Pisces

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First Quarter Moon in Pisces ☽ Dec 18, 2015

Friday Dec 18 at 10.14 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Pisces.

Seen from above, the First Quarter Moon forms a 90º angle to an invisible line running through the Earth to the sun, hence “square” for the name of this astrological aspect. In this particular phase, the Sun in Sagittarius squares the moon in Pisces. The moon will rise at noon, peak at dusk and set at midnight.

Quarter moon phases are especially trying – think sharp, angular junctions prompting change. As CafeAstrology notes, quarter phases are a “crisis of consciousness.” The waxing moon symbolizes a return to awareness and serves as the best time to tweak and improve upon existing strategies. The week between the first quarter and full moon (Dec 18-25) is the most potent of the lunar cycle.

We have reached a corner and must choose a direction. The building energy in our skies is there to inspire you. This phase encourages decisive action, calculated risk-taking and deepened commitment to personal growth. It’s time to gather the Self.

I’m writing with a heavy heart. I don’t know if it’s just me or if I’m picking up on something global. Lately I’m learning the same thing over and over: listen to your intuition and spend time only with people who uplift and inspire!

This moon phase falls in the last sign of the zodiac wheel, so we are approaching the proverbial death of one era and the beginning of another. Any and all astrological goings-on in Pisces represent endings and resolution. This is a highly emotional time when we are asked to say goodbye to that which no longer serves us.

The fishes ask us to rest and reflect. If we don’t do this during the Sagittarius season, we are whisked away on a rainbow road of unchecked idealism and frenzied excitement. Even when we want SO badly for something to work, we must have the strength to be honest about what isn’t working. This is not an easy time. The purpose of this quarter moon is deep introspection (Pisces) overlaying active change in direction (Sagittarius). Both the fishes and the centaur archer have a habit of moving away from the shadows, but how will we grow if we never acknowledge the darkest parts of the Self?

Pisces encourages us to contemplate and then recharge. The centaur archer must realize that this is in fact a very important step in the process of doing and becoming. If we do not give ourselves the opportunity to let it all sink in, we fail to gain the proper insight needed to effectively move forward. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and observe. I think it’s best to stay in and do nothing. It is always tempting during the Sagittarius cycle to give, give, give until we are exhausted. We must be steady enough to hold and shoot the bow of the archer and sensitive enough to care for our fishes in the heart, swimming silently yet constantly, forever chasing tails. Peace to you on the last leg of this difficult journey.

The First Quarter Moon in Pisces last fell at the end of November 2014. Any themes that predominated then will now resurface. I suggest a ritual involving water or some Pisces Yoga.

To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: making peace

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Supermoon in Pisces 🐟 Aug 29, 2015

The Full Moon in Pisces comes exact on Saturday, August 29 at 2:35 pm EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Pisces.

This particular full moon is called the Harvest Moon, Corn Moon or Barley Moon. As I’ve discussed in recent posts, the Virgo cycle is one of symbolic harvest, so all of these names are perfect. In more ways than one, this full moon reaps the seeds we have sown. The moon will rise at sunset, peak at midnight and set at sunrise.

The Sun and Moon in total opposition between Virgo and Pisces: finite vs. infinite. The last full moon in Pisces fell in early September 2014. Any themes/conflicts that predominated then will now resurface. Luna rounds herself to total majesty less than a week after the Sun enters Virgo. I see this as a continuation of an energetic theme I’ve been feeling lately: speedy manifestation, coming up to base camp sooner than expected. We’ll be meeting in the water - at the ocean’s edge where all dissolves to One. After the tension of Quarter Moon in Scorpio #2, this phase will be a ceremony of sweet spiritual ecstasy.

Axis of infinity

Virgo and Pisces are markedly different creatures. Let’s meditate for a moment on the ruling planets of each sign, Mercury and Neptune respectively. Mercury can’t slow down, he’s got way too many ideas and words and tasks. Neptune, on the other hand, spends her entire existence in bottomless REM cycles. Whether she likes it or not, Virgo is inextricably tied to the goings-on of terrestrial life. I have compassion for Pisces; she is ultimately a fish out of water when we’re talking human incarnation. The Pisces soul yearns to return to her otherworldly homeland where the concepts of time and space are unknown. So here we are, with one foot definitively on Earth and the other quickly turning translucent, pulled by an unseen force to the outer cosmos.

What is the connection between the mundane and the extraordinary? We work here to build our golden temple there, in that place where we find no gold, no bricks, no temples. In yoga, for example, enormous emphasis is placed on day-to-day observances such as cleaning and maintenance. The rote work entailed in any practice such as yoga demonstrates that mystical insight will not surface until proper arrangements have been made here in earthbound life. Simple yet fundamental acts prepare us to see our bodies and the spaces which they inhabit as one and the same, to be treated with equal love and respect. You would be hard-pressed to find a yogi, shaman or mystic who does not have an unwavering daily regimen. Virgo demands pragmatism and organization, but these are mere means to an end. We surrender to particular methods only so that we may understand their connection to those planes and dimensions in which there is no separation between body, spirit, time or space.

I like to visualize this transit as a swimmer suspended in holy water, detached from physical limitations: flowing, folding, flowering, fading, reemerging again and again. Pisces is the state of mind we experience while in a trance. She expresses a desire to “leave this world” or perhaps transform collective reality as we know it so that it may more closely resemble her Neptunian bliss. Even Virgo herself may not realize that all of her work is leading to a state of being so divine that it cannot be named. The thought of starting here in order to get there is painful for some, myself included. In my feet the fishes swim in a ring of perpetuity, urging me to run directly to the ocean, down to her rocky depths.

Pisces and Virgo both want to be of service to the greater good. Virgo may become annoyed with Pisces, labeling her wishy-washy or touchy-feely. Too much Virgo makes us tight and rigid. However, Virgo reminds the fish that it is dangerous to ignore our surroundings; and Pisces teaches us that we are mechanical and insensitive when we fail to regularly tap in. My favorite art teacher once told me that we cannot create and analyze at the same time – these are two separate, conflicting processes. I feel it all as we begin our journey in Virgo’s realm - days filled with service to the Divine - yoga, meditation, proper diet, and dreams dreams dreams of what comes after. Confrontation of any kind is especially painful for the fish - unlike most, she lives so far away that when she must be drawn back to what is, she would honestly rather die again.

Keep your dreams, my friends, and take it easy on this full moon. Pisces is the sign of the addict - she likes to drink and be social, even when her inner voices are pleading otherwise! The Full Moon in Pisces is therefore a spectacle of maudlin humans bemoaning Life in the moonlit streets. Romantic, but not sexy. Ignore your intuition and you may pay the price! I suggest a ritual involving water or some Pisces Yoga.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I dream

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Neptune Retrograde in Pisces ♆ June 12 - Nov 18

Neptune turns retrograde in Pisces from June 12 – November 18, 2015

Click here to learn about Neptune. Click here to learn about Pisces.

To be very clear, planets in retrograde are not actually spinning backwards – it is entirely an optical illusion as seen from Earth. Backwards motion appears to happen when Earth passes slower moving planets in the outer solar system. In astrology, this illusion manifests as “backwards” functioning of the planets and their respective roles. Click here to learn more about retrograde motion.

In classic astrology, Neptune rules mutable water Pisces, the last sign in the zodiac realm. Just as Pisces represents endings and return to Source, Neptune rules ego-death, spiritual sacrifice and enlightenment. Neptune is the dreamer, the psychic, the medium: the dissolution of many into One. She is master of imaginative thought and boundless creativity. Neptune’s lessons ask us to confront our relationship to vices and addictions which offer a dreamlike sense of reality.

Neptune in Pisces: mass spiritual awakening

Since April 2011, Neptune has been transiting through Pisces, the sign she rules. When a planet returns to its ruling sign, we say in astrology that it is “at home.” Whenever a planet occupies the sign it rules, the energy of the planet is more visible and obvious in everyday life. With Neptune at home, we are poised for transformation on a global scale. On the other hand, it is possible for this to manifest as a massive existential crisis. As individuals, we all have a choice to make. Are you avoiding your own spiritual path, allowing fear to predominate? Navigating the murky territory of our higher Self is difficult and intense, no doubt, but Neptune is here to guide you.

We have the power to liberate the Self from waking reality and evolve beyond this terrestrial plane. Imagine a membrane between each dimension and each parallel reality growing thinner by the day. Many trends in popular culture reflect Neptune’s current placement: rapid legalization of medical/recreational marijuana; yoga and transcendental meditation skyrocketing in the West; extra-terrestrial themes in music and pop culture; simulators and next-level gaming that blur the lines between physical and virtual reality, just to name a few.

Empower the divine feminine

We are also encouraged now to examine the great imbalance between masculine and feminine energy on our planet. I am confident that by the end of Neptune’s current spin through Pisces, we will have returned to ancient wisdom as a way to protect the Earth and empower her people. Neptune aspires to universal love and compassion for all beings. Ever since Neptune returned home to Pisces in 2011, my intuition, empathy and psychic awareness have grown exponentially more powerful.

A major lesson of Neptune is understanding that our vices do not elevate us to a higher consciousness. Many fall down the well of addiction and escapist behavior in an effort to gain greater soul awareness, whether or not this is the conscious goal. This reminds me of Coleman Bark’s introduction to a collection of poems about taverns by 13th century Turkish poet Jelaluddin Rumi:

The grapeskin of ego breaks and a pouring begins. Fermentation is one of the oldest symbols for human transformation. When grapes combine their juice and are closed up together for a time in a dark place, the results are spectacular. This is what lets two drunks meet so that they don’t know who is who. Pronouns no longer apply in the tavern’s mud-world of excited confusion and half-articulated wantings. But after some time in the tavern, a point comes, a memory of elsewhere, a longing for the source, and the drunks must set off from the tavern and return … The tavern is a kind of glorious hell that human beings enjoy and suffer and then push off from in search for truth … A breaking apart, a crying out in the street, begins in the tavern, and the human soul turns to find its way home. (The Essential Rumi, p. 1)

It is more important now than ever to ground in a spiritual practice. Chances are, you already have one. Anything you do on a daily basis that makes you feel whole and happy is a spiritual practice, such as having a cup of coffee and reading a book every morning.

Neptune Rx: what to expect?

Neptune is retrograde about 5 months out of the year. This is an introspective and reflective period in which we are likely to encounter delays in our own transformational journey. Just because the rate of shift will temporarily slow doesn’t mean that these changes will lose intensity. In fact, you can expect quite the opposite. When retrograde, Neptune’s purpose is to clear out internal blockages that hinder our personal journey. Change happens more within than externally. When Neptune is direct, she operates in the public sphere on a global level. However, Neptune Rx gets us in touch with our own personal shadows.

When retrograde, Neptune becomes even more Neptunian. During Neptune Rx periods, our sensitivity increases such that we are able to see and feel much more than usual. It is easy during this time to become overwhelmed by our surroundings. Neptune Retrograde blurs the lines until they practically vanish, making it quite challenging for us to effectively resist outside influences. However, this is actually a blessing in disguise. We learn during this period how to exercise better self-control and self-discipline and also how to confront issues that we have been avoiding deep within the psyche. During this time it is not uncommon for psychic abilities to kick up a notch. In all ways, we are more in touch with the right brain, the divine feminine. This is a very powerful time to heal and cultivate self-compassion. Give a listen to Neptune, the Mystic from The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst.

On the night of Monday, June 8, the moon will pass over Neptune in Pisces in what is known as a “conjunction” in astrology. I suggest a ritual with water or some Pisces Yoga.

I was born with Neptune retrograde. Those with this disposition may not feel the effects of this period as much, if at all. To find your Neptune sign and whether she was direct or retrograde at the time of your birth, click here.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: close both eyes to see with the other

Last Quarter Moon in Pisces ☾ June 9, 2015

The Last Quarter in Pisces comes exact on Tuesday, June 9 at 11:42 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Pisces.

We now approach the Last Quarter, halfway between full and new, moon squaring Sun at 90˚. (Seen from above, the moon forms a right angle in relation to an invisible line running from the Earth to the Sun, hence “square” as the name for this astrological aspect. Here the moon has completed 3/4 of her journey around the Earth.) In this particular phase, the Sun in Gemini squares the moon in mutable water Pisces. The moon will rise at midnight, peak at dawn and set at noon. If you view the moon at midnight, the Sun will be positioned directly beneath your feet. Staring at the moon during this time will align you so that you are looking right out (approximately) along the forward path of Earth’s orbit around the Sun ^__^

Squares mean change

The Full Moon in Sagittarius ushered in conscious awareness, revelations and illumination of all that was hidden, lurking. Now we decide which information/ideas best serve us. The waning light of the moon represents gradual descent into darkness: a return to the proverbial womb. It is wise to launch new endeavors at a later date so as to better focus on the imminent. The week between the Last Quarter and New Moon (June 9-16) is the ideal time to buckle down and wrap up all that was set in place with the New Moon in Taurus of mid-May.

We have come to a corner and must choose a direction. Any stress or anxiety that surfaces now is there to catalyze decision-making. Gracefully surrender. Release and forgive. Destroy useless internal edifices. The moon is asking you to empty yourself. The entire Gemini cycle thus far has encouraged us to harness the power of the intellect – let this last week be your best yet, no holds barred, just a mega release of prolific and utterly glorious work. This phase is connected to the First Quarter Moon in Gemini at the end of February; whatever themes predominated then will now resurface.

Pisces: resident dreamer

The Last Quarter Moon in Pisces represents a conflict between spirituality and the unforgiving nature of external reality. I like to imagine each Moon cycle as a procession of poignantly themed challenges. Generally speaking, the Gemini cycle is cerebral in nature, but the fishes are here now to gauge our comfort level with the proverbial and inevitable death embedded in all facets of Existence – Pisces is shift, irreversible transformation. Are you prepared for metamorphosis, should the Universe come knocking on your door at this very moment? The fishes swim in tight circles around the twins in a dance of ensorcellment. This Last Quarter Moon is a soul-awakening for the ultra-intellectual twins.

Pisces attempts now to break apart Gemini’s contained and categorized essence so that it may flow with complete freedom, in this reality or another. The twins are not satisfied with blank spaces or unanswered questions, but this is precisely where the fishes live and thrive. Without Pisces’ insistence on collapsing the timespace continuum, it is all too easy to get swept up in Gemini’s rigid orderliness. At this time our desire to remain open and flexible speaks to the heart while the responsibility to keep life running ship-shape feels like a duty.

Twisting in the river

The fish are not always so insightful or dependable. This is where we see the true mutable nature of Pisces. A flexible spine twisting in the river current, Pisces energy embodies many dimensions at once. One moment lost in bliss, wave after wave of spiritual/creative insight pouring forth; but this psychic wandering inevitably leads to an uncomfortable place; immediately the temptation to flee arises – so let’s stop here and discuss. Imbalanced Pisces energy is too susceptible, energetic membrane thinning to the point of nonexistence. We must maintain our sensitivity as we rise with dignity from the depths, trident piercing the sky above. The spine of the fish is narrow and delicate, so let’s harness the power of movement and adaptability rather than rely on sheer endurance.

When I visualize Pisces, I see an abstract mural, swirling and swelling in an endless kaleidoscope. Everything is soft and amorphous, here but not really - instantly dispersed at the lightest touch. Astrology teaches us that all things come to pass. The planets keep spinning and we keep changing. Treat this phase for what it is: a phase, nothing more. Energy levels may decrease now – give yourself plenty of time to rest and reflect. I suggest a ritual involving water or some Pisces Yoga.

The night before, on Monday, June 8, the moon will pass over Neptune in Pisces in what is known as a “conjunction” in astrology.

If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: my dreams speak

Mercury in Pisces ☿ Mar 12 - 30

March 12 - 30, 2015

Click here to learn about Mercury. Click here to learn about Pisces.

Mercury transits to mutable water Pisces after hanging out in fixed air sign Aquarius for nearly two months thanks to a retrograde period. In speech, writing and self-presentation, we twist and flow now as wise water wends the bends of the ancient riverbed. No matter the destination, we have only to leave enough space for fantasy and ambiguity. Make no mistake: the power of the imagination can and must rule supreme. When Mercury the Messenger gets tangled in the Pisces net, we may internalize words or emotions which create discord in our reality. The shadow side of Pisces manifests as evasive speech, lack of communication, denial, deceit or unchecked idealism.

Mercury: ruler of communication and mental processes; lover of to-do lists, calendars, letters, media, schedules - everything that keeps us moving forward in the societal sense of linear progression. This is why Mercury transits are, in my opinion, a fine occasion to set some goals. You will have the most success now with goals that are spiritual in nature - we’re all working on something in this department! Mercury in Pisces is not particular or demanding. Allow for flexibility and improvisation in your plans. For those who are especially sensitive, the Pisces cycle significantly blurs the line between dreams and reality. Keeping this in mind, rest assured that the path you choose now ends in a burst of light and understanding. Life may feel illogical or irrational right now - trust the process! :)

Mercury in Pisces brings to mind fantasy and performance art, especially science fiction and psychedelic-inspired works; transcendentalism; meditation; mysticism, shamanism, spiritual tolerance/diversity; emotional healing; energy fields; surrender and acceptance. Mercury in Pisces is rambling, utopian, subjective and perhaps delusional when imbalanced. It’s time to examine the apparent “order” of daily life and the manner in which we carry the Self through this strange external world. Now comes the proverbial death of the outward personality - prepare to create the Self anew, fresh and light as the daffodil opening unto the first warm spring afternoon. Let the chips fall as they must. Attempting to change or control the direction of your river-path is futile. The karmic purpose of the fishes and their unique, lovely challenges is to test our faith in the Universe! Mercury in Pisces requires introspection, writing, daydreaming, hoping, wishing, praying…any artistic endeavors will prove unusually gratifying now as our work embodies an unmistakable sense of finality - a culmination of all that has happened since the last Mercury-in-Pisces transit.

Mercury in Pisces is scattered and doesn’t mind. There is no point to be made, no message to get across, just deep and abiding presence. This is the time of year to let the mind relax. You may recall that Mercury transited Pisces’ opposite sign (Virgo) back in August 2014. Any themes that predominated then will now resurface. Mercury in Virgo was busy, helpful and practical. The fishes struggle to attain the sense of balance that comes effortlessly (seemingly) to Virgo. This is because Pisces oscillates between total selflessness and intense periods of inward ego reconstruction. Whereas Virgo masterfully juggles many responsibilities at once, Pisces finds it difficult to remain devoted to more than one endeavor at a time. The fishes give and give and give until nothing remains, not even personal stores of energy and self-love. This imbalance leaves the mental and emotional bodies depleted and in great need of attention. The greatest challenge for the fish is therefore learning how to be of equal service to the Self and the rest of the Universe.

Unlike Mercury in Virgo, this transit is rather undisciplined. The Pisces cycle encourages us to symbolically dismantle all that we’ve been building since last spring. Staying organized with Mercury in Pisces may feel like an uphill battle. This transit will submerge you beneath the waves, disconnected from time and space. Mercury in Virgo rid our life of excess; Mercury in Pisces blends, confuses, muddles, swirls…the fish are born in dreams. If you feel imbalanced, do your best to exercise sound logic, even in the midst of this dream-like reality. The inclination here is to glance, to gloss, to slip away - fight this! Know when to look at the world with eyes focused and when to harness the power of objective analysis and productive critical thinking.

If balanced, soften now and allow for subtlety: give in gracefully to silence, body language and radiant energy. With Mercury in Pisces, it is better not to have a plan - stay carefree and flexible. Let go, let things be as they are. Virgo wants to fix everything, even things that are better left alone; Pisces is more inclined to just call it good. Ask yourself: am I giving proper attention to this issue? Am I allowing things to slide? Or is that exactly what I need, to relinquish apparent control over a given situation? Pisces and Virgo both have a habit of stuffing thoughts and feelings deep in the psyche. With Virgo this manifests as constant criticism and harsh words, both to others and the Self; Pisces chooses to simply ignore the building pressure within, giving the Self and others free passes and endless second chances.

This is the final attunement of the spirit. During the Virgo cycle we settled from fire to earth energy; now we prepare to spring from the water back into the fire. Breathe deeply.

To ascertain your personal Mercury sign, click here. To learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: my dreams speak

Sun & Supermoon in Pisces ♓ Feb 18, 2015

The Sun transits Pisces from February 18, 2015 until March 20. The New Moon in Pisces comes exact on February 18 at 6:47 pm EST.

Click here to learn about the Sun, the Moon or Pisces: The Fishes

Disclaimer: when talking about Sun signs, it’s really more accurate to say “the Earth’s relation to the Sun” since the Earth is the one moving. An appropriate name for this much-celebrated, often oversimplified astrological element would therefore be “Earth Sign.” Please remember - you are a whole soup of planets!

If you are a Pisces, this is your Solar Return. All that was established at this time last year will now come to fruition. On the same day that the Sun transitions to the realm of the fishes, the New Moon in Pisces rises dark and silent in the sky. This one is a Supermoon - yes, even New Moons qualify - because, according to Richard Nolle’s definition, it occurs “…with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.” This phenomenon is also known as perigee. Every New Moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun - this is precisely what makes it a New Moon. With the Sun in Aquarius for the last month, our attention was directed toward issues of freedom and radicalism. This was a period that married collaboration with bold, unadulterated expression. Pisces is comparatively much more passive and right brained. Prepare for life to slow down considerably over the next few weeks.

The Neptunian cycle

The New Moon in mutable water sign Pisces marks the kickoff for the coming month and the official end of the Aquarian/Uranian cycle. When I think of the Piscean fishes chasing tails in the holy waters of eternity, I am simply inspired. The creatures of the sea are here now to put you in a trance: one that evokes vivid reveries, total surrender to the power of art and divine recognition of the human mind’s capacity for expanded consciousness. Lest I don my rose-colored glasses too quickly, let me remind you that the fish are not always insightful or dependable. This is where we see the true mutable nature of Pisces. As a flexible spine twisting in the river current, Pisces energy embodies many dimensions at once. One moment we are lost in bliss, wave after wave of spiritual/creative insight pouring forth; but then this psychic wandering inevitably leads to an uncomfortable place; immediately the temptation to flee arises - so let’s stop here and discuss.

Imbalanced Pisces energy makes us too susceptible, our energetic membrane thinning to the point of nonexistence. The challenge is to maintain our sensitivity while we rise up with dignity from the depths, trident piercing the sky high above. The spine of the fish is narrow and delicate, so we harness the power of movement and adaptability rather than sheer endurance. The karmic purpose behind the Neptunian cycle is to address our spirituality and the proverbial death of all things. Pisces energy wants us to get comfortable with intangibles such as infinity, immortality, subconsciousness and transcendentalism.

Dismantling our work

Studying the polarities of the zodiac wheel is yet another effective method to learn more about the signs. You may recall that Virgo is Pisces’ opposite sign, 180 degrees across on the wheel. Virgo encourages us to structure life in the most efficient and pragmatic manner possible. In a way, the Pisces cycle is one giant dismantling of all this structuring and organization that we establish in the autumnal Virgo season. It’s not that Pisceans are irresponsible or careless, although they can be when imbalanced, but rather that the fishes are constantly preparing for “the end” - who needs a solid routine when all of life as we know it could disintegrate at this very second? This is how Pisces operates: on the spur of every precious moment, disconnected from any concept of time and space. So we must find a balance. Yes, I want to live in the present, utterly consumed by the beauty of the Divine in all things, and yes, I also want to make sure I’ve covered the finer details and prepared myself to live another day. Pisces swims freely in the ocean of forever while Virgo sits on the bank, wondering who’s going to make dinner and do the dishes. Let’s walk in between along the jeweled shoreline.

The Pisces cycle aims to achieve the same end by one of two means: by capitalizing on our creative/spiritual potential so that we may blossom to new heights of awareness, accompanied by a constant feeling of ecstasy and connectivity; or by silently and masterfully identifying the internal struggles that make us feel the weakest and most vulnerable and then, using these, breaking us down so completely that we have no option but to turn to something greater than the Self, something majestic and omniscient. Day-to-day concerns get left in the dust when it comes to this kind of self-work. Any emotional landscaping you do now will not be straightforward; close your eyes and imagine tumbling deep within an underwater whirlpool, clueless as to the direction of anything at all. This is what it feels like to be caught in the snare of the fishes. Paradoxically, the more you can relax into this process, the faster you will be able to find the sunshine and ascend to the surface.

Channeling mutable energy

Under the influence of mutable energy our heads are turned by many things at once. In the realm of Pisces, this tendency emanates from the heart and soul. We redirect our passions and hopes as quickly and effortlessly as an eel squiggling through a coral lair. Yes, matters of the spirit may feel more emotionally taxing than usual, but you will notice that the nature of this pain and suffering is in constant flux. Life continues to move along inexorably and relentlessly as water flows downstream. This is all part of something bigger. Have patience, even when there appears to be no method to the madness. The progress you make will only be obvious at the end, as everything happens now internally, tucked away from what our senses and normal perception can detect.

We’re at the final stop on the zodiac wheel, bedding down in preparation for the fires that will ravage the forests of the soul. If any spiritual/emotional work has been left undone, the fishes will not allow you to move forward until you’ve looked it right in the face. Pisces, like Virgo, strives for purity. As you surely know, we have to get down and dirty before the light reveals itself in full splendor. Fear not when the ice beneath you begins to crack and drift. Allow yourself to fall straight into the glacial melt, clothes and all. Salvation awaits you in the grit frozen to the bottom of the riverbed.

Suspended in the waves

Confidence and optimism may be elusive now depending on how balanced you feel coming in to this cycle. Allow your fear to take the form of curiosity. Allow yourself to trust fall into the bottomless sea within. Gather your hesitation and nervousness into a giant ball, lock it in your heart and then transform it into something bright and brilliant. Rather than evade and avoid, sweep yourself together from the inside out. Swim towards change and endings at full speed, knowing that whatever happens now is designed with something inconceivably magnificent in mind. When hard times come, listen closely for the voice that whispers, you’ll see. Water energy is inherently liberating. You can and must flow anywhere you like without clinging to any passing branches. Words and decisions and interests melt and fuse, melt and fuse. Unleash what lives in the privacy of your own heart and mind - birth your silent intensity into a world of noise and color and dance. It is all too easy now to drown out what we feel - face it! Become it!

We have considerably less control now, but that’s just how it has to be. Pisces is the tidal wave that destroys everything that no longer serves us; the rocking and splitting of the earth as she prepares to crumble into light; the high pitch filling your ears that warns of impending implosion. You see, focusing on details and organization is simply a waste of time. We must connect now - to anything - in preparation for metamorphosis. We must remember where we’ve come from and why we’re here.

Balanced Pisceans are humble and gently inspired by all that they see. A huge heart full of extraordinary passion and vision radiates a certain luminosity that requires no explanation. I expect that this transit will feel like one long delicious dream. We’re all about to get wrapped up in the mighty arms of the soul’s inner ocean. Here you are safe, shielded from the external world in your diaphanous cocoon of lucid reality. Flow in the direction of all things beautiful. Namaste.

If you are a Pisces or if you would simply like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Venus enters Pisces - Jan 27, 2015

Venus transits Pisces from January 27, 2015 until February 20

Click here to learn about Venus. Click here to learn about Pisces.

Venus now moves from fixed air Aquarius into mutable water sign Pisces. Venus draws us closer to the divine feminine: romance, beauty, pleasure, happiness and fine art. As this planet moves from sign to sign, changes take place within the heart. Venusian energy concerns attraction: what vibes are you exuding and what is attracting you? If Venus’ move into Aquarius was like leaving our comfort zone in order to explore something more unusual, Venus in Pisces is the euphoria of lucidity. After experimenting with intellectualism in our personal relationships, we’re ready to slip into the holy waters of the fishes - a spaceless space where the heart’s language is understood perfectly, silently, divinely.

For the last month or so…

Venus in Aquarius was not touchy-feely or emotional. We connected to others through the power of the mind and the joy of sharing. Aquarian energy is like vyana, one of the five major yogic vayus. Vyana emanates from your core, radiating out through the periphery of your body, all the way to the cosmos. In other words, Venus in Aquarius transports us out of the Self, away from the ego, so that we may be connected to our community. Conversations and leisure centered around cerebral pursuits, coming together to make music or art, friendly competition and grandiose talks of the future. Our heart was solidly unhitched from moodiness, clinginess or irrationality. This transit was a lighthearted time full of adventures and spontaneity. The energy here was vibrant, inspiring and stimulating. If balanced, you may have found a new and exciting way to relate to others in an erudite fashion. So, what to expect now as the Goddess of Love settles into the underwater realm of the chimerical fishes?

Am I awake?

The move now is from a detached heart to a dreamy one. Pisces is the last sign in the zodiac realm: the Master of Imbrication, rainbow scales sparkling in the starlight. Unlike the water bearer, Pisces does not necessarily enjoy being rational or logical. The fishes twist this way and that, submerged in the deep emotional well of the heart. Venus is quite at home here. Pisces energy may feel uncomfortable for those who are not given to open and frequent emotional expression. The fishes are intuitive, sentimental and perceptive. The mutable modality manifests here, in my opinion, in the shadow side of the sign; because Pisces is so sensitive, the fishes become easily overwhelmed and often swim away at the first sign of turbulence, unwilling to face reality and awaken from the dream. There is a distinct restlessness to the sign which, when imbalanced, may take the form of addiction, denial or compulsive lying. When balanced, Pisces energy is exceptionally compassionate and creative.

Transcending normal reality

Venus in Pisces strives to accommodate the emotional needs of all people at once. Any kind of discord scatters the fishes to the far reaches of the subconscious, where they rest peacefully until the waters have calmed again. Of course there is a time and place for retreating within, but Pisces must be cautious not to stay there too long. Venus in Pisces is ethereal, otherworldly, mystical, metaphysical…what we seek now speaks to our soul and sense of eternity. Think of your heart as soft and malleable, ready and willing to shift into whatever new form best captures and emanates the light of Universal Love.

The service axis

You may recall that Venus transited the fishes’ opposite sign (Virgo) way back in September 2014. Themes that surface now are a reflection of our progress since then. Virgo is practical, detail-oriented, controlled, organized; Pisces is pensive, vague, abstract, mysterious. Both signs are equally devoted and thoughtful. Virgo and Pisces both seek to be of service to the greater good. However, Pisces understands the importance of connecting to the Oversoul, the transparent eyeball of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Nature. Then as now, expect love to feel a bit reserved, but in a different way. Virgo holds back out of fear of losing control; Pisces holds back only because the fishes are already right at the brink, poised at any moment to sail noiselessly into the Divine abyss. Both ends of this axis tend to think a lot and say little; they are usually rather quiet and shy. Sometimes the fishes feel no need to verbalize Love because they abide here at all times - Pisces is Love. Watch for the tendency to remain silent when something is bothering you - Venus in Pisces may have you internalizing.

Sourcing energy from the waters within

Venus in Pisces is all-encompassing, like an invisible blanket of seraphic wisdom permeating every corner of Existence. Like Venus in Virgo, we are utterly selfless now. Whereas Virgo lives in the day-to-day, Pisces swims in the waters of perpetuity. In Hermann Hesse’s classic Siddhartha, the Buddha and a fisherman discuss the way a river can exist in many places at once and still be called by the same name. This is how Venus in Pisces operates: love and leisure seem to stretch and dissolve and bloom again, forever cycling through a phantasmagorical series of awakenings.

Striving for inner calm

When I visualize Pisces, I see rings and spirals. Imbalanced fishes can become trapped in ever-tightening circles of worry, paranoia or disillusion. Unlike Virgo, the fishes would rather escape from the mind than try to analyze a troublesome situation. Both signs struggle to stay present as they are quite prone to daydreaming (Pisces) and over-thinking (Virgo). When balanced, Venus in Pisces is modest and accepting of all. This transit sees no need for particulars - it is enough to simply be, to breathe and to love without questioning, without needing to know why or how. Venus in Pisces, when balanced, is not desperate for affection, as Virgo can sometimes be; Virgo often forgets, in the midst of endlessly working and preparing, that we are already directly linked to something impossibly beautiful and bountiful. Stable Pisceans carry within them a striking inner calm that seems to say: all is One.

Once again, Venus leads ahead of the Sun, following Mars down into the pools of Pisces: a hint of what’s to come next month. Enjoy this time of abundance and relaxation. Peace. Bliss. Namaste.

To find out your personal Venus sign, click here. If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: I follow my dreams

Mars enters Pisces - Jan 12, 2015

Mars transits Pisces from January 12, 2015 - February 19

Click here to learn about Mars. Click here to learn about Pisces.

For the last month or so, Mars the Warrior has been hurtling through fixed air Aquarius. Now more than ever, I am feeling so light and free. This Martian transit greatly helped me in many ways, and hopefully you as well. What can we expect with Mars moving into mutable water sign Pisces?

The warrior pauses to dream

As each planet gravitates from sign to sign, subtle aspects of life on Earth shift accordingly. Martian transits shape the nature of our drive, ambition and sexual urges. Mars’ power is sourced now from our fantasies and spiritual aspirations. Mars is far from comfortable in Pisces. Normally Mars rules cardinal fire Aries, the first sign in the zodiac realm; Pisces is the last sign - the crescendo, the grand finale, the dissolution of the many into One, the sweet silence of death, transformation and surrender. Mars in Pisces traps the archetypal warrior in the belly of the fishes: struggling, confused, writhing in a long, strange dream. This placement forces us to be quite un-Martian as we are now less active and more reflective.

Internal battles

Mars in Pisces is emotional, intuitive and perhaps restless, thanks to the mutable modality at play here. Usually Mars concerns himself with areas of life that fall under the Divine Masculine: outward action, will power, recreation, competition, energization, direction and physical bodies. Pisces, on the other hand, is utterly feminine and indirect - visualize two fish swimming in perpetual opposition, chasing tails through all of time and space. I expect that those who are imbalanced will feel stuck or frustrated, especially because Mars in Pisces will ask us to confront addictions, spiritual blocks and living in denial. More time may be spent now journaling, meditating or engaging in physical practices such as yoga which connect mind, body and spirit. Expect energy levels to run lower than normal.

Transcending normal reality

You may now begin to have exceptionally vivid dreams or experience some kind of new psychic/cosmic connection to your body. When it comes to sex, we crave transcendental contact with another. A simple roll in the hay won’t cut it now. We’re on the prowl for a connection that speaks to the innermost Self. We are more inclined now to talk and think about our hopes, wishes and deepest held beliefs. Pisces lives in the spaceless space, potentially/totally/gleefully disconnected from reality.

I expect that the pace of life will slow down considerably now. I’m personally very excited – there’s nothing better than diving confidently into the psyche when you’re armed with newfound faith in the Universe. So far the Capricorn season has fully delivered on its promise to push us into new ways of thinking, being and doing. Enjoy the next few weeks before Mercury Retrograde hits again…! Happy New Year to all and namaste.

To ascertain your personal Mars sign, click here. If you would like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.

Mantra: life is but a dream