According to Sandy

Friday November 25, 2011, with both a New Moon and a Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius, should be a fun day for a retail extravaganza. Not that you should have one, just that the spirit and energy will be there to support you. Actually, a “New Moon”–is a great time to launch, create, kick-off, start something. Power is amped up with Mercury, communication planet, Venus, the planet of love / beauty, and both luminaries all in perky Sag, can lead to lucky, optimistic times – find the greatest bargain, the perfect gift, the bestest tree, manifest a dream. Or, you can hang out with family and friends – socializing works.

From Saturday afternoon thru Monday, the mood changes as the Moon shifts to serious Earth sign Capricorn. Did you go overboard? Eat too much, spend too much?  Spoke too many “truths” at the dinner table? Don’t waste too much time on regrets. Since this Saturn ruled 10^th sign of the Zodiac needs to be businesslike and productive, focus and decide on what needs to be done – returns? apologies? You can handle it.

But, regardless of whatever out of body behavior may have been exhibited the past few days, don’t mope. Loosen up, stop grinding your teeth, the world is not ending (at least not today).

Have a super weekend!

FYI: New Moon and Solar Eclipse on 11/24, Thursday 10:10PM Eastern –  11/25 Friday 1:10AM Pacific

The Moon is “New” when it’s in the same sign as the Sun (Sun entered Sagittarius on 11/22/11).  Even though the Moon will go on to another sign (Capricorn on Saturday), the supportive “New” energy lasts for approximately 10 days. 

This Wednesday, the last Mercury Retrograde of the year occurs in the jolly Fire sign of Sagittarius. The Sun already bounced into this 9^th sign of the Zodiac on 11/22, so all its traits of learning, travel, education, adventure and risk taking are pushed to the forefront. Mercury is all about communication, transportation, movement, how we deal with variety and since this planet’s “backward” motion can often cause confusion, misunderstandings, snafus – my suggestion is check all lists, big plans and directions twice.  

T’is the season for all kinds of festivities and Mercury is appropriately in the sign ruled by big Jupiter, the planet of “more”.  Everything sparkles, spirits are high – this can be great fun. But, with all the excitement, all the busyness, have you overlooked any details? Be organized. Make sure those toys have the batteries needed. If you make promises to be with people, write them down and show up. Travel plans?  – don’t book a flight to Paris, Texas when you actually made plans to meet friends at the Eiffel Tower. (This is my favorite and often used example of  an “oops” vacation). Misreading a bank balance can fog the reality into not realizing that 10 bottles of champagne is more financially manageable than a case.

As always, where Mercury appears in the individual chart determines what part of life is most affected by the planet’s Retrograde motion, but regardless, being careful and mindful of pitfalls is a good thing for all of us.

Try to delay major plans for a few weeks. Yes, life doesn’t stop. If you have something pressing to take care of, handle it – but don’t rush. Examine it before your sign it.

FYI: Mercury Retrograde starts November 23, 2011 (11:21 PM Pacific) / November 24, 2011 (2:21 AM Eastern) = Ends the evening of December 13, 2011 . The veil should lift, the confusion abates and we can go forward with purpose on all that we have been rethinking , renegotiating and re evaluating.

Next Mercury Retrograde,  March 12, 2012

What a combo! All day Friday September 2, the Moon is solidly in the middle of Scorpio drama, intensity and determination. A Scorpio Moon can render us focused, fierce and fearless. You may want to ratchet down some of the accompanying emotion and moodiness to save room for tapping into the natural seductive energy of this Water sign. Use it to get what or who you want.

Saturday afternoon September 3 through Monday, is all about Sagittarius. When the Moon bounces into this Fire sign, we tend to be upbeat, friendly risk takers.  It’s all good, everything is possible, a “yes” attitude. Fun Sagittarian energy – do something, be something, learn something – and enjoy it!

Have a marvelous Labor Day weekend – do something special for you and yours. 

Early Friday morning, 8/5/11, a Scorpio Moon sends us into determined, sensitive, moody territory. Always passionate, always powerful, this Water sign is ruled by Pluto, planet of extremes. Secrets, long hidden truths can be uncovered leading to deeper connections with others. This can be great or not. Remain aware of emotional temperatures, if heading toward the “Red Zone” – brake, if you want to.

A Sagittarius Moon is up next on Sunday in time for a bountiful, breezy, brunch. For the next few days, until Tuesday afternoon, there may be this unexplained, underlying need for adventure, taking risks due to the impulses generated by the Jupiter ruled Fire sign. Have fun, but don’t go too extreme-if you need a net, use it. (Nobody becomes a”Flying Wallenda” overnight.)

Have a great weekend!

BTW: The Flying Wallendas is the name of a circus family known for performing highwire acts without a safety net.  Per WiKiPedia

The Moon slips into seductive, secretive, sensual Scorpio late on Friday evening July 8. This Water sign is determined, deliberate and deep. Sensitivity and moodiness will be all around us, so try using all this power in useful ways. Is there research to be done? Mysteries to be uncovered? Now is a good time to get to the bottom of something!

Ruled by the transformation planet Pluto, Scorpio desires to connect on deeper levels with people– chit chat or gossip may not be satisfying. (Keeping it “real” and all that.)

If your speech/behavior, or anyone else’s, goes over the top and storms into melodrama– take a few steps back. We may all be a little prickly, a little emotional, don’t allow any slights, real or imaginary, to cut too deeply. Breathe.

As always, a Sagittarius Moon, the next sign in the Zodiac, is waiting to follow a Scorpio one. Life perks up with the Moon bouncing into Fire sign Sag early Monday morning.  

Have a passionate, dramatic weekend!

Good time to finish projects, wrap up/tie up details of any outstanding issues while there is a Full Moon phase.  However, a Lunar Eclipse also occurs at the same time and in the same upbeat Fire sign of Sagittarius on Wednesday June 15^th, 4:14PM Eastern/ 1:14PM Pacific. The Sun and Moon are opposite each other, reflecting their lights, and the Eclipse just adds to the power surge for the next few days. You may feel the urge to careen around, checking items off the to-do- list.

Yes, the possibilities of completing or changing things are amped, such as suddenly ending or finishing something that you may have been dithering about for awhile. But, don’t rush – think about it, ruminate and then press “go”. Decision made. Done. Whew.

Expansive, spontaneous Jupiter rules 9^th sign of the Zodiac Sagittarius.  We may feel its influences thru spontaneous travel plans, the desire to break free of restrictions (real or imaginary), to share ideas. To be big in everything – optimism works.  Make the most of it, laugh, be adventurous, finish up – get ready for what’s next.

Time to perk up!  On Friday morning, January 28^th, the Moon will bounce into optimistic, jovial Sagittarius for a 2 day visit.  Thoughts turn to travel and adventure – fun. Get out and about, see people. Lucky Jupiter rules this Fire sign and lovely Venus remains in Sag (until February 3^rd) so take a chance on romance?

Early on Sunday morning, the Moon marches into the “all about business” Earth sign Capricorn. The 10^th sign of the Zodiac has a duty, responsibility and  authoritarian focus.  It’s all good.

Have a delightful weekend!

The final Mercury Retrograde of 2010 began on December 10th in the Earth sign of Capricorn. The Communication planet continues its backward moves until December 29^th West Coast/ 30^th East Coast.

It will stop motion in Capricorn, back into Sagittarius on December 19th and continue until it reverses to Direct at the end of the month. (it will move forward and reach Capricorn again on January 13, 2011)

Mercury is all about writing and speaking. Also, transportation, types of movement, how we deal with variety.  Capricorn is the 10^th sign of the Zodiac and is associated with career, ambition and duty.  Since Mercury Retrograde can often cause confusion, misunderstandings, snafus – my suggestion is to rethink, re plan, revisit communications that are business and/or responsibility related.  Are there any “being in charge” details that need to be looked at again, points sharpened, thoughts explained more clearly. Tighten up a resume, go over job interview skills, review details of any scheduled appointments. (Catch an error and “save face”.)

This is the Holiday season and Mercury will eventually back into upbeat Sagittarius, the sign of “more”. This can be great fun, but, with all the busyness, have you overlooked any details? Be organized. Make sure those toys have the batteries needed. Don’t book a flight to Paris,Texas when you actually made plans to meet friends at the Eiffel Tower. (No disrespect to Texas intended). Misreading a bank balance can fog the reality that 10 bottles of champagne is more manageable than a case?

As always, where Mercury appears in the individual chart determines what part of life is most affected by the planet’s Retrograde motion, but regardless, being careful and mindful of pitfalls is a good thing. Delay major plans if you can until after the 1^st of the year.

Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Jupiter are busy changing signs, changing direction -from Retrograde (backwards) to Direct (forwards) – and thereby changing planet relationships/connections in our Astrology charts. As always, changing lanes just means paying attention. Never a dull…!

*Communications planet Mercury moved into Sagittarius on 11/8 (Mars is already there). We should notice a sharpening of thought, a quickness of new ideas, an alertness to new opportunities. Take advantage of the possibility of the adventure factor in both thought and deed.

*Imaginative planet Neptune went Direct in Aquarius 11/6.  Compassion, giving of self, sensitivity, creativity are traits of this slow moving planet but we must be clear to always distinguish illusion from real. Feelings, reaching out to others – admirable, but, don’t be taken in. And, face what ever it is, escapism will just delay goals.

*Lucky planet Jupiter goes Direct on 11/18 in Pisces. Jupiter lives up to its size, it is the largest of our planets and generates “large” thinking. Bigger is better, optimism blossoms, abundance is a “why not”. Expansion, movement for stalled projects will be noticed, especially as Jupiter reaches  full of energy Aries in late January 2011. This can be fun, watch extravagance.

*Romance/ Finance planet Venus goes Direct in its own sign of Libra on 11/18. Relationships, contracts, money decisions were reviewed hopefully during the Retrograde period and now we are ready to take action on any decisions made. (Finally, marriages are good to go!)

*Warrior planet Mars, already in Sagittarius since 10/27 – gives energy along with the sharpness of Mercury to this already active, bright sign. Adventure, risk taking, cleverness, discussions – can be fun times while getting things done. Watch what you say – be kind.

All the above will affect us differently, how strongly we are influenced depends on the individual chart. As always, it’s all good.

On Friday November 5^th, the Scorpio New Moon arrived at 9:52 PM Pacific Time and 12:52AM  Eastern Time on Saturday November 6^th . Scorpio weekend vibes are intense since both the Sun and the Moon are in the same sign. (That’s what makes the Moon “New”)

“New” is great for beginnings, initiating plans. “New” in Water sign Scorpio gives us the fire power to be focused, persistent and determined. This is serious.  Take advantage, go for the goal – just remember to smile sometimes.

Early morning on Sunday, the Sagittarius Moon changes the mood for us. A bit more upbeat, a bit more optimistic, a bit more adventurous – you may want to do something different with that extra hour gained when Standard Time arrives?

*Remember that when Daylight Savings Time ends, we “Fall Back” an hour Sunday 11/7 at 2AM.