Find an Astrologer

by Joan Kiley

July is full of powerful aspects, powerful Moon phases, and the potential for lots of self-empowerment! And, like every opportunity for increasing our fortunes, it has a built-in shadow side that allows us to disempower ourselves as well. When I use, or in this case perhaps, overuse, the word power it is because I find the planet Pluto to be particularly involved with much of the action this month.

July began with a very edgy opposition between Mars in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn, forming a T-square with the Moon conjunct Jupiter in Libra. This cardinal T-square spoke volumes about the need for self-awareness. When Mars is in Cancer, despite its being a cardinal sign, the warrior planet does not feel quite as robust, or in charge of its will, as in some other signs. And here it is being poked and prodded by Pluto, and Jupiter, to the point where it could explode from the feeling of impotence or lack of independence. Add to that, the fact that Mars is combust the Sun for the entirety of the month. 

What is Mars “combust” the Sun? A planet is said to be combust when it is extremely close to the Sun, being conjunct up to 8°30’. The effect of such a condition is to combine the planet's influence more closely with that of the Sun, until it is incapable of total independence, because it is too integrated with the energy of the Sun. When Mars is combust it is possible to exhibit too much aggression or ego, out of frustration that the Mars energy does not feel powerful, tough or courageous enough. Adding to the confusion was a trine of Mars to Neptune during the first week of the month, the Neptune influence distorting boundaries.

by Joan Kiley

June began with many strong and difficult aspects, boding another challenging month. However, many of those aspects were in mutable signs, providing high probability for movement and change. There were two T-squares. One had an opposition between the Moon in Virgo and Neptune in Pisces, both square the Sun in Gemini. The second had an opposition between Mars in Gemini and Saturn in Sagittarius, both square to Chiron in Pisces. Then there was the fiery triple conjunction of Eris, Venus and Uranus in Aries, all trine to Saturn in Sagittarius. Lastly, for a bit of earth, we had Mercury in Taurus in a strong trine with Pluto in Capricorn.

We saw lots of Saturn! It was aspecting 6 celestial bodies, so we knew a grounding in reality was in order. There was lots of Mercury, which rules both Gemini and Virgo, so seeking information was going to be key, and observing how we communicate would be important. Venus was popping in Aries, Mercury was in Venus-ruled Taurus, and there was a sextile between Venus and Mars. Thus, relationships and what we value would also share the stage. And then there was Neptune, in its own sign of Pisces, seeking higher consciousness, but possibly getting tripped up in fantasy or delusion. All of these issues of interest, at the start of the month, reappear over and over during June.

In the first week of the month, Saturn in Sagittarius was the focus, since it was the most aspected planet. It opposed Mars in Gemini, and the two of them squared Chiron. Tensions around authority were to be expected. Actions taken might have seemed logical and rational at the time, but consequences may not have been as expected, if we were unconscious of the fact that our motives were based on fears or outdated beliefs that no longer have any purpose in our life. Much of what we continue to struggle with during these times is what must be released so that we can move on. This is not only in our personal lives, but in the collective as well.

by Joan Kiley

May began with a cardinal Grand Cross, due to the Moon’s position in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn. Jupiter in Libra was square them both, and widely opposed to Eris, and even more widely opposed to Mercury and Uranus. Thus the oppositions were weak, and so was the Cross. However, it needs to be noted that it was active, but easing. This concept is integral to the energies of the month of May.

For so many of us, April proved to be far too much stress and confusion, with all the retrogrades and stressful angles. We were looking to May for relief. Despite the Grand Cross as May began, it lasted only a matter of hours. There was also some ease with the Sun and Neptune in sextile aspect the first ten days, as well as Venus and Mars. On May 3, the Leo Moon formed a fire Grand Trine with Saturn in Sagittarius, and the Eris/ Mercury/ Uranus triplet in Aries, sparking a wee bit of optimism that light could be found at the end of the tunnel.

by Madeline Gerwick

Late on May 18th, Saturn trine Uranus - the positive cycle which helps us make needed changes with new ideas and new technologies - reaches its next peak. This cycle is particularly helpful to the economy now, as it indicates our economic high has a much-needed boost.

This is especially supportive while we have the more challenging power issue cycle of Jupiter square Pluto, which can be detrimental to the economy. Jupiter square Pluto is also challenging for bonds, especially all types of government bonds. That cycle will go out of range in early September, leaving us with a better situation through the rest of the year.

by Madeline Gerwick

As we start May, Venus is now moving forward after the retrograde period and she will get into new territory by May 19th. Fortunately, Mercury also moves forward on May 3rd. It takes several days for Mercury to get moving at a decent pace again. However, Mercury is in the midst of some excellent cycles while this occurs (Mercury conjunct Uranus and trine Saturn).

These cycles are excellent for using new technologies and new ideas to solve old challenges. They stay in range through the middle of May, so you have time to finalize your logistics to move forward with these new ideas. Even radical or unusual ideas can be well received by the mainstream now and moved forward with good support. Have you been offering alternative methods for years and having trouble selling it? May 7, 8, 11, 12, or 13 are the dates to make a big push! Remember to avoid any void of course periods on those dates. See my calendar to see when those periods take place.

by Joan Kiley

The start of April with the “Fool’s” Day was particularly apt this year. Just as sometimes we’re unclear at the outset whether a Fool's Day joke is real or a joke, there may be many days this month we’ll be wondering just that about our experiences.

At the start of this month, Venus retrograde was less than a degree into Aries, and she will return there in direct motion on the last day of the month, with many adventurous days in between. Mercury was less than a degree into Taurus. The Gemini Moon was square Neptune. The T-square with Jupiter, Pluto, and the Uranus/Eris combo was still strong. In fact, Jupiter and Pluto were exactly square, and the Sun, at 11 Aries, was just beginning to form an opposition to Jupiter and a square to Pluto. Saturn, Mercury and Pluto were all slowing towards retrograde.

We needed to prepare for an April of surprises, a lot of retrograde energy, and unpredictability. We remain in period of transformative change, as individuals, and as a collective. This does not stop, or even slow down, during April. Rather, we are likely to experience small shocks or revelations of change, realizations that we can either accept and proceed willingly, or deny and trudge reluctantly, into the future. Most of us see a bit of both options.

by Madeline Gerwick

We start April in the midst of Venus retrograde, and in the shadow of the next Mercury retrograde, which has to do with communications. Then two planets retrograde in addition to Mercury: Saturn and Pluto. This makes a great month for rethinking! Late on April 2nd, Venus moves back into Pisces, where she has excellent support and she’s at her best. This is a signal that money and relationships are also likely to improve. With Mercury slowing down though, we need to double-check all details.

Although many people are expecting the US dollar to crash around this time period, it’s much more likely to get healed, hopefully in April or May, instead of buried. How can the US dollar be healed? By bringing out US Treasury Notes that are backed by gold or silver, and eliminating the Federal Reserve Notes, money that the US rents from the Federal Reserve.

by Madeline Gerwick

After getting an overview of next year while working on the 2018 Good Timing Guide, I have to recommend that you get important new starts going this year. Next year has about 5-6 months with unpredictable volatile and potentially explosive energies (Mars square Uranus). Normally any Mars cycle lasts a few weeks, but Mars will retrograde next year making it last longer. When it retrogrades in 2018, it makes the square to Uranus three times! It’s rarely out of range during from late April 2018 to early October 2018.

That’s not the type of cycle I like to see for starting new companies, introducing new products or services, launching web sites or signing major contracts, unless you happen to be selling fireworks or dynamite. Things tend to blow up with that cycle and it can be rough to have that energy in your new company (basically forever, unless you restart it).

In light of this situation, I encourage you to get your new starts done this year, in 2017. In numerology, this happens to be a #1 year (2+0+1+7 = 10. 1+0 = 1), which is exceptionally good for new starts. But wait until May 11th or later before you start anything important. We’re in the midst of Venus retrograde now and then we’re in Mercury retrograde from April 9th through May 3rd. 

by Madeline Gerwick

Transforming and Revolutionizing Our Motivations and Actions

Along with the good communication cycles that began February 12th, we have a challenging set of cycles starting that day, which transform and revolutionize our motivations and actions. This set of cycles (Mars square Pluto and Mars conjunct Uranus) can be volatile. This isn’t the time to do physically risky activities. This cycle is also associated with rage, radical activities, major earth changes, severe weather, and explosions. Use caution and be flexible with sudden shifts or changes.

The best use of these energies is to have a breakthrough which changes your motivations and actions permanently. Stop repeating your normal behaviors and do something completely different, so you get a different response.

This might be related to how you deal with authority, fear, or structures that you continue to encounter as obstacles. In actuality, our obstacles are our own energies coming back to us in some way, usually via other people. They do this to get our attention, so we can change a particular response that no longer serves us.

by Madeline Gerwick

The Aquarius New Moon on January 27th brings the potential for fears about social changes, money and relationships. This is because the Moon's ruler Saturn is square Venus. The good news is that we have an easier cycle at the same time which suggests stable growth for the economy (Jupiter sextile Saturn) in the short term, and a positive, secondary cycle that adds help (Saturn trine Uranus). There are some unexpected challenges at hand though (Jupiter opposite Uranus).

Mercury is ready to reveal some more secrets, and perhaps they'll be other worldly. We could also see revelations about past events that shine new light on them. Whatever is expopsed could be quite a surprise for most people.

We’re just about finished with the energetic cycle associated with frustration (Mars square Saturn). Hopefully, you have your written plan together, so you can get the green light from the Universe once the energy shifts. Part of the challenge now could be that you don't know where the money will come from to support your plans. It’s OK. You don't have to know that detail yet. Unexpected money could very well show up next month.