"They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief
But you're going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed'"

— Bob Dylan - "Gotta Serve Somebody"

Last week's powerful Fixed T-square with Mars, Pluto, and Jupiter — as it approached the North Node — has fostered this week's intense, determined, ego-driven desire for independence and self-reliance. Mars, now in confidence-boosting Leo, has escaped the initial challenges of the opposition to Pluto but now faces a tricky quincunx from Saturn in Pisces. Essentially, the challenge from Saturn asks us to consider and balance the needs of others with our own personal ambitions and aspirations. Such challenges and considerations effectively block any sort of expedient resolutions. The issues of blending the demands of the material world with spiritual reality are at the heart of [...]

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.'"

—Matthew 7:7

Mercury stations direct at the beginning of this week and the 'station' may produce a feeling that our thinking is 'stalled'. As we adjust, we may find ourselves feeling a bit impulsive, lurching ahead but having some difficulty getting 'grounded' or finding a clear sense of direction. A Mars-Neptune trine on Monday provides lots of inspiration but without many tangible outlets. Jupiter leaves Aries on Tuesday, where it has been since only December 20th of last year — Jupiter will spend an entire year in Taurus. Ultimately, Jupiter's arrival in Taurus will help us to [...]

"Not knowing when the dawn will come
I open every door."

—Emily Dickinson

Pluto turns retrograde on Monday of this week, which could provoke a feeling that our opportunities are somehow slipping away. The retrograde Mercury is offering us the space to take stock of our existing resources but we may also be feeling an imperative to get more — whatever we can wherever we can. Mars in Cancer is intensifying the urgency to acquire a stockpile of extra security. The retrograding Mercury in Taurus can compound the focus on security but is generally encouraging a more stabilizing, methodical approach. As Pluto turns back towards Capricorn, we may begin to believe that we should shift our focus away from [...]