LEO (July 23 - August 22):

January begins with the love and creative planet, Venus retrograding in Capricorn until February 3, 2006, during which time the lessons of Venus will need to be confronted.  Capricorn is a more challenging sign for you suggesting that this cycle might be more uncomfortable.  Therefore, it is always better to be pro-active than reactive when dealing with your personal relationships.  After Venus goes direct Feb. 3^rd it continues in the sign of Capricorn through March 5^th, 2006, a continuing period of adjusting or resolving your Venus challenges.

Venus in Retrograde is a period that occurs about every 18 months when the shadow side or the irrational part of Venus tends to take over at the most inappropriate times. Venus represents all that is feminine, artistic, romantic and peaceful. When retrograde, the immature or uncomfortable side of these issues will come up for you. Relationships are often tested during this cycle.  The good ones will last and the weak ones won’t.  But just as often old loves and friendships can reappear from your past.

Venus will be transiting Capricorn in your 6^th house sector, which is the domain of body and work skill maintenance. Venus’ transit here can be beautifying and healthy for the body until it goes into its shadow phase during the retrograde cycle when you are prone to being lazy with your exercise routine, or gaining weight from too much indulgence of sugar and maybe alcohol. Regarding your work habits when Venus is moving forwards it’s good for relating well with co-workers or beautifying the office.  When retrograde office politics can become difficult or the office is in a big mess because of a remodeling project. Do not start an office affair during the Venus retrograde because it will only disappoint or seriously frustrate you.

The major influence of 2006 will be the planet Saturn in opposition to Neptune with Jupiter at the center point that can be the solution to the opposition or it will expand the problems until you do something about it.  The silver lining, so to speak, is that our lives will be forced into changing and if you avoid or fear the process you will be the one making it more difficult.  With awareness and foresight the Jupiter influence can indicate the area where you will find protection and positive growth.

Saturn was very close to an exact opposition to Neptune before turning retrograde November 23, 2005.  This was also when Mars was retrograde, which was part of the ‘grand cross’ configuration from October 25, 2005 through February 17, 2006 and what happens during this period is a hint of things to come during most of 2006, both in personal lives and the life of the nation. The next Saturn Neptune opposition will be exact August 31, 2006.

Neptune in Aquarius opposing Saturn in Leo is a time when both planetary energies are trying to take control in your life until it comes to a compromise by balancing the needs of both or a stalemate.  Saturn transiting Leo is moving through your 1^st house sector of the personality, self-image and personal appearance issues until September 2, 2007. The transit of Saturn in the first is a period to define the self with new purpose and goals in life.

Saturn is transiting through your Sun sign and if you are younger, then get set for a couple of years of applying yourself to commitment, hard work and becoming a responsible person.  This is the cycle to become the person you are meant to be.  Saturn brings us tests and challenges so we can develop our true potential beyond the fears and limitations we have previously accepted.  But without Saturn we would never grow up and become an adult, let alone anchor our ambitions with the serious business of creating an outcome in our life. If you are older this is a re-structuring phase, when you can reflect on what you wish to do with the rest of your life. Either way it is a time to examine what makes you authentic as an individual.  This is a beginning of a new 30 year cycle of Saturn’s teachings of responsibility, hard work and maturity.

Saturn, in myth, is the father of the gods and represents authority and the laws and regulations of the land.  Here is when we confront our limitations and our sense of duties and responsibilities.  Often the Saturn transit feels like a burden but that is usually a perspective coming from not wanting to take responsibility for that which is in your own best interest.  This is a maturing transit and it’s only the immature who will resist it and make it worse than it needs to be experienced.

Neptune, in myth, represents the collective unconscious because of its designation as the god of the seas.  The seas are symbolic of the embryonic fluids we all come from and in Jungian terms this is called our shadow.  The best way to navigate through the waters of our shadows is to have faith and trust that all will work out to keep from feeling disoriented or lost. Often the issues associated with Neptune’s cycle are that of transition and the uncertainty of the changes.

Neptune has been transiting your 7^th house sector of relationships from 1998 through 2012 and not again for 168 years.   During this period your previous patterns of relating will be dissolving and eventually being replaced with deeper experiences of intimacy and partnership.  Many will be falling in love and swept away with their emotions.  But first Neptune has to dissolve the layers of resistance to intimacy as existing relationships disintegrate or drift away.  A broken heart is very painful but it does turn us inward allowing us to reach deeper levels of vulnerability and to be more open for the next person that comes along.  So you could be very disappointed with partnerships during the first stages of this cycle but soon the decks will be cleared allowing for a richer experience when love comes knocking at your door again. The Saturn Neptune challenge is about taking responsibility for your independence while learning how to share and merge with another, but without losing your identity in the process.

One of the clues for resolution of the Saturn Neptune challenge is the transit of Jupiter moving through the sign of Scorpio through 2006.  Jupiter represents expansion, optimism and protection. When Jupiter activates your chart it expands the opportunities or the problems until you resolve the issues.  Jupiter’s transit is an indicator of where some of the answers to your Saturn Neptune questions are located.

Jupiter is transiting Scorpio in your 4^th house sector of home, family and real estate. One of the keys to resolving your resistance to intimacy would be attracting a new home or a supportive family. Feeling safe and nurtured with your home and family allows you to seek an even  deeper connection with a life partner.

Jupiter in the 4^th brings many opportunities for moving to a bigger place or enlarging your existing home. Family will be generous and sometimes you will receive an inheritance or gift from relatives.  Real estate deals will be more fortunate but Jupiter can also make us believe we are luckier than reality would suggest. Therefore, make all real estate decisions with common sense and practical research and you should come out ahead financially.

And finally, Mercury in Retrograde is when everything seems to go crazy and lasts about 3 weeks. Those who know about the effects of the retrograde often cringe when they hear that Mercury is at it again.  What is going on is that everything that is related to Mercury, the messenger god, seems to go awry. This is the time not to sign legal documents or make promises and travel plans are often interrupted. But what is really happening is that retrograde periods stimulate our unconscious patterns more than usual.  Since Mercury represents our decision-making facilities the retrograde period is a time to make sure that your rational mind hasn’t been too overly influenced by your unconscious desires.

The dates of Mercury in Retrograde 2006

March 2^nd   - 25^th

July 4^th - 28^th

October 28^th - November 17^th

To make an appointment for a phone session or an in-person consultation in Los Angeles or New York City, please go to my page on Services