Happy Summer Solstice!  Just after dawn in the U.K. the Sun entered the sign of Cancer, and summer became official.  The Part of Fortune today is in the 12th House, which denotes that it is the inner process which will bring you joy today.  At lunchtime, Venus will be conjunct Mars, and the inner alchemy between the expression of male and female can be glimpsed, or experienced.  Whatever you are hoping for today, the inside story is crucial.  The outer dance always flows from the inner dance.  If the outer dance looks right, and you are not feeling it, then it’s not real for you.  But if the inner dance is right, the outer can reflect that or may follow in future.  But the now within is what counts.  So getting the now right now is possibly on your to-do list for today.  Right now we are taking up carpet ready for the imminent arrival (in up to 2 weeks) of the new carpet for the Customer Service Desk, which got a little worn since I started this blog.  That will also count as phase two of the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction at ours, phase one having been successfully completed.  Today and tomorrow may see a changeover phase, focussing on the completion of an old project or the end of phase one, and the start of a new regime or phase two of a larger plan.  Tomorrow has two consolidatory aspects: Venus trine Saturn and Mars trine Saturn, followed by a defined new beginning (Cancer New Moon).  Venus trine Saturn brings meaning to relationships, and artistic and musical experiences.  Even difficult relationships could uncover the gold of loyalty, commitment and shared supportiveness.  Mars trine Saturn favours getting the job done, even jobs which seem hum drum, such as taking up old carpet.  If you get such issues out of the way by the evening, you can concentrate on the delight of the New Moon in the evening (19.35 Hrs in the U.K., 1 degree Cancer).  This New Moon favours home projects, such as carpet re-laying.  In an earlier version of this blog, I was still in Gemini mode mentally from yesterday, writing about Twitter.  Twitter strikes me as a very Geminian preserve, a wor(l)d of lite bites.  Although its Sun is in Aries (born on 21 March 2006) its ruling planet Mars is in the middle of Gemini.  I discovered this week that I have two followers on Twitter.  This was conveyed to me through my inbox.  It was a surprise to me, as a few weeks ago I did try to join Twitter, but didn’t think I had succeeded.  I am, however, a member of ipeace, and after listening to an evening of peace and anti-war songs from a delightfully vibrant 71-year old Julie Felix last night, I invited her to join.  She had recently sung “Forever Young” at David Frost’s 70th birthday party, and is a Geminian herself, the sign of eternal youth.   So far so good, and Tuesday (23rd) is time for a little drama, brought to you by Pluto opposing the Sun.  In the pecking order of transits, Pluto always has the final say.  Jupiter, Neptune, Chiron, all very fine and dandy, but if a project doesn’t cut the mustard with the very outermost planet, Pluto, then it may not hold.  Pluto holds the life (and death) cycles, and is the very barrel we scrape psychotherapeutically.  And while Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn now, everything needs to pass its test of being sustainable and ethical, both personally and planetarily.  So if your film doesn’t pass the censor, this is the reason.  But don’t let that deter you, for you do get extra marks for intention.  And if you fail to complete a task, all is not lost, because the work you have put in may get re-used later.  Just glance down at the cutting room floor, and make sure you have salvaged what you need.  The last aspect of the week occurs on Friday (26th) and it is another challenging one, Mercury square Saturn.  If you encounter difficulties in communication or travel, you may start to wonder whether Mercury is still retrograde, and on realizing that it is in forward motion, may start to question the whole phenomena of Mercury only causing problems when retrograde.  After all, communications can go right when Mercury is retrograde, and communications can go wrong when Mercury is travelling forwards.  Homework for the week is to polish your inner quicksilver Mercury.  You need to be in your eternal now Mercury, for communications to always work for you.

The big news today is Mercury’s entry into its own sign of Gemini, which is good news for Geminis who can express themselves fully and freely and be themselves, and good news for journalists and broadcasters who will have a steady stream of stories lined up and ready to roll.  For the rest of us, we may be able to clear our heads, and eperience fewer senior moments for the duration of this transit (which lasts until 3 July).  If you are still having senior moments, then try the Japanese tree supplement ginkgo biloba, combined with ginseng for concentration.  That, with Mercury in Gemini, should hopefully do the trick.  So the next couple of weeks is favourable for any work on the mental plane, such as sketching out a learning plan, writing short articles, and light conversation accompanied by tea and spelt toast.  Visiting relatives is also favoured under this transit, so a family get-together or catch-up is likely, particularly between siblings.  Tomorrow Jupiter is stationary, prior to going retrograde.  Foreign travel may be put on hold, suspense over exam results, u-turns on philosophy (e.g. by governments) – anything of a Jupiterian nature starts to contract after its unprecedented expansion over recent months, Jupiter being part of the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron (it was only a matter of time before I would mention the T-word).  However, triple conjunction plans and hopes continue to be consolidated.  They are just going into a different phase. Boundaries have been set, and plans re-drawn to take account of progress made or financial stringencies.  In early July, Jupiter will re-join Neptune and Chiron at 26 degrees Aquarius, and Uranus will still be wielding its influence acting as a counterpoise at 26 degrees Pisces, so we will see an encore of the original triple conjunction at the end of May.  With all four planets retrograde by then, it will be different – an inbreath after the outbreath.  If you are involved in a large-scale construction, you will be entering into phase two of the long and complicated process.  That is looking ahead somewhat, but you may be able to glimpse the next part of the vision and its significance tomorrow when Jupiter turns retrograde.   Wednesday (17th) is also important for assessing and refining progress, with the Sun trining Neptune/Chiron and squaring Uranus.  Last week was decisive for some, as Uranus semi-sextile Neptune allowed disengagement where necessary.  For instance, if you had lent your energies temporarily to the development of large-scale community plans (Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron) you may have sensed that you had come to the end of your soul’s contract with it.  Or you may have needed to retreat to work on your own healing.  If the plan is your plan, you will want to see it through, but if it is someone else’s plan, then your energies may be needed elsewhere or even in your own back yard.  Wednesday may be the time for that disengagement, with the Sun squaring Uranus.  However, you may keep a spiritual link with the group or an interest in the progress of the plan (Sun trine Neptune).  More of the healing significance of what is taking place may also be revealed at this time (Sun trine Chiron).  Complex structures are being built for the future, and groups are coming together now, but an individual may also be needed to attend to more than one group at a time.  Some people will be holding the energy of one group, and others moving between groups and projects.  There will be more dismantling at a later phase when the Saturn-Uranus opposition becomes exact again, but at this time it is several degrees wide and taking a back seat in the reconstruction process.  And so, on to Thursday (18th) when the Sun trines Jupiter and you can let your hair down, enjoy the fruits of your labours why don’t you.  Life can’t be all serious working at astrological aspects all the time, honestly.  It’s a relatively untrammelled aspect (although still tied to those other planets admittedly) but brings out the playful side of it all, the lighter side of life, the cosmic giggle.  Take time out from committee meetings, and plan some leisure activity or relaxation, communal or otherwise (you may need some space).  There may be a sense of anticipation in the air on Saturday (20th), the final day of Spring, with some gorgeous aspects to come right at the beginning of Summer.

At tea-time in the U.K. today and lunchtime in the U.S. and dreamtime in Australia we have a Full Moon in Sagittarius, opposing the Sun in Gemini.  If it is going to be a powerful Full Moon effect for you personally, you will already be feeling it and therefore know about it.  It’s the culmination of the three major spiritual festivals according to the tradition of the Lucis Trust, which is based on the teachings of Alice Bailey.  The first festival is Easter Full Moon, then follows Wesak Full Moon which is linked to the Buddha’s birthday.  This current Full Moon is known as the Christ’s Festival or World Invocation Day.  The seed thought for meditation for the Sagittarian Full Moon as given by Alice Bailey (through the Tibetan) is: “I see the goal.  I rech the goal and then I see another”.  Apparently this Full Moon is a transmission of Good Will and used by the Forces of Restoration (headed by an extra-planetary being called the Spirit of Resurrection) to transmit the energy of reconstruction to humanity.  People vary so much in their sensitivity to the Full Moon, and to each individual Full Moon, but there is always something to be resolved at this time because it is based on an opposition.  Today is the first day of a new week, and the first day of the rest of your life, so after the Full Moon there will be a sense of “done that, now it’s time to move on”.  Tomorrow, Monday 8th, Venus trines Pluto which is a profound aspect in terms of relationship, feeling, art and music.  If you are back at work after the weekend, you can put your heart and soul into what you do.  Tuesday (9th) marks an opportunity to examine and evaluate the progress of the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron in your life, because Mercury (the planet of mental focus) makes contact with the Neptune-Chiron component of the conjunction by a square.  This will highlight the illusory nature of what has taken place or been created, and therefore by contrast also highlight what is real.  It will highlight too what has been healed and what still needs to heal.  You may have insight into the meaning of recent events, and if you have been engaged in a project you may see why it was created and how much was as a result of ego, and how much was of true service.  At the same time, Mercury sextiles Uranus (7 minutes beforehand: 9.46 pm in the U.K).   This is the easier bit, showing how there are surprise benefits in the turn of events, and possible other-worldly interventions in order for these events to come to pass (noo…noo…noo…noo…noo…noo…noo…noo…E.T. phone home).  If you are driving back home after an evening out, you may see a U.F.O.  Yes, literally, there were U.F.Os over Cambridgeshire last week, and let us not forget the jelly fish crop circle in Oxfordshire.  Is there some sort of message here about academic competition?  So, to recap, if you are driving back home after an evening out, you may see a U.F.O. creating a crop circle.  The early hours of Wednesday (10th) highlights another feature of this Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron climate, with Uranus semi-sextile Neptune.  Uranus has been semi-sextile with the conjunction, posing a challenge to it, and adding even more complexity to the proceedings.  The Guardian quoted Francine Blake of the Wiltshire Crop Circle Study Group this week who said: “This year started much earlier.  There’s one every day now.  It is very intense already.  I have never seen such complex designs in rape in all my years of studying this subject.  Usually, the season starts with a nice little pattern, a tri-petal flower or such like, one or maybe two in rape if we are lucky.  But this year they are big, complex and numerous right from the start.”   This phenomenon may be down to the triple conjunction.  Going back to the aspect to Uranus, it has taken on the role of arbiter, reserving the casting vote on things, and retaining its right to spring last-minute surprises.  You may be watching U.F.Os, or you may be fast asleep, but something may register in connection with the role of Uranus, the wild card, in your life at this time.  Accompanying music: “Maybe Angels” by Sheryl Crow.  The continuing theme of the decoding of the triple conjunction continues later that day with Mercury squaring Jupiter. Minds will range and roam freely, maybe  a little too freely, interpreting the events of the day.  Some people will feel the urge to literally travel to find out the truth, e.g. crop circle investigators will decide that the virtual reality is not enough.  This aspect will also urge us to see where we have exaggerated the truth in relation to big plans recently, therefore by contrast enabling us to reach a perspective.  If like me you don’t take a step without reading this blog, there are no more aspects and the rest of the week is your own.

If you have tried to contact me through my website contact email lately, and thought I was stand-offish for not replying, you’ll be pleased to know that the problem has been spotted and is now fixed.  Interesting factoid: The problem was due to transiting Uranus exactly squaring the natal Pluto of the website.

Astro-Geek

Last night a group of diverse stars, performing as one, triumphed in the Britain’s Got Talent contest.  It took me by surprise…I had been wondering all week whether a constant parade of fat bellies in the semi-finals was a new trend manifesting the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron in Aquarius.  What else happened last week?  A reminder that we have Pluto in Capricorn to contend with, in terms of the subterranean activity of the Korean nuclear testing.  The act itself was Pluto in Capricorn in nature, and the energy and emotion behind it a negative twist on the triple conjunction, i.e. bombastic action based on a lack of regard for the rest of the world: the arrogance of Jupiter, the paranoia of Neptune, and the wounding of Chiron.  The emotions of the triple conjunction (which is still around, though moving back stage a bit) are difficult enough for groups to contain, though it is very much a group-orientated aspect.  For the individual, such as Aries Susan Boyle to contain, it can be too much, and several times last week from several quarters I noticed the phrase “I am fit to blow” or “fit to burst”.  Before tackling the week’s aspects, I’d like to draw attention to a comment in last week’s blog which underlines the connection between the triple conjunction and the Galactic Centre (26 degrees Aquarius and 26 degrees Sagittarius).  It seems fitting that the triple conjunction could be a key to the Galactic Centre (symbolically our core process) and vice versa.  If one of the pitfalls of the triple conjunction is the inflation of the ego, it seems appropriate to ponder the relationship between false ego and our authentic core.  Mercury turned direct this morning, and that’s good for pondering but not deep processes.  It’s more about getting on with paperwork, essays, coursework, detailed work and other left-brain activities.  I am sure you have some piled up, somewhere.  Mars is also leaving Aries for Taurus tonight (UK time), so direct action will be replaced by slower movements.  Activism will give way to non-violent resistance.  It’s good news for Venus-ruled Taureans who don’t like to be rushed: they will now be able to set the pace according to their own biorhythms. Tuesday (2nd) looks to be the most pleasant day of the week, with the pace again set by Venus which sextiles the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction.  It’s a good day for extravagant expressions of love such as over-the-top marriage proposals, and for musical performances and arts festivals.  Any international initiatives can be based on diplomatic relations (though you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t necessarily make him drink).  Thursday (4th) also looks promising, in a complete change of mood, with Mars trine Pluto.  This is a more energetic aspect, bordering on the coercive (which is where caution is required), but much can be achieved.  The use of energy, will or force can be successful, but needs to bear in mind the karmic boundaries of all concerned, and soul agreement needs to be requested and granted, e.g. if giving absent reiki healing to someone who is not in a position to give verbal permission.  I’m afraid Friday (5th) is a cut-your-losses type of day, with Sun squaring Saturn.  “Let go” may be the mantra to apply, particularly in relation to actions which seemed to work on a physical level the day before, but where now the emotions are not rallying to back up the actions.  Again, you can lead the horse to water…We end the week, on Saturday (6th) with the entry of Venus into her own sign of Taurus.  More Venusian energy accruing now, and a relief for Venus who has valiantly battled her way through Aries, more rough-and-tumble than her natural terrain.  Slow and steady wins the race at the end of this week.  A sigh of relief for the battle-weary.

How is it going?  You are in the middle of the influence of the triple conjunction, now!  Two news items stand out for me this week, out of a few contenders which illustrate breakthroughs arising out of the union of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius.  The first is scientific: research has shown that people with Down syndrome do not develop certain types of cancer because of their genetic make-up, which apparently brings up new avenues for finding anti-cancer therapies.  The other story is sociological, one for human rights: that women were elected as MPs in Kuwait for the first time, four of them!  On a personal level, what area of your life took a step forward this week?  Did you discover a talent you never suspected you had?  Did you strike a memorable deal?  Are your home refurbishments going well?  I paid a visit to the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London, and went in for some Cosmic Healing.  The Festival is still on today and tomorrow, and I do recommend it if you want to soak up the energies of this triple conjunction.  Actually, it is a good week to ask the Universe for healing.  Be bold.  Don’t be shy.  Going forward into this week, it really is more of the same, I am glad for a change to report.  The Sun is shining here in the U.K., as it conjoins with the Moon to form the Gemini New Moon.  Hopes and wishes today can be focussed on communication efforts, and if you know which house that falls in in your chart (3 degrees Gemini) you can fine-tune your focus.  The really, really interesting day this week is Wednesday (27th) when the connection between Jupiter and Neptune within the triple conjunction becomes exact.  Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron form a pyramid of energies in which a hologram of consciousness can be seen or focussed, in a healing situation or building a new construct, among other applications.  Chiron, for all the complexity of its condition, wounds and all, is at ease in this triple conjunction.  It has the good intent of Jupiter,  and the magic and wonder of Neptune.  The three make good bedfellows, for Jupiter and Neptune are also two sides of a coin: Religion and Spirituality.  The bringing together of these two in their highest form and application would erase the need for war.  I am not suggesting that as a species we are grown-up enough yet for peace, but that is the potential of Jupiter-Neptune coming together, and we may see a glimpse of that.  We may see some of the harmony of the spheres impinging on the imagination and courage of world leaders.  In our own lives, too, how about long-standing separations giving way to reunions?  But there is even more to Wednesday, for Mars sextiles Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron – how exciting is that!  Whatever the Universe has recently blessed in your life, or whatever ground you have just gained, is going to take another step forward in manifestation.  If you are working on a large-scale project for instance, you may receive unexpected help.  In the midst of all this excitement, do remember to go and have a lie down.  Some of the planets themselves are going to take a pause and rest for a moment on their laurels.  You, and they, deserve a break, having worked so hard to try to improve things.  On Friday (29th) Neptune goes Stationary, prior to retrograde motion.  If you have been travelling spiritually, you may peak around then, and then start to take stock of the validity of your experiences.   On Saturday (30th) Chiron goes Stationary, also prior to retrograde motion.  Healing initiatives may have reached a peak recently, and also need to take stock and test out the progress made.  So the week ends on a quiet day of rest, after all the excitement and achievements…The triple conjunction turns on its various permutations, with planets going back and forth, into next year, and the progress of this week will show its potential.  But all the time we know there are massive problems going on worldwise and in personal lives, with Saturn opposite Uranus hammering down outworn structures, and Pluto in Capricorn reminding us that the clock is ticking on ecological and financial meltdowns.  But there is some scope for using the good energies and inspirations and philosophies to help with the problematic ones.

The story which has dominated the last week in the U.K. has been the publication of politicians’ expense claims, across all parties.  Not that we are not used to scandal (one politician at a time, please), but it is the shock of finding how low politics (Pluto in Capricorn) and politicians (Saturn reaching its furthest point of retrograde) can sink.  Neptune and Chiron are square to the Sun today, so we are looking the scandal in the face and we are in a deep-seated crisis.  We are at a point of waiting with bated breath (the point where Saturn is stationary today) to see what the response of the people will be on 4 June.  What will the government do?  Do we have a collective philosophy, or will society be divided (across the Saturn-Uranus split)?  Interesting that the issue is about politicians being public servants (Saturn in Virgo)…There may be an area of your life now, in which you are waiting with bated breath this week.  The triple conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron which takes place this week is to a great extent about revelation, and the Neptune element elicits the truth behind the illusion, sleaze or scandal.  Truth is always better out than in, and we have nothing to fear from truth because it moves us on our path.  Astrologers too will be waiting with bated breath, interested to find out the truth behind the triple conjunction.  Will the anticipation of Sagittarian-style Astrologers be justified?  Or will the caution advised by more balanced Astrologers be wisely heeded?  I am hoping that the connection with Jupiter will bring out the best from Neptune (the truth behind the illusion) and Chiron (the healing which is allowed to take place when the wound is exposed).  The Sun is conjunct Mercury tomorrow (Monday 18th) and Saturn is beginning its reorientation to direct motion, so public scrutiny takes place, and the road to serious change, maybe towards the straight and narrow.  In your own life there may be examination and scrutiny going on in order to soberly reflect on the next step you need to take.  Will Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber be satisfied with Jade Ewen’s brave efforts at the Eurovision Song Contest?  She sang “It’s My Time”, as the North Node was transiting her Sun, very fitting.  The trio for Europe, which included the newly-installed Graham Norton, made a good team.  He and Andrew both have Sun in Aries, and have their Moons conjunct at the end of Leo, currently opposed by the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron.  And they did well on it.  Take heart anyone who has a difficult aspect in their chart from this triple conjunction.  You may not win this week, but you could do well.  On Wednesday (20th) there will be more scrutiny (sigh, you can’t avoid it this week) with Sir Alan Sugar (another Sun in Aries) in the boardroom.  For Mercury squares Neptune and Chiron, and it is a matter of getting down to the finer detail, or trying to avoid it, for the hapless budding apprentices.  The Sun also enters Gemini that day, so again scrutiny and finer detail apply.  The politicians’ expense claims may go under an even finer microscope.  At least the public will be a little more informed for the U.K. local elections.   Meanwhile, more wool will be bought to pull over the eyes, and more veils being drawn, but the general trend is for truth to come out.  On Thursday (21st) Mercury squares Jupiter and sextiles Uranus.  You may be travelling far from home that day.  The journey may broaden your mind and allow new possibilities to filter in, such as why not vote for the Green party?  You may settle on the unusual solution today.  It is certainly a day to investigate new avenues and pathways.  The piece de resistance of the week of the week, or year, comes on Saturday (23rd) when the first union of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron takes place.  This unique trinity of lights, if you have not prepared a special project, could be encapsulated in some creativity on the day.  Carl Jung said: “Whatever is born or done this moment of time has the qualities of this moment in time”.  What are you going to do with it?

You may be itching to get on with this week, but the first astrological event does not take place until Wednesday, and besides with Mercury retrograde and about to return to Taurus you need to get clear on last week before you can proceed.  I know this because I had an unprecedented turn-out at my Customer Service Desk last week, all asking the same questions, and in fact am ordering new carpet set to arrive within the next month.  FAQs:  Why has this been such a tough week? Is it the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction?  (Answer no) Is it the Mercury retrograde?  Is it the Full Moon?  There was a lot of confusion around.  It is true that the Mercury Retrograde event seemed to merge with the tension of the upcoming Full Moon.  But one of my regulars has asked me to reiterate that the larger formation of aspects going on is having a huge effect, so at the risk of boring you…and in the interests of clarity (what effects are derived from what), here is a guide for the overwhelmed:  The Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction is where you are building joyful constructs in your life.  Keep that pure.  The Uranus-Saturn opposition across two areas of your chart is where you are pulled by opposing forces, and where there is dismantling going on of lifestyle structures.  Keep your balance.  Pluto in Capricorn is where you feel most challenged psychologically at this time.  Try to understand the greater purpose for this.  In muddying up the waters, people may fail to act on the good that is coming into their lives, and you need to focus the light and wisdom of the triple conjunction now to see you through less inspiring times.  So don’t allow weeds of negativity and fear to encroach on those parts of your garden which are now coming into flower.  The first peak of the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction is on 23rd May, which is less than a fortnight away, and for weekly bloggers like me just about one blog away!  Back to the week in hand, Mercury returns to Taurus on Wednesday (13th).  You may need to pick up on an old unfinished project from a couple of weeks ago.  By this time you may be feeling “I can’t do everything” but you may clearly see which project is your priority now.  Everything has its time.  There are three days to make headway, before the next set of aspects, which occur right at the end of the week on Saturday (16th).  The first is the Sun squaring Jupiter, but take note that it will in turn be squaring the other two planets of the triple conjunction (Neptune and Chiron) within a few days.  So if you are feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation – and rightly so – just be aware of the point where you might be going over the top.  This is getting some of the negativity out of the way prior to the actual extravaganza on 23rd.  The wild expectations and hype need constant and careful examination, and some last minute pruning.  But hold fast to the general wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’ and plannin’ and dreamin’ for soon after shall come a sign: the Sun sextile Uranus will show up an unexpected rainbow.  Follow the rainbow…but be sure to read next Sunday’s blog for the yellow brick road (preview: stationary Saturn).

Few aspects this week, but that will give you the space to work with what there is, and even the chance to master a couple of perennial chestnuts: the Mercury Retrograde and the Full Moon.  But first, the bigger picture, which is getting more colourful by the minute.  By now hopefully you will be able to identify the influence of Pluto in Capricorn in your life (the really heavy stuff), the Saturn-Uranus opposition (the dismantling) and the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron (the qualified euphoria).  You may be finding extremes: laughter and tears, serotonin-rushes and adrenalin-rushes, all designed to make you more adaptable and open to change.  If you are following my souffle recipe, you may at this stage find a little egg on your face.  Just wipe it off, gently and discreetly, and carry on with the appointed task.  If you are eager to know more about the swine flu crisis, there are many Astrology blogs out there analysing the situation as it unfolds and examining the implications of each significant timing.  At the time of the bird flu epidemic a couple of years ago Neptune and Chiron were already in Aquarius (the sign of the bird totem and element).  It looks to me like the Neptune-Chiron conjunction in Aquarius represents the nature of the current crisis, with a semi-sextile from Uranus providing the out-of-the-blue element.  The current swine flu outbreak erupted around the time of the Taurean New Moon, Taurus representing the pig totem and element.  Back to the week ahead, and Mercury Retrograde which occurs on Thursday.  Be ahead of the game, and get going with your communications from the outset of the week.  In fact, I should have been ahead of the game myself last week and recommended this, but there is still time to do as much talking and travelling as you can muster before Mercury goes retrograde.  You can also do some homework by reading “Mercury Retrograde” by Chrissie Blaze or “Mercury” by Pamela Tyler.  Needless to say, don’t count on smooth-flowing communications towards the end of the week.  The books may help you build fortifications for the week ahead if you so require.  The first aspect of the week comes on Tuesday (5th), with Sun at 15 degrees Taurus trine Saturn at 15 degrees Virgo: more hard graft, and perhaps building up of fortifications.  If you want to build cast-iron structures, fortresses or defences this week, Tuesday is the day to do it.  Liz Greene’s book on “Saturn – A New Look at an Old Devil” is still possibly the classic on the subject.  The Mercury retrograde arrives next, on Thursday (7th).  Remember that the outer reflects the inner, so centre yourself, be calm and clear in your communications (if you still have a backlog, don’t worry about it) and let everything flow from that.  Mercury is revolving in the first degree of Gemini all week…of course my Mayan friends remind me that a week is an artificial construct and does not actually begin on a Sunday morning.  The last feature of the week is the Full Moon at 18 degrees Scorpio on Saturday (9th), which could be hair-raising if you have a fear of Scorpions.  Recommended reading for the run-up to this in order to build your spiritual muscle is “The Labours of Hercules” by Alice Bailey,  something to wrestle with and when you have stopped wrestling everyday cares will seem like a breeze.  Centre yourself again, breathe deeply…and relax.  The Full Moon is a time when even if you are centred there can be panic in groups, especially when there is talk of a pandemic.  The Louise L. Hay affirmation for ordinary flu applies even more here: “I am beyond group beliefs or the calendar.  I am free from all congestion and influence.”  That doesn’t mean you won’t need masks as well.  The Full Moon in Scorpio may put you in touch with some of the issues surrounding Pluto in Capricorn.  Someone recently asked when the Pluto transit finishes, and I said that it doesn’t, if you are continually working on it, and especially while Pluto is in Capricorn.  If you want to get to grips with this aspect of our current experience, three books stand out: first “The Astrology of Fate” by Liz Greene, philosophical but not for the faint-hearted.  For the faint-hearted I would recommend Donna Cunningham’s “Healing Pluto Problems” full of practical and alternative health wisdom, such as flower remedies.  My favourite is “Pluto: The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul” by Jeff Green, who was taught Astrology in his dreams, a book which provides spiritual uplift and gently elicits your own insights.  Just going for a nap…

This week’s aspects are looking like a chequer board: three squares today, two of them involving Mercury, making travel and communication difficult, though they will have healing lessons.  Already I can hear the pitter patter of footsteps leading to my Customer Service desk…honestly, I don’t have a say in the aspects.  But I will try to give a positive antidote to each square this week, in order to deflect some of the complaints.  Mercury squaring Neptune can cause vagueness, mis-understandings and absent-mindedness, as well as complications in journeys early in the day.  The positive?  The tunnel of illusion ends in the emergence into reality.  At the same time Mercury squaring Chiron could bring minor health crises which could be self-inflicted, such as hangovers.  Out-of-hours doctors and Chemists may find themselves busy, as well as herbalists and homeopaths.  The positive?  It’s better out than in, revealing the problem can also show the solution.  Another positive spin I can put on this, is that the peak has already passed by the time you are up and reading this.   However, don’t ignore symptoms or irritations, or let tension build up, for mid-afternoon Mars squares Pluto and confrontation is inevitable.  If you are being honest, be kind as well.  If you need to let rip, pay attention to safety, especially that of innocent bystanders.  The positive?  You now see what you are dealing with, and have the opportunity to exercise self-control.    If you are at a dinner party today, as I will be, just keep your head down and avoid controversial opinions.  Same goes if you are a blogger.  Luckily you have the whole week to recuperate from the consequences of your actions, for there are no more aspects until Saturday (2nd May).  Meanwhile, on Thursday (30th) Mercury enters Gemini, and you will find it easier to talk about what is on your mind, if you have been having to hold back while Mercury has been in Taurus.  Conversation-wise in fact you might find the floodgates opening as others too will be more chatty, and re-discovering their inner Parrot.  They may be more voluble, but the conversation itself may not be of deep quality.  But there will be a sense of releif and release of nervous tension.  Lastly, on Saturday (2nd May), Venus squares Pluto.  I have tried to keep this on your mind, dear regular readers, as it is not an apsect which came and went: it came, and hung around.  So by now you may be well aware of personal emotional issues of a deep nature which need resolution, and hopefully after this last application of the square you may be in a position to start to heal.  The positive?  You find out what a relationship is really made of, and in some cases can experience a rebirth because energy is always recycled.  The wider backdrop of things still shape our lives generally – Pluto in Capricorn throwing light on reality, Saturn opposing Uranus, pulling us in two ways, and the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron in Aquarius highlighting an opportunity in one area of your life.  A cautionary note though – the conjunction between Neptune and Chiron has thrown up the new swine flu virus in Mexico.   Jupiter (usually a benefic) will join that mix at the end of May.   Most of the weekly aspects I post on a Sunday morning in relation to that wider scene are more fleeting and of a lesser consequence. The connections that the outer planets make to your own chart will affect you even more.  So even though there are squares to contend with this week, their effects may not continue beyond the week.  It’s easy to get astrological aspects out of proportion.