This year, one thing that stood out to me more than all the other motions and meanings of the sky is retrogrades. You've probably heard about Mercury Retrograde and tricky times with communications and technology, but what about the other retrogrades?

Did you know there are other retrogrades, as well? It's true! Some of you may have even heard about Venus and/or Mars retrogrades and how they indicate shifting patterns in relationships. The truth is that all of the planets have retrogrades (not the Sun and the Moon, though).

If you had a period of time this year during which things were 'up in the air', it was probably a retrograde. In so many of the consultations I did, it was things like: should I pursue this relationship? Will I get that raise? Will my new business work out? When you reflect on what that thing was for you- you will have found your retrograde experience(s) of 2019. But, so what?

Now that we know that your 'up in the air' experience aligns with a retrograde, it could be worth looking into which retrograde it was (more on how to do this below). Retrogrades happen every year, and becoming familiar with their ebb and flow can only help us orient ourselves to the quality of the times we are living in, giving us greater insight into what is going on for us. So, here are some retrograde basics to get you started.


Insights into Retrogrades

Do planets actually move backwards? No! A retrograde period is simply the phase when a planet *appears* to be moving 'backward' from the point of view of the Earth. It's because we're all circling around the Sun and because the range of motion is so vast that changing directions causes the illusion of backwards motion. The closest analogy- if you can imagine it- is to picture yourself running around a track with several other people, all moving at various speeds. Note that when you pass someone, they appear to be moving backward. So, the direction of movement is an illusion, but regardless of that fact- this 'optical illusion' does seem to align with certain types of experiences here on Earth. And, these experiences stretch and condense according to the length of the retrograde.

Because of the planetary alignment in our Solar System, each planet has it's very own retrograde rhythm. Our friend Mercury, for example, has about three retrograde periods per year- by far the most often, as it zips around the Sun. Most other planets have about one per year (due to the fact that the earth's orbit is faster than theirs, so it is in fact our motion that creates the retrograde illusion for all of the slow-movers). This would include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and also Chiron. Venus and Mars, however, being on either side of the Earth, have more unique displays of retrograde motion. Because of their proximity to the Earth, our motions can tend to be more in sync for periods of time, making the retrograde periods occur less often. Venus has a retrograde period about every year and a half while Mars has one about every two and a half years. So, regardless of the nature of the planet and the sign it's in (or where that happens to show up in your birth chart), simply the length of time and the rate of recurrence of each planet's retrograde periods reflect a certain quality of experience.

Despite these differences, which can help us differentiate between the various retrogrades, there are also commonalities that can help us understand all of the retrogrades more generally. Every retrograde - no matter the planet, sign, speed, or rate of recurrence - has five phases in common.

Five Retrograde Phases:

1) First Pass & Slowing Down - 'Pre-hashing' or initiating something, first steps, hope
2) Stationing Retrograde - when things get 'off track', seem to slow down, or aren't going 'according to plan'
3) Second Pass in Retrograde Motion - Figuring things out, waiting, getting more information, hopeless
4) Stationing Direct - finally things 'come to a head', a decision is made, a new understanding
5) Third Pass & Speeding Up  - 'Re-hashing' or getting back 'on track', things start to 'move' again

I noticed many people struggling with phase three this year, largely because of the nature of the timing of some of the moderate retrogrades (Jupiter and Saturn): the ones that are not so slow as to become background noise (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron), and not so fast as to speed by like Mercury Retrogrades. I noticed that many people began to lose hope. (Note: We did not have Mars or Venus retrogrades in 2019, but we will have them in 2020 and they would fall into this category of possibly 'needing support'.)

It is exactly this observation of folks needing insight and guidance during retrograde periods in particular that led me to create the Retrograde Clubs that I’ll be offering in 2020. My belief is that having the Retrograde Clubs will offer a supportive structure in which to connect by sharing our stories and bearing witness to one another, using creative engagement with the Astrological wisdom available to us that will serve as a healing balm to those who are enduring these more moderate-length retrograde periods.

In order to find out which retrograde periods may affect you, and to learn more about my forthcoming Retrograde Clubs, sign up for my email list here!

Not everybody is equally affected by each retrograde- it depends on how it interacts with your unique chart, but so many readings that I did this year centered around these retrograde periods that it was noticeable. Almost all of the retrogrades are having a big impact.

If you experienced a period of time this past year that was ‘unsettled’—during which you were waiting for things to fall into place--it was probably a retrograde. When I reflect back on my own year—without first considering the timing, even—the thing that stands out as having been ‘up in the air’ is the development of my husband’s employment. And, when I do track back the transits, it clearly lines up with planetary retrogrades! But, even without knowing the retrograde specifics, you can think back to what things were ‘up in the air’ for you this past year and note that they have now probably more or less resolved (unless you are—knowingly or unknowingly—waiting for Uranus to go direct, in which case you’ll be waiting just a few more weeks for things to settle).

If you’d like to investigate which planetary retrograde may have been at play for you, note which of your periods of suspension line up with the dates listed below. Please understand that a single topic will likely align with a single planet, so you are looking for which planetary timeline seems to reflect the timeline of your own experience. Also of note: the color associations (which may not be apparent if you are on your phone) are for the element of the sign, not the sign itself, nor the planet. But, it should still help you narrow it down. :)

Dates for the Retrogrades of 2019, by month:

JANUARY:
7th - Uranus Station, Direct, in Taurus

MARCH:
6th - Mercury Station, Retrograde, in Pisces
29th - Mercury Station, Direct, in Pisces

APRIL:
11th - Jupiter Station, Retrograde, in Sagittarius
25th - Pluto Station, Retrograde, in Capricorn
30th - Saturn Station, Retrograde, in Capricorn

JUNE:
22nd - Neptune Station, Retrograde, in Pisces

JULY:
8th - Mercury Station, Retrograde, in Leo
9th - Chiron Station, Retrograde, in Aries

AUGUST:
1st - Mercury Station, DIrect, in Cancer
12th - Jupiter Station, Direct, in Sagittarius
12th - Uranus Station, Retrograde, in Taurus

SEPTEMBER:
18th - Saturn Station, Direct, in Capricorn

OCTOBER:
3rd - Pluto Station, Direct, in Capricorn
31st - Mercury Station, Retrograde, in Scorpio

NOVEMBER:
20th - Mercury Station, Direct, in Scorpio
28th - Neptune Station, Direct, in Pisces

DECEMBER:
13th - Chiron Station, Direct, in Aries

Once you know which retrograde period it was, it can help you begin to see what it was really all about! If you still have anything lingering from your experience, a good Astrologer should be able to help you find further clarity. If you would like to consult with me, use this link.

Upcoming Opportunities:

Note: If you’d like a list like this for looking forward into next year rather than just backward into last year, be sure to sign up for my email list here. I’ll be sharing that soon!

In addition, if you are local to Portland, you may wish to attend the upcoming January Panel Discussion about the year ahead which will be hosted by the Oregon Astrological Association. I will be a panelist, focusing primarily on next year’s retrogrades, along with a few other knowledgeable Astrologers, whose voices I would love for you to hear. Register to attend here.


Finally, a note about New Year’s Resolutions:

If you are setting resolutions for the New Year, you may be interested in this blog that I wrote last year about how to do that in an Astrologically-aligned way. Discover why most New Year’s resolutions seem to fail and how to create yours so that your intentions have a better chance of making it!

Happy New Year!

with love from Melanie

I recently asked a friend of mine who is a Spiritual Director what people were generally needing in their sessions. After a reflective pause, she said that they were needing to be held and also to deepen their connection to the earth. Upon hearing of this general deep need of humans in these times, I couldn’t help but think of the nodes of the moon (the points at which eclipses occur, thought to reflect karmic patterning) which are currently transiting (traveling) through the signs of Cancer and Capricorn.

Why this connection? A few strands came together for me in this moment.

Because Saturn and Jupiter will be at the same degree for most of August (and in quite close range, otherwise), I thought I’d share this list of days according to the Moon’s transits to these two ‘social planets’, including a few other heavenly motions of note, such as ingresses and certain planetary aspects calling for [my] attention.

One curiosity I’m interested in is the connection between...

Astrology is nuts. There is no reason why it should work—but it clearly does! I am not going to claim that it is causal, though, because there is just no way to be sure. However, its correlation is undeniable. It is important to note that when I say ‘Astrology’ I do not merely mean one’s ‘Sun Sign’ or the horoscopes one reads in the papers or online… Astrology is truly SO much more! And, for anyone who fancies themselves to be of scientific mind, it behooves you to investigate the matter on your own—without writing it off at face value—as is befitting a true scientist (many fine Astrologers have been made in this fashion- even trying to disprove it!). No good scientist dismisses a hypothesis without investigation.

I’m not saying you won’t have to change your whole worldview. You may. As one of my students says: The world doesn’t work like we thought it did. It’s true. It takes a philosophical/scientific/artistic/poetic/symbolic/linguistic kind of mind to really get this stuff. It’s a very human affair.

What an amazing experience! Such incredible richness was offered to us this past weekend, at the Northwest Astrological Conference. It was great. In addition, there is a real 'after the conference' experience that it doesn't hurt to address. For me, it has been helpful to have had some sage guidance concerning “re-entry” after such an event. So, I would like to pass on to you a few thoughts and guidelines that have been offered to me on my own path of sacred engagements.

Have you ever done a ‘mindful speech’ exercise? During my graduate training in Contemplative Education at Naropa University, we practiced speaking at different ‘levels’. Most folks speak at a surface level, most of the time. This is how we often speak with someone at the bus stop, or when we meet someone in passing, or waiting in line. It might involve more of the ‘surface’ details: who, what, when, where. “I was at a conference in the US for 4 days,” for example. Keeping it simple, no real *feelings*, no depth. Even if we say something like: “It was amazing!” or “It blew my mind!” These are generalized summations and work great for short, surface conversations.

The next ‘layer’ might be when people ask penetrating follow-up questions, or if you are with people who are closer to you, with whom you’d really like to express the *magic* of what just happened for you. It is great to want to share, and yet- this is also when we may begin to consider strategies to maintain the sacred energy of the experience, so that it doesn’t slip away from us. Sometimes, the way it is received has a lot to do with this, but it is also in our own delivery and the choices we make in timing and audience, for example, since some people really may not be ready to go to the deeper place with us.

One thing that can help us to navigate this fine discernment is actually what’s happening right now as you’re reading this: igniting, re-igniting, or confirming an awareness around this in the first place! You are already on your way to maintaining energetic integrity. Another thing that can help is the ‘mindful speech’ that I mentioned earlier. This is a practice of remaining present while speaking: really drop in to your body and the present moment, replete with it’s very own qualities and emotional and energetic signatures. Make real eye contact with the person you are speaking with and listen to your own voice as it comes out of your mouth. Hear yourself. Notice how your feelings relate to your words and even the special memories that are going unspoken. This kind of presence in speech can be a cue to both you and your listener that what you are saying really matters. It *may* increase the chances that your message is received. But, not necessarily!

Which brings me to the third layer of experience, which cannot always be communicated; except, perhaps, with a very few, special soul friends! This is the sacred treasure of rich, ritual energy which has been built up for you, within you. It is worth protecting. Take your time with this layer of communication. Choose wisely with whom you share this magic. I’m not saying NOT to share it—it is entirely up to you—I’m just offering the idea that it really is special and may take more TIME or may require a matching AUDIENCE or maybe can’t even really be spoken! I’m suggesting that it’s okay to let the sacred remain sacred.

Storytelling is a sacred art, after all.

“Catching Stories” is  a sacred service. So, here’s where we flip to the other side: the role of the listener. In the realm of what is referred to as ‘Nature Connection’ and the ‘Art of Mentoring’, there is this idea of “Catching Stories”. I’ve just experienced this healing interaction with a dear friend who is privvy to this form of what can really be described as love, which is what inspired me to write this blog! It was the healing balm that I didn’t know I needed. Thank you soul-friend (you know who you are)!

Catching Stories means allowing someone to be seen. Really hearing what moves them, what they’re excited about, what it felt like. This helps them integrate their experience AND creates a connection between the storyteller and the listener. It is foundational in community-building and human-being. Bring this awareness into your consciousness and practices of daily life and see what happens!

I’ve also heard other folks mention the thought that perhaps *nothing* of the sacred experience needs to be reiterated! Perhaps when we leave the sacred container of the conference, we simply proceed with our mundane lives, joking and laughing with friends- leaving the sacred on the sacred side. I leave it to you to decide, yet here is the offering for consideration.

Now, in addition to the potential need for verbal processing and human connection, re-entry can be rough in other ways! After a conference or ritual—or even a reading—there can really be an experience of having an ‘energetic hangover’ (whether or not any substances were used—or abused)! It behooves us to be mindful of this and to find ways that support our own processing and recovery. There is also a real emotional component to the let-down after such a magical experience: Even though my mind-heart was full-to-overlflowing after leaving the conference, I’m also certainly experiencing an acute soul-sadness. It’s a real loss to leave such a magical space and may require some grieving. So, we have at once a buoyant joyancy along with a depth of grief and meaning. Yet (just as I heard was spoken in one of the lectures), we are big enough for both experiences at once. As the cosmos contains all of the planetary, zodiacal, and stellar energies, so do we! As the cosmos, so the soul.

So, here are just a few ideas for ways to support your integration/process/recovery. Many of them overlap, but I’ve tried to put them into groupings, to help you hone in on what you may be in need of:

Body care

Sleep! So many of us become less and less ‘resourced’ as the days of the conference pass, largely due to an increasing sleep gap. While this originates in the body, it also certainly affects the heart, the mind, the spirit. I noted increasing difficulty with complex thought and communication over the weekend as well as greater emotional sensitivity. This principle applies to food, as well; when we are traveling, we may eat all kinds of things that we don't normally ingest! How is your body doing with that? It may be nice to offer your body gentle, replenishing sustenance. Eat what your body is used to. Hydrate. Take your vitamins! Eat simple foods for a moment, perhaps to let your gut reset. Finally, it may be nice to get your body moving! Walking, running, yoga, dancing, stretching. Your movement of choice can help move the energy through and help it settle, and bring you back into your body! Particularly after flying. Even sitting, laying, or standing very still may be in order, after all of the chaos of travel and a full schedule and rich experiences.

Mind care

Reflect and journal. Meditate. Read what others are saying, if that feels right. Speak your own truth about the process, perhaps (taking care to note what I’ve mentioned above, of course, about maintaining the energetic integrity of your sacred experience). Check in with others who have gone through the same initiation. Allow a sacred friend or other caring figure to ‘catch’ your story! Take all the time you need; there is no rush. Some may wish to write poetry, create a collage, or work through some divinations. All great ways! Observe and express on social media as we all wind down from such a great happening.

Energy care

Grounding! Get your feet and/or your whole body on the actual ground. Even five minutes of this can be immensely restorative. Use a bath or shower as an intentional re-set. Get out your sprays and smudges and stones and plant medicines. You may wish to sing or dance or drum- any way that you might think of to move, ground, or integrate energies- whatever works for you! You likely know this ‘drill’ -and if you don’t, ask one of your new friends who might!

Relationship care

Speaking of friends, it can be very grounding/integrating to reach out to the people you connected with over the weekend. Send those follow-up messages and follow folks on social media who you really connected with. Stay in touch! The connections are what give the conference life; the web that holds the ‘great thing’ which is Astrology, in our case. A truly great thing- it’s cosmic!! In addition, tending to those you ‘left behind’ could go here, as well. Allow your friends and family the chance to catch your stories and ‘keep up with you’, as you shift and grow with everything that transpired and emerged during the conference.

I hope you find this helpful in some way! And, if you have further ideas, comment below or send me a message! I have become a bit of a tracker of these ways and would be interested to hear others’ perspectives, confirmation, or feedback on how these approaches work out for you. Or what you think of them.

If we crossed paths over the weekend, know that you are part of my experience and I am part of yours! Please be in touch and I hope to see you again next year!* #norwac2020

*If you are planning on attending in the future, consider these posts as preparatory resources:

How to #NORWAC2019 (most of the info will still be good next year! great tips & orientation)

NORWAC 2019 Human Necessities (places to eat & shop near the hotel where the conference is held)

Astrologically-Aligned New Year’s Resolutions for 2019 (& beyond!)

Have you ever noticed how New Year’s Resolutions seem to fizzle and fade as the year wears on?

I have! And, you can bet that I have Astrological interpretations as to why and wherefore! I have noticed what a Capricorn thing it is to ‘resolve’ to do some pious new thing in the new calendar year. What’s more, it seems a natural goat-like response to the wild and winsome ways of the Sagittarian ‘Santaur’ of the season prior. In addition, as I’ve said, these resolutions seem to fade.

Why is that?

Could it be that the Capricornian impulse for order, simplicity, betterment simply fades as the Sun moves on, lighting up other parts of the sky, and thus- our charts? I can see how such impulses might persist through the Aquarius season (ruled by Saturn, as is Capricorn), but then they must melt away when the Sun enters dreamy, idealist Pisces and all but burn off into oblivion as we enter the fiery, spontaneous season of the Ram, n’est-ce pas?

In any case, it seems to be that Capricorn’s resolutions may not be viable much beyond the Capricorn season. This leads me to two main initial thoughts: 1) go ahead and engage in that New Year’s Resolution as you are wont to do, but *only commit for the duration of Capricorn season* (from now until the Sun moves into Aquarius on January 20th)! That *is* enough time to form a new habit, so they say. The resolution needn’t bog you down for the rest of the year.

Give it a go in January and if it doesn’t take- let it go!

You’ve got until the 19th to make it stick, if that's what you want to go for.


-OR-


Find a more astrologically-aligned way to aim for a greater intention that will work for the whole year!

I once tried to make a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ for *each* sun sign, but it didn’t really ‘take’. It turns out that resolutions really are best-suited to Capricorn season. Pisces doesn’t work that way! So, like the king from Asteroid 325 in The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, I prefer to “require from each one the duty which each one can perform […] According to my science of government, I shall wait until conditions are favorable.”

That is to say, I will follow the Astrology.

So: go ahead and make your Capricorn-olutions, and, if you care to consider ways to align yourself to that which is happening (as our asteroid-King so wisely did when he commanded a sunset at 20 minutes to eight), keep reading to find out how!


HERE'S HOW: THE EASY WAY

For 2019 in particular, a very easy way to find an area of growth for an entire year is to have a look at our friend, Jupiter. What is Jupiter up to these days? Did you know that Jup tends to stay in one sign of the zodiac for about a year at a time? That is what makes our old friend Zeus a good candidate to be a New Year’s buddy. Jove will be on our side in one certain area of life for the WHOLE YEAR (plus or minus)!

How do we take advantage of this alignment?

The first thing we need to know is that Jupiter is in Sagittarius. If we play a simple keyword game (please note that you can gain access to my lists of keywords by joining my fb group), we get something like: expand adventure! Sounds pretty great, right? (I’m sure yes to some, no to others… some of you might set your sights on a different set of keywords, but for demonstration purposes, we’ll stick with these for now!)

Now what?

Once you figure out a set of keywords that works for you, you can either take that at face value and go with it:

“This year, I am going to expand adventure and Zeus is going to help me!”

-OR-

You can take that inspiring phrase that you’ve chosen and figure out *what part of life* to apply it to, specifically. For this part, you’ll need to know a thing or two about your natal chart, which is why I’ve made this easy video tutorial for those of you who have never seen your chart:

NOT QUITE AS EASY, BUT STILL IN THE GENERAL BEGINNER-INTRMEDIATE ZONE:

Once you can see your chart, all you need to do is find out which house has Sagittarius in it. When you figure out which numbered pie slice has the arrow glyph in it for Sagittarius, you’ll know which part of life in which to ‘expand adventure’! Again, using keywords is a great way to get started if you are a beginner (and can be a fun game for the more seasoned, as well).

For example, if you are Taurus rising, Sagittarius will be in your 8th house. So, using the keywords, you might decide to look for opportunities to ‘expand adventure in shared resources’! While that may sound ‘risky’ to some, it might be *just* the thing someone else is ready for (even a Taurus rising person, who might normally be more risk-averse)! When it’s time, it’s time!

And, again, understanding how to blend the planets, signs, and houses together is key to using this method! If it feels too overwhelming, just stick with the ‘EASY’ version, above, and trust that the key part of life will show itself, eh? Especially if you pay attention! ;)


SO MANY WAYS, SO LITTLE TIME

If you are a more seasoned astrologer, here are some other suggestions for how to approach this endeavor, in no particular order:

-Combine Saturn & Jupiter for a little more complexity
-Try ALL the outer planets, over time, you’ll get a sense of how those outers paint a backsplash for you (This is particularly applicable this year, with -Uranus re-entering Taurus in February- what will Uranus electrify in your chart?)
-Focus on the lunations: align your monthly aspirations with the moon!
-Pinpoint major transits in your chart and work your will to create a chorus to support a positive outcome for them
-Don’t bother with the Gregorian calendar at all! >>Wait for that Aries ingress or just use your birthday- then you can do Annual Profections, your Solar Return, Lunar returns…
-Etc. !!!

If you have a tried and true method that you use, mention it in the comments below or drop me a line via email or a contact form!

I’m always interested in improving such thought experiments!


A FEW OTHER HOT TIPS

It doesn’t hurt to point out that there *is* a New Moon in Capricorn on the 6th (also a Solar Eclipse), that the Sun conjoins Saturn in Cap on New Year’s Day, that Mercury enters Cap on the 4th, that Uranus Stations Direct on the 6th, and that Venus enters Sag on the 7th!

So what does that all mean?

For me, it means that I’m giving myself until the day after the quarter moon (Jan 14) to really set any intentions that I want to be lasting! This way, I avoid the potential turbulence of the Eclipse and Uranus’ station, along with a few other celestial happenings (Jupiter square Neptune & Sun conjunct Pluto). Plus: the moon enters Taurus on the 14th, in which it is exalted, so it just feels like a nice time to settle in to that which will be (the kids will have been back in school and ‘real life’ will have been operating at least a week by then, so I’ll also have a better feel for what’s realistic).

You can do what you will, of course, but that’s what I’m planning on, myself! :)

Be sure to reach out if you have any questions or comments! And, if you are interested in readings with me, check out the Work with Me page, paying special attention to the fact that I now have an awesome monthly subscription available that is a remarkable HALF OFF until January 19th! Get it while the gettin's good! ;)


Happy New Year, one and all!

May all your bright wishes come true! <3

This Venus Retrograde period feels very long and poignant. Some of us will have experienced foreshadowing for our own ‘Venus Retrograde Moments’ (VRMs) as far back as September 3rd, when Venus entered the ‘shadow’ period prior to the retrograde station. This retrograde cycle seems to be full of nuance. I have counted no fewer than 18 notable moments related to Venus in this cycle (see image, above), spanning from September 3rd all the way to December 17th!

Here they are listed out, for your convenience (be sure to read on below the list for potential meanings):

It delights me to no end that the new Freddie Mercury film, Bohemian Rhapsody, is due to be released on November 2nd, heralding the new Venus Synodic Cycle that begins that very day. The heliacal rise of Venus as a morning star occurs at 28 degrees of Libra, conjunct Freddie’s natal Venus placement (that rests amidst a juicy stellium).

I mean- it’s *almost* like they planned it.

It’s true that the band, itself, had at least minimal astro-intel, given Freddie’s stage name and Queen’s coat-of-arms logo that included images based on each band member’s Sun Sign. But, this is high level astro, here. There would have to be a serious astro nerd on the production team vying for this alignment. It’s not impossible, I suppose, and may even be more probable now than ever, but however unlikely and whatever the case: the timing is divine.

Some of the biggest news this month has to do with the eclipses (starting this Friday!). But that’s not where I want to begin. I have a few pointers for them, but I’m personally more interested in the applying opposition between Jupiter-in-Libra and Uranus-in-Aries that is closing all month long until they meet in the same degree on February 27th. The symbol for Jupiter-in-Libra opposite Uranus-in-Aries is a person ‘swearing in’, as if to ‘testify’ (or ‘ovarify’, as the case may be! I have to reference Emily Trinkaus’ Venus Revolution for that fun play on words!). The word that goes with this image of ‘swearing in’ is: Accountability. So, there is an impending theme of accountability and truth-telling this whole month as we approach the exact opposition between expansion of justice (Jupiter in Libra) and personal revolution (Uranus in Aries)! To me, this is the umbrella energy the whole month, into which fall the two eclipses.

Symbols for Mercury Retrograde periods of 2017

For the first three of these ‘events’ there is a common theme having to do with a shifting of the elements. The first three Mercury Retrograde periods begin in an earth sign, transgress back for a dip into fire (giving us a chance to recover something we forgot? and/or prepare us for the next round of Mercury Retrogrades that are all in fire signs starting this winter!), and progress back into earth to ground the inspiration and passion (and ‘spice’!) that the fire signs offer.

Symbols for the Major Aspects between the Outer Planets

I’m excited to share these symbols because the aspects between the planets are even more telling for the signs of our times than the pure planet placements. There is an ongoing dance of archetypal interaction at play as we move through time (not just figuratively, but as we hurtle through space in our constant twirling cosmic helix). A complex ballet that ultimately, never repeats (though, you might say that it theoretically does, about every 17,000 years!). As each of these aspects begins applying and comes more into play, I will publish blog posts about how to work with these symbols representing planet placements and their interactions, so stay tuned! Now, for the major aspects... (click below to read!)

You are already an expert at symbols. Whether we are talking about a red rose or a red octagon, you know what they mean without even thinking about it (also notice how color plays a role and has something to add to the flavor of a symbol!) At the same time, they may have slightly different nuances for you, personally, than they do for the broader community. Much of the meaning of symbols is based on our personal experiences. So, if you do not immediately identify with or understand the symbols that are presented here, you may find that if you give them time and lean into them as you go through the experience that they symbolize, you may discover your own version of their relevance (sometimes it is great to have a bit of a question mark going into an experience that suddenly becomes an exclamation point when the revelation takes hold. See? There you are using your innate symbol wisdom again!). Alternatively, you may wish to work at finding your very own symbols. If you have worked with symbols before and know how to do this, carry on! If you would like to learn how to do this, you may be interested in some of my ongoing online classes and even my live in-person workshops.

In Part One of this series, we will look at the planets in the signs. Let it be known that some of the symbols for this year are the same as what I got for last year since many of the outer planets are still in the same signs. However, a new addition this year (to ‘spice things up’, which you will see is a theme throughout the Mercury Retrograde periods) are symbols for the following: major aspects between outer planets, Mercury Retrogrades, and subsequent installations focusing on each aspect or placement as it comes into focus over the year.

All of the symbols are rich with potential and some do seem quite telling. We shall see what comes of them throughout the upcoming year together! Without further ado, let’s begin. (Click below to read more!)

I do this thing where I close my eyes and ask for symbols for different astrological happenings. When I asked for a symbol for Jupiter in Libra, I got an image of a jolly fellow with arms spread wide in welcome to his friends who were near. It turns into a nice little rhyme, actually:

“Arms spread wide, with friends by your side”

Well, my dream of hosting a podcast has finally been realized! And, may I say that it would not have been so timely (nor, perhaps, even POSSIBLE!) without the support of Kristen McKee of Insideout Savvy.