Anne Massey’s astrology blog

Talk at the Guild

Monday, May 20th, 2013 | astrologer's diary | Write Comment

I am giving a talk at the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild June 13, 2013 about the lot of fortune and spirit. Read about it at www.astrologyguild.com. As I celebrate 25 years as a professional astrologer, I will be launching a new monthly column—similar to the one I was writing a few years back. Look for it at the Summer Solstice. I will also have special offers on consultations and reports. I am currently training my software to listen to dictation to save my fingers.

The Sun slips into Gemini this afternoon, and the world of ideas expands. We are getting a little bit of respite from the overwhelming amount of water in the astrological sky. Gemini is about variety, exploring options and finding fresh insights. At the end of May both Mars and Mercury also move into Gemini, we’ll all be busier and life potentially more interesting. I think the second half of the year in progress will be less stressful than the one we are about to leave behind. There are changes coming up, and I am at 90 percent; making progress and finding my way toward the future.

I will be out of my office this week, back in my office Monday.

Full Venus 2013

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Current Planetary trends, Venus stories | 1 Comment

On March 29, Venus catches up with the Sun and begins her nine-month journey as an Evening Star. Venus meets with the Sun in Aries at four year intervals. She alternates between being direct and retrograde, at the moment Venus is direct in Aries. In 2009 the Sun caught up with Venus while she was moving backwards, also in Aries. The two had a meeting only one degree earlier in the Zodiac—now at 8°11 and last time at 7°16’ on March 27. In 2009 we had the New Venus in Aries and now we have Full Venus in Aries. While Venus is never far from the Sun, the two only meet each other at nine-month intervals and only in five signs concurrently. Each sign hosts the meetings for about a century—that magical hundred years of fairytales—and then moves to the previous sign for the next century.  Presently those five signs are are Aries, Gemini, Leo, Scorpio and Capricorn. In each of the signs Venus moves backward, the Capricorn cycle preceded by Aquarius…The Leo cycle started as the Virgo one ended.

This year, Venus is rather influential in the chart for the event, welcome respite from the stressful, life-altering outer planets and the havoc they represent in the world. In the illustration, those of my readers who are not astrologers, note that the planets drawn in pink are under the auspices of Venus. Venus herself is in her own stretch of Aries. The glyphs in purple are under the influence of Jupiter and the green Mars is influenced by Mercury, who in turn is in Jupiter’s sign but in the stretch of the Zodiac that belongs to Venus.

When I completed my manuscript on Venus and Llewellyn accepted it for publication, my copy editor sent me a Wiccan blessing my way, I will post it below.  Feel free to replace the word Goddess with something that is part of your personal belief system. BTW, I would like to mention that when the book hit the bookstores in 2006 there was Full Venus in Scorpio.

I am a child of the Goddess
I am well, I am happy
And I am loved
Abundance is mine, because
As a child of the Goddess
I am empowered to create miracles
Blessings, Anne

Tags: full venus

Change in the Stars

Thursday, March 21st, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Astrology Students, Venus stories | Write Comment

After weeks on end being water-locked–we have had the rain to prove it, the element of fire makes a bigger statement! It predominates at 44% of the nine planets in terms of elements. The planet that changes the elemental balance is Venus as she moves into Aries at 20:15 tonight(Pacific Time). This image does not account for the Moon, in her motion through a sign at 2.5 day intervals there is an ebb and flow of energy–during the times the Moon is in Fire signs, fire claims that 50%. And when the Moon moves through water signs Fire and Water each have 40% of the pie.

Today the Moon is in Cancer and will move to Leo shortly before the day changes at midnight. So today adding the Moon into the balance–Water and Fire hold equal parts. Tomorrow will be a fiery day.

The element of Fire is about enthusiasm for life. It is about finding inspiration–note how different we feel when the fiery Sun illuminates our northern landscape in contrast to the dreary, gloomy, cloudy skies. The Sun and the element of fire nurture us (of course all the elements are need for life).

I love imagery, and seeing that I posted an overall image for the year, I thought I’d post one for now. In a week Venus and Sun have their meeting at 8°Aries. The pair meet at 9-month intervals and throughout time repeat signs (five of them). Four years ago, Venus and the Sun met at about the same degree (27/3/2009 at 7°Aries); at that time Venus was retrograde (moving backwards) retracing her steps and waited for the Sun to catch up to her, so that they could have a chat about what was truly important. That was the New Venus in Aries.  This time Venus is chasing the Sun and will catch up to her on the 29th of March. This is the Full Venus–the culmination of that new cycle that began four years ago. The complete cycle is actually about 100 years; the long sleep in all fairytales. The other four signs are Gemini, Leo, Scorpio and Capricorn.

I find that these are magical times, as the point in the Zodiacal circle slowly works around our personal charts. So the question is what did you begin or wish for in the spring of 2009 that might be fulfilled in the now. As this meeting between Venus and the Sun takes place with the stressors of change, what will you choose to create the change you desire?

Saturn and Water

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 | Ask Anne, astrologer's diary, Current Planetary trends | Write Comment

Until March 12, this is how it looks in terms of elemental balances—overwhelmingly water. This division excludes the fast moving Moon. The personal planets are hanging with Neptune—the planet associated with oceanic waters, drugs, illusion, ideals, movies, escapism, spiritualism, dreams and visions. Neptune is also the fog that hides things right in front of us and those rose-coloured glasses that make everything look perfect; thus we can be deceived or allow ourselves to believe something that is not real or at least we fail to see it that way.

I see many posts on my Facebook pages about the weather in the Northern hemisphere and aside from the natural disasters, most are commenting on the couple of hours of sunshine after months of none…rain of course is water, and here on the west coast of Canada it has been somewhat unrelenting since Saturn moved into a water sign in October 2012. What is going on with people can be similarly unrelenting, we are not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel…

I had a reader ask about a Saturn return. What is it when it happens and what does it mean? Well books have been written on the topic. The quick synopsis is that at around age 30 and repeating at 57-58, Saturn returns to the same position it held at our birth. Saturn returns are milestones that divide our lives into three approx. 30-degree segments: growing into adulthood at age 30, finding our passion in our role as an elder before we turn 60. There third Saturn return always takes place at age 88—a number of harmony, equaling the number of keys in a piano. › Continue reading

Mercury Station

Friday, February 22nd, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Astrology for You | Write Comment

Cash only, Mercury station retrograde anecdote:

As I pulled my car in front of the local green grocers, I watched other cars pull in and then out immediately. Thinking what the $%! are you doing…I saw the sign on the door the debit/credit card machines are down, cash only. Well people don’t carry cash; I had cash ☺so I walked in. As I walked past the cash register, I heard a woman working at the register say that the Mercury systems were down everywhere not just in this store. Naturally as an astrologer I immediately asked ‘excuse me what did you say’, I had to ask a couple of times to hear the word Mercury again. I had no idea that one of the debit/credit machine programs was called MERCURY. Hey, the merchandising side of Mercury is alive and well in 2013; well, technically not functioning on that day but it was the Rx station! Naturally this is a trivial incident for me the consumer, who happens to carry cash fairly frequently. It was an annoyance for those people who didn’t carry cash and had to go somewhere else for their grocery items. For the store owners it was a temporary loss of income. The store manager was on the telephone to find out when the system would be back online…and I assume at the location where the computers running the system were located, they were busy trying to find the problem and quick way to solve it. More Mercury stuff to come…there are three related posts from February already…

Mercury in Water part 3

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Astrology for You, Current Planetary trends | Write Comment

Mercury Retrograde 2013 and those tricky beware days just prior

I have observed that we make our blunders by failing to think things through during the 7-12 days prior to the Mercury retrograde period (see dates below). During the three weeks Mercury is retrograde mistakes and errors in our judgment are brought to our attention. It is always annoying when we realize we made mistakes, and have to allocate time to repair, redo and even rethink. During these weeks, pay extra attention to your choice of words, read emails and other communication with care before hitting the send button. Keep your calendar, daily planner close by for changes and reschedules. Try to be more flexible when others disrupt your carefully planned agenda. This is often the time we find that after having had time to think things through properly; we are inclined to change our mind.

Think of the (BEWARE) periods leading up to the retrograde period, as an orange light at the intersection, think twice (or thrice) of your actions and choices, avoid rushing particularly those of you, who know the retrograde is coming and want to do something quick before.

During the ‘beware’ dates (not really the so called shadow periods) avoid rushing to beat the clock (i.e. the infamous Mercury retrograde period). When we don’t have to ask whether we should or shouldn’t the choice is easy. If we hesitate there is a reason, and we might be better off to take a wait and see what else happens approach.

During the Mercury retrograde period it is more prudent to avoid purchases that come with wiring or similar connections (those are Mercury’s domain), if you must, I’d get extended warranty. There are 12 weeks or so, each year when I wouldn’t purchase a vehicle or sign a contract. Those are the retrograde and beware weeks.

During Mercury retrograde periods we have three weeks to play catch up, i.e. handle all those things we didn’t have time for earlier. We also discover omissions and errors more readily during these times, because we are paying careful attention. Act in haste and repent at your leisure must have been a quote for these Mercury periods. So the first beware of your choices and words stretch of time begins today. The rest of the dates for this year are at the beginning of today’s post.

More to come…

Mercury in water part 2

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Astrology for You, Astrology Students | Write Comment

New and Full Mercury Cycle 2013

The same shape as I used for the warning sign in yesterday’s post (http://www.annemassey.ca/2013/02/05/mercury-2013-in-water-part-1/ ), illustrates the pattern Mercury with its bi-monthly meetings with the Sun forms around our charts or the Earth. Mercury stations and the conjunctions with the Sun form a hexagon shape—two grand trines in the course of a year; this year one in water and another in earth.  So if you wish you had a grandtrine… we each get two each year!! What an opportunity to work on and sort our three distinct yet intrinsically connected parts of your chart.

A grand trine is the most coveted chart pattern as it indicates both ease and talent. It connects three points in each of the three signs that share an element. Seemingly matters resolve on their own volition and ideally to our complete satisfaction. This year the Mercury and Sun conjunctions connect in the elements of Water (New Mercury) and Earth Full Mercury. The two—Sun and Mercury—meet up at two-month intervals. The element of water is emotional, compassionate and caring; water is healing, nurturing, vital for life. Mercury in a water sign absorbs information, details can be elusive because water needs to feel that something is right—facts are almost secondary. In terms of timing, the last time we lived through Mercury in Water for six months within a calendar year was 2006; seven years ago. In 2007 just like in 2014 the rational element of Air enters the equation.

The Full Mercury takes place in the element of Earth (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) and in contrast the time Mercury spends in the element of Earth this year is about 7 weeks, whereas water gets 29 weeks.

Using whole sign houses for the sake of simplicity. Let’s connect some of the dots. The big themes are connected to the natural water houses this year. Mercury rather naturally is associated with our everyday life and the choices we make. This year he spends two months in the natural home of Jupiter, who in Pisces has a confident belief in the ultimate truth. (You could think about Neptune if you prefer). Then, on the last day of May, Mercury moves to the realm of the changeable Moon, and at some level we are all going to be addressing our personal security needs within the sphere of life, where we happen to have Cancer.  This visit also lasts just over two months. In the Autumn, Mercury spends over two months in the tight-lipped, secretive Scorpio; the area that belongs to protective, defensive Mars—after all the notions for the year, what action will you take, what will you choose in order to feel safe and secure. Water does naturally represent the waves of emotion that simply wash over us, often unannounced. (The Mercury dates in previous post http://www.annemassey.ca/2013/02/05/mercury-2013-in-water-part-1/)

So how does water mix with the other elements. Water is absorbed by earth, set in motion by air and brought to boil by fire. Water nourishes earth, moistens air and extinguishes fire. Water needs a container and gets its colour from its surroundings. Think of all the imagery of water in nature—water is associated with the phlegmatic temperament. Mercury in water is said to be in a mute sign…it does not speak before contemplating the words and knows how to hold onto secrets better than most. Silence is golden during those six months; be cognizant of what you say, write or communicate.

More to come about connecting the dots and then for each sign…

Tags: mercury; water; planetary weather

Mercury 2013 in Water Part 1

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Astrology for You, Astrology Students | Write Comment

New and Full Moons 2013

Friday, January 18th, 2013 | astrologer's diary, Astrology for You | Write Comment

Each year we have one New Moon and one Full Moon in our Sun sign, which sets up two halves of our year. For Capricorn the New Moon of January 11 holds influence for the next six months. It is about your personal resolutions for the year; keep the list manageable. The culmination, the Full Moon in your sign, arrives June 23, 2013. The beginning of the year is thus the most productive time of your year.

The New Moon in Aquarius takes place February 9 around the time the year of the Water Dragon begins in Chinese astrology, and there are actually two Full Moons in Aquarius this year—July 22 and August 20—making this a unique year of second chances to get things right. The New Moon in your own sign is ideal for setting goals for your year. Find your new Moon on the list. If it is way into the year, your New Moon began last year around your birthday time.

The New Moon in our sign arrives close to our birthday and the Full Moon in our sign about six months later. Because Aquarius gets two Full Moons this year, a sign must lose one—this year that happens to be Cancer. No Full Moon in Cancer this year, have to wait for that until 2014…does not mean culmination won’t happen, simply that there isn’t in your sign, thus typically less pressing in terms of how we feel. Just before a full Moon we tend to feel rushed to complete things.

I have been rushing around getting my house for sale with the waxing Moon. Also starting another class tomorrow, thus getting material ready for the beginner class. The Sun, the Moon and Mercury are getting ready to change signs. The rushed Aries Moon moves to steadfast Taurus early evening (without course for just few hours…). Better plan a comfortable evening in front of the big screen. Mercury moves from pragmatic Capricorn tor rational, logical Aquarius for the next two plus weeks. If you are a fixed sign person (Aquarius, Taurus, Leo or Scorpio) this one will keep you busy working out problems. Sun into Aquarius tomorrow supports the statement.

First New Moon of 2013

Sunday, January 13th, 2013 | astrologer's diary, astrology basics, Astrology for You | Write Comment

The first New Moon for the year took place just before noon pacific time, Friday the 11^th. This one is at 21°Capricorn 45’. New Moon is the time we can re-invent something, begin something new… I was setting new things in motion, thus paying attention to heavens even more than usual. The Moon has phases, four major ones we can readily see or observe, the New Moon is not visible but all calendars show us the day these take place, the quarter Moons are easy to observe as is the Full. In between the four major phases we have four mid-phases. All of these have a unique energy. I have listed my townhouse for sale and have begun to actively look for a new place. Next I have to de-clutter and stage the place. Today, all day Sunday, the Moon is void of course. Let’s take a step back; The Moon is the one that reflects the light of the Sun, and in astrology makes the most connections. When she isn’t making those connections, there is no further new activity to come. Things are moving ahead on their own volition. I for one, do not like to sign important documents or begin something new with the Moon void. As I said in my earlier post, this year we have lots of void of course periods, meaning also that we have lots of time to contemplate our choices but limited time to set new things in motion. And ideal day to get things put away, clear clutter and engage in mundane activity and in the process free the mind to engage in ideas we might not have time to consider at other times. › Continue reading