Full Moon in Scorpio: A Tale of 3 Yods (Fingers of God)...

Sunday, April 29th, 2018 at 6:58 pm MDT the Moon sat directly opposite the Sun at the celestial longitude of: 09 degrees of Scorpio 39' (09 degrees of Taurus 39') with the Sun holding hands with the Vertex - something Fated/Destined This Way Comes! And we experienced the Full Moon in Scorpio.

The Moon is our Emotional Body; the Sun, our Vital and Soul Body. Scorpio is fixed water; Taurus is fixed earth. Together they support one another, yet are separate - there is no amalgam here, not like the Pisces/Virgo mutable water/earth opposite signs that can become muddled and co-dependent at times. Unless there is a major flood situation...the fixed earth of Taurus will support the fixed ice of Scorpio.

This Full Moon brings forth Illumination into our deepest and closely held fears of the Ego-self. Here the full Unconscious Light of the Sun shines upon that which you have been hiding away in the dark, perhaps for eons. Scorpio brings forth the skills of research and investigation (Inner depths), with strong passionate emotions/fears and the need for privacy, space and peace and quiet. As a water sign, deep emotions and insights via intuition and signs gleaned from around you bring keys that help to unlock those deeply hidden fears. There can be AHA moments and leaps of faith to DO some action that goes against your usual inner grain.

The Full Moon chart showed 3, count 'em, 3 (!) YODs or Fingers of God, two of which connected with the Full Moon! This dynamic planetary formation asks that we Let Go of Old Patterns of Conditioning (aka habits , mindsets, heartfelt feelings that have hindered our way forward in some regard) as much as possible, between the planet at the pointed part of the Finger and the two planets/asteroids that create the base of the Finger, while figuring out how to allow these two base planets to WORK TOGETHER in ways they haven't done before now in your life. In doing so, we release old patterns of conditioning that have prevented us from moving forward, speeding up our forward direction a wee bit more! Let's take a peek, shall we?

YOD #1: Pointing to the Moon (our Emotional Body) in fixed water Scorpio are Venus (our Desire Body) sitting in mutable air Gemini and Mercury (our Mental Body) sitting in cardinal fire Aries:

• Our Emotional Body has been filled with deeply-held fears, hiding our truest expression of passion and even to find our true passion. 
• Our Desire Body wants to push through these fears, no matter how daunting this action seems to be, and 
• Needs the assistance of our Mental Body - where the Ego-self can sit in judgement, restriction and illusion, and yes, FEAR! - to mentally allow these desires to be freed from the ice they've been frozen Within for how long now? Do you have the courage to change your mind (Mental Body) in order to allow that which you desire for your life and yourself to work together?
• Venus in Gemini is the networking guru, collecting data and sharing it along the way - like a fairy or Merlin using his wand to shower us with knowledge gained through others. 
• Mercury in Aries (which we've lived with since March 6th just before the Mercury pre-Retrograde Shadow timing began) brings forth the need for IMMEDIATE ACTION NOW (!) do you feel the impatience? To create instinctual change like a Warrior, Explorer and/or Pioneer within your life, mentally! Clearing away the chains of fear that have bound you mentally from tackling whatever project or problem or quest that has sat before you that seemed so daunting, until now...how many times, since March, have you CHANGED YOUR MIND about a decision you thought you'd already made? Vacillating back and forth and back and forth wondering if you'd ever get through ALL the mental fears and anguish to create something NEW? Within Your Life? Could be you were hiding Within your Darkness all this time, unconscious of this process acting itself out. Are you conscious about it now?

YOD #2: Points to Venus (our Desire Body) in mutable air Gemini, from the Moon (our Emotional Body) in fixed water Scorpio and Saturn Rx (earthly structures/restrictions/constrictions) in cardinal earth Capricorn:

• Here, our Desire Body is chock-full of ideas, thoughts and the need to discuss it all! Share it all! Who can we go to? Perhaps it is also about needing to LEARN something new? Like a HUGE whiteboard - we need to put it all down, map it all out somehow to 'see' our next steps forward within the Desires of what we want for this life, at this time and space.
• Our Emotional Body can be holding us back, literally and figuratively, due to extreme emotional fear of meeting up with our truest passion! What's been holding you back? What's been frozen in Time for you? Scorpio is the ice version of water in Astrology.
• Current structures/goals/plans you've put in place within your life could also be getting in the way. Is it time to remove them, perhaps tear them down a few feet/yards or completely? Like ripping off that band-aid - all at once or slowly over Time. Saturn IS Father Time - it took Time to build up those walls that have hidden us from seeing out (and from being seen, from without!).
• Saturn Rx (retrograde) at the moment, brings forth INNER directed energy, personalizing it, sensitizing it, and wherever Saturn resides, so too does a major fear: Failure. Within Capricorn (the sign Saturn rules by the way) there could be some aspect of the following, for all of us (according to Liz Greene, in her book, Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil): 

"We have chosen to place the birth date of Jesus under Capricorn, the densest of the earth signs and the most ambitious in the worldly sense, although there is no historical evidence that this birth date is appropriate. We have also chosen to place the birth date of Mary at precisely 15 degrees of Virgo, that most mundane and critical of signs. We also celebrate the birth date of the Buddha under Taurus, that slowest and most inflexible of signs. The entire esoteric concept of initiation is connected with Capricorn specifically and the earth signs in general because the initiate has not earned his/her initiation until he/she is able to apply the higher consciousness he/she has discovered to the body and the environment in which he/she functions as a personality. Only when the physical world is made a fitting garment or symbol of the inner spirit is his/her task complete. The mysteries of the duality of spirit and matter have occupied the thoughts of occultists and mystics throughout the ages, and alchemy and astrology in the form we know them were both outgrowths of this attempt to understand spirit in terms of matter through the law of correspondences. The various myths and motifs which are connected with the symbol of Saturn, from Pan through Satan and Lucifer to the prima materia or "Mercurius Senex" of the alchemists, from the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the Hermit of the Tarot deck, should be sufficient to indicate that there is more to earth than meets the eye. And finally we must consider that we exist on the earth intricately connected through the "etheric" or energy field around us to every other kingdom of nature. There is much that we do not understand about the nature of matter. It may be that when we are told in esoteric literature that earth is the final test of initiation for man/woman, there is also an equally valid rational or scientific law which describes the same truth - but we do not possess it yet.

Saturn in the earthy signs pertains, on the surface, to those problems and limitations which affect an individual through his/her bodily comfort, his/her ability to support and sustain him/herself, his/her capacity to find meaningful work which allows him/her a share in the ordering of his/her environment, and his/her ability to achieve responsibility or authority in those areas where he/she has shown competence and skill. This is the simplest interpretation of Saturn in earth, and it will generally be found that this interpretation is valid. It is unfortunate that we are given in the Old Testament the inference that man/woman was driven in labour as a result of original sin for we no longer believe that work can be a creative act. Even God, according to the same document, worked for six days to create the world. There is a basic need in each man/woman to feel him/herself useful, and this is connected with what is called "group consciousness" - the sensing of a unity which implies individual responsibility and the need for a contribution, according to ability, to the whole. This group consciousness has nothing to do with enforced contribution or with mass consciousness where the individual has no meaning in him/herself. There is also a basic need in man/woman to know that he/she has earned through his/her labours something permanent which is his/her unique accomplishment or possession. By it he/she establishes a sense of his/her worth to the group. This "something permanent" may be actual material reward. It may also be more abstruse: standards, values, talent, honour, service. Commerce and trade are as valid a form of communication between people as the written and spoken word, and money, as well as being a symbol of emotional independence, may also be a symbol of individual worth and of skills and services which are offered to others. Consequently, when we look to mythology, we find that Mercury, among his many rulerships, was the god of merchants as well as being the divine messenger, and presided in his inimitably suave fashion over the business deal.

It is possible that Saturn in one of the earthy signs offers an opportunity to learn about the deeper meaning of this element since the solution to the frustrations which he/she symbolizes when placed in earth rarely comes about through the applications of earthy tools. It would appear that the other three elements [air, fire and water] must be understood and integrated to form a tool effective enough to influence the apparent dead weight of earth and alleviate the pain of thwarted instinct."

• We bring forth the element of frozen water with the densest earth to work together while letting go of old patterns of conditioning to unfreeze our fears, bring forth earthly change in the direction of our truest desires, within air, and the duality of The Twins (Gemini). Here, if haven't completely let go of those old patterns of conditioning, we can BE of TWO MINDS, talking ourselves into/out of anything in a moment of Time. Be decisive, share your knowledge, and listen to the knowledge of others to carry you forth even further.

YOD #3: Points to Pluto (Empowerment vs. power and control over) in Capricorn (!) from Venus (our Desire Body) in Gemini, learning to work with Ceres (Nurturance) AND the North Node Rx (direction our Souls wish to head for further evolution) both within the fixed fire sign of LEO:

• After dealing with our Emotional Body and Desire Body's old patterns of conditioning in the first two Yods, we look for ways to create win-win outcomes, empowering one another despite our earthly fears, as we gather the information/data we desire from one another AND look for / give nurturance as we learn to evolve our Soul-self in the direction of the HEART. This, simply, is the ultimate goal. Cool! 
• With Leo, if we're coming from the heart, we're operating from our true heart's / soul's desire; if we're coming from the mind, there could be some Ego-self need to manipulate to create power and control over a situation, person or environment. For some, this means I'll nurture or go forward as long is there's something in it for me! Leo asks for heartfelt leadership within a team environment, with compassion. Then we ALL share the creative heart, and receive the love created accordingly.
• Ceres brings forth our need for nurturing people and situations and environments. Ceres reminds us of HOW we were nurtured as children and how/where we look for nurturance now as adults. Is it only mindful or heartfelt? Any changes required, perhaps due to a critical or abusive inner voice that keeps bullying us to stay within the dark? Something to let go of.

I realize this has been a LONG post - it surprised me too! As I wrote this post, we are still within the Full Moon phase. Liz Greene included the following quote from Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology creator, in the frontispiece of her book on Saturn. Take from it what you will:

"When the disciple knows Saturn as the God who offers opportunity and does not only feel him to be Deity who brings disaster, then he/she is on the path of discipleship in truth and in deed and not just theoretically." 

Namaste

PS I added all the her/she as the text was written in 1976 and we are now in 2018. LRR

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

Photo Credits: April/May 2018 Sheep River and area, Okotoks, AB Canada + Gibbous and Full Moons April 28/29, 2018 by Laurie Rae Rezanoff

Full Moon in Scorpio: A Tale of 3 Yods (Fingers of God)...

Sunday, April 29th, 2018 at 6:58 pm MDT the Moon sat directly opposite the Sun at the celestial longitude of: 09 degrees of Scorpio 39' (09 degrees of Taurus 39') with the Sun holding hands with the Vertex - something Fated/Destined This Way Comes! And we experienced the Full Moon in Scorpio.

The Moon is our Emotional Body; the Sun, our Vital and Soul Body. Scorpio is fixed water; Taurus is fixed earth. Together they support one another, yet are separate - there is no amalgam here, not like the Pisces/Virgo mutable water/earth opposite signs that can become muddled and co-dependent at times. Unless there is a major flood situation...the fixed earth of Taurus will support the fixed ice of Scorpio.

This Full Moon brings forth Illumination into our deepest and closely held fears of the Ego-self. Here the full Unconscious Light of the Sun shines upon that which you have been hiding away in the dark, perhaps for eons. Scorpio brings forth the skills of research and investigation (Inner depths), with strong passionate emotions/fears and the need for privacy, space and peace and quiet. As a water sign, deep emotions and insights via intuition and signs gleaned from around you bring keys that help to unlock those deeply hidden fears. There can be AHA moments and leaps of faith to DO some action that goes against your usual inner grain.

The Full Moon chart showed 3, count 'em, 3 (!) YODs or Fingers of God, two of which connected with the Full Moon! This dynamic planetary formation asks that we Let Go of Old Patterns of Conditioning (aka habits , mindsets, heartfelt feelings that have hindered our way forward in some regard) as much as possible, between the planet at the pointed part of the Finger and the two planets/asteroids that create the base of the Finger, while figuring out how to allow these two base planets to WORK TOGETHER in ways they haven't done before now in your life. In doing so, we release old patterns of conditioning that have prevented us from moving forward, speeding up our forward direction a wee bit more! Let's take a peek, shall we?

YOD #1: Pointing to the Moon (our Emotional Body) in fixed water Scorpio are Venus (our Desire Body) sitting in mutable air Gemini and Mercury (our Mental Body) sitting in cardinal fire Aries:

• Our Emotional Body has been filled with deeply-held fears, hiding our truest expression of passion and even to find our true passion. 
• Our Desire Body wants to push through these fears, no matter how daunting this action seems to be, and 
• Needs the assistance of our Mental Body - where the Ego-self can sit in judgement, restriction and illusion, and yes, FEAR! - to mentally allow these desires to be freed from the ice they've been frozen Within for how long now? Do you have the courage to change your mind (Mental Body) in order to allow that which you desire for your life and yourself to work together?
• Venus in Gemini is the networking guru, collecting data and sharing it along the way - like a fairy or Merlin using his wand to shower us with knowledge gained through others. 
• Mercury in Aries (which we've lived with since March 6th just before the Mercury pre-Retrograde Shadow timing began) brings forth the need for IMMEDIATE ACTION NOW (!) do you feel the impatience? To create instinctual change like a Warrior, Explorer and/or Pioneer within your life, mentally! Clearing away the chains of fear that have bound you mentally from tackling whatever project or problem or quest that has sat before you that seemed so daunting, until now...how many times, since March, have you CHANGED YOUR MIND about a decision you thought you'd already made? Vacillating back and forth and back and forth wondering if you'd ever get through ALL the mental fears and anguish to create something NEW? Within Your Life? Could be you were hiding Within your Darkness all this time, unconscious of this process acting itself out. Are you conscious about it now?

YOD #2: Points to Venus (our Desire Body) in mutable air Gemini, from the Moon (our Emotional Body) in fixed water Scorpio and Saturn Rx (earthly structures/restrictions/constrictions) in cardinal earth Capricorn:

• Here, our Desire Body is chock-full of ideas, thoughts and the need to discuss it all! Share it all! Who can we go to? Perhaps it is also about needing to LEARN something new? Like a HUGE whiteboard - we need to put it all down, map it all out somehow to 'see' our next steps forward within the Desires of what we want for this life, at this time and space.
• Our Emotional Body can be holding us back, literally and figuratively, due to extreme emotional fear of meeting up with our truest passion! What's been holding you back? What's been frozen in Time for you? Scorpio is the ice version of water in Astrology.
• Current structures/goals/plans you've put in place within your life could also be getting in the way. Is it time to remove them, perhaps tear them down a few feet/yards or completely? Like ripping off that band-aid - all at once or slowly over Time. Saturn IS Father Time - it took Time to build up those walls that have hidden us from seeing out (and from being seen, from without!).
• Saturn Rx (retrograde) at the moment, brings forth INNER directed energy, personalizing it, sensitizing it, and wherever Saturn resides, so too does a major fear: Failure. Within Capricorn (the sign Saturn rules by the way) there could be some aspect of the following, for all of us (according to Liz Greene, in her book, Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil): 

"We have chosen to place the birth date of Jesus under Capricorn, the densest of the earth signs and the most ambitious in the worldly sense, although there is no historical evidence that this birth date is appropriate. We have also chosen to place the birth date of Mary at precisely 15 degrees of Virgo, that most mundane and critical of signs. We also celebrate the birth date of the Buddha under Taurus, that slowest and most inflexible of signs. The entire esoteric concept of initiation is connected with Capricorn specifically and the earth signs in general because the initiate has not earned his/her initiation until he/she is able to apply the higher consciousness he/she has discovered to the body and the environment in which he/she functions as a personality. Only when the physical world is made a fitting garment or symbol of the inner spirit is his/her task complete. The mysteries of the duality of spirit and matter have occupied the thoughts of occultists and mystics throughout the ages, and alchemy and astrology in the form we know them were both outgrowths of this attempt to understand spirit in terms of matter through the law of correspondences. The various myths and motifs which are connected with the symbol of Saturn, from Pan through Satan and Lucifer to the prima materia or "Mercurius Senex" of the alchemists, from the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the Hermit of the Tarot deck, should be sufficient to indicate that there is more to earth than meets the eye. And finally we must consider that we exist on the earth intricately connected through the "etheric" or energy field around us to every other kingdom of nature. There is much that we do not understand about the nature of matter. It may be that when we are told in esoteric literature that earth is the final test of initiation for man/woman, there is also an equally valid rational or scientific law which describes the same truth - but we do not possess it yet.

Saturn in the earthy signs pertains, on the surface, to those problems and limitations which affect an individual through his/her bodily comfort, his/her ability to support and sustain him/herself, his/her capacity to find meaningful work which allows him/her a share in the ordering of his/her environment, and his/her ability to achieve responsibility or authority in those areas where he/she has shown competence and skill. This is the simplest interpretation of Saturn in earth, and it will generally be found that this interpretation is valid. It is unfortunate that we are given in the Old Testament the inference that man/woman was driven in labour as a result of original sin for we no longer believe that work can be a creative act. Even God, according to the same document, worked for six days to create the world. There is a basic need in each man/woman to feel him/herself useful, and this is connected with what is called "group consciousness" - the sensing of a unity which implies individual responsibility and the need for a contribution, according to ability, to the whole. This group consciousness has nothing to do with enforced contribution or with mass consciousness where the individual has no meaning in him/herself. There is also a basic need in man/woman to know that he/she has earned through his/her labours something permanent which is his/her unique accomplishment or possession. By it he/she establishes a sense of his/her worth to the group. This "something permanent" may be actual material reward. It may also be more abstruse: standards, values, talent, honour, service. Commerce and trade are as valid a form of communication between people as the written and spoken word, and money, as well as being a symbol of emotional independence, may also be a symbol of individual worth and of skills and services which are offered to others. Consequently, when we look to mythology, we find that Mercury, among his many rulerships, was the god of merchants as well as being the divine messenger, and presided in his inimitably suave fashion over the business deal.

It is possible that Saturn in one of the earthy signs offers an opportunity to learn about the deeper meaning of this element since the solution to the frustrations which he/she symbolizes when placed in earth rarely comes about through the applications of earthy tools. It would appear that the other three elements [air, fire and water] must be understood and integrated to form a tool effective enough to influence the apparent dead weight of earth and alleviate the pain of thwarted instinct."

• We bring forth the element of frozen water with the densest earth to work together while letting go of old patterns of conditioning to unfreeze our fears, bring forth earthly change in the direction of our truest desires, within air, and the duality of The Twins (Gemini). Here, if haven't completely let go of those old patterns of conditioning, we can BE of TWO MINDS, talking ourselves into/out of anything in a moment of Time. Be decisive, share your knowledge, and listen to the knowledge of others to carry you forth even further.

YOD #3: Points to Pluto (Empowerment vs. power and control over) in Capricorn (!) from Venus (our Desire Body) in Gemini, learning to work with Ceres (Nurturance) AND the North Node Rx (direction our Souls wish to head for further evolution) both within the fixed fire sign of LEO:

• After dealing with our Emotional Body and Desire Body's old patterns of conditioning in the first two Yods, we look for ways to create win-win outcomes, empowering one another despite our earthly fears, as we gather the information/data we desire from one another AND look for / give nurturance as we learn to evolve our Soul-self in the direction of the HEART. This, simply, is the ultimate goal. Cool! 
• With Leo, if we're coming from the heart, we're operating from our true heart's / soul's desire; if we're coming from the mind, there could be some Ego-self need to manipulate to create power and control over a situation, person or environment. For some, this means I'll nurture or go forward as long is there's something in it for me! Leo asks for heartfelt leadership within a team environment, with compassion. Then we ALL share the creative heart, and receive the love created accordingly.
• Ceres brings forth our need for nurturing people and situations and environments. Ceres reminds us of HOW we were nurtured as children and how/where we look for nurturance now as adults. Is it only mindful or heartfelt? Any changes required, perhaps due to a critical or abusive inner voice that keeps bullying us to stay within the dark? Something to let go of.

I realize this has been a LONG post - it surprised me too! As I wrote this post, we are still within the Full Moon phase. Liz Greene included the following quote from Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology creator, in the frontispiece of her book on Saturn. Take from it what you will:

"When the disciple knows Saturn as the God who offers opportunity and does not only feel him to be Deity who brings disaster, then he/she is on the path of discipleship in truth and in deed and not just theoretically." 

Namaste

PS I added all the her/she as the text was written in 1976 and we are now in 2018. LRR

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

Photo Credits: April/May 2018 Sheep River and area, Okotoks, AB Canada + Gibbous and Full Moons April 28/29, 2018 by Laurie Rae Rezanoff

New Moon in Gemini: Connections & Negotiations

This next Moon cycle begins tomorrow, Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 1:45p MDT with both the Moon and the Sun sitting at the cosmic longitude of 04 degrees of Gemini 47'. As I write this post, we here in Calgary are experiencing extremely high winds and driving rain showers. I predict more high wind days to occur throughout this Moon cycle as Gemini is the mutable air sign of our Zodiac.

Gemini brings forth that need for chattiness, conversations, networking, connecting the dots between data, information and people through technology. Look to see where the coordinates for this New Moon reside in your chart - this is the House that will be activated for this Moon cycle's journey through your emotional / intuitional and mental aspects of your daily habits.

How connected are you to your brain/mind, ruled by Mercury who rules both Gemini and Virgo? And how often does your mind/Ego-brain over-ride your emotional needs, intuitional insights and physical body's needs? You will find out soon enough.

The Moon, in Gemini, this cycle, will remind you, often, that there truly is a need to 'see' BOTH sides now! Gemini's glyph are the Twins - mirror images of one another. Some say, "The little angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other!" What will be mirrored back to you this time? More of the little devil (what your Ego wants) or more of the little angel (what your true Inner self/soul wants)?

Remember: we have all just walked up to the 2nd Gate of our descending journey into the Underworld via Venus as of the Balsamic Moon phase, at 16 degrees of Aries 41' that began on May 22nd. This Gate entry requested that we remove our Royal Staff via our Brow or 3rd Eye Chakra. Here we are relinquishing our PERCEPTION of our Inner and Outer worlds, as we have known them to be until now. Venus brings us closer to our truest heart's desires of our emotional natures. The Moon dovetails with Venus to bring us into contact, monthly, how we truly FEEL, how well we listen to and follow our INTUITION, and then how our DAILY HABITS of these interactions need to be updated to reflect where we are truly residing, Within, now. Is there distortion between your Inner You and what you're attracting from Without?

Gemini, ruled by Mercury (which resides at 10 degrees of Taurus 44' for this Moon cycle) brings forth more themes to be dealt with, quite sensuously/with ALL senses coming to the table to feast on any or all of the following:

• Movement and Activity: locally, neighbourly, with those you live with, your siblings and local merchants you shop from. Here the interactions are more lively, chatty and information is passed on that is required. This also includes more local travel in and around where you live.
• How You Learn: what is it that you wish to learn at this time? A new piece of software, or lessons you've been putting off taking/completing before now? How you learn and how much you wish to take in, and why, are part of this theme. Are a visual learner? Learn by doing? Learn by reading, or instruction? Or a combination of all?
• Updating Communication Skills: especially these days of Social Media + Coffee Chats (aka information gathering interviews) for job-seekers and salespeople alike. How well do you interact with others? Do you need to upgrade these skills? What have you been meaning to say, and didn't quite have the proper delivery or words to communicate yourself as authentically as you wished? Perhaps it isn't how you speak - it could be more of how well you are listening to others, taking in their subtle meanings, in order to come to a consensus.
• Logic and Cleverness/ Socially at Ease: being the life of the party isn't always what others want to hear. Do we use this tactic to overcome inward insecurity about being up close and personal with others? When do you use this cleverness - to manipulate, to over-power? If you are ill at ease, perhaps others are too. Intimidation doesn't mend fences - it electrifies them.
• Daily Interactions: what are your motivations for speaking with others? When do you feel open and when do you feel closed-off? Ask yourself, why? What's going on INSIDE, Within yourself. How are you FEELING? What's your INTUITION telling you? Are you listening?
• Stay Calm + Carry On! Have you seen these t-shirts with various slogans on them? Something brought forth in England during the World Wars of last century. Mental stress and anxiety go hand in hand with being social. More so these days - I wonder why? More people would rather chat with one another via their devices than face-to-face. Notice how The Twins of Gemini are face-to-face? Interesting, that. Makes me wonder if the upsurge in Coffee Chats is here to get the younger folk away from their devices and into the world of personal interactions? REAL conversations, in the moment, face-to-face. Who have you been avoiding, personally, not wanting to have that all important face-time with?
• PHYSICALLY, Gemini Rules: the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders, hay fever, lungs and breathing, and the nervous system. Note that most of these body parts have TWO of each. Those Twins again! These will be the parts of your physical body that may 'speak' to you this Moon cycle if you aren't 'speaking your mind'! Be honest, sincere and heartfully / lovingly compassionate. Remember: Gemini rules conversation Outside of Self, and With Self - your Self-talk! How much Devil is there with yourself than Angel? Hhhmmm....

Finger of God, Mt Shasta 2011

Looking at the chart I created for tomorrow's New Moon, I see a YOD or Finger of God formation. The Finger is pointing to Jupiter, Rx (Retrograde or inner motion) in Libra. Both Mercury, in Taurus, and Neptune, in Pisces, are learning to create a partnership this Moon cycle. Fixed earth + Mutable water - stubborn + going with the flow. Wanting to mentally deal with the tangible details vs. connecting with your Spiritual intuition and insights, and any feelings that go along with them. Taking time to mentally AND emotionally be present. Sussing out the illusions of the mind's desires from your Soul's true desires.

O right - there's that Drama Triangle again! I'm a Victim or Rescue Me/I'll Rescue Someone or I feel Persecuted/You're a Bully round-robin of trying to run away from those feelings at all costs. As we overcome and rise above that drama, we connect with the senses and tactile, hands-on creativity that assist us to deal with the details of life we most value and feel worthy of.

The more we do this, during this Moon cycle, the more energy is freed up to ignite Jupiter's energy to expand our worlds, to go beyond where we've already been! Huh. Interesting. The more we let go of that anxiety and fear of meeting new folk, strangers in fact (perhaps your neighbours?) talking about yourselves, learning about others, opening up to new conversations, new avenues of conversation - who knows where this data and information sharing/gathering will take you? Huh. Who knew it could be so easy? And rewarding!

BLESSED BE!

Photo Credits: Laurie Rae Rezanoff, Astrologer | Teacher | Writer

New Moon in Gemini: Connections & Negotiations

This next Moon cycle begins tomorrow, Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 1:45p MDT with both the Moon and the Sun sitting at the cosmic longitude of 04 degrees of Gemini 47'. As I write this post, we here in Calgary are experiencing extremely high winds and driving rain showers. I predict more high wind days to occur throughout this Moon cycle as Gemini is the mutable air sign of our Zodiac.

Gemini brings forth that need for chattiness, conversations, networking, connecting the dots between data, information and people through technology. Look to see where the coordinates for this New Moon reside in your chart - this is the House that will be activated for this Moon cycle's journey through your emotional / intuitional and mental aspects of your daily habits.

How connected are you to your brain/mind, ruled by Mercury who rules both Gemini and Virgo? And how often does your mind/Ego-brain over-ride your emotional needs, intuitional insights and physical body's needs? You will find out soon enough.

The Moon, in Gemini, this cycle, will remind you, often, that there truly is a need to 'see' BOTH sides now! Gemini's glyph are the Twins - mirror images of one another. Some say, "The little angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other!" What will be mirrored back to you this time? More of the little devil (what your Ego wants) or more of the little angel (what your true Inner self/soul wants)?

Remember: we have all just walked up to the 2nd Gate of our descending journey into the Underworld via Venus as of the Balsamic Moon phase, at 16 degrees of Aries 41' that began on May 22nd. This Gate entry requested that we remove our Royal Staff via our Brow or 3rd Eye Chakra. Here we are relinquishing our PERCEPTION of our Inner and Outer worlds, as we have known them to be until now. Venus brings us closer to our truest heart's desires of our emotional natures. The Moon dovetails with Venus to bring us into contact, monthly, how we truly FEEL, how well we listen to and follow our INTUITION, and then how our DAILY HABITS of these interactions need to be updated to reflect where we are truly residing, Within, now. Is there distortion between your Inner You and what you're attracting from Without?

Gemini, ruled by Mercury (which resides at 10 degrees of Taurus 44' for this Moon cycle) brings forth more themes to be dealt with, quite sensuously/with ALL senses coming to the table to feast on any or all of the following:

• Movement and Activity: locally, neighbourly, with those you live with, your siblings and local merchants you shop from. Here the interactions are more lively, chatty and information is passed on that is required. This also includes more local travel in and around where you live.
• How You Learn: what is it that you wish to learn at this time? A new piece of software, or lessons you've been putting off taking/completing before now? How you learn and how much you wish to take in, and why, are part of this theme. Are a visual learner? Learn by doing? Learn by reading, or instruction? Or a combination of all?
• Updating Communication Skills: especially these days of Social Media + Coffee Chats (aka information gathering interviews) for job-seekers and salespeople alike. How well do you interact with others? Do you need to upgrade these skills? What have you been meaning to say, and didn't quite have the proper delivery or words to communicate yourself as authentically as you wished? Perhaps it isn't how you speak - it could be more of how well you are listening to others, taking in their subtle meanings, in order to come to a consensus.
• Logic and Cleverness/ Socially at Ease: being the life of the party isn't always what others want to hear. Do we use this tactic to overcome inward insecurity about being up close and personal with others? When do you use this cleverness - to manipulate, to over-power? If you are ill at ease, perhaps others are too. Intimidation doesn't mend fences - it electrifies them.
• Daily Interactions: what are your motivations for speaking with others? When do you feel open and when do you feel closed-off? Ask yourself, why? What's going on INSIDE, Within yourself. How are you FEELING? What's your INTUITION telling you? Are you listening?
• Stay Calm + Carry On! Have you seen these t-shirts with various slogans on them? Something brought forth in England during the World Wars of last century. Mental stress and anxiety go hand in hand with being social. More so these days - I wonder why? More people would rather chat with one another via their devices than face-to-face. Notice how The Twins of Gemini are face-to-face? Interesting, that. Makes me wonder if the upsurge in Coffee Chats is here to get the younger folk away from their devices and into the world of personal interactions? REAL conversations, in the moment, face-to-face. Who have you been avoiding, personally, not wanting to have that all important face-time with?
• PHYSICALLY, Gemini Rules: the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders, hay fever, lungs and breathing, and the nervous system. Note that most of these body parts have TWO of each. Those Twins again! These will be the parts of your physical body that may 'speak' to you this Moon cycle if you aren't 'speaking your mind'! Be honest, sincere and heartfully / lovingly compassionate. Remember: Gemini rules conversation Outside of Self, and With Self - your Self-talk! How much Devil is there with yourself than Angel? Hhhmmm....

Finger of God, Mt Shasta 2011

Looking at the chart I created for tomorrow's New Moon, I see a YOD or Finger of God formation. The Finger is pointing to Jupiter, Rx (Retrograde or inner motion) in Libra. Both Mercury, in Taurus, and Neptune, in Pisces, are learning to create a partnership this Moon cycle. Fixed earth + Mutable water - stubborn + going with the flow. Wanting to mentally deal with the tangible details vs. connecting with your Spiritual intuition and insights, and any feelings that go along with them. Taking time to mentally AND emotionally be present. Sussing out the illusions of the mind's desires from your Soul's true desires.

O right - there's that Drama Triangle again! I'm a Victim or Rescue Me/I'll Rescue Someone or I feel Persecuted/You're a Bully round-robin of trying to run away from those feelings at all costs. As we overcome and rise above that drama, we connect with the senses and tactile, hands-on creativity that assist us to deal with the details of life we most value and feel worthy of.

The more we do this, during this Moon cycle, the more energy is freed up to ignite Jupiter's energy to expand our worlds, to go beyond where we've already been! Huh. Interesting. The more we let go of that anxiety and fear of meeting new folk, strangers in fact (perhaps your neighbours?) talking about yourselves, learning about others, opening up to new conversations, new avenues of conversation - who knows where this data and information sharing/gathering will take you? Huh. Who knew it could be so easy? And rewarding!

BLESSED BE!

Photo Credits: Laurie Rae Rezanoff, Astrologer | Teacher | Writer

Mercury Retrograde Timing #2...

What IS all the fuss about Mercury Retrograde anyway?

I was asked this question by a new friend I met this past weekend. I promised her I'd explain it more than usual in my next post! So here you go Susan!

Let me tell you the story behind Mercury, what IS Retrograde motion, and how this 3-4 times a year occurrence seemingly affects our lives.

Mercury - is the planet that represents Communication, how your mind/brain thinks and learns, the knowledge you like to collect and how you share it. Mercury rules the mutable air sign of Gemini and mutable earth sign of Virgo. This combo brings forth the following:

• How you relate with your daily folks - roommates/household persons you live with, your neighbours, local vendors and friends you interact with.
• Collection of data and information and what you do with it - do you hoard it or do you share it with others? What types of data/information do you latch onto? What interests you, that you later converse about with others? Perhaps contractual information will be taken on here.
• Local travel - how you travel in your locale - using your car, transit, or walking.
• Processes - how you 'see' them within work settings, with co-workers, and your own life. The Rules of Engagement - the HOW of DOing, anything.
• Perfectionism - wherever Virgo resides in your birth chart, this is where your 'bar of excellence' resides and you expect this level of perfection not only from yourself - but from the people you work and live with too. Here we all carry a high level of EXPECTATION from performance - Within and Without. This is also where we can worry, and carry the Big Stick of "I'm Not Good Enough!" and beat ourselves up with it - and others.

Retrograde (Rx) - is the seemingly backward-moving motion of any planet. The Sun and Moon never move Rx. Similar to driving in a car, and the car next to you speeds up - it seems your car is moving backwards when really the other car is going faster than you. The planets do the same within their orbits around our Sun - at certain times of their orbital cycles, compared to Earth, they seem to go Direct (move forward) or go Rx (slow down and go backward). It is all relative to us looking up and out from Earth.

In Astrology, the seemingly Rx planets' energy that is usually Direct and forward-moving OUTSIDE us, is now directed Inward, Within us - creating a sense of 'taking things personally' and/or circumstances and people in our lives seem to BE personally in our face for a time. All in aid of learning something NEW about ourselves that we didn't know we needed to know. If we are open to this learning, we grow Within Self. If we don't (when our Ego-brain can get in the way with resistance to change) the next opportunity to grow that comes our way will seem to be BIGGER and LOUDER (and more in our face). It's all about free will - Will I or Won't I, this time round?

Mercury Rx - occurs 3-4 times a year (2016 and 2017 are the 4 times a year occurrence) where Mercury, that planet of communication + thought processes, seems to take a vacation from the logical left brain side and spends that vacation within the right brain's creative "thinking outside the box" problem-solving side. Yay us!

Mercury rules all the technology that runs our communication - now more than ever - hence phones, cell phones, office communication machines, computers, cars (more circuit boards therein than ever) etc. Everything to do with communication and local travel in other words.

During Mercury Rx timings, Expect the Unexpected from machines and cars and plans and contracts and goals - Mercury isn't going Direct in a straight line, so why should anything else? Mercury likes to bring in more humour and play to show us just how serious (Virgo) we can be, stuck as we are in our daily routines and processes. So Mercury Rx shakes things up - and sometimes is what I like to call "The Gift That Keeps on Giving...sometimes weeks, months and even years into the future!"

What I LOVE about Mercury Rx timings:

• I find out information that I didn't know I needed to know! Truly - sit back and watch this happen in your life within this upcoming Mercury Rx timing. I promise there WILL be something that shows up for you - a missing piece of key information you didn't know you were missing.
• Expect the Unexpected! This is where Mercury's humour shows up - to presumably trip us out of 'taking life too seriously' and remind us that humour is the best remedy - no matter the situation. Traffic jams, detours, computers crashing (mine did during the Mercury Rx session 2 days into December 2015's timing and I'm still dealing with the aftermath 15 months later), office machines acting up more that usual, cars not starting or working as well - all to alert us (seemingly all at the same time!) that perhaps we've not been as careful with maintenance / nurturance of these THINGS in our lives. OR, to BE more patient...as in there's a traffic jam and I'm late for a meeting with a friend - I always find, especially during Mercury Rx, that I'm delayed because my friend is too! And when we do catch up with one another guess what? We're right on time! Here Mercury is showing us to CHILL (!) and take a long breath - there is ALWAYS a reason - be patient and you'll find out what it is...refrain from honking on the horn or shaking your head at so-called dumb drivers - they are actually assisting you.
• Clearing Clutter! Yes siree, 'tis time to clean out those closets, garages, drawers and trunks folks. Yay! Here's the Virgo portion of the program - clarifying what to DO with stuff and creating new processes of how to handle it all in future. With our logical brain out of the way for 21 days, the creative brain brings forth NEW bright ideas of how to handle our STUFF - try it out and see. What seemed like an arduous task prior to Mercury Rx will seem easy-peasy now. And you've got to take advantage of 'Spring Cleaning', right?
• People From Your Past Show Up! Yes - this does happen - more often than I can count. Perhaps to rekindle friendships/relationships/partnerships. Perhaps to mend fences - revisiting past conversations that ended badly - Mercury Rx gives you a chance to say it BETTER this time. I love this do-over aspect of Mercury Rx. Gives us TIME to think things over, talk about it more, then decide better when Mercury turns Direct once again. Cool, eh?

Now let's get down to brass tacks - this second round of Mercury Rx in 2017 occurs as follows:

• The actual Rx (Retrograde) portion of the program begins April 10th and ends with Mercury stationing Direct May 4th - a little over the usual 21 days.
• The celestial longitude of WHERE Mercury is moving backwards/retrograde in the Astrological signs is from 04 degrees of Taurus 50' back into Aries to 24 degrees Aries 17'. If you have your birth chart handy, take a look at which House or Houses of Life Experience will be activated / affected by this round of Rx action (do-overs, rethinks, chances to speak again etc.). 
• For instance, this Mercury Rx timing begins in my 9th House of We Speak - communication with others - connecting with my Moon + South Node (emotional/intuitive insights + unresolved issues from my past) re HOW I interact with others while seeking my higher purpose. And will end in my 8th House of business partnerships, Ego fears and shared money/resources. Interestingly, I just completed 4 days of working with a lovely group of people for the Advanced Polls of the current Federal By-Election here in Canada. I was one of 2 Information Officers who greeted each and every voter, and I learned more about many of my co-workers from all the mini conversations we had during the lull times. AND I met a woman who was a year ahead of me in Junior and Senior High school. Talk about meeting up with someone from my past.
• But wait a minute Laurie Rae - it isn't April 10th yet! How come this seemingly Mercury Rx info is already occurring for you? Because there is always a PRE-Rx Shadow timing AND a POST-Rx Shadow timing. Huh? Meaning first Mercury was DIRECT, moving forward from 24 degrees Aries 17' before stopping and going BACK the way it already came. The PRE-Rx timing began March 26th. Talk about being 'right on time'.
• Then Mercury goes Rx from April 10th to May 4th, going back out of Taurus and into Aries, retracing its steps it had already taken since March 26th - hence do-overs, rethinks, and new opportunities to chat again, do again, think again...along the way. Get it?
• When Mercury turns Direct again, May 4th, it will be at 24 degrees Aries 17' and by May 20th will be right back into Taurus where it was when it turned Rx back on April 10th. Do you 'see' the zig-zag back and forth path Mercury makes when it goes Rx? And the analogy of first having conversations, interactions, travel, etc. that seemed normal, only for it to be re-visited somehow yet again, only this time more personally and perhaps perplexing as to WHY again? There was something you missed the first time - to say, do or know - and once Mercury goes Direct again May 4th (and further along, out of the Shadow by May 20th) what once seemed confusing or impossible is now perfectly clear sailing ahead.

Bottom line? The Pre-Rx Shadow time gives us a taste of what's to come from when Mercury truly is Rx. The Post-Rx Shadow time gives us answers/solutions we may not consciously have been aware of needing/seeking until Mercury went Rx. The themes we'll experience this time round come from the fixed earth sign of Taurus and the cardinal fire sign of Aries:

• Taurus brings issues around values, worth and money. How tactile and hands on we need to be with our personal talents and skills that assist us in bringing home income/money for those things we value. Taurus also heightens our senses - what we see, hear, feel, touch and smell. And how creative "I" can be with all I've got going for me - to be working, paying my bills, etc. Being fixed, Taurus can be "as stubborn as a bull" re: change...just saying...watch out for Ego resistance to changing your processes or language or habits. Worthiness issues will show themselves here. Self-confidence + self-esteem too...
• Aries brings issues around independence (vs. co-dependence), asserting self (vs. aggression or bullying), having the courage to try something NEW for our lives (that Pioneering spirit) that shows how "I am unique in the world and it's OKAY to show it!" This is where drinking from your Cup of Courage comes into play to CREATE something NEW (cardinal fire). Yeah, I've been THINKING about it, perhaps TALKING about it - but where's the ACTION, eh? Watch out for impatience, irritability, just wanting to LEAP before THINKING. Great timing on Mercury's part to slow us down, seemingly putting obstacles in our way - to take TIME to think, talk and mull it all over more than once. Cool, eh?

Here's your chance to really get at some of the roots of the WHY and HOW of things that have been getting in the way of making money (Taurus), finding work (Virgo), networking/making friends (Gemini) and starting something NEW in your life (Aries). And take the TIME to suss out what is truly right for you!

Photo Credits: by Laurie Rae Rezanoff - pictures taken at Nose Hill Park 2016, Luxor, Egypt 2011 and Neck Point, Nanaimo, BC 2012

Mercury Retrograde Timing #2...

What IS all the fuss about Mercury Retrograde anyway?

I was asked this question by a new friend I met this past weekend. I promised her I'd explain it more than usual in my next post! So here you go Susan!

Let me tell you the story behind Mercury, what IS Retrograde motion, and how this 3-4 times a year occurrence seemingly affects our lives.

Mercury - is the planet that represents Communication, how your mind/brain thinks and learns, the knowledge you like to collect and how you share it. Mercury rules the mutable air sign of Gemini and mutable earth sign of Virgo. This combo brings forth the following:

• How you relate with your daily folks - roommates/household persons you live with, your neighbours, local vendors and friends you interact with.
• Collection of data and information and what you do with it - do you hoard it or do you share it with others? What types of data/information do you latch onto? What interests you, that you later converse about with others? Perhaps contractual information will be taken on here.
• Local travel - how you travel in your locale - using your car, transit, or walking.
• Processes - how you 'see' them within work settings, with co-workers, and your own life. The Rules of Engagement - the HOW of DOing, anything.
• Perfectionism - wherever Virgo resides in your birth chart, this is where your 'bar of excellence' resides and you expect this level of perfection not only from yourself - but from the people you work and live with too. Here we all carry a high level of EXPECTATION from performance - Within and Without. This is also where we can worry, and carry the Big Stick of "I'm Not Good Enough!" and beat ourselves up with it - and others.

Retrograde (Rx) - is the seemingly backward-moving motion of any planet. The Sun and Moon never move Rx. Similar to driving in a car, and the car next to you speeds up - it seems your car is moving backwards when really the other car is going faster than you. The planets do the same within their orbits around our Sun - at certain times of their orbital cycles, compared to Earth, they seem to go Direct (move forward) or go Rx (slow down and go backward). It is all relative to us looking up and out from Earth.

In Astrology, the seemingly Rx planets' energy that is usually Direct and forward-moving OUTSIDE us, is now directed Inward, Within us - creating a sense of 'taking things personally' and/or circumstances and people in our lives seem to BE personally in our face for a time. All in aid of learning something NEW about ourselves that we didn't know we needed to know. If we are open to this learning, we grow Within Self. If we don't (when our Ego-brain can get in the way with resistance to change) the next opportunity to grow that comes our way will seem to be BIGGER and LOUDER (and more in our face). It's all about free will - Will I or Won't I, this time round?

Mercury Rx - occurs 3-4 times a year (2016 and 2017 are the 4 times a year occurrence) where Mercury, that planet of communication + thought processes, seems to take a vacation from the logical left brain side and spends that vacation within the right brain's creative "thinking outside the box" problem-solving side. Yay us!

Mercury rules all the technology that runs our communication - now more than ever - hence phones, cell phones, office communication machines, computers, cars (more circuit boards therein than ever) etc. Everything to do with communication and local travel in other words.

During Mercury Rx timings, Expect the Unexpected from machines and cars and plans and contracts and goals - Mercury isn't going Direct in a straight line, so why should anything else? Mercury likes to bring in more humour and play to show us just how serious (Virgo) we can be, stuck as we are in our daily routines and processes. So Mercury Rx shakes things up - and sometimes is what I like to call "The Gift That Keeps on Giving...sometimes weeks, months and even years into the future!"

What I LOVE about Mercury Rx timings:

• I find out information that I didn't know I needed to know! Truly - sit back and watch this happen in your life within this upcoming Mercury Rx timing. I promise there WILL be something that shows up for you - a missing piece of key information you didn't know you were missing.
• Expect the Unexpected! This is where Mercury's humour shows up - to presumably trip us out of 'taking life too seriously' and remind us that humour is the best remedy - no matter the situation. Traffic jams, detours, computers crashing (mine did during the Mercury Rx session 2 days into December 2015's timing and I'm still dealing with the aftermath 15 months later), office machines acting up more that usual, cars not starting or working as well - all to alert us (seemingly all at the same time!) that perhaps we've not been as careful with maintenance / nurturance of these THINGS in our lives. OR, to BE more patient...as in there's a traffic jam and I'm late for a meeting with a friend - I always find, especially during Mercury Rx, that I'm delayed because my friend is too! And when we do catch up with one another guess what? We're right on time! Here Mercury is showing us to CHILL (!) and take a long breath - there is ALWAYS a reason - be patient and you'll find out what it is...refrain from honking on the horn or shaking your head at so-called dumb drivers - they are actually assisting you.
• Clearing Clutter! Yes siree, 'tis time to clean out those closets, garages, drawers and trunks folks. Yay! Here's the Virgo portion of the program - clarifying what to DO with stuff and creating new processes of how to handle it all in future. With our logical brain out of the way for 21 days, the creative brain brings forth NEW bright ideas of how to handle our STUFF - try it out and see. What seemed like an arduous task prior to Mercury Rx will seem easy-peasy now. And you've got to take advantage of 'Spring Cleaning', right?
• People From Your Past Show Up! Yes - this does happen - more often than I can count. Perhaps to rekindle friendships/relationships/partnerships. Perhaps to mend fences - revisiting past conversations that ended badly - Mercury Rx gives you a chance to say it BETTER this time. I love this do-over aspect of Mercury Rx. Gives us TIME to think things over, talk about it more, then decide better when Mercury turns Direct once again. Cool, eh?

Now let's get down to brass tacks - this second round of Mercury Rx in 2017 occurs as follows:

• The actual Rx (Retrograde) portion of the program begins April 10th and ends with Mercury stationing Direct May 4th - a little over the usual 21 days.
• The celestial longitude of WHERE Mercury is moving backwards/retrograde in the Astrological signs is from 04 degrees of Taurus 50' back into Aries to 24 degrees Aries 17'. If you have your birth chart handy, take a look at which House or Houses of Life Experience will be activated / affected by this round of Rx action (do-overs, rethinks, chances to speak again etc.). 
• For instance, this Mercury Rx timing begins in my 9th House of We Speak - communication with others - connecting with my Moon + South Node (emotional/intuitive insights + unresolved issues from my past) re HOW I interact with others while seeking my higher purpose. And will end in my 8th House of business partnerships, Ego fears and shared money/resources. Interestingly, I just completed 4 days of working with a lovely group of people for the Advanced Polls of the current Federal By-Election here in Canada. I was one of 2 Information Officers who greeted each and every voter, and I learned more about many of my co-workers from all the mini conversations we had during the lull times. AND I met a woman who was a year ahead of me in Junior and Senior High school. Talk about meeting up with someone from my past.
• But wait a minute Laurie Rae - it isn't April 10th yet! How come this seemingly Mercury Rx info is already occurring for you? Because there is always a PRE-Rx Shadow timing AND a POST-Rx Shadow timing. Huh? Meaning first Mercury was DIRECT, moving forward from 24 degrees Aries 17' before stopping and going BACK the way it already came. The PRE-Rx timing began March 26th. Talk about being 'right on time'.
• Then Mercury goes Rx from April 10th to May 4th, going back out of Taurus and into Aries, retracing its steps it had already taken since March 26th - hence do-overs, rethinks, and new opportunities to chat again, do again, think again...along the way. Get it?
• When Mercury turns Direct again, May 4th, it will be at 24 degrees Aries 17' and by May 20th will be right back into Taurus where it was when it turned Rx back on April 10th. Do you 'see' the zig-zag back and forth path Mercury makes when it goes Rx? And the analogy of first having conversations, interactions, travel, etc. that seemed normal, only for it to be re-visited somehow yet again, only this time more personally and perhaps perplexing as to WHY again? There was something you missed the first time - to say, do or know - and once Mercury goes Direct again May 4th (and further along, out of the Shadow by May 20th) what once seemed confusing or impossible is now perfectly clear sailing ahead.

Bottom line? The Pre-Rx Shadow time gives us a taste of what's to come from when Mercury truly is Rx. The Post-Rx Shadow time gives us answers/solutions we may not consciously have been aware of needing/seeking until Mercury went Rx. The themes we'll experience this time round come from the fixed earth sign of Taurus and the cardinal fire sign of Aries:

• Taurus brings issues around values, worth and money. How tactile and hands on we need to be with our personal talents and skills that assist us in bringing home income/money for those things we value. Taurus also heightens our senses - what we see, hear, feel, touch and smell. And how creative "I" can be with all I've got going for me - to be working, paying my bills, etc. Being fixed, Taurus can be "as stubborn as a bull" re: change...just saying...watch out for Ego resistance to changing your processes or language or habits. Worthiness issues will show themselves here. Self-confidence + self-esteem too...
• Aries brings issues around independence (vs. co-dependence), asserting self (vs. aggression or bullying), having the courage to try something NEW for our lives (that Pioneering spirit) that shows how "I am unique in the world and it's OKAY to show it!" This is where drinking from your Cup of Courage comes into play to CREATE something NEW (cardinal fire). Yeah, I've been THINKING about it, perhaps TALKING about it - but where's the ACTION, eh? Watch out for impatience, irritability, just wanting to LEAP before THINKING. Great timing on Mercury's part to slow us down, seemingly putting obstacles in our way - to take TIME to think, talk and mull it all over more than once. Cool, eh?

Here's your chance to really get at some of the roots of the WHY and HOW of things that have been getting in the way of making money (Taurus), finding work (Virgo), networking/making friends (Gemini) and starting something NEW in your life (Aries). And take the TIME to suss out what is truly right for you!

Photo Credits: by Laurie Rae Rezanoff - pictures taken at Nose Hill Park 2016, Luxor, Egypt 2011 and Neck Point, Nanaimo, BC 2012