Yes, it has been a while since the last posting of a Sky Scraping. Odds are, it’ll be a little while again. Things are quite busy and my time in April is already quite compressed. That means, if you’re looking to get a session to put some nice Mars in Virgo order into your life, booking sooner is better, in fact, dang near essential.
But aren’t Mercury and Mars retrograde!? Yes, they are. And the news everyone has been waiting to hear... Mercury goes direct next week on the 3rd or 4th, depending upon where in the world you are. Even better, is the fact that in just more than a fortnight Mars will go direct. Both of these planet reversals will significantly shift the collective energy into something that feels a bit less frenetic. Of course, as each planet turns about, a bit of a wake vortex is left behind. That means that everyone needs to be clear, focused, intent and prepared to move when cosmic clearance is given.
Early next week things get happening. Come Monday, Ceres steps forward to stand opposite Saturn. The urge to stand up to authority, buck the system and become everyone’s beloved burr in the saddle dominates. Ceres wants her way and that’s all there is about it. Given that Saturn stands in the negotiation capable sign of Libra, he seems in the mood to listen... to rational, clear discussions with focused needs and wants. If needs and wants and causes are not clear yet, read on.
Venus inches into Gemini Tuesday (or Wednesday, again depending upon where you stand on our blue marble in space), a sign that Mercury rules. Within a day of that, Mercury changes course in Virgo, also a sign that Mercury oversees. So the ruler of pickpockets seems to be double dipping into the sign of communication, clarity in communication and discernment in matters of speaking and listening, as well as the rules and regulations of Virgo, including those real and those imagined. You know about those imagined laws... those perceived guidelines that spawn from misunderstanding, misinterpretation, or ignorance of the rules of the road; sounds like, “if it ain’t a rule, it outta be.”
As Mars has spent a long time in Virgo and still has a ways to go (early July), Venus prepares to do something similar. She enters Gemini and prepares for her retrograde... a backward planetary motion even more rare than that of Mars. As a result, Venus persists in transiting Gemini from early next week until early August. In the middle of all this, is the notable “transit” or virtual eclipse geometry of Venus relative to the Sun takes place, dramatically focusing matters of Venus for all humankind.
Also very notable and personal to us all, as April turns one week old, Venus and Mars form a tense, in-your-face, fear factor challenging pattern. Venus says “I want this.” Mars retorts, “Yeah, what are you going to do about it?” Now if Mars really wants to be pesky and incite mayhem (oh, he does), he’ll ask, “Is that what you need, or is that what you want?” Depending upon a person’s upbringing of what makes nice people versus what makes an insatiable soul, and Saturn’s current station in “be fair, be nice, but don’t give up more than you can” Libra, this could be a conversation cul de sac.
Questions to ask are:
Does it matter if it’s a need or a want?
Is what you seek going to open the way for a more purposeful existence?
Will you become a more peaceful inhabitant of planet earth?
At the end of the day, does it really matter or will the conquest be a won battle in the face of an unwinnable war?
Add to the need for clarification, another pattern focusing into exactness seven days into April. Neptune, planet of inspiration, unlimited creativity (a venture now shared with Haumea), spirituality, photographic and videographic aspirations, moves into opposition with Orcus, the other Pluto. Now Neptune can also refer to more insidious things, but for our purposes let’s only consider the addiction to emotional intensity. Now in Pisces, the thirst of Neptune for drama in the reactionary theater of life is huge. Orcus, an underworld ruler, maintains a very specific charge in overseeing oaths, promises, contracts and agreements. While this pattern is not yet exact, the recent filing of a lawsuit against Reebok by Nike over the use of mega-Christian quarterback Tim Tebow’s name fits right in here.
But back to personal stuff we care about... this pattern surfaces the “you said you would,” “you promised,” and most insidious and complicating, “you knew what I meant.” Under the present patterns, most like that last factor is a very huge assumption.
Bottom line, you cannot hold people to things they didn’t promise, imply, suggest or agree to support. You cannot hold people to being there for you, ringing your bell, stirring your pot, being an unfailing ear or meeting your needs, if your needs (or those dastardly wants) have never been articulated.
The urgent planetary urge of now is to grapple with your personal articulateness, especially in regards to expressing those things that might make you a happier camper. But to be clear, this is not a one time shot. Venus and Mars make the square early next week; one of three. Then again, as if part of a synchronized drill team, they do so again, just about the time that Venus exactly aligns with the Sun in early June.
Next week’s square consists of Mars retrograde and Venus direct - more of the “want but can’t get it together to get it” syndrome. June’s square consists of Venus retrograde and Mars direct. In this second scenario, the process of elimination applies. Now that you got that did it do what you thought it would? Hopefully, this forewarning prevents buyers’ remorse. But should needs or goals be realized in two months time and should you still be hungry for something, wait there’s more.
As September wraps up Venus and Mars finish up this current square to one other cycle. At that time, Venus will be in Leo, so any self-referential desire will seem entirely justified. And with Mars in Scorpio, hopefully those in your life will be as passionate about your need fulfillment as you are. Certainly the wise folks will be.
Finally, a reminder. Mars, Jupiter and Pluto now stand in a grandly harmonious pattern with one another. Despite the retrogradation of Mars and Mercury, great things can be accomplished. Clearly this is an action speaks louder than words moment and more work can be done per unit time than you imagine once you get it rolling. Check it out.