retrograde

Word for the week: Obnubilate: to make unclear, clouded or blurry; ex. “I’m confused, your words obnubilated the facts" Welcome to the height of retrograde season, not a bad place to be when we can wander without a schedule and listen to our inner imperatives, but a hard time to clearly understand the road ahead. Or truly get what another person is saying. Although thinking is fuzzy, conditions are confusing, electrical equipment sprouts poltergeist, and tempers develop heat rash if we push this week, that won’t bother us if we’re meditating in the garden or meandering through a nice unstructured vacation.

Dear Friends,

These words are being written to you from the beauty and serenity of Santa Fe, New Mexico where everything is calming hues of brown, green, and yellow.  Jean Redman and I have come home after years in Portugal (me) and Bali, Indonesia (both of us).  What an amazing change from where I wrote my month of Aries Astrological Happenings to you a mere few weeks ago where the view from my office in the jungle was my pool and tropical garden in colors of luscious green, pink, red, and purple. Now I am facing and living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. 

My physical transition from living within the Ring of Fire to the high deserts of northern New Mexico, I believe (and hope) is reflective of the planetary transit pattern, at least temporarily.  During the past month there were 5 and sometimes 6 (if you include the two and a half day transit of the Moon) planets in Aries, far too many for peace in the world as the horrendous violence in North Africa and the terrible earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan testify.  Things will become calmer I trust now that the Sun is in Taurus where he is soon to be joined in May by Mercury, Venus, and Mars.

Please note: all dates and times are in GMT so please adjust accordingly for your own local time zone.

April 20—The Sun enters Taurus at 10.19am and is sextile Neptune at 0.26 Pisces.

What a soft entry into the fullness of spring (or autumn for our southern hemisphere readers)! Although the “running karma” of nations and individuals cannot bring the type of gentleness of this Taurus/Pisces combination, this day in itself can be a “breather” for many people.

April 21—Venus enters Aries at 4.07am while retrograde Mercury opposes retrograde Saturn at 12 Aries/Libra.

Venus in this sign excites the need to make relationships and brings Aphrodite into the sign where Eros loves to dwell.  Venus remains under the influence of the Ram (and thus Mars) until she happily enters her own sign of Taurus on May 16^th where her distinctly erogenous urges are calmed into a deep sensuality. 

April 21-24:  As for Mercury and Saturn, well for the next four days they will indeed be in opposition and on April 21^st and 22^nd they will both be retrograde.  This means there are “dues to pay” especially if you have any planets or important points in your natal chart between 11 and 13° of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn.  This is a time to “budget the mind” or to prioritize activities, travels, and interests.  Such an urge will be difficult to accomplish.  Arguments in relationships over “contract terms” (human relationships on the level of the personality are always a series of contracts) is highly likely.  Treaties and documents signed during these two days are highly likely to have to be renegotiated.  Mercury goes direct on April 25^th at 10.05am and for this man with a Gemini Moon and a Virgo Midheaven, is not a moment too soon for me!  But what with Mercury still in opposition to Saturn and in “stationary direct” mode, things will not be able to really pick up until after the 25^th or 26^th.  Benefits from this retrograde opposition: get your schedule and priorities in order.

As a future-oriented astrologer and psychic channeler, I feel very strongly about keeping a journal. In fact, I tell all of my clients and students how important it is, especially during certain times when astrological aspects give us 'peeks' into our future.