Mars retrograde in Libra March 1, 2014

Mars is retrograde in Libra March 1 to May 19, 2014

This is a time to practice our relationship skills

Every couple of years, planet Mars goes through a retrograde cycle.  Mars usually spends about six weeks traveling through one of the zodiac signs.  When it does its retrograde cycle, planet Mars spends up to seven months in one of the signs.  This year Mars visits the sign of Libra for seven months. That’s a long time!  Mars is the planet of action and survival.  Libra is the sign of justice, diplomacy and harmony in relationships.  There will be a lot of attention to relationships.  Some will survive and some won’t.  We have seven months to practice our relationship skills.  We are in relationship with each other, and we are in relationship with our environment. We are in relationship with life.

Mars is desire, energy and action

Mars entered Libra on December 7, 2013.  It will begin its retrograde cycle at 28 degrees of Libra on March 1^st. Mars is associated with survival, fighting, competition, assertion, aggression, anger and war. In the sign of Libra we try to talk our assertion rather than use our fists.  Libra encourages us to be diplomatic.  Will diplomacy light up Washington DC?  One can only hope, but war and violence are still on the world stage.  

Mars in Libra tends to be too accommodating and passive

The down side of Mars in Libra is uncertainty and weak decision-making.  We might feel ambivalent about a situation and just ride through for a while without taking a stand.  This could be good or not so good!  If you normally have trouble with decision-making, maybe this Mars retrograde period will challenge you to make up your mind!  Trying to please everyone is the biggest trap of Mars in Libra.  Being too nice or being too accommodating can make things worse.  

Finding a balance

Mars in Libra teaches us how to express ourselves in a thoughtful manner.  This Libra Mars is less reactive and more sensitive to the big picture.  Mars in Libra can promote a win-win attitude instead of me-me.  Remember though that Aries is the polarity of Libra. We will swing between “ME” and “WE”!  This is natural and part of the tense process of learning how to balance the self with everyone else on the planet! 

What is Mars retrograde good for?  Make your thoughts and words matter.

When Mercury, Venus or Mars are in retrograde their energy is intensified.  The bottom line meaning of Mars is the desire to survive.  Am I surviving okay? How will I survive in the future?  Will I win out over the other guy so I can have more suvival?  The issue of survival is intensely exploding around the world.  Uprisings, religious wars, and rebellions all stem from the issue of who is going to survive.  Who will own the land and the water? Whose religious beliefs will control the laws and culture of the land?

 In the United States unemployed people will strive harder to find work and ensure their survival.  While Mars is retrograde we can sit down and quietly give thanks if we are surviving well.  It we are living in a peaceful community (no bloodshed), let’s give thanks.  If we are in harmony with our loved ones… again I am giving big thanks. Can you go to the store and buy what you need?  Give thanks you are surviving.  These weeks with Mars retrograde are good for sending loving energy to those who are suffering.  Maybe I can’t step into a religious war zone and stop the violence, but I can feel compassion for all of them.  Maybe I cannot hire a person who needs a job, but perhaps I can help an unemployed friend network and find a job.

We can also expect lots of word wars in Washington and other political centers.  Those people are trying to survive as well. From their hateful talk I can learn to be more conscious of what I think and pay attention to what I say.  Mars in Libra does not teach us to shut up and be passive.  Mars in Libra teaches us to find intelligent ways to express important beliefs and convictions that promote harmony, balance and justice on our planet.  We are in relationship with other human beings and we are in relationship with all of Gaia’s creations—animals, trees, oceans and more!

“May all I say and all I think

be in harmony with thee.

God within me, God beyond me,

Maker of the trees.”

Chinook Psalter

Linda Sprague

March 1, 2014

www.lindasprague.com

Mercury direct February 28, 2014

Mercury is at a standstill at the moment, getting ready to resume its direct phase tomorrow, February 28.  Mercury has been in its first retrograde phase of 2014 since February 6^th. Maybe you have experienced some setbacks or mix-ups.  Maybe an old problem got a makeover and is now settled in some way.  Retrograde periods are not necessarily bad. Sometimes they are inconvenient though. We miss an appointment or show up at the wrong time. Appliances break down or the car needs unexpected maintenance. Mercury retrograde periods take us out of “normal, human-made time” and drop us into a right brain time.  We can be more intuitive. We can get helpful mental impressions.  Old problems can be solved in a new way.  This current Mercury retrograde phase started with Mercury in Pisces.  Mercury then backed up into Aquarius and now goes direct at 18 degrees of Aquarius on Friday, February 28^th.  Mercury will move on into Pisces again on March 17^th.  During this retrograde time intuitive antennae have been giving creative guidance and interesting dreams.  As Mercury in Aquarius picks up a little speed we may ease back into society’s idea of time and begin to take action on the intuitive data gathered during February.

Valentine's Day Full Moon

Friday, February 14^th

Full Moon 26 degrees of Leo

In the 14^th Century Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem that brought the older, religious Feast of Saint Valentine into the secular world.  The Feast of Saint Valentine morphed into a day to honor romantic, courtly love.  We are still celebrating love in the year 2014 and this year the full moon in Leo falls on February 14^th, Valentine’s Day. 

New Love, Committed Love, Delusional Love.

If we look at the planetary picture for the full moon on Valentine’s Day, we see many possibilities for love:  new love, delusional love, and committed love are all represented in the horoscope for Valentine’s Day.

Planet Saturn, currently transiting through Scorpio, is forming a serious T-cross with the Moon, Mercury and the Sun.  This configuration has a number of possible interpretations.  Relationships could become more serious.  Decisions to merge and marry are on the horizon for some.   Those without a relationship might feel too lonely during this full moon.  It is good to get together with friends and have some fun even if you don’t have a sweetie. Avoid isolation on this hyped-up romantic day!

Venus plus Pluto spells Passion

Planet Uranus, currently transiting the sign of Aries, is also forming a T-cross.  Uranus connects with the Venus/Pluto duet in practical Capricorn and with Jupiter sitting in touchy/feely Cancer.  This T-cross could bring big surprises and upsets.  Venus and Pluto together can be intense, passionate love or frantic jealousy.  Since the duo of Venus and Pluto is directly across the courtyard from Jupiter, we might expect something very dramatic to occur.  Something big.  For some people this could be a new relationship that comes out of the blue.  For others it could mean an exciting interlude that is a precious moment in time. For others, a relationship may blow-up, explode, or bring a surprise you don’t want to live with.  Some people will experience big awakening in the love-house.

Neptune: Idealistic Love

Finally, We have the mysterious player, Neptune (currently traveling through the sign of Pisces).  Neptune will be making a wide opposition to the full moon.  Inspiration and beauty will make many people happy.  But Neptune also sits with Mercury and the Sun (all connecting to that reality planet, Saturn).  What we thought was real may suddenly evaporate into thin air.  We might realize we have been lied to or deceived in some way.  Perhaps we are involved in a situation that is lovely and soulful but has no chance of being anchored into the real world. That is sad.  On the other hand, this Neptune pattern might bring heart-felt eloquence.  Enjoy the beautiful words, pictures and experiences and then let time decide if there is enough practicality to give duration to the relationship.

Planet Mars is visiting Libra, the sign of relationship.  Mars is smiling at the Sun, Mercury and Neptune. This is great for dancing and for romance.  Valentine’s Day can be a happy celebration for many.

Can I really love me?

Maybe the most important thing is to remember that we are each loveable.  There is a song called, “I Love Myself the Way I Am.”  I first learned this song through the teacher, Arnold Patent, back in the 90’s.  Arnold Patent teaches people universal principles and one of the fundamental principles is about loving and appreciating the self.  Here are a few words from the song:  “I’m beautiful and capable of being the best me I am and I love myself just the way I am.” Here is the link to the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yz-1mOohm4

Happy Valentine’s Day.