According to Sandy

Okay. All those “re” words work best at times like these – review, rethink, rework, revisit, reduce (not really).  Mercury, the communications planet, appearing to go  backwards in the sky, from 8/20 to 9/12, is not necessarily an event of horrific proportions.  It can be dealt with.

The possibility of communication snafus are intensified this time because Mercury is in one of the signs it rules, Virgo (the other is Gemini). When going direct, all the Virgo/Mercury traits are pumped – analyze, write, speak, teach, work, service. With the sluggishness of a Retrograde, energy may be blunted and slips of the tongue or pen, Freudian or otherwise, can occur. Project initiation/creation would be best delayed if possible – if not, be meticulous, be careful. (Jump all over the details.)

(Next Mercury Retrograde will be 12/10/10 in Capricorn.)

“New Moon” in Leo happened on Monday August 9 – both the Sun and the Moon are in the generous, royal sign of Leo. With the Sun as ruler, this Fire sign is all about joyous, confidence (like our President Obama!).

New Moons are best for creativity, fun and beginnings. If you have a project to start, someone that you need to enroll in your life, a presentation to make – charm and fortune are amped up. Depending on where Leo falls in your chart and due to other current planet happenings, it may take some effort, but the “possibilities are endless” as they say. Prepare, plot, plan – go for it. You will feel the effects for several days.

Next up – a Tuesday afternoon Virgo Moon, which brings a focus on health and work.

Call home – Friday afternoon, 8/6, has the Moon moving into its own sign of Cancer. This water sign gets us all in the mood for family, food and anywhere we are hanging our hats this weekend. This can be a loving, nurturing time.

The Moon = emotions, with sensitivity and vulnerability heightened. Don’t go looking for hurt feelings – yours or anyone else’s.  (This will pass, so there is no need to over eat.)

Domesticity has its merits – make family, friends, yourself comfortable and happy if you can. You’ll enjoy it.

BTW: Energy change on Sunday afternoon when the Moon struts into the regal sign of Leo and goes “New” on Monday 8/9.

On the afternoon of Friday 7/30, the Moon will march into the physical, aggressive sign of Aries. (Think “Action figure”.)  This Fire sign is ruled by the planet Mars – the unofficial patron saint of warriors.  Arian Moons are great for movement rather than mental activity, but still a good time to initiate, take charge- just think it thru and go for it.

Power down occasionally so that loved ones don’t feel that they are in the presence of a bulldozer, but by all means, take advantage of the energy – get crackin’, do something different, conquer new territories, etc., etc. (Just be nice!)

A Full Moon glows in the 11^th sign of Aquarius on Sunday July 25^th, at 6:37PM EDT/ 3:37PM PDT. (The Leo Sun is opposite the Aquarius Moon = Full Moon.)

We will feel the influences of friendly, unconventional Aquarius more intensely than a usual 2½ day Moon transit. A stubborn, people oriented, cause infused sign, it is about the “We/Us” rather than the “I/Me”.

This Air sign is ruled by unpredictable, freedom loving, change craving Uranus.  Intellectual rather than emotional, the concern for others that is part of the Aquarian personality is authentic and matter of fact. Volunteer, find a cause, leave a place better than you found it.

As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, at “Full” phase, the Moon is “waning”, on its way to the 3rd and 4th quarters, therefore, it is a good time to clean up and finish old projects. (The best time to create, start new things is from the beginning of a “New Moon” phase thru the 2nd quarter – “waxing”.)

Good day Sunshine as we all experience a little bit of Leo for the next few weeks. In 2010, the Sun moves into Leo on Thursday July 22 at 6:21PM EDT/ 3:21PM PDT

Leo’s are generous, dramatic (great actors), attention seeking, creative and full of a lion’s pride – really fun folks. (Leo = Tom Cruise jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch declaring his love – not for Oprah – a “look at me” moment)

“Regal” is the key word when that lucky old Sun, ruler of Leo, shines and heats the talent, self confidence, fun and romance factors of your life. We should be active, upbeat, and magnanimous. You don’t have to give everyone you meet diamonds or tip $100s to the hot dog vendor, just ooze that Leo charm and you will be looked at, admired, loved.

BTW: Mercury, the communications planet, will also be in Leo at this time. Great opportunity to speak, write, present with the Sun’s grace. This can be a joyful, full of yourself time!

Leo:  Color = Gold (of course) * Rules= Heart * Gem= Tiger’s Eye

Friday morning 7/16, the Moon does a social dance into partnership prone, harmony loving, artistic Libra.

The 7^th sign of the Zodiac fosters good feelings, people activities, beauty and creativity. Seeking harmony with others and harmony for the home are all traits of the Libra vibe. These are good things! Invite a few folks to lunch?

By Sunday 7/18, the Moon will slide into serious, secretive, stubborn, Scorpio – intense (I ran out of “S”s). Use all that heat and power to your advantage. Be aware of the tendency to be easily wounded – hold the grudge for 5 minutes max, then move on.  By the time the perky Sagittarius Moon bounces in on Monday, you will have forgotten the drama anyway.

The long 4^th of July Weekend begins with the Moon in sensitive, highly imaginative Pisces. Stay as grounded as you can, drill down and focus so that you can get your holiday preparations done before the Moon snaps into Aries early Saturday morning July 3^rd.

The effects of the Aries Fire sign energy will be felt until Monday. Great time for activities, verbal sparring, and kinetic movement.  Use the physicality/ jettison any anger that might be lurking.  A reminder that “bigger is better“Jupiter and unpredictable Uranus are still sitting in Aries, which just adds to the power surge. A cautionary shout out for extremes and spontaneous combustion.  Stick to sparklers, leave the grenades. (Stay safe/ stay calm.)

Happy Holiday!

I guess I am officially a resident of San Francisco. I experienced the “punch” of an earthquake this morning and nonchalantly went back to reading my paper. The building felt like a large person had given a short, quick, left hook to its brick walls. I knew what it was as soon as it happened – but I was cool.

Found out later that it was just a 3.5 – which is why my building didn’t move.  It can do a swaying, hesitation waltz during Mother Nature drama times like these. The few seconds of dancing will start when the quake is nearby and above the 4.5 range. I hate those.

When I had my cat, he would know an earthquake  was coming before it actually hit. Grey would look at me/I would look at him, both of us wide eyed. He would scurry under the couch, I not as smart, would be frozen in place waiting to see if anything cracked or fell.

This morning’s 3.5 and subsequent 2.0 aftershock were just blips.

Just another day in “Bagdad by the Bay”.

On Friday evening 6/25/10, the Moon moved into authoritarian Capricorn for the entire weekend.  And today, Saturday 6/26, the Moon not only becomes “Full”, but there will also be a “Lunar Eclipse”.

I still insist that Full Moons are not the Universes way of giving us an excuse to act out/ freak out, however, a Lunar Eclipse can be intense. All that emotional Moon energy is amped to a higher level.

Since Saturn ruled Capricorn needs to be businesslike and in charge, don’t go overboard during this time. Be nice to your employees, decide on what you want to get done, what you want to accomplish and stick to it. No need to go into “Myth of Sisyphus” mode. Don’t take all the duties of the world on your shoulders. You don’t have to sign off on everything. Loosen up, stop grinding your teeth, the world is not ending (at least not this weekend).

By Monday morning the Moon will be in innovative, unpredictable Aquarius. (Unplanned events are favored.)

Full Moon: Happens when the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs (Sun/ Cancer – Moon/Capricorn)

Lunar Eclipse:  “A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the earth such that the earth blocks the sun’s rays from striking the moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, there is always a full moon the night of a lunar eclipse.” Per Wikipedia