Venus in Aires February 20, 2015 – "Come Feel the Warrior in Love"

The sign of Aires carries the energy of firsts – first in line, first to discover, first to start again.  It is the first sign of the Zodiac and from its position in our birth charts we derive our concept of self, as well as our personality.  Aires' symbol is a ram and there's no question as to why that is.  Powerhouse Aires likes to lead the way and has no room for half measures.  Aires embraces its character traits and blazes a trail by effectively using whatever planetary energy comes to hand.  On February 20th fair Venus entered dominant, male Aires and the wild rumpus began.

Venus in Aires does not tolerate half-hearted efforts.  She falls and falls 

The Emperor - Aires power as depicted in
"The Wizard's Tarot"© by
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

hard when her romantic interest is sparked. Sparked?  More like spontaneously combusts.  When Venus transits Aires there's much more leaping than looking and in the cold light of reason the results of that high dive can leave a lot to be desired.  A sleek body, a winning smile and a great wardrobe cover a multitude of sins as far as Venus in Aires in concerned, so if you have this transit prominently in your birth chart, or were born under the Sign of the Ram ( a particularly tawdry, late 40's black and white, B movie, by the way) you can find yourself transfixed by passion and romance with very little substance.  Venus in Aires does not always love wisely, but certainly loves well.

One note of caution:  Since Aires likes to be first place in virtually everything it touches there can be some egocentric behaviors attached to this transit.  Remember that healthy love doesn't impose or dominate.  It supports, joins, emboldens and enhances.

Sexy and savvy, Aly Fell and Barbara
Moore's depiction of The Empress fills
the bill for Venus. From "Steampunk Tarot"©
An astounding deck!

The tarot cards to watch in your readings during the Venus in Aires transit are the suit of Cups (naturally), in particular, the Queen as she is intensely focused in her passions, as well as the 2 of Cups (relationships).  Also watch the Major Arcana cards, #6, The Lovers, #3, The Empress (Venus' card), #4, The Emperor (Aires' card), #16, The Tower (tarot association for Mars, the ruler of Aires) and last but still important, #18, The Moon (for those romantic illusions). Happy shuffling!


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Mars in Sagittarius, September 13th to October 25th, 2014 – “Genghis Khan Meets Dora the Explorer”

On Saturday Mars, our fiery, warrior planet, takes up

Ciro Marchetti's depiction of #16, The
Tower, from the legendary
 "Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

residence with Sagittarius, the Archer.  We’ll develop the attitude of the conqueror, but with the attention span of a gnat.  It’s not quite as bad as that.  We will have moments of pure gold where we gain extraordinary ground in our lives – surmounting obstacles, seizing the day until we succumb to the tangents presented by the roads less traveled.  Mars in Sagittarius marries the mind of a conqueror

 with the heart of an explorer.   

This is a transit for risk takers and there’s a significant up tick in our competitive natures. We greet life enthusiastically and with idealism.  The Martian fire is still present, however. Sagittarius simply points it in the direction of moral principles and concern for the human condition.  Ethical behavior and staying true to our convictions becomes more important during this transit and we don’t allow a great deal of flexibility in either one.

#14, Temperance, as envisioned by
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen
is their deck, "The Wizard's Tarot"©

During Mars in Sagittarius we can demonstrate quicker wit and embrace bold plans for overcoming challenges.  Ideas flow fairly easily and while we have the warrior spirit to execute these plans, we often lack the focus necessary to stick with them to completion.  Mars in Sagittarius produces scattered energy making us easily distracted. Focus, people, focus.

Tarot’s card associations for this transit are #16, The Tower, (swift, unexpected change) for Mars and #14, Temperance, (carefully blending the components of your world, spiritual, emotional and material, for balance) for Sagittarius.  They nicely sum up the exchange between the warrior and the hunter.  If you find yourself missing out on opportunities due to lack of focus during this transit try meditating on some of tarot’s ‘follow through’ cards to ground yourself and narrow that energy beam to where it does you the most good. 

Here are some helpful cards for meditation: Queens of

The powerful Queen of Wands from
"The Wizard's Tarot"© by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen 

Wands (creative action, confidence and skill), Knight of Pentacles (steadfastness to duty and tasks even when you’d rather not), 9 of Wands (perseverance, going the distance though difficulty) and 7 of Pentacles (tending to tasks which will yield longterm results).  There are certainly other components to these cards, because tarot is a marvelous blend of both simple and complex concepts. ( See Blog: “Lights, Camera, Action” for using the suit of Wands for motivation.)  However, you get the idea and if you’re a tarot reader you probably have your own favorite cards to motivate yourself. In any case, have fun and try pulling tarot energy to guide you through this transit.

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May 19, 2014, Mars Goes Direct – “Giddy–up”

Mars' tarot card is "The Tower"
This depiction is from Ciro Marchetti's
stunning "Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

Mars turns stationary direct today in nine degrees of Libra.  Thank Heavens – literally. Although Libra isn’t always the most harmonious sign for Mars, we now have the chance to cease angst-filled internal dialogue and put our thoughts, and most importantly, our actions to use in the world around us.

Mars in Libra loves justice and strives for balance.  We’ll find ourselves more willing to do something about our personal struggles with inequality.  We’ll also find it easier to take action against the inequity suffered by others.  Mars retrograde in Libra gave us plenty of time to think about the human condition.  Whether your concerns are for bettering your local school, improving relationships on the job, or leveling the playing field for society in general (remember that the Uranus Pluto Square wants societal change) you’ll be ready to organize and take action.  

While our creative endeavors normally flourish under Mars in

Libra's card from Corrine Kenner and
John J. Blumen's "Wizards Tarot"©

Libra you can expect them to take a startling leap forward during the next few days.  You’ve been banking the fire of your inner muse during Mars retrograde.  Now the creative spark bursts into flame and you emerge with a plan, as well as the drive to carry it forward.  We are ready to resume our normal physical activities as well.  If you’ve been a little sluggish following your exercise regime or with your commitment to train for upcoming athletic events you’ll find yourself suddenly back on track. That is the wonder of Mars direct.  Dynamic movement, the strength of will needed to achieve and warrior energy; those are the hallmarks of the Red Planet’s influence.  

The Ace of Wands starts the show
Seen here from Ciro Marchetti's
"Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

Whether you have causes or creative projects to work on, or are launching a new series of personal goals, it’s time to get moving again.  Make a conscious decision to pull in the energy of Mars in Libra.  Focus on the lessons of the suit of Wands and use Wand imagery (See Blog: "Lights, Camera, Action" )ring mediations to help jump start your action, or to stay motivated when the going gets tough.  You have the opportunity to put your goals back on track while giving something back to the cosmos.  Don’t let this chance pass you by.

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Astrological Trends for March, 2014 – “Full Throttle, Reverse”

March started backwards. Why? It’s because on March 1st,

#16, The Tower is tarot's card for Mars
depicted by Ciro Marchetti for
"Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

Mars in Libra went retrograde, swiftly followed by Saturn in Scorpio on the 2nd.  Retrogrades are designed to make us slow down and take stock of the world around us. The effects of planetary retrogrades differ according to the planet involved, its characteristics and the sign it occupies during the retrograde cycle. Strong retrogrades, such as Mars and Mercury, are not good times to start new ventures.  However there’s still plenty of work to do to move your life forward. All you need is patience.

#11 Justice is tarot's card for Libra
depiction from Rome Choi's
"Dreaming Way Tarot"©

Forceful Mars calls for subtler, more inward action while in retrograde. Spend time reviewing your desires and ambitions, as well as your previous deeds. Is your current path creating more conflicts than you’d like? Do you react more aggressively in situations than is necessary? Mars’ charm falls a little flat during retrograde and unresolved issues frequently resurface.  Reacting aggressively when this happens can cost you hard-won ground. Conflicts right now will test not only your patience, but your integrity as well.  Although Mars in Libra carries an innate sense of justice, during retrograde it becomes important not to bend justice to suit your wishes. Let painful feelings fall away. They are in the past. They cannot hurt you unless you choose to let them rule your present actions.  

Saturn in Scorpio turned retrograde on March 2nd and now

#21, The World is tarot's card for Saturn
depiction from "Tarot Of Pagan Cat's"© by
Lo Scarabeo

nobody gets to sleep.  This is the perfect time to re-tool organizations and bureaucratic systems. Talk about the need for patience. Streamlining becomes a way of life under Saturn’s retrograde in Scorpio. Review policies and procedures.  Work within systems to change them. Yes you can, because you have the personal power needed to undertake these types of challenges, exhausting as they may be.  Scorpio’s intuition gives you tremendous insights into over-burdened, poorly functioning areas of life – not just in business, but personally as well.  When tapping into the power of Saturn in its home sign, Scorpio, use the energy wisely and with a sense of higher purpose.

Jupiter's tarot card is #10, The Wheel of  Fortune
depiction by Barbara Moore and Aly Fell for
"Steampunk Tarot"©

Jupiter turns direct in Cancer on March 6th. Hallelujah! Combine this expansive energy hit with the revisionary power of both retrograde planets.  What an opportunity to transform your life.  Don’t want to transform it?  No problem. Refine is another ‘r’ word (Retrograde are about using ‘r’ words after all: Revisit, review, refine) that helps you utilize life’s holding pattern common during retrograde energy.  If revision isn’t required in your life see what area needs to expand in your consciousness to support your vision.

This month also brings the return of the Grand Cardinal T-Square, Venus’ entry into Aquarius, Full Moon in Virgo, Sun in Aries combined with the vernal equinox and another New Moon on the 30th.  Whew! I will be covering these events as we go.  This month will be fast and furious, my friends, despite the temporary stagnation patterns of ongoing retrograde cycles.  Use caution and remember to respond this month, not react.  Be brilliant!

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Aries, March 21st - April 20th - Living With the Ram Without Getting Fleeced

Aries' tarot association is
#4, The Emperor from
"Wizard's Tarot"© by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen

Aries the Ram is a cardinal sign, meaning it is the first zodiac sign of a specific season.  In this case, the season is spring. Cardinal signs are highly motivation.  Aries, doubly so, because it's not only the first sign in springtime, but is also the first sign of the zodiac year.

Aries people are optimistic and gregarious. They jump into a new venture or situation with both feet and usually with a high degree of success. They make excellent friends because of their caring, generous natures, as well as their leadership skills. Aries’ natural enthusiasm draws people to them. You want to do things for Aries just to see them smile and do their happy dance. Use caution though, because you don’t want to spoil an Aries. They are born with the knowledge that they are the first sign and in their minds that gives them an entitlement to the things they want. Standing between an Aries and their goal can be darn right foolhardy.

Ram people are easily offended. Notice I didn’t say they are overly sensitive. They are not. Aries is a fire sign ruled by both Mars and Pluto. Gee, can you say moody? Mars carries aggressive energy and Aires isn’t one to shy away from confrontation. Unfortunately, they are also known for becoming childish or even throwing full blown temper tantrums when they are thwarted. Aries best relationships are with other fire signs (Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius).

The tarot card for Mars, ruling planet of Aries, is
#16, The Tower. From "Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©
by Ciro Marchetti

The natural leadership and energy of Aries makes them very good at heading up new projects or endeavors.  When they are focused, they are focused. Rams are what I refer to as ‘first string’ people.  They insist on being in the starting lineup and are never content to warm the bench.  In their world, team is definitely spelled with an I.  However, ram people are easily bored. While Aries is great at getting the ball rolling, halfway through the game you’re likely to look down the field and find that they’ve headed off to the snack bar. 

Aries birthstone is diamond.  Hard head, hard stone.  In tarot, their ruling cards are # 4 The Emperor (hardness, authority, rules and structure - hmmm I sense a theme here) and the ever dynamic and irresistible, Queen of Wands (creative action, achievement, self assurance).

Aries of a special, charismatic people and life around them is rich and vibrant.  Celebrate the Aries in your life this month.

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