As with last week, all the main aspects are bunched up at the end of the week. In the run up, why not pave the way for these aspects by clearing mental clutter, releasing fears, meditating and practising your cosmic ordering? Some of you will be starting new regimes by next weekend and you need to start well. The main one to work with for Friday 16th is the trine between Jupiter and Saturn which doesn’t come round often, but offers the chance to balance something in your life. In fact, over Friday night and Saturday morning looks quite intense, because there follow in quick succession a sextile between Mercury and Pluto (intense discussion late Friday night) and in the early hours of Saturday Venus trine Pluto (a realignment of relationships) and Mercury sextile Venus (more talking about it). If you sleep through it, just trust that your Higher Self will work with it all! Through the weekend Mars is conjunct Chiron which provides the ouch factor (you stub your toe, then discover a new way of dealing with stubbed toes) and promotes changes in group dynamics. On Saturday evening (17th) Venus enters Taurus and a slightly calmer mood may descend, though the pressure is still on to get things right. That’s because early next week is still a crucial time for re-shaping areas of your life. Part 2 next week.

Just discovered that Barbara Hand Clow has published her Mind Chronicles trilogy in one handy volume in 2007. Not since Joan Grant has anyone detailed so much of their past lives with such visual and psychological precision, and Barbara is an Astrologer too so there are astrological themes woven into the trilogy. Eye-watering stuff, though!

Venus provides a boost for love, music and art this week which may prove a soothing antidote to recent events. Tomorrow will be perfect if you want to surprise someone, or a whole lot of people, with the Sun conjunct Uranus. The rest of the week aspects to Venus dominate: Venus trines Jupiter on Thursday 8th which favours social celebrations. It’s also the day that Mercury stands still again before moving forward again, so wait until this latter part of the week to press ahead with important communications. On Friday 9th Venus trines Saturn, so commitments and personal contracts could bring progress in relationships. The Sun squares Jupiter that day too, so watch those over-zealous Sagittarians – they are well meaning, but…a bit over the top. Venus sextiles Neptune on Saturday 10th, which is an exquisite aspect for music, art and the expression of compassion. Hope this Venusian week provides a therapeutic lift in collective morale.

Have just read “Emissary of Love” by the Emissary for Peace James Twyman. I was amazed at the depth of love and intuition displayed by this writer and speaker who has a remarkable track record in the field of peacemaking. His next project is to Hug Jerusalem in May. May the force be with him.

Just a thought: whether you’re coming in from the astro-blog or whether you’re coming in through the entrance to the website ~ why not meet in the middle?

As we start the week two planets are preparing to enter the sign of Aquarius. Mars gets there by the normal route tomorrow, desperate to kick off yet another mini-dawn to the Age of Aquarius. Mercury on the other hand gets in through the back door from the other end (the actual cusp of the Ages) on Tuesday, asking “Are we there yet?” We do need to know because, as I expect you’ve noticed, there’s been some underlying tension from Saturn’s opposition to Neptune for some time now (see yesterday’s blog) and by Wednesday it all comes to a peak, but the good news it’s all laid out on the table now, you can see what is there. It could be a pivotal week in many ways, with Wednesday being the first pivot. Mercury sextile Pluto occurring on the same day is an opportunity for deep thinking and sharing of thoughts. The eclipsed full Moon on Saturday is the second pivot. Traditionally feared as far back as Babylonian times, eclipses certainly can prove to be turning points. If you are mediating in a group, try to ensure that the goodwill of the individual members reaches critical mass. All this clearing paves the way for easier aspects next week.

…did I say I was getting the hang of the blog? I just wrote a piece of background to this week’s Saturn opposition to Neptune which has slipped into the Planet Blog Dimension. Anyway, I hope you find it…

The tension between Saturn and Neptune comes to a peak this week, as you will see from Aspects of the Week on the blog tomorrow morning. Sense which two areas of your life are involved in this process and where the need for understanding and harmony lies. It’s a process of spirituality in relation to materiality, and reality to illusion. John Keats wrote the apt lines “O Imprisoned Liberty, Unconfined Restraint”� during a Saturn square to
Neptune. What holds you back and where do you need to release more self-confidence? People born in years when Saturn was strongly connected with Neptune (e.g. 1953) will feel this acutely but will also have more of a handle on it.

As you can see the Sunday morning musings have found a new home! If you have an experience which resonates with an aspect which is described, or is completely the opposite, or has a trace of irony, why not record it in the new interactive space, i.e. blog. Thanks and praise go to Robert and the Predator Design Team for helping me to overcome a little of my technophobia (no doubt a hangover from Atlantis) in order to work the blog. I think I’m getting the hang of it…

The Sun enters Pisces early tomorrow morning, so there’s a change in collective mood: more sober and inward-looking as we reflect on the weekend. We might find it hard to catch up on ourselves at work, and forget what day of the week it actually is. By Tuesday morning we will need the fruits of our reflections as Venus squares Pluto and it becomes clear that we need to change something about the way we are relating to others to make things work. Venus enters Aries on Wednesday 21st, so many may choose to just do their own thing. If in contrast you choose a path which benefits everybody, there is still scope for a fresh start, or a new way of looking at how you relate. So most of the week, there is this emphasis on relationships, unless you’re on a desert island. Come Friday 23rd and there’s a conjunction between Sun and Mercury early in Pisces. This could bring about a moment of mental clarity, and if you’re a poet one of your better lines. It could be a good week for Country and Western songwriters…