also the natural processes of life. Moon cycles are identical, unlike the cycles of Mercury, Venus or other planets. Also, the Moon is never retrograde – that’s why the Moon is very predictable. With the Moon you know where you stand.

In astrology, events tend to happen when the Moon activates particular parts of our chart. And events tend NOT happen when the Moon is void of course.

The Moon also rules our energy and engagement level. When the Moon is invisible in the sky, our energy plummets, but as the Moon increases in size, our energy levels soar. Every month we have our energy peak at the time of the Full Moon.

And although we are all affected by the Moon, we are affected in different ways, depending upon which Moon phase we are born under.

Were you born during the day or during the night? If you were born at night, then the Moon will influence you more strongly – and will define your personality even more than your Sun sign.

Also, if you have Cancer or Taurus Moon, Cancer ascendant, or if you have a stellium of planets in Cancer, or if your Moon is positioned close to one of your angles (Ascendant, IC, Descendant, MC), then the Moon will affect you more strongly.

Last and not least, if you were born during the First Quarter, Gibbous, Full Moon or the Disseminating phase, the Moon is strong in your chart, which means you can express its qualities more freely.

To check out which Moon phase you were born under, get your natal chart and check the position of the Moon relative to the Sun. If you don’t know how to generate your natal chart, have a look this article.

Born at a NEW MOON – the Moon is conjunct the Sun. The Moon was invisible at the time of your birth.

For you, life is an adventure with unlimited possibilities. You are spontaneous and live in the moment, following your intuition rather than rational reasoning. You tend to dislike rules and conventions. You usually feel more energetic during the day and Full Moons can unbalance you.

Because you were born when the Moon was invisible, your mission in this lifetime is to discover your identity, who you really are.

Born when the Moon is CRESCENT – the Moon is after the Sun. The phase starts when the Moon becomes visible in the sky and ends with the first quarter.

You are a very emotional person and you need security in your life. Your mission is to learn to become independent and detach from the past. As you develop the courage to be yourself, more and more opportunities will come your way. Be brave and you will be rewarded.

Born at a FIRST QUARTER Moon – the Moon is between 90° and 135° ahead of the Sun.

You are very spontaneous and adaptable – you just ‘know’ what to do, especially in crisis situations.

You have great managerial skills and you can do well in any activities which require quick and sharp decision making. But what really drives you is your family and building solid foundations for yourself and for the close ones.

You are what is called a “change agent” – just be careful not to kill some ideas too soon just for the sake of change, however.

Born when the Moon is GIBBOUS – the Moon is between 135° and 180° ahead of the Sun.

You are life’s eternal student, always questioning the status quo. You seek perfection in everything you do and you are ready to do whatever it takes to achieve your true potential to create value in the world. You are an overachiever.

Try not to become too anxious and perfectionist, and learn to lean back from time to time.

Born at a FULL MOON – the Moon is between 180° and 225° behind the Sun.

You are an artist and an idealist. You wear your heart on your sleeve and you can be quite charming and popular. Your greatest strengths are your clarity and objectivity – you see things for what they are, rather than operating on blind faith.

Relationships are very important to you and you tend to project yourself onto others. You may be torn between two different ‘parts’ of you which want different things. Your mission is to integrate these apparently disparate pieces of yourself.

Born when the Moon is DISSEMINATING – the Moon is between 225° and 270° behind the Sun.

You are a visionary with an ability to keep your eye on the big picture. You are a natural communicator, a teacher and a philosopher.

Although you feel a sense of urgency to fulfil your life’s purpose and to spread your message to the world, try not to become too overbearing. Your mission is not to make sure that people follow your teachings, but simply pass to on a torch of knowledge to others.

Born at a LAST QUARTER Moon – the Moon is between 270° – 315° behind the Sun.

You are a very driven individual with unique ideas on how to make the world a better place. You are motivated by tearing down the old structures and can thrive in conflict. Ahead of your time, it can be difficult for you to relate to life in the present moment.

You can have numerous changes in your life – particularly the 2^nd part of your life. Just like a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, you can completely change your identity and find an inner happiness that comes from deep within.

Born at BALSAMIC Moon – the Moon is between 315° until it becomes invisible.

You are a missionary, a healer with psychic abilities. Highly introspective, you seek for solitude because this is where you charge your batteries. You can have deep resentment toward people who harmed you – but in this lifetime you need to learn to forget and forgive.

When you manage to let go of the past and put yourself into the world, you can become the leader you were born to be.

***

The Moon phase under which you were born can gave you great insight into who you really are and what really drives you in life.

The Moon affects us every day. No matter under which Moon phase you were born, you will follow the Moon’s cycle as it unfolds every day of the lunar month.

How does the Moon affect you according to the Moon phase

The New Moon – the energy is similar to a conjunction.

This is a time of low energy. The last few days before the New Moon are good for completing projects or getting rid of things you no longer want in your life, like bad habits. It is also a good time for diets or fasting as your body’s activity is at its lowest point in this Moon cycle.

Try not to overindulge in food during this time because your sleep can be disturbed. If you feel low emotionally, try to surround yourself with positive people, or do a low-intensity activity which can uplift your mood.

The New Moon is the best time to meditate and regroup.

The First Quarter and the Last Quarter of the Moon – the energy is similar to a square.

This is the time when one half of the lunar disc is illuminated and the other half is dark. There is a 50-50 quality about this Lunar phase, which creates tension, but also motivation to get things done.

Right now you can feel an itch inside of you, but you don’t really know what to do about it. The Quarters of the Moon are similar to the PMS syndrome. You can feel stressed out and find it difficult to unwind. Try to exercise and drink water during this phase of the Moon cycle.

The Full Moon – the energy is similar to an opposition.

This is the peak of the lunar cycle, with half of the Moon is fully illuminated and visible, as seen from the Earth.

This is a high point in terms of energy, but the energy of the Full Moon is very different from the First or Last Quarter of the Moon. While the Quarter Moons bring tension and anxiety times, the Full Moon brings energy which is ready to burst. Because the energy can flow freely now, it brings a feeling of saturation, of having too much energy.

The Full Moon energy urges to be expressed. This is a great time for creativity, love, and any type of genuine self-expression. The Full Moon is also a time of manifestation, so things are likely to happen and come to light around the Full Moon. You calendar can fill up more quickly than usual, as everyone seems to want to get out of the house.

Full Moons can be difficult for people who suffer from high blood pressure or sleep disorders.

The Waxing Moon: Crescent and Gibbous – the energy is similar to applying sextiles and trines.

Right now everything in nature is in a stage of expansion and growth – this is a good time to put your energy into whatever you want to grow.

For example, if you want your hair to grow faster, now is the time to schedule your hairdresser appointment. In gardening, this is the best time to plant seeds that grow above the earth (leaves, fruits, or flowers).

The Waning Moon: Disseminating and Balsamic – the energy is similar to separating sextiles and trines.

This is a good time to complete things, or improve and organize existing activities. If you have a business for example, try to get new clients during the waxing Moon, and to organize and improve the productivity of the existing business during the waning Moon.

Cutting hair should be done at this time if you want it to grow slower. In gardening, this is the best time to plant vegetables that grow under the earth (e.g. carrots, potatoes, horseradish).

***

I hope this gives you a better idea of how the Moon cycle and the different Moon phases affect you.

As a general rule of thumb, you are at your best on the day when the Moon and the Sun are in the same lunar phase under which you were born. In opposition to this, on the day when the phase is opposite to your lunar phase of birth, you are at your weakest.

Do you want to get more in sync with the Moon phases? Try to observe the Moon in the next months. If you do it systematically, I can promise you will become more aware about how the different phases of the Moon affect you:

Go outside at night and observe the Moon. How do you feel standing in the Moon light? How is it different from how you feel when under the beams of the Sun?
Follow the Moon’s cycle from new crescent, until it disappears from the sky, and back to new crescent again. How do you feel during the different phases of the Moon?
The Moon changes signs every 2.5 days. How do you feel when the Moon passes through each of the 12 signs of the zodiac?

You can find out more about lunar cycles on the New and Full Moons in Astrology page.

Posted on October 31, 2017 November 18, 2017

Astrology Of November 2017 – Paradise Lost…And Found

November is a month of rediscovering your true essence and remembering what you have always known: that you are perfect as you are.

November is a highly spiritual month, thanks to Neptune which is very active throughout November.

If in September Neptune had challenging aspects, unleashing natural disasters and bringing chaos all around the world, this time around Neptune makes mainly positive aspects to other planets: a trine to the Sun, a sextile to the Full Moon, and a trine to Venus. On November 22^nd Neptune stations and turns direct, bringing Neptunian themes into our consciousness.

Neptune will ask you to find a higher order in your life, to upgrade your existence to the next level of consciousness.

In November all personal planets are in aspect to their higher octave planets:

Mars is in aspect to Pluto – your individual perspective vs. the higher perspective, your will vs. divine will –> the transit will show you how to assert your unique self in a way that naturally fits in the grand scheme of things
Venus is in aspect to Neptune – your needs, your values and desires vs. the universal order –> the transit will show you how to transcend your needs and bring them to a higher vibration of universal love
Mercury is in aspect to Uranus – your lower mind vs. the higher mind –> the transit will show you how to connect your mind to the universal mind, how to develop your intuition and allow the divine knowledge to come to you

Water and Fire are the dominant energies in November, asking you to tune into your feelings, connect with the deeper current of your life and to allow inspiration to guide you.

This is not a month of new beginnings – wait until January 2018 to start your big, brave project. November is the month when you need to look inside – what truly defines you? What is the missing, overlooked element? How can you bring it to the next level of awareness?

Transformation is a process that most of us fear – it feels like we have to amputate a part of ourselves. But transformation is not always about destroying the old.

Transformation also means remembering who you really are – bringing into awareness that which has been unconscious or unknown, that part of you which has been forgotten.

November is a time to dig inside you, to find a higher order, an order that resonates better with the person you’ve become, who you’ve developed into.

On November 11^th we also have the 3^rd and final trine between Saturn and Uranus. Saturn in positive aspect to Uranus facilitates change and restructuring of the old self. The change is harmonious, this time you won’t resist it – you will embrace it effortlessly.

Change does not have to be about becoming someone else, but about rearranging the pieces of the puzzle in your life in a way that better serves your purpose.

Maybe it is not ‘something’ that is missing from your life – it is how everything fits in the bigger picture of your life that makes the difference.

Take what you already have and find a higher order, a better arrangement.

Deep inside our hearts, we all long for the lost paradise, for that place we all emerged from. We chase it all our lives: the perfect job, the perfect home, the perfect lover, the perfect relationship.

Neptune will show you that if you keep chasing it outside, it will keep on slipping through your fingers. But if you realize you have it inside you, if you realize you are already perfect – you will finally find it.

Let’s have a look at the major aspects of the month:

On November 3^rd Sun is trine Neptune. Today you will be more idealistic than usual and you will want to bring your best self forward. And because you put your best self forward, because you act from your higher self – one of your dreams can come true today, one of your goals can be made real.

The good thing is that you don’t even have to put too much effort into it. You will simply attract it towards you. With Sun in aspect to Neptune, you have to take it easy. Neptune brings a very subtle, soft energy. Now is time to pull, rather than push.

On November 4^th we have a Full Moon at 11° Taurus. This is a sweet full Moon making beautiful aspects to Neptune – the Moon is sextile to Neptune and Sun is trine to Neptune.

But that’s not the full story. The Full Moon ruler, Venus is exactly opposite Uranus, the planet of surprises. This makes the Full Moon in Taurus a great time for love and romance – don’t be afraid to venture yourself through unknown territories.

On November 5^th Mercury enters Sagittarius. After spending several weeks in the deep waters of Scorpio, Mercury is now ready for a new adventure.

This placement favors big endeavors, big picture thinking, and is not so good for detail work. Sagittarius is about “believing without seeing”, about higher knowledge, beyond proofs and facts.

That’s why Mercury is in detriment in Sagittarius. Mercury is all about facts, and proofs, is about what you can see, hear, and touch. Our mind can get a bit confused in the coming weeks – the best way to deal with this transit it to allow your intuition to take over.

On November 7^th Venus enters Scorpio. Love becomes ALL or NOTHING, more private, more mysterious, more intense. In the next weeks, making a deep, true connection with someone who understands you becomes more important than ever.

This is a good transit to boost intimacy in relationships. Just be aware that Venus in Scorpio needs trust. Be ready to offer your trust first. Don’t wait for the other to give it to you. They are going through the same process – someone has to make the first step.

On November 11^th Saturn trines Uranus for the 3^rd and last time. Saturn trine Uranus is one of the most important transits of the year. Saturn represents our foundations, our security. Uranus is the pioneer of change. Saturn and Uranus represent the old and the new coming together.

You can now let go of some duties or responsibilities which restrict you. You can let go of some old habits which don’t serve you anymore and introduce new habits, new routines in your life. The transition will be smooth thanks to the positive aspect between Saturn and Uranus.

You will feel the benefits of this transit especially if you have planets or angles around 25° in Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) or if your ascendant is Capricorn or Aquarius.

On November 13^th Venus is conjunct Jupiter and Mercury is square Neptune.

Today you will be more open than usual to the good things in life. You will feel more appreciation and gratitude for what life has to offer, and focus much more on the positive aspects of things.

You will also be more generous and more open not only to give, but also to receive love. Your self-worth will improve and you will feel more content about yourself, more at peace with who you are. As a result, the others will start appreciating you even more.

On November 16^th Venus in Scorpio is trine Neptune in Pisces. Venus is the planet of love and Neptune is the planet of higher love. Needless to say that love vibrations will resonate at a higher frequency today.

If you are born in a water sign or if you have many planets in water signs you will feel like a fish in the water during this transit.

On November 18^th we have a New Moon at 26° Scorpio. The New Moon is quincunx Uranus in Aries and the ruler of the New Moon, Pluto, is square Mars in Libra. This New Moon is Scorpio is pretty challenging and will ask you to find healthy ways to assert your power.

If you are the type of person who imposes their will on others, the New Moon will be particularly tough, because it will ask you to surrender to a higher power.

If in contrary, you have issues in asserting yourself, the New Moon will help you get in touch with your inner power.

On November 19^th Mars is square Pluto, bringing our anger and frustration to the surface. We all have anger inside ourselves. Mars square Pluto will ask us to deal with it in one way or another.

Mars represents our self-will. Pluto is the higher octave of Mars, representing the Universe’s will, the higher power which is beyond our control. Because the two will clash, power struggles are inevitable.

Try to find a way to assert your will without entering into conflict with God. If frustration becomes overbearing, physical exercise can be a good way to deal with it.

If you have planets around 17° in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) you will be especially effected by this transit.

On November 21^st Sun enters Sagittarius. Happy birthday to all Sagittarius out there! Now is that time of the year to seek the truth, to search for meaning. Go into the world with faith – the Universe has your back!

On November 22^nd Neptune goes direct at 11° Pisces. You will be reminded that you are part of something larger than yourself.

On November 25^th Mercury in Sagittarius is trine Uranus in Aries. Writing, media, communication, crafting, DYI are favored. The quantity of emails, phones, internet activity can increase. If you have a trip planned today it will be particularly exciting.

This is a great day for inspirations of any kind. You mind will start downloading brilliant ideas from a higher source. Divine inspiration can come to you in the flash of a moment.

On November 27^th Mercury is conjunct Saturn. This is a good day to organize, make plans, study, learn, do research, or any kind of activity which requires focus. If you have a project you’ve been postponing – this is a good time to tackle it and bring it to a completion, because your discipline, your concentration, your focus are at an all times high.

If you have planets or angles around 27° Sagittarius, or if your ascendant is Gemini, Virgo or Capricorn you will especially benefit from this transit.

Posted on August 29, 2017 September 21, 2017

The Astrology of September 2017 – Deception Alert! Use Your Personal Power Wisely

September is an action-packed, ambivalent month. Because most personal planets move into Virgo, we will experience a shift from Fire energy to Earth energy.

But if you expect reason, common sense, practicality, and other similar qualities that Earth energy is known for, get ready to be disappointed.

Because all the planets in Virgo also oppose Neptune, we will feel dreamy and imaginative at best, disoriented and confused at worst.

If you are an artist looking for inspiration, or if you are very spiritual, then September is good news for you. For most of us though, September can bring confusion and delusion.

The good news is that in September Mercury and Pluto turn direct, that we have a Vernal Equinox which will bring some balance, and that we have the last Jupiter Uranus opposition.

The not so good news is that we have lots (read LOTS) of Neptune aspects, especially oppositions, and quite a few Saturn squares. Saturn builds and Neptune dissolves. Not a match made in heaven.

During this month be careful what you want to build, and what you want to destroy.

Some other good news is that Pluto applies some sextiles and trines to the personal planets and to the lunations, helping us channel its power into something constructive.

In September, try to choose inner strength over confusion and destruction.

Let’s have a look at the major aspects of the month:

September starts on a positive note. On 2^nd of September Mars trines Uranus, triggering the Eclipse degree (28° Leo). Between now and September 16^th expect to get more information on the Solar Eclipse in Leo we just had.

On 3^rd of September Mercury retrograde is conjunct Mars at 28° Leo. There is an interesting interplay between Mercury and Mars around the Eclipse point. Mercury, still retrograde, whispers something to Mars, tells him a secret. “Pass this on”, says Mercury, as Mars continues his journey away from the Sun, while Mercury goes back a little further, until it touches the Eclipse point.

On 4^th of September the Sun applies an opposition to Neptune, blurring the lines of our personal identity.

Mercury finally goes direct and we will all feel like coming out of hibernation. Be VERY careful what messages come to you today, especially if you have planets or angles around 28° in Leo or Aquarius.

In the same day Mars enters Virgo bringing more structure and order. This means good news or bad news, depending on what kind of plans you’ve been concocting while Mars was in Leo. These plans will now be meticulously put into practice.

On 6^th of September we have a Full Moon in Pisces. This Full Moon is the most dreamy and imaginative Full Moons of the year, because it very closely conjuncts Neptune. On a positive side, the Full Moon can bring emotions that can resemble the fairy tales, and on a more negative side the Full Moon in Pisces can bring a desire to completely escape reality.

This Full Moon can blur our perceptions and can be dangerous after such an intense New Moon and Solar Eclipse like the one we had 2 weeks ago. Don’t believe the news today as news now can be used for propaganda.

The Full Moon makes two aspects and gives us two choices: we have a positive aspect (a sextile) to Pluto, so we have the opportunity to use our personal power to consolidate our position, and a stressful aspect (a T-square) to Saturn, giving us the option to channel the energy to destroy old structures.

On 9^th of September the energy will shift even more from Fire to Earth, as Mercury also enters Virgo. Virgo is a good placement for Mercury, Virgo is where the messenger of the zodiac can put his knowledge into practice. Now we have more attention to detail and we can get things done thanks to our persistence.

On 12^th of September Venus at 21° Leo is trine Saturn in Sagittarius. Venus trine Saturn is one of the easier aspects this month, favouring creative endeavours and helping us materialise our vision.

On 13^th of September Sun squares Saturn. Sun square Saturn is a challenging aspect, bringing inner frustration and feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. You can feel blocked, you can become more self-critical and self-judgemental than usual, and more prone to depression during this transit.

You could also project these feelings on the outside which could lead to conflicts with authorities.

Ultimately, this transit wants you to take a realistic look at yourself, identify your flaws, and do something about them, so you can become a better person.

This transit will especially affect you if you have personal planets or angles around 21° in mutable signs – Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces.

On 16^th of September Mercury conjuncts Mars for the 2^nd time in the last few days. Mercury is now direct and this time Mercury gets all the information on the table.

Mercury has travelled all the way to the other side of the horizon, has checked the facts, and now is here to tell Mars everything he has discovered.

Mars is now ready to act on it.

On September 19^th Venus enters Virgo and becomes more dutiful and serious. If you have Venus in Virgo in your natal chart, you will experience your Venus return, a time of new beginnings in the area of relationships or in the areas of your life ruled by Venus.

In the same day Mercury opposite Neptune will bring mixed news, chaos and confusion. If you need to sign contracts, read the small print even more carefully than you do it when Mercury is retrograde.

Mercury opposite Neptune is a good time to re-evaluate your routines and daily rituals. Neptune wants to dissolve any outdated routine that doesn’t motivate you enough. If you don’t find the motivation to go to the gym or to keep with the diet is maybe because you need to find a higher order, a more genuine motivation to keep you going.

On 20^th of September we have a New Moon at 27° Virgo. This is another confusing New Moon because the New Moon ruler, Mercury is in a tight opposition to Neptune. The New Moon is also in a quincunx to Uranus, which means the Moon will not necessarily know how to deal with the explosive Uranian energy.

During this New Moon you can have strange emotional reactions or bizarre ideas. Unless you have planets in your natal chart who make especially favourable aspects to this New Moon, wait for other New Moons to launch your big projects or initiatives.

This does not apply if you are an artist, a writer, a musician. In this case you can benefit from the New Moon in Virgo because the Mercury Neptune opposition will bring a lot of emotional sensitivity which can be expressed thorough art.

On 22^nd of September Sun enters Libra, marking the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. In the same day, Mercury, now at 16° Virgo, is trine Pluto in Capricorn. You can get better at understanding the psychological motivations of others, and your communication can become bolder and more provocative during this transit.

On 24^th of September Mars is opposite Neptune bringing more confusion, as if we did not have enough. To act or not to act, that will be the question during this transit. If you want to get things your way, the way you are used to, you may feel now you are fighting with an invisible enemy, just like Don Quixote was trying to fight the windmill.

Mars is your will power. Neptune diffuses, dissolves, dissipates. Because of this, your will power can start to literally dissolve. You may have less ambition, less energy, less initiative, you can feel more confused than usual during this transit.

Neptune wants you to move to a higher consciousness of Martian expression, so during this transit you may want to challenge your motivations and see which ones are purely personal and which ones come from a place of higher awareness. Neptune wants you to act with the greater good in mind.

On 25^th of September Mercury is square Saturn. This is a challenging aspect, creating a conflict between what we think we can do and what are our realistic possibilities. The transit will bring to our awareness any gap between what we want and what it is possible. The gap can make us feel dissatisfied, inadequate, and more negative and more self-critical than usual.

But Saturn’s goal is to teach our mind how to become more practical, more constructive, more productive. On a positive note, this is a great transit for learning of any kind, especially on more scientific topics. Again, this transit will affect you if you have personal planets or angles around 21° in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces.

On 27^th of September we have the 3^rd and last Jupiter Uranus opposition. Jupiter opposite Uranus has been one of the most important transits of the year, bringing the faith and the courage we needed to break free from the old and reinvent the new.

During the last year we hopefully learned a lot about how to manage conflicts between individual expression vs. the collective good.

On September 28^th Pluto turns stationary direct asking us to purge what no longer serves us and claim our personal power instead. This is a good time to start a detox program, to clean or refurbish your home. If you are an Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn born in the middle of the sign, or if you have planets or angles around 16° in Cardinal signs you will feel the transit very strongly.

Mercury enters Libra on 29^th of September bringing some fair-mindedness and balance, but in the same day Venus applies an opposition to Neptune which will add up to the overall confusion. Venus in transit to Neptune can bring strong longings for unconditional love, but also deceptions, especially in the area of relationships.

Be careful not to be taken advantage of, because you may have the tendency to keep the peace at any costs. September ends even on an even more confused tone than it started. The good news is October will be a much more balanced and positive month, so try to keep you cool and stay focused until things even out.

Posted on July 30, 2017

Astrology Of August 2017 – Eclipse Season, The Sky Is Calling

The month of August will turn our lives upside down. Fasten your seat belts, you’re in for a crazy ride.

Not only we have two dramatic eclipses, the lunar eclipse in Aquarius and the Total Solar Eclipse in Leo. We also have one of the most important transits of the year, Jupiter square Pluto. Mid-August Mercury turns retrograde, asking us to revisit and review those thoughts and beliefs that are holding us back from our Purpose.

Saturn the great teacher turns direct later in August. If you’ve been feeling held back in the areas of your life transited by Saturn, at the time Saturn is stationary you will finally understand what Saturn has been trying to teach you in the last months. You are now better equipped to deal with any fears or doubts so you can go full steam ahead in anything it is that you want to manifest.

But the most important planet this month is Uranus. Uranus is extremely powerful in August – in the first week Uranus is stationary retrograde and later it trines Venus, Sun and the Solar Eclipse in Leo. Uranus is the most significant planet of the Eclipse thanks to the very close applying degree. You can expect a lot of surprises and turns of events.

We also have a lot of Nodal action in August. Not only the eclipses, which by definition are conjunct the Nodes, but also Sun and Mars activate these very sensitive points in the sky. The Nodes represent our purpose in this lifetime. When they are active, they ask us stop playing small, stop living in a lie. If you’ve been in denial about your purpose, about your role in the grand scheme of things, about your contribution to the world, the month of August will be an wake up call to live in alignment with your true calling, now or never.

If we look at the elemental makeup of August we notice a lot of planets in Fire, but almost no air, so the way we will experience this energy is like an implosion. We will feel compelled to act, but because the air is missing we will not be able to fire our flames. This energy can feel frustrating at times, especially in the first two thirds of the month. In the last week of August the sky calms down. Time for some much needed rest after such an eventful month.

Let’s have a look at the most important aspects of the month:

On August 2^nd Uranus turns retrograde. Where do you feel stuck in your life? Uranus stationary retrograde is an Uranus on steroids, which means that everything Uranus stands for, unpredictability, sudden insight, freedom, rebelling against authority, will be experienced tenfold. You will have an aha moment. Now is the time to break the chains of whatever is no longer serving you, to cut through hypocrisy, to speak your truth. Uranus is the awakener!

If you have planets or angles at 28° Aries or Libra the area of your life ruled by that planet will be completely transformed. The change will be sudden and nothing you expected. If you don’t have any personal planets at 28° Aries, still check where in your natal chart you have 28° Aries to see which area of your life will experience a reboot.

On August 4^th Jupiter in Libra squares Pluto in Capricorn. This is the last square in a series of 3 and will deliver the final outcome of this very important transit which lasted for almost one year. Jupiter square Pluto stands for our attitudes, beliefs and mindset. What you expect is what you get. By now, at least some of your beliefs must have undergone a complete transformation.

Jupiter square Pluto initially brings a crisis of faith by asking the big, uncomfortable questions about life. What is more important to you, family or success in your career? What is your attitude towards race? What do you really believe about sexual monogamy? Although there are no right or wrong answers, this transit is forcing us to ask ourselves these questions and answer them honestly.

The transit has also brought to our awareness which are those things we can compromise and which ones we cannot. By now, you should have more clarity about what defines you and your views of the world. After this transit, you may find that some of your beliefs are really not that important (for example, your political views) while others have stood the test of Jupiter square Pluto and stand even stronger than before (for example, your views about family).

Jupiter square Pluto is also about money, success and abundance. During this transit, our desire to succeed is stronger than usual. This final Jupiter square Pluto transit is your last chance to go for that big project or endeavor. Don’t shy away from turning your wildest financial dreams into reality. You will feel this transit stronger if you are a Libra or Capricorn born in the middle of the sign or if you have planets at 17° in Libra or Capricorn.

On August 7^th we have the Lunar Eclipse at 15° Aquarius. The Lunar Eclipse is about who you really are vs. who you think you should be.

The need to be accepted, to be part of a group, is so strong in our DNA that many times completely overpowers our expression as an individual with unique traits, with unique talents, with unique needs and wants. The Moon Eclipse in Aquarius will expose the conflict between being true to our self, shining our light, vs. being a good citizen, fitting in, paying taxes, working towards a common goal that does not necessarily fit our own needs and desires .

We will now have to make a decision about what is truly important to us. Because the North Node is in Leo, the message is to put ourselves first. When we shine our own light, we give the permission to the others to shine theirs!

The Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius can also ask us to live behind some friendships, or to leave a group or a community that no longer fulfills our purpose, or that drags us down in a way or another. If you are a fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) born in the middle of the sign or if you have other personal planets or angles around 15° in the fixed signs you are going to feel this energy very strongly.

On August 11^th Venus in Cancer is trine Neptune in Pisces. This is a sweet, escapist transit, after an intense Lunar Eclipse full of Yang, masculine energy. Both Venus and Neptune are in water, feminine signs and together they come to restore our sense of oneness. Remember when as a child you hurt yourself and your mother came to hug you and all the pain melted away? This is how the Venus trine Neptune transit is going to feel like.

This is a good time to spend at home with the close ones or in a quiet place where you can take care of yourself or let the others pamper you . This time is the Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) that are going to benefit the most from this transit.

On August 12^th Mercury goes retrograde at 11° Virgo. This retrograde cycle is very significant because it coincides with the Eclipse season, and also because Mercury activates the Solar Eclipse degree. This is a longer retrograde of Mercury and will last for 23 days.

What is interesting is that Mercury will turn stationary direct on September 4^th at 28° Leo, which is exactly the 21^st of August Solar Eclipse degree. Some things related to the Solar Eclipse will come to light around September 4^th.

This Mercury retrograde has a cleansing quality and will help us break uncomfortable mental and emotional patters which no longer serve us. Mercury retrograde takes place at the same time with the Eclipse. As we know, eclipses are the karmic resets of our soul clock. Whatever it is that keeps you stuck in the past needs to be purged now.

Our mind will be cleansed of outdated beliefs, negative thoughts or any prejudices that hinder our growth. Which ideas, preconceptions, habits you need to change? This Mercury cycle will give you great insights into what it is that keeps you away from the path of your purpose.

On August 13^th Sun in Leo is trine Saturn in Sagittarius. Your determination and hard work are not in vain, and Sun trine Saturn is a reminder that with every little step you do get closer to your goal. This is a beneficial aspect for all of us, and especially if you are born on August 13^th or August 14^th or if you have the ascendant around 21° Leo, this aspect will give you the chance to create something on solid foundations. Whatever you build now, it will last.

On August 15^th Venus in Cancer is opposite Pluto in Capricorn. Women can be more seductive during this transit, especially if they have natal Venus in Cancer or Capricorn, and especially if Venus is located around 17° in Cancer or Capricorn. This transit brings increased magnetism and passion, and a desire to go to “the next level” of growth and authenticity in relationships.

“If a love relationship does not lead me to me, if a love relationship does lead another person to themselves, this love, even if it seems to be the most secure and ecstatic attachment, is not true love. For real love is dedicated to continual becoming.”

On August 16^th / August 17^th Venus is square Jupiter, and Sun is conjunct the North Node of the Moon. The two transits speak about embracing your purpose with enthusiasm, courage and optimism.

Venus and Jupiter have to do with our values and beliefs, are about what we like, what we enjoy doing. The square is an action transit so it will ask you to “do something” about the things you love. What matters to you most? Go for whatever this thing is, and enjoy the process.

Venus and Jupiter square transit fits pretty well with Sun conjunct the North Node of Purpose. Sun conjunct North Node transit takes place only once in a year so this is the best day in the year to ask yourself: “What is my purpose, what is my life path?” Notice the first answer that comes to you.

This is the first time we have the Sun North Node conjunction while the North Node transits Leo so if you were not sure what the North Node in Leo is all about, this is the day you can tap into the energy of the Leo North Node. This transit is even more important is it precedes the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21^st. Get the answer to that question right so you are well prepared for when the Eclipse hits you. What is your life purpose?

The wind of change starts blowing on August 20^th as Sun trines Uranus. Just before the Solar Eclipse, Sun is in perfect alignment to Uranus. The key word for any Uranus transit is “surprise”. Uranus wants you to break free from the bondage of the ego so you can express yourself in an authentic way.

If your true self says “no more, I had enough”, listen to the flashes of intuitive insights brought by Uranus. Don’t hold on to the familiar, don’t hold on to those things you’re used to. Embrace the change. If something is not your true calling, now is the time to take a risk and make the necessarily changes.

On August 21^st the Total Solar Eclipse in Leo, the most expected astrological event of the year, takes place at 28° Leo. The Eclipse will be visible in most of the US and will be a dramatic event which will shake our lives to the core. Because the closest aspect to the Eclipse is a trine to Uranus, the Solar Eclipse will be very unpredictable. Nothing that you expect to happen will happen.

Things will change for sure, because Mars, the planet of action, also takes a central role in this Solar Eclipse. There is no secret that United States is in the spotlight of the Eclipse so if you live in the US or if you are in the US at this time, then the Eclipse will affect you stronger.

Normal Eclipses have a time span of 6 months, so their effects set the tone and affect your life for about 6 months after the Eclipse. But because this is a Total Eclipse of the Sun, the effects last longer. In ancient astrology every minute of darkness corresponds to 1 year of influence. Because this Eclipse will last for almost 3 minutes, its influence will last for almost 3 years.

If you have the Sun, the Moon, the North Node or the ascendant at 28° Leo or Aquarius your life will undergo a complete change. Irrespective if you have a planet at the Eclipse point, the Solar Eclipse in Leo will affect every single one of us. Look in which house in your natal chart the Eclipse takes place (look in which house you have 28° Leo) so you can get clues about how the Solar Eclipse is going to affect you.

On August 22^nd Sun enters Virgo and Mars is trine Saturn. The two astrological events are very practical and bring common sense after a tumultuous Leo Eclipse. Sun in Virgo and Mars with Saturn bring endurance, and promise long lasting results. You now want to do what is right.

These after-eclipse transits are very practical, traditional and in a way exactly the opposite of the Solar Eclipse. After a very intense week, August 22^nd will be like “what a magnificent experience. ok, now let’s go back to work”. And because Sun also conjuncts the fixed star Regulus, this is a time to reap what you have sown.

People born in the first days of the Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) will benefit from this earthy, common sense, practical energy. This is not a fairytale, Venus Neptune transit, nor a happy go lucky Jupiter Uranus transit. The transits today are a reminder that you can get what you want if you put the effort, mind and work into it.

On August 24^th Venus is square Uranus. During this transit you can experience sudden emotional changes. Unusual encounters and experiences are possible today and Uranus wants you to embrace them fully. No more “I’m not sure”, no more fake relationships. Be authentic and real.

Cardinal signs are again in spotlight, so if you are born in the last days of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, or if you have personal planets or angles at 28° in Cardinal signs, you are going to feel this energy big time.

On August 25^th Venus enters Leo and Saturn turns direct. Both Venus and Saturn rule material, concrete things, and while Venus speaks more about the things we love, the things we get pleasure from with our senses, Saturn rules the practical things we need in order to improve our life. If Venus is the beautiful table sitting in your living room, Saturn is the screws that keep the elements of the table together and make it a table. Venus is the outer beauty, Saturn is the inner beauty.

Both Leo and Sagittarius (where Saturn resides) are fire signs so during this transit we will want to turn our creativity into something practical, something we can benefit from. Saturn stationary direct is good news in general, but because stationary planets are stronger than normally, we can feel an infusion of Saturnine energy which is not of everyone’s liking, especially for people younger than 29 who have not experienced yet their Saturn return and don’t know how to handle Saturn. So August 25^th can be pretty mixed but it is a good day to start a creative project with a concrete, material manifestation.

On August 26^th Sun and Mercury meet for an inferior conjunction so we have a new Mercury cycle starting at 4° Virgo. This is a good time to start a project or an activity you need to do on a quarterly basis. Mercury cycles last between 3 and 4 months so at the beginning of the cycle is a good idea to start something you would need 3 to 4 months to complete.

Mercury cycles take longer than lunar cycles, but shorter than Solar cycles. Anything if between is favored now, especially if it has to do with acquiring a new skill, or learning something new. Another good news is that this Mercury cycle starts in the sign of its domicile, Virgo, which is a very good place for Mercury. Because Mercury is retrograde, anything that has to do with introspection, for example journaling, is favored.

On August 27^th Mars is conjunct North Node in Leo. The desire to act upon our own desires and express our royal nature is stronger than ever. Any action you take right now can receive support from the Universe because it is serving your life purpose. Leos born in the 3^rd decan of the sign will especially benefit from this energy.

On August 31^st Mercury retrograde moves back into Leo giving you the chance to revisit some of the themes you experienced at the end of July. So if you’ve been waiting for news about a project you started around July 26^th you can now get more information about it. Mercury’s retrograde ingress into Leo is also linked to the Solar Eclipse because it triggers the last degrees of Leo, so August 31^st and the following week can bring more information about what Solar Eclipse in Leo is about.