Quote from ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astrology’

  “How many Sagittarians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One and eleven other signs to revolve around him.”

 
Our Solar Sun moves in Sagittarius on Thanksgiving Day, followed by our Full Moon in Gemini the day after. Holidays are such a wonderful time to gather with our friends and families, but they can also be loaded with expectations and emotions. I like to be mindful of what the energies are with the intention to enjoy fully while I also stay aware. The Mars/Jupiter square energy will still be very present, although thankfully less prevalent on Thanksgiving day. The Full Moon could also bring up some issues… Thankfully it is not ‘full’ until Friday, but it’s energies will be coming in all week. Mercury is retrograde, so we also know that communicating clearly with one another is not easily accomplished! Bottom line: Have a wonderful Thanksgiving while staying aware! 

Monday November 19th: Mars in Pisces is square Jupiter in Scorpio

This square has friction with action to start possibly a big project. This energy is impulsive and could come across as a little coarse or insensitive, but there is powerful energy here to put to use. You will want to stay aware of this energy as both yourself and others may be less tactful than usual; with this energy so powerful we don’t want to misuse it in any form.

Thursday November 22nd: Thanksgiving Day, Sun moves into Sagittarius

Sagittarius is the last fire sign in the chart… it’s the archer with arrows going out in all directions. Old Astrology says Sagittarius is the Gypsy, the Teacher and the Philosopher.  I think of Sagittarius as the traveler of the body, mind and spirit and when taken to higher dimensions… that is high-level Sagittarius. Jupiter is the ruler of this sign and it is all about expansion: more travel, more knowledge and more spiritual. Sagittarians are all about action, as they have moved beyond the fear of death and are here to fully experience life.  The Achilles heel for Sagittarians is they can end up going in so many directions at once that they burn out or their central nervous system can’t keep up.

Friday November 23rd: Full Moon Gemini                       

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, which is in retrograde, so we need to remain aware that communications can be misinterpreted. Gemini is the sign of the twins, two sides of the coin, the yin and yang. Gemini has a busy mind and is easily distracted during this Full Moon. You want to bring forth the seed you planted during New Moon Scorpio, which had the added energy of spiritual transformation with it.

Saturday November 24th: Neptune goes direct

This leaves Mercury and Uranus the only two planets left retrograde.

Thanksgiving is the perfect start to the Holiday Season, as it is opportunity to be filled with gratitude and descending grace.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING,

Brenda

This weeks Celestial Considerations looks like it is the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves to open our minds, take deep breaths, and check in with our priorities. Let’s dive in!

A rather quiet week... You already know the planets are never quiet for long so enjoy the calm!  Early this week, remember to take the time to be gentle with yourself and others.

Tuesday Oct 2nd: Mercury Libra square Pluto Capricorn

There is plenty of friction with this aspect that may come to your attention. This could bring to light something new or different, maybe finding yourself delving deeply into research or a new direction. Use caution here to not get caught up too deeply, or be overly opinionated or judgmental. With Mercury in Libra, you could argue with yourself or you can try to balance and mediate within your head. Take the high road and maintain an open mind. There is always more of the story to unfold and we don’t always know what we are looking at first glance. This aspect has the potential for arguments and confrontations, so step aside if need be.

Friday Oct 5th: Venus turns retrograde

This leaves us with 3 planets retrograde: Venus Rx, Uranus Rx and Neptune Rx. This is where we need to take the do-overs to a higher level! Remain aware of any repeating patterns in your life and take them up a notch. Venus retrograde could involve your relationships and taking a look at what you think you value in your life.  A good time to sort and go through… and not just your closet.

In Spirit,

Brenda

Computer problems. Miscommunication. Delays. Short tempers. For weeks on end.

Sound familiar?

Times like these are likely a Mercury Retrograde, an astrological event that happens three or four times a year. As Mercury passes Earth in its Orbit, it appears to slow down and spin backwards as it goes around the bend. In astrology, Mercury is the ruler of technology, communication, and travel, so throughout this three week period, all of these aspects seem to go a little haywire.

For a while, I viewed Mercury retrograde as something to worry about. Stress about things going wrong, hesitate to commit to anything or take anything at completely face value. Customers were going to be rude, feelings were going to be hurt, my computer was going to break, and I was never going to get anywhere when I needed to.

However, once I realized Mercury retrograde was an opportunity, rather than a burden, things began to look up.

As with all astrology, or anything spiritual for that matter, we are given the opportunity to reflect upon our lives, the world around us, and how we all interact. So in a time period where there is a shifting of energies in the world of communication, technology, and travel, how can we positively be mindful of these aspects of our lives?

Let's start with travel. Traffic is inevitable. Flight delays happen, especially this time of year. This a perfect opportunity to make sure our alarms are set, our gas tank is full, our license/passports are up to date. Allow for more travel time, longer lines, and stressed out flight attendants who would benefit from a smile and gratitude. When traffic is parked and that one car in front of you is just "stressing you out, arrrgggggg", turn down the radio, crack the window for fresh air, and take a few deep, slow breaths.

Technology is a constantly changing thing, updating and evolving... and prone to go on the fritz from time to time. Now is a time to not take our tech for granted. Keep that fancy phone in its case. Back up important data, save repeatedly, and file away hard copies of paperwork. Don't expect the printer to work quickly, and try not to cut deadlines close, because that "Submit" button just might not cooperate. Better yet, use this as an opportunity to be mindful about how much time technology consumes in your life. Push back the Netflix marathon in favor of quality time or a new book. Get outside and break the pattern of constant scrolling. Finally start turning your phone off 20 minutes before you get into bed. What can you experience and rejoice in when there is not a screen in front of your face?

Onto my favorite, communication. With quite a few air signs in my natal chart, I have been known to talk, talk, talk, and then talk some more. I love to debate, to both encourage open-mindedness and to help further form my own opinions. However, in attempts to explain my often non-linear thought process, I occasionally alienate, confuse, or god forbid, offend. During Mercury Retrograde, the chances of miscommunication are high, so being mindful of what we convey verbally, or otherwise, is essential. This is not to say silence is the answer to avoid all conflict, though! Rather, this opportunity allows us to find a balance between both trying to understand others viewpoints while still allowing our thoughts and feelings to come to the surface. Leave that passive aggressive B.S. at the door, because let me tell you, it is going to be even less successful than usual (and seriously, being passive aggressive gets you nowhere so cut it out folks). This is your chance to allow what has been hiding down deep, or maybe just under the surface, and come to light. Talk it out, sing it at the top of your lungs, create emotional art, express yourself, in a way that is compassionate to your soul and those around you.

So what will you do to turn this period into a state of "thriving" instead of just "surviving"?

Lately, I have been assigning myself a project to complete during every retrograde. More often than not, it is a project based around organizing and cleaning out what no longer serves me, physically or emotionally. Bag up clothes you no longer wear and donate them. Finally get around to organizing that junk drawer. Deep clean the house. Dive into a meditation routine. Journal thoughts weighing you down everyday. What have you been putting off? What will best serve you?

Retrograde starts soon. Are you ready?