Jupiter Crosses into Capricorn: Transition to 2020 Officially Begins // The Start of a New Era

This is a spontaneous transmission on Jupiter in Capricorn that I wrote yesterday. More on 2020 energies will be coming soon :)

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Jupiter crossed into Capricorn Monday and eclipse season will begin next week at the full moon. Jupiter's motion into Capricorn officially pulls in the transition into 2020 energies, and the eclipses are soon to illuminate and amplify the coming transformations, particularly in January. We have been preparing for this time for the entire decade, and especially this past year.

I feel the transition of Jupiter into Capricorn is bringing in a more focused energy — while it was transiting through Sag, it was a time of spiritual exploration, expansion and even literal travel for many people. Our concept of reality, our lives and what brings it meaning, has expanded its scope to contain more and be less delineated. Especially in the modern world of spirituality -- it feels like a shift towards a more integrated approach to spirituality is available/unfolding.

With Jupiter’s transition into Capricorn, I feel that this a time where we bring some of temple life into our modern life, a bit of the esoteric into the scientific, and so on. This is necessary even more so for people who see themselves as following a spiritual path, as this is somewhat of a departure from past archetypes of ascension/spiritual evolution/enlightment, where asceticism and separation were more of the norm. Now is a time when we evolve within our human lives, and along with this human world. To become like the immortals who have previously walked the earth. Embodied in our light -- and functional in our relationship to the planet and reality as it is and as it can be.

To do this successfully requires a lot of grounded work. It is work that has many manifestations and purposes — and is sorely needed for the gradual evolution of human consciousness on this planet. The 2020 alignment of Saturn, Pluto & Jupiter in Capricorn, is essentially laying the energetic groundwork for this evolution to be possible on the larger scale. It starts first in the inner world and individual integrity of spirit. The more integral we are, the more effective, even if the effect is extremely subtle. Yes, part of the effect can even be our own perception of life shifting — but just because it is internal to us, does not mean that others do not respond to it.

It is hard to say how fast or how slow this process occurs for both oneself and for "all of humanity" as it were. If we look back at history, we can see that evolutions in consciousness occurred slowly over hundreds of years. But if we look at our present day, it seems that they can happen quite quickly, relatively speaking — so quick that people who aren't ready for the changes are quite fearful about where the world is going — so there is a massive amount of conflict as a result. Just look at the social issues that have come up in the past 5 years alone in the USA — racial, lgbtq+, gender, & socio-economic sensitivity & awareness has all been right in the foreground with many people who are fully ready to change their thinking on these matters, and many others feeling extraordinarily challenged by these ideas, even outright rejecting them. From a larger view, the conflict is not rooted in truth or non-truth, but in the fabric of reality being shaken, and people having different reactions to it. There are, of course, many people who will try to seek comfort, while others find themselves in positions where no comfort is available, so the adventure and embracing of the unknown is the reality. It's the latter party that is on the forefront of the changes — and also who face the pain, loneliness and fear of rejection the most intensely. But it is not easy for either side — for changes in these areas are inevitable, and the issues are deeply rooted — in the long run, requiring systemic overhaul. And social issues are only one example. Environmental, economic, health, government and structural issues of all kinds are also up and facing similar conflicts, challenges and need for transformation.

But I am here to tell you that it is beginning. Whether or not it appears to be, the evolutions have been happening for the better part of the past century, and 2020 bears the seeds for an even more profound change in human consciousness that I sense will unfold with intensity over the coming decades. On the intuitive level where I receive these messages from, there is no feeling that we are heading into a dark ages, or that we must worry about descending backwards into chaos as history has shown to be the case in the past (and as some people like to predict) -- this time it is different. The energy of light in humanity is supported. We do not need to live or abide by the darkness in the world, and in fact, we have the capacity to effect it with our deeds great and small. It is the collective comprised of individuals choosing light, honesty, integrity, service and righteousness that creates change.

We might all still be grappling with our own inner struggles and we will not escape being confronted, conflicted, depressed, or discouraged but when we choose service from our sincere heart, we are also requiring ourselves to face our duality and human weaknesses. It takes strength to be willing to create a strong and pure sense of the inner self, to remain integral, not just for the self but for the selfless tasks in life which we are assigned.

That said, it is not always about our outer world and living a life that "looks" like a spiritual one -- more, it is about who we are inside and how we choose to give and be in our lives. So whoever you are, wherever you are, be where you are and trust in the place you stand and the places you feel pulled to go from the higher aspects of your being. This is the truth more clear and correct than anything that could ever be told to you.

We're here to help each other, and we also all have our part, our small piece -- a piece that deserves its own honor -- and has as much breadth and uniqueness as our fingerprints. It doesn't need to look like anything you know of, or it can appear to be completely ordinary. And it also has the capacity to completely evolve in unexpected ways — to be nothing like it was when we began.

Jupiter in Capricorn is about doing this work, actualizing the vision, and seeing the dream come to reality. 2020 & beyond hold so much potential for this to also happen within the greater world.

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New Moon in Pisces : March Astrology Message

March 6, 2019 is the New Moon in Pisces.  It’s a particularly powerful one that I would like to share some messages about. 

This New Moon conjuncts Neptune in Pisces, and coincides with a Pisces Mercury Retrograde and the movement of Uranus into Taurus – a major 8 year transit (please read my article on this transit for more in-depth insight).  Just a few weeks ago, the asteroid of wounds, healing, vulnerability and mentorship, Chiron, also changed signs from Pisces to Aries where it will reside for 8 years as well.

To put it simply, this is a moment where the movements of the heavens are reflecting great change down here on earth, and so we can expect our worlds to evolve and change in kind.  The two long-term planetary ingresses initiate significant new phases of growth and the very intense Piscean energy that pervades the month of March shows a watery transition – filled with long abandoned memories, grief, and deep emotional release. 

Some keywords/concepts for this month:  Reflective, mirroring, nostalgia, flux, vague, confusion, visionary, deeply emotional, inspired, afraid, facing and embracing the past, transition, holding patterns, finishing what’s unfinished, preparing space, clearing the past to invite the future, connecting with spirit, embracing change. 

In this month’s message, perhaps appropriate to the Pisces Mercury Rx active right now, I decided to go forgo my usual astrological breakdown & dissection and go directly into the energy.  My hope is for a simpler, more direct message as a result.  Please enjoy.

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In this era of great change each and every one of us is undergoing processes of transformation.  For years now, people have asked me, “When does it end?”  And the answer is that it never ends.  Maybe the day comes when change is stabilized, but I could not tell you when such a reality would come to pass and if it is soon or in the far distance.  For now, I perceive that it is right to accept that change is the new normal, and that we can learn to embrace and enjoy it instead of holding so much resistance to it.  Resistance is nothing more than a survival mechanism and it has served its purpose.  Now invites surrender.

Many of us have conditions in our lives that cause us to spin in cycles:  Visions that seem out of reach.  Paths we resist taking.  Patterns we can’t ever seem to address.  Intuitively, we know that we need to move forward, but it feels unsafe and unknown to leap into things that have no guarantees, no specific pattern, no outline.  We fuss about being accepted, having enough money, and always knowing what to expect.  We worry too much about whether or not we’re doing things right.  Unconsciously, we keep ourselves stuck and blame circumstance for our failures.

What arises now is something different – both the motivation to change and the vision of where the root of the problem lies.  Reflections of the past show up in everyday moments and take us back to places we had long concluded we’d rather not be.  But observing and feeling them anew, having changed as much as we have, grants a new perspective.  Don’t run from your reflection – because one day you’re going to have to accept that it is your face. 

What is the mirror really for?  In it we see what we really are – what lingers around us, what weakens us, what undermines us from embodying the real self.  Even if we know intellectually, perhaps we still have not seen it truly yet.  Within us the emotional paradigms can seem quite vast and unfathomable – from where did they arise?  It could be well beyond what we think and anyway, it’s not important – what’s more important is recognizing the integration of our hundred selves and the wars within as nothing more but friction between our multi-dimensional aspects.  What we are going through is a sort of fusion – eventually it will melt down into one, but there are still pieces that knock together unpleasantly and of course, there is also the fire scouring the impurities in tiny bursts and spontaneous flare-ups.

What I’ve noticed is that it won’t work to reject the old faces, old fears, or lament what has past.  Instead these must be drawn in and digested, incorporated into the being – so we can go forward with wholeness and acceptance of self -- past and future.  We are being haunted by the scars upon our heart, our deepest unprocessed pain, everything left in the boxes of the past that we decided to shut off and not feel.  Even if we’ve met these ghosts before, still there are residuals -- threads kept intact, pieces unconsidered, broken shards with some answers.    

The past and future might have long looked like a straight line – but in this moment they are all joining together – lines bending back to create circles, all closing at once, meeting at one point.  That point being now.  That point being you. 

Above all things it is about wholeness through drawing ones spirit back into oneself.  And through this, old pain and heaviness is slowly, naturally, and effortlessly dissolved.  Whatever threshold lies in wait requires this merging.  For reasons that we don’t have to know now, but also for one reason that is obvious:  For completion.

In coming months and years we will be embarking on a new journey.  It is a journey we’ve been working towards for some time.  Quite simply, it is a journey into the future – into light – into a developing new paradigm of reality.  And it is not to say that this is the kind of thing where one day we suddenly pack our bags and arrive – no, it will continue to unfold in a gradual manner.  The world will continue to play out its chaos.  We will continue to grapple with ourselves.  But what I am seeing is a kind of tipping point – the see-saw is equalizing – the window between two worlds is open and soon, we will find ourselves on the other side.  Thinking, creating, wondering, “What’s next?” in a more joyful way.  With more confidence, personal power, and control.

In our current world, nature and civilization exist in conflict and contrast.  Yin and Yang are separated.  Human and earth too distinct.  The lack of integration within the human body creates disease, and so it could be observed that the lack of integration of man with nature is a form of disorder, and the true root of our current condition.  The path to reclaim our connection to the earth is quite long and the distance exceeds our view.  At the same time, the distortions of human consciousness are profound and deeply embedded by millennia of conditioned response – so of course we find it painful, destabilizing and confusing to be where we are now – the place in-between.   

But with sincerity and faith, we can go forward.  Trust in goodness.  Trust that you can be healed.  Trust in the power of the human spirit.  That we can overcome.  Together we already have the skills, knowledge and creativity to change the world, to correct the corruption, and find a new order.  And soon, we will also start to see the way through.  But for now we have to surrender and trust that wherever we are going next, we are getting closer to what we’ve hoped for.  

It starts with ourselves.  It starts inside.  Always.  Every time.

How can we embrace every person we’ve ever been – in this lifetime and in the past?  How can we accept every experience we’ve ever had?  How can we love the joy and the pain, the beauty and the sorrow, with equanimity?  And forgiveness?

It’s time we stop denying life to erase darkness -- because we know it doesn’t work.  Darkness is dispersed only when it is seen.  Health only exists when there is acceptance, integration and digestion.  Wholeness includes everything, no exceptions.

Yes, these times are intense, taxing, and filled with difficult inner trials.  We must remain vigilant to establish good habits for our health and well-being just to stay on top of it all.  But in the energy of change, there is also the possibility of miracles.  Our ails help us to grow. 

If we have beautiful dreams, no matter how grand or how simple, let’s nurture them with faith and devotion. Let us meet them with our complete, whole, and integrated selves.

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Jupiter in Scorpio: The Well

It is sad to see

The well is deep

The water is shallow

The bucket is broken

If one cannot reach the well’s depth

Perhaps it is one’s own shallowness

That keeps one from tasting the sweet water;

Perhaps the water in the well is too shallow

One who is limited is unable to know

The limitations of the well.

Both situations can be seen,

But they cannot be solved by inflexibility.

They can only be remedied by further development.

- I-Ching Hexagram 48 "Jing/Well," Line 6 (as translated by Ni Hua Ching)

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Jupiter, planet of expansion, exploration and life meaning transitioned into Scorpio this past month.  This initiates a new 12 year cycle of Jupiter energies in the sign of Scorpio – a deeply personal and pivotal transit for all of us, as Scorpio governs that which is hidden, subconscious, psychologically raw & deeply emotional.  It represents life, death and transformations of all kinds – and Jupiter is powerfully placed here.  His subtle influence brings grace, as well as awareness to these deeper spaces of being and so this can also be a spiritually enriching influence.  I wish to explore that side of the transit in this article.

First, I do want to share the dates of this Jupiter in Scorpio cycle along with the previous 5 Jupiter cycles.  I find it helpful, when working with cyclical transits to consider the events & themes of the previous cycles, as this can really enrich our understanding of where we are now.

Transits of Jupiter in Scorpio Present & Past:

• October 10, 2017 - November 8, 2018.
• October 26, 2005 – November 23, 2006
• November 11, 1993 – December 9, 1994
• November 27, 1981 – December 25, 1982
• December 17, 1969 – September 11, 1971
• January 14, 1958 – October 5, 1959

When considering these dates, you may recall events that happened during those years.  How do those events relate to what has come up in your life recently?  What connects these cycles to each other, and to the present moment?  This can give you a big clue as to what the next year’s process is going to be about.

So -- as I mentioned, I want to explore the spiritual implications of this transit.  Over the course of these initial weeks, I have noticed a distinct shift in the collective focus towards more Scorpionic themes.  My ideas about the energy have slowly percolated and gathered, but nothing organized or specific was asking to be shared.  Until today, when I was sitting in meditation and to my mind came the verse from Hexagram 48 “The Well”: “It is sad to see / The well is deep / The water is shallow / The bucket is broken…” and the meaning of it all began to coalesce for me.  The transit of Jupiter in Scorpio is a journey into "The Well" -- the energies of our pure creative essence, the divine nectar -- and the stubborn, deep & difficult emotional issues that obstruct our access to this.

One of the larger thematic qualities of this time on earth is the integration of higher spiritual frequencies with the earthly plane.  This is basically a call from the pure soul of humanity to hold the frequency of light in our beings while rooting firmly upon the earth.  When it is discussed in this manner, it sounds like it should all be peaches and cream, sunshine and rainbows, unicorns and laughs – but ultimately it is not so simple.  Because in order for humans to hold the frequency of light, we must be willing to confront and overcome that which has been hidden in darkness.  In order to fully inhabit our earthly beings, we must begin to mend, clean and clear the damage and distortion of our energetic roots to the earth, to nature, to our primordial mother.

On a personal level, we are dealing with the integration of our heavenly essence (pure spirit) with our physical essence.  In order for the pure spirit to radiate in a pure and whole way in this world, we must confront & resolve those things which obstruct us in the physical world:  issues of core identity, self worth, survival, safety.  These issues are particularly dense for most of us, as they have many years of karmic dross attached to them – stuff that has been left totally unaddressed and in the dark through long lines of ancestry.  These are the patterns that are so deep in the subconscious that we don’t even know where they came from – but suddenly now the shoe no longer fits, and we find we need to make more room for ourselves, as we are meant to be rather than the self that is defined and conditioned, in even the most subtle ways, by our ancestry.

But the issues we face at this time are even more profound than that, as they arise from fundamental wounding incurred over millennia, as humans gradually lost touch with nature.  By forgetting our connection to the earth & nature’s way, the natural integration of yin (earthly/matter) & yang (creative/spiritual) has been disturbed, and these forces have, over time, fell into an increasingly stark duality.  The intercourse of yin & yang in the universe is what creates pure manifestation – and in this act they are continuously spiraling together & purifying each other.  However, when yin and yang become separated and divided, they start to express their lower forms – yang rigidity and intolerance, yin stagnation & weakness.   We end up with a world that has many shadows and much pain, born from the stubborn, grandiose & intolerant actions of people.

At this stage of our existence, when we are facing these deeper issues, we are dealing largely with negative yin frequencies that have become firmly rooted and stagnant.  This is like a well that is full of mud.  It takes a great deal of focus and intention to begin to really access, move and clear this energy.  In fact, it is only the pure yang energy that can move the stagnation and purify the yin energy back to its original state of receptivity and flow.  This is an alchemy that requires concerted effort to bring lightness into our life, as well as the sometimes difficult emotional processing of deep, unseen patterning within the being.

So how does this all relate to the Jupiter in Scorpio transit?

Jupiter is the expansive, light-bearing planet of truth – and for the next year or so, this planet of mystical journeys, wayfaring, and deeper meaning, is being lowered into the dank & mysterious Scorpio well.  The very nature of this transit is to shine a light in dark places, feel the pain, and come out on the other side with a whole new perspective.  If nothing else, this transit will alert us to the enormity of the project ahead of us if humanity is to aspire higher.

“The Well” of Scorpio is particularly connected to the aforementioned root issues of ancestry & earthly integration.  Here we are dealing with aspects of the self that are most mysterious and complex – personal power, sexuality, and transformation by way of birth & death.  Scorpio carries deep, expansive potential for soul-touching creative & spiritual truth – and equally profound potential for complete and total destruction.  It is an alchemical sign that generates its power through merging and mystical union.  It is where all of the remnants of things end up in the consciousness – the parts of our lives, of others, etc. that have gradually become ingrained in us, and have shaped us psychologically.  It might be difficult to reach the water at the bottom of the Scorpio well, and even more difficult still to attain its purity – because so much gets caught in this space – but if we persist the end result is always worth it.  For from the emotional process, we have a chance at total rebirth – empowered release from all that psychologically & mysteriously binds us.

In life, we are born from Scorpio merging, and live by the continuous evolutionary wear of human connection. Who am I – and who are they?  In Libra we might ask:  Is it equal?  Is it balanced?  In Scorpio, we acknowledge that all layers of a relationship are complex, interwoven, impossible to truly parse, and deeply karmic.  For reasons we do not understand, we subjugate ourselves to others.  For reasons we do not understand, we also exert power and influence over different others.  When we are conscious in either situation, we can ask ourselves WHY things are that way, perhaps come to some answers, and adjust our behavior – show self control, inner strength/empowerment, etc.  Of course when we are unconscious, Scorpio’s bad side comes out – abuse, power plays, vindictiveness, resentment, rage, addictive and obsessive behaviors/actions.  This is the sign that is connected with the underworld – the river of Hades – where we must wade through dark waters filled with all kinds of horrors, tempted by demons and constantly remain vigilant of the true goal, the true purpose – holding the light delicately as many things attempt to pull us under the water, to distract us from what we’re trying to do, and kill all hope.  It is where we are destroyed by our attachments, mental hang ups, and bad habits.  But it is also where we can locate, acknowledge and clear these things permanently.

When it comes to where we are as a society – I see us going through such a clearing on a very large scale.  The Pluto in Scorpio generation, the “millennials,” are all in their late 20s-30s now and so this cycle, to me, feels a bit like a coming of age for the millennial group project – which is to eradicate and transform oppressive power structures around those areas which are most directly damaged by patterns of separation and destructive human urges based in deep rage & domination.  Sexuality and sexual identity are really strong in particular with Scorpio energy, but this also extends to racial and other social issues that contain patterns of core wounding that are passed down through family lines on a psychological & spiritual level.

What’s important to know about this is that Jupiter serves to expand our awareness – so while many of these issues are obvious problems with society today & nothing new, what Jupiter in Scorpio can help us do is see more deeply into the matter – how can we start to get to the root of, and bring healing to, these issues to restore equilibrium?  Certainly it won’t all be solved at once, but there is a potential here to make great strides on a personal and societal level in exploring these issues.  When it comes to looking at this energy from a healing standpoint, the symbolism of The Well is especially pertinent.

In the I-Ching Hexagram 48, the well is representing one’s spiritual sustenance.  The symbolism of the well is one’s ability or inability to reach the well’s depths for pure fresh water, or pure spiritual nourishment.  One’s ability to do this is directly connected to one’s own depth and clarity of mind.  A mind of muddiness and conflict creates muddy water.  However, when we engage our spiritual resourcefulness – intuition can guide us to the place beyond our limitations, and thus, to water.  Where is the purest water?  What is preventing us from retrieving it (the bucket broken, the rope too short, the water too shallow)?  And then, that gives us a clue – a direction.  How do we go about resolving our brokenness, our shallowness?  What is the remedy to always falling short?

The deepest part of Scorpio is the pure “well” of our being.  The inner well – which may be cloudy, which may be shallow or weak.  Muddied by trauma, unresolved emotions, fear – things accumulated from others, from life, from family.  Purify these failings, these distractions, these shadows, these deep wounds from who knows when, and reclaim this well as a space of spiritual nourishment & creation for one’s own life and needs.  Create the inner strength necessary by returning health to this space.  And with that the spirit can rise to the occasion our collective aspiration -- the Leo North Node – which is the emergence of the spiritual heart and pure creative inspiration.

It is said in many spiritual cultivation traditions that one’s true work benefits 7 generations of ancestors.  When you consider the energetic aspect involved with deep healing work, this makes sense.  If you are unhinging deep ancestral patterns from yourself – wouldn’t it make sense that you are, in essence, breaking the chain of ancestry in general?  You are, after all, a part of that genetic and spiritual line.  So it is with this thought in mind that I have come to believe what many people often state – that the key to changing a faulty paradigm begins with one’s own process.  We all must uproot the sources of anger, rage, subjugation, abuse, and deep Scorpionic darkness within ourselves before we can expect such things to change anywhere else in the world.  For it is not until we have cleared our roots that we can assist others in doing the same.

This transit of Jupiter gives us that collective impulse to journey into our own underworld and cull incredible gifts from our mysterious essence and connection to the primordial.  All it takes is Jupiter's characteristic openness & faith, and a willingness to surrender to the process -- and we might find that no matter how trying the journey may be at times, there's greater freedom on the other side.

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Mercury Retrograde in Gemini: Serious Evaluation

Mercury retrograde is a cyclical event that occurs about 3 times a year. Other planets go retrograde as well, about once a year. A quick and dirty understanding of the phenomenon – “retrograde” simply refers to a period where from the earth’s vantage point a planetary body appears to move backwards in the sky. This is due to the orbit of the planet in relation to us, and is thus reflected in our astrological maps and in the energetic feeling of that planetary body. Retrograde cycles are times for reevaluation and inward reflection on the area of life represented by that particular planet. Mercury governs the mind – in particular, thought and communication – so its direct impact on one of the most basic and fundamental aspects of ordinary life is one of the reasons why we tend to feel its effects so strongly. Now, as an astrologer I feel it is important and necessary to note that not ALL of the crazy upsets that happen during a retrograde are because of Mercury Retrograde (Has anyone else noticed that Mercury Retrograde is the scapegoat for all of life’s problems?) – however, there is no denying that our rational facilities become somewhat debilitated during the Mercury Retrograde cycle – and so any triggering aspects can be greatly magnified. And lately, there have been a LOT of triggering aspects. Simply know that whatever happens during Mercury Retrograde – the primary function of this cycle is to be a mental reset button. Our mental sphere is taking a break from its forward motion and pausing to reevaluate.

So I am calling this Mercury Retrograde cycle “Serious Evaluation.” Why?

One of the major correlations I am feeling with this Mercury Retrograde is its connection with the Saturn Retrograde cycle that started back in March. As of December, Saturn began its movement into Sagittarius after two years in the sign of Scorpio, only to move retrograde shortly thereafter, where it shall return to Scorpio for a few months this summer. Basically, we have some unfinished Karmic business in the Scorpio sector of our lives and we’re heading back into the themes of last year, particularly late fall, to finish up what we started. This Saturn Retrograde cycle is significant because it indicates both an ending and a beginning that is reflected by the cosmic interplay of 2015 as a whole. In my most recent articles I wrote a great deal about how the energies of March and April were bringing us forward into a new energetic context from the inside out. Now it is nearly June, and I am feeling that these new energies are definitely with us, but we are being urged now to purify our lives to an even greater level in order to align with them properly. Those areas where we have weakness or confusion are coming forward to be addressed in a big way. We are essentially undergoing a major overhaul in our collective perspective, and so as individuals are charged with the task of finding the truth of our own lives. Who are we as individuals when we are not wearing the masks or abiding the structures set for us by society? And then, what is our contribution as individuals toward the creation of a more balanced society?

So I really am feeling and seeing this Mercury Retrograde cycle as a focused phase of the larger Saturn Retrograde cycle. We’re being directed to observe not just the physical and structural obstacles to expansion and growth in our lives, but also the mental. For myself, a lot of themes from last summer and fall have already resurfaced and I have been finding myself saying, “Oh no, I’m not getting stuck in that rut again!” And working, actively, to change my attitude and mental blocks or else see the whole summer pass me by with the same unending dilemmas. This shifting has allowed for creative solutions to problems and to perceive the many options available that were previously invisible to me. A little flexibility in thinking can go a long way towards achieving desired results. Sometimes we might have to change course a bit, do something over, or re-experience a less favorable situation to come to clarity about what we really need to do. It’s all there to help us learn, and to bring us in alignment with the proper track.

Mercury Retrograde is also often known as a period for rekindling past connections and being visited by ghosts. These past teachers are cropping up all over – even from the distant past – and it being Mercury in its favorite sign Gemini – all of these people and things have messages for us. What are they? Memories of times that were easier, lighter, more free? What about those times is missing in your present life? How have you changed, grown, and matured since then? On the other hand, perhaps you have past memories that are showing themselves through emotional triggers. Where do these things come from? What is their present day cause? What is their deeper source? What are the steps to bring the shadow aspects of ourselves into the light of consciousness and heal?

We might be reevaluating our work life, the dynamics of our relationships, or realizing the holes that exist in our relationship with ourselves. Sometimes we can look at past situations and see the errors that we perpetuate. Sometimes we look at our past life and are reminded of things we’ve left behind, but perhaps never meant to. Have we forgotten the sweetness of life? The innocence of things before we got stuck in the cycle of “work?” Whether it be working on ourselves, working a job, working a business – are all of our pursuits really feeding our spirit?

Another aspect of this retrograde in Gemini that speaks to me is the nature of information, words, and the tricks of the mind. We live in a culture that is basically on information overload at all times and the influence of this borg of information on our consciousness must certainly be unprecedented, for better or worse. Give your brain a break. We can’t be all things at all times to all people. Gemini loves to play all roles and prides itself in its ability to adapt and take on many different kinds of projects. Quick witted Gemini can learn to fix a bike, aspire to be a yoga expert, write a novel, and remember the most specific details about any topic that has ever piqued their interest – all within the span of 5 minutes -- but there is a reason some people out there are specialists. There is a lot to be said for simply unplugging and focusing on what we really know, and what’s important for us as individuals to develop. That means not allowing ourselves to be scattered by envy for what Sally is up to, tripping over the standards set by others for what life should look like, or even just feeling that we need to take on certain tasks just because it’s slightly cheaper to DIY. In life people commonly say, “Pick your battles.” When it comes to our self-development I would echo this sentiment – “Pick your direction.” And don’t worry about how it compares… if your work/life/love/etc. is honest, and coming from the heart, it should be totally unique. Our unique contribution is what makes life interesting and rich.

The final subject I want to touch on is somewhat more mundane. Everything Gemini comes in pairs… so during Mercury Retrograde in Gemini expect to have to do just about everything multiple times and don’t sweat it. Bought something and brought it home but now it’s too big, small, etc? Just take it back and get another one. You might have to do it twice, even three or four times. But in the end you’ll find the thing that works just right. Accept that everything, in this moment in time, is a process of getting to “just right.” It might not seem very productive, but the idea that we need to “get it done now” and “have it right the first time” is a mental disease in itself as it keeps us in a state of anxiety. Use this time to yield, allow events to take their natural course, and learn to trust that all things work out as they should whether we try to force them, or not. Sometimes we hit it right the first time, sometimes we have to take our time. We are going through changes right now – and so what would have been right before, might not be right anymore. It can take time to see, and feel, the new truth.

Change your mind, change your life. It’s all an inner process – no matter what is vexing, ailing, or holding us up – even if it seems like another person or thing -- it all resides within us. Feel the feelings, let the dust settle, trust that everything will become clear very soon. Make positive choices for your health, your growth, and your peace of mind. We are all capable of freeing ourselves from even the most ingrained patterns and beliefs. Mercury retrograde phases are excellent for doing just that. Take time. Really look at your inner world. Reform, reshape, reevaluate as necessary. Rinse, repeat.

See you on the other side…