Weekly Horoscope.net

The Sun and Mercury are at the very edges of Cancer right now. The transition from water to fire signs is one of instability and volatility. This is because at these points not only does the planet pass through a delicate juncture where the zodiac sign ends, but the Nakshatra (lunar mansion or star group) also ends there. Typically, at the place where zodiac signs end, there is the energy of a Nakshatra still operating behind it, which holds together the indications of that point in space. It is a well-known source of weakness when planets change signs. This is magnified when water gives way to fire. Those who have studied the zodiac, realize that the juncture between water and fire is where, elementally, a mini cycle starts over. For example, the signs progress from Aries (fire), Taurus (earth), Gemini (air), Cancer (water) - then the elements start over again with Leo (fire), Virgo (earth),.. etc.. These Gandantha points show where a 1/3 portion of the zodiac ends and the next 1/3 portion of the zodiac begins.

Every 2 1/2 days or so, the Moon changes signs. So, three times per month she will pass the Gandantha point. Twelve times per month she will change signs, with a Nakshatra still operating behind her.

As you can see by these charts, there is a big shift that happens from August 15 to August 16. Tomorrow, August 15, the Sun and Mercury are both at the edge of Cancer, 29 degrees — and the Moon is in the very early degrees of Virgo — having just changed signs. By the next day, the Sun and Mercury are both in Leo. Venus is also barely one degree of Leo and is retrograde.

This shows a lot of unstable energy for the next couple of days. The sun, Mercury, Venus and the Moon - all personal type planets will be affected. This also may portend more natural disasters, with all those planets aligned together.

On the personal front, we have all been experiencing some unpredictable energy with Venus retrograde joined Saturn, the South node and squaring Mars - as I have been discussing recently. Some very unusual relationships with other people are happening. These relationships may be disturbed or challenged at work or with family members or close friends — it is not necessarily relationships that are affected. But, if you are a spiritual type of person, one who does a lot of inner work, this could be an incredibly powerful time for your right now. It could be a very important time for re-examining your relationships with people — growing in compassion and patience.

Vedic astrology views retrograde planets a little different than modern Western astrology. It acknowledges that retrograde planets are powerful and also have a lot of power to heal. Given that they are closer to earth at that time, and appear to be moving backwards in relation to our forward moving life, their energy becomes internalized. The Western mind tends to think that if something upsets our worldly life it is automatically “bad”. The Eastern mind tends to consider this a little differently.

Everything is a blessing, even the “bad stuff” - and in many ways, especially the bad stuff. There are entire religions in India that worship pain and hardship, because they know it is the fast track to strengthening our weaknesses. There are innumerable stories of devotees that are the closest to God getting the harshest treatments in order to make them tough and speed up their karmic understanding.

Most of the time when we are getting the good stuff, we simply fall asleep and enjoy it. It is not until we have the external things mess up that we actually become introspective and grow. For instance, in an abusive relationship, the abuser will keep acting like a jerk until their partner gets fed up with the abuse and leaves them. But as long as their partner stays and puts up with it, their abusive ways will continue as they are being validated by the complicity of their partners weakness. In our lives there is a similar pattern. We think we have it all figured out on some level - admit it, it’s true - then some problems occurs that holds a mirror up to our process, and we reevaluate. It is the harshness of facing our mistakes or losing what we thought we could count on that wakes us up to who we really are and how much we have really learned in a particular area.

Do not get me wrong, as a full-time astrologer I spend everyday trying to help people avoid trouble or understand it better so their life is not so painful. So, I am not being cavalier about the suffering of others or frankly, my own suffering. Here is something to ponder: The soul comes here to earth because it is much easier to experience the consequences of our wrong actions due to the severity of life here. Stated more simply, is very easy to suffer on earth with a body that feels pain very easily, a fragile and emotional psyche, and the multitude of opportunities we have to make mistakes. This is not a bleak statement about earth or our life here. Rather it is a testimonial to how lucky we are to be able to learn about our truthful selves. In fact, once we start to desire knowledge and open our hearts, we realize that nothing has to be painful. To tell the truth, the whole thing sorta cracks me up - I think is quite hilarious.

Think about this: There are many Vedic stories about sages who pray to be born in a difficult and dark time like we live in. This is because of what I mentioned above, we have so many opportunities to grow. There is such a contrast between darkness and light on earth and its inherent duality. It is an enormous blessing to be able to live on earth at this time, worry also have comforts and time. Just ponder how much you have grown in your life - how much transformation has taken place within you. Could you have ever imagined your life would turn out the way it did and that you would have learned so much about your true self. Would you have believed that you could endure the difficulties and hardships you have and actually grow in compassion and love as a result? What a miracle. And how much of that growth happened due to your mistakes? Probably all of it?

Back to retrograde planets. More often than not I see retrograde planets create worldly problems that make us face our mistakes around the things they rule. In this case, Venus. In facing these issues our energy becomes internalized and we truly learn about the thing. With Venus, we are learning to compromise with dignity and without regret or excessive self-sacrifice. Also we learn how to transmute our desire for personal happiness - first into the desire to serve all as expressions of Self, and then to transform that into devotion to God.

Retrograde cycles are complicated. Astrology is not simple. Nothing is good or bad in astrology, or in life.

For the next few days be careful with some volatile, unpredictable energy in your life. With the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus all either changing signs, retrograde, or at delicate points in the zodiac there may be a tendency for rash and impulsive decisions that we regret.

One of the things I have learned the most about astrology is it teaches us that sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. Sometimes the best thing to do is wait and delay decisions until your mind is clear.

Consider this a good option the next couple of days.

Venus retrograde - Jupiter direct - Jupiter aspects

How has your  love-life been lately? Retrograde Venus has been throwing a few curveballs your way to teach you the art of compromise. Perhaps you developed a new hypnotic attraction, or perhaps the one you are attracted to now wants another, or perhaps a lover from your past has resurfaced scrambling your brain, tempting you, or perhaps a combination of these things. Venus retrograde cycles are unpredictable. Given her proximity to Saturn and her recent square with Mars, there are also long-term romantic commitments at stake and the need to destroy and transform an existing paradigm. The battlefield is personal relationships, the ultimate goal is the increased value found in a more solid commitment. People who were once bridge builders may be gone from our life, or their pillars weakened — just like a collapsed bridges in the news. The structures that have buttressed our emotional laziness are still subject to some calamity for at least another week or so.

Jupiter is now direct, moving forward. He began moving forward on August 6 — he had been retrograde since April 4. Jupiter is still in Scorpio, deepening our emotional courage, allowing us to expand through faith and spiritual teachings. It is great news that he is moving forward again. Our spiritual efforts may have gotten a bit bogged down lately. The initial stages of a retrograde cycle bring a high capacity for introspection. But after awhile we want to start putting things into practice in the world. The planets’ forward motion supports that more. Especially for those who have their natal moon, ascendant or Rahu in Sidereal Scorpio, you will be able to move forward again, invigorated by recent introspection.

Jupiter cast a very auspicious aspect to Mercury the last couple of days. These have been good ones for learning, teaching and communication of all sorts. However Mercury in cancer is not so enlightened. There has been a lot of sentimental thinking, not discrimination this week. Yet the aspect of Jupiter has brought a more mystical possibility. Also, the Jupiter trine to Mercury and the Sun earlier in the week could have brought about greater income as well. Part of the day Thursday through Saturday Jupiter will be aspecting the Moon, who will be in her own sign of Cancer. This presents the possibility of more mystical and spiritual breakthroughs. They will also be good days for peacemaking. Jupiter is the part of us that sees the bigger picture.

Venus is about to go retrograde — she is stationed in the sky — practically stopped. When a planet slows down in the sky like this it becomes very powerful and stable. The core qualities of Venus have been present in our consciousness for the last couple of days.

A devoted nature, the capacity to enjoy life and all its pleasures, forgiveness, and the capacity to compromise and be gracious with others — these traits have come naturally in the last couple of days.

This, despite the fact that Venus has been hemmed between Saturn and South node, in the sign of Leo. The Sun in cancer has deepened our capacity for devotion and nurturing. Venus as being the planet closest to the South note has also enlivened that difficult planet. Typically the South node is where we feel excessively critical and discontented. The Venus Station so close to the South node has created the opportunity to release some of our past resentments.

The South node is where we have accumulated some resentments and hypercritical tendencies, especially with other people. We may be challenged as she goes retrograde over Saturn, then into cancer and forward again, to maintain the poise of recent days.

As was discussed last week, the nature of Venus typically in cancer and Leo is quite uneasy — vascillating between a somewhat prideful nature (to Leo) and one with some confused boundaries (cancer).

Either way, in the next couple months, once Venus goes retrograde, we will be challenged to deepen our commitment to values, happiness, compromise and devotion. The next couple of days, between now and Friday, we have a great opportunity to touch a point of devotion, Bliss with emotional dispassion and an eye towards liberation. This indicated by the Venus station between Saturn and South node in Leo.