Month: September 2015

Mercury In The Beak Of The Raven

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Clever Crow caught something in his beak today - Mercury! Image courtesy BS Thurner Hof.
Clever Crow caught something in his beak today – Mercury!
Image courtesy BS Thurner Hof.

The raven sees; the raven saw; and in the corn he sayeth “cah”.

LOL, the crows are yammering in the background as I write, believe it or not…! Mercury is currently conjunct the star Alchita in the constellation of Covus; A.K.A. the Raven or Crow as known by its more common nomenclature. More precisely, this star is located in the vicinity of its beak – with that in mind, what has a little birdie told YOU lately? Now may be a time to listen intently, because we might even unearth a Word Of Power or two hidden in a conversation. What key things speak to us now? Perhaps with Mercury also square Pluto, minute, almost imperceptible things such as body language, tone, or phrasing may be the most telling. Perhaps it’s not words at all, but something symbolic that piques our interest and speaks deafeningly to us like some kind of ultrasonic call only our acutely attuned ears pick up; an omen or sign of some sort…crows are magical as they are often witches’ familiars, after all!

I find that I am prone to seeing portents all the time, especially from birds. I’m freakishly attuned to my avian friends and do have many wild stories about Cool Encounters of the Winged Kind. There’s the vultures, the whopping total of 10 feathers recently gifted to me by the doves during Venus Retrograde, the incident a few weeks back where I was walking under a stand of walnut trees and listening with delight to a buzzy little bluebird tittering in the boughs above me when he floated a beautiful azure feather down to me – it was quite magical! Finding feathers is also supposedly a sign of angelic presence, FWIW. So if you come across a random feather, look twice because there may be a message there for you! If you can, try to I.D. the species and then perform an internet search for the symbolism of that particular bird. I realize that not everyone is a nature nerd like Yours Truly, LOL, so if you’re not able to identify the genus it came from, no worries there – you can always look up just the symbolism of the color itself. But this is an example of how messages don’t always require words, and with a retrograde Mercury on Alchita, I think this is something certainly worth pondering.

From a more esoteric standpoint, one other thing I want to mention is Mercury on this particular star makes me think it could be a good time to connect to our throat chakra and do a little scan to see if this energy center is either blocked or, conversely, overactive.

Let’s speak our Truth…or just plain speak up, period! Do we have something to crow about? If so, let it fly!

On the opposite side of the coin, have we been jabbering on noisily? Do we need to moderate our loquacious ways by closing our bills a bit? Perhaps we would be better served by giving our beaks a more concerted focus! Mercury in Libra loves a mindset of “All things in moderation”, so perhaps Alchita’s cawing is just a reminder to keep the yin/yang balance….

09/25/2015

Pluto’s Snakeskin

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Image of Pluto’s “snakeskin” surface comes courtesy of the New Horizons Spacecraft @ NASA.

Wow, this Pluto thing just keeps getting better & better, doesn’t it? Now NASA has revealed that Pluto appears to have a surface reminiscent of snakeskin, something that definitely comes as no surprise to both astrologers & Plutonians alike! In astrological lore, Pluto energy has long been analogous to a snake shedding its skin – I’m not kidding; pick up pretty much any beginner’s book on astrology or perform a cursory internet search using these terms and you’re virtually guaranteed to come across this metaphor.

Boy, for or a bunch of pseudoscience kooks, we astrologers sure do seem amazingly clued in sometimes, don’t you think? 😉 As I once remarked elsewhere, someday science will catch up with the things astrology already knows. It’s all part of the joys of this being a Uranian art – people think you’re crazy when actually you’re just way ahead of the times. Like, apparently decades ahead in this case…!

And one better?  The sign of Capricorn is associated with (among many other things) the skin, so how fitting with Pluto currently traversing Capricorn that we’re getting a good look at Pluto’s epidermis!

09/25/2015

Today’s Feminist Post, Brought To You By Venus Trine Uranus

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BAM! A radiant and revolutionary Venus for the Aquarian Age – *LOVE* it!

VenusInLeo

I mean, holy Venus in Leo – what a muse….! The hair, head-held-high attitude, use of the word “glorious”….I’m not sure you get much more Venus in Leo than this (well, maybe if she were wearing a crown, LOL). Add that in-your-face liberated edge from Uranus in Aries, and I suppose this is what you wind up with – so perfect for the final trine between Venus in Leo and Uranus in Aries that is about to be exact tonight. As the Sun slips into mutual reception with Venus, no less….you go, girl!

09/22/2015

Mercury In Libra

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With Mercury remaining in Libra until November 2nd due its current retrograde motion, it’s certainly as good a time as any for a thorough discussion of the pros and cons of this particular astrological placement! Libra is a sign known for its social graces and when Mercury travels here this brings a sense of refinement to the mind and mouth, resulting in conversational poise and finesse. I think of this energy as very European in a way; two airy kisses on the cheek coupled with a “Dahling, we simply *must* do lunch!” It’s the Libran way to be charming, polite, and agreeable – if occasionally a bit flowery – and when Mercury travels through this sign these qualities come through in how we communicate. Yet there are two sides to every coin, as every astrological energy has its strengths and drawbacks, and this one is certainly no exception…

Mercury In Libra: The Art Nouveau Mercury!
Mercury in Libra: The Art Nouveau Mercury!

On one hand this placement blesses our words with a natural ease and elegance – Mercury is a smooth-as-silk, silver-tongued little imp when visiting Libra; one who may be fond of using honeyed words punctuated with terms of endearment like “sweetie”, “hon”, “sugar”, or “darlin’”. Mercury makes a good conversationalist when found in this sign because it seems to have a natural knack for being able to say things that put others at ease. Libra’s natural consideration for others allows this planet to find common ground quite easily in any discussion, while good manners, mindfulness of etiquette, and a preference for pleasantness help in gliding delicately away from verbal faux pas and tempestuous topics. When found here, Mercury can also make a skilled negotiator/mediator who knows how to reach agreements through compromise and thinking about the win/win scenario.

But for a balanced discussion (something Mercury in Libra *adores*, BTW) of this energy, we must also look to the other end of the spectrum. Lo-Fi Mercury in Libra is often …Read More…

Mercury Stations Retrograde In Libra

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Lyrics:

“I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…
I’ve heard it all before…

I don’t wanna hear
I don’t wanna know
Please don’t say you’re sorry
I’ve heard it all before…”

Oh boy – what an apt song this is with Mercury about to station retrograde in Libra, LOL…!

Have you ever had the same discussion with a Significant Other over and over, like a broken record? Asked them nicely and repeatedly for the same point of consideration, only to have it fall on deaf ears?  Squabbled with them over the same. damn. thing. time and time again?  Gotten so sick of hearing the words “I’m sorry” that even years afterward these two words tend to either trigger A) nausea or B) some kind of post traumatic stress-induced response, LOL? True story: I once had a partner who would only bring me flowers when he screwed up.  It got so bad that I eventually had to tell (read: yell at) him to stop giving me flowers, as the negative mental association I was beginning to form with cut and carefully arranged flora was proving a bit too much for me – I was essentially being conditioned by these repetitious experiences to associate a man giving me a bouquet with something bad.  Like Pavlov’s dog, only more traumatic, LMAO!

So if you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you might want to strap in because there may be a lot of these kinds of things going around over the next several weeks with Mercury retrograding in Libra – especially given its contact to Pluto at the beginning of this timeframe.  I foresee substantial potential for circular dialog occurring with this energy in play – this could manifest as repetitive discussion between partners and/or regarding the topic of partnership matters in general…couples will be hashing things out, others will be re-negotiating the terms of their agreements or re-thinking a particular union/alliance. So for all intents and purposes, we should be prepared for the distinct possibility of having the same conversation with someone more than once during this period.  Not everyone will do this politely, either – at the outset of Mercury’s backtrack a loose opposition between Mercury and Uranus can ramp up the potential at that something shocking may be said  if/when other, more polite methods of trying to get our message across fail.  Some may even resort to calling a relationship off (or at least threatening to call it off) if the communication dynamic doesn’t change within a partnership.  And change it must, with Uranus & Pluto involved!

TrapThose of us who are single aren’t out of the woods, either – ever have that one ex who is prone to ringing you up every so often?  Yup, Mercury retrograde in Libra can reconnect us to past partners just as easily as it can herald talks with a current one! In mythology, Mercury was the guide who shepherded souls to the Underworld, so he’s quite accustomed to having contact with Dead Things.  You know what I mean, right – the ex who repeatedly apologizes, begs for forgiveness, and asks you to take them back?  Or who uses a bunch of silver-tongued words in the hopes of ingratiating themselves to you (why hello Mercury in Libra in a SEXtile to Venus in Leo!) and luring you back into their boudoir?  It’s a traaaaaaap, LOL! No, seriously – it just might be with Mercury stationing in a square to Pluto, so definitely don’t buy any lines someone tries to feed you about how they “think about you all the time” or “just want to talk to you to get some closure”!  With Mercury retrograding in a square to Pluto even if you’re the one who thinks about them constantly or who is obsessively looking for “resolution”, you’re probably far better off just hanging up, letting the line go dead, then deleting them from your contacts (if you haven’t already done so).  If all else fails, you can always change your number, LOL.

I realize sometimes this may be easier said than done when there are children involved and we share joint parenting responsibilities with a former partner.  In this case, keep dialog as polite and civil as possible while maintaining a laser-focus upon the task at hand; i.e. your kids. If you/your ex have re-partnered with somebody else, dealing with step-parent issues can get particularly tricky and will need to be handled with tact and finesse.  Friendly distance is generally best, as detachment it makes it that much easier to stay cool.

09/16/2015

Pluto In Capricorn Transits, Part 1

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DeterioratingOverTimeThere are many layers of interpretation regarding Pluto’s passage through Capricorn, but for the purposes of this particular post, right now I want to discuss one key concept of this placement…that is the idea of something deteriorating over time. It’s not as if a situation, a relationship, etc. immediately falls apart if/when touched by Pluto in Capricorn; rather it takes its time unraveling. Think: a controlled collapse, or a brick-by-brick demolition. Pluto in Capricorn’s passage through a specific house of our chart or contact to a planet or personal point in our nativity signifies that something is very likely undergoing a process of being gradually – perhaps even carefully and deliberately – deconstructed.

Because nothing touched by Pluto’s hand can ever stay the same, it is highly unlikely that Humpty Dumpty will ever be put back together again in exactly the same way. However, there is also an equally good chance that whatever it is may yet live on in another, more solid or mature form after that Limit Break has been reached and the non-functional status quo subsequently flushed down the tubes. There is usually a razing involved with Pluto transits, but while this planet traverses Capricorn this will take its time in happening and we will see it coming (read: have ample warning) quite possibly YEARS before whatever it is actually dies – we’ll hear that freight train coming looooong before it actually hits. It’s not as fatalistic as it sounds, I assure you – the process of destruction can actually be quite constructive with Pluto in Capricorn….more on that later.

***Read parts 2, 3, & 4 of this series here: Pluto In Capricorn Transits, Part 2   Pluto In Capricorn Transits, Part 3   Pluto In Capricorn Transits, Part 4

09/15/2015

Pluto Calling!

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LOL, if you change up the lyrics a bit, this song is actually totally apropos for Mercury square Pluto, which is exact as I post.

Pluto has been calling me quite a bit lately, actually – I’ve had many Platinum Plutonians emerging from the woodwork and getting in touch in recent months. Most recently, it was a Scorpio girlfriend from 20 years ago texting me from out of the clear blue sky. Now I am a Plutonian as well, and usually when contact between myself and another dies off, I tend to just leave it wherever it lies and am not prone to reconnecting with people once the line has gone silent for whatever reason. But she has always been an exception to this general rule and I have thought of her fondly over the years – we were separated when she moved halfway across the country and lost touch during the tumultuous upheaval that was my youth…somewhere during my many changes of residence, I had lost her contact info. We were mutually jazzed to reconnect with one another and spent some time chatting on the phone and catching up – she is actually living in (of all places!) Sin City – I can’t think of a more hilariously apt locale for Scorpio!

I’ve also re-established contact with a Moon-Pluto woman whom I’ve always seen as sort of a surrogate mother figure. Tragically, she lost her home in a fire earlier this year…she had no idea she was a Moon conjunct Pluto gal, and yet for some reason has been inexplicably (well, unless you know astrology, LOL) drawn to Phoenix symbols to adorn her home, which is in the process of being rebuilt from the ashes as we speak (better than ever)! Truly, the stories she has about this are freakishly cool – I will save them for another time as this makes a very interesting astro-post all on its own.

There have been at least a half dozen instances of Plutonians connecting or re-connecting with me since this Pluto transit of mine kicked in. I do love & appreciate the higher-flying versions of this breed and have said for eons there is always room for another at my table. I don’t voluntarily orbit in the company of the Lo-Fi variants, though, and have theorized it might be because I scare them off…a bright light in a room will tend to send all the cockroaches scuttling for cover, LOL!

I do love and appreciate good Plutonians, though….they are a rarer breed by nature because Pluto energy can so easily corrupt, but there is none better than a Hi-Fi Plutonian ally. It would seem life appears to be sending them my way in droves and when you’re right in the midst of a major Pluto transit, lemme tell ya, there is no one else you would want supporting you! It’s a bit of funny role reversal for me as I have spent decades of my life always being the go-to (Plutonian) person for others during times of crisis and loss; the proverbial Ferryman across the river Styx shepherding lost souls through major transition.  Now I am on the receiving end.

BatSignalPerhaps since I spent so many years as an agent in his service, Pluto felt some small recompense was due and decided to bust out the Bat Signal on my behalf; psychically or subliminally communicating with his minions and giving them the impetus get in touch with me en masse. Regardless if this was the case or not, they have all proved to be invaluable resources for which I am very grateful. On a personal growth level, one other thing I can say is these contacts have all allowed me to strip away a protective shell of guardedness so people can communicate with and meet me at deeper, more authentic level, and I truly do treasure this. So if your BatPhone starts ringing off the hook, definitely don’t be afraid to pick it up and see if it’s Pluto calling….

09/09/2015

Venus/Pluto Word Of The Day

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Let’s have a little fun as a retrograding Venus in Leo contacts Pluto, shall we? For your entertainment, the definition of a Plutonic term from my own personal lexicon –

Necromance (n.):

1) A Lo-Fi expression of Venus/Pluto energy that results in a love affair with (metaphorical) Dead Things, including but not limited to:

A) romantic liaisons that have long past their expiration dates but that are permitted to linger on in some half-dead state due to an unwillingness to let go, stick a fork in it, and call it “done”.

OR

B) relationships that have long ago ended but that have, for some ungodly reason, been resurrected when they should have just been allowed to Rest In Peace.

Indulging a necromance can lead to necrophilia; a.k.a. the (possibly renewed) consummation of a sexual relationship with an Undead Party when one would be much better off …Read More…