A Moon Cycle of Eclipses and Mercury Rx!

Full Rainbow, Okotoks, AB 2017

Hi All! It's been a busy time for me - selling a house, moving out of Calgary, settling into a new space in Okotoks, Alberta! Love that we had a quick selling time - and move. Always a great sign that all is moving forward as it was meant to. I am glad to return to my Astrology practice. Thank you for your patience whilst I devoted my time and energy to other challenges.

This current Moon cycle has many twists and turns! Let's see how it's been unfolding so far:

• New Moon began Friday July 23rd at 00 degrees Leo 44' whereby both the Moon and Sun stood together at these celestial coordinates AND holding hands with Mars at 01 Leo 52'. Hence my theme for this Moon cycle is: "Heartfully taking Creative Action! If you don't feel it from the Heart - don't do it!" Leo rules the heart, and the back (supporting ourselves) and the Sun rules Leo! This Moon cycle is all about creating and shining our heart light out into the world around us, with fun and play, and ensuring our Inner Child comes along for the ride. Leo can be the King or Queen of the Mountain, wanting everyone else to DO what I DO. Drama King or Queen ensues if we're not listening to our inner self for what we truly NEED to DO for ourselves this cycle. Leo is fixed fire - taking creative action and dealing with the details yet stubbornly so - not going with the flow and coming up for air from time to time for fun and play!

• Mercury Rx (retrograde) Shadow timing began July 24th within the late degrees of LEO (!) and is currently moving through the mutable earth sign of Virgo - being of service, perfecting processes, and looking after the health of your physical body. Mercury rules Virgo, so there may be significant mental changes coming your way this Moon cycle if you've felt mentally blocked in deciding what program or regimen to get back into now. Virgo also rules our daily work and work environments. If there's too much distraction, noise, etc. getting in the way - what is it you need to decide upon, discuss and strategize on how to mentally move forward in these areas of your life now? The Mercury Rx timings always make us aware of how we are mentally getting in the way of ourselves. We learn information we didn't know we needed to know, before now. I love Astrology! The circle of 12 Houses in our natal charts shows the progress of the Moon (monthly) and the Sun (yearly) around it. As each luminary and fast-moving planet completes its journey and returns to where it began in our respective charts - we see how we've evolved since the last time that luminary/planet came by. What have you learned about yourself since the last time Mercury traveled through Virgo (July 31 - October 8, 2016? Where are you still struggling within the above-stated themes that Virgo brings into your awareness now? 

• The actual Mercury Rx timing begins August 13th at 11 degrees of Virgo 38' going BACK through the degrees it has already traveled through since July 24th! When a planet seemingly goes back over its orbit (Rx - retrograde) the usual forward-moving energy is now brought Inward - making it all very personal - up close and so personal we canna hide from the awareness and challenges of the WHY am I feeling this way? Whatever isn't working for you, mentally, will show itself, in spades! Be aware that Mercury rules how we think, what we think, how we communicate - with others and within to self (Inner Talk) - and relate our Self with Others in our life. Be aware that speaking up and standing up for Self (all that Leo!) is what we require to do now. You won't be able to move forward in your own life if you don't let others around you know what it is you NEED for you. We are experiencing a do-over right now. Another opportunity to speak up, converse, decide, learn, study and practice - via the Mental Body - all that we've been putting off doing before now. The timing of Mercury Rx ends as of September 5th as Mercury stations Direct at 28 degrees of Leo 26', moving ahead yet again over the degrees/minutes it was at as of July 24th! This time, we have Direct and forward-moving energy to help us with the direct ACTION (via this New Moon in Leo) to make positive decisions and have those forthright conversations, heartfully, that need to be had. And remember: Expect the Unexpected during Mercury Rx! Plans and ideas will change. New information and decisions will come into play. New people - people from your past - will come forward, adding to the mix. I love watching how each new Mercury Rx timing plays out! Very cool!

• The post-Mercury Rx Shadow timing begins when it stations Direct, September 5th, until Mercury finally moves PAST the celestial coordinates of where it went Rx August 13th - which will be September 19th, moving past 11 degrees of Virgo 38'! Do you see how the Mercury Rx timing brings forth 2 more opportunities to revisit conversations, mental thinking, decision-making, and Inner Talk scenarios?! Take advantage of all of this for your inner growth. The Sun assists with Heartfelt Action during this Moon cycle, while the Moon assists with your Emotional Body's feelings and intuitive insights along the way. Those of us who have Pisces / Virgo Sun's, Moon's and/or Rising Signs, will be especially affected. Sagittarius and Gemini Sun's, Moon's or Rising Signs will also find some stress and tension to make changes mentally too. The other earth signs - Capricorn and Taurus - may find some ease along the way, while Aries and Aquarius signs will definitely need to let go of old patterns and conditioning during this Mercury Rx timing. Keep on keeping everyone!

Prairie Storm Clouds, 2017

Now for the Eclipses! We experience two eclipse seasons per year - the first set occurred February 10th (Lunar Eclipse in LEO during the Full Moon) and 26th (Solar Eclipse in PISCES during the New Moon). A Lunar Eclipse brings forth the Emotional Body's needs to express itself via feelings and intuition, receiving from others - mainly our Inner Feminine energies at play. A Solar Eclipse brings forth the Inner Masculine energies - to take action, assert self, be creative in some way, to give to others. Take note of what occurs in your life just before/during/after each eclipse. The Eclipse themes highly continue for 6 months after, and for up to 3 years thereafter. Yet another opportunity for Self/Soul Growth. Here's when the next eclipse set will occur and their themes to take note:

• Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse August 7, 2017 at 12:11p MDT at the celestial coordinates of 15 degrees of Aquarius and 25'. At each Full Moon we experience some sort of AHA moment of understanding self in some regard - seeing what has unfolded within our respective lives since New Moon (July 23rd in LEO) amid the themes I related earlier -  heartfelt creative action, supporting self along the way. The Lunar Eclipse will make us EMOTIONALLY aware of how well we learned what we needed to learn, and includes following our intuition. Aquarius brings forth an aspect of knowing what it is our Future Self requires and wants for us NOW - and being a fixed air sign, much to talk about with friends and groups and peers! Plans for the future - with others - in community. As true authentic selves, within community - we look for what it is we truly require to BE ME, AND ask for assistance within our community AND give back to community. This is a central theme for the New Age of Aquarius - BE authentic to self, connect with community, and together we will move forward, each on our respective true life paths. Interestingly, Leo is the opposite sign to Aquarius, and brings forth the creativity, fun and play, leadership and Inner Child themes that assist with all the Aquarius themes. We cannot BE one without the Other. How do you create an AND between both? This is the challenge!

• New Moon/Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017 at 12:30p MDT at the celestial coordinates of 28 degrees of Leo 53'. Another New Moon brings unrealized potential of soul/inner growth - which we are 'in the dark' about until the following Full Moon phase. This eclipse brings forth ACTION of some sort that we've emotionally been working on within this current Moon cycle begun July 23rd! Ensure you are consciously AWARE of how you feel, intuit and wish to receive during this Moon cycle and will then BUILD upon with Heartfelt Creative ACTION right away as the upcoming New Moon begins August 21st! NB: this Solar Eclipse is a TOTAL Eclipse that will be seen from most parts of North America! Very much bringing forth HEART to those living in economic straits and coping with interesting political changes and leadership personalities. LEO rules leadership - is it coming from the Heart or from Ego? Who do you wish to follow? Work as a team or dictated to? Here is where we 'see' in the outer world what we each are working on in our respective inner worlds. As the Shadow of this eclipse passes over North America - what hidden fears and anxiety will be brought up and out of your heart to heal and love through? Consciously ride this wave of heart-opening moments, challenges and awareness.

Moon Globe, Okotoks, AB 2017

Interestingly, the Balsamic Moon phase of the previous Moon cycle (the last Moon phase for that cycle that begun July 19th at 9:11p MDT within the celestial coordinates of 12 degrees of Gemini 39') when Venus and the Moon came together to create the latest Venus Star Gate via the 5th Chakra - the HEART Chakra! How cool is this? Another reason why I love love love Astrology! Previous cycles of the luminaries/planets set us up for succeeding cycles - all in aid of assisting each of us on our onward/inner soul path journey here on Earth! So cool considering the CURRENT Moon cycle theme is LEO too! And the next New Moon/Solar Eclipse is LEO too! 

Venus, our Desire Body, is assisting us to open our hearts, while the Balsamic Moon (all about LETTING GO of distortions we've hung onto, until now) brings opportunities to let go, emotionally! For those of you who have been following the course of the current Venus Star Journey from Aries, we journey through all 7 Chakras from Balsamic Moon phase to Balsamic Moon phase. We've been descending into the Underworld via Venus and the Moon since March 2017, healing distortions, so far, within our respective Crown, Brow/3rd Eye and Throat Chakras. Now it is all about the heart, our hearts, and heartfully what it IS we truly want/Desire for ourselves, NOW and in the FUTURE.

For those curious and interested in learning MORE about Astrology and how it brings forth 

timely insights and healing within YOUR particular soul/life journey - 

call Laurie Rae for a truly insightful Astrology chart reading today!

Call 587.437.3520 or email myhouseofastrology 'at' shaw.ca for an appointment either 

In Person, Over the Phone or via Skype/FaceTime

and begin your conscious Soul/Inner Growth Journey today!

Posted by: Laurie Rae Rezanoff, Astrologer | Teacher | Writer | Speaker

Photo Credits: Laurie Rae Rezanoff within and around Okotoks, AB 2017