The Astrology Blog 29 July 2019

Kindness, Passion and Working with the Truth

 

            ” The kinder and more intelligent a person is, the more kindness he can find in other people. Kindness enriches our life; with kindness mysterious things become clear, difficult things become easy and dull things become cheerful.”

“Why are you sad? Because you speak to me in words, and I look at you with feelings.”

– Leo Tolstoy, 9 September 1828 

 

I think many of us are now ticking off these last few days before Mercury turns direct again, in the early hours of this Thursday, so less than three days to go. Some retrograde periods turn out to be worse than others, and this one has ranked high on the truly troublesome scale. I’ve been inundated with stories. I’ve also noticed in all my years of Mercury watching that the last few days before he turns direct again can be especially trying – that one last trick before he changes hats from Trickster/Thief to Magician – so remain vigilant, avoid risk taking and bide your time for important decisions.

I’d passed on that warning about Mercury’s last burst of mischief to my rep friend Trish, who messaged me as I was writing this blog, yesterday, Sunday being her turnaround day of clients leaving and new ones coming in. Bear in mind that this all happened in about 36 degrees …

The day started going wrong at 10.28 with message from clients, our car hire hasn’t turned up at the hotel….ring car company but they have no record of it….They send a rep to the hotel. They ring me back saying can’t find clients so they left again. I turn back round from going to Sivota to drive to Perigiali to find clients. Found them, spoke to car company, clients got car 2 hours later. Go back to Sivota as a shutter had broken which clients informed me of yesterday. It is a roll up and down one. Saw no evidence that the clients could have damaged it themselves. Took photos. Leave villa, start driving to another villa, phone rings, stop car – the owner of broken shutter screaming clients have to pay as they must have broken it. Go to another villa. Submit check report via Wi-Fi but the moment I sent it the Wi-Fi crashed and would not reboot. Drive to another villa, phone rings, stop car. Clients leaving today say their son has left his suitcase at their villa in Katouna (up a mountain). Ring owner but she can’t find any suitcase. Client says it definitely didn’t get put in car. Ring owner again. Go to next villa to do health and safety check… smoke alarm fallen off ceiling…! Arrange to be fixed. Back on the road, text comes in from missing suitcase client. Stop car, answer message saying I will go to villa. Go to Katouna… no suitcase. Drive up and down road to Katouna twice just in case it had been left on roof and fallen on to road but no it hadn’t. Clients by this time are on their way to George Hotel to print their boarding passes, so say will meet them there to help with insurance claim for lost suitcase ……but then get phone call from boy that forgot suitcase….. he thought his case was black but it was red and had been in the car all along…. I’ve just waved clients off, and they now have a 2 hour delay on their flight. Which means incoming clients are also delayed. Must go now, off to doctors as a child has caught his willy in his swimming trunks netting and can’t get it out …

You couldn’t make it up, but there must be a book there! Another friend who lives on neighbouring island of Cephalonia –

What an awful afternoon! I lost purse, assumed must have dropped it. Purse found by a kind person and handed in, all cash gone and was quite a lot (thanks!) but cards and drivers license all there. In my haste to get into the police station I fell over a wall and ripped the palm of my hand open cut my leg and foot, police assume I’ve been mugged or that I’m nuts… but now think I’m a fraudster as call myself by my married Greek name and all my bank details etc state my English maiden name errrrrr yep!

On a more serious note …

In the news there are some events that make our mishaps and chaotic “problems with transport, communication and admin” pale into insignificance, some of which I’d written about but have deleted as they’re too much for a Monday morning. I’m reminded of that iconic quote from Maya Angelou, which goes something like “If everyone put their problems in a heap in the middle of the room you’d grab yours back”.

It doesn’t always help to know that someone else is worse off than you are but, more often than not, it does. My psychologist friend Paul (one of the people to whom my book Be Your Own Astrologer is dedicated) sent me an article last week when supporting me through my grief over losing my beloved super special cat Lulu, and of course all the other griefs that tapped into. His comment was “it doesn’t solve anything, but it normalizes”. The feature helped me a lot and if you’re grieving over anyone or anything in your own life this is well worth a read –

https://whatsyourgrief.com/shattered-assumptions/

Instead of recounting the tragedies in the news am going to go straight to the message. Mercury retrograde in cautious and circumspect Cancer (sign of home and family) can also paint a picture of troubles going on behind closed doors, cover up jobs, suffering in silence and a reluctance of others to get involved. Wherever you perceive genuine need the message is, get involved, not because you want to take over but because you want to help. This is not interference, it is kindness. I have definitely mixed these two things up in my own life and sometimes when I’ve been ill advised. The element of water rules instincts. Follow them.

On the subject of kindness various studies have found that selfless acts not only increase the well-being of those around you, they consistently boost your own mood too. Spending a bit of money to help a stranger, for instance, makes you far happier than using the same cash to treat yourself, a finding that has been replicated in more than 130 countries.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181016-how-to-boost-your-mood-with-one-10-minute-exercise

Whatever your own scenario, Mercury poised to turn direct means speak up. If you’ve been walking on eggshells yourself it’s time to stop caring if you crush these under your feet or not. Why? Because walking on eggshells is pretence, it’s false, it’s collusion – that awful paradox of giving power to the very things that need to change, which can happen when we’re intimidated, out of our depth or sticking our heads in the sand. We say something is okay at exactly the same moment that we know it’s not. It’s telling us that we’re in an unhealthy or inauthentic relationship or situation.

More on this turning point in a moment, but if you want an example of a strong Mercury look no further than Tolstoy. Born on a Sun, Mercury and Moon conjunction in Virgo – one of Mercury’s own signs, associated with clear analysis and an eye for detail – Tolstoy is considered to be one of the greatest authors of all time. War and Peace, his most famous work, included 580 characters!

What else is Happening this Week?

In keeping with Mercury being extra tetchy the beginning and ending of the week also bring challenging aspects –

Tuesday 30 July

• Sun 6 Leo square Uranus 6 Taurus 00.15 BST
• Mars 18 Leo quinqunx Neptune 18 Pisces 21.11 BST

Friday 2 August

• Venus 6 Leo square Uranus 6 Taurus 11.01 BST

Sunday 4 August

• Mars 21 Leo quinqunx Pluto 21 Capricorn 16.55 BST

The Sun is now powerful in his own sign but this clash with Uranus is his first aspect since arriving in Leo at the beginning of last week. The same applies to Venus who entered Leo just yesterday (Sunday).

As I’m fond of saying, Uranus is the astrologer’s basic nightmare as he’s totally unpredictable. Planet of sudden change, rebellion and the unexpected, the only thing that’s predictable is his unpredictability. The Solar aspect is exact just as we tip into Tuesday so it’s “applying” (becoming exact) today (Monday) and is therefore likely to be the main hallmark of whatever you’re trying to do, get organized or deal with. Try not to get sidetracked and focus on what you want an outcome to be. Venus repeats the aspect on Thursday morning.

Venus and Mars together are known as the love planets – women are from Venus, men are from Mars! There are times when the differences between the two sexes are more obvious than others and this week is one of them. It’s not a great week for expecting too much of a partner. Any relationship already on its last legs may crumble this week, with the tipping point being something you couldn’t have anticipated. That’s Uranus for you, especially by square. He’s the ultimate rug puller.

Mars is ahead of the Sun and Venus, also travelling through Leo and is in bolshy mode. The quinqunx is a minor aspect but it’s a pain, associated with blind spots, secrecy, feeling unwell,  misunderstood or excluded. These awkward links to the outer planets of Neptune and Pluto also suggest confusion or deception, but just clock what is going on for you at these times. The Sun and Venus are going to repeat these aspects next week so there’s probably more to come with regards to a complex situation or a health matter. But the main point is really not to pour energy into anything that is out of your control or to make demands on others that you know they can’t meet.

All of this hoo-ha sandwiches a little oasis in the middle of the week –

Thursday 1 August

• New Moon 8 Leo – conjunct Venus 5 Leo 04.13 BST
• Mercury turns direct at 24 Cancer 04.59 BST

New Moons open new cycles. Anything that’s a beginning gets a huge tick, and as this one falls conjunct Venus this especially includes anything related to love, money or life’s pleasures. Also look out for the Leo themes and hallmarks of creativity, recognition, adoration, passion and a sense of entitlement. Pay heed to someone you admire or who inspires you, especially a woman. I’m reminded of Anita Moorjani (author of Dying to be Me) who says that emotions are hugely underrated and that we should do something because of how it makes us feel. Therein lies success and fulfillment.

Make a big fuss of someone you care about, especially if they’re having a hard time or if you’ve recently been aware of taking them for granted. A little appreciation will go a long way this week. And whether it’s personal or professional any kind of fresh start now unfolding should be obvious. Leo has a way of shining a light right onto centre stage and doesn’t hide in the shadows, all of which is underlined by Mercury getting back on track.

Mercury turns Direct

Here’s the usual checklist of the kinds of things and themes to expect, now and in the coming couple of weeks:

• We identify the things that, with some renewed energy and a fresh approach, can come good
• Breaking news, expected or unexpected, good or bad, that affects us or someone close to us
• Important information comes to light or secrets are revealed – we have the chance to see things as they really are
• Light bulb flashes of “I get it now” type insights – including changing our minds about something that we had previously really wanted
• We stop talking/thinking about something and realize that we need TO DO IT or make decisions to pave the way
• People get back to us re decisions and deals get done
• We get back in touch with someone, or they get back in touch with us, including situations in which there’s been a deafening silence
• We feel more courageous or determined to pursue our true wishes
• We stop pretending or avoiding
• We replace fantasy with fact and find better or more workable options
• We tackle/say the things we’ve been putting off
• We get back to a matter that was first important three weeks ago
• We’re free to travel or do our own thing
• Memory kicks in and we deal with what or who has been off our radar
• Disputes or areas of miscommunication are cleared up
• We find the right person to deal with the problem beyond our own expertise
• Computer glitches/communication technology are solved/sorted
• Rumours are squashed when the truth outs
• We find what we have been looking for – from lost objects to spiritual needs

I put mostly a positive spin on Mercury turning direct as this checklist has been compiled from long experience of watching how things unfold at these times, in my own life and that of my friends, family, students, clients and also out in the world. This doesn’t mean that suddenly everything starts turning out wonderfully well – although it can sometimes be a magic wand – but as above, so below, look for the turning point.

Next week lucky Jupiter will be stealing the headlines and I’m already looking forward to talking about that long awaited moment next week!

With love from Greece

Joanna