Saturn Retrograde In Scorpio: Clean House or Die

Saturn begins its five month retrograde in Scorpio today and finishes up on July 8th. Retrograde periods always signify a time to review what we've done so far. With Saturn it's a period of checks and balances. What have we accomplished? What remains on the to-do list? Since we're talking Scorpio, Saturn wants us to get to those items on our list that we've  been putting off forever because we've been too busy bullshitting. Is it fear that holds us back? Complacency? The negative people that we just can't seem to let go?

Now is the time to take stock of whatever or whomever it is that may be keeping us from claiming our empires, our glory. It's time for spring cleaning. Saturn asks us to get those dust bunnies from under the bed and the cobwebs in the corner...those places where we don't always like to look (emotional baggage, anyone?). To make things interesting, the Universe has five heavenly bodies in Pisces over the next month which includes Mercury's retrograde  that will make it seem like we're literally trying to run track through a swimming pool.

However, the key to taking our next big step forward lies in our ability to tend to those unseen parts of ourselves (another watery reference!); those tender parts of us, those SOULFUL parts In There. In There is where intuition, creativity, and security abide. Getting comfortable In There is how we learn to make the most of what's Out Here. Saturn knows that building an empire, a fortress (read: material security), requires a strong foundation--built from the inside out. 


How will we fortify ourselves so that we can carry on to the level ? What part of us can use a little restructuring? 

Clean house and keep only what you need.

Jupiter Retrograde in Gemini: The Party Is Over...For Now

Planet Jupiter, otherwise known as the "Good Time Charlie" of the zodiac has went retrograde on October 4th and will stay there until January 30, 2013. Since I'm a Sagittarius--the sign ruled by the party hound himself, Jupiter's retrograde is a bit of a killjoy for me as I need all of the good fortune and BIG fun I can get these days. LOL! I think this clip from Adventure Time sums up the next few months for all the Jupiter-ruled areas of life (hint: it's those places where we just seem to get lucky or overdo it big time; for better or worse).

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces: Turn Your High Beams On


Neptune plays a major part in my birth chart. Natally, my sun, Venus, and Neptune are conjunct or rather, “attached” to each other. Well, essentially all planets are more or less attached to one another in a birth chart; whether by conjunction, opposition, square, trine, etc. as these attachments (or aspects, as they are formally called) show how the planets get along with each other. In my case, these three planets function sort of like hip-hop’s A Tribe Called Quest (you know, sans bitter feud).*  By astrological definition, this aspect in my chart makes me Neptunian and with Pisces (the zodiac sign associated with old Nep) being on my natal 8th House cusp, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I attract lots and lots of Neptunians too (even if I don’t want to).**

Who or what exactly is a Neptunian? Folks like me where the planet is prominent in their chart, those born under the Sun, Moon, or Rising sign of Pisces, those with major planets in the 12th house, the intuitives and the creatives, the dreamers, the healers, the escapists and the illusionists, the victims and the saviors—and yes, there is a little Neptune in us all. However, how we choose to express this energy is what makes all the difference. Ruling the 12th House of Dreams, Spirituality, and Self-Undoing; Neptune is an idealist, a true romantic. Where ever she (the planet represents a feminine energy) touches us, either at the natal point or by transit, we become totally unconcerned with boundaries and harsh realism. Neptune softens our consciousness; she takes the edge off. As such, we either find ourselves in a state of bliss or in a hazy confusion. 

When Neptune moved long term into its home sign of Pisces in  February 2012 after a 14-year transit in Aquarius, many in the astrological community heralded this shift as a much needed softening of the human collective.  If Neptune in Aquarius made our wildest dreams come true with the development of the internet, social media, fancy gadgets that in effect kept us plugged-in, then Neptune in Pisces is here to help us unplug. Spirituality, compassion, and optimism become paramount, as does the potential for escapism, self-delusion, and gullibility.  With the retrograde, we are being asked to review the space that Neptune occupies in our lives (look to your birth chart to find out where). Are we dreaming big enough or too big? Is it compassion we feel or are we playing savior? Do we trust our intuition or ignore it?  Are we seeing the people and situations in our lives as they really are or how we want them to be? Overall, how do we get our head and heart to successfully coincide? From now until November 10, 2012 the answers to these questions will be crucial.

As you mull it all over, watch this Piscean themed vid:






*My partner, Jason Fleming-El aka Sagittarian Mind, is sure to be happy that I used a hip-hop reference to explain an  astrological term.  Like, he’s gonna marry me after this and whatnot.
** Kidding. Sort of.

Venus Retrograde: What's It Worth To You?


Venus, the planet representing beauty, self-esteem, money, material possessions, love, and relationships has been in retrograde in Gemini since May 15th and will continue to do so until June 27th. Planets in retrograde always bring opportunities to re-examine and revamp a way of thinking or doing something that may keep us from living life at the height of being. In other words, it’s probably broke and we need to fix it. 

Okay, so what is “it”? That “It” will be anything having to do with Venus-ruled areas as mentioned above. As Venus is the natural ruler of Libra and Taurus (the two signs most concerned with one-on-one relationships and material wealth), over the next few weeks the question of the moment for many of us will be “what’s it worth?” Has a key relationship (romantic or not) turned out to be more than we bargained for? Is there a relationship in our lives worth saving? What about our relationship with ourselves? Do we think we’re really good enough? (I mean, really, really?) And what about our relationship to our bank accounts? Does it match the lifestyle we want to lead? If not, can it? With Venus currently in Gemini, the sign of communication, our responsibility is to ensure that we are having the right conversations with ourselves and those in our network to get the answers to these questions; then, in typical Geminian fashion, applying what we have learned.

In my own life, I’ve already been feeling the effects of this retrograde by being forced (I’ve been ignoring the proverbial knock at the door for quite some time now) to majorly restructure my spending habits (starting with my high-ass monthly cell phone bill) and to rethink my relationship to money. In addition, with Venus currently transiting my 10th house of career and public image, part of my concern around finances has to do with whether or not I warrant opportunities that will sufficiently pay me for not only my talents (am I good enough?) but also for doing the (creative) things that make me happy (do I deserve it?). 

In the coming weeks, the universe will be providing us all with the time needed to catch up on our homework. I have an idea about what my lesson is, what's yours?