Annular Solar Eclipse February 2017

By Guest Blogger Astrologer Cheney Hall

HAPPY NEW MOON - 8 DEGREES 12 MINUTES PISCES ... ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE ... 2/26... 9:58 AM EST ... an Annular Eclipse occurs when there is a narrow ring of the Sun visible beyond the dark mask of the Moon ... this is the last New Moon of the current "astrological year" and a very powerful one at that ... this is the last New Moon until May 25th that will not be embedded in either the Venus or Mercury retrograde which could potentially greatly hinder the benefit of making new starts and planting new seeds in our life for growth ... the emotions will also be greatly they may be very enlightening ... an excellent time for personal meditation ... there is a lot of new "information" being channeled to us by the Universe that has the potential to help us grow personally and spiritually ... solar eclipses in the first decan of Pisces can yield activities that can be produced psychically or spiritually and can be marked by some mystical quality ... but once again the question becomes is this a powerful moon of new beginnings or major endings - well perhaps both in many cases !!!

heightened ... pay particular attention to your dreams as

Solar eclipses are considered to be extra powerful New Moons, and they usually mark periods of major endings and major new beginnings - sometimes things are ripped away from us and other times we realize we must let go no matter how difficult the task ... they usually set up the energies we will be working with over the next six months ... but their effects can last for years as they usually run in 19-year cycles ... there was a solar eclipse on February 26th, 1998 occurring at 7 degrees 55 minutes Pisces - anything come to mind that was important happening in your life back then ??? ... what needs to be released and changed now ??? ... as for the last 6 months, there was an annular solar eclipse on September 1, 2016, occurring at 9 degrees 21 minutes Virgo which was in opposition to this eclipse ... is something closing off now in your life from that period ???

If you have any natal planets or angles - cusp of the 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th houses - at 8-9 degrees of any sign in addition to Pisces, this eclipse will most likely trigger something involving that energy especially in the area of life that is ruled where the planet is being triggered ...

Eclipses are known to bring about tension, energy shifts and crisis, but much needed change as well - if you know where this eclipse degree lies in your natal chart, you might get a clue as to where in your life this change, transformation will begin to take place as new "seeds" are ready to be planted in your life while others MUST be discarded !!!

When the Moon blocks the light of the Sun, awareness shifts from the conscious to the unconscious emotions as they arise from deep within ourselves ... are you ready to be open enough to allow them to flow and to be honest enough with yourself to admit what you have outgrown ??? ... this eclipse instills us with the greatest urgency to not allow fear to be our captor, and to release and let go of whatever is holding us back from achieving further personal and spiritual growth ... are you ready to step outside of your "comfort zone" and forge a new path to bring about greater personal success and happiness ???

New Moons indeed are times for new beginnings ... time to plant new "seeds" for growth in our lives to make ourselves better and more productive ... Not only might you be encouraged to make new beginnings in whatever area of life is ruled by the house in which this new moon falls in your natal chart, but in the following areas as well:

sleeping disorders

imagination

internal happiness

universal love and bliss

dealing with confusion

emotional sensitivity, psychic sensitivity and mystical states

giving in to a higher power through surrender and trust

spiritual awareness and channeling of spiritual power

meditation

desire for inner peace, quiet time and spiritual purification

experiencing unconditional love through forgiveness, understanding, tolerance, acceptance and compassion

overcoming "victim mentality" which includes procrastination, panic attacks, deception, addictions and disappointments, defeatist attitudes

to release tendencies to over analyze

to develop humility

restoring health especially in regards to colds, the feet, the lymphatic system and poisoning and toxicity

This New Moon / Solar Eclipse encourages each one of us to be still, be quiet, to reflect deeply as to who we are, where we are going and how to manifest in our lives what it is that defines us individually as well as collectively ... to surrender excessive anxiety and trust in and stay connected to a higher power ... to develop humility ... to learn to love unconditionally and release the need for perfection ... to allow for deep emotional and spiritual cleansing ... it also brings about the greatest potential for breakthroughs by bestowing each one of us the ability to release and let go of that which no longer serves us but is only weighing us down ...

Make your intentions clear, but allow love and trust to flow in order for the universe to work through you ... and with grace and humility - surrender your anxiety and open yourselves to trust and believe in a higher power to reveal to you the "bigger picture" allowing you to understand and embrace the unfolding of your "life plan" on a daily basis !!!

Find Cheney Hall on Face Book or On his blog: Chiron 2000

July 1st, 2014 Mercury Retrograde Turns Direct

This post is written by Cheney Hall, stellar Astrologer

Mercury completed its second retrograde journey for 2014 today, July 1st, and stationed back into direct motion at 8:50 AM EDT - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... hopefully the emotional and mental disorientation and confusion while Mercury was retrograde in the "water" sign of Cancer and then in the "air" sign of Gemini will now begin to clear as it is time to ease back into the forward swing of things on all levels ... over the next few days to the next few weeks or even months, there will most likely be some "a-ha" lights coming on in regard to decisions made during the retrograde period from 6/7 through today 7/1 and possibly as far back as 5/22 when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of the retrograde journey today which was at 24 degrees of Gemini ... or did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from February 6th - February 28th ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from October 21st - November 10th, 2013 ??? ... if you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in what house or houses 3 degrees Cancer back down to 24 degrees Gemini falls - what kinds of issues did you have to deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???
The recurring question we may find ourselves asking now that Mercury is back in direct motion is "WHY" ??????? ...What actions did you take or were taken against you that you may now be regretting or simply wondering why you chose to do or wondering why you were the victim of that particular course of action, and why didn't you or the other person wait a little longer or are simply now trying to figure out why it happened ???? .... did you make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action ??? ... there could be problems regarding any purchases made with anything where electrical energy and/or computers were involved .... relationships may have come to an end - some needed to and others may have jumped the gun and you are now wondering, or will be, why did I do that or end things at this point ... and how many of you got married - OOPSIE !!! ... all of these scenarios are possible as the energy of a Mercury retrograde is one where communications and mental energy is going "backwards" ...
While Mercury was retrograde in Cancer did anyone have issues arise including : your home, parents, family, foundations, psychological roots, personal security, property - houses and/or real estate, for some the closing years of life, and endings of any kind ... these are all issues addressed in the 4th house of the zodiac naturally ruled by Cancer ...
While Mercury completed its retrograde journey in the sign of Gemini, which it reentered on June 17th, did anyone encounter issues including all forms of communication, as these surely got crossed and frequently especially since this is what normally gets affected in a Mercury retrograde regardless of the sign it is in ??? ... with the keyword of the 3rd house being "awareness", were there times when you seemed to be "lost in a fog" and not processing clearly ??? ... in addition, did anyone have issues regarding your local environment, brothers and sisters, all means of transportation especially in relation to short trips, and the adaptability of ones mind to learn and understand new ideas ???
In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so in addition to health issues in general during which are quite possible during a Mercury retrograde, while in Cancer did anyone have issues in the areas of the breast and stomach ??? ... while Mercury was retrograde in Gemini did anyone have health issues flaring up regarding the hands, arms, shoulders and lungs ???
Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end ... how have you been enlightened ??? ... your ruling planet now resumes forward motion and much to your delight so will you !!!
Just a reminder of what the energy of Mercury in Gemini is all about :
"Mercury in Gemini gives a mind and tongue that can be very restless but very good at absorbing and learning information easily and then sharing it ... one can be quite articulate but sometimes have the tendency to talk or even gossip too much ... there is a skill for verbal expression and the ability to communicate quickly and cleverly ... often the ideas and manner of speech come off a bit superficial due to the urge to communicate perceived information immediately or because one is covering too much ground ... this energy is all about learning and communicating ... there is a high degree of curiosity about everything coupled with an eagerness to learn as much as possible - the world is ones school of life and therein exists a sumptuous, endless and delicious banquet of knowledge !!! ... the mind is likely to be logical, rational, and able to offer information on most any topic ... friendly interchanges are frequent along with the tendency to ask a lot of questions ... there is a high degree of nervous energy which can flow into speech, gestures, writing or manual dexterity in some fashion ... there is also the possibility of physical dexterity and flexibility ...
Those born with Mercury in Gemini, as well as the rest of us that are subject to its transiting influence, can be very hard to pin down ... one often holds down more than one job or may work on a number of projects at one time ... quick, versatile and interested in the world at large, one tends to live mostly on a mental plane ... one MUST have facts and information - there is a basic need to KNOW ... this energy frequently makes one good at languages and math, gives one a love of reading, studying , traveling, and talking with new people about what you have learned or are thinking about ... there is also the potential for a lack of being able to stick-to-it as well as a lack of order in ones life ... usually this energy can produce one who knows a little bit about everything but not a lot about anything !!!
Mercury in Gemini teaches us to learn to think through communicating ... the mind is fed and nurtured through making contact with as many people and as many subjects as possible ... the intellect is wired up and ready to go ... it must constantly be stimulated otherwise nervous irritability or restlessness can occur ... the mind is efficient due to its ability to be quick and acquisitive, but the quality of the mind is only as good as what is being fed into it through social, business and educational pursuits - input becomes just as important as output !!! ... there is the capability of thinking on two or more levels at one time ... but one must guard against not having a definite direction to move in or else there can be the result of great mental confusion ..."
Mercury remains in direct motion until October 4th ... it remains in the sign of Gemini until July 12th/13th, depending in which time zone you live, and then reenters, to complete its full transit through, the sign of Cancer ...
Mercury is now moving forward to exit its retrograde zone which will occur on July 15th when it returns to 3 degrees Cancer ... Mercury is indeed back in forward motion gaining momentum to return to full speed at that point ...
Now that Mercury has resumed forward motion, the Personal Planet (Mercury,Venus, Mars) Retrograde Flip Flop sequence, which I addressed in my blog back on September 30th of last year, is now concluded for all intents and purposes ... both Mercury and Mars still have to exit their respective retrograde zones - Mercury on the 15th and Mars on the 21st ... nevertheless, it is time to begin to move onward and upward and what good timing this is ... we enter the month of July which is going to be full of multiple planetary energies that will certainly require our attention and sharp focus in order to process and positively incorporate into our lives ... SO ... if you missed my post yesterday appropriately entitled "Aspects & Ingresses & Stations ... Oh Myyyy", or simply ignored it - FOR SHAME !!! - now would be an excellent time to go back and read it ... and why ??? ... because, as Mercury surely understands, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER !!!

www.chiron2000.blogspot.com

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June 2014, Mercury Retrograde

By Guest Cheney Hall, from Atlanta, Georgia

Mercury begins its second RETROGRADE journey for 2014 tomorrow, June 7th, at 7:57 AM EDT ... if you've been following my blogs, then you know what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde … as always - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!! ... It is very important to understand that planetary retrogrades are NOT ALWAYS the harbingers of doom and gloom ... even though it is true they can cause disruption and misunderstandings, we have to realize these are simply Universal "time outs" which give us the opportunity to drop back and rethink and review our actions being generated by the planet which is retrograde, especially as the energy relates to the sign and house in ones natal chart that planet is currently transiting through ... bottom line - though we often joke about it, retrogrades shouldn't always be feared and dreaded but perhaps approached cautiously ... the Universe is giving us a chance to right our wrongs and redirect ourselves to achieve more beneficial personal and spiritual growth !!! ... some of you may have noticed the backward energy beginning to make itself apparent already as Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on July 1st - back on May 22nd at 24 degrees 23 minutes of Cancer ... it practically goes without saying that things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned, and we often find ourselves RE-DOING things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ... of course it is not unusual to have people from our past come back around but it usually ends up being for only what I refer to as a "pass and review" ... obviously there is always the chance that something done within a previous Mercury retrograde may come back to "bite" us and require that we address the issue and resolve it ... Mercury was last retrograde from February 6th through February 28th, and last year from October 21st through November 10th, June 26th through July 20th and February 23rd through March 17th ... and yes, even Mercury retrogrades prior to last year could produce some unexpected issues to come up during this current retrograde !!! ... Gemini and Virgo born, as this is your planetary ruler ... it is once again time for you to step back to review and re-evaluate what has been going on in your life particularly since February 28th ...

Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars, a big NO NO - that goes double for USED CARS ... nor is it a good time to purchase computers or anything that involves electronics ... also purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is also not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!! .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is any way to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it ...

To RE-PEAT, Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision - as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... this second Mercury retrograde for 2014 is another dual sign retrograde ... it will go from 3 degrees Cancer back to 24 degrees Gemini ... during a Mercury retrograde period it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm and get back in synch with it ... if you've had a natal chart done and know in which houses these signs and degrees fall, then you will probably get an idea of where in life the Universe is asking you to step back and take a closer look at what you are doing in that area of your life especially in regard to your mental processing and communicating ... it's where issues most often will arise for you in addition to the other general issues that can annoy everyone during the retrograde period ...

Mercury retrograding in the sign of Cancer yields emphasis for an opportunity to rethink how we emotionally respond to life ... and being in a water sign, Mercury retrograding in Cancer produces a strong desire to retreat inward ... when Mercury retrogrades in a water sign our feelings and emotions are strongly activated and, as challenging and sometimes even painful as it can be, we MUST address them in order to promote personal healing by making us have to work harder at producing a more stable balance between our emotional and the mental processes ... as waters can run very deep, that is where we most likely are going to have to dive into ourselves to come face to face with our innermost feelings and emotions ... and wherever this retrograde energy falls by house in your natal chart, actions could arise in that area of your life causing you to undergo a careful and hopefully honest examination to determine if these feelings and emotions are producing a positive or negative contribution to the quality of your life ... this is also an excellent time to keep a dream journal to discover what the Universe is revealing to us deep within our unconsciousness ... even though this can be challenging, it can be an excellent time for honest self evaluation if we have the strength, trust and courage to allow the process to unfold ... the last time Mercury was retrograde in the sign of Cancer was from June 26th through July 20, 2013, from 23 degrees back down to 13 degrees ... but the house emphasis could possibly shift somewhat as Mercury got no further than 3 degrees of Cancer this time before beginning its retrograde journey ... can you remember what was going on back then ??? ... even though the degrees are different, issues from that period could come back for you to review and reexamine ...

In addition to the "usual suspect" issues which arise during a Mercury retrograde, being in Cancer there will probably be issues which arise including : your home, parents, family, foundations, psychological roots, personal security, property - houses and/or real estate, for some the closing years of life, and endings of any kind ... these are all issues addressed in the 4th house of the zodiac naturally ruled by Cancer ...
In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... and being in Cancer especially in the areas of the beast and stomach ... the stomach area most likely being activated by emotional stress conflicting with the digestive process ... this is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!!

On June 17th, Mercury will return to the sign of Gemini at 6:05 AM EDT ... the emphasis will then shift from an emotional to an intellectual process of thinking and communicating ... Mercury was in the sign of Gemini from May 7th through May 29th, so it is very likely that issues from that period will resurface for you to review and reflect upon ... this is also the point when the retrograde period could get even more challenging as Gemini is one of the signs Mercury naturally rules ... Mercury retrograding in the sign of Gemini yields emphasis for us to rethink how we respond to life and how we relate - intellectually more so than emotionally ... and as Gemini is an air sign and rules the 3rd house which includes all forms of communication, you can bet these are going to get crossed and frequently especially as this is what normally gets affected in a Mercury retrograde regardless of the sign it is in ... with the keyword of the 3rd house being "awareness", there will be times when we seem to be "lost in a fog" and not processing clearly ... along with communications, there could be issues regarding your local environment, brothers and sisters, all means of transportation especially in relation to short trips, and the adaptability of ones mind to learn and understand new ideas ... in regards to health, issues could flare up regarding the hands, arms, shoulders and lungs ... Mercury was last retrograde in Gemini briefly from May 7th through May 13th, 2009 and completely retrograde in Gemini from May 26th through June 19th, 2008 ...

Below I have re posted the "Mercury Retrograde Survival Manual" written by my teacher Lyn Hammond Gray ... hopefully it will help out :

"Here is your Survival manual: Mercury retro always creates a repeating action. The Re-Words are common. Some re-words that you will notice during this time are:

Repeat – The action you are making during the RX period you will probably repeat again during the period or later.

Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (July 1st).

Reverse - You will be amazed at how many times you change your mind or reverse your thinking during this time. Watch out for that race car driver that is driving in reverse down the emergency lane on the freeway. Yikes!....

Recall - Your mind will wonder back. You will think of people from the past or you will encounter someone from the past. If old lovers show up, don't bet that it will stick. Believe me... it is just for a "review." (And if it does last, I want to be the first to know about it. E-mail me and let me know). And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either - wait until after July 1st !!!

Review - If you are reading instructions, you may find it necessary to review repeatedly because they simply don't make sense. Sometimes the publisher has actually left out a step. It happens!

Regroup - In corporations, it is a common experience during the Rx to hear the boss say, 'Alright, we are going to rework this thing and get it right.' Later when the period is over, they go back to the old way doing things. It is a laugh a minute. Stand back and watch the comedy.

Reboot and Revise - The computer world is a definite place to watch the comedy. It is common for one to suddenly, without fore thought, decide to revise their system during the Rx. Oh! Mercy! That revised system may never function in the normal way. Oh, please! Do wait until the period is over. However, it is fine to do your shopping for the new components during the Rx. When you do go to purchase your parts after July 1st, you will find better deals and buys.

Return - Now here is a good one. You'll find that this period is a popular time for family or class reunions. Should you stay are home? Absolutely not! You go because this is a review that you don't want to miss. But funny thing is that in spite of the fact that you tell these people 'lets stay in touch' it will become lip service and you won't live up to your suggestion.

Rebirth – Often one will go back into the past and bring up old creative projects to work with during this time frame. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Only you will be able to activate the discipline to keep it going once the retrograde period is over.

Recover - You can bet that you will dig into your files, boxes or storage to recover something that you need…you can also bet it won't be an easy find. It is likely that you will be looking for a legal document· While it is possible that you may not find what you are looking for, you may find something that you would like to put back in to use. Fun!

Re-examine – Well, just about everything.

Reduction – Over the years, I have been amazed at how many times a company or person decides to eliminate a job or to leave a job during the retrograde. It is my experience that a job changed during this period is 95% of the time regretted. Can you wait until the period is over, dear heart?

And so it is. Three times a year we live this cosmic "going to teach you patience routine". All and all when this retrograde period is over you may "Realize" this simple truth: The flow of the universe is very, very interesting and it is going to have its way with us.

Good luck and may the Universe bestow upon each one of you a special wisdom and unique insight into your journey through this life at this point!!! "

BACK TO ME NOW .... Those born between June 7th and July 1st will most likely have Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... if you were born between June 8th and June 16th, you will get the Mercury retrograde in Cancer energy ... if you were born between June 18th and June 30th, you will get the Mercury retrograde in Gemini energy ... those born on June 17th will get either one or the other depending on what time your solar return occurs ... those born on June 7th or July 1st may or may not get the retrograde energy depending on what time your solar return occurs ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

"The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return ...

A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years’ birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs ... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart ...

Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" ... the mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor ... another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!! ... this is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed ...
It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! "

Mercury remains retrograde until July 1st ... there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads as well as other lights going OUT while this Mercury Retrograde energy produces its cosmic disruption for the next 25 days ... so slow down and try not to act too impulsively or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... tempers will flare and patience may become scarce, but that personal sense of humor, being one of your greatest allies, should be called upon frequently as the Mercury Retrograde merrily wreaks havoc and/or bestows enlightenment to each one of us ... and in the end my fellow beings of light, as this second dual sign Mercury Retrograde period of 2014 is now upon us, the question once again as usual becomes : Will we become the constant victim of Cosmic Chaos, become the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity ... or BOTH ??? ... Best to go with the flow and not try to swim upstream in a raging current of cosmic confusion !!!

www.chiron2000.blogspot.com

Mercury Retrograde and Other Astrological Challenges

By Guest Writer, Stellar Astrologer Cheney Hall

Cheney Hall is a Master Astrologer the link to his blog is:

http://chiron2000.blogspot.com/

PERSONAL PLANET RETROGRADE FLIP FLOP 

With the Sun currently transiting through the sign of Libra and one of the main purposes of this energy being to find balance and harmony in relationships and partnerships, it seems like an excellent time to pull out the Cosmic binoculars and look ahead to address something I have been alluding to in several of my recent blogs ... that would be what I have named the upcoming "Personal Planet Retrograde Flip Flop" which I will be referring to as PPRFF from this point forward to save some excessive typing !!! ... the Universe will be placing each one of us on a steep learning curve in the "school of life" particularly in reference to the way we think and communicate, romance, partnerships and relationships, personal values, finances, and our personal initiative over the next 10 months ... this sequence begins on October 1st with Mercury entering its final shadow point for 2013 and concludes with Mars exiting its next retrograde zone on July 21st, 2014 ... when Mercury kicks off the PPRFF on October 1st, the Universe will bestow us with the beginning of a personal planet retrograde sequence that goes in the following order - Mercury, Venus, Mercury, Mars then Mercury ... these three planets are considered to be the "personal" planets as their energy tends to reveal behavior characteristics that make one unique ... the Sun and Moon are also in this group but they never go retrograde ... the following is a general idea of the timing of their retrograde periods during the PPRFF ... each retrograde period will be addressed in more detail later as they actually begin ... 

To start with, every planet, no matter which one that is involved in a retrograde journey, goes through a period of influence ... it begins with the approaching backward energy making itself apparent, the actual retrograde period where the energy is indeed moving backwards, and then the energy turning back into forward motion as the planet moves back to the point where it began its retrograde period ... these point are respectively referred to as :

SHADOW POINT - the planet, still in forward motion, reaches the degree where it will end its upcoming retrograde period

RETROGRADE PERIOD - the degrees and sign, or signs in some cases, where the retrograde takes place

EXIT RETROGRADE ZONE - the degree and sign where the retrograde period began to which the planet has now returned to and is passing over ... considered by some astrologers as the planet returning back up to full speed ...

Shadow points aren't always thought of as being that detrimental, but they often will produce some kind of energy or event that appears to foreshadow what the upcoming retrograde period will involve ... the retrograde period is the actual time where one should slow down and be careful as to actions being taken especially in regard to which particular area of life the planet, and the sign it is retrograding in, rules or exerts its energy over ... if you've had a natal chart done then you will get an even better idea as to where this backward energy will present in your life for you to deal with in regards to the house or houses it occurs in, natal planets it aspects, and natal planets the retrograde planet crosses back over ... once the retrograde is over the planet has now resumed forward motion and in most cases it is not a problem to proceed with what needs to be addressed in your life, but one just might want to be somewhat more cautious until the planet exits the retrograde zone ...

Even though this sequence will cover approximately 10 months, there are no days when one of the personal planets won't be in a shadow point or moving back in forward motion to exit a retrograde zone, but there will be some days when there will not be a personal planet retrograde ... these days are :

10/1 - 10/20

11/11 - 12/20

2/1/2014 - 2/5/2014

5/20/2014 - 6/6/2014

7/2/2014 - 7/15/2014 

After 7/15/2014 there will not be a personal planet retrograde or preparing to take its next retrograde journey until September 14th, 2014 when Mercury enters its shadow point in advance of its final retrograde period for 2014 beginning on October 4th, 2014.

The following is a brief description of the general effects of a Mercury, Venus or Mars retrograde period ... as mentioned before, they will be dealt with in more complete detail later as they occur.

MERCURY - Mercury goes retrograde 3 and sometimes 4 times a year ... it governs our thinking and how we communicate naturally governing the 3rd house (Gemini) of the horoscope ... it also governs the 6th house (Virgo) thus making its retrograde period a time when work and health issues arise especially in regard to the sign or signs it takes its retrograde journey in ... as a rule, communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially cars, a big NO-NO - that goes double for USED CARS, computers or anything that involves electronics ... purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up becoming dead ends ... and weddings, well I know it takes a long time to plan a wedding and some of them will just have to go on as planned, but if you can avoid a wedding in a Mercury Retrograde - DO IT !!!

VENUS - Venus goes retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... Venus naturally governs the 2nd house (Taurus) which addresses money, how you earn it and how you spend it, as well as personal values ... it also naturally governs the 7th house (Libra) which addresses face-to-face partnerships and relationships ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers or friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging ... this is also a time when our personal values get reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere ... the main purpose of a Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract ... it's NOT a good time to purchase "luxury " items if you can wait because when Venus stations back into direct motion you might well find yourself thinking "Why did I spend THAT MUCH on something I really didn't need or want", or you may simply feel you did not get the anticipated value for what you spent your hard earned money to purchase ... often in a Venus retrograde money can become low and scarce and we could also end up having to spend money we hadn't counted on spending, but in some cases one may end up getting money "coming back" to them from one source or another!!! ... it is not usually a good time to begin a new job if you can wait because you may never get the money you expected out of the job, and the job might not pan out down the road for some reason ... that being said, unfortunately as a Venus retrograde can indicate the "tightening of the purse strings", salaries could be cut back or the job may be terminated for one reason or another ... we also tend to become a little less sociable and often forget our manners ... ABOVE ALL ELSE, weddings are most certainly a huge NO-NO as this is the planet which rules romance, love and affection - do you really want that energy going backwards on the day you say "I Do" ???

MARS - Mars goes retrograde roughly every 22 months for about 9 - 10 weeks ... Mars naturally governs the 1st house (Aries) which addresses not only the way we individually project ourselves out into the world but ultimately our desires, drives, ambition and personal energy ... during a Mars retrograde we have to evaluate what it is that motivates us and we have to determine if we are on the correct path to achieve our goals, and if we are doing what we should be doing to get there ... Mars retrograde periods are time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that our intent is accomplished ... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... old resentments and personal issues that haven't been resolved in the past have a tendency of resurfacing during this period which yields an awareness that the time has come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, anger and learning assertiveness ... it is often said that during a Mars retrograde we may become somewhat less "warlike" and that our energy can hit a lull to the point where it seems our get up and go truly got up and went !!!!

The following are the actual dates of the upcoming personal planet retrograde periods in case you would like to mark your calendar or make a note in order to be prepared ... and for the sake of once again saving excessive typing these are the following letter abbreviations to note the period of the particular retrograde ... SP = Shadow Point ... RX = Retrograde Period ... ERXZ = Exit Retrograde Zone :

MERCURY - 

SP : 10/1 ... 2 degrees Scorpio

RX : 10/21 - 11/10 ... 18 - 2 degrees Scorpio

ERXZ : 11/27 ... 18 degrees Scorpio 

VENUS -

SP : 11/20 ... 13 degrees Capricorn

RX : 12/21 - 1/31/2014 ... 28 - 13 degrees Capricorn

ERXZ : 3/4/2014 … 28 degrees Capricorn

MERCURY

SP : 1/12/2014 ... 18 degrees Aquarius

RX : 2/6/2014 - 2/28/2014 ... 3 degrees Pisces - 18 degrees Aquarius

ERXZ : 3/20/2014 ... 3 degrees Pisces

MARS -

SP : 12/26 ... 9 degrees Libra

RX : 3/1/2014 - 5/19/2014 ... 27 - 9 degrees Libra

ERXZ : 7/21/2014 ... 27 degrees Libra

MERCURY -

SP : 5/22/2014 ... 24 degrees Gemini

RX : 6/7/2014 - 7/1/2014 ... 3 degrees Cancer - 24 degrees Gemini

ERXZ : 7/15/2014 … 3 degrees Cancer

Now you have a basic idea of what to expect over the next 10 month period in regard to the backward motion and resulting influence of these three planets ... transiting retrogrades affect everyone because the energy we feel from the retrograde planet is "different" while it is, so to speak, moving backwards ... it doesn't mean it is all doom and gloom and something that should be dreaded ... sometimes a retrograde period may come and go with side effects barely noticeable while other times it could prove extremely challenging ... but that of course is going to depend on where you are in life and what is going on around you ... for those born with any of these planets retrograde in their natal chart, I sometimes have found these clients seem to navigate these often choppy waters with less stress and aggravation ... and you have to keep in mind that these particular energies aren't the only ones producing influential energy down here below ... there are always many different energies in play "upstairs" at any given time which results in the universal energy affecting one through transits around their natal chart, progressions to their natal chart, solar returns, lunar returns and a vast array of other cosmic influences which can usually be deciphered for you by an astrologer ... 

Though we all will probably experience some kind of effect from the ensuing PPRFF, those that may be more sensitive to it include Scorpio, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Libra, Gemini and Cancer born as these are the actual signs in which the respective retrograde periods will take place … Gemini, Virgo, Taurus, Libra, and Aries may be equally as sensitive to these retrogrades as these three are your ruling planets : Mercury = Gemini and Virgo, Venus = Taurus and Libra, and Mars = Aries …

Ultimately retrograde periods are simply Universal time outs put in place to slow us down and give us the opportunity to get back in sync with the Universal rhythm thus making them thought of as global wake-up calls ... so why try to swim upstream in a raging current … go with the flow - adjust and adapt … and, most importantly, in trying to determine what is going on around you due to planetary energy interplay and influence, and as nothing is set in stone, it is always a good thing to keep in mind a phrase my astrology teacher, Lyn Hammond Gray, used to stress over and over, from the very first day of class : when synthesizing the overall astrological energy at any given moment in time, always remember to consider this possibility - "MODIFIED BY WHAT ???"

"Everything must change ... nothing stays the same ... everyone must change ... no one stays the same ... "