Archive for the ‘Astrology’ Category

Deep Magic: Sagittarius Full Moon June 3-4, 2023 (Video)

June 2023 begins with some powerful transits, including this Full Moon in Sagittarius on June 3 or 4, depending on your timezone. (Anyone on Eastern US time or further West gets this on the third. Anyone later than that will experience the Full Moon on the fourth.)

This Full Moon has an almost Scorpio flavor with deep magic, mysticism and major manifestation potential. My video explores the Sabian Symbol and its connections to Ancient Egypt, plus ways to maximize the energies of the transits. I’ll add a written blog post closer to the time, looking at more of the geopolitical implications, but the video focuses on the higher meaning of this Full Moon and how to embrace its opportunities.

(If you’re reading this via email, you’ll need to click through to watch the <10 minute video. WordPress doesn’t embed YouTube into emails.)

Related videos:
Jupiter in Taurus May 2023-2024: https://youtu.be/HXZqfjHIXBA

Tania Marie’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGesB5mksgo5H08SRX33NsQ

June 2023 Forecast and Second Quarter North Node Horoscopes

JUNE 2023 FORECAST

We haven’t seen a month this powerful since … May. And before that it was April and March. Yes, indeed, the fireworks of major astro events continue all month long, and we’re nowhere near the finale.

June 1 Jupiter conjunct North Node in Taurus. June begins with the Great Benefic meeting the collective North Node destiny point. In Taurus, this suggests bringing something big, bold and beautiful “down to Earth.” Areas of particular impact include food, finances, self-esteem and our relationship with the natural world. Taurus likes its creature comforts, and Uncle Jupiter loves a good party. This is like Bilbo Baggins’ birthday. Time will tell if it initiates a Lord of the Rings type period, or if the North Node’s presence in Taurus allows us to avoid a Scorpio period like Mordor.

June 2 Venus in Cancer trine Neptune in Pisces. A lovely aspect that encourages poetry, song, and all things beautiful. A great day for creative projects and romance.

June 3 Full Moon in Sagittarius at 11:42 p.m. Eastern US time. The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is: (SAGITTARIUS 14°): THE GREAT PYRAMID AND THE SPHINX. KEYNOTE: The enduring power of occult knowledge and of its quasi-divine Custodians, “Seed-men” of a previous cycle of existence.THE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ANCESTRY. Arriving with Jupiter still in tight orb with the North Node and Venus still trining mystical Neptune, this Jupiter-ruled Full Moon reaches far into the past to remind us who we are and why we came here. Allow any fixed beliefs to open and expand.

June 4 Mercury conjunct Uranus in Taurus. Uranus is considered “the higher octave” of Mercury, so when these two get together, we can expect psychic messages, liberation rhetoric, and brilliant ideas that arrive from “nowhere.” Keep a notebook or voice recorder nearby. Lightning rarely strikes twice in the same spot, and you’ll want to recall your downloads.

June 5 Venus enters Leo. Another big event in early June! With Pluto still in very early Aquarius, The Love Goddess makes a tight opposition to the Lord of the Underworld. Romance deepens, transforms, and we crave more intimacy. Hidden relationship issues or obsessions could surface during the initial Pluto opposition. Venus in Leo encourages us to shine bright and beautiful. We feel more affectionate and ready for love. Venus will spend over four months in Leo this year, due to one of her rare retrogrades. This transit adds grace and pizazz to the wilder energies this summer and fall.

June 9 Mercury in Taurus sextile Neptune in Pisces. Another day for profound psychic messages. If you missed your chance with Mercury conjunct Uranus in Taurus, you’ve got another opportunity today. Pay special attention to dreams, fantasies and higher perspectives on fixed ideas.

June 11 Pluto Retrograde re-enters Capricorn, and Mercury enters Gemini. Big moves! Our initial experiment of Pluto in Aquarius halts as we do a Capricorn cost/benefit analysis of what showed up since March 23, 2023. With Mercury entering one of his home signs, communication speeds up. Gemini is the fastest sign, and after so long in slow and steady Taurus, the Messenger’s winged feet will carry him fast. At this shift, Mercury trines Pluto. Pay attention to revelations from the deep, especially if they involve hidden things related to the internet, large group conspiracies, and/or top down authoritarianism. Today reactivates the April 19-20, 2023 Solar Eclipse. (For more on that mega event, I created this short video.) Also today: Venus in Leo squares Jupiter in Taurus. These two get along even during squares, but we could see productive tension in areas of finances and self-confidence.

June 15 Mercury in Gemini square Saturn in Pisces. Bold ideas, psychic insights and sordid revelations: meet Mr. Reality. Saturn demands we make sense of all the information hitting us in June.

June 17 Saturn stations Retrograde in Pisces. Heads up: if your faith wavers today, factor in Saturn’s “glass is half empty” perception. Things are probably not as bad as they seem, even if they do require repairs. Saturn remains Retrograde entirely in Pisces until November 3-4, depending on your timezone. During this time we’re asked to review and analyze our spiritual discipline and anything that arose since Saturn entered Pisces on March 7, 2023.

June 18 New Moon in Gemini at 12:37 a.m. Eastern US time. The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is: “(GEMINI 27°): A GYPSY EMERGING FROM THE FOREST WHEREIN HER TRIBE IS ENCAMPED. KEYNOTE: Reaching out toward participation in a larger whole of mind-structured existence.” In magic, they say it takes a New Moon to initiate a change. Mercury, the ruler of this New Moon, has received loads of information all month long. We’re asked to move beyond tribal alliances and really think for ourselves. In doing so, we transform. Then we can find and align ourselves with others of similar orientation and vibration.

June 19 Jupiter in Taurus sextile Saturn in Pisces. This transit offsets some of the doomer mentality of Saturn Retrograde in Pisces. It will be easier to have faith at this time. This one’s subtle, but we can lean into it like a solid walking staff on a winding, rugged path. Magic is possible!

June 21 Sun enters Cancer. Solstice. Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, Winter Solstice Down Under. This is one of the natural reset points within each year. For the next month, it feels good to nestle in and nurture ourselves and those we love.

June 23 Mars in Leo trine Chiron in Aries. Mars and Chiron work well together. They are both warriors, and together, they can help us fight for whatever we most need in order to heal. Chiron is fast approaching the US natal Chiron, so this short transit also offers potential for healing past and current wounds searing across the not so United States. Worth asking today: do we need to fight? Or can we shift that warrior energy into determination to heal?

June 26 Mercury enters Cancer. This occurs on the 26th or 27th, depending on your timezone. It becomes easier and more necessary to express our feelings. Kindness matters–whether we’re on the giving or receiving end of it. These are intense times with lots of energy, and people will need to process how they feel. Mercury remains in Cancer until July 11.

June 30 Neptune stations Retrograde in Pisces. June ends on an extra surreal note as the ruler of Pisces stations Rx in his home sign. Use the time between now and December 6 to go extra inward and extra mystical. Poetry, beauty, and inspiration are all available for those with eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to feel.

How June’s sky weather affects you will vary, depending on your entire natal chart, but your North Node Horoscope transcends monthly sky events. That’s because your North Node reveals what your soul came here to do. By midlife, the soul starts longing and pressing us to live our true purpose. At first, it whispers through intuition. Then it knocks a little louder through “coincidences” and external events. When not heard and honored, the soul’s longing can show up as health crises, marriage or work issues, or wondering “is this all there is?” If you feel a need to reinvent yourself, following North Node guidance helps you do that authentically — for you.

Unlike generic Sun Sign horoscopes, which ignore so many other aspects, following North Node guidance will always lead you in the right direction. Doors open, healing happens, relationships improve, and life gets more magical. This quarterly column will help you tap into your personal North Node Mojo. When you start living your North Node purpose, we all win, because you not only begin to light up your own life. You light up the world.     

You can find your North Node sign here which is often different than your Sun sign. If you’re right on the cusp, consider both possibilities or book a reading for more clarity.

SECOND QUARTER 2023 NORTH NODE HOROSCOPES

ARIES NORTH NODE: April through mid-May offer the last six weeks of Jupiter in Aries until the next Jupiter cycle twelve years from now. Use this energy to dream big and bold before the collective North Node moves into Aries in July. Pay special attention to events or messages that arise around the April 20 New Moon in Aries/Solar Eclipse. Venus offers relationship support from Gemini between April 11-May 7, then squares from Cancer until June 5. The rest of the quarter offers fiery support from Venus in Leo. Pluto in Aquarius brings supportive transformation to early degree Aries North Node natives. Those with late Aries North Node degrees continue to feel friction from Pluto in early Aquarius. Themes of death and rebirth dominate. Overall an empowering and satisfying quarter, so long as you embrace the need for change. When in doubt, go for it!

TAURUS NORTH NODE: We enter Taurus season, and it’s the last quarter the North Node remains in your sign. It won’t return to Taurus until August 2040, so git ‘er done while you have extra energetic support. On April 6, 2023, Mercury conjunct the North Node in Taurus brings potent, yet grounded messages about collective and personal destiny. With Mercury in your sign until June 11, you’ll have extra time to process any big downloads. On April 24, the Sun shines more light on destiny, and on May 16, lucky Jupiter enters your sign for an entire year! Uranus continues stirring the pot, as well. Depending on the degree of your North Node, Second Quarter 2023 could solidify recent progress, or push you past old limitations. If you feel overwhelmed, get grounded. Imbibe or create beauty whenever you can. Remember to honor your creature comforts: “Better to have and not need than to need and not have.”

GEMINI NORTH NODE: Love, grace and harmony are on the menu as the Love Goddess moves through Gemini from April 11-May 7th. Pluto also starts trining Gemini from early Aquarius. Early degree Gemini North Node natives will feel this surge of creative alchemy all quarter. Mid- to later-degree Gemini North Node natives won’t feel direct impact from Pluto for many years, but you’ll notice a shift in zeitgeist that supports your sign. You feel less alone, whether through friends, partnerships or social media. You can use this quarter to diversify in ways that secure your future. Allow yourself to daydream, and don’t get hung up on any one particular idea. As chaos swirls around the world, Gemini North Node natives benefit through resilience and curiosity. You can dance your way through change, knowing that everything’s negotiable. Emphasize better boundaries in conversation and correspondence. Make time to play!

CANCER NORTH NODE: This quarter starts slowly with continued friction from planets moving through Aries. By May and June, energies turn more harmonious. Jupiter enters Taurus on May 16, and he’ll offer easy support and expansion as he sextiles Cancer for the next year. The Moon rules your North Node sign, so you’ll want to pay special attention to New and Full Moon energies, especially eclipses. More than most signs, yours works best when aligned with natural ebb and flow. Venus moves through Cancer from May 7-June 5. Relationships improve, and some of these seem orchestrated from above. Trust your instincts, and honor your need to retreat and recharge. Keep an open heart, though! Your Capricorn South Node tends to withdraw for too long, confusing people who would benefit from your loving care. On June 21, the Sun enters your North Node sign. How can you improve family and home life? What do you need in order to feel more comfortable and loved?

LEO NORTH NODE: This is a big quarter for Leo North Nodes, as Pluto just entered Aquarius, your South Node sign. Only those with very early Leo North Node’s will receive a direct hit, but these Pluto/Aquarian energies bring huge power for letting go. Any group think or idealism that stands in the way of your own success and growth will more easily fall away now. Mars adds destiny level activation as he moves through Leo from May 20-July 10. Uranus and from mid-May onward, Jupiter, announce opportunities from Taurus, but those will take some work to manifest. Pay attention to frustration and practice shifting it to determination. That small move will carry you far. You’ll feel quite a bit of friction this quarter, and how you approach the energies makes a huge difference. If you use irritation as motivation, it could light a fire that transforms your life. Change is on the horizon. Coming or going: you won’t stand still for long.

VIRGO NORTH NODE: Second Quarter 2023 brings a mixed bag. On the one hand, Uranus and–from mid-May onward–Jupiter trigger positive opportunities from fellow Earth sign, Taurus. On the other hand, Saturn entered your Pisces South Node sign on March 7. As karmic taskmaster, Saturn demands accountability and firm foundations. Illusions and delusions dissolve, but this takes time. In the face of endings or loss, look for silver linings because they will appear. Saturn is also a trouble shooter who helps you build something solid and real. Daydreams come true with consistent effort. When you get overwhelmed, you might feel tempted to zone out with sugary foods, alcohol or other substances. We all need to take breaks, but you benefit more from natural endorphins released in exercise and meditation. Yoga and Tai Chi help you to ground your expansive spirit and emotions into your mind and body. Be here now. Analyze, focus and discern. Music helps you to relax and shift gears as needed.

LIBRA NORTH NODE: Mark your calendar for April 6’s Full Moon in Libra and April 20’s New Moon in Aries/Solar Eclipse. These events will affect Libra North Node natives more than most. This is the last quarter before the nodal axis shifts to Aries/Libra, and these Moon’s give you a heads up for issues that might arise in the next 21 months. If you don’t like what you see, look for partnerships and alliances that make you stronger. You don’t need to walk alone. In addition to people, you’ve got support from Pluto’s foray into Aquarius, as well as anything moving through Gemini. Venus rules your North Node sign, and she wants you to open your heart with love and connection. In challenging times, your Aries South Node knows how to lead, but you’ll move faster if you share leadership with others whose talents you discover. Have patience and seek win-win options rather than only looking out for Number One. Relationships are a destiny level priority!

SCORPIO NORTH NODE: This is the last full quarter of the North Node in Taurus, which means you’re tying up loose ends related to past relationships and perspectives that need to transform. Since January 2021, you’ve been 180 from society, and this can feel lonely. There’s light at the end of this introspective tunnel. Just a few more months until July 2023 when the North Node moves into Aries with the South Node in Libra. Uranus and Jupiter still trigger major shifts from Taurus, but the good news is that the stark contrasts between you and the rest of the world will begin to ease in July. Use Second Quarter 2023 to plow through any karmic ties that present for transformation. You’re stronger and more resilient than you imagined you could be. Mercury’s long stay in Taurus will give you another opportunity to wriggle out of karmic contracts that no longer serve. Use the May 5 Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio as rocket fuel for change. You got this!

SAGITTARIUS NORTH NODE: April through May 16 continues expansive support as your North Node’s ruler (Jupiter) moves through fellow Fire sign Aries. You can seize breakthroughs in healing, relationships, finances and overall vision for your life path. From April 11-May 7, Venus moves through your Gemini South Node sign, bringing old relationships, lack of focus, and too much small talk up for change. Do you really need to keep so many irons in the fire? This can be a positive time for you, as you re-evaluate old habits that no longer serve. Pay extra attention to insights that arise on the June 3 Full Moon in Sagittarius and the June 17-18 New Moon in Gemini. You’ll make faster progress if you focus on the big picture and overall alignment rather than trying to cover all the details. There’s simply too much information to process, and you don’t need to imbibe it all. You’ll feel this more when Mercury enters Gemini on June 11. If you suffer from FOMO, step back and reevaluate. What brings you most satisfaction? Commit to that.

CAPRICORN NORTH NODE: Most of Second Quarter 2023 feels like a relief as heavyweight Pluto leaves your sign alone for the first time since 2008. Whew! Life finally feels like it’s coming into balance with new opportunities and the blessings of prior hard work. Pluto returns to Capricorn on June 11, so use this quarter to strategize and plan for your future success. Although people fear and sometimes even hate Pluto, he helps us change and regenerate more than any other planet. Instead of clinging to worn out relationships and unhealthy patterns, look at life as an investment. Do your energy expenditures make sense? If someone or something expands your horizons and leadership potential, consider that a good investment. If someone or something drains you and makes you crawl inside your Cancer South Node shell, that needs to go. Or at least transform. Capricorn North Node natives must learn to embrace the positive side of being ruthless. Tough editing makes a better book or video. Correctly pruning a tree yields more fruit.

AQUARIUS NORTH NODE: This is a time of rapid change for Aquarius North Node natives. You’ll feel Pluto’s presence in your sign even if he’s far away from your North Node degree. This brings huge opportunities to release that which no longer serves and to upgrade into Aquarian Age ideals. The energies from Aries, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius all play well with Aquarius and your Leo South Node, making this quarter ripe with positive potential. You benefit from social media, online networking and joining group efforts to improve our world. When you combine your skills with others, everyone’s life improves. If you’ve had minimal success doing everything yourself, foster connections with friends and colleagues. You are not the product this time, but you can become an important part of a carefully selected team. You’re among the visionaries of our times, and you came here to support this massive shift on Planet Earth. If you feel discouraged, flip your perspective and look at the bigger picture. How might your individual struggles and triumphs open portals for all of humanity?

PISCES NORTH NODE: If you lean into your mystical, spiritual side, Second Quarter 2023 brings solid opportunities your way. If you insist on perfection, you’ll feel more frustrated and blocked than usual. You’re not here to “get everything right.” You’re here to recognize how beautiful and perfect you already are. Saturn’s move through Pisces helps you build a strong foundation for your dearest hopes and dreams–especially the ones your Virgo South Node dismisses as “impractical.” You can have your pie in the sky and eat it, too. You just need to align with forces you don’t understand. Squares from Gemini and Sagittarius alert you to internal blocks. If you find a boulder in your way, make like water and flow around it. Instead of stressing and trying to figure out every last detail, practice trusting a Higher Power. Prayer is practical action for Pisces North Node natives. Mantra meditation eases inner conflict by giving your monkey mind somewhere else to focus. Your first and most important task each day is to “tune in” to higher guidance. Whatever time you “waste” in prayer and meditation, life returns to you through magical means.

Jupiter in Taurus May 2023-4 (Video)

Jupiter entered Taurus with a bang on May 16, 2023, but there’s so much more to Jupiter in Taurus than the initial T-square with Mars in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius. What can we expect between now and May 25, 2024?

This video looks at famous people with Jupiter in Taurus, how this placement plays out in natal charts and collectively. It explores previous transits, as well as important upcoming dates in June 2023 and beyond, including Jupiter conjunct the North Node in Taurus on June 1.

How can we prepare? How can we use these energies for best results? If you like crystals, you’re in for a treat! (Note: if you’re reading this in an email, you’ll need to click through to the post. Emails from WordPress don’t embed YouTube videos.)

New Moon in Taurus ~ May 19, 2023

My May 2023 Forecast shares:

May 19 New Moon in Taurus, 11:53 a.m. Eastern US time. The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is: “(TAURUS 29): TWO COBBLERS WORKING AT A TABLE. KEYNOTE: The two-fold character of man’s mature understanding.” On a personal note, this New Moon exactly conjuncts my Midheaven. On a collective note, we’re asked to cultivate a more nuanced and mature perspective. Beware of black or white thinking. The answer falls somewhere between extremes. We can integrate differences and cooperate for better overall results.

May 19, 2023, 11:53 a.m., Washington, D.C.

We’ve got the Sabian Symbol of TWO COBBLERS WORKING AT A TABLE. In Faery Lore, cobblers are code for shamanism and the ability to walk in two worlds. Nuts and bolts Saturn remains in dreamy Pisces, urging us to bring those dreams into reality. In addition, Neptune in Pisces closely sextiles the New Moon in Taurus, and this brings even more awareness of two worlds. The old world continues to dissolve, but the new world hasn’t quite materialized yet.

My video goes into more detail about collaborations, partnerships and potential romantic connections revealed or triggered by this New Moon. Since I’ve covered all that in the video, this written post will look at more of the geopolitical and general implications.

At the time of the New Moon, Venus loosely conjuncts the US natal Sun. Our values as a nation shift towards protecting home and family. We could see border issues intensify, especially with the massive T-square in effect among Jupiter in early Taurus, square Pluto in early Aquarius, with Mars completing the T-square from early Leo the very next day. This T-square is already in effect even with Mars in late Cancer at the exact New Moon. Mars often acts early, and he’s already in a tight orb of the T-square.

All of this combines with Venus conjunct the US natal Sun (love of home and the US identity as a nation), creating big (Jupiter) power struggles (Mars opposite Pluto). We’ve got a powder keg of intensity, and Mars lights the fuse. Fortunately, the influence of Saturn and Neptune in watery Pisces turns some of those explosions into duds. The earthy Taurus energy also puts out some flames. Even though Mars activates the T-square, in terms of the New Moon, he offers a supportive sextile. This implies that the God of War is also focused on action to manifest the new, dreamy future.

Change is coming–for sure–but it won’t be as volatile as it could have been in all Air and Fire signs.

This New Moon in Taurus quincunxes (150 degrees) the Galactic Center, turning that intense energy into labor pains. With Pluto involved, we’ve got death and rebirth. With the Galactic Center involved, we’ve got Cosmic Goddess energy birthing the new world into being. At the same time, asteroid Aphrodite conjuncts the Galactic Center, also quincunxing the New Moon. My video gets into the Venus aspects (both current and future) with the May 19th event, but Aphrodite is the Greek equivalent of Venus. Regardless of what seems to be happening, we’ll feel major undercurrents of love and beauty.

The New Moon closely conjuncts the Plutino Mors-Somnus. If that name reminds you of death and sleep, you’re not imagining things. Mors is a Roman God of Death, and Somnus is the Roman God of Sleep. We’ve got a connection of dreams, sleep and death. Mors-Somnus is a binary system, so again we find this idea of collaboration (like the cobblers). Partnership, collaboration and shared resources have been ongoing themes since April. The addition of Mors-Somnus increases both the Plutonian and Neptunian energies at the time of the New Moon. Things could feel extra deep and surreal at this time.

Asteroid Phaeton also conjuncts this May 19th New Moon in Taurus, and in mythology, Phaeton was the charioteer, as in “Chariots of the Gods.” In astrology, Phaeton is a bridge or “messenger of the gods.” It used to be a planet, which got destroyed and broke into asteroids. Pay attention to cosmic messages that come through, as the portals are wide open right now. As mentioned in my video, even though this is not an eclipse, it might feel like one due to the intensity. At the same time, this intensity receives an extra dose of the weird. Any losses could seem orchestrated or dreamlike. Power struggles could feel like fighting in two different realms.

We can expect increased awareness of both negative and positive potentials that bleed through from other realms. Follow your intuition and tend to your own vibration! It’s easy to slip between the cracks at this time. We have powerful potential for change, and so much of this change could be divinely inspired beauty, harmony and grace. But the battles for our attention and emotions rage on. Consciously choose where to focus your own energy. We can’t control larger forces, but we can influence things to receive “a glancing blow” or “a catapult forward” instead of getting clobbered.

I feel strongly that this time period connects with the Fall 2019 dream I shared towards the end of my April 5-6 Libra Full Moon video. In that dream, I overheard a conversation between my Aunt Gail and my sister Erica, discussing “special mandala shaped floors that tip to get everyone where they need to be in the event of an earthquake.” I overheard this conversation twice, and it directly related to the kinds of 5D relationships, partnerships and collaboration’s I keep seeing unfold in this ready-to-be-birthed reality.

In addition to all the other wild synchronicities and precognitive dreams pointing to this week as massively significant–hundreds of dreams about current times, with dozens of them pointing specifically to this week–my Aunt Gail (whose name means “gale” or “great wind”) just happened visit my sister (whose name means “supreme ruler”) for the first time in ages. For me, that’s another indicator that we’re rapidly approaching “go time.”

As Timothy Glenn and I discussed in our recent Pluto Rx + May 2023 Forecast video, we might see a series of lesser tremors instead of “The Big One” all at once. If so, count your blessings. The level of potential volatility this week gets buffered by Venus, the Galactic Center, and Taurus, Cancer and Pisces energies. Labor pains can be intense, but they’re also exciting. Something new is being birthed by all those “earthquakes.” Ride the shudders and waves. Sometimes painful events and hard labor release the greatest blessings.

Jupiter and New Moon in Taurus

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there!

Today initiates a wild week of astro weather. Mercury stations Direct on the 14th (today), and then Jupiter makes a bold move into Taurus on the 16th, squaring Pluto in early Aquarius. We’ve got a potent New Moon on the 19th, and then Mars enters Leo on the 20th, triggering a massive T-square with Pluto and Jupiter.

I’ve been dreaming of this time period–and this date in particular–since 2020. We’re talking many hundreds of dreams, with over a dozen specifically pointing to this week. I don’t know what that means, but since this video’s already done, I’ll post it now. I’m hoping to do a written post about the New Moon in Taurus, but that will depend on timing outside my control. For now, here’s some of what you can expect this week and beyond:

Total Reboot: May 5, 2023 Scorpio Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse (Video)

Here’s a short video (under six minutes) about the upcoming Scorpio Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse. There are so many layers to this eclipse. This video highlights some key areas and ways of dealing with the energies:

Butterflies and the Eclipse

The morning after the April 19-20th New Moon and Solar Eclipse, David and I finally saw the “Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibit at Meijer Sculpture Gardens. We’ve intended to do this for years–maybe even before we moved here in 2017–but the timing never worked for us. This year, everything aligned with the New Moon Solar Eclipse in that final degree of Aries. Doing something new that we’ve wanted to do for so long felt like just the right energy. A time of new beginnings by way of completion.

We did other things in Grand Rapids, too, but I’ll just share photos from our time at Meijer. Butterflies are difficult to catch on camera, so these images only give a glimpse of the thousands of colorful beings zipping around the greenhouse.

(My apologies for wonky formatting. Apparently, WordPress has a new, experimental AI that just takes over your blog. Imagine my surprise reading six paragraphs of fluffy, cliché text I did not write! That’s deleted, but I can’t get spaces between my photos. Hopefully, the experiment will run its course and go bye bye. Not a fan, WP!)

A volunteer stopped us and said he could “feel the love.” He insisted on taking our photo, so you get a sneak peak of mystery hubby, David, compliments of Bruce. The blue butterflies below were electric! There were so many, as large as my hand, too.

The Japanese garden was in full cherry blossom regalia:

We have weeping cherry trees at home, but Meijer has gorgeous varieties and a pond!

Mercury stations Retrograde in Taurus April 21, 2023

I don’t have time to make a longer video or write a detailed blog post, so I made this 40 second #Short a couple days ago. I’m embedding it here as a heads up that this particular Mercury Rx is a bigger deal than usual.

As I mentioned in my 9 Keys to April 2023 Astrology video, Mercury’s in an interesting relationship with Pluto. When Mercury entered Taurus, he exactly squared Pluto in Aquarius. When Mercury leaves Taurus for Gemini on June 11, Pluto re-enters Capricorn. That clues us into a deeper processing than usual. Hidden things will come to light, and we’ll need to reorganize our worldview on both personal and collective levels.

This Mercury Rx connects with both Uranus and the North Node, nudging us towards the future, so it’s an usual time of looking back in order to look ahead:

Aries New Moon + Solar Eclipse ~ April 19-20, 2023 (Video)

I started with a much longer video but decided to simplify and shorten it to just over four minutes. This Eclipse is so important that I want to make it as quick and easy as possible for people to understand the energies.

New Moon in Aries Solar Eclipse ~ April 19-20, 2023

My April 2023 Forecast shared:

April 19-20 New Moon in Aries and Solar Eclipse, and then Sun enters Taurus. This is the second New Moon in Aries this year. Not only is it a Solar Eclipse, but in very late Aries, it squares Pluto in early Aquarius. Intensity skyrockets. This happens at 12:13 a.m. Eastern time on the 20th. We can use this New Moon in Aries and Solar Eclipse as a preview of the North Node shifting into Aries in July. Since the North Node moves backwards, this very late Aries New Moon/Solar Eclipse conjuncts the entry point that sets the collective goals until January 2025. This energy pits the individual vs. codependency (Libra South Node). Take note of anything that comes up during the eclipse, as you’ll likely be working with that energy more in the future. Taurus season brings a slower, more sensual pace. Inertia can be difficult to overcome, but once we begin something, that inertia works in our favor: we just keep going. Slow and steady wins the race.

In addition to the out of sign square, we’ve got an out of sign conjunction with the North Node in Taurus. The North Node is future oriented. In Taurus, the North Node takes that “forge ahead,” “new” Aries energy and tells us to anchor it into something tangible and real.

Under normal circumstances, an Eclipse sets the stage for the next six months, but this one’s influence will last at least through November 2024. That’s due to the intense square from Pluto in early Aquarius, as well as the Eclipse happening in the final (anaretic) degree of Aries. Anytime something crosses 29 Aries to 0 Taurus, it will reactivate the Eclipse. Ditto anything crossing 29 Capricorn to 0 Aquarius, and both spots are key to the next year and a half.

Eclipse chart set for Washington, D.C.

This Eclipse loosely conjuncts Jupiter in late Aries, amplifying and enlarging all the emotions, goals and insights. On May 16, Jupiter crosses the exact Eclipse point as he enters Taurus. Jupiter will remain in Taurus for a year, expanding our ability to ground those energies. When Jupiter conjuncts the true North Node on June 1, we have another highly charged, future oriented day. With Uranus still in Taurus, Jupiter’s foray takes on even more expansive, future oriented energies. Do you sense a theme here?!

On July 17, the North Node crosses from 0 Taurus into 29 Aries–setting the tone for the next 18 months, but also reactivating the Eclipse. Anytime the North Node changes signs, we feel a collective shift, so the April 19-20 Eclipse clues us into what we’ll be working with during the next year and a half.

Moving onto the Plutonian influence, we have four more criss-crosses of that 29 Capricorn to 0 Aquarius point. On June 11, Pluto retrograde re-enters Capricorn, and that action pings the Eclipse again. This preview period from late March to mid-June shows us what sort of things Pluto will dredge up in Aquarius. But it’s just a preview. Pluto re-enters Aquarius in January 2024. Most astrologers are saying that’s it, that Pluto will remain in Aquarius for another twenty years, but wait, there’s more! Pluto stations retrograde in May 2024 and re-enters Capricorn on September 1, 2024, only finally entering Aquarius for the long haul on November 19, 2024. Every time Pluto crosses this transition point reactivates the April 19-20, 2023 Eclipse.

As if all that’s not enough, on May 20 this year, Mars enters Leo. The transition from 29 Cancer to 0 Leo not only opposes Pluto in early Aquarius, but yes, it reactivates the Eclipse with another square. Anytime something crosses from Cardinal Sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) into Fixed Sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), the Eclipse energies explode all over again. Libra/Scorpio season will be lit!

The Sabian Symbol for the last degree of Aries and this New Moon/Solar Eclipse is (ARIES 30°): A DUCK POND AND ITS BROOD.  KEYNOTE: The realization of natural boundaries. Although baby ducklings are cute, this symbol reminds us of the fierce protection animals provide their young. We might see more of Mama Bear energy emerge around the time of the Eclipse, as well as the next 18 months. Whether a child or an idea, the inchoate New needs protection. Battles intensify, because we are literally fighting for our future. Which reality do we want to unfold? What will we do to ensure that the New grows to a point where it can stand on its own? What will we do to protect children from predators? These energies are up and will remain up for a long time to come.

Right after the Eclipse, on April 21, Mercury stations Retrograde in Taurus and will remain Rx until May 14. This gives us time to process initial energies released by the Eclipse. The next three weeks ask us to review and revise information related to finances, security, self-esteem, values and the arts. What steps will you need to take (or re-take) based upon new information you’ve acquired? In what ways does backing up help to release stuck energy? Mercury stations Retrograde very close to Uranus, which adds to the liberating effects of this review.

Keep a notebook handy, because Mercury-Uranus conjunctions drop out of this world ideas into your brain. It’s also important to ground yourself with time in Nature. Mercury-Uranus conjunctions can rile up the nervous system. If you feel overloaded, you might need to ditch the internet for awhile, just to remind yourself what truly matters. The information age offers so much potential, but it’s easy to lose yourself in all that noise. Quiet your mind so that you can receive inspiration from beyond. With all the challenges on Planet Earth right now, solutions want to manifest in tangible form. But we need to hear ourselves think. We also need to pay attention to visceral messages from the body.

Mercury in Taurus can feel slow, especially when retrograde. As they say, “Life comes at you fast.” Use this time to process and reorganize your thoughts. Rapidly shifting geopolitical and inner landscapes require adjustments as we discover new terrain. Some of it’s rocky, so watch your step. If you notice lightning–metaphorical or otherwise–move to safer ground. Situational awareness allows you to navigate tricky territory so you can safely enjoy the journey.

Set for Washington, D.C., the Eclipse chart’s Ascendant conjuncts the Galactic Center–the womb of our galaxy. We’re at the beginning, not the end. Plan accordingly.