Mercury in Aries

Mercury in Aries - Direct Communication

"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 only brute force strategies — which aren't working — and recognize that a broader perspective can reveal an array of expanding possibilities that balance our own individual desires with the desires of others — essentially win-win opportunities. There are certainly conflicts to be dealt with this week, both in terms of dealing with outworn dogma as well as emotional blind spots and insecurities. The broadly intellectual environment does not easily handle emotion and some will feel that their emotional reservations are not being acknowledged and honored. Others may stand stubbornly upon traditions that are no longer relevant. As we face these conflicts, we need to meditate on the fine line between stubbornness and determination. Next Sunday's Aries New Moon will find Venus in a tight square to Pluto, challenging our creativity and tempting us to rely on underhanded manipulation and threadbare charm. Instead, we'll do better to simply indulge in the optimism that is fostered by this week's expansive, intellectual atmosphere. Our optimism and enthusiasm can be a powerful 'persuader' that will go much further than either 'Brute Force' or devious tricks and manipulation. Maintaining our optimism, even in the face of discouragement, conflict, and exhausting challenges, will be the key to overcoming the obstacles we are likely to face under the next lunar cycle. This week offers us the raw materials to feed that optimism.

The Moon's sextile to Neptune on Sunday offers inspiration that feeds the increasingly intellectual environment fostered by Mercury's entrance into Aries. Ego involvement may be exposed on Monday if we feel compelled to dig in our heels or otherwise resist the unfolding series of new opportunities and possibilities. We may be easily overwhelmed on Tuesday as the flow of intellectual insights continue to open up new vistas. There is a need to stay alert and flexible or we'll risk being derailed by surprises. Intuition is blended with intellect by Wednesday afternoon. We have new opportunities to address previous missteps. Practicality is encouraged by the Sun's conjunction with Ceres. There is an extremely helpful Big Picture perspective available on Thursday. However, the atmosphere is a bit too intellectual to deal with many emotional reservations. The transcendent inspiration that we find on Friday could have us carried away into make-believe and escapism if we don't have some way to ground ourselves with practicality. Nonetheless, there are marvelous opportunities for creative brainstorming and deep dive explorations. We feel the whispers of next week's Aries New Moon on Saturday. There are challenges to fully expressing our personal desires, possibly leading to some degree of emotional manipulation. We will do better by focusing on the optimism that has been fostered by the week's developments and carry that optimism in the next lunar cycle.

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