"We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves."

— Malcolm X

A great deal of this week's journey is focused directly on understanding the lessons of this year's overarching Saturn-Uranus square. We can begin to recognize that this pressurized atmosphere is forcing us to look within ourselves and deal with our basic sense of self-worth. Pluto is now retrograde, encouraging us to look within ourselves to see what needs changing — or what needs healing. Last week's Scorpio Full Moon may have revealed uncomfortable truths related to our limitations. There is an increased imperative this week produced by the involvement of Chiron in Aries, sextiling Saturn, that is now ruled by Mars in the protective —and sensitive — sign of Cancer. The waning lunar cycle sends us through a series of [...]

"When forms begin to crumble there is always an opportunity for great deepening. By deepening I mean the arising of who you are beyond form."

— Eckhart Tolle

The Sun and Mercury both leave bold and fiery Aries at the beginning of this week. The bold, fiery energy of Aries has been fed by the transit of Mars through airy Gemini, especially under the helpful 'mutual reception' between Mercury and Mars. The effect of both the Sun and Mercury in Taurus slows down our thinking and actions, encouraging us to be more methodical and cautious. Mars will leave mercurial Gemini by Friday and be somewhat 'dampened' in watery Cancer. The transitions are actually rather subtle but noticeable and very important. The initiatives of Aries are stabilized in Taurus, where roots begin to go deep into the earth in order to establish strong holding power. Mars in Cancer has us becoming more [...]

"Keep your feet on the ground and your thoughts at lofty heights."

— Peace Pilgrim

Even as the current lunar cycle wanes, ahead of next Sunday's Aries New Moon (7:30 PM PDT 22° Aries), our minds are quickened and we feel that possibilities are expanding this week. Last week's arrival of Mercury in Aries, now in mutual reception with Mars in Gemini, affords us increased capacity to clearly and directly articulate our hopes, ideals, and vision. Our thoughts guide our actions. Those actions ripple outward and make connections to the actions of others in our environment. While we are still dealing with the over-arching challenges of the ongoing Saturn-Uranus square, our intellect can begin to recognize better ways to deal with the challenges of inertia and intransigence by honoring the past while methodically working towards a brighter future. Intellect also eases the tendency to focus on [...]