Virgo Full Moon March 2012: Mercury Retrograde arrives

"The great successful people of the world have used their imaginations, they think ahead and create their mental picture, and then go to work materializing that picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that bit, but steadily building, steadily building."

Robert Collier, Author (1885-1950)

“Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepest desires and values.”  

Helen Merrell Lynd, Sociologist and Philosopher (1896–1982).

We reach the culmination of the current lunation as the Moon reaches its fullness at 11:40 pm on the 7th in Hawaii, and on the 8th for the rest of the world. Virgo Full Moon focuses on life's details, your health and how you choose to be of service in the world.

Behind this focused intent lies tremendous spontaneity, uncertainty, and infinite possibilities...and therein lies the conundrum of this current lunation.

Mercury Retrograde Revisited - the intensity builds

Mercury retrograde continues its Capricorn journey, arriving at its direct motion point on January 15th, the same day as the New Moon Annular Solar Eclipse. Our next blog covers this event.

Mercury is now moving towards Pluto, the archetype of transformation and melt-down. It is closest to the 3 degree Pluto point between January 11 and 18th. This time frame signals the most intense phase of this retrograde transit. Because Saturn in the sign of Libra resides at a similar degree, expect strong, unexpected shifts in the realm of how we relate to each other on a societal and personal level. Harmony, willingness to move with the flow, and taking quiet time for self are powerful tools for surfing this vibration.

This current intensity has been building recently in the realms of Security (e.g more restrictive security measures in light of the  Dec 25 failed airline bomb attempt), Weather (record snowfalls/freezing conditions in many places of the Northern hemisphere) and Geophysical (strong earthquakes and tsunamis yesterday in Samoa). These are 3 areas which have a tremendous impact upon the efficiency and flow of society's Capricorn structure. For example, nothing like a hefty snowstorm to disrupt plans and shift the focus inward.

In the aviation realm, one very recent example of how Mercury (communication) works in reversal in the Capricorn realm of rules, regulations and authority: Slovakian aviation security  planted bomb parts in the luggage of an unsuspecting passenger to test airport screening devices (the test failed, as the bomb parts were not detected). Not only did the passenger not know of the "test", but Security officials at the aircraft's destination (Ireland) were not informed until after the fact. According to aviation experts, planting bomb parts outside of a controlled test is borderline insanity. In Mercury Retrograde lingo - expect the unexpected.

As I previously posted, the intent of Mercury Retrograde is to shift our logical ways into higher degrees of spontaneity and serendipity. This allows the brain's creative side to take the lead. The downside of this cycle occurs when "logic" is forced into the lead. Usually, this quickly demonstrates the flawed aspects of that "logic". Just ask the Slovakian Government.

Next Blog - New Moon Annular Eclipse of the Sun over India and China

Starman, Joseph Mina

The intensity of Mars in Leo

What in the world is going on????? Sure seems intense around the globe.

One look at the current  transit chart dynamics explains it: Sun and Mercury in Scorpio square Mars in Leo. Scorpio's life force meets the radiance of the Leo heart, or in certain quarters, the full force of the Leo ego. Sun represents the fuel of the mix; Mercury how it is imparted or communicated; Mars is where the action lies. Nothing boring in this trio.
 
Squares are always an edgy type of energy. Think of two forces just not seeing eye-to-eye on anything. Yet, squares in a natal chart can also be a "stop sign" of sorts, indicating "that's not the way to go", or "buyer beware". Particularly affected by this dynamic is anyone with significant planetary aspects in your natal chart in early to mid degree Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius or Leo.


Back to the world stage. This square dynamic has been rather intense across the board. Here's a few examples of intensity in the realm of Scorpio's life force meeting the ego side of Leo.

Violent acts of aggressive force (shadow Mars) have occurred over the past week in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. Bombs, war, etc. etc. No need to go into the details. Enough to simply say "intense".

Israel and Palestine have resumed aggressive acts towards each other, this time in the holy city of Jerusalem.

Intensity can also reveal itself in the infrastructure. For example, just yesterday, the Bay Bridge in California was shut down indefinitely to traffic after one of its cables snapped at rush hour. This is the commuter route for over 300,000 cars a day! Think of the inconvenience and intensity that creates.

On a much more positive note, President Obama today signed the first gay civil rights legislation, protecting gays, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender individuals from acts of violence (think Sun/Mercury square Mars). These aggressive acts are now included and treated as acts of hate carrying with it significant federal punishments. Further, this legislation has been 10 years in the making.

This intense Scorpio/Leo vibration continues through the 18th of November. Remember too, Saturn moves into Libra on Oct 30th and begins its 5 month square with Pluto. Powerful cycles for a powerful time of transition and change 

After the 18th, the Sun and Mercury move far away from Mars energy to complete the square, however, they begin a square to the Aquarius energy of Neptune, Jupiter and Chiron. Sort of like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. That dynamic is for a future blog.

In the meantime, stay clear, breathe, receive nurturing bodycare, and physically exercise to allow this strong energy to easily circulate within your body.

Feel free to share how you have been personally affected by this current vibe.