Tag Archive for: venus direct 2018

Friday 11/16/2018: Mercury Retrograde; Venus Direct

TGIF!

Take it slooooow today and this weekend, as two planets — Venus and Mercury — are changing direction. Venus turns direct at 5:50 AM ET; Mercury turns retrograde at 8:33 PM ET. There will be NO COMPLAINING about Mercury retrograde, even if transportation is totally snafu’ed right here in NYC, courtesy of an early winter wonderland. Go with the Moon in Pisces flow…tune inward and contemplate deep thoughts, the more spiritual the better. Resist demands to make a final decision, oh ballot counters everywhere in the US of A.

Mind the Moon void and chill on SUNDAY between 3:04 AM ET and 10:56 AM ET. The rest of the day is driven by a fired-up Moon in Aries, no doubt inclined to huge energetic outbursts, reflecting MONDAY’s square between Mars (action!) and Jupiter (expansion!), exact at 8:30 PM ET.

And now, a reminder about how to handle Mercury retrograde:

Even if you know nothing else about astrology, you may have heard this term before. Often it’s accompanied by curses and groans, and that’s a shame. Yes, all of the flights on American Airlines might be grounded because of a computer glitch. Or the entire country of Finland might be offline because there’s a transportation strike (actual Mercury Rx events). But there’s much good that can be accomplished when the Messenger Planet appears to be retracing its steps.

Mercury—which in the language of astrology refers to mindset, travel and communication—will appear to move backward through the sky until December 6th. It’s not really moving backward, but that is how it looks from our perspective here on Spaceship Earth. Mercury goes retrograde 3-4 times each year, for a period of 22 days.

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double check important details, like whether the restaurant you’ve chosen for a meet-up is still in business. Or whether it is booked for a commercial shoot or a private party — all of which has happened to me during Mercury retrogrades.

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneously, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything. The key is not to RUSH.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion.

In general, adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones). Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading during Mercury retrogrades. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating….and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

This Mercury retrograde happens at 13 degrees of Sagittarius, suggesting that whatever is up for REview and RElaxation likely involves high-flying collective belief systems and opinions. If you have a planet or angle around 13 degrees of Gemini, Pisces, Virgo and especially Sagittarius, you are more personally affected by this particular Mercury retrograde. If you don’t have a planet on those degrees, find out what house in your horoscope 27 degrees of Scorpio through 13 Sagittarius falls. That’s is the area of your life now up for REview, as Mercury moves backwards over those degrees…and forward again on December 6th.

You all know my favorite word for Mercury is Sagittarius: sloppy! Watch for that word everywhere in the news, as in “In Florida Recount, Sloppy Signatures Placed Thousands of Ballots in Limbo,” and “Sloppy No 10 S Carolina Grinds Out 69-57 Win Over Clemson,” or “Sloppy Weather on Tap this Weekend.” Coincidence or conspiracy?

And now, more news.

TOLD YA SO: Melania Trump is freaking everyone out, as seen in this Exhibit A. “Melania Trump Leads New Round of White House Firing and Fury.” But you, dear Avid Reader, are not surprised, because you remember what happened the last time Mars triggered Mrs. P45’s natal Venus at 28 Taurus — back in January:

If you were born on the last day of Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo or Taurus…or you have a planet or angle at 29 degrees of those signs, you may be feeling especially fired up — or provoked — or perhaps even attacked — as we roll into the weekend. Same goes if you were born on the first few days of Pisces, Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius.  Exhibit A: the revelation that P45, whose Leo Ascendant was just squared by transiting Mars, tried to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller back in June. Exhibit B: the First Lady, who last experienced transiting Mars opposing her natal Venus at 28 Taurus in August of 2016. That was the week the NY Post published nude photos taken in 1995. On this Mars-Venus opposition, Mrs. Trump cancelled plans to travel with her husband to Davos. It’s their 13th wedding anniversary, btw.  Might l’affaire Stormy have something to do with it? Not officially. Still,  Mrs. Trump flew to Florida earlier today.  An op-ed in the NYT marvels at  Mrs. T’s “quiet radicalism.” Just wait and see how quiet she stays when transiting Uranus conjoins her Taurus Sun next year.

Yesterday, Mars was at 29 Aquarius, triggering the horoscopes of  Mr. & Mrs. P45 as it did in January. And the headlines have been more provocative than usual, right? We’ll see more Martian provocation around March 28th, when Mars will be at 28-29 degrees of Taurus. Mark your calendars.

In other news, with Mars now in faith-based Pisces, about to square off against Jupiter in Sagittarius (sign of collective beliefs), how interesting to find these two stories in the Washington Post, pushing boundaries in matters of spirituality:

Meanwhile, judges are weighing in on freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Score one for CNN’s Jim Acosta and his souped-up horoscope (discussed last week), as he regained his White House press pass — temporarily.

Elsewhere, Facebook bad! Very very bad! So one might conclude when reading the NYT’s investigative bombshell, “Delay, Deny & Deflect: How Facebook’s Leaders Fought Through Crisis.”  What could be going on in Mark Zuckerberg’s horoscope to reflect this disruption of the status quo? How about Round Two of two heavy hits from cosmic disruptor-in-chief Uranus — to Mercury (how he needs to think) and Pluto (power & resources). Round One was in May; Round Three will happen at the end of February 2019 through early March….

…and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Even though there’s so much more to write about, such as Theresa May, struggling to get her Brexit deal closed, under the streamlining squeeze of Saturn, which has already hit her Libra Sun twice this year. Third hit happens on December 4th. Now you know why reporters are writing stuff like:

Mrs. May has weathered crisis after crisis as prime minister. But commentators say she has never looked as alone as she does now.

What’s going on in your horoscope? A squeeze? A break-out? A fog? A gut renovation? Whatever it is, you’re likely to manage it more effectively if you’re prepared. That’s just one way a personal consultation can be oh-so empowering.

Thank you for reading this forecast. And thanks to Beth Owls Daughter for her groovy Mercury retrograde mash-up. Enjoy!