New, Improved!

Good news! I've redone my website & blog so that there is an all-in-one destination. Visit effectiveastrology.com for more details!

Sun in Virgo, Full Moon in Pisces

It's a rich time in the heavens as the sun transitions from regal Leo to methodical Virgo. Tuesday's moon in Pisces will have just swung by the Neptune/Chiron conjunction in late Aquarius before it is full. Mercury went retrograde two and a half days ago.

What does it all mean?

Let's start with the Sun in Virgo. There is a lovely refinement to Virgo - a tempering of the generosity that Leo comes out of the gate with. Virgo is focused, and specifics are important with the sun in this sign.

Yet, not more than a degree into Virgo and the moon sweeps by Neptune, the planet of dissolving form and Chiron, a centaur that represents deep empathy while on its way to oppose the sun in Neptune's sign, Pisces. I've heard that the flow of Pisces, the simple intuitive knowing, is difficult for process-driven Virgo. I think this full moon, representing a harvest from the last new moon on Aug 10th, is about the faith in your own process. It brings to mind the part of ourselves that pay the bills, make the lunches and get the chores done.

At the same time, we're two and a half days into a Mercury Retrograde cycle. Mercury is in Virgo, reversing it's course until September 12th and leaving it's shadow on the 27th of September. Details that we were tracking before the retrograde started may be difficult to pin down. It's fruitful to research, but not necessarily to sign contracts, buy tech equipment, houses, etc. As we find our flow during this time of unexpected delays, quick changes and stalls, events may have a frustrating quality. When that happens, I suggest you hold on to your own center and wait for clarity to emerge.

Stariq.com monthly forecast, with Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer

Each month, Jeff Jawer & Rick Levine tape their monthly overview at SoulFood Cafe in Redmond, Washington. Given the amount of tumult in recent transits, I'm aiming to give a greater diversity of voices room to speak on this blog. Here is their monthly forecast:



August 4, 2010, SoulFood Cafe & Books in Redmond, Washington
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Philip Sedgwick ~ Astrologer, Writer, Muse & Comic

Philip wrote a terrific post about recent transits. Really enjoy his practical, grounded view of recent chaotic dynamics.

Read for yourself

Visit his site: look for Galatic Times in the left nav

Cardinal T-Square

There may be a feeling of panic while events speed up with the Cardinal Cross in effect. Uranus turns back to Pisces, while in retrograde, until the electricity returns in March 2011. Still, Pluto in Capricorn squares Jupiter in Aries on one end, Mars on the other (closely followed by Saturn and now Venus). This energy is all about initiating. Starting to pull out of the oppositions, the polar struggles that shaped the last 10 months. You may be looking for help and that's not a bad instinct.



While the energies sort themselves out, we face another of the three annual Mercury in retrograde periods. These cycles ebb and flow, and are generally thought of as bad times to sign contracts, start partnerships, have critical discussions.

My idea is that we customarily talk to each other - a balance between listening and responding, along with our own need to speak. During a Mercury retrograde, we turn inward. More so than usual, we are talking to ourselves. We are talking behind closed doors. Therefore, straightforward processes - like signing contracts, like starting businesses, don't have all of the information needed. After Mercury turns direct, and about a week later, the shoes fall and you find out what details we missed, what conversations were had.

It may feel a bit like crossing a stream in a crowd.



After Mercury returns to direct motion, in mid-September, the path will be open to act on new projects - to resume a more synchronized means of achieving your goals. Through the next month and then some of speedy chaos, keep your mind focused on the second half of September.



Photo Credits:
SOS by Mary Anne Clark
SOS by AtomicCafe

Uranus Retrograde (July 5), Solar Eclipse (July 11)

We are currently in between eclipses. The first, a lunar eclipse, occurred just a week and a half ago. The next, a solar eclipse, will occur in a little less than five days. Eclipses can be disruptive in general and will signify real change for folks who have a birthday on the 26th of June or 11th of July.

In terms of the general effect and how they add to the ongoing push-me-pull-you of the next and final Uranus/Saturn Opposition on the 26th of July - here are a few ideas:

The New Moon Solar eclipse is another reminder to touch into our family. Over the last few months, I've been picking up a lot of language focused on lineage. Are you in touch with your lineage? Are there themes that have been recurring in the last few months? Think back to your parents, grand parents, great-grand parents. Is there a thread that connects you that springs to mind?

The upcoming opposition between Uranus and Saturn asks us to be sure that the path we are treading is true for us. Are you feeling a change of heart/mind/soul calling? Are there wild hairs that are calling you to action? Are there changes you can make to address emerging thoughts?

Uranus' retrograde path suggests that it's a time to embrace the strange. It can be as gentle as watching a parrot slide down a pipe, or as personal as allowing yourself your true heart's desire, even if other's don't approve or get it. Now is the time to allow yourself some flexibility. See if you can explore oddness without judgement.



Keep your eyes open, odd things are afoot. And relax. If you feel a fear change - make sure the change you embrace is in your own best interest.

Photo credit:
Parrot Wild Ride by IngridTaylar
Camel in Amsterdam by bokur.net

Full Moon Eclipse 6/26/2010

The eclipse at the Full Moon is 15 hours from the time this was posted.

By now, the Sun in Cancer is directly opposed Pluto in Capricorn. The Sun in Cancer is Trined by Neptune. While there is a great deal of tension in the air, there is also opportunity for inspiration and connection. With the Sun in Cancer, it's a good time to nourish yourself. Focus on those things that help you feel as though you have enough resources to weather any difficulty. Look for ways to ease tension.

In my previous post, I mentioned emptying yourself, to allow for the new energies coming in. There is another way to put that. Listen. Quiet the buzzing energies and listen for the incoming information that is unique for you.

This is one of weeks and weeks of interesting, challenging transits. While it's true that there may be events that touch us personally, it's also possible that we will witness events or hear about them, instead of personally experience them. This weekend, we may feel as if we are personally effected, no matter what.

Touch in to the gentlest part of yourself. Be kind to yourself.

Listen.

Photo credit:
hipster graffiti by striatic