The best course of action this week is to maintain awareness, be ever vigilant and be mindful of what is really going on and not merely accepting how things are being presented or the way they appear. The liability towards deception and misjudgment could be strong this week. We might want to make assumptions based upon grand illusions, and such assumptions could prove the recipe for disaster.

People are likely to be on edge and things can change quickly and dramatically. Due diligence and no rush to judgment are called for.

While we can consider possibilities for ourselves, it would be wise that we look at things from different vantage points and fresh perspectives. We could easily convince ourselves of things being the way we want them to be and possibilities being some saving grace.

Missteps to begin the week could unfold into hasty decisions, knee-jerk reactions and overcompensations, or too great a forcefulness, towards the latter part of the week.

Let’s try to avoid getting caught up in the swirling, uncontrolled energy vortices that are likely to abound this week and over the next two-three weeks.

Getting off the track, getting out of Dodge, avoiding long-term commitments and avoiding cut-in-stone obligations would all be suggested for this week.

We may have to stretch this week to maintain our balance, but we have been prepared for times like these. And we have the skill set to effectively and successfully deal with the intensity of these times.

Monday, July 26th – Hopes, Wishes and Grand Illusions – Mercury, Neptune, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus. Monday starts the week with a bevy of energy configurations. The Leo Sun trines Jupiter in Aries. Mercury, towards the end of its transit of Leo, opposes Neptune in Aquarius. Saturn and Uranus make their fifth and final opposition of a cycle that has gone on since the Autumn of 2008. We could easily feel as though we are invincible today. We might have a sense of everything going right. Of course, such a belief may be more a hoped-for conclusion rather than true reality. Certainly, things could be presented in their best possible light, but such a presentation could also negate certain problems and avoid specific issues that would otherwise dampen the rosy picture being painted. Unexpected variables might be thrown into the mix to confuse situations, but it would be far wiser to be in a state of confusion rather than wild-eyed optimism. Irrational exuberance can be back on the table, depicting a confidence and optimism based upon best-case scenarios rather than real factors. Today is a day to take things with a grain of salt, suspend judgment and maintain mindfulness and exercise due diligence. If we do not engage healthy skepticism regarding upbeat presentations, then we could be enlisting in the parade of the lemmings headed for the cliffs. Hope and change can be intoxicating motivators but while we might want to have our head in the clouds, let’s try to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground.

Tuesday, July 27th – Wouldn’t it Be Loverly? – Neptune, Mercury Virgo. Some of the spaciness of yesterday could continue on into this Tuesday. Today’s Moon in Aquarius conjuncts Neptune. If the hucksters and spinmeisters are out in full force today, and certainly the energies today would suggest such, we have to keep our wits about us and not buy into the prospects and possibilities that focus solely on the attributes and negate the liabilities of situations being presented. Monday and Tuesday are good days to get together with friends, take ‘mental health’ days and leave the concerns of the world, and our personal lives, behind us. These two days are not the best for coming to definitive decisions or making long-term commitments. Some of the variables of the next two weeks could be essential in determining where we should go and how we should get there. While we might be feeling good about things or at least buying into some of the pablum being offered us, it would be wise to hold off on any significant moves until we have more information, full disclosure and a sense of some of the upsets that might occur in the next two weeks. So, let’s just enjoy ourselves, pick up a fiddle and play and not take anything too seriously or accept anything at face value. Today also sees Mercury exit Leo and come into its own Sign of Virgo. Our mind can be a great deal clearer and more focused on analysis and checking things out in detail. Although we might want to get carried away by euphoria, or escapism, our mind can be an important rein on our taking wild spins into fantasyland.

Wednesday, July 28th – Back to Looking at the Fundamentals – Mercury, Pluto. Wednesday has the Moon moving into Pisces where it opposes Mercury and sextiles Pluto. Today is a day when we can strip away the images and appearances and get to the heart of any matter. We might not like what we see, but we do have the ability of seeing what is really going on and then determine a best practices approach by which we can realize our goals. This is a good day for brainstorming, going from the abstract and conceptual, focusing on the fundamentals and the basics and then devising the strategic means to achieve our heart-felt desires. We can accomplish a great deal today if we do not let ourselves get distracted by nitpicking the details or critiquing endlessly or falling into a negative mindset. Even if we have felt things were crashing and burning around us, this Wednesday allows us to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and start over wiser and more determined to concentrate on the truly essential.

Thursday, July 29th – You Talking to Me? – Venus, Mars Libra. The Pisces Moon today opposes Venus and Mars exits Virgo to enter Libra. Relationships could prove a little dicey today. They may seem extraordinarily heavy with some people placing demands on us, other people feeling victimized and pulling at our heart strings. The balance between helping someone out and being co-dependent and trying to fix their problems for them could be sorely tested today. Let’s try and avoid emotional entanglements with those people so engrossed in their own personal dramas that no matter what we do, or how much we do, they are unwilling to get a grip, deal with their issues and move on from the emotional morass to which they might be addicted. While people could be a little hypercritical of each other today, it would be wise to maintain a certain detachment and not take anything too personally. With Mars moving into Libra, we have a significant starting gun for some of the likely craziness over the next week as the Cardinal Climax of Saturn opposed Uranus and both square Pluto is reinforced by Jupiter and now by Mars. Let the games begin, although it might seem more like the Colosseum with the lions and the Christians. Yup, it’s time to fasten our seat belts, be ever mindful and aware and not react to situations immediately but rather respond in a balanced and rational manner to whatever comes our way.

Friday, July 30th – The Unsuspecting Terrorized – Mercury, Pluto, Mars, Uranus, Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Jupiter. Friday the 30th could prove one of the most intense days of this Summer, and possibly second only to the upcoming 4th of August. Today, Mercury trines Pluto. Mars opposes Uranus. And the Moon transits Pisces before moving later in the day into Aries where the Moon conjuncts both Uranus and Jupiter, opposes both Mars and Saturn, and squares Pluto. The Cardinal Climax is ratcheted up severalfold and things can occur swiftly and unexpectedly and with incredible force. The liability of people acting out irrationally, terrorizing other people, cannot be discounted. If we can rein in our impetus to act forcefully and draw instead on using our logic and reasoned thought, we can avoid a great deal of harm to ourselves. Accidents can happen and haste may not only make waste but could also instill injury. This is a day to put a lid on any forceful behavior. Aggression can be strong and people pushing the envelope wanting what they want without considering either the logistics or the rationale of their opinions or their behavior. Today is a day to engage brain before acting from brawn.

Saturday, July 31st – Wipe Out – Mars, Saturn, Sun. After the intensity of yesterday, and yesterday a prelude of next Wednesday, we might feel wiped out on this Saturday. Whatever went on in our lives yesterday could have left our head spinning, our emotional being totally drained and our physical body completely exhausted. Saturday has Mars conjunct Saturn and the Aries Moon trine the Sun. If we can muster the physical energy, this Saturday would be a good day to enjoy ourselves, take a break from reality world and engage in some fun activities. We might also want to connect with friends from our past, touching base with old contacts as if to give us a sense of security and a semblance of balance in this ever-increasing craziness of modern times. As life and living is all about cycles, let’s honor the different phases of the cycles. Yesterday’s off-the-wall intensity, to be matched or even surpassed next Wednesday, calls for a recharging of our batteries, a focus on having good times and a need not to become either obsessed or victimized by the circumstances around us. Either we can feel wiped out today or we can embrace the sense of time out to revitalize ourselves through pleasurable activities.

Sunday, August 1st – A World of Possibilities – Neptune. Sunday begins the month of August and also comes mid-point between the intense energies of this week and the intense energies of this coming week. The Moon in Aries today sextiles Neptune. Just as Sunday is often considered a day of rest, this Sunday is a good time for us to catch up with friends, take a leisurely stroll out in nature, and consider the prospects of our future, no matter the circumstances of our present. Dreams are things we need to believe in. Even if it seems as though the world is spinning out of control and things are getting crazier and crazier, it is important to keep in mind that some of our present conditions are indicative of letting go of the past, releasing elements that no longer work and may prove a crescendo of all that has gone before. It is essential that we recognize that we, as individuals and as a society, are on a threshold, the threshold of a paradigm shift. Old patterns, old ways and old traditions may have to go by the wayside as we step across the threshold of the paradigm shift and enter a totally different way of doing things. Synchronicity, serendipity and asequential reality are all part of the magic and miracles that we are moving towards. Even though we shall be entering uncharted waters, there is no reason for us to hold on to the past program, especially in light of the fact that we are not looking to, nor able to, re-create the past. Let’s use this Sunday for mental meandering, to consider what we would want to do, even if we accept the limitations of a belief that our intentions cannot possibly come true. Now is a time to suspend our old beliefs, our opinions and our judgments on reality. Now is a time to embrace blind faith that things always work out for the best, no matter how things might appear in the interim. This Sunday is a good day reflect, contemplate and recognize that we are moving into a magical mystery tour with the capability of pulling rabbits out of the hat.

Keeping in mind the mantram of the wise and truthful saying that ‘we never get more than we can handle’, let’s use this week to clear the decks of outstanding issues, take some time to step off the track and recharge our batteries through expansive and exuberant situations, and adapt an attitude of flexibility and willingness to make certain changes to our plans and our schedule as circumstances might warrant or even necessitate.

There are various energy shifts this week, but nothing compared to the following two weeks. As if we were being conditioned to accept a very dynamic period, the energies pick up this week and we are anything but in the ‘lazy, hazy days of summer’. On the contrary, we could find situations rather exhausting and even depleting, but even more so if we are unwilling to shift and switch to the changing tides. Now is a time for us to test our abilities of being fully aware and mindful. We may have to keep our wits about us, trust our own inner voice and believe that no matter what is going on, that things do in deed always work out for the best.

While we might want to hold onto the securities of the past, we have to be certain that such securities are fundamental and can withstand dramatic change. If we feel the floor opening up beneath us, we have to have faith, even blind faith, that such openings do not arbitrarily necessitate a free fall but rather could allow for a free ascent.

These are dynamic times, exciting times, times when things can change drastically, dramatically without a moment’s notice. They are also times when magic and miracles become more evident, and even become an everyday occurrence. The more that we can let go of how we believe things should be, the more we can embrace the magic of what could be.

Monday, July 19th – Whittling Away – Venus, Mercury. Monday starts the week with the Moon in Scorpio sextile Venus and square Mercury. Today is a good day for us to sort through our closets, our activities and our various involvements and see what works for us and what is outdated and too much excess. We may all realize that we need to be lean and mean, cutting away the fat or the extraneous and focusing on the essential and most significant. Unfortunately, the mean aspect might also reflect how people are acting or communicating. Everyone may have an edge on today, feeling like their backs are up against the wall, unwilling to accept the concept that less is more. We might not want to give up anything, assuming that eliminations and releases are a sign of disadvantage or loss rather than focusing on the important and cutting away the dross. We might also feel as though our resources are being contracted, that we do not have the extra cash on hand to fully enjoy ourselves. We might have to make choices, select certain things rather than having the whole enchilada but while such a tendency may be a new disposition for those of us who have been able to have anything and everything, having it all, these times ask us to focus and concentrate. We might not like ridding ourselves of the fat of the land, but through compression we can zero in on the most meaningful, the most significant, and the more essential aspects that make our lives a highly polished diamond, rather than a lump of rock. This Monday is a good day for us to do what needs to be done in whittling away indulgences and excesses, all the while that we suspend our judgment and defer our commentary. Let’s keep in mind that the universe hates a vacuum, and the more we get rid of the outmoded or outdated, the more room we have for the new, exciting and relevant.

Tuesday, July 20th – Sharpening our Skills – Mars, Sun, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus. Tuesday can be a highly productive day as long as we are not distracted by possibilities and prospects and concentrate instead on what needs to get done. The day begins with the Scorpio Moon sextile Mars, trine the Sun, square Neptune and sextile Saturn. Later in the day, the Moon exits Scorpio to enter Sagittarius where it trines Uranus. If we utilize a best practices approach, put one foot in front of the other and not get carried away by new interests or new techniques, then we can tie up many loose ends, complete various projects and clear the decks to then either get off the track or consider new interests without the old issues and old patterns intruding and getting in our way. This is the last day of Saturn’s transit through Virgo, for tomorrow Saturn enters Libra. The more we can take into account the most effective and expedited ways to enhance our well-being [physical, mental, emotional, financial, spiritual], the more we can establish a fundamental base from which to build upon. Today is a good day to clean things up around our home, deal with outstanding matters and resolve issues that could otherwise trip us up in the future. With our skills sharpened today, we can get more done in a shorter period of time than usual. The main thing is to focus on getting it done and not get diverted by tantalizing sideshows. As the day progresses and if we have taken care of pressing needs, we can then launch forward into new activities and new interests. Our spontaneity is heightened and we don’t have to feel weighed down by excess baggage. We can embrace a greater spontaneity, be open to thrilling surprises and take advantage of new opportunities by acting on impulse.

Wednesday, July 21st – Expanding Our Options – Jupiter, Venus, Saturn Libra. Wednesday has the Sagittarius Moon trine Jupiter and square Venus. Saturn exits Virgo today to enter Libra. This is a day when we can be feeling confident, optimistic and exuberant. We might feel as though luck is on our side and that nothing can go wrong. Such an attitude, while fully enjoyable and upbeat, could prove a prescription for disaster if we rely on our luck and discount our due diligence. We could easily gloss over details today, buy into the kaleidoscope of wonderful images and uplifting presentations but we should question whether the appearance is matched by substance. The early part of this week, and especially Wednesday, could put a positive spin on economic conditions and future forecasts. From the hype and the spin today, we might assume that the clouds have parted, the sun is shining and all is right in the world. Maintaining a realistic hold on our exuberance and enthusiasm could keep us from going overboard and being overly extravagant and indulgent, all under the belief [false assumption?] that all the niggling problems have gone away and that we have clear sailing ahead into the idyllic world of abundance, prosperity and sunshine. It would be far better today for us to get off the track, take a ‘mental health’ day and just enjoy ourselves. Decisions and commitments made today could be done so under the acceptance of a best case scenario, which might eventually prove to have been made from irrational exuberance. Saturn exits Virgo to enter Libra today. Much of our focus, and some of our challenges, may veer towards our interpersonal relationships, our connections with other people. During this two plus year transit of Libra, each of us will have to address how we see ourselves — our identity, those characteristics and definitions of what we do as who we are. This phase of the paradigm shift is a transformation and shapeshifting of our identities. Libra is the complement to Aries and for many of us our identity has been attached to what we have, what we do and everything outside of ourselves that we bring into our lives to provide a definition and identity of who we are. Although we may continue to seek our identity in the external world, we shall also have to address the fact of who we are as beings, our fundamental characteristics stripped of all the external accoutrements. An exciting time but for those who have not done their internal work it could prove an uncomfortable time of trying to either replicate the identities of the past or find some new coverings to provide a sense of identity.

Thursday, July 22nd – Here Comes the Sun – Sun, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Sun Leo. Thursday can continue the feelgood attitude of the past couple of days. The Moon continues its transit of Sagittarius, trines Mercury and squares Mars. The Sun exits Cancer to enter its own Sign of Leo whereupon it sextiles Saturn which has just entered Libra as of yesterday. We may feel at the top of our game. We might want to present ourselves in a dramatic, passionate and engaging manner. We could feel as if there is no stopping us now and we might seek out those people who enjoy, appreciate and even encourage our personalities and our grandstanding. We are more interested in ‘yes’ people today rather than any sort of critical evaluation. We are looking for fun events, enjoyable activities and not overly concerned with the more mundane aspects of life. While this can be a fun-filled day, the difficulty arises in the fact that we might not be viewing things from a realistic, much less rational, perspective. We can easily buy into anything that makes us feel good and totally avoid and neglect anything that could put a damper on our enthusiasm. Let’s enjoy the day but let’s also discount the good feelings and fun times. They may be more of an irrational exuberance disposition than a balanced, neutral, reasoning perspective.

Friday, July 23rd – Head in the Clouds – Sun, Uranus, Neptune, Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Jupiter, Pluto, Jupiter retrograde. Friday may have our feet nowhere near the ground. The Sun trines Uranus today and although the day begins with the Sagittarius Moon sextile Saturn, the Moon then moves into Capricorn triggering our Cardinal Climax of the T-Square with the Capricorn Moon square Saturn in Libra, Moon square both Jupiter and Uranus in Aries and Moon conjunct Pluto. Added to the mix, Jupiter turns retrograde. Should we say: ‘let the games begin!’? This day we might be far more interested in doing fun things, any thing that allows us to be free to be, exploring new aspects of ourselves and trying out new interests. While our heads and intentions might be filled with possibilities, positive changes and the ‘what could bes’, we may have very little connection to the day-in, day-out unfolding of matters, issues and problems. Although we have been feeling much of the Cardinal Climax over the past two years, now the energies are truly ratcheted up over the next two plus weeks. Today virtually signals the opening of the starting gate of a fairly intense and challenging period. There may be a great deal of activity but much of the activity is shoring up shaky situations, allowing some things to go by the boards and really seeing what we need to keep and rebuild and what we need to be rid of. We may also learn that the bloom starts coming off the rose regarding economic situations. We might begin to see the rosy picture painted by the hipsters and spinmeisters only to be a surrealistic representation in regard to what is truly going on. Whatever news events hit the headlines today could indicate problem areas both over the next couple of weeks and possibly even more so in 2011. Let’s keep in mind that we are on the threshold of a major paradigm shift. While we might witness more of the crash and burn, releases and eliminations, it is essential to keep in mind analogies of the mythological bird of the phoenix rising from its ashes to soar ever higher or in Christian theology the concept that out of the crucifixion comes the resurrection and the ascension. So it is for ourselves, both on an individual level and on a societal level. Certain things have to move out of our lives in order for the new to come forward. We may not like the process but the process is the circle of life — birth, death, rebirth.

Saturday, July 24th – Going to Extremes – Jupiter, Pluto, Venus. There is a bumper sticker that states: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.’ And today’s energies could be a play out of those sentiments especially if we felt tripped up by yesterday. Today Jupiter squares Pluto and the Moon in Capricorn trines Venus. We could easily justify a makeover today, whether that makeover is in regard to our personal appearance, our wardrobe, our home environment or equipment we feel necessary for us to be more productive with our daily tasks. We do have to be careful about going to extremes today, indulging our appetites and assuaging our concerns through extravagance. Let’s keep in mind that yesterday may have been a powerful heads-up regarding the energies over the next two weeks. And while we might want to mollify our anxieties by shopping, spending, indulging, it would be far wiser for us to spend some time blueprinting, considering and preparing for contingency plans whereby we can not merely cope with intense situations but can use them as catalysts by which to thrive under changing circumstances. If we can keep in mind the truth that living simply is not simply living, then we can prepare ourselves for seeing the best in everything and being incredibly resourceful and adept at having less be more.

Sunday, July 25th – We Can Do This – Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Aquarius Full Moon, Sun, Jupiter. Sunday begins with the Capricorn Moon trine Mars before the Moon moves into Aquarius where it trines Saturn, sextiles Uranus, creates the Full Moon with its opposition to the Sun, and sextiles Jupiter. I have written it before, and I’ll repeat it again: we never get more than we can handle. If we will take the time to make our lists, write down our plans and budget our resources of time, energy and monies, all with a recognition of these times demanding flexibility and adaptability; then we are prepared to meet any situation effectively and with success. Now is a time for us to focus on those important people in our lives, be certain that we are acknowledging their needs and their interests, and that our intention is to move into a mindset of always creating win-win scenarios. We may question our steps, wonder whether we are on the correct path but all questionings can be constant reminders rather than critical evaluations. It is important that we realize that we are entering uncharted waters without navigational maps. Although we might be confused, even unsure of ourselves, what we also have to recognize is that despite not being versed in the forthcoming program, we are prepared to meet any situation, that we have the intestinal fortitude and the development of character to not only deal with any thing that comes up but that we can move beyond surviving our challenges and start to thrive from them, using each new test as a catalyst for a great leap forward. And accepting our innocence and our lack of sure footedness increases our willingness not to get fixed or rigid in our opinions of the way things should be. Instead we can slalom the slopes of new situations and unfamiliar terrain as though we were Olympic skiers… and in deed we have trained to be so.

This is a week to engage amusing distractions, diversions that take us off our normal track and could allow us to suspend judgment. Good luck with that one!

Like these times, volatility can be strong this week with us surfing the waves, focused on recreational pursuits, traveling far afield but with the nagging sensation that we should be taking care of business, leaving nothing to chance and a belief that if we are not in control of situations and master of our personal domain, then things could go to hell in a handbasket. [Never understood that phrase, always found it amusing].

The balance between what we can do and that which we need to leave alone could be nagging us towards the latter part of the week. We might enlist busy work to prove to ourselves that we are not indolent, that we are on top of things and that we accept the concept of no rest for the weary.

With these times being whipsaws between extremes, this week does have its different phases, its different themes. The early part of the week would be a time to allow our creative and re-creative juices to be flowing, with an emphasis upon having a good time, enjoying ourselves and recharging our batteries. The latter part of the week would be best served in considering our everyday world, concentrating on the details, focused on the specifics and developing a good health regimen to address our well-being — our physical body, our emotional balance and our spiritual being. The weekend may be a time to spend engaged with those special people in our lives, enjoying the camaraderie, appreciating the interactions and considering our options and alternatives with those people we trust serving as sounding boards. We end the weekend looking to cut away the excesses, readying to employ the concept that living simply is not simply living.

This week and next week could be used as a conditioning, preparing us for what could prove to be a rather rough period at the end of this month and through the first week of August.

Monday, July 12th – Hot Fun in the Summertime – Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury. Monday starts the week with the Moon in Cancer sextile Saturn. The Moon then moves into Leo where it trines both Uranus and Jupiter in Aries and conjuncts Mercury. If we dealt with home and family matters over the weekend, then we can tie up any outstanding issues early in the day before cavorting in the summer sun. We want to have fun, enjoy ourselves and stretch our wings, seeking out new interests, new activities that reflect a new sense of our own being. We have style and panache today, the ability to present ourselves in an exciting manner. We might consider changes to our wardrobe, focus on our personal needs and try out new avenues for our creative self-expression. We may not be interested in what is occurring in the world-at-large but rather concentrating on our own personal realm with the idea of expanding beyond our usual constraints. This can be a fun-filled day but we are not overly serious or concerned with mundane situations.

Tuesday, July 13th – Stepping out in Style – Venus, Pluto. Tuesday continues with the Leo Moon, and today Venus trines Pluto. We’re likely to have it all together today. We may present ourselves in a dramatic manner and with style and class. Even if we’re working with a minimal budget, we can look like a million dollars. This is a day when we might consider a personal makeover. We may be somewhat self-absorbed but we’re also looking to be the best that we can be. Our enjoyment may be more associated with how we look which can impress others and also contribute to how we feel. Relationships today can be to the point and soul-satisfying. Whatever we do today, we are likely to engage with passion, focused on both the bigger picture and the necessary format to achieve our goals. Nothing is done in half measure today, but it would be wise for us to keep in mind the idea of cycles and phases within cycles, which like the ocean waves can have their crests but also eventually their troughs. The one caveat for the early part of this week is not to buy wholeheartedly into the hype being presented to us that everything is hunky-dory or accepting totally our own feel-good attitude. Let’s enjoy ourselves but keeping in mind that during these times things can change instantly and often without warning. Warning: the end of this month and into the second week of August could prove turbulent. The more we can rest up, recharge our batteries and enjoy ourselves now, the better able we shall be to contend with any difficulties forthcoming.

Wednesday, July 14th – Selecting not Settling – Neptune, Pluto, Venus. The day begins with the Leo Moon opposed Neptune before the Moon moves into Virgo where it trines Pluto and conjuncts Venus. The Venus trine Pluto yesterday is reinforced today and especially as the day progresses. We may begin this day with all sorts of possibilities, but many of our prospects may be illusions or even delusions of grandeur. While all things are possible and increasingly so as we move into the new paradigm, we also have to recognize the importance of being judicious and exercising due diligence in our decisions and our actions. Although we might have to put some of our fun-filled plans on hold, we can accomplish a great deal today by prioritizing and concentrating on the most outstanding matters. We could fine tune, hone and temper our goals and our methods. Our relationships can be pleasant but far more so with those that have depth and are profound rather than the superficial encounters we often have with many other people. We are not interested in settling for just any thing today. We want to engage our passion, embrace the fullness of life with a focus on quality more so than quantity. If we are looking at sprucing up our home, adding to our wardrobe or embellishing our style, today is a day to do so. We do have to be careful not to get hypercritical, seeing flaws and frailties, and focusing on the problems rather than the solutions. We can select rather than settle and do not have to waste our time on criticizing or giving time to the negative or our disapproving commentary.

Thursday, July 15th – The Half Glass of Water – Mars, Sun. As of yesterday, our critique of people and situations could veer more towards criticism rather than approval. Although earlier this week, we might have been far more focused on having a good time and enjoying summer fun, as of yesterday the energy shifted. Instead of seeing the half glass of water as half full as we might have done earlier in the week, we may have shifted our attitude into a stronger critical eye, seeing faults, problems and imperfections in everything around us. Our attitude towards the half glass of water may have shifted from seeing it half full and now viewing it as half empty. Such a disposition could be less than charming. It may seem as if we, and everyone else, have a chip on the shoulder. If we would suspend judgment and just do what needs to be done, we could get a great deal done. We can take care of necessary matters, address important details and clean up some of the mess around our home. But to do so, it would be far wiser to just do it and avoid the running commentary that could be exhausting and non-productive. If we take time to consider what needs to be done and devise a right practices approach, then we could effectively design various wellness programs for ourselves —- wellness in regard to expediting our routine matters, wellness in regard to a successful health regimen, wellness in the spiritual discipline of ridding ourselves of judgments and opinions and being more ‘in the moment’, zen-like.

Friday, July 16th – Choppy Waters, Turbulent Times – Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto. One of the most significant energy configurations of these times, and of all times, is the T-Square that links up Saturn, Uranus, Pluto. This T-Square has contributed to the crash and burn of global economies, the contraction and elimination of various institutions and giving lie to the effectiveness of the old program and to the old paradigm. A new day is dawning. Although we have not crossed the threshold into the brave new world, we are in the throes of the transformation, on a societal level and on a personal level. Whenever we go through major drastic changes, the waters can be choppy and the times turbulent. This Friday starts with the Moon in Virgo conjunct Saturn, before the Moon moves into Libra and opposes both Uranus and Jupiter in Aries and then squares Pluto in Capricorn. We may feel a little on overwhelm with a great deal on our plate. If we can avoid a sense of overload, then we could also evaluate our projects, our ambitions and the ingredients of our present life. We may find that some of our hopes and dreams are being blocked by other people’s interests or by present formats that restrict our abilities and our latitude. While we might have to be flexible and adapt to shifting conditions, we could discover a resourcefulness of which we had been unaware. Let’s keep our eyes open and our ears attuned to what might be happening in the world-at-large. If there are unexpected events or situations that arise, they may be the harbinger of things to come towards the end of the month and into early August. We never get more than we can handle, but we have to be attuned to the best ways to handle those matters that demand our attention.

Saturday, July 17th – Social Get-Togethers – Mercury. We might want to take this Saturday as a ‘mental health’ day, a day when we put our errands and ‘to do’ list aside and concentrate on having fun with that special someone in our lives. Problems will not go away, but we don’t have to be constantly obsessed by our concerns or anxieties. This Saturday is a day to enjoy ourselves, whether the enjoyment is the simple pleasures of getting together with friends and sharing lively conversations or we decide to go out, engage in fun activities and step off the track of our everyday life experiences. Either way, this day offers us a sense of uplift and good times. No matter what occurred on Friday, we need not react immediately or impulsively. If something came up that forced us to consider or re-consider situations, let’s take some down time first, catch our breath and wait for a more opportune time to deal with any pressing matters. It is far better that we come from strength and confidence rather than acting or reacting in an impetuous and knee-jerk manner.

Sunday, July 18th – Stripping to the Core – Sun, Neptune, Pluto. Sunday continues with the Libra Moon in the early morning hours, and the Moon today squares the Sun and trines Neptune. We may want to tidy up around our home, make it feel more like a sanctuary for ourselves, offering comfort and solace. We might also consider touching base with good friends and use them as important sounding boards regarding some of our thoughts, our plans and our future goals. They may see something that we cannot see for ourselves or at least provide us a more detached perspective regarding what appears to be going on. As the day progresses, the Moon exits Libra and moves into Scorpio where it sextiles Pluto. The latter part of the day and over the next two days, we might consider doing an inventory taking, figure out what works for us and what no longer works for us and that which we need to get rid of. The superfluous and the extraneous in our lives need to go by the boards. In this day and age, there is no time for needless distractions and exhausting involvements. Now is a time to strip to the core, rebuild from solid foundations and prepare for riding the tumultuous waves of these changing times.

In the US the week begins with the last day of the Independence Day long holiday weekend. Whether we return to work this week or not, the tendency may be for us to enlist the lazy, hazy days of summer. Even if the economies seem to be stalling, we’re not as focused on the world-at-large as we are on our own personal world. We might decide to go shopping and spice up our home or our wardrobe or our personal appearance.

Relationships can be enticing with everyone seeking out someone to participate in fun, summertime events. We might want to take short trips or even take longer journeys, anything that gives us a sense of change to our ordinary routine.

The latter part of the week and the weekend could have things ratcheting up severalfold. Our insights can be very much on target and we may figure out some of the best ways to achieve our goals and make changes to our normal methods. Our creativity can be strong and we might exercise it around our home and our workplace. We want to put our mark on things, but this time we are not looking at merely making changes for the sake of change. We are willing to take the best of what we have and use it to catapult us forward into new directions and streamlined formats of operation.

Let’s keep our antennae up and work with peripheral vision, for some wonderful surprises could open the door to some marvelous opportunities. Remember: we don’t have to make things happen. We are moving into a new paradigm where things can occur not so much from us making them happen as much as our being in the right place at the right time and being open to receive. We can step away from being in control and masters of our personal world and step onto the magical, mystery tour of exciting possibilities and new dimensions.

The weekend ends with a Solar Eclipse. While we can reinforce our sense of being able to accomplish our goals with a ‘yes, I can’ attitude, we can also be resourceful and use whatever is at hand in ways that are highly effective with minimal cost in regard to time, money and energy. And we can appreciate the fact that the universe works with natural unfoldings and its process of twists and turns.

Monday, July 5th – The World is Our Oyster – Mercury, Mars, Neptune, Uranus retrograde. Have we ever considered the broad palette of opportunities that is before us? Often we have such a wealth of possibilities that it seems hard to pick one or several and which to take advantage of. At such times, we might dither and try and figure out the implications and long-term effects of our choices. This Monday could start the week in such a mode, a sense that we can do several different things today but left wondering which one to emphasize. The week begins with the Aries Moon, which today squares Mercury, trines Venus and sextiles Neptune. This day also has Uranus turning retrograde. Family commitments or scheduled obligations might stand in the way of what we might impulsively want to do. Does it have to be an either or scenario? Not necessarily so, if we are willing to utilize time management techniques. Any planned activities can be dealt with and might prove far more enjoyable than our sense of being restricted by our scheduled commitments. We might want to be footloose and fancy free today, but it would be wise to realize that if we just take care of our planned activities and then allow ourselves some time to do things on impulse, then we can have it all. We do have to be aware that there could be computer glitches today, with computer crashes or Internet issues. And if we are traveling today, there might be unexpected difficulties that either delay us or force us to seek an alternative route or plan. Things can change unexpectedly and quickly today. Being aware and mindful would allow us to shift and adapt to any changing conditions. Late in the day, the Moon moves into Taurus and things can ramp down a notch or two.

Tuesday, July 6th – Straightening Up – Pluto. Tuesday has the Taurus Moon trine Pluto. This Tuesday can be a highly effective day when we can straighten out matters, prioritize our activities and get the most bang for our buck. We may be taking our time today but whatever we are doing, we are likely to be cutting to the core, dealing with the essentials and taking care of what needs to be done in both a structured and well-arranged manner. Presentations today can be both appealing and persuasive. We seem a powerhouse of capability but without being belligerent or self-absorbed. On the contrary, we seem able to present our plans in a charming, persuasive way and with bullet points or the fundamentals emphasized. We could use today’s energies to spruce up our appearance, purchase time-saving devices and clear up any clutter we might have around our home and work spaces. We are impassioned today and may be giving thought as to what our dreams are and how we can best realize them.

Wednesday, July 7th – Get It Done – Sun, Mars, Mercury, Venus. Wednesday continues with the Taurus Moon, which today sextiles the Sun, trines Mars, sextiles Mercury and squares Venus. Our effectiveness continues unabated. Whatever we started to deal with yesterday, we may stay on course in the same vein. There can be a great deal of activity around the home and with our family. Straightening, tidying up and a sense of being on the right track seem evident today. Although today could be one of those days when we have to put some of our fun events and recreational activities on the back burner in order to attend to necessary matters, we can accomplish a lot today. What we have to be wary of is assuming that we are building our future primarily on the foundations of our past. We could easily convince ourselves that after an ordeal of wrack and ruin over the past two years, that we’re back on track and the same track as before. Such a belief could prove not only erroneous but downright dangerous for our future. Equity markets could seem stronger on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. If they are, they are drawing upon certain fundamentals and a comparison to past situations rather than being astute and recognizing the past is not being re-created. A conservative approach to finances today is suggested. We could easily believe that we have crossed the speed bump and now ready to sail smoothly along the autobahn. Not necessarily so. We need to avoid being lulled into complacency and keep in mind the keywords of these times: awareness, mindfulness, flexibility and adaptability.

Thursday, July 8th – Reworking the Definitions – Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter. Thursday has Venus opposed Neptune. The day begins with the Taurus Moon square Neptune and trine Saturn before the Moon leaves Taurus to enter Gemini where it sextiles both Uranus and Jupiter. If we have ever seen a magician perform, then we must realize that there are times when magic is nothing more than an illusion, a sleight-of-hand. What appears to be real may be merely a false artifice. It’s like the Wizard of Oz screen, impressive, commanding but once the curtain is pulled back the little man pulling the strings is seen and the image of omniscience falls away. Thursday could be a day when some of our illusions, delusions and great expectations may be exposed for wishful thinking. We might have to re-think and re-work some of our goals, plans and activities. In so doing, we could become less fixed, less rigid regarding how we see things happening and what we want to happen. When we let go of our preconceived notions and our focused intentions, then options that we might not even have considered can come pop up and come forward. Suddenly, we take off our blinders and we can see with peripheral vision, seeing things and possibilities that we might earlier have been closed off to. Today is one of those days when any disappointments or frustrations, once expressed, can fall away and things can more easily fall into place.

Friday, July 9th – The Wonder of it All – Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Mars, Mercury Leo. Friday can be one of those magical days when everything seems to work perfectly, as long as we don’t get in our own way. Mercury sextiles Saturn before leaving Cancer and moving into Leo, where it trines Uranus. The Gemini Moon squares Mars. We can figure things out today, devise a best practices approach to deal with our responsibilities and attend to matters around the home. We can also gain some incredible insights, those flashes of genius that seem to come out of nowhere. This is one of those days when things seem to run smoothly and even more so if we embrace the idea of being co-creators rather than trying to control things or work them to our will. Balance is important and today’s balance is doing what we need to do, allow the universe to unfold in its natural way and then keep attentive so that we don’t gloss over details or merely assume that once on the right track everything will run smoothly no matter what we do. We can start the day by addressing our routine responsibilities, tying up outstanding matters and then be open to spontaneous opportunities. If we can take advantage of surprises in the second half of the day, then we could discover some startling revelations and find wonderful avenues for our own creative self-expression. Today is a day not to get enamored by our own capabilities, to get out of our own way and to keep focused on both what we need to do and situations that come out of the blue.

Saturday, July 10th – Legends in our own Mind – Neptune, Saturn, Venus, Lunar Grand Cross, Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto, Venus Virgo. Saturday might have us hitting the wall, especially after the last few days when things could seem to have been going merrily along and even better than we might have hoped for. But too much of a good thing often proves to be… too much of a good thing. We can get enraptured by the prospects, assume that everything is going our way and even anticipate that nothing can stop us from smoothly sailing along. It’s a nice concept but also a possible liability for our hitting the wall. And this Saturday could offer some of the head banging that we might not have expected. The day begins with the Gemini Moon trine Neptune. We might have all sorts of grand plans for this Saturday, especially after some magical moments yesterday. The Moon then squares Saturn and triggers a dissociate Grand Cross as the Moon then moves into Cancer where it sextiles Venus, which today has exited Leo and moved into Virgo, and the Moon squares both Uranus and Jupiter in Aries and opposes Pluto in Capricorn. Although we might have received some remarkable insights yesterday and even revelatory understandings, Saturday may pull us up short, demand that we look back at outstanding matters, deal with our committed responsibilities and make us feel as though our well-conceived intentions and plans are coming to naught. With Venus now in Virgo we could also find ourselves becoming far more critical of other people and starting to play the blame game, feeling that other people, and the powers-that-be, are getting in the way of what we want and how we want it. It would be wise to also note that some unsavory news could have been stored up for this Saturday, a day when people tend to disregard the events of the world in order to concentrate on their own personal interests and plans. Something could come from the powers-that-be which could prove limiting to our full creative self-expression. Whatever goes on today, it would be important for us not to fall into despair. Let’s keep in mind that magic is afoot and even if we feel blocked by other people or by our own capabilities, the seemingly impossible are increasingly possible. It’s the magic of these times, the asequential reality and synchronicity of the twenty-first century.

Sunday, July 11th – Keeping the Vision – Sun, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Solar Eclipse. This Sunday has the Sun sextile Mars and Mercury trine Jupiter. The Cancer Lunation, or New Moon, is a Solar Eclipse with both the Sun and Moon sextile Mars. Now is a time for us to blueprint, to consider our options and alternatives all within the backdrop of the presumed limitations and intended restrictions placed upon us as individuals by the powers-that-be. We do not have to succumb to negativity, fearfulness or victimization. On the contrary, once we are aware of the parameters and possible future conditions, we can make our plans, devise our strategy and figure the budget necessary to accomplish our goals. Now is a good time for us to become increasingly resourceful, or see where we can pare our expenses and stretch our monies. With various institutions, governmental and private sectors reporting their half year or full year financial picture, we may realize that the so-called economic recovery still has some significant hurdles to address and scale. For ourselves, now is a time for us to think smarter rather than harder, to be more effective with less expenditure of energy. A good house cleaning now, both literally and figuratively, would go a long way towards creating the best foundation for us to move forward. Let’s not lose sight of our goals or desires, but let’s be aware of the changing backdrop with which we might have to cope. Let’s keep the vision, all the while recognizing the compression, which like the compression of a rock, can create a diamond.

Summer is here and we would prefer to dispel our cares. This week is a good time for fun family gatherings, get-togethers with friends and heading for the shore or the country just to get off the track and out of Dodge and leave behind our everyday world. While there are concerns aplenty regarding economies, antagonisms and heightened anxiety, we may choose not to go there. If we can carve out an idyllic world for ourselves this week, we could recharge our batteries and not overly personalize some of the craziness going on out in the world at large.

Although we may have our head in the clouds, we should keep our feet on the ground. Let’s enjoy ourselves, party and have a good time, all the while that we are maintaining our awareness and vigilance to situations that might not be of our making but could directly impact us nonetheless.

Putting things on hold this week but with a willingness to address things that demand our immediate attention would be the best way to work with this week’s energies. We can have a good time without being totally oblivious to what’s going on around us.

Let’s keep in mind that we are in the push pulls of a paradigm shift, a dramatic transformation to life and how we do our living.

The weekend in the US celebrates Independence Day, and a brief interlude from our daily lives could allow us to see how we can free ourselves up from old patterns and situations that no longer work for us and familiar issues that could be even less beneficial in the future.

Monday, June 28th – Planning our Good Times – Sun, Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter. Monday is a primo day and comes off a string of four days that could have had us upset, overwhelmed or just on overload. Monday starts the week, and a fairly pleasant week, with the Sun conjunct Mercury and the Capricorn Moon trine Saturn before the Moon moves into Aquarius where it sextiles both Uranus and Jupiter. This is a good day when we can get a great deal done, if we take the time to strategize our ‘to do’ list and prioritize our activities. We can figure a best practices approach to our responsibilities and then concentrate on plans for social gatherings or future jaunts out of town. We might want to straighten things up in both our personal matters and our home environment, in order to feel that we have cleared the decks and won’t be distracted by our outstanding obligations while we are considering our future. It would be wise for us to see this week as one when we might be far more interested in exploring new realms and trying out new activities than dealing with our daily routine. We may want to get off the track and engage summertime activities more than dealing with our mundane concerns. But like horse and cart, we should deal with our daily demands before launching into exciting, new opportunities. As the day progresses, surprising events might arise that intrigue us and may have us wanting to get involved. Let’s embrace the spontaneity and serendipity of magical times.

Tuesday, June 29th – A Test of Wills – Venus. The Moon continues its transit of Aquarius on this Tuesday and opposes Venus today. While we may all want to have a good time, the question could arise as to whether we are all on the same page. It is important to consider win-win scenarios today, whereby everyone is heard and their interests acknowledged. Otherwise, a lose-lose situation could arise, whereby a tug of war between our personal interests and the desires of other people ensues and we find ourselves in a no-win situation no matter the outcome. If we are engaging social activities today, we might want to be clear regarding the schedule, the itinerary and the plans. But let’s also be open to having enough time and space to act on impulse. Sometimes our greatest experiences are not what we have planned but rather being open to the magic of the moment. This Tuesday can be a thoroughly enjoyable day as long as we’re not involved with narcissists interested in only what works for them and who assume that everyone else will gladly follow their lead.

Wednesday, June 30th – Hazy, Lazy Day of Summer – Neptune. Wednesday brings us to the end of June and we close out the month with the Aquarius Moon conjunct Neptune. We may be feeling a little spacey today. Clarity is not our strong suit now, especially with us wanting to live in an idyllic world but perhaps an unrealistic one. This is a good day to just laze around without trying to get a great deal done. Our imagination may be on fire, with all sorts of visions, possibilities and hoped-for situations percolating in our minds. If we decide to try out something new, it might be wise for us to use a good friend as a sounding board to see whether we are leaping into the void or just taking a pleasant excursion out of our present day reality. Whatever we do today, our emotions can be strong and we could whipsaw between fantastic opportunities and anxious concerns. Wherever we go or whatever we do, let’s appreciate the fact that we may have stepped across the line into a fantasy world. It’s fine for us to go there, but it could wind up being disastrous if we wholeheartedly believe that such ingredients make up a real life scenario. Later in the day, the Moon moves out of Aquarius and moves into Neptune-ruled Pisces. We are in a moody, emotional way and it would be wise for us to see this time, as Paul Desmond wrote for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, to Take Five.

Thursday, July 1st – Home, Home on the Range – Mercury, Mars, Pluto, Sun. Thursday begins the month of July and much of our focus as we start the month may be on our home and family. Mercury transiting Cancer sextiles Mars transiting Virgo. The Pisces Moon sextiles Pluto in Capricorn and trines the Sun in Cancer. We may be looking at the details and format of planned family celebrations or just looking at some home improvement projects that can create a greater sense of sanctuary in our living space. To some degree, we may step back and concentrate on our fundamental support systems, seeking solace and comfort in our home and family. Our sensitivity is strong today but we might also be considering how best to protect ourselves and nurture ourselves from what might feel like an ever-challenging world. The combination of vision and detail offers us the ability of seeing both the big picture and the steps necessary to bring that big picture into manifestation. We can accomplish a great deal today if we do so in concentrated time cycles and without feeling the need to justify or rationalize our position. Today is a day for us to pamper ourselves, even to the point of healthy indulgence. We are not interested in doing battle today but we are protective of our self-interests and those nearest and dearest to us.

Friday, July 2nd – The Perfection of Imperfection – Mars, Mercury. Friday continues with the Pisces Moon which today opposes Mars and trines Mercury. We all would love to live in a perfect world. And, if we were to let go of our grand expectations or our precise measuring standards, we might realize that the world is perfect without our mucking it up. Japanese potters of the Wabi Sabi tradition put their thumbprint in their pottery to indicate that only the source is perfect. Arab carpet weavers are known to have a loose thread in their weaving of their carpets to acknowledge that only Allah is perfect. The perfection of imperfection! And for us this day could either accept this concept that everything is perfect in its own way or we could find ourselves carping and criticizing the lack of perfection, but a lack of perfection whose standard is unattainable in an imperfect world. Either we can use this day to do the best that we can, or we could find ourselves going through wild mood swings with our expectations never being fulfilled or realized. Our choice. Of course, this day also brings us the biggest challenge for all of us during this time of paradigm shift. Are we in control of our universe, able to totally master it and devise it according to our plan? Or are we co-creators of our destiny, working hand in hand with the unfolding of the universal cycles, nature’s rhythm? The sense of what we can do and what we need to adapt to could be impinging upon our day today. As the prayer by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, more commonly known as the Serenity Prayer, states: ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’

Saturday, July 3rd – Lemmings on Parade – Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto. Saturday could be a rather bizarre day — one of extremes that could allow for real swings in emotions and actions. The potential for pushing the envelope, and possibly more out of an exaggerated sense of frustration, is strong today. Although a dissociate aspect, the Moon creates something of a T-Square today, first by finishing its transit of Pisces and its opposition to Saturn, then by moving into Aries where it conjuncts both Uranus and Jupiter before squaring Pluto. Early Saturday could have us feeling bummed about what is going on in our lives. We might feel victim to life’s circumstances and disappointed by the way things are going. Our anxiety level could be ratcheted up severalfold. But our reaction could also be a little over the top. Instead of considering well-thought out plans or intricately-devised strategies, we could go for knee-jerk reactions of breaking free and doing whatever we want with little, if any, consideration of the consequences. Unfortunately, if we go blindly into the night or into the day we could race into walls, obstacles and other impediments that force us to come to a halt, stop and possibly with a dizzying effect. This Saturday asks that we keep in mind the adage: moderation in all things. We may want to have a summer blowout, indulge beyond our limits and feel no compunction about being a law unto ourselves. There are liabilities in complications for ill-conceived actions. It would also be suggested that we keep our ear to the railroad track. The powers-that-be often release bad news or distressing information when there is the lowest audience likely to notice. Let’s notice whatever is going on in the world today, for it may provide a heads-up regarding issues that could prove far more significant and impactful during this next year of 2011.

Sunday, July 4th – Free at Last, Except for Family Obligations – Sun. Sunday is July 4th, celebrated in the US as Independence Day and largely celebrated as a day of barbecues, fireworks and demonstrations of US patriotism replete with blueberry pie, ice cream, a six pack of beer and other culinary delights of American fancy. Today has the Moon in Aries square the Sun. We may want to do our own thing, especially if we felt restricted yesterday and unable to fully vent our self-assertive expressions. What we want to do and what we’re scheduled to do are often two different things and so it could be on this Sunday. We might prefer taking off, cutting our own path, and exploring the vast terrain. But we may have also committed to certain family gatherings and we could wind up feeling our wings being clipped. Today is a day to seek the balance between our personal wants and our family needs. In any social gatherings we might find ourselves taking a walk down Memory Lane, recounting the good old times that are far better in retrospect than at that time. Let’s enjoy ourselves on this Sunday without feeling captive by our life’s conditions. Tomorrow Uranus turns retrograde and we might be feeling that our new sense of self has been more a mirage than an actual process. We may have to put aside some of our new interests but we might have had glimmers of how we want to be, where we want to be and whom we want to be for the future. Let’s not forget those glances of possibilities and remember that in this paradigm shift it is not so much our having to make things happen as much as being open to the mystery and magic of synchronicity and serendipity — being in the right place at the right time.

Flexibility is key this week, for if we can’t adapt to shifting conditions we could wind up banging our head against the wall. Why go there? Even if there are forced delays, we might want to see them as a tempering process rather than obstacles we have to plow through.

Our sensitivity can be ratcheted up severalfold. We might feel reticent about stepping out and emphasizing our personal needs. It would be important for us to find the balance between our needs and the needs of the people around us. Relationships could be problematic but any difficulties may be a result of great expectations after the infatuations of the past two weeks. It would be wise for us to see things from a more realistic perspective and avoid
knee-jerk reactions.

This week can be a dynamic week but also one that may give a wake-up call. Things may not be as they appear. We need to read between the lines and accept the volatility of these times. Yes, the last two weeks may have been especially pleasant but this week may demand that we do a good clearing up. We might choose to prioritize our projects with the idea of getting rid of the extraneous and focusing on the most important.

Monday, June 21st – Here Comes Summer – Summer Solstice, Sun Cancer, Sun, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Mars. The week starts with our entry into the summer season as the Sun enters Cancer at the Summer Solstice and we enjoy the longest day of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere. As the Sun moves into Cancer, it squares Uranus in Aries. We may be champing at the bit to do something different, express ourselves in a unique and innovative manner, and explore new terrain with which we are unfamiliar. We might also be somewhat hesitant about stepping forward. Our past might be a restraining factor to our trying things we have never tried before. The Moon begins the day in Libra and trine Neptune. We might want to make our summer plans for that special getaway with that special someone. Although we might consider the idyllic, the possible and even the less than pragmatic; our self-consciousness and our concern about our financial resources could put a damper on any grandiose plans. After finishing its transit of Libra, the Moon moves into Scorpio where it trines the Sun, sextiles Pluto and sextiles Mars. Although we might feel that our devil-may-care attitude has been restricted and that our impetuous desires to do whatever we choose on the spur-of-the-moment without due deliberation has been constrained, the limiting factor may be a healthy braking system to our actions. Instead of just going for whatever makes us feel good, we can be extremely resourceful, able to find the best deal for the least monies and strategize the most expedient ways to achieve our goals. If we do not give in to our desire to embrace summer without a thought or without concern for consequences, then we can enter summer in a manner whereby we can start to develop new interests and make our plans by a focused strategy that combines both the big picture and the smallest of necessary details.

Tuesday, June 22nd – What We Want, What We Can Have – Venus. Tuesday seems the quietest day of this high energy, even frenetic, week. The Scorpio Moon squares Venus. Although we might want to party and enjoy ourselves, we could also feel the financial pinch keeping us in check. Although we may know what we want and how we want to spend our time and our monies, this day also makes us aware of the need to be resourceful. We might seethe at the feeling that we can’t have everything we want and have it all, but we need not become petulant. On the contrary, we have the opportunity of stretching our abilities to express good taste and to enjoy ourselves without going overboard in our expenditures of time, money or energy. Relationships could be a little dicey today, especially if someone is showboating and throwing their assets around. We do have to watch for a battle of wills between people today. And, if there were conflict, it might not be so much out in the open as a passive – aggressive quality with people doing a tug-of-war with each other all the while engaging their smiling faces. This Tuesday is a day to prioritize our social activities. It is also a day for us to take a more conservative approach regarding our finances. Over the last two weeks we have had some very pleasant hits of positive energy that were reflected in the triple digit gains in the DJIA of the US equity markets. With the energy impending, we might consider taking some of our chips off the table, realizing our gains and possibly cashing out.

Wednesday, June 23rd – Too Good to be True – Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus. There is a saying that it is often darkest before the dawn. But could the inverse also be true? That it is often brightest before it darkens? As a child, I would hear my grandparents speak of the roaring ‘20’s a time after the Great War to end all wars that seemed to usher in prosperity for all time. It was a nice concept, an idyllic paradise but one that proved stronger in concept, belief and imagination than true reality. The same thing has occurred more recently with the dot.com boom before the implosion, and the housing market boom before the sub-prime mortgage bust. There is another old saying that states the higher one climbs the harder one falls. Not that we have to always fall if we climb high, but we have to climb knowledgeably, fully aware of the conditions and shifting circumstances in order to make it to the summit and stay there. This Wednesday could engender increased confidence to the point of irrational exuberance, again. The Sun squares Jupiter today. We may be more interested in looking at the half glass of water as full and overflowing rather than seeing it as a half glass of water that could either be filled or could be drained. We start the day with the Scorpio Moon sextile Saturn and square Neptune. We may be far more perceptive and grounded as we start the day, but we would have to be careful and wary that things aren’t presented in a way that tickles our enthusiasm, bolsters our confidence and contributes to wild exuberance. The latter part of the day could be a ‘feel good’ time as the Sun Jupiter square is augmented by the Moon moving into Sagittarius and trining both Uranus and Jupiter. Although we might begin the day more focused on the intricate and the specific, the latter part of the day could easily embrace the image and presentation of let the good times roll.

Thursday, June 24th – Looking Back or Looking Ahead – Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Mars, Venus. Thursday could prove a real mixed bag, even a little schizoid. Mercury squares Saturn and Mercury trines Neptune today. The Sagittarius Moon squares Mars and trines Venus. We could easily get depressed if we focus on the minutiae and the specifics of situations. But we could be quite exuberant if we concentrate on our good times and enjoyable interactions with other people. Either we can look back at the mess created in the past and their likely implications for our present and possible consequences for our future. Or we can look forward at the possibilities for our future, the prospects of what could be. We might, of course, do both in the course of this day and find ourselves whipsawing between being very upbeat, inspired and positive and being very negative, depressed and defeated. If we could avoid the either or of these energies today, then we could also blend the best case scenario with the worst case scenario and come up with a plan that allows us to move ahead with our plans, all the while having contingency plans for those situations that could throw curve balls at our efforts. We do need to avoid glossing over details today and to also avoid micro-focusing on the minutiae. If we would take a long view and then consider the best practices approach to get to where we want to go, then we can avoid the incredible metronome of highs and lows that this day might otherwise suggest.

Friday, June 25th – Always Something We Cannot Account For – Mercury Cancer, Mercury, Uranus, Sun, Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus. We have all probably heard of the so-called ‘black swans’, those situations that arise unexpectedly that cast a pall on things and knock us back and force us to re-evaluate what is going on as a result of the unanticipated variables that have changed the game. This Friday could be one of those days and could cast its pall over the weekend too. Today Mercury exits its own Sign of Gemini to move into Cancer where it squares Uranus. Whenever Mercury squares Uranus, I avoid flying since this energy configuration does create problems with travel, and air travel specifically, and also create computer glitches or hacker attacks. Shocking news could come forward today, even to the point of altering our plans. The Sun also opposes Pluto. People may feel rather belligerent today, uncomfortable in their own skin. There could also be personal attacks and certainly the so-called normalcy or stability of these times could be somewhat shaken. This can be a witching day when things ratchet up severalfold and we’re either playing catch-up or having to deal with surprising scenarios that force us away from our schedule to mitigate issues we had not planned for. The day also has the Sagittarius Moon square Saturn and sextile Neptune before the Moon moves into Capricorn later in the day to square Uranus. Whatever plans we have made for this day, we might have to alter or put on hold. Pressing issues could demand our attention and this could also impact our weekend plans. Let’s keep in mind that these volatile times demand that we be nimble and quick, adjusting to changing conditions and adapting to shifting circumstances. There’s no point grousing about any surprising scenarios that force us to alter our plans. We just have to do it.

Saturday, June 26th – All Fall Down – Lunar Eclipse, Capricorn Full Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Lunar T-Square, Pluto, Sun, Mars. Some people say that every day seems like a Full Moon, reflective of the Full Moon’s attribute of ratcheting up emotions and triggering intense actions. This Saturday’s Full Moon is also an Eclipse but also increases the intensity by reason of the Eclipse Chart. The Capricorn Moon conjuncts Pluto and opposes both the Sun and Mercury in Cancer. This Lunar Eclipse also has a Cardinal Sign T-Square with the Capricorn and Cancer planets all square Jupiter in Aries, with Mercury exactly square Jupiter. This day can be a day when the chickens seem to be out of their coop and racing around in all directions as though their heads were cut off. This Saturday demands due diligence — the essential ingredients of these times being the keywords of awareness and mindfulness. Things could be presented today to sugarcoat situations. There might be an increased feeling of the ineffectuality of the powers-that-be, that authorities are unable to stem the problems facing society. Although we could easily throw our hands up in the air, resigned to the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ [as Shakespeare phrased it]; we could also take bull by the horns and determine to extricate ourselves from some of the messes created by others, or even some of the messes we unintentionally have created for ourselves. As the day progresses, the Moon trines Mars. If we don’t get caught up in the sounds and the furies of appearance and what seems projected as going on, then we can take careful evaluation of what seems to be impacting us personally and devise the best practices approach not only to assuage issues and problems but rather to turn any lemons handed to us into lemonade. Let’s keep in mind the wise saying that we never get more than we can handle. We may have to be more astute, stretch a bit but we could also find that we are up to the challenge and can in truth create better days through better ways for ourselves.

Sunday, June 27th – Seeing the Reality of it All – Mercury, Pluto. Sunday continues with the Capricorn Moon and today Mercury in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn. Although much of the hoo-haa that might have occurred yesterday may still be rumbling about today, if we avoid emotional reactions and take reins in hand we can penetrate the images and appearances, concentrate on what is truly going on and then determine how we can best use these energies to our own advantage. We do need to avoid prickly discussions that could turn into heated arguments. The sense of a strong offense as a strong defense might be at play and people may be sharp-tongued and quite opinionated today. There is no need for us to engage in verbal duels. What we can do is use our laser-like vision to focus on the truly significant, prioritize our intentions and devise the most effective and expedient ways to realize our plans. Let’s keep in mind that along with awareness and mindfulness, in league with being nimble and quick, these times ask us to work smarter rather than harder. We have the tools, the talents and the tenaciousness to meet whatever comes our way, for in truth we never get more than we can handle.

The blend of enthusiasm and can-do attitude allows us to advance our interests quickly and without skipping over details. We can expedite activities through streamlined methods and sharp time management techniques. We could do more in shorter spurts of energy as things fall neatly into place.

Love is in the air. We may want to engage new connections and take time to enjoy the company of others. We want to have fun, are looking to embrace all the beauties life has to offer and may find ourselves at the top of our game. We may even be affirming what a wonderful world this is.

The weekend could prove a little dicey. Obligations and responsibilities might have us feeling somewhat deflated. While our energy could flag, we do not have to become despondent. We may have to take a walk down Memory Lane, deal with past issues but we can use old matters as a mirror to see where we have come from and the difference between then and where we are now. We should not let anyone rain on our parade.

Monday, June 14th – Oh, Happy Day – Venus Leo, Venus, Uranus, Saturn. Monday begins the week on a high note. Venus moves out of Cancer and enters Leo where it trines Uranus. We may be feeling full of life, unwilling to allow storm clouds to darken our path, and ready to focus on our Summer plans. Yes, the official start of Summer is still a week away, but who’s listening to anything official nowadays anyway? We want to have fun and engage in various social occasions. The Moon is in Cancer for much of the day and sextiles Saturn. We might be interested in straightening things up around our home and making the necessary adjustments for possible parties and get-togethers. The feel good attitude continues through much of this week and some of our upbeat attitude can be attributed to the nice hits we might have received last Tuesday and Thursday, days whose positive energies were certainly reflected in stock market rallies. Well, we are certainly up for letting the good times roll, on and on, and this Monday is one when we might choose to broaden our social circle, try something different to express our creative talents and look for an exciting and thrilling involvement that allows us to stretch beyond our normal parameters. We are full of beans today and certainly singing the inspirational theme of ‘oh happy day’. Towards the latter part of the day, the Moon exits Cancer and enters Leo. The evening could be one for fun and re-creation and possibly embracing a new format or experimenting in a new venue.

Tuesday, June 15th – To the Max and Beyond – Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Pluto, Uranus, Mercury. Can this be as good as it gets? It possibly seems so, since this day could be a truly primo day. The two ‘good guys’ of the zodiac, Venus and Jupiter, are trine and the two most intense and passionate planets of the zodiac, Mars and Pluto, are also trine. Add to this stellar combination the Leo Moon, which today trines Uranus, conjuncts Venus, trines Jupiter and sextiles Mercury. We may be feeling at the top of our game. Not only do we have our style well put together, but our passion and determination also may know no bounds. We are feeling highly creative, exceptionally playful, and with a belief that everything is going our way. And well it might. This Tuesday is a day when we can broaden our scope, expand our interests and widen our involvements. While things can fall neatly into place and we might feel we have a Midas touch, where a problem could arise would be in excess and indulgence. This Tuesday is a day when we are likely to cast our fate to the winds and assume that everything works out for the best, our best. And to some large degree, everything well might work to our advantage today. We could easily get seduced into accepting a sense that all the problems in the world have righted themselves and that we are back on easy street. Unfortunately, such an attitude would also negate lessons we should have learned — lessons of cycles with their waves and troughs, cycles of expansion and contraction. While last week and this week could have us in an expansive phase, we can hit shoals over the weekend and especially next week. Let’s enjoy ourselves, have a good time but also let’s keep in mind that moderation in all things might be wiser than the caroming between extremes, from indulgence to lack.

Wednesday, June 16th – One Step Over the Line – Sun, Neptune. Wednesday continues with the Leo Moon which today sextiles the Sun and opposes Neptune. We are still feeling at the top of our game but the potential for deception and self-deception is increasing. Maybe it’s too much of a good thing, believing our own invincibility or just wanting to let the good times roll on. We’re just not interested in anyone being a parade rainer or popping our balloon. Illusions can be great but unfortunately they could also prove dangerous. We might try too hard, make assumptions that are patently unrealistic and engage our desires without considering the full ramifications or the possible consequences of our actions. We may feel ‘in the zone’, even convince ourselves that we are very zen-like and very much in the moment. But there can be little doubt that recently we have been looking at life through rose-colored glasses and have put on our blinders to the negative news in the world at large. We do have to be careful that we don’t over-commit or over-extend ourselves. We could easily take one step over the line and make ourselves liable for problems further down the road. Let me remind ourselves — moderation in all things.

Thursday, June 17th – Everything in Place – Pluto, Mars. Late Wednesday, early Thursday the Moon leaves Leo and enters Virgo where it trines Pluto and conjuncts Mars. From the enjoyment of the past three days, this Thursday allows us to get more focused on what needs to be done. We can be highly successful today, prioritize our tasks and streamline our operations. If we would write out our ‘to do’ list, then we can check things off one by one and get more done than we might have thought possible. We are focused on the specifics and the details and are only considering the most important facets of any situation. We just don’t want to waste our time today. We want to be productive and effective, and we can be if we aren’t distracted by the superfluous or don’t take on a Superperson attitude with a willingness to engage all the cares of the world. Today is a good day for us to put on our blinders, put one foot in front of the other and plow through our tasks at hand.

Friday, June 18th – Skimming Along – Mercury. Friday continues with the Virgo Moon, which today squares Mercury, both the ruler of Virgo and also transiting Gemini, the other Sign Mercury rules. Are we being glib or narrow-minded? In either case, our communications and our thought processes may be a little off. We could easily confuse ourselves today by not considering things in enough depth or detail and merely skimming along or being so involved in micro-focusing that we close ourselves off to other possibilities. We need to watch our tongue today. After the recent ten days when we could have been feeling so much better, suddenly we might start getting critical of situations and other people. We could even start feeling bitter about things. Has the bloom come off the rose? I would say the last two weeks could have had us engaging in irrational exuberance, again. The next ten days could be a horse of a different color. We might also see that the recent euphoria in stock markets could shift as we come more into next week. Just a heads-up! But no matter, our tendency today could be merely to gloss over, even if we are starting to feel somewhat uncomfortable once again about things operating in our lives and in the world at large.

Saturday, June 19th – Bump in the Road – Sun, Saturn, Neptune, Lunar T-Square, Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto, Venus. Saturday could provide a wake-up call, but do we want to wake up from an idyllic reverie? Probably not, so we could continue to luxuriate in our fantasies, walk on the sunny side of the street and avoid all the unpleasantries in today’s life and living scenarios. But for how long can we avoid some of the difficulties, unpleasant situations and hard cold reality? Today the Sun squares Saturn and the Sun trines Neptune. Our choice! Dealing with reality or taking a stroll through fantasyland. Late Friday early Saturday the Virgo Moon squares the Sun and conjuncts Saturn before the Moon moves into Libra and creates a Cardinal Sign T-Square by the Libra Moon opposing both Jupiter and Uranus in Aries and the Moon square Pluto in Capricorn. The Moon does sextile Venus. If we can avoid the facts and embrace a lullaby fiction, we are likely to do so. We do need to keep our eyes open and our mind clear — awareness and mindfulness are called for — because it is essential that we notate some of the issues, matters and arenas where problems might seem to arise. Whatever bumps in the road today could prove major humps over the next two years.

Sunday, June 20th – Pleasant Chit Chat – Mercury. Sunday is Father’s Day in the US, and this Sunday has the Libra Moon trine Mercury. Whether we are engaged with family today or not, this Sunday offers some enjoyable conversations. People are not haranguing their point of view as much as being interested in what’s going on for other people. Discussions can be upbeat and pleasant. There is greater consideration and receptive listening today. Not that the topics will be weighty or overly serious. On the contrary, things talked about are likely to be light and breezy. We might also want to just lightly touch base with other people, going from one event to another, or moving from one conversation to another, all the while that we are alighting briefly before moving off to another discussion or a different activity. Today is a day when we might want to sample various involvements and not be singularly concentrated on just one. A light and lively day, we might consider using this day to recharge our batteries in preparation for some of the more trying aspects to the latter part of next week.

We may be looking at making changes, emphasizing our freedom of movement and expressing our individuality. We might consider a personal makeover or buying purchases that would add spice to our life. Just keep the receipts since we may be operating on a high and could make impulse purchases that seem right in the moment but might seem frivolous or not what we want on later reflection.

Towards the latter part of the week, life speeds up ever more. We may be going from different activities and juggling various things. It is important that we not overly schedule this week since much of the activity seems unexpected and offers interesting mini-miracles of events, contacts and connections that are serendipitous of being in the right place at the right time.

Over the weekend, we may gather with friends and family for some fun celebrations. We are far more interested in having a lot going on than concentrating on one or two significant events. Life for us this week is a kaleidoscope of magical moments, fun events and a feel-good attitude. And the keyword for this week is en-joy.

Monday, June 7th – Stepping Out – Sun, Venus, Mars Virgo. Monday starts the week with us in high gear. The week begins with the Aries Moon sextile the Sun and square Venus. Mars moves into Virgo ending its almost eight month transit of Leo. We may be feeling like we are at the top of our game, ready to move our interests ahead with no obstacles or naysayers in our way. The question arises, however, as to whether our forceful presentations are based upon the strength of our case or are masking a certain insecurity whereby we feel that a strong offense is a good defense. We could be a little hypercritical of people or situations occurring around us. We can use our sense of doing our own thing without stepping on other people’s toes and without going full speed ahead before checking the conditions and circumstances in which we are forging ahead. Today is a good day for us to present our own perspective but with the specifics and particulars at hand. If we take into account the details necessary to accomplish our goals before we launch forward, then we might better offer a best cases scenario and a win-win situation without our seeming to be overly focused on our own personal interests. This Monday is a good day for stepping out but being certain that we’re not stepping on other peoples’ toes.

Tuesday, June 8th – Falling into Place – Jupiter, Uranus, Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Lunar Grand Trine, Mars, Pluto. Today is one of those days when everything seems to work and all the pieces fit neatly into place. The sense of magic and miracles, the serendipity of being in the right place at the right time, all seem to work on this Tuesday. Jupiter conjuncts Uranus, and Mercury trines Saturn. The Moon starts off in Aries and sextiles Neptune before moving into Taurus where it creates a Grand Trine in the Earth Element by trining Mars in Virgo and trining Pluto in Capricorn. As though we have pulled back the veil of Maya and entered a different dimension where everything works easily, today is one of those days when we can accomplish a great deal, surprising opportunities open to us, and we might feel as though all our cares and worries have dropped away. Of course, in order to come to such a realization, we have to embrace the awe and wonder of childhood, step away from our sense of controlling situations and being master of our own domain, and accept with humility the magical possibilities of even the seemingly impossible. Expect the unexpected, for this day opens a door, or a window, of new interests and a new sense of self. Let’s not be too surprised if we’re considering a personal makeover, making changes to our appearance or our wardrobe, based upon an impinging new sense of who we are. We do not have to commit to any changes we embrace today. Rather this is a day for self-exploration, self-discovery and getting out of our own way of whom we have been and how we have acted. Can we do so? That might prove the largest question as to the breadth of today’s opportunities. The more we can draw today from a blank slate and allow magic to happen, the more we can engage some interesting and wonderful opportunities. Not only can we consider possibilities we might otherwise discount at other times. We can also take our new interests, streamline our operations and devise a best practices approach in which to get things done. This Tuesday is a primo day, so let’s take full advantage of it. But let’s also keep in mind that life is about cycles and similar to the ocean’s waves there are times when we can ride the crest of the waves, and other times when we’re down in the trough. Today is crest riding waves.

Wednesday, June 9th – Believing the Spin – Mercury, Neptune. After Tuesday and reinforced on Thursday, we could easily believe that we have moved into the paradigm shift and that everything is working out for our best, and with very little effort on our part. We might feel that we have entered a whole new dimension of our lives. Opportunities that we could never have imagined may have been dangled in front of us. Problems that we believed to be irreconcilable may have magically disappeared. We can be entranced, even seduced, by a new sense of being of who we are. And there can be the hucksters and spinmeisters that assure us all our concerns, all our difficulties, have magically disappeared. Nice concept, but such a belief could be but an illusion, and could also create a nasty set-up for a significant fall if we have climbed too high or reached too far without exercising due diligence and reading between the lines. This Wednesday continues with the Taurus Moon, but we also have Mercury square Neptune. We may want to believe a best case scenario, especially if we saw glimmers or the whole panorama of a much improved life circumstance yesterday. Our mind could be a little hazy today with us looking through rose-colored glasses. Although attitude is a key element of how we perceive life conditions, we have to be wary of extremes — extreme negativity bordering on depression or extreme positivity bordering on irrational exuberance. Today is a day to maintain a rein on our emotions, our beliefs and our finances. We could easily play the roulette wheel and put more money on certain squares than might be appropriate. Let’s try and maintain a conservative financial approach today even though we could hear about prospects and possibilities that seem inevitable and mind-numbing as if too good to be true. And possibly they are.

Thursday, June 10th – Shout it from the Highest Steeple – Mercury Gemini, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Mars. Wednesday night – Thursday morning, Mercury exits Taurus and enters its own Sign of Gemini, whereupon it sextiles both Uranus and Jupiter in Aries. The Taurus Moon today sextiles Venus, trines Saturn and squares Neptune. The Moon then moves into Gemini where it sextiles Uranus, sextiles Jupiter, conjuncts Mercury and squares Mars. We may be feeling on top of the world, and we might choose to communicate our feel-good attitude about ourselves to all and sundry. Opportunities that might have arisen for us earlier in the week can seem to take greater hold, and we might want to make anyone and everyone aware of our good fortune. Everyone could be patting themselves on the back. We might also find that we are far more interested in juggling many activities rather than focusing only on one or two significant involvements. We may feel like the world is our oyster and that we can easily devour a bushel load or more. Shucks, we may feel blessed and as if everything is going our way. Not to be a parade rainer, but I would advise that we maintain vigilance and awareness even during such upbeat and self-inflating times. We also have to be wary of those people who are legends in their own minds. We could get easily enraptured by our possibilities, seeing all the positive attributes without considering the potential liabilities. We might even get to the point of accepting the belief that might makes right and that the more belligerent we are the more likely we shall be in winning our way. Sounds like emotional tantrums whereby we narrow our vision to solely our perspective without considering someone else’s perspective. Today would be a day to utilize people we trust as a good sounding board regarding some of our intentions, decisions and planned actions.

Friday, June 11th – Pushing the Envelope – Mercury, Mars. Friday continues with the Gemini Moon, which is likely to reinforce today’s Mercury square Mars. People could be adamant in their own opinion, unable and unwilling to see anything beyond their own personal prejudices and beliefs. Communications today could get downright nasty with people drawing lines in the sand and advising other people that it is their way or the highway. We are in the dark side of the Moon with tomorrow’s New Moon, but that might not prevent some people from stepping in it, creating a furor and moving forward without considering the ramifications of their actions or the likely implications of the consequences of their actions. We could be impetuous today, so it would be wise to avoid knee-jerk reactions and count to ten before acting or reacting. We may want to press our point but we might not be fully aware of all the variables involved. Let’s keep in mind some of the unexpected situations that might have arisen earlier this week and use that as a tempering process regarding any action that we might choose to consider or to take.

Saturday, June 12th – Head in the Clouds – Venus, Saturn, Gemini New Moon, Sun, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter. Saturday has Venus sextile Saturn and the Gemini New Moon with the Moon conjunct the Sun, square Saturn and trine Neptune. The Moon then moves into Cancer where it squares both Uranus and Jupiter. This Saturday can be a little delusional. We might want what we want, imagine how we can get there, but the actual destination and itinerary might not lead us to where we expect to go. This New Moon has an influence over the next fortnight. Although we have had some very positive hits this week, the second week of this fortnight could be fairly traumatic and pop some of the bubbles we might have been enjoying. Although it is good to have our head in the clouds and consider all possibilities, it is essential that we keep our feet on the ground. And during this month, there can be times when our feet hardly touch the ground. Although we are all amping to make changes and to be more autonomous in our lives, we also have to be fully aware that there may be impediments and obstacles in our way, either creating delays or preventing our plans from occurring. We may be feeling a little uncomfortable in our own skin and want major change to occur immediately and especially after some of the teasers of mini-miracles or wondrous surprises we might have already experienced. Once again, we are being tested and challenged as to whether we want to control situations or whether we can accept the birthing process, the natural unfolding of life’s conditions and circumstances. These times talk to us as being co-creators of our destiny, of being participants in the natural unfolding. But these times also speak of our letting go of any sense of real control over life’s situations. We are going through a paradigm shift. We can make our changes, but let’s make our changes with the ideas of toes in the water rather than assuming that we can dive into the deep end without possible consequences that might not be to our liking.

Sunday, June 13th – No Rest for the Weary – Mars, Pluto. Sunday’s Cancer Moon sextiles Mars and opposes Pluto. Although today we might prefer to have a good time, enjoy our re-creational pursuits and even the possibility of getting off the track, out of Dodge, and exploring new terrain; this Sunday may have us running errands, doing fix-up projects around our home and generally cleaning up and clearing out. Let’s keep in mind the wise saying that the cup has to be emptied before it can be filled. We may want to make certain changes in our lives, but we might also have to let go of some of the baggage from our past. Inventory taking today and getting rid of the outmoded and no longer functional would go a long way towards creating space for the new interests and new involvements to come forward. It’s like a horse and cart kind of thing. We need to have the horse first. No matter what new interests we might have become aware during this week, now is a time for us to get rid of some of the old in order to take full advantage of possibilities, opportunities and situations that we might have had glimmers of, or even those situations of which we are not yet aware. First, we have to do the clean up and clear out and then we can embrace the new and the different.

It is essential we remember that we are in volatile times and things can shift and change without notice.  Part of the beauty of these times is that we can try out different things without committing for the long-term.  And we don’t have to make it all happen.  But it is important that we keep aware of the shifting tides and launch our efforts with the currents.

The latter part of the week could have us hitting some rocks, unforeseen circumstances that question our ability and even our intentions.  As long as we avoid any possible accidents, obstacles could provide an important honing opportunity whereby we do not rush headlong forward but rather temper our movements and our decisions by evaluating and continually re-evaluating.

Over the weekend we may attend to details of outstanding matters.  We may recognize the importance of clearing up old messes so they do not impinge upon our future plans.  With a second wind, our energy is sparked and we can easily proceed to initiate new projects, those things that speak to us and truly reflect who we are.

Monday, May 31^st – Strategizing through the Haze – Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune retrograde.  Monday starts the week in something of a paradoxical situation.  On the one hand, we have the Moon in Capricorn trine Saturn and sextile Jupiter.  We can be very grounded, focused on structuring the details and devising the most appropriate format by which to realize our goals.  We may consider plans for our future and determine situations that not only could be financially rewarding but might also prove to be soul satisfying.  While we might be able to blend a visionary quality with a pragmatic approach, we need to be aware that this day also has Neptune turning retrograde.  We may be able to concentrate on what we want to do and how best to do it, but where a problem could arise is in the fact that the well-crafted and detail-mastered intention might also be building castles in the air, those situations that are grand illusions at best and blind alleys at the worst.  Like a dog chasing its tail, we could be off and running and wind up only going around in circles and wasting our energy, our time and our faith in the belief that things work out for the best.  Yes, we have to be wary that we don’t step into a bottomless pit based upon the premise of the old saying that the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions.  Today, we might also have plans for certain get-togethers that are far better in mind than in reality.  Plans made with other people could fall flat, and it would be wise to re-confirm any scheduled events.  All of us may seem to have been on overload recently, what with the volatility of these times and the craziness of certain incidents going on.  Let’s realize that we can only do the best that we can do under the circumstances of which we are aware.  The rest of it is the kaleidoscope of varied events, wild mood swings and being in the moment without much regard for commitment or mapped itineraries.  Welcome to the world in 2010.

Tuesday, June 1^st – A Brand New Day – Uranus.  Monday night, Tuesday morning has the Moon exiting Capricorn and entering Aquarius where it sextiles Uranus, now transiting through Aries.  In the US, we are coming off the long Memorial Day weekend holiday and the unofficial start to the Summer season.  This day could feel like a new beginning.  We may be far more interested in testing the waters of new interests and participating in activities that grab our attention.  We can expedite our normal routine and we might draw upon new technologies that allow us to streamline our operations.  This is a day when unexpected opportunities could arise so it would be wise for us to work with peripheral vision, look all around, without being overly focused on the straight and narrow.  Let’s keep in mind that we are moving into a paradigm shift where we do not have to make things happen as much as being astute and attuned to possibilities that can come up virtually out of the blue.  Serendipity and synchronicity are keywords for this paradigm shift, so we might better appreciate the idea of expecting the unexpected.  If we can address our routine tasks early in the day, then we might be able to take greater advantage of doing things on a whim, on the spur of the moment.  And that’s what this Tuesday speaks to — the ability to note surprising opportunities and to take advantage of them.  We may feel like we’re crossing a suspension bridge between old and new — taking care of our normal responsibilities all the while that we try new things out, and going back and forth between whom we have been and whom we are becoming.

Wednesday, June 2^nd – Never Enough – Sun, Mercury.  There is a saying that variety is the spice of life, and on this Wednesday we could embrace a great deal of spiciness.  But we have to ask ourselves: at what expense?  The Aquarius Moon today trines the Sun and squares Mercury.  We may feel like our life has become a smorgasbord of various opportunities that we can sample and engage.  The sampling is the primary factor, for we have to be careful not to engage more than we can handle or commit to situations that might be better in their sampling than for the long-term.  Our eyes could prove bigger than our stomach, or our wallet, today.  Let’s try to keep a rein on our finances, for otherwise we could be enamored by prospects and be willing to ante up to the table to try things out.  Although our mind can easily conceive the process of going from abstract through execution to manifestation, things take much longer in practical reality.  Any plans we have for this day could take longer and be more expensive than we might have envisioned.  It is far better for us today to go from one thing to another, focusing on the process rather than completion.  If we try to concentrate on one specific activity today, we could find ourselves getting bogged down and becoming highly unproductive.  At the same time, we have to be careful not to be spinning our wheels as interests arise that distract us from moving ahead with our goals.

Thursday, June 3^rd – Grinding the Gears – Mars, Neptune, Pluto.  If we learned to drive a car with a manual transmission, there could have been times when we were grinding the gears as we tried to shift from one gear into another.  This Thursday could start out in a similar fashion, whereby we might feel as though we are grinding our gears.  This day begins with the Aquarius Moon opposed Mars and conjunct Neptune.  We might want what we want and could try to force situations.  We could be oblivious to the signs around us indicating that our intentions just are not working out.  The signs could include frustrations in getting things done, other people suggesting a different approach or a sense that we are expending more energy than we should be.  Timing is everything and as the day progresses, the Moon exits Aquarius and moves into Pisces where it sextiles Pluto.  Suddenly, we might become more relaxed and come to the realization of how best to achieve our plans.  Instead of forcing the situation, we might find that the situation unfolds in a far easier manner and in the most expedited ways.  If there is a lesson for us on this Thursday it may prove to be the fact that we do not have to make things happen but rather that things can develop in accordance with their own rhythm and in their own manner.  Learning that lesson would be a tremendous gift for us to navigate these times of volatility when there are times that no matter what effort we exert nothing goes right and other times when things slide easily like greased wheels and things fall neatly into place.

Friday, June 4^th – Mimicking Sisyphus – Mars, Neptune, Sun.  Thursday provided us the opportunity and contrast between trying to force things and allowing things to fall easily into place.  Perhaps we didn’t learn yesterday’s lesson, for today could seem like we’re back at trying to make things happen, even to the point of being Sisyphus-like and rolling the boulder up a mountain.  Mars opposes Neptune today and the Pisces Moon squares the Sun.  This is a day when we need to take time and consider what is being told to us or presented to us.  The tricksters may be out in full force today providing their spin on things and offering a description of how they say things are.  Sound bites could create anxiety or concern, so let’s make sure that we read between the lines, look between the cracks and take a comprehensive view of what is truly going on.  Anxiety could be ratcheted up today as a result of situations beyond our control.  What we need to do is consider whether such situations impact us indirectly or directly or not at all.  We might easily get caught up in assuming that various incidents are having a greater impact on us than they might actually have.  Although we need to take our time and avoid knee-jerk reactions, our tendency might be to scurry form one thing to another, get only a glimpse or a minimal understanding of what is occurring and then react and make decisions without full information or full disclosure.  Interactions with other people could be fraught with misunderstandings or a tug-of-war between two differing interests.  Let’s chill out and not react impetuously or make assumptions without having all the facts.

Saturday, June 5^th – The Comforts of Home – Venus, Mercury, Saturn.  Saturday has the Pisces Moon trine Venus, sextile Mercury and opposed Saturn.  We might want to spend time today at home and with our family.  We are far more interested in being a homebody or looking for those special items to spruce up our home than attending to our errands or dealing with our obligations.  We may not really want to push ourselves too much today.  If we have made plans with other people, we might even decide that we’re just not feeling up to it.   There could be a tendency towards resentment in people’s interactions today as though any fulfillment of commitment is expressed with a sense of people not doing each other any favors.  Our mood swings could prove extreme, and we might prefer the pleasure of our own company to social gatherings or get-togethers.  Casual barbecues and informal picnics would be preferable to formal parties or programmed celebrations.  If we do have plans for social occasions, let’s enjoy our home either before or after, but recognize that we can both deal with our planned occasions and also have some quiet time.  One without the other today could prove problematic, and we have to ask ourselves: why create problems when the solutions are far easier?

Sunday, June 6^th – Off and Running – Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto, Jupiter Aries.  Late Saturday, early Sunday has the Pisces Moon conjunct Jupiter just before Jupiter enters Aries.  The Moon then moves into Aries where it conjuncts Uranus and squares Pluto.  We may feel as though the starting gate has opened and we’re off and running at sprint-like speed.  This is a day when we might feel as though there’s no stopping us now.  We want to affirm our individual interests, even to the point of the primal scream of self-assertion.  Everyone may be wanting to launch their boats no matter the current, no matter the tides.  We are far more interested in going for it than we are in considering the conditions, checking the circumstances or even considering our itinerary, much less our destination.  We may be hell bent for glory today, except for one minor glitch.  The glitch can be the standards and statutes of government figures or authority sentries.  We might get tripped up by structures and formats that impose a dampening influence on our self-assertion.  This is one of those days when we need to be flexible, adaptable, nimble and quick.  Even if we encounter an obstacle, we can always go around it, under it, over it or through it.  We don’t need to be stopped in our tracks by it.  And with the strong self-assertive energy today, we’re not likely to be stopped, except possibly momentarily, for there’s no stopping us now.  We are truly coming into a time of ‘power to the person’, a time when it may become increasingly clear of the paradox and even adversarial relationship between the individual and the powers-that-be. With both Uranus and Jupiter in Aries during this Summertime, things can be hot, hot, hot — both in regard to atmospheric temperatures and the temperature of individuals who no longer want to be ruled or dominated by authority figures.  These are interesting times in which we live, and this Summer offers a brief prelude to what we might expect in 2011.

If we have been experiencing delays over the past few months, things can start to move forward quickly with less frustration now.  We are looking at widening our viewpoint and broadening our expanse.  Even our interactions with other people may seem a great deal brighter and less adversarial.  We’re not concerned about fitting in or how other people express themselves.  We’re looking at standing out, emphasizing our own personal interests, and letting people be themselves.

We may feel like a whole new person this week, and we might consider a personal makeover.  Let’s not be shy about spending money this week.  While these times ask us to be resourceful and to get the best bang for the buck, we could find good bargains and the ability to stretch our monies.  We might go through a sifting process, getting rid of things that no longer reflect who we are while adding those things that speak to us.

As the week progresses, our thoughts may turn to travel and getting out of Dodge.  Getting into unfamiliar terrain would allow us to evaluate our new sense of being without the limitations of familiarity or habitual patterns.

This is a week for us to explore, experiment and test the waters of new interests and different activities.  There is no need to commit for the long-term but to sample various possibilities.

Monday, May 24^th – Good Times – Mars.  Monday begins the week with the Libra Moon sextile Mars.  We could be a lot happier and far more conciliatory toward other people today, at least compared to the weekend’s events.  We might want to enjoy pleasurable activities — take in a movie, go to a concert or just have some fun times with that special someone in our lives.  Today is a time when we can put our best foot forward, advance our interests with the support of significant people and present ourselves in a compelling, passionate and gracious manner.  We’ve got style and we’ve got charm today so let’s engage the good times and see how things can run so smoothly and so easily when we’re in the zone.

Tuesday, May 25^th – Rooting Out the Essential Factors – Neptune, Pluto, Venus, Mercury.  Monday night, early Tuesday morning has the Libra Moon trine Neptune.  We might feel like everything is coming up roses, that we have few cares in the world that we cannot finesse, much less address.  The beauty of this day is that we’re feeling more upbeat than usual and we can channel our enthusiasm into being incredibly resourceful, for the Moon moves into Scorpio where it sextiles Pluto, trines Venus and opposes Mercury.  We can cut to the core, devise a best practices approach, all the while that we are focused on the fundamentals and not being distracted by the superfluous.  We may want to purchase some items for our home today, but let’s keep in mind that we if don’t need it, we can do without it.  This day is not to be lost to excess or indulgence.  We can find bargains, pare down our expenses and concentrate on the truly meaningful.

Wednesday, May 26^th – No Dancing Around – Mars.  While Monday has the Moon sextile Mars, this Wednesday has the Scorpio Moon square Mars.  We could be fairly intense today.  We may want what we want but we could also feel frustrated if things don’t go our way.  There might be a tendency for tantrum-throwing today, whether we engage it or are witness to other people acting out.  It would be wise for us to budget our time and our expenses today.  We could easily feel in a tug-of-war between our sensible nature and our grandiose desires.  Let’s avoid exhausting ourselves or being like the dog chasing its tail.  We could easily get caught up in the wild activity of these times and do things more from impulse than rational thought.  The energy can ratchet up severalfold today with the recognition that tomorrow has the Sagittarius Full Moon.

Thursday, May 27^th – Doing My Thing – Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, Sagittarius Full Moon, Sun, Uranus Aries.  Thursday begins with the Scorpio Moon sextile Saturn, trine Jupiter, square Neptune and trine Uranus, before the Moon exits Scorpio and enters Sagittarius where it creates a Full Moon with the opposition to the Sun in Gemini.  The Full Moon occurs just as Uranus enters Aries.  The more we can tie up loose ends, expedite matters and be adaptable to our changing interests and shifting our plans, the better it would be.  For today begins a major energy shift.  Uranus ends its transit of Pisces and enters Aries.  This entry of Uranus into Aries is a brief prelude, one that runs from today until mid-August when Uranus retrogrades back into Pisces before turning direct and moving into Aries early next year for its seven-year transit of the Cardinal Fire Sign.  We are looking to try new things, express ourselves and focus on our individuality.  We may also find people are stepping up, calling for greater freedom, and demonstrating their disgust at the strictures and structures of traditional society.  We are moving into a time when people might not merely question authority but may seek to bring the powers-that-be down to their knees.  ‘Power to the person’ is a key phrase for this prelude time and reinforced next month when Jupiter also enters Aries briefly before its next year’s transit of the Cardinal Fire Sign.  Each of us is likely to be looking for new formats, greater autonomy and different avenues for increased self-expression.  These are exciting times, challenging times, dynamic times and these times suggest that we rely on our own selves rather than any institution, government or self-appointed leaders.  We may hear the refrain this summer that if people will lead, the leaders will follow.  While poet – musician Gil Scott-Heron told us that the revolution will not be televised, each of us may be going through our own internal and personal revolution of self-exploration and self-discovery.

Friday, May 28^th – The Wide Expanse.  Friday has the Sagittarius Moon, but today the Moon makes no aspects or connections to the planets.  With our new found impetus from Uranus moving into Aries yesterday, this Friday might be a day for us to contemplate our prospects, broaden our perspective, consider our possibilities and feel like we’ve gained a second wind.  No matter what seems to be going on in the world around us, we can use this day to accentuate our personal interests and some of the areas we may wish to investigate.  With the sense of change being all around us we can now shift into expressing the changes that have gone on within us.  It need not matter if there are restrictions and constraints to our movement or to our plans.  Increasingly, we might realize that we are moving into the paradigm shift of asequential reality, where things can occur not so much from our making them happen but rather from our taking advantage of unexpected opportunities that present themselves.  All aboard the magical mystery tour!

Saturday, May 29^th – Slow Down, We Move Too Fast – Mars, Neptune, Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto.  We may be in high gear as we start this Saturday.  We might feel as though the world is our oyster and that we want to sup like drunken Vikings.  Enough may not be enough for us today.  We’re feeling good, upbeat and wanting to take the world by its tail and swing with it.  The day starts with the Sagittarius Moon trine Mars and sextile Neptune.  The Moon also creates a Mutable Sign T-Square as the Sagittarius Moon squares Saturn in Virgo and squares Jupiter in Pisces.  We may be pushed and pulled in various directions.  We might feel as though there is no stopping us now but rather that we are a whirlwind of energy and of activity.  Of course, we could also find ourselves like a whirling dervish, spinning around in circles and, rather than a meditative moment, moving into a dizzying array of things to do and activities to engage.  The Moon then moves out of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn where it squares Uranus and conjuncts Pluto.  We might feel as though our new-found desire to express ourselves through the primal scream of our self-assertion is being dampened by restrictions, restraints and our old structures of being.  Either we can rein in our passion and channel our energies, or we can become hell-bent for glory knocking down everything in our way.  Or, a third alternative, would be to use our new interests as a measuring tool to see what we can rid ourselves of and what continues to hold real meaning for us.

Sunday, May 30^th – Out of the Gate – Venus, Mercury, Saturn direct.  Sunday continues with the Capricorn Moon, which today opposes Venus and trines Mercury.  The Capricorn ruler, Saturn, turns direct today ending its five and a half month retrograde cycle which is often akin to a winter hibernation, whereby more things occur internally while our external advances are delayed, frustrated or thwarted.  We might want to spend some quality time at home today, doing some springtime home projects, or just hanging out, catching our breath and enjoying the comforts of home.  At the same time, today is a good day for us to plan and strategize how we can best move forward with some of our goals and ways by which to realize our ambitions.  Let’s keep in mind that life is accelerating, everything is speeding up and these times demand that we work smarter rather than harder.  Let’s use this day to see how we can streamline our operations, focus on the most important and eliminate some of the distractions from our life.  In the US, this long holiday weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer and this summer is likely to offer us chances to be different, do things differently and find new ways of expressing ourselves and even the possibility of a transformation in our self-identities.