It’s true. The personal planet retrograde factor throughout the early going of this year seems to have set people back. First it was Venus. Last week Mercury finished his retrograde stint. Now, Mars is doing its thing from here to May, which may seem like eternity.
Venus retrograde set financial markets and personal economic concerns into a dither. Mercury’s reversal surfaced issues with Bitcoins and brought out more news about credit card hacks, website compromises and portended mergers that may affect cable bills. With Mars in reverse, the world quivers as North Korea launches test rockets and Russian troops take over Crimea as Russian Naval Ships cruise within two hundred miles of Florida. It almost feels like a nasty look back at 1962, which was definitely a time to tremble.
Contrary to knee jerk instinct, this is not a time to go all Chicken Little. While they did reveal maps of space debris during Mercury retrograde and while some of that crap does fall from the sky with increasing regularity, this era is a get out there and bust life open time.
With my involvement in screenwriting and taking steps to advance in the film industry (all the while astrologizing), I have been asked more than once, “Aren’t you afraid of being corrupted by the avarice and shallowness of the movie business?” Actually, no. There is an astounding characteristic shared by those with movie aspirations. They hold nothing back when opportunities arise. They waste no moment when situations appear that require intentional action. They are down with it. They get on with it and do it, no questions asked. By the way, most film makers (not studios) aspire to produce a movie that will inspire the masses and make a difference in the consciousness of the planet.
Should an astrologer report an opportunity cycle to a film industry wannabe, that aspiring soul queues up and stands in line however long it takes. No one can afford to ignore a Jupiter, or Uranus, or even the offerings of a Saturn transit because of a void of course Moon or Mercury, Venus or Mars moving in retrograde. Go for the big transit picture and don’t allow your goals to be derailed by one pesky transit.
Let me clarify: I am not suggesting that one should make a practice of signing contracts or setting up a new computer during Mercury retrograde, nor invest in Bitcoins with Venus retrograde, nor push like Hannibal in the Alps with Mars retrograde. My suggestion is: When opportunities in life appear, and doors open, get on it. Use the horoscope to refine the actions you take and the circumstances encountered for the most enlightened response.
During Mercury retrograde I found out that I had been accepted into a prestigious writing caucus, part of the esteemed writer’s guild. They would not wait until Mercury went direct to complete the necessary forms or process dues. As well, I had to sign a writing agreement during Mercury retrograde. Curiously, in the short window between Mercury and Mars retrograde, I received a call stating that one of the roadblocks to forward motion dissolved... an obstacle that had been in place for more than twenty months.
My last notation refers back to Saturn. While saint-like patience might be more of a request than most can muster under Mars retrograde, perseverance in life must apply not matter what sky is in play overhead. Pressure on the pedal, though shifting within transiting conditions, must prevail.
The nature of any moment can be interpreted by a horoscope of that moment. Sometimes life demands that we comprehend the nature of moments and proceed despite pesky, less than ideal, astrological signatures. If one waits for this transit to pass and that progression to move out of orb, before you know it, a heap of the irreplaceable sands of time slip through the hourglass of one’s life.
Would it be ideal to wait for the just right, ever so tweaked electional horoscope to advance in life? Sure. In a perfect world. How much of the time does the perfect astrological sky look down from above?
Maybe it would help to think like a director and producer. They have limited time on any given location. If the weather (a metaphor for transits) or an actor (a metaphor for factoring in the horoscopes of others) or the screenwriter (no metaphor required) fail to cooperate, the leaders of production improvise. If they do not, they go over-budget, beyond deadline, and risk the film not being released at all.
Life is in session. Mars is retrograde and we’re still processing through Mercury’s shadow. When confronting a “situation,” pause in the face of instinctive reactions. Keep quiet long enough to process a multitude of points of view on the situation. Assess where you want to end up in this whole thing. Plot a strategy to accomplish your objectives. Then, vigorously and intentionally get on it, while the getting is good.
No more being timid with transits. No more going all pusillanimous with progressions.