Leo New Moon: Follow Your Heart

The first of two Leo New Moons in a month happens Sunday, July 23rd, at 2:46 am MST/PDT, at 0 degrees Leo 44 minutes. 

Here’s the chart:  LeoNewMoon2017-1.

Leo the Lion is the King of Beasts.  Ruled by the Sun, the Star at the center of our Solar System, Leo has long been associated with leadership and royalty, Kings and  Queens. 

Like the Sun, Leo wants to be the center of attention, recognized and loved by all!

Given this desire to be noticed and appreciated by others, it’s important to realize that most Leos are intrinsically insecure.  After all, Leo follows Cancer in the zodiac; the sign that’s learning INNER emotional security.

Leo’s primary evolutionary lesson is to learn to love and appreciate itself, instead of constantly seeking validation and approval from others.  Indeed, unless and until Leo learns to love itself, it will typically experience disappointment after bitter disappointment at a LACK of recognition from others.  Of course, this is the very set of circumstances that forces Leo back upon itself so that it can and must learn to love and value itself, ITSELF. 

This confirms the natural ‘law of correspondences’ that teaches that outer realities always reflect inner realities.  This law is sometimes referred to as the ‘As Above, So Below’ principle, or similarly, ‘As Without, So Within.’  It stands to reason that it is only when self-love exists that it can be reflected back to us from others.

Leo is the sign of the heart.  Its evolutionary intention to learn SELF-LOVE is precisely what is required in order to heal emotional insecurities, particularly insecurities about unique individuality that are always experienced through the sign of Cancer. 

Ultimately, every human being must learn this evolutionary lesson.  When we truly love and value ourselves, we’re free to be our unique authentic self.  As a result, we can then truly shine our light into the world, just like the Sun.

Two New Moons in Leo happen over the coming month.  Today’s Leo Moon at 0 degrees is the first.  The second is a Total Solar Eclipse at 28 degrees Leo on August 21^st that traverses the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.  Eclipses are powerful harbingers of change.  Astrologers know that Solar and Lunar Eclipses significantly ‘move’ events in the world.  Total Solar Eclipses are the most  powerful of all eclipses.

This first Leo Moon will initiate Leo lessons; the second will culminate them.  Leo lessons are about opening the heart to give and receive unconditional LOVE.  Leo is also about Creative Self-Expression, or Self-Realization.  We’re always happiest when we’re expressing our true self and when we’re creating and pursuing what we love.

Mars is also in Leo now conjunct the Sun and Moon.  Mars adds forceful energy to the New Moon chart pattern that encourages dynamic evolutionary growth.  Mars always instinctively pursues desires.  Our desires emanate directly from our Souls.  Most people are unaware of this however since most people’s Souls operate at an unconscious level.  Nevertheless, it is through our desires that our Souls point us forward and direct our personal evolutionary growth. 

Creativity is abundant now particularly when applied to desires and matters of the heart.  So follow your heart!  Take time to do the things you love with the people you love.

Let pleasure, joy and play lead the way!

The Sun and Moon are also quite favorably connected to Chiron, the ‘Wounded Healer,’ in Pisces, the sign of the Divine.  Pisces rules the natural spiritual developmental path.  Here, Chiron promises that open hearts can receive blessings from the Universe and the Divine Creative Source or what many people refer to as God, Goddess, Spirit, Great Mystery or All That Is. 

This Divine Creative Source is always teaching us the universal wisdom of compassion, forgiveness, unconditional love and acceptance.  Chiron in Pisces is THE ultimate symbol of healing for those who wish to glean their Soul’s purpose in co-creating painful past experiences.  Through Chiron in Pisces, we can come to realize how the most difficult events in our lives have facilitated our evolutionary journey and ongoing personal growth.

This Leo New Moon is saying, “RE-IMAGINE hurtful experiences.”  Move beyond WHAT happened.  Instead, seek to understand WHY it happened.  

What lessons were learned?  What wisdom was gained as a result of the pain and disappointment or disillusionment?   What was your Soul trying to teach you?!

Challenging aspects to Uranus in Aries and Neptune in Pisces are spurring the desire to break free of victim consciousness that co-creates realities that undermine and hurt us.  Indeed victim consciousness always manifests in punishing circumstances driven by an unconscious belief that we must ‘atone’ for the ‘sins’ of our human  imperfections. 

Liberating ourselves from victim consciousness requires that we make different choices.  These choices may seem too radical or daunting to some, especially those who’ve already experienced harsh criticism, judgment, painful rejection or ridicule for being ‘different.’

But of course, being different is what each of us MUST be if we’re really being true to ourselves!  IN TRUTH, EVERY HUMAN BEING IS IN FACT DIFFERENT! 

Nature reflects the truth of this natural law in every snowflake that falls, every tree in a forest and every flower in a field.  Each one is UNIQUE. 

In the natural evolutionary journey of the Soul, ‘fitting-in’ is the death knell to the expression of true individuality.  Expressing our true self is the only full-proof way to happiness.

Uranus is one of two planets that will station retrograde in the coming month.  The other is Mercury.  AND, they are most favorably connected to one another now allowing easy access to their energy.  Planets are most powerful when they station so these two are super-charged to deliver action and change!

Mercury and Uranus rule short-term and long-term memories respectively, including past life memories.  They are also a natural astrological planetary pair.  These two planets are higher and lower ‘octaves’ of one another, sharing the same energy, while vibrating at different frequencies.  Students of music understand this phenomenon.  Ruling the individual conscious and unconscious mind, they can bring powerful insights and understanding that can help heal past traumas for those who are willing to do the necessary ‘inner work’ of deeply reviewing and reflecting upon their life experiences.

Uranus (freedom, liberation, breakthroughs) stations retrograde on August 2^nd at 28 degrees Aries (action, self-discovery, courage) encourages new ideas and new directions.  Uranus continues to be part of an extraordinary Grand Fire Trine along with the North Node (the path of evolution) in Leo (creativity and love) and retrograde Saturn (responsibility) which is finishing up its three year journey through Sagittarius (intuition, personal truth and beliefs).  This Grand Fire Trine also reflects an abundance of creative energy!

Mercury (thoughts, knowledge, communication) stations retrograde on August 12^th in Virgo (healing, self-improvement, humility) encouraging necessary changes and adjustments in order to restore health and well-being and resolve crises.  This Mercury retrograde will focus attention on what needs to be healed on all levels including personal, collective and planetary wounds.  Here in the U.S. we will no doubt see renewed attention and effort on health care legislation as well as environmental laws and regulations. 

When Mercury completes its retrograde and stations direct on September 5^th it will do so at the precise degree of the second Leo New Moon Total Solar Eclipse, 28 degrees Leo! 

This may well be a ‘brain on fire’ day, full of insights, revelations and renewed clarity.  Expect those famous ‘lightning bolt AHA’ moments that can bring surprising answers and breakthroughs in personal and collective consciousness. 

Mind-blowing discoveries, innovations and solutions to long-standing problems may suddenly, surprisingly and magically appear!

Two more important aspects occur in this New Moon chart pattern.  Venus in Gemini is opposite retrograde Saturn in Sagittarius, and Jupiter in Libra is square retrograde Pluto in Capricorn. 

Venus and Saturn encourage us to speak our truth while allowing others to do the same.  Be totally honest with yourself and others.  Open, straight-forward communication can lead to breakthroughs in understanding. 

Jupiter and Pluto have already squared each other twice, on November 24, 2016 and March 30, 2017.  Think back to what was happening in your life at those times.  It’s likely that whatever occurred then is culminating now.  

Both Venus opposite Saturn (rules Capricorn) and Jupiter square Pluto (currently in Capricorn) are demanding that we take complete responsibility (Capricorn) for all of our actions, choices and experiences knowing that our own Soul co-created those experiences FOR A REASON! 

Perhaps legal or financial matters were the issue during the previous Jupiter squares to Pluto.  Or perhaps relationship concerns were unfolding forcing difficult but necessary changes.  In any case, there was an evolutionary need to expand and evolve personal values or beliefs in order to more fully allow and accept other’s differences.

The bottom line message of this first Leo New Moon is that in order to evolve, we must open our hearts and learn to love ourselves and others unconditionally. 

Its also trying to teach us the natural spiritual wisdom of listening to and following our heart’s desires.  Our desires  always lead us towards greater personal evolution. 

We’re conditioned to believe that success and happiness always require hard work, sacrifice and suffering.  In fact, our Souls are trying to teach us that success and happiness naturally occur when we follow our heart!  

LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE! 

Leo rules the heart!  Leo teaches us that LOVE is all we really need.  If we do our best over the coming month, then when the second Leo New Moon occurs, which is a powerful TOTAL Solar Eclipse on August 21st, we can reap the rewards of a heart that’s more open, content and at peace with itself.  And if we do this right, we’ll experience a LOT more joy and have a LOT more fun along the way! 

The Leo New Moon TOTAL Solar Eclipse happens August 21^st at 11:30 am MST/PDT!

 Copyright 2017.   Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting.   All rights reserved.

Leo New Moon: Love is All We Need

The Leo New Moon happens Friday, August 14th at 7:53 am at 21 degrees Leo 30 minutes.  Here’s the New Moon chart:  LeoNewMoon2015.  The Lion perfectly symbolizes this regal sign as Leo has long been associated with royalty and those who rule, lead others, or are otherwise in charge.  As top predators, Lions are often called, “King of the Jungle.”  Throughout human history, Kings and Queens have ruled over human kingdoms.  Not surprising then is the natural tendency of Leo to have a ‘pyramid consciousness.’  Naturally seeing themselves as leaders, their perspective puts them at the top socially, and at the center of their universe with everyone and everything else revolving around them.

Leo is the only zodiac sign ruled by a star, our Sun, not a planet.  Accordingly, Leos feel special and shine when they are the center of attention receiving love, appreciation and recognition for their unique gifts, talents and abilities.

However, the evolutionary lesson of Leo is SELF-LOVE.  Instead of looking for love and attention from outer sources, Leo must learn to be the source of its own recognition and validating feedback.  Leo must learn to love itself first.  Leo must also learn the lesson of objectivity through realizing that it is a PART of the WHOLE of humanity, not a universe unto itself.  This occurs when Leo links its special gifts and purpose to a socially relevant need.  Unless and until Leo learns this, it will suffer mightily due to frustrations associated with an utter lack of recognition and appreciation by others.

The Sun and Moon are joined by Mars and retrograde Venus also in Leo now.  Mars energizes our desire to play, Play, PLAY!  Accordingly, August is traditionally the time of year for vacations!  So take some time off.  Get away from work, obligations and responsibilities and ‘recharge your batteries.’  Venus recently reached the half-way point of its bi-annual retrograde (July 25 to September 6, 2015).  This Venus retrograde period encourages a review of personal needs and core values.  Its also about reflecting upon past relationships and resources issues, especially those experienced as crises, upsets and/or traumas.

Also important during this Venus retrograde period is remembering the hermetic law of correspondences, or “As Above, So Below” and “As Without, So Within.”  Remember that the OUTER ALWAYS REFLECTS THE INNER as you contemplate past relationship and resource crises.  How you relate to and value your self is ultimately reflected back to you by and through your relationships with others, money and resources.  If you’re not satisfied with these areas of your life you need look no further than the quality of your relationship to yourself to make necessary self-improvements.

Ultimately, Venus teaches SELF-RELIANCE and SELF-EMPOWERMENT.  Through self-reliance we boost self-worth and self-confidence.  Through owning and wielding personal power wisely, we develop a stronger, healthier relationship with our self.  Ultimately, we’re better able to recognize, value and share our unique personal skills and natural abilities with others.  Leo’s lessons of self-love and objectivity are both supportive and timely to this Venus retro review process.  Now is the time to do necessary inner healing work.  Now is the time to learn to love our selves better.

Thankfully, this New Moon is also very favorably connected to retrograde Uranus in Aries.  The ‘juice’ to bust out and break free of old patterns is surprisingly abundant now.  Use it to try new things, to think outside the box and to liberate from outworn habits and beliefs that have kept you ‘stuck in neutral’ unable to make new and different choices in your life.  Take advantage of this r-evolutionary energy and do something different.  It may actually result in you discovering something new about yourself.  There’s plenty of courage available now too so JUST DO IT!

Of course, there’s nearly always some difficult aspect in each month’s New Moon pattern.  This month the ‘fly in the ointment’ comes from a square (90 degrees) between the Sun in Leo and Saturn in Scorpio on the 21^st.  The energy of this planetary connection is likely to manifest as ‘hitting the proverbial brick wall!’  Resistance or push back from some outer authority, rule, regulation or some other set of limiting circumstances may threaten your success or the completion of an important goal.  Don’t worry.  And don’t abandon your goals or dreams!  Just make whatever necessary adjustments or changes are required and then simply continue to move forward.

Another astrological influence with major long-term consequences just got underway and takes center stage in this New Moon chart.  Jupiter entered Virgo on August 11th where it will stay until September 9, 2016.  Jupiter rules many things including personal intuition, truth and lies, nature and natural laws, beliefs, cosmologies, philosophies, religions, man-made laws and their associated justice and legal systems, journalism, higher education and long distance travel.  Virgo also rules many things including reality and denial, crises, critical thinking and analysis, humility, self-improvement, pets, health, health care services and providers, the environment, the workforce and employment, sadism, masochism and the psychology of inferiority.  Over the coming year, we will ALL be challenged, and perhaps even forced, to honestly analyze our shortcomings relative to many of the issues just mentioned above and to come to terms with REALITY in order to resolve crises and improve the health and well-being of ourselves and our planet.

Further adding to the importance of Jupiter’s entry into Virgo and it’s critical analysis of past mistakes and errors in judgment will be its inclusion in a powerful celestial pattern known as a “T-Square.”  T-Squares are comprised of two planets that are 180 degrees apart or opposite one another, and are both also 90 degrees from or square a third planet.  If you draw lines connecting the three planets involved they form what looks like a capital “T” thus the name “T-Square.”  The three planets coming together in this astrological configuration are Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune.

Having recently entered Virgo, Jupiter is now opposite (180 degrees) Neptune in Pisces.  Beginning on September 17th, when Saturn, now finishing up in Scorpio, returns to Sagittarius, it will square (90 degrees) both Jupiter and Neptune.  Together these three planets will form a MUTABLE T-SQUARE for almost a year.  Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) require the development of GREATER ADAPTABILITY IN THE FACE OF NECESSARY EVOLUTIONARY CHANGES.

This mutable T-Square will challenge us all to review and reflect upon our beliefs, our personal truth, how well we trust our intuition, how we interpret reality and how we must adapt and change to improve or resolve ongoing crises.  It will also bring into sharp focus how we are relating to the environment and the natural world.  What’s true for you?  What’s true for everyone?  How are you interpreting reality based upon your personal beliefs?  Are you seeing people and circumstances as they truly are?  It’s time to get real as we increasingly face the consequences of an ever more corrupt, dysfunctional and polluted world.

Two very timely examples of these patterns of influence occurred just this past week as the T-Square is beginning to form and the New Moon in Leo connected with retrograde Chiron (wounds) in Pisces (water and chemicals) through an inconjunct angle (150 degrees) which typically manifests through crises for the purpose of bringing about necessary adjustments and changes.

The first crisis occurred here in the United States.  An interesting tidbit of astrological trivia reflected in this event is that the Sun and Leo are both associated with gold, the most precious of all metals.  I already mentioned that Leo also rules Kings and Queens.  Tragically, on August 6th, a toxic spill triggered by EPA inspectors released an estimated three million gallons of deadly mining waste water from the GOLD KING mine into the nearby Cement Creek.  Cement Creek flows into the Animus River, which flows into the San Juan River, which flows into Lake Powell, a major recreational site on the Arizona/Utah border.

Indeed this is an EPIC wound to crucial Southwest water supplies as the dam at Lake Powell releases water into the Colorado River, which flows through the Grand Canyon, supplying drinking water, irrigation for crops and recreational opportunities to every state in the Southwest including California, a state that supplies a majority of our nation’s fresh produce and is already reeling from one of the worst droughts in its history.  Additionally, the entire Navajo Nation is now asking for water donations as a result of having to shut off its entire water supply from the San Juan River.

The second crisis happened yesterday in the tenth largest port in the world located in Tianjin Province in China.  A petro-chemical storage warehouse suddenly exploded with a force that registered 2.9 on the Richter scale, took the lives of over fifty people and injured another 700.  Eighteen people are missing.  The chemical-laden air is so toxic that fire-fighters have left the scene allowing the fires to burn on their own.

Industrial chemical explosions are becoming commonplace including events occurring in mines, in storage warehouses and in oil and gas refineries.  And respected conservation groups now warn that nearly four out of every five waterways throughout the world are severely polluted threatening water supplies for billions of people.  The World Health Organization just this week asked the International Olympics Committee to test the waters surrounding Rio, site of this Summer’s Olympics, after an Associated Press investigation declared them potentially dangerous to athletes because of their high pollution levels from untreated sewage.  Some athletes who have been training in Rio have already experienced bouts of fever, vomiting and diarrhea.  Add in more frequent extreme weather events like historic droughts and wildfires due to climate change as well as increasing outbreaks of disease and the mounting evidence is overwhelmingly clear that our planet is in peril.

Just this week, I heard a well-known spiritual teacher say that humans are increasingly suffering from “NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER!”  Shamans the world over say that our sense of feeling separate from each other, from the divine Source that created us, and from the whole of Creation known as the Natural World or nature, is the source of all suffering.  Quantum science has proven that everything is connected.  Universally, spiritual leaders have always taught this same truth.  WE ARE NOT SEPARATE.  Believing otherwise may well be the greatest source of humanity’s current faulty interpretation of reality.

As the T-Square unfolds, we will be forced to face the truth about the damage being wreaked on the environment from our current business climate, political frameworks, economic realities and religious ideologies worldwide.  I just learned yesterday that twenty-one American students have filed a lawsuit against President Obama and several governmental agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency citing irreparable harm resulting from inadequate responses to climate change.  They allege that their unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed by our constitution are threatened!

Prophecies regarding this time in human history are unanimous in their warnings that our very survival will depend upon us changing our destructive habits and lifestyles.  Its time to face facts, get real and deeply reflect upon our beliefs particularly relative to our relationship to each other and to the planet.

Wisdom traditions the world over teach that there are really only two choices:  FEAR and LOVE.  Clearly, our planet is in need of greater love, appreciation and recognition of the value of its natural resources that sustain life!

Leo rules the heart so its energy is all about LOVE!  And like most everything, learning to love begins with the Self.  We cannot truly love another if we cannot love ourselves.  Change always begins within and then is ultimately reflected back from outside.  Perhaps love is the change we need now most of all.  Indeed, all we need is love…

The Virgo New Moon is a Solar Eclipse on September 13th!

 Copyright 2015.   Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting.   All rights reserved.

Aries New Moon: Seedlings Take Root

The Aries New Moon is the first New Moon of the natural year!  It occurs on April 18th, 2015, at 11:57 am MST at 28 degrees Aries.  Here’s the chart:  AriesNewMoon2015.  This New Moon carries a powerful ‘slow burn’ energy pattern that wants to establish and secure what’s been recently begun (November 2014 and January 2015) so that it will not only survive but ultimately thrive.

This New Moon juxtaposes opposite Yin and Yang energies.  Aries energy is quintessentially Yang, instinctively initiating actions that create new directions and new beginnings in life.  However, Mars, Aries’ ruling planet, is currently in Taurus, a pure Yin energy that deliberately slows action and consolidates forces to ‘ground’ new beginnings and manifest them into physical reality.  What Aries begins, Taurus establishes and stabilizes.

Happening at 28 degrees of Aries, this New Moon is actually void of course, meaning that the Sun and Moon will not make any more aspects with other planets before leaving Aries and entering Taurus.  Accordingly, you should wait at least a couple of days, or until the Sun enters Taurus, before taking any important steps or actions

The coming month will require patience as well as the ability to act spontaneously as alternating energies both drive you to action and draw you to stillness.  To successfully combine the best of both Yin and Yang influences, allow your intuition to be your guide.  By listening to your inner guidance, you’ll know when it’s time to act and when it’s time to wait for further insight or understanding before moving forward once again.

The Sun enters Taurus on April 20th increasing the consolidating and stabilizing forces available to nurture what’s new.  This is the time to ‘transplant’ your ‘seedlings’ into a loving ‘garden’ where they’ll put down roots that will sustain their continuing growth.  As thoughts increasing turn to matters of security, invest in what’s most meaningful and valuable to you, including your self!  Make the effort now to nurture and steadfastly care for what’s really important in your life, knowing that if you do the work, Autumn will bring an abundant harvest!

Indeed many recently initiated goals and projects embody high-minded spiritual values and universal principles. It’s really crucial now to ‘walk your talk.’  Let inspiration be your guide.  Keep moving forward – ONE STEP AT A TIME – implementing necessary actions in pursuit of noble and worthy personal, professional and spiritual goals.

This advice may seem counter-intuitive to those who follow in lock-step with mainstream ideas and expectations especially when it comes to ‘conventional wisdom’ about how to develop a business, pursue meaningful goals or invest in personal growth.  However, those who are wise know that the r-evolutionary influence of Uranus square Pluto is still quite active, and will continue to be so for several years to come.  In fact, ironically, now that the seven precise square aspects between these two are finished (June 2012 to March 2015), their peak influence has really just begun.

Progress now requires that we break free of old paradigms, particularly patriarchal paradigms that favor exclusion over inclusion, self-interest over sharing, hierarchy and control over equality and fairness.  Perhaps even more important however is a shift away from an almost exclusive left-brained, deductive way of thinking that has long favored logic over intuition and ‘cold hard facts’ over dreams.  Of course it’s always wise to stay tethered to reality, but equally important is the power of our right-brained holistic, intuitive thought processes that see beyond the limitations of the physical world.  Our right brain sees the whole picture – not just the parts, and can conceptualize and imagine what’s possible, not just what’s practical.  Intuition and imagination are the fuels that manifest our dreams.

Pluto just stationed retrograde on April 16th.  It’s still ‘stationary’ or appearing to stand  still in the heavens from our point of view here on Earth.  Stationing planets are super powerful.  Pluto symbolizes the Soul and the evolutionary process.  Until September 24th, Pluto retrograde will encourage a review of our Soul’s deepest desires.  Pluto retrograde in Capricorn (structures) will bring our attention to the nature of our current realities.  Capricorn rules the structural nature of human consciousness.  Consciousness creates reality.  Between now and September, we have an opportunity to honestly self-reflect upon what’s working and what’s not working in our world.

Want an example of how our consciousness, individually and collectively, creates our realities!  Consider how all of us are conditioned, almost from birth, to be afraid.  We’re taught to be afraid of power and authority, of losing our jobs, or not having adequate insurance, or losing our investments or even a loved one.  We’re taught to be afraid of strangers and of people from cultures that are different.  We’re taught to fear disease and identity theft and even asteroids that could destroy the planet!  For heavens sake, if you watch the news, you’re probably terrified on a daily basis!  Now consider how much ‘terrorism’ there is in our world.  This is NOT a coincidence.  Or to be more precisely accurate, I should say that it is indeed a ‘coincidence’ (coinciding incidents)!  Global terrorism is simply a reflection of the quality of our individual and collective consciousness.  Global terrorism is an outer manifestation of our inner terror and fears.

Pluto also symbolizes power and learning the right use of power.  As humans, our greatest power is our power to co-create which we do in nearly every waking moment through our free will choices.  The choices we make inherently reflect the quality of our consciousness.  Free will choices co-create our reality, consciously and unconsciously and facilitate our ongoing evolution.  The really awesome power of free will choices is when choices are made CONSCIOUSLY, not unconsciously.  Clearly its time to reclaim our power and use it consciously to co-create what we WANT, not what we don’t want!

So consider that the best use of this retrograde period is to take complete responsibility for what you’re co-creating in your life.  If you’ve experienced it, you can be sure that your consciousness helped to co-create it.  Pluto retrograde in Capricorn is a chance to re-empower your self by CONSCIOUSLY CO-CREATING your realities.

Of course in order to succeed at co-creating more desirable realities, you must determine what part of your consciousness (thoughts, beliefs) has been responsible for creating the reality or experiences that you don’t want or that’s no longer working or serving you.  The ultimate evolutionary lesson of Pluto in Capricorn is realizing that to change your reality, you must literally change your mind!

Mars, the ruling planet of this Aries New Moon, currently in Taurus, just sextiled (60 degrees) Neptune in Pisces and squared (90 degrees) Jupiter in Leo.  Together, these aspects provide the ‘juice’ to overcome the doubts of naysayers (including our own inner critic) and truly believe in your self and your dreams. It’s time to reach higher and see farther, trusting your Higher Self to guide and inspire you to create what really matters.  It’s time to realize (make real) your greatest Soul level desires.  Its time to manifest your greatest personal potential.

Further favorable support for your efforts is an upcoming waxing trine aspect (120 degrees) between Mars and Pluto on April 21st.  Mars and Pluto are a natural planetary pair.  Astrologically, Mars is known as the lower ‘octave’ of Pluto.  Again, Pluto symbolizes the Soul and its deepest desires, which for most of us reside at an unconscious level.  Mars instinctively acts upon our Soul’s deepest desires.  Mars trine Pluto reflects a tremendously positive and beneficial planetary influence that brings rewards for past efforts while simultaneously empowering current efforts.  Mars can act successfully now to manifest what really matters most.  Mars trine Pluto is an awesome invitation to evolve forward in leaps and bounds relative to your Soul’s evolutionary growth intentions in this lifetime!

So Spring has sprung!  It’s time to transplant all your new seedlings so they can take root.  Make the effort to really nurture and tend to them.  Seedlings are the perfect metaphor for our dreams and desires.  All they really need to grow is our conscious loving care and attention…

This article is written a summary of my live public presentation that explains and analyzes the energies and influences of the New Moon in-depth.  The audio recording is available in CD or mp3 file formats for $15.  Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The Taurus New Moon occurs on May 17th at 9:13 pm MST!

Copyright 2015 Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting All rights reserved.

Sagittarius New Moon: Expanding Understanding

The Sagittarius New Moon occurs on Saturday, November 22nd at 5:32 am MST at 0 degrees Sagittarius 7 minutes.  Here’s the chart:  SagittariusNewMoon2014.  Sagittarius’ glyph is the centaur which symbolizes the fusion of man with nature.  Sagittarius is the truth seeker who travels far and wide continuously expanding his understanding of the Universe and his place within it.  His arrows are aimed at the heavens where he knows truth resides.

An optimistic sign by nature, Sag nevertheless feels alienated much of the time.  Moving from place to place, studying various philosophies and cosmologies, it is a ‘citizen of the world’ never really feeling completely at home in any one culture or country.  In its search for the truth it also inevitably uncovers the distortions and limitations of man-made belief systems that teach their version of the truth is the one and only true way to enlightenment.  Ultimately Sagittarius learns that truth is relative and each of us must find our own way to it.  Along the way, Sagittarius discovers that truth is vast indeed and that all paths can lead us back to the divine Source that created us.  All paths lead to the top of the mountain…

The principle of expansion is governed by this restless adventurous sign and its ruling planet Jupiter.  Sagittarius natives naturally pursue higher studies and distant lands and people.  Although Sag is naturally drawn to foreign countries and cultures, its most important journeys lead it inward to the core of its very own Soul.

Sag is also associated with natural laws and natural spiritual principles that underpin all of manifest creation.  The truth its looking for is ever present in the natural world or nature.  This is why so many Sagittarian natives prefer life in the country rather than urban settings.  They feel most at home in nature and nearly always have a greater affinity for plants and animals than others.  In fact, many a Sag has chosen a career that involves work outdoors in support of wilderness or ecological preservation, conservation or restoration.

Sagittarius is associated with the right brain which is the source of intuitive thoughts.  Indeed the primary evolutionary purpose of individual intuition is to lead us to our own personal understanding of truth.  Sagittarius is conceptual and abstract.  This enables it to see the whole picture not just the parts.  Perhaps intuition is best described as simply knowing what we know without knowing how we know it!  Those with a strong Jupiter in their charts or great emphasis in the sign of Sagittarius are centered in their right brain.  In a culture such as ours which is so biased towards left brain logical, linear, deductive thought processes, right brain people often feel like they just don’t fit in.  Centered in their right brains, these folks just see the world differently – holistically – not logically.  Again, the result is that Sag typically feels alienated from mainstream society and consensus reality.

Jupiter rules this Sagittarius New Moon and is currently slowing down to a standstill before it stations retrograde in Leo for four months beginning December 8th.  Stationary planets are powerful.  Intuitive faculties will increase in strength over the coming weeks so listen, Listen, LISTEN to your intuition for clues about what’s next for you on your own personal evolutionary journey.  Take time to be quiet, go inside, and receive guidance about what’s coming, what’s next and what’s important for you to know or do or focus upon in order to move forward in alignment with your Soul’s deepest desires.

The left brain and its logical thought processes are ruled by Mercury.  Mercury and Jupiter are square one another now leading us to question everything and doubt our intuitive insights!  What’s true?  What’s not?  You may wonder if certain thoughts are your intuition or your imagination.  The way to recognize the difference between the two comes from knowing that intuitive thoughts always occur INSTANTANEOUSLY in any given situation. Rational, logical, deductive thought processes always follow intuitive thoughts.  So pay attention to your very first ‘hit’ when something occurs to recognize intuitive guidance.

Old thoughts, ideas, perspectives, opinions and beliefs may be dissolving creating mental crises.  It may feel like a struggle to discern truth from lies, fact from fiction, and fantasy from reality.   Again, trust your intuition to help you navigate all the confusing, contradictory and competing information that will no doubt come your way this month.  Trusting, honoring, respecting and acting upon intuitive thoughts EXPAND intuition.  That would be a very good use of this month’s Sag energy!

The Sun in Sagittarius will square Neptune in Pisces on the 26th adding to the potential for confusion.  Old realities are dissolving now and new understandings may not yet be completely clear.  While the Sun and Neptune can inspire us to reach for higher altruistic goals, humanitarian efforts and spiritual pursuits, it can also utterly disappoint or delude us if we avoid or deny reality. See people and circumstances realistically, not as you wish them to be.  And be very mindful of the temptation to hold onto an identity or consciousness of victimization which frankly has become the norm in our culture.  That quality of consciousness will only serve to maintain delusions and distortions of the truth, undermining spiritual growth and maturity.

Saturn is finishing up its transit of Scorpio (October 5, 2012 to September 17, 2015) and is coming into a culminating aspect with Pluto in Capricorn.  Together, these two planets are helping us to throw off old realities that no longer work.  Saturn and Pluto require greater self-responsibility and personal accountability from all of us. They also demand that we learn to use our power appropriately.  Misuses of power and authority are being increasingly exposed now.  Even so, many in power continue to hold onto old conventional social/political structures (such as governments) digging in with all their might to maintain the status quo, a game they’ve been ‘winning’ for a very long time.

Are you taking greater responsibility for the reality you’re co-creating both individually and as a member of the human collective?  Are you owning your personal power or do you feel powerless?  Remember the ultimate human power is the power of free will choice.  Free will choices are the driver of the evolutionary process itself.  How are you using your personal power?  What choices are you making?

Our collective evolution now requires that we throw off these old patriarchal realities of hierarchy, dominance, fear, exclusion, self-interest and a belief in scarcity of resources.  To evolve, we must return to a matriarchal way of life.  Matriarchy is a collective consciousness reality paradigm rooted in natural laws and principles.  Its a way of living in harmony with nature that’s based upon giving, sharing, love and inclusion that considers the needs of everyone, from a point of view of abundance, interconnectedness and the belief in the sacredness of all forms of life.

Mars in Capricorn is also in a culminating aspect with Neptune in Pisces.  This planetary combination restates the need to reach higher, envisioning and co-creating that which will benefit everyone. Those operating solely out of self-interest will find themselves increasingly alienated and socially isolated in the coming months and years.

Perhaps the most important planetary event in the coming month will be the sixth of seven total square aspects between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn on December 14th.  These two planets have been within orb of a square aspect (90 degree angle) for nearly five years now.  And while the planets do not make things happen, they do indeed reflect reality here on planet Earth.

Together, Uranus and Pluto have reflected the enormous changes that have occurred all across our planet over the past several years including the Arab Spring, the economic collapse in the United States that triggered global recessions, the Occupy Movements worldwide, revelations of widespread illegal governmental spying and scientific discoveries like the ‘God’ particle and the realization that consciousness creates reality.  Lots of change has already happened AND A LOT MORE STILL NEEDS TO HAPPEN!

Its crucially important to understand that evolutionary growth is a natural, spiritual imperative.  As stated earlier, evolution is facilitated by free will choices.  And one of the free will choices we can make is the choice to resist our evolution!  But we cannot resist forever.  In fact, too much resistance for too long ultimately results in the intended evolutionary change(s) occurring in cataclysmic ways in order to enforce the necessary change required.

Often these cataclysmic changes are completely unexpected and sometimes traumatic.  Cooperating with our evolutionary growth intentions, personally and collectively, ensures a smoother, more uniform experience of growth.  Clearly, cooperation is easier than resistance.  Unfortunately, when I look at our world, I see far more resistance than cooperation which leads me to believe there will likely be more shocking, unexpected and cataclysmic changes on the horizon for humanity.  Its comforting however to realize that the collective is made up of individuals.  Each of us can indeed contribute to the evolution of humanity as a whole as we commit to our personal evolution and make the necessary changes our Souls intend for us in our individual lives.

Previously, the first five exact squares between Uranus and Pluto happened on June 24th and September 18th, 2012, May 20th and November 1st, 2013, and April 21st, 2014.  The next exact square (6th of 7 total) occurs on December 14th and the final square between them will happen next Spring on March 16th, 2015.   Think back to what has happened in your life over the past two and a half years especially on or around these particular dates.  There you will find clues about what changes your Soul intends for you to make in your own life for your personal evolution to continue to unfold.

Humanity is indeed waking up to greater truths, greater realities and to a greater awareness of our sacred responsibilities to ourselves, to each other and to this beautiful planet that is our home.  We are re-awakening to the fact that we all do better when WE ALL DO BETTER – TOGETHER!

We are re-learning how to meet our own needs as individuals and in our communities.  As we become more personally empowered and self-reliant we’ll be able to solve more and more of the problems that undermine our personal and collective health and well-being.  How are you contributing your unique skills, gifts and talents to benefit the whole?

We are indeed living in extraordinary times!  Each and every one of us alive on this planet today embodies a Soul that chose to be here now.  Prophecies of many ancient cultures the world over have foretold these times as being associated with the potential for a quantum leap forward in the evolution of mankind.  Indigenous Elders have spoken of this evolutionary leap resulting from a huge shift in human consciousness.  Expansion indeed!

So as 2014 comes to a close, be grateful for all you’ve experienced and learned this year.  Take time to receive inner spiritual intuitive guidance.  Resolve to spend more time in nature!  Gather together with friends and loved ones and celebrate your accomplishments.  Enjoy the holidays and get ready for an even more exciting 2015!

This article is written a summary of my live hour-long audio presentation/analysis that explains the energies and influences of the New Moon chart in-depth.  The audio recording is available in CD or mp3 file formats for $15.  Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The Capricorn New Moon is on December 21st at 5:36 pm MST!

Copyright 2014 Donna Lee Steele All rights reserved.

Libra New Moon: Balancing Extremes

The Libra New Moon occurs on Tuesday, September 23rd at 11:14 pm MST/PDT.  It happens at 1 degree Libra 7 minutes.  Here’s the chart:  LibraNewMoon2014.  Libra initiates a diversity of relationships with a diversity of people. Through contrasting and comparing ourselves with others, we realize who we are as individuals. Each individual is unique.  AND all human beings are intrinsically equal. Just as parents know their children are each different in their own unique way, most also love and value all of their children equally.

Libra’s symbol, the scales, leads us to believe that this sign is inherently balanced.  IT IS NOT!  Libra rules EXTREMES.  It needs to learn balance!  Libra is the sign of relationships and of learning how to relate to others as an equal; not submissive to or dominant over others.

Unfortunately, our collective reality is rife with extremity.  It seems to have manifested everywhere in the human experience from our politics, which are extremely polarized in countries the world over from the United States, to Scotland, to Afghanistan, to the the Middle East.  Its even re-emerging once again in growing mistrust and geopolitical conflicts between Russia and the United States and Europe reminding many of the Cold War.  Its present in zealous religious ideologies that have produced dangerous extremist factions/terrorists, and in our economies through extreme wealth disparity and income inequality epitomized by the 1% vs. 99%.  And its reflected in global climate changes resulting in extreme weather events worldwide.  Indeed the word ‘Extremist’ has become commonplace in our daily life.  Clearly, we could ALL benefit from learning how to balance more effectively!

Libra lessons are primarily concerned with the dynamics of effective listening and appropriate giving. Because Libra is a sign that ‘needs to be needed’ it often gives to others in ways that promote co-dependency. Cultural conditioning encourages projecting  personal needs onto others and expecting others to fulfill those needs.

Projections inevitably lead to ineffective listening or listening through a ‘filter’ of personal needs. This often results in inappropriate ‘conditional’ giving motivated by “I will love you IF…”  Resources, time, attention and even love are given only on the condition that the recipient adequately fulfills your needs in return.  To listen effectively requires turning off the filter of personal needs.  Only then you can really hear what your partner is saying about their needs, wants and desires.  Listening effectively enables Libra to give appropriately, based upon what others really need, not what Libra thinks they need, which more often than not, maintains relationship co-dependency.  In matters of giving and receiving, Libra learns to first question whether it will promote independence or co-dependence and then chooses accordingly.

Venus rules Libra and therefore this New Moon. Venus is currently in Virgo opposing retrograde Chiron and retrograde Neptune both in Pisces.  These oppositions reflect relationship wounds and disappointments.  Most of us have at some point in our lives experienced profound disillusionment with a a partner or some relationship.  But most of the time, this results from those very projections just mentioned. Far too many cultures condition us to believe that our needs will be met, indeed that our ultimate fulfillment, will come only when we meet the ‘right person.’

Of course, this projection of ‘ultimate’ meaning onto mere mortals (our human partners) inevitably ends in disappointment when we realize they’re human – just like us – and not the defacto God/Goddess we want them to be.  Keep in mind that we not only have relationships with others, but also with our self and with the Divine Source that created us.  Whether you call this Source The Creator, Great Mystery, God, Goddess, Allah, Hunab Ku or The Cosmic Mother, your relationship with that Divine Source is truly the only ‘ultimate’ relationship capable of providing ‘ultimate’ meaning!

In Virgo, Venus spurs an intense inner self-analysis that discerns what self-adjustments must be made in order to resolve crises, heal feelings of unworthiness and increase emotional well-being. Doing so will minimize the projection of needs onto others and the resultant conditional giving – that leads to co-dependency – that leads to crises!  Keep in mind that the evolutionary path for Libra is found in its opposite sign, Aries.  Aries is about discovery of SELF.  In short, taking responsibility for your SELF, working on your SELF, healing your SELF and focusing energy and attention on your SELF allows for a personal metamorphosis that can eliminate co-dependency. Ironically, SELF-development often results in healthier relationships that are more balanced, peaceful, equal, fair and just.

Together, Virgo and Pisces symbolize reality vs. illusions and therefore symbolize the resolution to delusional, idealized thinking.  Take off those rose-colored glasses and get real!  See things realistically, not idealistically or as you wish them to be.  And stop the denial, which is choosing not to see at all.  Embrace reality.  See others as they truly are remembering that ALL human beings are imperfect.  Life is imperfect.  We’re all EVOLVING, including the Divine Source that created us.  Apply the compassion and forgiveness of Pisces and the discernment and natural analytical abilities of Virgo to SELF-improve.  Heal your self and you’ll heal those disappointments that were created by delusional thinking.

Thankfully, the upcoming Aries Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on October 8th provides the energy and opportunity to culminate old relationship patterns.  Learn to take better care of yourself YOURSELF and your relationships will flourish. This lesson applies to all manner of relationships from one-on-one partnerships between family members, friends, and lovers, to foreign relations between nations.

The asteroid Pallas Athena (feminine wisdom) joins the Sun and Moon in Libra now.  It too symbolizes the need for greater relationship equality and balance particularly between the sexes.  This can only be achieved through a re-integration and reclamation of long-lost feminine values and perspectives.  We need look no further than the current NFL domestic violence and abuse headlines to realize the need for a greater awareness and understanding of the centuries-old reality of devastating imbalance between men and women.  Sadly, this imbalance exists not only in our homes, but also in our workplaces, our places of worship, in governments and in society as a whole.  To heal our relationships with each other, with the Divine Source, and with our planet, will require no less than a profound re-balancing of archetypal energies between the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine.

Mercury’s also in Libra now and is getting ready to experience its final retrograde of 2014 from October 4-25 traversing from 2 degrees Scorpio back to 16 degrees Libra. This emphasizes the need for balanced communication in relationships.  Conversations are likely to be powerful, deep and intense as individual needs, desires and values are reflected upon and shared with significant others.  People from the past may show up to remind us of old relationship dynamics.  What worked?  What didn’t?  It’s quite the opportune time to confront and heal those old relationship wounds.  Find the courage to speak from your heart AND the patience and maturity to LISTEN to others whole-heartedly.

The most significant New Moon (Sun and Moon in Libra) aspect is an inconjunct (150 degree angle)  with Neptune in Pisces.  Unfortunately, this celestial pattern correlates to many of our global crises including climate change, identity theft, the prison industrial complex, chemical warfare, the growing Ebola outbreak, pharmaceutical drug-pushing, religious extremism, political fraud, corruption of the media, police brutality and environmental degradation.  These issues threaten every culture and nation on the planet.

Fortunately, this same celestial pattern between the Sun, Moon and Neptune also correlates to a burgeoning spiritual awakening for humanity as a whole.  Just one recent example of this is the marches in cities and countries worldwide this past weekend, including nearly 400,000 people in New York City, demanding that world leaders take action NOW to address and alleviate climate change.  Add to this North Carolina’s ‘Moral Monday’ marches over the past year and South Carolina’s ‘Truthful Tuesday’ marches and the political transformation underway in Ferguson, Missouri which has also become the catalyst for law enforcement reform.  Municipal police departments nationwide are adopting the use of personal body cameras to be worn by their police officers, forever changing the extreme power imbalance between the police and citizens.

Perhaps one of the best examples though of a change in consciousness is to be found in Naomi Klein’s newly released book entitled, ‘This Changes Everything’ that identifies capitalism as the primary culprit underlying and driving most of our global crises.  This book promises to become as seminal a work as Rachel Carson’s, ‘Silent Spring’ was in the 70’s which cited industrial chemical pollution as devastating to our environment.   Humanity is indeed waking up!

The New Moon’s semi-square to both Jupiter in Leo and Ceres in Scorpio symbolizes the need for a greatly expanded vision of caring, cooperation and collaboration, not conflict and competition, to overcome struggles to provide for the needs of refugees, the disease-stricken, and all those who are disenfranchised socially, politically and economically.

Pluto in Capricorn just completed a five month retrograde/review of what is and isn’t working in our individual and collective realities.  Now we can move forward with greater insight, awareness and understanding. Recognizing what quantum science has proven over the past decade, that consciousness creates reality, we can now make different, more informed choices that will co-create a new and improved reality.  We CAN balance extremes, especially in all our relationships.  Yes, human beings are imperfect.  AND, we’re also uniquely endowed with the ultimate power – the power of free will choice.

Choose equality.  Choose peace.  CHOOSE BALANCE…

This article is a summary of my live presentation/analysis of the New Moon chart in an approximate hour-long audio recording that includes dates/descriptions of significant upcoming astrological events for the month. The audio recording is available in CD or mp3 file formats for $15. Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The next New Moon is a Solar Eclipse in Scorpio October 23rd at 2:57 pm MST!

Copyright 2014 Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting. All rights reserved.

Gemini New Moon

The Gemini New Moon occurs at 11:40 am MST on Wednesday, May 28th at 7 degrees Gemini 21 minutes.  Here’s the chart:  GeminiNewMoon2014.  Gemini is the sign of the Twins who symbolize the dual nature of our physical plane of existence here on planet Earth.  This sign also reflects the natural law of polarity that exists in our time/space reality.  Gemini is associated with the choices we’re often faced with between two or more equally appealing options as this is the sign of diversity and variety. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Gemini lives up to these qualities by being a ‘walking encyclopedia’ of knowledge.  The usually know a little bit about almost everything!

Gemini also rules the left brain and its logical, linear, deductive way of thinking.  Studying the surrounding environment, it labels and classifies phenomenal objects in order to understand the physical world. Ruled by Mercury, the ‘Messenger’ planet, Geminis never tire of learning one more fact, visiting one more website, attending one more workshop, making one more phone call, or reading one more book, text or email message!  Consequently, Gemini regularly suffers from information overload, becoming overwhelmed with way too many facts – facts that often conflict with one another!

Interestingly, Mercury is at 29 degrees Gemini in the New Moon chart.  The final degree of any sign  signifies culmination.  Planets at 29 degrees can achieve mastery and completion.  Mercury now has the potential ability to KNOW, and to ultimately arrive at a thorough and accurate understanding of the facts of any given situation.

Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Mercury goes retrograde for the second time this year during June.  Thank heavens for Mercury retrogrades!  This is because Mercury retrograde periods always help Gemini purge excess data and useless knowledge and balance predominantly left-brained logical thinking habits with right-brain intuitive thought processes. After all, our left brain is only half of our brain!  Mercury retrograde is a time to integrate left brain and right brain; logic AND intuition.

Mercury will be retrograde from June 7th to July 1st.  It will retrace its steps from 3 degrees Cancer to 24 degrees Gemini. This particular retrograde period will encourage a review of how we FEEL about ourselves, our home, our family and what we need in order to feel safe, secure and protected. It can reveal how our thoughts (Gemini) contribute either to an overall well-being or conversely to a consciousness of fear and doubt that creates emotional insecurities.

Neptune and Chiron in Pisces will also both go retrograde this month on the 9th and 20th respectively. While they’re coming to a ‘standstill’ before appearing to change directions in the heavens, their influence will greatly intensify.  Retrograde until November 17th, Neptune helps us reflect upon the deepest levels of truth our beliefs allow.  Its a time for spiritual reflection and development.  Spiritual guidance and inspiration is always highlighted when Neptune stations retrograde or direct.  Use this time to develop greater compassion for yourself and your fellow human beings.  Reflect upon beliefs that are preventing a direct reunion with the divine source of creation.  Chiron will be retrograde until November 24th.  In Pisces, Chiron can either bring spiritual awareness that helps heal old wounds, or negative, delusional thinking that re-imprints a consciousness of victimization.

Neptune is currently at 7 degrees Pisces, exactly square (90 degree angle) the Gemini New Moon at 7 degrees Gemini.  This planetary combination reflects the potential for facts and truths to become blurred, idealized, confused, obfuscated or even deliberately hidden or falsified.  Illusions, delusions and deceptions will be far less troublesome if you allow your intuition to help you navigate through spin, scams and lies.  Clearly it’s time to trust your intuition!  Let it point the way to your personal truth and the information you need in order to evolve.  Listening intently to internal messages will allow you to better recognize spiritual guidance and to receive new insights and understanding.  These insights can be particularly helpful in healing those past wounds that may have left you feeling victimized.

Perhaps you’re ready to learn the following spiritual evolutionary lesson:  If you experienced something in your life, your own consciousness co-created it.   Over the last decade, quantum science has proven that consciousness creates reality.  Although most of us have been culturally conditioned to blame the perpetrator for difficult things that happen to us, the fact is, we are each ultimately responsible for everything we experience in our reality.  At a higher level of spiritual understanding there’s a realization that there’s really no such thing as a victim since we all co-create precisely what our Soul believes we need to experience in order to learn the lessons that will facilitate the evolutionary growth intentions our Soul has chosen for us in each lifetime.  Seek to move beyond suffering over WHAT happened, and move on to understanding WHY it happened.  All experiences are PURPOSEFUL.  What are you learning in this life that would make sense of your experiences – especially those that were the most difficult?

The Ascendant of the United States natal chart is at 7 degrees Gemini and natal Uranus is rising at 8 degrees Gemini!  Under this month’s Gemini New Moon it’s likely that we’ll continue to experience upsets and breakthroughs relative to old ideas, opinions and perspectives, particularly thoughts about power and powerlessness.  Our country is also continuing to be greatly impacted by the current Grand Cardinal Cross at mid-degrees (12 to 14) of the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) since our natal Saturn is at 14 degrees Libra square our natal Sun at 12 degrees Cancer.  This once-in-our-lifetimes planetary configuration is associated with the enormous social, cultural, economic and political transformations many nations are undergoing.  Shocking and surprising new information will likely be revealed this month that continues to change our self-image and identity as a nation, ultimately leading to changes in goals and policies.

So expect more bombshell revelations!  Neptune rules many things including oil and gas, religious ideologies and organizations, film and videos, drugs, chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry, water, art, music, psychology, mental health and ill-health, infectious diseases, fraud, theft, prisons, scandals and spying.  Watch headlines this month for stories on these and other topics especially ongoing releases of information regarding NSA spying, continuing struggles over ‘Net Neutrality, spread of the the MERS virus and increasing water shortages.  Oh and expect more than a few deceptions and lies to be spun by the media and those in power who frankly don’t want changes or reforms to in any way affect their status quo.

The Sun and Moon are trine (120 degree angle) Mars in Libra (recently direct after a long retrograde from March 1st to May 19th).  This celestial pattern reflects the growing energy available to actively begin new projects and implement plans that have been on hold since early March.  Many new ideas are being ‘seeded’ into personal and collective consciousness now.  Don’t just think about them, act on them!

Working harmoniously through Libra, the sign of relationships and equality, Mars trine the Sun and Moon in Gemini also support new directions in relating and relationships.  An example of this energy is reflected in newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent invitation to attend his upcoming inauguration to his country’s long-time arch enemy Pakistani leader, Nawaz Sharif.  Compromise, collaboration, sharing and mutual respect is on the rise worldwide, despite what the media would have us believe.  Meeting others halfway and treating everyone equally will ensure greater harmony, fairness and justice for all.  A quote I recently read sums up the evolutionary imperative of these extraordinary times perfectly.  It said, “There is no way to peace; peace is the way.”

Unfortunately, Mars in Libra is also finishing up an inconjunct angle (150 degrees) with Neptune in Pisces.  Sadly, this astrological aspect was reflected in the latest mass shooting (Mars rules men, guns and anger) by a mentally ill (Neptune) young man who killed six people in Isla Vista California in an insane act of revenge.  He held deep and long standing grievances against other men he felt superior to and against women for rejecting his sexual advances denying him the pleasures he felt he was entitled to as the ‘alpha male’ he perceived himself to be.  Perhaps gun safety legislation mandating background checks for ALL gun purchases that failed last year will be resurrected and finally succeed now that Mars is moving forward once again.

June offers all of us the opportunity to either increase mindless ‘busy-ness’ or a chance to calm our increasingly overwhelmed and overloaded minds.  Take time this month to simply be still and quiet.  Spend more time in nature, by water, listening to soothing music or creating art.  Make time for mindful meditation and prayer to enjoy and maximize the mind-changing benefits of this Gemini New Moon!

This article is a brief summary of my live presentation/analysis of the New Moon chart in an approximate hour-long audio recording that includes dates/descriptions of significant upcoming astrological aspects for the month. The audio recording is available on CD or mp3 file formats for $15. Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The Cancer New Moon is on June 27th at 1:08 am MST!

 Copyright 2014.  Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting.  All rights reserved.

Aries New Moon

The Aries New Moon occurs on Sunday, March 30th at 11:45 am MST/PDT at 9 degrees Aries 59 minutes. Here’s the chart: Aries New Moon 2014.  Aries is the first sign of the zodiac symbolizing the bursting forth of new life each Spring. This sign instinctively initiates action and tirelessly moves forward in new directions. Its purpose is to discover something unknown but special about itself and its destiny. Aries needs absolute freedom in order to pursue these personal experiences. In fact, if Aries is limited in any way, it responds with anger as it pushes forward anyway!

This New Moon in Aries is joined by Uranus, the asteroid Juno (partnership commitments) and the Moon’s South Node all symbolizing an urgent desire to forge new ways of relating to ourselves and to one another, especially the feminine half of humanity. This lunation activates the Grand Cardinal Cross of 2014 anchored by Uranus square Pluto – which itself is activating the ongoing manifestation of social revolutionary ‘seeds’ originally sown in the ‘60’s when this planetary cycle began. No wonder the same issues that demanded attention then are back in our headlines today including women’s rights, minority rights, voting rights and matters of war and peace!

Cardinal energy (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) initiates actions, but typically does so in a dance of two steps forward, one step back. This is because moving into new experiences creates uncertainty and insecurity.  A step back in order to re-establish security is often necessary before we can muster the courage to take two more steps forward.  Often it is also because something from the past needs to be retrieved in order to successfully move forward. Perhaps we need to recreate the revolutionary fervor of the ‘60’s in order to bring about much needed global social and economic reforms now.  Or perhaps we need to reach back much further to a time before dominant patriarchal influences when we lived communally, sharing everything from food, to shelter, and even the responsibility for rearing children.  During those times we also lived in much greater harmony with and reverence for the natural world.

Mars rules Aries and is therefore the ruling planet of this New Moon.  Mars is currently retrograde (March 1 to May 19) in Libra, the sign of peace, relationships and equality. How we treat one another is topic number one since the Nodes of the Moon recently entered the signs of Aries and Libra last month (February 18, 2014).  Achieving greater balance and justice in intimate partnership matters, issues of marriage, gender and income equality, ongoing racial disparities and increased efforts in national diplomacy are all front and center in our personal and collective realities now demanding fundamental r-evolutionary changes if we are to effectively solve the current problems we face and move forward towards a better tomorrow for all of us.

Unfortunately, Mars is NOT happy being retrograde or being in Libra, its opposite sign! These influences are effectively curbing Mars’ natural tendency towards rash behavior.  They are forcing deliberation and contemplation before actions are taken. We need look no further than the near universal global condemnation of Russia’s military (Mars) aggression and intervention in the Ukraine as it recently annexed the Crimean peninsula to understand how ‘martial’ energy is currently being restrained and limited.  This restraining influence is also evident in the United State’s decision to NOT respond militarily.  Humanity’s evolution now requires that we THINK, very carefully, before we ACT!

The Sun and Moon in Aries will repeatedly aspect Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer, Pluto in Capricorn and retro Mars in Libra over the next few days energizing the Grand Cardinal Cross. Additionally, further connections between Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto and Mars will continue to unfold over the coming weeks with the Grand Cardinal Cross reaching a point of precision from April 20-23.

Rebellious Uranus in Aries just wants to overthrow the entire status quo!  Its revolutionary impulses will be mighty strong over the coming weeks so use this energy wisely to courageously chart a new course for yourself in areas of your life that have become stagnant or are preventing further personal growth. Open up to new experiences and different ways of doing things.  This will allow for new opportunities and new perspectives that help you break free of old outworn ideas and familiar but limiting patterns of behavior.

Jupiter in Cancer reflects the extreme emotionality of these times.  Emotional dependencies and insecurities associated with religious extremism, nationalism and protectionism can threaten current efforts towards greater global peace and cooperation.  We all need to develop a greater sense of INNER emotional security realizing that the emotional balance and well-being we desire can only truly come from within us, not through any outer source.

Pluto in Capricorn stations retrograde on April 14th just one day before a Total Lunar Eclipse in Libra that will be visible from much of the Western hemisphere including the Americas.  Stationary Pluto will require patience and thorough consideration of any new ideas or plans based upon reality not idealism or wishful thinking.  The old guard will tenaciously hold onto the status quo and continue to exert their considerable power and influence.  Changes WILL inevitably come; but some will take more time than others.

Venus enters Pisces on the 5th and then conjuncts Neptune and Chiron on the 11th and 20th respectively.  These ethereal celestial energies will soften the nervous, anxious and edgy energy of the Cardinal Cross allowing divine inspiration, compassion, empathy and forgiveness to guide our actions and decisions.  There’s no better planetary connection than Venus/Neptune for spiritual guidance or inspired artistic expression.  There’s danger in Venus/Chiron however.  Be sure to review past wounds and traumas with a desire to understand WHY your Soul chose to co-create such experiences for yourself and how those experiences have facilitated the lessons your Soul has chosen to learn and evolve through in this lifetime.  Without this kind of objective analysis, wounds are likely to be re-imprinted and simply continue a consciousness of victimization.

And finally, a Solar Eclipse in Taurus on the 28th will demand a much greater responsibility in the use of precious but limited natural resources.  On a more personal level, Taurus has to do with values and possessions.  Taurus teaches self-reliance and self-development so we learn to meet our own needs which is far more empowering than depending on someone else to take care of us.  Solar Eclipses follow a 19 year cycle.  So think back to what was happening for you in 1995 for greater insights about how this eclipse energy is likely to manifest in your own personal life since repeating astrological cycles often recreate similar events and experiences.

Also of great importance is the fact that the Grand Cardinal Cross, precise from April 20th to the 23rd will dramatically  impact the United States natal chart as it exactly aligns with our Sun in Cancer square Saturn in Libra.  In mundane astrology, which interprets the charts of nations, both the Sun and Saturn are planets associated with leadership.  America will have an extraordinary opportunity to further evolve over the coming weeks and months as our resources, values, security, self-image, beliefs and reputation are challenged and changed.

The U.S. natal Sun in Cancer is in the 2nd house of values and resources while Saturn in Libra is in the 5th house of creativity and purpose.  Those who understand the true purpose and evolutionary growth intentions of America as a nation know that our destiny is to foster and promote equality, fairness and justice for ALL.  These are lessons we began learning at our nation’s founding when many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were themselves slave owners and voting rights were granted exclusively to white men who were property owners.  It continues today as we are now learning to see ourselves as an equal among nations, not as a ‘superior’ nation.  Its no coincidence that it has recently become commonplace among some Americans to vigorously defend a national self-image of ‘exceptionalism.’  ALL nations are exceptional just as all human beings are special in their own unique way.  We continue to learn the lessons of ‘different’ but ‘equal’ and to see diversity as a strength, not a weakness.

The current Grand Cardinal Cross influence has never before been experienced by our nation in all of our 238 years of existence.  We may well be in for historic events and experiences in the near future.  Our leaders will surely be tested over the coming weeks and months as r-evolutionary social, cultural, political and economic changes continue to manifest throughout the world.  Now more than ever before we need to lead by the power of example, not by the power of force.

What new directions are unfolding in your life? Are you courageous enough to forge ahead in spite of your fears of the unknown? What new ideas are demanding your attention and action now?  Are you ready to bust out and break free?!

The current celestial influences are a once in a lifetime opportunity to change our destiny both personally and collectively. Historic and life-changing events are on the horizon! Perhaps it’s now or never so take that BIG proverbial ‘leap of faith’ and dare to boldly create the future you desire and that we all deserve!

This article is a brief summary of my live presentation/analysis of the New Moon chart in an approximate hour-long audio recording that includes dates/descriptions of significant upcoming astrological aspects for the month. The audio recording is available on CD or mp3 file formats for $15. Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The Taurus New Moon Solar Eclipse is on Monday, April 28th at 11:14 pm MST.

Copyright 2014. Donna Lee Steele. All rights reserved.

MERCURY RETROGRADE IS NOT A BAD THING! Unless you ignore it…

One of the things I am consistently amazed by as I work with clients is their overwhelming and pervasive negative interpretation of Mercury retrograde periods.  This reveals a biased and unfortunate misinterpretation of the true purpose and meaning of Mercury retrograde.

Let me begin to try to change your mind about this common astrological event by saying that Mercury retrograde occurs three to four times each year.  Mercury retrograde periods last for an average of 21 to 24 days each.  Add 10 days before and after to account for the pre- and post-shadow periods (a technical part of any planetary retro event) and, well, you get the idea.  Mercury retrograde is a pretty commonplace event in our lives!  We are about to experience our next Mercury retrograde period beginning this evening at 7:15 pm MST and continuing until 10:40 pm MST August 7^th!

So what does Mercury retrograde really mean?

First and foremost:  Retrograde is a NATURAL phenomenon!  All things natural have a natural purpose and naturally fit into and contribute to a healthy balance within the whole of existence.  All things natural are also archetypal.  So let’s understand the primary archetype associated with the phenomena of retrograde in and of itself.   Yes, retrograde movement has its own archetypal meaning.  The primary archetype of retrograde movement is, ‘individuation.’  Think Jungian theory.  Individuation is the ‘process by which individuals in society become differentiated from one another.’  You become your unique individual self.

And by the way, the proper, technical phrase is ‘apparent retrograde motion.’  This is because the planets do not actually move backward.  It just looks that way from our point of view from Earth.  From our Earth-bound perspective, it’s actually an optical illusion.  Nevertheless, retrograde energy IS different than the energy associated with direct or forward movement of planets.

Retrograde movement is naturally associated with YIN energy or energy moving inward towards the center.  It’s introverted energy so to speak.  So if you have to look inward to find and work with retrograde energy, whose energy are you seeing when you look ‘in there?’  Your own!  Yours. Not anybody else’s.  Retrograde energy is an inside job.   It facilitates the natural individuation process.

Retrograde movement re-focuses energy and attention inward so that whatever is being experienced (depends on the planet that is retrograde) is being interpreted uniquely and individually according to your own personal values, beliefs, needs, thoughts, opinions, expectations, etc.  Yours.  Not anybody else’s.  Especially NOT according to the values, beliefs, needs, thoughts, opinions, expectations, etc. of the mainstream of society, ‘conventional wisdom’ or what’s otherwise known as consensus ‘reality.’

At its core, the purpose of retrograde energy is to teach us to balance our individual experience with that of the collective.  Part/whole.  Individual/community.  Person/team.  At certain points in our life we must decide for ourselves what is right and true for us regarding this, that and the other thing(s).  If we don’t do this, then we are hopeless sheep always following someone else’s example, lead, values, beliefs, needs, thoughts, opinions, etc.  We become cogs in a wheel.  We do not think for ourselves!  We stop evolving personally, and evolving in any way that contributes to the evolution of the collective.

Mercury rules the left-brain and has to do with logical thinking habits including linear thought processes, deductive reasoning, language and the learning process that labels, classifies and therefore KNOWS the real physical world — that which can be experienced through the five physical senses.

Jupiter rules the right-brain and is associated with intuitive thinking habits and wholistic, conceptual, image-based inner mental processing.   It is associated with ‘meta’-physical knowledge, insight, guidance and understanding that occurs in ways that are difficult to prove or measure through the five physical senses of our outer world.

An imbalance of the mind occurs due to extreme habits of utilizing logical thought processes exclusively and by only taking into account evidence from the real physical world in order to interpret and integrate information and make decisions.  Mental imbalance occurs when our intuitive faculties are neglected and ignored.

This left-brain imbalance is remedied by developing the right-brain.  We have to move our attention from the OUTER world of facts, figures and physical data, to the INNER world (YIN energy moves inward toward the center) of intuition, insights, hunches and metaphysical understanding.   We must learn to develop our right-brain capacity by asking for, listening to and honoring INNER guidance or intuitive information to achieve and maintain mind balance.  Most folks call this sort of thing ‘listening to your gut’ or ‘knowing what you know without knowing how you know it!’  Consulting our intuition, in addition to utilizing logical, linear thought patterns, consensus thinking or mainstream opinions, helps us maintain intellectual balance and frankly, our sanity.

So Mercury retrograde, in a nutshell, gives us plenty of opportunities every year to throw off all of the excess data, facts, messages and news commonly associated with the overall daily bombardment of data we call ‘info overload.’  It gives us the opportunity to think for ourselves and to achieve greater mental balance by developing our intuition.  By using our intuition, we know WHICH facts are important, WHICH messages to return and exactly WHAT information is true and worth our time and energy to take in or act upon.  The rest is just junk and likely to ‘clutter up’ our grey matter and render it less than effective.  Using intuition helps to restore balance to our total information processing capacity.  We think and decide best when we use both logic and intuition to arrive at what ‘feels’ right, in addition to what seems to ‘make sense’ to us as individuals.   In short, we learn to think and feel for ourselves and become intellectually whole and mentally balanced.

IT’S WHEN WE IGNORE OUR INTUITION, ESPECIALLY DURING MERCURY RETROGRADE PERIODS, THAT WE TYPICALLY EXPERIENCE HAVOC!

Have you ever experienced a totally unexpected computer crash (with no data backup of course) during Mercury retrograde?   Really?  Was it really completely and totally unexpected?  Or did the thought of the possibility of your computer crashing pop into your head a time or two or five during the weeks or days leading up to the retrograde period?   Or maybe you’ve experienced your car breaking down just like you imagined it would the night before it actually happened?!

OR, have you ever realized that you knew exactly who was calling (and therefore knew it was the person you absolutely did not want to talk to) so you decided NOT to pick up the phone?   Or did you just know, KNOW, the instant you saw that particular ‘help wanted’ ad for employment that it was ‘the one’ so you decided to apply right away?

These are just simple examples of how our intuition works – constantly – to guide us and help steer us in the right direction to grow and accomplish what we intend to accomplish.  Notice that the outcome was much better in the examples where intuition was heeded and followed.  Notice the outcome was much worse in the examples where intuition was NOT heeded and followed.  BOTH were a result of individual choices.  One choice was to trust, listen to and follow intuition; the other choice was to ignore it!

We are so darned conditioned here in the West to be totally logical and completely ignore any and all things intuitive, or ‘hunchy.’   In fact, we are often dismissed and ridiculed and judged as weak if we trust our gut over our head — especially in business situations.  In fact, most social, business and political leaders and experts consistently go out of their way to avoid any association with intuition whatsoever as they fear it will discredit and undermine their professional reputation and standing.   And yet, intuitive, right-brained, image-based thinking is HALF of our intellectual capacity for goodness sake!

The more we develop the capacity to regularly use and honor our intuition, the more helpful it will be, contributing to better choices and decisions.  The more ‘in tune’ we are with our own inner guidance that points us to the relevant info we really do need, the more we’ll be able to turn away from what we don’t need – all the extra input, superfluous data, junk mail, ‘rabbit hole website chasing,’ and endless conversations with people we really don’t want to talk with anyway!  Get it!?  Mercury retrograde periods are actually the perfect antidote to the info overload that’s become an all too common and regular experience in our modern lives.

So stop trashing Mercury retrograde!  It’s good for us!  We just have to overcome our pervasive and ingrained cultural bias that has taught us, to our great misfortune, to ignore half of our intellectual/mental capacity.  Brain science is continuously telling us that human beings vastly underutilize our total brain capacity.  Maybe part of that unused portion has to do with intuitive faculties, and image-based mental processes that stir the imagination and catapult the manifestation process into action in the first place!

Now every Mercury retrograde period is different.  This is because ALL of the planets are constantly moving and so Mercury is always in a unique pattern of connection to all of the other planets each time it begins a retro period.  This next Mercury retrograde period that begins later today occurs in the sign of Leo and should turn our attention to the question, “What about me?!”   Our thoughts will likely focus on issues related to personal recognition, praise, affection given and received, love affairs, pride and our children and creative pursuits.  Leo makes challenging square (90 degrees) and opposition (180 degrees) aspects to the other fixed signs during this retro period, so folks with a lot of emphasis in the fixed signs of Scorpio, Aquarius and Taurus will probably find it more difficult than those who don’t to listen to and heed their intuition over the coming three weeks.

Each Mercury retrograde is experienced individually and totally depends upon what sign it’s happening in and what house that sign occupies in your own natal birth chart.  It also depends heavily on whatever aspects to your natal planets Mercury will make during its retro.  Some retro periods are indeed more intense than others.  But in my opinion, this is not because Mercury retrogrades are inherently bad or evil, but more so because certain logical thought patterns and behavioral habits are so dominant and fixed in our experience that they represent a sort of security of familiarity.  So considering a change to those patterns, even when our intuition is screaming at us to do so, can be more difficult for some of us at certain times and with some situations than for others.

However, the primary purpose of Mercury retro remains.  In order to grow and evolve beyond the limitations of old thought patterns of behavior, requires new input and new choices.  And our intuitive faculties will ALWAYS show us the way forward.  Mercury retro periods will always prompt us to pursue and consider input that’s different than what we’ve routinely tried and relied upon.  It will also always provide opportunities for us to achieve a greater balance in our thought processes using intuition alongside logic and honoring intuition as a source of information and guidance that’s equally valid and just as valuable as logic, facts and physical evidence.

So Happy Mercury Retrograde Everybody!  Let intuition reign!!

Infinite Blessings,

Donna

© Copyright 2012.   Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting.   All Rights reserved.

A Rare Venus Retrograde: Money and Relationships in Review

SPECIAL CONFERENCE CALL/TELECLASS

 May 12, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm MST/PDT*

$20 includes conference call and MP3 file or CD

On May 15^th, Venus begins a remarkable retrograde in the sign of Gemini that lasts until June 27^th.   Venus retrogrades are the most infrequent of any planet in our solar system.   This upcoming retrograde will be especially rare since Venus will also transit (eclipse) the Sun on June 5^th completing an extremely unusual eight year Venus cycle that began on June 8, 2004.  The last time this kind of Venus event occurred was in 1882; it won’t happen again until 2117!

 Venus rules two signs, Taurus (feminine) and Libra (masculine), and is associated with both money and other people.   Our experiences with both will be highly energized during this retrograde period prompting an intense and honest inner review of how well we’re managing our resources as well as how happy we are with our relationships from the most casual like friends and co-workers to the most intimate including lovers and family.  And although Taurus and Libra natives will feel this retro the most, all of us will be affected in some way. 

 Join me for an insightful and inspiring 90 minute telephone presentation on the archetypal meaning and influence of Venus retrograde.  I’ll explain the connection between Venus, core essential personal needs and values, and experiences with money and relationships. You’ll learn how to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities ahead for achieving greater inner peace and outer prosperity and more loving and meaningful personal and professional relationships.

Call 928-779-1210 or contact me today to register and specify your preference for either an MP3 file or CD.  I’ll reserve your place on the call and provide conference call telephone number and access code information.  If you’re unable to join the call, you can still purchase just the MP3 file or CD copy of my presentation.      

*Remember to adjust the conference call time to your own Time Zone!

Mars Retrograde in Virgo

Every couple of years Mars turns retrograde for approximately two and a half months.  The last time Mars went retrograde was from December 20, 2009 to March 10, 2010 in the sign of Leo.  This time the retrograde will occur in Virgo from January 23^rd to April 13^th.

There are many interpretations of this astrological signature.  Keeping it simple however, requires only that we look to the archetypes of Mars and Virgo to further understand the energy and influence of this celestial event.

Virgo is the sign associated with work, health and service.  This sign typically operates through crises that lead to intense self-analysis in order to understand what needs to be changed or adjusted to resolve the perpetual or cyclic nature of the crises.  Once the necessary adjustments have been made, self-improvement occurs.

Unfortunately, Virgo tends to focus disproportionately on what’s wrong instead of what’s right.  This negativity often devolves into judgment and criticism and the need to ‘atone’ for past mistakes.  A feeling of ‘not being good enough’ can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors and can even become the causative factor for illness.   Unconsciously, Virgos often use crises to distract themselves from themselves!  They’re so busy putting out fires that they never get around to addressing their own personal ‘stuff.’   Another classic Virgo tactic used to avoid doing necessary self-improvement work is becoming a workaholic.  There’s never enough time to do what needs to be done to take care of the self.

From a total zodiacal perspective, Virgo is a transitional archetype.  It is the last sign associated with development of the individual self (Aries through Virgo) before we experience the need to progressively socialize and integrate into the whole of society with others as an equal (Libra through Pisces).

Following Leo, the sign associated with the full development of the individual  ego-centric identity and the need to creatively express that unique identity, Virgo provides a necessary deflation of the ego that prepares us for the task of entering into relationships with others on an equal basis.  Virgo teaches humility which is often learned through a process of humiliation that serves to not only deflate the ego, but also to realign the ego-centric identity with its own Higher Self or Divine Will.

Mars is considered by Astrologers to be the ‘lower octave’ of Pluto and therefore directly associated with the Soul (Pluto).  Pluto operates at an unconscious level and is the source of the Soul’s evolutionary growth intentions in each lifetime.  For most of us, we can only come to consciously know our Soul’s intentions through Mars.  This is because Mars is the principle of instinctive action and what it instinctively acts out or acts upon are the desires for growth that emanate from the Soul.  So through Mars, we act on our desires and through this process, become the person our Soul intends us to become.

Because Mars always acts instinctively to pursue desires, it typically will not brook any interference in those pursuits.  When it meets with such interference or obstruction, anger usually results.  This is why Aries/Mars individuals require so much personal freedom.   Adequate freedom allows them to instinctively pursue their desires in an unfettered way.

Now imagine the planet of instinctive action, which naturally becomes angry whenever its actions are interrupted or interfered with in any way, having to STOP, turn around, and begin to move BACKWARD through the zodiac!  Suffice it to say, retrograde movement does not make Mars happy.  What retrograde movement of Mars does accomplish however is a slowing-down of the instinctive impulse to act so that thorough and thoughtful review of desired actions can take place.   Mars retrograde facilitates the necessary planning, analysis and preparation that results in greater success once actions are taken.

So in a nutshell, this upcoming Mars retrograde through Virgo will likely bring crises, delays, obstacles and a general thwarting of actions and initiatives for the purpose of necessary review.  Taking the time to thoroughly analyze problems and goals will allow for crucial changes and adjustments to be made that will have a positive effect on the outcome of actions that are ultimately taken.

So get ready for review time!  The best use of this Mars retrograde is to become more aware of the nature of both desires and crises in your life.  Perhaps you’ll notice a pattern in the kinds of problems you typically experience.  Or perhaps you’ll discover the extraordinary effectiveness that crises have had in your life relative to keeping you from doing what you know you should and could do for your own health and well-being.

Be prepared to positively manage your frustration when setbacks occur.  Consider whatever obstacles do show up to actually be your allies.  Accept the nature and timing of those obstacles as totally right and proper.  In fact, those obstacles will no doubt be the perfect facilitators of the need to rethink or review your plans.  Solicit and surrender to the guidance and direction of your Higher Self through prayer and meditation.

Virgo’s opposite sign is Pisces.  Opposite signs always point the way forward for evolutionary growth.  Pisces is the sign associated with spirituality and the desire to reunite with the source of our creation.  The spiritualization process is often facilitated by disillusionment or disappointments that reveal that what we thought had meaning and would provide happiness or ultimate fulfillment isn’t actually capable of doing so.  Through dissolving the meaning we falsely assign to desired people, places and things, Pisces serves to realign us with reality.

Used unwisely, Pisces can also provide an escape hatch for those not yet ready or willing to deal with reality or to see their life circumstances clearly.  We all need to ‘let our hair down’ occasionally.  But substance abuse and addiction can occur when escape becomes the preferred way of coping with disappointing realities.  On the upside, Pisces can provide the inspiration to ‘reimagine’ problems and opportunities.

Neptune rules Pisces and will enter Pisces for the next fourteen years on February 3^rd in the midst of the Mars retrograde period.  When the Mars retrograde period ends on April 13^th, Mars will be within just a degree of an exact opposition to Neptune.  This connection is typically associated with severe disillusionment and even deception so be especially mindful of the timely need to face realities squarely and to see things and people clearly as this Mars retrograde comes to an end.   Finding the courage to do so will be the factor/choice that allows you to move forward, slowly but successfully, once this retrograde period comes to an end.

Virgo and Pisces natives (and to a lesser degree Gemini and Sagittarius) will feel the influence of this Mars retrograde the most.  Aries and Scorpio natives will also be significantly affected since these two signs are ruled by Mars.  However, this retrograde will have some effect on nearly everyone since we all have Virgo somewhere in our chart.  Look to the houses where Virgo and Aries and Scorpio are on the cusps (Mars rules Aries and co-rules Scorpio) for clues about what areas of your life are due for an in-depth review during this retrograde.

Take ‘time outs’ to deeply ponder what’s not working in your life especially if it involves your everyday work routine or health.  If a health issue does need attention, consider the usefulness of natural remedies (Virgo).  Take steps now to improve nutrition and to ensure that you get plenty of rest.  And if diagnoses are confusing or uncertain (Pisces) don’t hesitate to get a second opinion especially if surgery is recommended.  Pets may also need extra attention during this retrograde period since Virgo rules them too.  Be extra kind and forgiving with everyone especially yourself.  And most importantly, resolve to make necessary changes and adjustments one step at a time as this strategy is most effective in overcoming Virgo’s ‘perfection paralysis.’

Every outer planetary retrograde reaches its halfway point when it opposes the Sun.  This Mars retrograde will be at its halfway point on March 4^th.  The ‘review’ process encouraged by this Mars retrograde period will be the most intense during its first half from January 23^rd to March 4^th.   From March 4^th to April 13^th increasing energy and urgency to move forward and implement plans will begin to unfold.  If possible, it will be best to delay the beginning of any big new project or initiative until mid-April when the retrograde is complete.  But if you must begin something sooner, at least be aware of the likelihood of setbacks occurring that will probably prove frustrating, albeit necessary for ultimate success.

Above all else, use this retrograde period to generally SLOW DOWN!  Turn the focus of your attention inward.  The answers and insights you need now to make positive and necessary changes that can result in real evolutionary Soul growth in your life will be found by looking deeply inside.  And don’t forget to ask for help from whatever source of higher guidance you believe in.  The highest potential and best use of this Mars retrograde can result in tremendous personal healing, for individuals, and for our planet.

Many Blessings, Donna