28 April 2024
This is a copy of the free fortnightly newsletter that goes out to my mailing list every other weekend. Anyone can receive this straight to inbox, just sign up on the homepage of the website or send me an email address and I’ll add you to the mailing myself.
In this newsletter there’s some Mercury commentary, a preview of next week’s blog and how to get a copy, followed by sections on Summer School here in Greece starting in June, two more courses in Sept. Read testimonials from students who’ve already enjoyed the Greek experience.
MERCURY is retrograde every three months for about three weeks at a time so this is familiar territory, yet it’s slightly different every time. The general consensus on social media has been a very loud collective agreement that this one was particularly hard going. Not one person wrote that they were unaffected by it.
This time Mercury was retrograde for 24 days. This was from 1 April, getting as far as 27 Aries and then turning back, turning direct again last Thursday at 16 Aries. We’re now in that phase where it takes a while for Mercury to pick up speed again – my favourite analogy being like a plane taking off, it doesn’t go up in a straight line, it takes time to climb to cruising height and speed.
I’ve actually found these last few days very trying in the communication department. I’ve had a couple of intensely frustrating and upsetting events that were compounded by getting out of my depth with my level of Greek, I’m still shaking off a really stubborn flu bug, and I sat down to write this newsletter yesterday only for the power to go off five minutes later.
It stayed off and I could hear the noise of workmen further down the road. I live in a very small village and it turned out that they were replacing major electricity cables and if they had given us any warning then the news hadn’t reached me! Thankfully I had at least made my first cup of tea or else I would’ve been murderous lol.
So this is a short newsletter simply owing to time restraints, as I also of course have the blog to write for the coming week. In last week’s blog I gave a checklist of about 20 points of things to look out for as Mercury gets back to business, divided into two categories, the things beyond our control and things we can actively choose to do, or not do. Two of these points were –
- Are you doom scrolling? How much does this affect your mood, especially in terms of feeling anxious, helpless or hopeless?
- How much time do you (honestly) waste on your phone? Do you look up and find hours have passed? How could those hours be put to better use, such as more quality time for personal relationships or creative time for your ideas?
It was pointed out to me that not everyone knows what doom scrolling is. Even though the terms is of course largely self-explanatory, reading about things that are gloom and doom, the real point is that the internet works by linking us on to more and more features of the same kind. So it’s not just about reading a “bad news” story, it’s about becoming immersed in all the grim, depressing events of the world.
So it’s about our mental health as well as time, but the latter is in some ways more tangible. In one article I read by Beth McColl, she reported that, on average, Brits spend three hours scrolling through their phones every day, amounting to an impressive 46 days each year … staring at the same miserable rectangle.
Which makes my question about being honest about our hours of phone use even more pertinent. Really makes you think doesn’t it, that’s a month and a half! What could you do with that time?
Mercury turning direct is great for changing bad habits of any kind and if your phone time is out of control then why not try setting yourself some time limits? Becoming aware of how anything unhealthy is controlling you, instead of the other way around, is probably the single biggest factor in changing your relationship with any addiction.
This is especially true of this particular retrograde phase as Mercury’s travelling companion on this occasion is Chiron, known as the Wounded Healer. Chiron features powerfully in all matters relating to our physical or mental health, here’s a reminder of the full journey and the stages yet to come over the next two weeks –
- 10 March – Mercury enters Aries
- 19 March – Mercury reaches 16 Aries and enters shadow, ie starts slowing down
- 20 March – Mercury conjunct Chiron 18 Aries – 1st time
- 1 April – Mercury turns retrograde at 27 Aries
- 15 April – Mercury conjunct Chiron 19 Aries – 2nd time
- 25 April – Mercury turns direct at 16 Aries
- 7 May – Mercury conjunct Chiron 21 Aries – 3rd and final time
- 13 May – Mercury reaches 27 Aries, comes out of shadow, ie back up to full speed
- 15 May – Mercury enters next sign of Taurus
In other words, the most likely prediction for any painful matter that is currently all consuming is either that it’s going to get resolved, or that it will fizzle to a natural end. This next fortnight is extremely positive for getting answers, not just the ones we want to hear but also the ones that bring about acceptance and move us on.
In this fortnightly newsletter I’ve already serialised the Sun and the Moon signs, and now am on to Mercury. This is not a definitive interpretation but a “take” on this combination, from my book Essential Astrology –
MERCURY IN TAURUS
Mercury in Venus’ feminine sign communicates carefully. Individuals with this placing often have a story about some kind of restriction in their upbringing that is linked to finding their own voice. Battling shyness or body image issues, feeling like a misfit, over protective or unimaginative parenting are all possible factors.
For one client it was the lonely experience of being sent to boarding school in a foreign country, which necessitated her having to “learn to speak” all over again. At worst there is a muteness, born of the need for or family practice of ignoring emotional issues or the “seen but not heard” type of childhood.
In spite of early difficulties, however, they generally adopt a common sense approach to life. Maturity brings charm and they are more likely to play down a drama than big it up. They are good at finding their niche and resist that which makes them feel unsafe. Barbra Streisand is well known for her security fears, stage fright and the use of a teleprompter to overcome the terror of forgetting words. Mercury in Taurus likes to see things in black and white.
As Taurus rules the throat the beautiful or earthy voice is also a common feature. Along with Streisand we find Bono, Kelly Clarkson, Wynonna Judd, Bonnie Tyler and Stevie Wonder all with this Mercury. The speaking voice is just as distinctive with rich, sexy, full bodied tones that you would recognize blindfold, including Morgan Freeman, Katharine Hepburn, Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier.
Other Mercury in Taurus celebs –
- David Beckham
- George Clooney
- Emma Watson
- JFK
- Uma Thurman
- Penelope Cruz
- Freud
- Renee Zellweger
- Russell Crowe
- Jack Nicholson
- Clint Eastwood
- Cher
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK?
So this coming week we’ll have a newly direct Mercury picking up speed as our backdrop and we’ll also have Venus and Mars starting off on new journeys, both strong by sign as Venus moves into her feminine sign of Taurus tomorrow and Mars moves into his masculine sign of Aries on Tuesday.
However, it’s not an easy start. Pluto is SR – Stationary Retrograde – being “stuck” at 2 degrees Aquarius for weeks and making the exact turn this coming Thursday. Pluto will be retrograde for the next five months, that’s normal, all the slow moving outer planets take months to complete the backwards loop. But the turning points are the ones to watch, and especially if there are other planets in the firing line.
Venus (feminine) and Mars (masculine) are known together as the love planets, regardless of sexual orientation, so what does this collision course with uncompromising Pluto, planet of total change, signify? Venus also rules finance, what are the risks of money disappearing into a black hole and are those risks avoidable? These are the kinds of scenarios that I’ll be talking about.
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SUMMER SCHOOL
I’m so looking forward to the June courses, welcoming back many returning students along with some new faces. The first two weeks of June are historically fantastic for weather, wall to wall sunshine, breezy and low humidity, and of course they’re post half term and pre summer school holidays so the resort is coming to life but not heaving busy.
Flight prices have been very high so far this year but are finally coming down. Everything at one point was over 400 return but as of this morning –
- For the week of 5 June a return ticket from Stansted is now 180, Gatwick 240
- For the week of 12 June Stansted is now 220 return, Gatwick 260 and BA out of Heathrow has dropped to 310
5 JUNE – TAROT & ASTROLOGY
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4 of 10 Places Available
This is the subject of my new book coming out 13 August complete with its own set of tarot cards. It’s the third time of running this popular course and I’ll be prepping some sneak preview handouts from the book for those attending in June.
https://joannawatters.com/course/tarot-and-astrology/
12 JUNE – HORARY ASTROLOGY with Elisabeth Brooke
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3 of 10 Places Available
https://joannawatters.com/course/answer-questions-horary-astrology/
My Tarot & Astrology week is immediately followed by Elisabeth’s week on Horary, the astrology of asking questions. If you’d like to get a flavour of Elisabeth’s work here’s the link to her website. She’s currently in the throes of launching her new book Ageing Gracefully so you’ll find all the info about talks and workshops for this book as well as the course description for summer school and plenty of other events –
All courses are £375. If you’d like to do both of these courses back to back there’s a 15% discount on the course fee for the second week.
Classes are held in my outdoor teaching area in the garden of my own home and comprise of 15 hours teaching time. Here’s the schedule for the week –
Wednesday
Flights arrive in Preveza (PVK) throughout the day so you’ll be here anywhere between early afternoon and early evening. As there are no ferry links the coach or taxi transfer from the airport to Nidri is just 45 minutes. I organize a group meal for the evening in one of the beach tavernas.
The study hours are designed to finish at 3.00pm each day so that you have plenty of time to sunbathe, swim, siesta before meeting up again for the evening meals.
Thursday
- Study hours 11.00 – 1.00
- Lunch 1.00 – 2.00
- Study hours 2.00 – 3.00
Friday, Sunday and Monday
- Study hours 10.00 – 12.30
- Lunch 12.30 – 1.30
- Study hours 1.30 – 3.00
Saturday
- Free Day for relaxation or exploration – boat trips, car hire – or book a private reading
Tuesday
- Free day and last night group meal
Wednesday
- Return flights home
There are plenty of travel and accommodation options but I won’t fill up space here, just contact me direct if you’d like to receive more info. But for my week 5 June –
ONE BEACH STUDIO STILL AVAILABLE –
SCROLL DOWN PAST THE TESTIMONIALS FOR THE WEBSITE LINKS TO SEPTEMBER COURSES
A SELECTION OF TESTIMONIALS – WHAT HAVE OTHER STUDENTS SAID?
To study with Joanna is an exclusive experience and on the beautiful Greek island of Lefkas too. This was one of the best courses I have ever done. Joanna is a fantastic teacher with a big heart and challenging ideas.
What a gift to learn how to accept myself and not have to apologise for myself anymore. I feel rejuvenated and I know where I’m going in life. The Greek experience has done wonders for me.
I loved this astrology course. Jo has taken the traditional method of teaching astrology and turned it on its head. She gave breadth to the subject, moving us through the building blocks as quickly as possible, until magically the glyphs started to sing and dance. She also has a very friendly relationship with the local tavernas! Such fun and healing too.
Enlightening. Educational. Fun! Would definitely recommend any of Jo’s courses. They are life changing.
I had forgotten that there are places like Nidri in the world. The perfect place to learn, beautiful scenery, stunning views. You really couldn’t ask for more! Thank you Jo for making my time in Greece such a joy.
I want to say how much I enjoyed the course! Thank you for being an expert teacher and great host. And thank you for my reading, which was the best I’ve ever had. It was positive and absolutely filled with information.
I would describe the Greek Island Summer School as total escapism! The encouragement of fellow students was wonderful. We shared a strong bond of beliefs, respect and understanding. Jo watched over us and guided us, as we unfolded like a garden in the spring.
Fantastic! Well run, fun, informative and generally a great experience. Jo is so patient and understanding. She also has a great teaching manner and is passionate about her work and this came across at all times.
In one word, mind-blowing! Joanna’s natural teaching ability has empowered me, transformed my belief system and shown me how to unravel the past and present as well as the future.
Joanna is a breath of fresh air, patient and clear, and the whole learning experience was a breeze. Thank you Jo from the bottom of my heart.
Joanna is an inspiring teacher. She kept us totally engrossed and thirsting for more knowledge. One of the best learning and holiday experiences I have ever had.
I was very impressed with the skilful, structured and knowledgeable way in which the course was run. Although I had a little knowledge when I arrived, I was amazed by the amount I had learned by the end of the week!
The course was absolutely brilliant. The pace was just right, the hours were just right – you feel that you are on holiday as well as learning something you really enjoy. Excellent value for money, and it has certainly given me the confidence I needed to know that I can conduct a reading,
The course/holiday combo was all I could have dreamed for, combining a rest with a top notch course. Everyone received individual attention as well as being able to exchange views. Joanna is a warm and empathic mentor – and a wonderful host, opening up her home to us all.
Thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was extremely well structured, making the learning easy. It has left me with the confidence to leave here and start doing readings. I also really felt that I was on holiday and not just learning. I shall cherish the memories.
The course was excellent – really well structured, clear and thorough. Jo is a gifted teacher and her warmth, humour and genuine interest in all of us shone through. Do it – you’ll love it! Thanks for a fabulous week.
The depth and level of understanding that Joanna has for the cards is phenomenal. This has been a wonderful life changing experience, on this beautiful island of Lefkada. I will return – this will not be the end of the course but a whole new beginning.
This week has been about so much more than just attending a course. It’s been a deep learning experience, at both a practical and personal level. I’ve connected with others but also with myself – a brilliant life changing time!
Although I had been studying for many years I still can’t believe how much more I learned with Joanna. Such a useful course, and held in an idyllic setting. I was in heaven in Nidri.
A really enjoyable course, with a perfect balance of teaching input/support and student discussion and practice. I feel wholeheartedly that my money has been well spent and I would absolutely recommend.
I hoped at least to learn enough to do meaningful readings for myself and my expectations were greatly exceeded. Joanna is very, very knowledgeable. More importantly, she put us at our ease and boosted our confidence. We had a lot of fun along the way. Thank you!
TWO OTHER COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM IN SEPTEMBER
4 September
INTERMEDIATE ASTROLOGY – HOW TO DO READINGS with Joanna
5 of 10 places available
https://joannawatters.com/course/astrology-readings/
11 September
MEDIEVAL ASTROLOGY with Chris Mitchell
5 of 10 places available
https://joannawatters.com/course/medieval-astrology-secrets/
Flight prices are coming down! See Skyscanner for direct flights to our local airport Preveza (PVK)
