Aries: Listen to your intuition & no second guessing when it comes to work or health. You have an inner wisdom – trust it.

Taurus: Do what feels right to you, even if it is not popular. Tell a friend the truth if they ask for your opinion or advice.

Gemini: An at home business or your work day may seem more like a social event. Friends can become clients or clients, friends.

Cancer: It takes repetition or clarification to get your ideas or plans accepted by others, but the end goal makes it worthwhile.

Leo: A business partnership or financial plan is sound but there is delay or distraction before expectation becomes manifestation.

Virgo: Look at yourself, before faulting others. You are lovable just as you are & you can love others despite their imperfection.

Libra: Act confident & calm – even if it’s an act. The more you do it, the more natural confidence becomes until fears evaporate.

Scorpio: Being overly friendly at work may not be viewed as good service, but as goofing off. But whose perception matters?

Sagittarius: If you’re home, you may feel you should be working. If at work, home life occupies your thoughts. What feels right?

Capricorn: Your attachment to a desired result is making others resist your plans or sales pitch. Soft sell, be patient & wait.

Aquarius: While you are excited about a business idea & know what must be done to succeed, you may resist spending to do it.

Pisces: A friend could ask, “What do you see if him/her?”. Is it a case of opposites attract or not wanting to be alone?

An odd mix of energy follows yesterday’s new moon in Pisces today, as you attempt to integrate disparate plans, people, thoughts or feelings. The mutable Pisces moon forms a conjunction to Mercury, the planet of thoughts and speech, and together they oppose Mars, the planet of action, in detail oriented Virgo. Mars forms an uncertain, tension producing quincunx to Venus, planet of affection and pleasure, in “me first” Aries. You feel ready to run with the new beginnings the new moon hinted at, but it may not be easy. There could be impractical parts to your plans or resistance or interruptions from others. People may just not see how important something is to you, because they could be self absorbed or lost in space. I have the vision of a child asking mother for permission to have or do something, and mother saying, “Go ask your father.” – asking father and hearing, “Go ask your mother.” *sigh*
Shrug irritations off today, keep building your plans in your own mind, slow down a bit, be patient and give the new moon energies a chance to be integrated in yourself and in others.

The approaching new moon energy may be highly energizing early today, much like the feel of an electrical charge in the air that accompanies an approaching thunderstorm. The moon continues to move through the fixed air sign of inventive, intelligent Aquarius until later this afternoon, when it enters the mutable water sign of sensitive, intuitive and inspirational Pisces, and joins the sun, Chiron, and Neptune – the ruling planet of Pisces. Mercury, the planet of thought, is also in the sign of Pisces, but outside of the conjunction of sun/moon/Chiron/Neptune. I feel that this new moon joining forces with the transpersonal planetary ruler of Pisces will have a strong affect on society and human consciousness, and may bring issues of equality, tolerance, compassion and truth to the fore, because Saturn, the taskmaster, teacher of wisdom and discipline, in the cardinal sign of relationship minded Libra is trine to the new moon. Pisces and Neptune govern the 12th house of the zodiac wheel, the final house in a progression of emotional and spiritual awareness. The 12th house traditionally rules prisons, hospitals, monasteries, addictions, meditation, psychic abilities, spirituality, the subconscious and the collective of society. It is the 3rd of the three water ruled houses. In the 4th house of the chart, ruled by the cardinal water sign of Cancer, psychological foundations and personal beliefs or family influences that shape the psyche are the focus. In the 8th house, ruled by the fixed water sign of Scorpio, issues of boundaries, merging and shared resources are key, since the 8th house rules sex, death, taxes, metaphysics, investments, inheritance and business partnerships. In the 12th house, we are still swimming in a deep water house emotionally, but we merge with a group, or all that is. If we open our hearts fully and suspend disbelief, miracles or healing can occur or we can tap into higher dimensions.

I woke in the wee hours last night and lay wide awake in the deep dark and quiet thinking of all the people I know who have passed on to their next stage of life, through the door of death. I know there is eternal life, because I had a profound experience when I was young, not long after my grandmother died. Her spirit came to visit me when she died, and she told me she was leaving, but that she would always be with me. I was young enough to not be upset by death itself yet, nor did I really know what it was. The reactions and behavior of other people around me taught me to feel the loss and pain of death. One night, not long after my grandmother died, I lay awake, crying, and felt that cosmic “Why?”. Suddenly, I found myself in space surrounded by stars and saw an enormous infinity sign. I didn’t know what I was looking at, at that time, and didn’t learn the meaning of the symbol until I was older, but I was instantly filled with a deep sense of calm and knowing, which I can only call “the peace that passes understanding”. In that moment, everything was perfect. The rest of my life to date, has felt like a moving back to that state of enlightenment.

No such enlightened moment came to me last night as I felt the souls of friends and family in another dimension. I felt a deep sadness for the works of their lives that seem to have been forgotten. And I wondered why some souls who come here, and their works, are remembered through successive generations of humanity and others seem to be like the ripples of water in a pond that disappear a short time after the thrown rock sinks to the bottom of the pond. I personally choose to believe that the ripples go on in a place we just cannot see yet.

Kevin Brockmeier’s book, “The Brief History of the Dead”, is a deeply moving story to help you navigate 12th house territory at this new moon. If you choose your books based only on reviews you read, then I would caution you to suspend that practice when considering this book. There are metaphysical and spiritual layers to this story which are subtle and might only be seen if you have the eyes to see – and maybe you will gain a clearer sight. This new moon may affect us all profoundly in how we choose to approach life and the future on the spiritual and emotional level. We cannot make that decision without considering our ancestors, our past, our own mortality, society, and all that is. Neptune/Pisces symbolism is that of victim, savior and martyr. We can be all or any of them depending on what we choose. Brockmeier’s story is full of Neptune/Pisces and 12th house symbolism.

To know what area of your chart is being affected by this new moon, read below. Also read for your rising sign, or ascendant, for the best accuracy. Be open and entertain all possibilities as you make plans for a new cycle.

Aries:
12th house of the subconscious, dream state, meditation, spirituality, the collective of society, addictions, places of retreat or healing such as prisons, hospitals, monasteries, ashrams, etc.

Taurus:
11th house of friends, groups, organizations, wish fulfillment, social networking online, the stage, gallery or audience, fame, popularity.

Gemini:
10th house of career, reputation, titles and authority, success in society, mastery, your home away from home or here you express parental energy in an employment situation.

Cancer:
9th house of higher education, writing, publishing, teaching, philosophy, information gathering, foreign travel, other cultures, expanding personal horizons.

Leo:
8th house of sex, intimacy, death, taxes, insurance, investment, inheritance, business partnership, legal binding contracts and their undoing – such as divorce – the dissolving of boundaries between people, metaphysics.

Virgo:
7th house of marriage, partnership, hidden enemies or hidden aspects of yourself.

Libra:
6th house of health, hygiene, habits, dharmic work, purpose, service related work.

Scorpio:
5th house of creativity, children, pets, the arts, fun, gambling, competitive games, crafts, hobbies, gardening, entertainment, vacations, cooking – anything creative and pleasurable.

Sagittarius:
4th house of home, family, psychological foundations, core beliefs, sometimes the mother, but can represent either parent.

Capricorn:
3rd house of imagination, formative thoughts, communication, siblings, early childhood education, neighbors and neighborhood, local travel, politics and sales work.

Aquarius:
2nd house of money, personal values and how you express them, self worth.

Pisces:
1st house of self, the image you present physically and the energy you project to others, how you identify yourself.

“Return to Innocence” by Enigma is a beautiful representation of this new moon in Pisces energy.

A Leo full moon arrives today, bringing creativity and boldness with it. The moon opposes not just the logical, rational, future minded Aquarius sun today, but also Mercury, the planet of communication, thought and transportation, in Aquarius. Mars, the planet of action, is in the mutable earth sign of particular, detail oriented Virgo. This afternoon, Mars in Virgo also exchanges energy with the sun and Mercury in Aquarius via a quincunx aspect, and connects with the moon in Leo through a semi-sextile aspect. The image of an actor on stage giving a perfect performance comes to my mind, as does a prototype car that combines speed and driving precision with fuel efficiency. You can use the creative, dramatic energy of the Leo moon, mixed with the extreme genius of the sun and Mercury to manipulate a situation, invent a method, or create the right idea that solves a problem, takes care of a need or makes something possible that benefits not just you, but others, too. The full moon can also bring you to the point of knowing exactly how far you can go with something and still be within reason. Intelligent or inventive use of what you already have available in terms of tools, resources and alliances, can change how things have been and point them in a new direction. Just the right amount of bravery and heart energy can be mixed with cool logic so you can move a step beyond what is, to what can be. Look inside yourself. What objections to growth, or following what makes you feel vitally alive, have you been running in the background of your life? The energy to overcome those objections is with you today. As the full moon caps off a cycle of growth and you take stock of where you stand, make your plans for the future by following your heart or passion using what you already have, but applied in a more effective way. Here are the areas of life where you will feel the energy of the full moon in Leo and the sun conjunct Mercury in Aquarius. If you know your ascendant, or rising sign, read for that sign as well, for greater accuracy.

Aries:
Moon: 5th house of creativity, children, pets, the arts, fun, gambling, competitive games, crafts, hobbies, gardening, entertainment, vacations, cooking – anything creative and pleasurable.
Sun: 11th house of friends, groups, organizations, wish fulfillment, social networking online, the stage, gallery or audience, fame, popularity.

Taurus:
Moon: 4th house of home, family, psychological foundations, core beliefs, sometimes the mother, but can represent either parent.
Sun: 10th house of career, reputation, titles and authority, success in society, mastery, your home away from home or here you express parental energy in an employment situation.

Gemini:
Moon: 3rd house of imagination, formative thoughts, communication, siblings, early childhood education, neighbors and neighborhood, local travel, politics and sales work.
Sun: 9th house of higher education, writing, publishing, teaching, philosophy, information gathering, foreign travel, other cultures, expanding personal horizons.

Cancer:
Moon: 2nd house of money, personal values and how you express them, self worth.
Sun: 8th house of sex, intimacy, death, taxes, insurance, investment, inheritance, business partnership, legal binding contracts and their undoing – such as divorce, metaphysics and the dissolving of boundaries between people.

Leo:
Moon: 1st house of self, the image you present physically and the energy you project to others, how you identify yourself.
Sun: 7th house of marriage, partnership, hidden enemies or hidden aspects of yourself.

Virgo:
Moon: 12th house of the subconscious, dream state, meditation, spirituality, the collective of society, addictions, places of retreat or healing such as prisons, hospitals, monasteries, ashrams, etc.
Sun: 6th house of health, hygiene, habits, dharmic work, purpose, service related work.

Libra:
Moon: 11th house of friends, groups, organizations, wish fulfillment, social networking online, the stage, gallery or audience, fame, popularity.
Sun: 5th house of creativity, children, pets, the arts, fun, gambling, competitive games, crafts, hobbies, gardening, entertainment, vacations, cooking – anything creative and pleasurable.

Scorpio:
Moon: 10th house of career, reputation, titles and authority, success in society, mastery, your home away from home or here you express parental energy in an employment situation.
Sun: 4th house of home, family, psychological foundations, core beliefs, sometimes the mother, but can represent either parent.

Sagittarius:
Moon: 9th house of higher education, writing, publishing, teaching, philosophy, information gathering, foreign travel, other cultures, expanding personal horizons.
Sun: 3rd house of imagination, formative thoughts, communication, siblings, early childhood education, neighbors and neighborhood, local travel, politics and sales work.

Capricorn:
Moon: 8th house of sex, intimacy, death, taxes, insurance, investment, inheritance, business partnership, legal binding contracts and their undoing – such as divorce, metaphysics and the dissolving of boundaries between people.
Sun: 2nd house of money, personal values and how you express them, self worth.

Aquarius:
Moon: 7th house of marriage, partnership, hidden enemies or hidden aspects of yourself.
Sun: 1st house of self, the image you present physically and the energy you project to others, how you identify yourself.

Pisces:
Moon: 6th house of health, hygiene, habits, dharmic work, purpose, service related work.
Sun: 12th house of the subconscious, dream state, meditation, spirituality, the collective of society, addictions, places of retreat or healing such as prisons, hospitals, monasteries, ashrams, etc.

We can feel the build up of anticipation early this morning as the new moon in the fixed air sign of change maker, future oriented Aquarius approaches. While the moon is still in the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn this morning, it joins Mercury in Capricorn, and together they form a decisive trine to Mars in Virgo. If you have wandered off course in your New Year resolution efforts, this morning is a good time to make new, realistic, resolutions and start all over again. Effective communication and emotional expression is another bonus this supportive moon/Mercury/Mars energy brings, as well as a positive mind set that can search diligently for workable solutions. The economic use of energy and words produces satisfying results. The trine between Mercury and Mars continues all day, but as the moon moves on, it leaves Mercury behind and enters the problematic T-square pattern that has been in place between Saturn in Libra, Jupiter in Taurus, and now, the sun in Aquarius. Saturn in Libra is quincunx Aquarius’s ruling planet – Uranus – now in the pioneering fire sign of Aries. The pressure of blocked growth or lack of abundance (Jupiter in Taurus) and the feeling of obligation to others or to conform to the rules of proper social conduct (Saturn in Libra) and the urge to be unique, free, individual and independent all mix together now, with the pressure valve of release appearing as the inevitability of change and new beginnings (Uranus in Aries, new moon in Aquarius). It may feel frustrating or awkward now. That Mars/Mercury trine says you’ve just got to do what you know you’ve got to do. A trine between Saturn in Libra and Neptune in Aquarius softens things a bit with the energy of grace or compassion. By tomorrow, the T-square begins to break apart as the Saturn/sun square fades. Feelings of being at odds in any of your relationships will lessen after this evening, but the square to Jupiter, which feels like driving with the brakes on in terms of finances or personal development, will be operative until the 25th of January. So, new beginnings, a new plan, a fresh start, are probable now, but they may not take off as quickly as you might like. The positive way of looking at the sun/Jupiter square is that the genius of Aquarius (sun) cannot manifest (Jupiter) a better future until it plants itself on the earth (Taurus) and proves it intends to last. The new moon will be felt in the following houses, or areas, of life for each sign. If you know your ascendant, or rising sign, read for that, as well, for greater accuracy.

Aries:
11th house of friends, groups, organizations, wish fulfillment, social networking online, the stage, gallery or audience, fame, popularity.

Taurus:
10th house of career, reputation, titles and authority, success in society, mastery, your home away from home or here you express parental energy in an employment situation.

Gemini:
9th house of higher education, writing, publishing, teaching, philosophy, information gathering, foreign travel, other cultures, expanding personal horizons.

Cancer:
8th house of sex, intimacy, death, taxes, insurance, investment, inheritance, business partnership, legal binding contracts and their undoing – such as divorce – the dissolving of boundaries between people, metaphysics.

Leo:
7th house of marriage, partnership, hidden enemies or hidden aspects of yourself.

Virgo:
6th house of health, hygiene, habits, dharmic work, purpose, service related work.

Libra:
5th house of creativity, children, pets, the arts, fun, gambling, competitive games, crafts, hobbies, gardening, entertainment, vacations, cooking – anything creative and pleasurable.

Scorpio:
4th house of home, family, psychological foundations, core beliefs, sometimes the mother, but can represent either parent.

Sagittarius:
3rd house of imagination, formative thoughts, communication, siblings, early childhood education, neighbors and neighborhood, local travel, politics and sales work.

Capricorn:
2nd house of money, personal values and how you express them, self worth.

Aquarius:
1st house of self, the image you present physically and the energy you project to others, how you identify yourself.

Pisces:
12th house of the subconscious, dream state, meditation, spirituality, the collective of society, addictions, places of retreat or healing such as prisons, hospitals, monasteries, ashrams, etc.

Halloween 2011 seems to be stretched out over several days in my town. More and more churches are hosting “Trunk or Treats” and downtown businesses also give candy out to children, using the holiday as an opportunity to attract future customers. On both Friday, October 28th and Saturday, October 29th, the moon is in the mutable fire sign of friendly and adventurous Sagittarius, which makes a party or social event all the more exciting and fun. The whole energy of “let’s pretend” suits Sagittarius perfectly, and we can expect to see many humorous costumes then.

On Sunday, October 30th and Monday, October 31st, the moon transits the somber, serious, sign of Capricorn. The tone changes from lighthearted humor and fun of Sagittarius, to the dark thoughts of mortality and death Saturn ruled Capricorn brings. A trine between Venus conjunct Mercury in spooky, mysterious Scorpio and shocking Uranus in Aries may increase the interest in staging tricks and giving people a good Halloween fright. The best night for fun, costume competitions and partying with friends is Saturday evening. The best time for sharing the full out fright factor, such as visiting a Haunted House, watching horror movies, or holding a spooky seance, is Monday evening. Here are some suggestions for what to be this year. Read for your sun sign and rising sign. Women who know their moon sign may wish to let their moon traits show in their choice of costume.

Aries (March 21st – April 19th)
High-energy and derring-do, a hero or the ego-driven nemesis, the first to accomplish something. Superman, Luke Skywalker, Wonder Woman, Kim Possible, a firefighter or police officer, GI Joe, Amelia Earhart or the Wright brothers, a devil.

Taurus (April 20th – May 20th)
Practical, caring, nature-loving, music-loving, fond of simpler times. Medieval and renaissance garb appeal to the men and women. Hunter or farmer, Mother Nature, Pan. Any costume with a musical instrument as an accessory. A flower, tree, or cow.

Gemini (May 21st – June 20th)
Childlike, imaginative, flighty, associated with pairs, famous communicators or inventors. Peter Pan and his sidekick, Tinkerbell, Bonnie and Clyde, Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, any past President, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, butterflies, Big Bird, ladybugs.

Cancer (June 21st – July 22nd)
Watery, nurturing, protective, intuitive and empathetic. At one time in history, a midwife and healer using herblore might have been called a witch, so witch is a good Cancerian persona, as is a gypsy woman with her crystal ball. Scuba diver, doctor or nurse, mermaid or merman, crab, turtle or snail.

Leo (July 23rd – August 22nd)
Creative, proud, regal, fun. Leo loves a costume even when it’s not Halloween – the more bling, the better. Any king or queen persona works, but Caesar, Arthur, Henry VIII, or Elvis appeals to the guys, and the ladies love attention-getting Cleopatra, Lady Godiva, or a more modern Madonna or Lucille Ball impersonation. Cats, of course,
from kittens to lions, from Cat Woman to Garfield.

Virgo (August 23rd – September 22nd)
Earth maiden, caretaker, organizer and analyzer of details. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Sherlock Holmes, doctor or nurse, Hermione Granger. The Mummy (uptight Virgo) or Oscar the Grouch (Virgo gone bad) or Inspector Gadget (Virgo gone obsessive) are possibilities.

Libra (September 23rd – October 22nd)
Fairness, balance, law and order, fashion and romance, couples, vigilantes. Romeo and Juliet, Marie Antoinette, Wyatt Earp, Robin Hood. Batman. Cruella de Vil, judge, lawyer, any princess, Miss America, Don Juan, Cyrano de Bergerac, Statue of Liberty, angel, Snow White, Cinderella.

Scorpio (October 23rd – November 21st)
Intimate, secretive, intense. Anything goth. Vampire, punk or heavy metal rock star, ghost, invisible man, pirate, prisoner, Mata Hari, Svengali, Green Hornet, Riddler, Darth Vader, an FBI or IRS agent. Any poisonous or venomous creature, such as a snake, dragon, or bee.

Sagittarius (November 22nd – December 21st)
Optimistic, expansive, social, adventurous. Clown, fire eater, juggler, comedian, jockey, racecar driver, SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, Indiana Jones. Any over-the-top gruesome mask and fake blood for fun.

Capricorn (December 22nd – January 19th)
Responsible, restrictive, goal-oriented, concerned with history and reputation, Capricorn rules the bones and mortality. Skeleton, Grim Reaper, executioner, any past presidents or leaders, Vikings, circus strongman, caveman, lumberjack, hobo (the shadow side of Capricorn), dressing like an old man or woman, Bob the Builder, train
engineer.

Aquarius (January 20th – February 18th)
Future-oriented, humanitarian, eclectic and electric, the oddball or genius. Professor, Einstein, Harry Potter, Gandhi, a robot, a computer or TV, nerd or geek, ET, R2D2, C3PO, 60’s hippie. Any costume requiring glow-in-the-dark makeup or radical hair.

Pisces (February 19th – March 20th)
Watery, dreamy, mythical or mystical. Poseidon holding his trident, a wizard with a wand, a fairy, elf, or gnome. Glinda the Good Witch. Alice in Wonderland, Yoda, a dolphin or an octopus.

Aloha, my astrology-loving and spiritually-aware friends. All last week, as the moon has been moving through the higher, more society-connected signs of Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and now Pisces, planets in my own natal chart have been deeply affected. Each of those signs represents the highest octave of the elements of fire, earth, air, and water. The first octave of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer looks through the lens of self. The second octave of Leo, Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio sees the world through the lens of self and another. The third octave of Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces sees itself in relation to the whole crowd, the group, the collective of society. Before you look at your own sun sign and judge yourself based on this astrological tidbit, keep in mind that you have the entire zodiac wheel represented in your natal, or birth, chart. You are a very unique symphony, a music of the spheres, composed through the interchange of planetary aspect patterns and planetary placements in the houses, or areas of life, expressed as your own beautiful soul. As the planets continue to move through time, they interact with the music of your birth chart, bringing choices, experiences, growth, change, and transcendence. Just like photographs of you as an infant and you now are different but the same person, so, too is your natal chart always with you, but you become new over and over again. You will experience what it is to be all the signs at some point in time or at some level of your consciousness.

All week, I stalled on writing my “traditional” horoscopes and trends for you. Today is Sunday, September 11th, and, as I opened my astrology software program to see where the planets are and how they may be affecting you, the full moon in the mutable water sign of Pisces gave me a nice wet fish-slap in the face. Yes, I’ve been looking at its ripening beauty grow in the velvet star-spangled evening sky on these sweet, cool September evenings and I know where it occurs in my own chart, but I’ve been ignoring the symbols and signs as I try to stay in the “normal” world and do what I think is the right thing to do in terms of money, production, business, etc. I have been ignoring my own internal GPS, although some of the messages I have been receiving about the global consciousness and the importance of the current time did get modified and mainstreamed for last week’s astrological trends. All my life, I have felt like a non-conformist trying to conform. My chart holds the sun (self-awareness) in rebellious, oddball Aquarius, Jupiter (growth, abundance) and Saturn (authority, restriction, work, structure) in the 8th house of metaphysics and the occult in reserved and traditional Capricorn. All my knowledge and experiences in things metaphysical and spiritual have come to me through doubt and skepticism. When I first learned of planting a garden by moon signs years ago, I had to plant a garden by the moon and a control garden where I did everything opposite to astrological gardening wisdom. I have to see it to believe it and it took me years to understand that when we want to manifest something, we see it when we believe it. My Mercury is also in Aquarius in the 9th house, so I’m here to communicate and teach unusual things. My moon in Aries in the 11th house means I am to share it with a group and the trine between my moon and Uranus, ruler of my sun sign, in the 3rd house of communication reinforces my interest and emotional “knowing” of astrology and its potential for helping to create a life from a point of awareness. My Neptune in Scorpio in the 5th house has given a lifelong interest in metaphysics and spirituality and I especially have a fascination with the laws of abundance and manifestation. I have created things out of nowhere and thin air many times in my past, and my Mars in Cancer in my 1st house of self trine to my Neptune in Scorpio in the 5th leads me to persist, believing that someday, I can do it at will. I know that we are all moving to a point of consciousness where we will instantly manifest what we desire as we think it. I think the current full moon in Pisces, following the recent new moon in Virgo, is bringing a more widespread awareness of this process of imagining/seeing, believing/receiving to us all now. The challenges within my chart, in the form of squares between my moon and Jupiter/Saturn and my Mercury and sun square to Neptune, make it difficult for me to feel safe or believe I will be accepted if I am too “far out,” New Age, or non-traditional. When I left New York, where I always felt like anything but the typical suburban Barbie I felt I was expected to be, and landed in Sedona, Arizona, a mecca for spirituality and unusual interests, I finally felt at home and surprisingly normal among the diverse population of New Agers living there. Now, I live in a place with mainstream, traditional consciousness and I feel I am holding a frequency in place for the benefit of others without them even being aware of what I am doing. Many of you who feel you are somewhere that you don’t belong could be performing a similar energy elevation service where you are now. The Internet allows people to connect in ways that weren’t possible years ago, and if we can’t find our tribe in our own neighborhood, we can find our tribe online, which is what many of us are doing. Can you believe we are moving to a level of awareness where we can be somewhere in our consciousness and experience a person or place and they will also have the same ability? What do you think will replace the Internet? I think telepathy will one day be our main form of communication.

This full moon joins my Venus and my lunar South Node in my 10th house of career and standing in the outer world. It opposes my lunar North Node conjunct Pluto, planet of personal power and transformation, in discerning Virgo in my 4th house of home, family, and psychological foundations. The full moon also opposes transiting Mercury, planet of thought and communication, which is joining my North Node and Pluto. The recent Virgo new moon activated my North Node and Pluto, and I launched a new website offering a new service, Life Purpose Reports, which evolved out of seeing that my particular skill at synthesizing a chart and getting to the core of why someone is here at the soul level, what potential avenues they may follow, what skills they have, and what possible challenges or weaknesses they may have is what I am best at doing for people. Relationship analysis is my other forte. There are many wonderful horoscope writers in the world who follow the same rules and formulas that I do to write daily and weekly horoscopes, so I am now at a point in my work where I must weigh whether my time spent writing lengthy weekly horoscopes and trends is the best use of my time when I have people lining up for private readings and my family is involved in a major project that demands my energy input, as well. I do get wonderful feedback from people, but when I am providing these services, I do not always feel that I am giving the highest and best of my personal, individual purpose. When I look at the growth of traffic to my site over the course of a year (I really have to pat myself on the back for following through on something for a year – not an easy trick for an Aries moon/Aquarius sun/Gemini ascendant), I am in turns either disappointed with myself and my efforts or I find myself wondering, “What is it I am supposed to do now – and how can I best do it?” At this point, I have not come to a conclusion, because I have only just asked the question. My site at What is My Life About? is only a partial answer. This Pisces full moon and transiting Mercury poking at my Venus/South Node in the 10th and North Node/Pluto in the 4th is emphasizing that I communicate what I feel at my core, identifying what I love most that brings me joy and restructuring/prioritizing my time spent with family in balance with my career. As I write this, my partner is working on digging up and fixing a water line on the property that runs to a home he is rebuilding/transforming for my adult daughter to live in so she can join the family. The pressure of time is upon us to complete this project. A mundane “benefit” (not) of having Pluto in Virgo in the 4th house of home has shown up as plumbing stuff for me over the years, any time a transit touches off my Pluto. Astrology has a practical-joker side for sure. A 4th-house North Node like me is meant to focus on home and family, but to make the most of my North Node, I must also use the other parts of my chart and make use of my ability to analyze using astrology and my intuition and to help people transform. When I focus too much on career growth or my outer world reputation, as indicated by my South Node in the 10th house, the life purpose work of my 4th house North Node suffers. I am now at a point of getting back on track, whatever that means, for my own soul. At this point, I am planning on continuing daily short Tweetscopes on Twitter and Facebook and may simply post them daily for all signs on Aloha Astro in place of weekly horoscopes and trends so that I can serve people better through personal readings.

Although you may not have this Pisces full moon activating things as strongly in your own chart as they are mine, I know the potential for intense emotions is strong due to the depth and breadth of Pisces energy. You can enter your birth data at Aloha Astro for a free chart, where you can see where you have Pisces in your chart and what planets you may have in that sign, as well. You may also feel ripples of this full moon energy wherever you have the planet Neptune, ruler of Pisces, in your chart. If you have planets in your 12th house, which is the natural home of Pisces, you may experience stronger emotions this full moon than people who have empty 12th houses might.

Here is my chart, if you are interested in looking.

Pisces, ruler of the 12th house of dreams, the subconscious, and the collective, is ruled by the planet Neptune. Here are a whole bunch of words and phrases related to Pisces/Neptune/12th house: water, ocean, fog, mist, inspiration, illusion, imagination, deception, addictions, the subconscious, victim/savior/martyr, joy/sorrow, bittersweet, Heaven, Christ Consciousness, Divine intervention, saving grace, lost/found, faith/doubt, intuition, symbolic language, telepathy, forever/eternity/timeless, ether, no boundaries, diffuse, healing, sacrifice/making sacred, profound beauty, the bridge between impossible and possible, costumes/masks/camouflage, magic, fantasy, other dimensions, meditation, dreams, OBEs, astral travel, channeling, spirit/body connection, angels, guides, Unity consciousness/one with all that is, prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, monasteries, ashrams, intentional communities, creating through intention, and accepting your Divinity. As I write this, I am hearing, “The river Jordan is chilly and wide, milk and honey on the other side,” from the song “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore,” which seems appropriate for a moon culminating in the last sign of the zodiac wheel. I also see an image of a pearl in an oyster. Both symbolize that to arrive at a promised land or receive a rare treasure, you have to deal with earthly tedium.

My software program shows me not just the current placement of the traditional planets, but also a group of asteroids. I do not include them in my regular interpretations because I am still observing their energy and because I feel the basics are more than enough for most people who just want to know what is happening in their lives or are just learning about astrology. Today, when I looked at the pattern formed by both the traditional planets and the asteroids, I got a clear intuitive sense that we stand at a doorway at this full moon. Life seems to unfold in spirals around us at all levels. We are now at a turn of an energetic spiral where we can look ahead or behind. We are facing a mirror of sorts where we must choose the reflection or be the source making the image. I wish I had a better way to explain this, because it feels so vitally important to me. Take the plans you may have launched at the Virgo new moon, cast them up in the air, and watch to see what gets blown away as empty husks and what is a viable seed. Send them out on the ocean of your spirit and see what sinks and what floats. Don’t let necessity lead you by the nose into past paradigms when following joy and your dreams can put you in a whole new dimension instead. Don’t put off what seems like a silly dream for some other day. Here are two videos from two of my favorite female musicians that poignantly express the energy of a Pisces full moon: “Both Sides Now” by Judy Collins and “Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell.

A series of totally bizarre dreams over the last few mornings made me look deep inside today. Most of the time, I can easily interpret my dreams and the symbols in them in relation to my life and what is going on for me. This time, I am at a loss. Since one of the things that became clear to me this morning, after looking at the transits to my chart, is that I must break with tradition today, take off a mask or drop an illusion and share what is most important to me now, I will tell you the dreams. Perhaps they are meant for the collective and not just me personally.

First Dream: I am standing at the edge of a large hole in the ground. Fourteen people are in the bottom of the hole, willingly preparing to die. It seems they believe having dirt bulldozed on top of them is better than some other alternative, which is unknown to me in the dream. I cannot see who is filling the hole with dirt and I have no emotional charge around these fourteen people choosing to be buried alive – I am just neutrally observing them. The hole is filled entirely, they do not cry out, and when the hole is full, it is as if they never were there at all. Immediately following this dream, I read an e-mail forwarded to me by a friend. She sent me the article, The Separation of Worlds: Leaving People Behind, from Denise Le Fay. This part of the article seemed to coincide with my dream:

“I know how harsh and heartless this Separation of Worlds reality may sound to some people, but, until you’ve perceived from a higher level of awareness it is hard to understand that divine perfection exists in absolutely every choice every soul makes. Believe me when I tell you that some other soul or group of souls thought and felt the same way about you at some previous ascension/evolutionary point! And look where you are now.” And also, “Freewill for all with zero judgment for whatever choice is made. It is perfect no matter what so be in Heart knowing joy for All.”

Coincidentally, I had recently been strongly impressed by a webinar with Rikka Zimmerman, an Access Consciousness practitioner, hosted by Darius Barazandeh at You Wealth Revolution. Several times during the clearing process, Rikka talked about how the single most important thing you could do to radically change your life would be to let go of your own self-judgment. The Access Consciousness process of asking questions and stepping out of polarity, beyond right/wrong, point of creation/point of destruction, moves so much energy that even animals present in the room listening to the calls get excited and behave as if something wonderful is happening.

My second dream involved two wolves getting into a house I was in to get at food I had. They attacked me and I had to curl into a tight ball to protect my face, but was able to chase them out the door. Hmm…keeping wolves from the door is an expression we use to mean fending off the scary things in life that take away our sustenance and threaten us. In the dream, there was also a gray fox that nipped at my hand when I reached toward it, but I stood my ground and reached for the fox again and it became submissive and tame. About a month ago, I did read an article in a National Geographic magazine issue about scientists studying foxes to understand the process of domestication and the genetic evolution of species. The dream brought to mind Machaelle Small-Wright’s Perelandra Gardening book and her MAP book, which I read years ago, both of which made me more aware of the forces of nature and the spiritual realms which are standing by, waiting to work with us if we ask.

I think the dream was telling me that the way to deal with fear (the wolves) is to be clever as a fox and work with the energy of nature. Also, about twelve years ago, a fox came to me in a meditation with the message to be alert. In the busy-ness of life and business, I have been looking at what I think I should be looking at and not at what Spirit has been guiding me to perceive lately. Have you done the same? This Pisces full moon arrives at a time when the quality of light in the mornings and early evenings casts a magical, otherworldly glow on the fields and mountains near my home. The drier, cooler air makes the blue of the sky deeper and the clouds more majestic, but as I drove down the road toward town today, exulting in the wonder of nature around me, I saw frowning faces drive past me, focused on the cell phone attached to their ear, oblivious to the rare moment time and nature offered to appreciate and connect through their senses to their very home, which nourishes and supports them.

The Pisces full moon lights up the deep sea of the soul for us all, which is very, very deep. This is the sign of great mysteries and looking for the answers to seemingly unanswerable questions. Where the new moon in Virgo brought us finite points to ponder, the full moon in Pisces brings us to infinity. Here are some quotes to ponder during the Pisces full moon:

“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” – T. S. Eliot

“Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” – T. S. Eliot

Mercury, the planet of communication and transportation, which recently entered the mutable earth sign of Virgo, turns retrograde late in the evening of August 2nd and backtracks into the fixed fire sign of Leo by the end of the first week in August. Virgo is an analytical and methodical sign that likes to do things purposefully. Virgo’s mutable quality may make it run through several possibilities before deciding which option is the most effective, but the desired result is always function. Leo, on the other hand, is highly creative, playful, and dramatic. Leo can work as hard as Virgo, but the process of creation is half the fun and the bigness of the effect is sometimes more important than function. Why have plain and practical when you can go for fun and extravagant?

As you enter the Mercury retrograde period this week, use the Virgo energy at the start of the retrograde period to analyze, itemize, and prioritize the things that you would like to go back over. Mercury retrograde’s finest attribute is the opportunity it affords you to pull out old plans and projects, collect more information, or revisit an issue in order to clear it. Mercury retrograde can bring second chances. When the energy begins to shift on August 7th, you will have a list to burn through with that creative Leo fire.

Just as Mercury turns retrograde, Mars, the planet of action, leaves the air sign of Gemini and enters the emotional water sign of Cancer. Mars happens to aspect Mercury with a supportive sextile and also aspects Neptune in Pisces with a favorable trine until August 7th. I see these aspects as dream incubators. You can use these favorable aspects to help you get in touch with your emotions and identify your desires before you take any action. I do have to add a “however” here, though. Mercury retrograde traditionally causes misunderstanding, delays, and breakdowns with travel- and communication-related things. Mercury happens to oppose Neptune, which increases the possibility of confusion. Mars can enhance the potential for fire, accidents, and arguments. Cancer, Pisces, and Neptune are all water- and ocean-related. Please be cautious when traveling in the rain or on water. Safety first at all times.

Whatever area, or house, in your chart that has Leo energy: get ready to re-create something during the Mercury retrograde period. Based on a solar (sun sign astrology) chart, these are the houses and their concerns. Read for both your sun sign and your rising sign, also known as your ascendant. There are links on this site where you can get both your ascendant and your natal chart for free.

Aries (5th house)
Creativity, theater, dance, music, art, film, gardening, cooking, gambling, pets, children, love affairs and romance, pleasure trips and entertainment, competitive sports.

Taurus (4th house)
Home, family, core beliefs, property, psychological foundations, possible past life carryover.

Gemini (3rd house)
Communication, sales work, neighbors and neighborhood, politics, local travel, early childhood education, imagination and formative ideas, siblings.

Cancer (2nd house)
Money, income, self-worth, self-esteem, personal values.

Leo (1st house)
Your sense of self, how you present yourself and how others see you, image, physical vitality.

Virgo (12th house)
The subconscious, prisons, hospitals, monasteries and other types of alternative communities or institutions, dream state and meditation, connection to Spirit and the collective.

Libra (11th house)
Friends, groups, organizations, the stage, gallery, or audience, wish fulfillment.

Scorpio (10th house)
Career, reputation in the outer world, authority, success, what feels like home to you in the outer world, recognition and titles.

Sagittarius (9th house)
Higher education, foreign travel, philosophy, search for truth and expanded horizons, writing and publishing.

Capricorn (8th house)
Sex, intimacy, death, taxes, metaphysics, investments, inheritances, insurance, divorce, business partnerships, other legalities involving shared resources.

Aquarius (7th house)
Marriage, relationship, the hidden part of yourself that you may not acknowledge.

Pisces (6th house)
Dharmic work, service, purpose, health, healing, habits, hygiene.

The biggest holiday shopping day of the year, Black Friday, is just around the corner. You know the retailers will be offering fantastic bargains, but do you know what to get for the people on your gift list? Astrology can help you find the perfect gift. The recommendations below are based on sun sign personality traits. The sun is vibrant and masculine in nature, expressing sun sign character traits strongly for most people. The moon is subtle and feminine in nature and moon sign personality often expresses more strongly in a woman than her sun sign. If you want to make a woman happy, choose a gift for her based on her moon sign rather than her sun sign, unless her personality strongly expresses her sun sign traits. There are many free chart services online, including the one on my website, which make it easy for you to quickly and accurately find sun and moon signs for anyone with a birth date.

Aries loves the first of anything, whether it is a new video game, the first issue of a coin or stamp, or a signed first edition print or book. A scrapbook all about them; a portrait of them, their pet, or their home; or a gift certificate for something they’ve never done before, like a rock climbing lesson, makes them feel special. Monogrammed items and diamonds speak to them of luxury and wealth. In fashion, they are drawn to black and white together and accents of fire-engine red. Aries rules the head and they often are drawn to hats, scarves, headbands, and hair accessories that draw attention to the head or face. A gift certificate to their favorite styling salon is appreciated.

Taurus is an easy sign to please because they revel in all the senses. If it looks good, tastes good, sounds good, or feels good, Taurus says it is good! They have a keen aesthetic sense and know quality when they see it. Ask them what they want; they’ll be glad to tell you. Both sexes tend to enjoy wearing gold jewelry and colorful stones. Music or tickets to a live performance are a hit, as is a gift certificate to a fine restaurant or their favorite gourmet market. Some Bulls are collectors or love antiques – check to see what is already on display in their home. The weight and texture of wood and stone appeals to their earthiness and gives you a springboard for more gift ideas.

Gemini has a tendency to become bored easily and have a restless, imaginative mind, which makes computers, video games, and cell phones highly appealing to a Twin. They enjoy going places, so tickets to events or attractions give them the tingle of anticipation – their favorite feeling! Many Geminis are word lovers and puzzle addicts. Books about their favorite subjects, magazine subscriptions, blank writing journals, and Sudoku and crossword books are possible gifts. Birds, butterflies, kites, and airplanes are all a part of the youthful air realm of Gemini and offer more gift possibilities. Dexterous Gemini loves the jingle of a bunch of bangles or a charm bracelet on the wrist.

Cancer is an emotional and protective water sign that appreciates any gift that makes them feel nurtured or remembered, be it a heated stadium seat, a certificate for a massage, or a framed photo of their family. Homemade goodies and handmade gifts touch their hearts. Most Cancers are attracted to water. How can you make them feel in their element? A soothing fountain, a fishing pole, a tropical escape, and recordings of whales and dolphins are all watery gift ideas. Some Crabs have a strong traditional streak, which likes fine china, crystal, and silver. Silver is their metal and pastels are their colors. Cancer rules the fourth house of home, so when in doubt, a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card is the way to go.

Leos are fun to shop for because they enjoy getting gifts. They especially like fancy wrapping or the box in a box in a box before they get to the small gift inside trick. Usually, they try to guess what their gift is, if they haven’t already pressured you into telling them what it is – they dislike waiting for anything. Monogrammed plush robes make them feel royal, as does a signed coupon entitling them to a day of your royal servitude. If you knit them a sweater or scarf, they will wear it proudly no matter how it fits or what it looks like because they really do value the love that goes into a handmade gift. Some like caps and T-shirts with humorous sayings. Take them to Las Vegas or an amusement park. Gold coins and gold bars have more appeal than gold jewelry, but they love any gold. Most Leos I’ve met will ooh and aah over a carnelian stone and tuck it right into a pocket. They must instinctively sense that carnelian is good for their temper and heart.

Virgo shares some earthy tastes with Capricorn and Taurus, but it is ruled by Mercury, an airy planet, making “how tos,” DIY books, kits, and systems attractive to them. Although most Virgo females enjoy flowers and jewelry, the majority of them are more interested in things that are both beautiful as well as useful, such as cashmere sweaters or sheets with the highest thread count. Male Virgos feel the same way about their tools and toys. The detailed nature of scrapbooking or bead work is very Virgo. Many Virgos are information junkies, so any device that connects them to the Internet is an ultimate gift for either sex or any age.

Libras enjoy gifts that are visually stimulating or attractive, whether it is an item to entertain them, such as a game or movie, or something to decorate their home, yard, or themselves. A gift certificate to a day spa or nail salon appeals to the ladies. A Libra woman can never have too many pocketbooks or shoes. The key word for Libra is “accessory.” A Libra male in a sporting goods or automotive store will spend far more on all the accessories for their sport or vehicle than any other sign. Although most Libras love scents, if you choose the wrong one, you may receive it as a gift from them – in new wrapping paper – at some future point in time. If you don’t know their taste, give a gift certificate to be safe.

Scorpio is the most difficult sign to shop for unless you know their passion – and they all have a passion for something. Unless you have an insider’s edge, stick with money. Cash is never tacky to a Scorpio, who enjoys being in control of how, what, and where to spend. Some Scorpios are into the Goth, dark, or macabre side of the sign and the others may have a secret wish to be. A book of spells for love and money or some other occult subject may elicit a laugh when they unwrap it, but they will enjoy reading every word. If your favorite Scorpio is already pierced and tattooed, get them a certificate for more body art from their favorite place. Sexy gifts are good, but present them in private. Scorpios know they are sexy, but it’s for them to advertise – not you.

Sagittarius is easy to shop for. They enjoy humor, adventure, and friendly competition. Gag gifts, joke books, comedy movies, sporting equipment, season tickets to their favorite sport, or a gift certificate for clothes from a place like Land’s End or L.L.Bean are great gifts. Some enjoy the pursuit of entertaining knowledge, making Guinness World Record books or Trivial Pursuit games a good gift choice. Send them to Disney World, Space Camp, river rafting, horseback riding, or hot air ballooning, no matter what their age, and they will never forget you.

Capricorn appreciates quality and practicality in gifts and is attracted to wood, metal, and stone. Beautiful wooden boxes or turned wood items appeal to them as do wood, stone, or metal sculptures. When they receive a gift that increases in monetary value, like stocks, or flavor, like some wine, whiskey, or cheese, they feel they’ve scored big! They will proudly display a one-of-a-kind chess board, leather-covered books, framed family tree, or heraldry coat of arms in their home. Leather jackets, boots, and briefcases please many Capricorns. Tweeds, fine wools, corduroys, dark velvets, and raw silks are their favorite fabric textures and suit-wearing Caps will love a good-quality power tie.

Aquarians are as unique as individuals as they are from other signs, making them tough to shop for, although any new tech device is a safe bet. Like snowflakes, no two Water Bearers are exactly alike. Weather monitoring stations, lava lamps, an astrology reading, or a subscription to their favorite magazine (they all have some off-beat interest) are possible gift ideas. Weird, off-beat things, like those tiny metal bits on a magnetic base that you can sculpt, that wave thing that tips back and forth, or a kazoo or a didgeridoo fascinate them. They go through phases and change their tastes often enough that, unless you know them very well, a gift certificate to Amazon or eBay is the way to go.

Pisces are attracted to the sea greens, blues, purples, and misty and sparkly things. Silver is usually preferred over gold and they will enjoy a mood ring as much as a semi-precious jewel. Some Pisces are psychic or sensitive and appreciate books on New Age, spiritual, or metaphysical subjects. The symbolism in a deck of tarot cards speaks to them and they are natural tarot readers. Dolphins, whales, mermaids, angels, unicorns, and gods and goddesses of mythology may appeal to them. Romantic, sentimental movies, music, or books; scented candles, incense, and bath salts give them an escape from reality, which they love. Pisces rules the feet, so you can’t go wrong with pretty toe rings, comfy slippers, quality socks, or a gift certificate to a shoe store. The ultimate gift would be a trip to a place they romanticize in their imagination – Paris? Bali?

Orange pumpkins in the fields and bags of candy stacked near the entrance of every store can mean only one thing – trick-or-treat time! Halloween 2010 falls on a weekend, which may increase the number of parties and costume contests penciled on your social calendar this year. The planets Venus and Mars will be transiting the mysterious sign of Scorpio for most of October, making this a season of fascination with the paranormal, occult, and macabre. People will delight in the drama of Halloween and the thrill of projecting a hidden persona by donning a costume.

On Halloween 2010, the planets are serving a party platter and punch bowl full of good-natured fun. The Halloween moon will be in the creative and regal fire sign of Leo. This warm and gregarious moon encourages creativity, originality, exhibition, and games. Mars, the planet of action, will be in the early degrees of the expansive, jovial fire sign of Sagittarius – an extremely social sign that delights in adventure and humor. Unless you are so grown up that your inner child has abandoned you completely (in which case, I recommend you dress as Ebenezer Scrooge), you had better get your costume ready!

Here is a trick to help you look like a treat this Halloween – you can use astrology to help you choose a costume! I’ve made a list of basic sun sign personality attributes and costume suggestions, which represent the energy of each of the twelve zodiac signs. You can choose a costume to express the nature of your sun sign, rising sign, or moon sign and let your star power shine brightly for you this Halloween.

Aries (March 21st – April 19th)
High-energy and derring-do, a hero or the ego-driven nemesis, the first to accomplish something. Superman, Luke Skywalker, Wonder Woman, Kim Possible, a firefighter or police officer, GI Joe, Amelia Earhart or the Wright brothers, a devil.

Taurus (April 20th – May 20th)
Practical, caring, nature-loving, music-loving, fond of simpler times. Medieval and renaissance garb appeal to the men and women. Hunter or farmer, Mother Nature, Pan. Any costume with a musical instrument as an accessory. A flower, tree, or cow.

Gemini (May 21st – June 20th)
Childlike, imaginative, flighty, associated with pairs, famous communicators or inventors. Peter Pan and his sidekick, Tinkerbell, Bonnie and Clyde, Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, any past President, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, butterflies, Big Bird, ladybugs.

Cancer (June 21st – July 22nd)
Watery, nurturing, protective, intuitive and empathetic. At one time in history, a midwife and healer using herblore might have been called a witch, so witch is a good Cancerian persona, as is a gypsy woman with her crystal ball. Scuba diver, doctor or nurse, mermaid or merman, crab, turtle or snail.

Leo (July 23rd – August 22nd)
Creative, proud, regal, fun. Leo loves a costume even when it’s not Halloween – the more bling, the better. Any king or queen persona works, but Caesar, Arthur, Henry VIII, or Elvis appeals to the guys, and the ladies love attention-getting Cleopatra, Lady Godiva, or a more modern Madonna or Lucille Ball impersonation. Cats, of course, from kittens to lions, from Cat Woman to Garfield.

Virgo (August 23rd – September 22nd)
Earth maiden, caretaker, organizer and analyzer of details. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Sherlock Holmes, doctor or nurse, Hermione Granger. The Mummy (uptight Virgo) or Oscar the Grouch (Virgo gone bad) or Inspector Gadget (Virgo gone obsessive) are possibilities.

Libra (September 23rd – October 22nd)
Fairness, balance, law and order, fashion and romance, couples, vigilantes. Romeo and Juliet, Marie Antoinette, Wyatt Earp, Robin Hood. Batman. Cruella de Vil, judge, lawyer, any princess, Miss America, Don Juan, Cyrano de Bergerac, Statue of Liberty, angel, Snow White, Cinderella.

Scorpio (October 23rd – November 21st)
Intimate, secretive, intense. Anything goth. Vampire, punk or heavy metal rock star, ghost, invisible man, pirate, prisoner, Mata Hari, Svengali, Green Hornet, Riddler, Darth Vader, an FBI or IRS agent. Any poisonous or venomous creature, such as a snake, dragon, or bee.

Sagittarius (November 22nd – December 21st)
Optimistic, expansive, social, adventurous. Clown, fire eater, juggler, comedian, jockey, racecar driver, SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, Indiana Jones. Any over-the-top gruesome mask and fake blood for fun.

Capricorn (December 22nd – January 19th)
Responsible, restrictive, goal-oriented, concerned with history and reputation, Capricorn rules the bones and mortality. Skeleton, Grim Reaper, executioner, any past presidents or leaders, Vikings, circus strongman, caveman, lumberjack, hobo (the shadow side of Capricorn), dressing like an old man or woman, Bob the Builder, train engineer.

Aquarius (January 20th – February 18th)
Future-oriented, humanitarian, eclectic and electric, the oddball or genius. Professor, Einstein, Harry Potter, Gandhi, a robot, a computer or TV, nerd or geek, ET, R2D2, C3PO, 60’s hippie. Any costume requiring glow-in-the-dark makeup or radical hair.

Pisces (February 19th – March 20th)
Watery, dreamy, mythical or mystical. Poseidon holding his triton, a wizard with a wand, a fairy, elf, or gnome. Glinda the Good Witch. Alice in Wonderland, Yoda, a dolphin or an octopus.

They’re creepy, spooky, and mysterious. I’m sure you know them. They’ve visited you at home on your TV and you may have seen them in the movie theater, too. They are The Addams Family. So, what do they have to do with astrology? The characteristics of planets and signs of the zodiac may be learned easily by examining archetypes who embody them. Archetypes can be found in mythological tales and in our pop culture figures. Often, a transit of a planet will make me think of a modern day character from a book or TV show that personifies the qualities of that planet and sign. The current transit of Venus and Mars in Scorpio makes me think immediately of The Addams Family, particularly Morticia as Venus and Gomez as Mars.

Scorpio rules the eighth house of the astrological chart. In traditional astrology, the eighth house has to do with the occult, metaphysics, the paranormal, sex, death, taxes, and inheritance. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto. Characteristics attributed to Pluto are intensity, power, destruction, resurrection, and transformation. A spooky ancestral home decorated with the macabre and mysterious, housing a family possessing intense passions and morbid proclivities who live off unlimited wealth hidden in the basement is the most perfect example of Scorpio eighth house symbolism I can imagine.

The Addams Family movie was released to the public on November 22, 1991, under the appropriately Scorpionic influence of the Sun, Mars, and Pluto transiting in – you guessed it – Scorpio! I’m sure the transits of those planets in the sign of Scorpio increased the popularity of the film and the audience’s enjoyment of the actors’ portrayal of the spooky family so many of us love. Not all movies based on popular television shows live up to expectations, but I know The Addams Family lived up to mine. Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston were wonderfully cast as Gomez and Morticia. I have watched the film several times over the years when I wanted to set the Scorpio mood for the Halloween season.

Mars is a planet of action and physical vitality. It is a masculine planet and represents sexual energy in matters of love. When Mars is in the fixed water sign of Scorpio, passions can run deep and both lust and anger can flare dramatically. Mars in Scorpio may have its own moral code of conduct and rules to live by. When someone breaks those rules, it is an invitation to take action. When Mars in Scorpio believes in something or someone, it believes all the way and can be completely devastated should it be deceived or betrayed. In The Addams Family movie, Gomez is entirely convinced Fester is his long-lost brother – he cannot allow himself to believe otherwise. When Gomez is playing with swords, visiting his basement full of money, wrecking model trains, or succumbing to Morticia’s chilly charms he is acting out the essence of Mars in Scorpio. Obsession is a Mars in Scorpio quality and Gomez is obsessive about his family. Above all, he is obsessive about Morticia. As he observes her sleeping, he says, “Look at her. I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way, what bliss!”

Venus is a planet of physical comfort, beauty, and pleasure. It is a feminine planet and represents affection in matters of love. Scorpio is an intensely emotional water sign that wrestles with issues of control and exposure. In love and all relationships, Scorpio prefers to have the upper hand and know more about the other than they are willing to share about themselves until they feel it is safe to do so. Venus in Scorpio can be jealous, protective, intensely loyal, and secretive. Clandestine romance, love triangles, and unrequited love are the negative patterns of relating that arise from the Scorpio fear of exposure and intimacy. Those three kinds of relationship have distance and lack of total involvement at their core. Sometimes Venus in Scorpio takes the all-or-nothing approach – if Venus in Scorpio can’t have exactly who it wants, it will have none at all. Yes, for all the reputation Scorpio has as the sexiest sign of the zodiac, it can actually appear quite cold on the surface. Despite her minimal outward display of emotion, Morticia radiates a deep passion, neatly tucked into her form-fitting dress and graceful control. Morticia is the ultimate cool, self-possessed woman. She is also a perfect example of the social etiquette, which Venus in Scorpio values. Her manners are impeccable and she considers the needs of others, even if her values are a bit skewed, as when she admonishes her mother, “Hush, mama! It’s for charity! Widows and orphans. We need more of them.”

Out of all the twelve signs of the zodiac, Scorpio is the one sign that has distinctly different characteristics between the sexes. Scorpio women are more comfortable in the realm of emotions than Scorpio men. They are better able to contain sensitive emotions when they choose not to express them. Not all Scorpio men can reconcile the softness and sensitivity of Scorpio’s feminine water energy with the stereotypical strong and dangerous bad boy Scorpio image they believe they should project. When a Scorpio male feels too much emotion, he may release it as anger rather than risk appearing vulnerable. Many Scorpio women are the coolest, calmest ladies you will meet. They prefer to wait and watch and lure others in patiently through intent, much like a spider in a web. Like Morticia, the less they speak, the more they seem to say – especially with those expressive eyes. A Scorpio woman has powerful family instincts. Morticia walks and talks Fester through the family graveyard to impress the importance of his family history upon him. A female scorpion is such a good mother that she may take on the care of baby scorpions which do not belong to her. A Scorpio mother may be protective, but she rarely stifles her children. Although she may have her own strict Scorpio rules, she encourages her children to become strong and think for themselves. There is a scene I love in The Addams Family movie where Wednesday, stalking Pugsley with a knife, goes past Morticia, who is at the kitchen table. Morticia stops Wednesday and asks, “Is that for your brother? I don’t think so.” She relieves Wednesday of the knife, but gives her a much larger and deadlier looking weapon. Now that’s empowering! Morticia may appear to be unaware of her children, but she doesn’t miss much. Venus in Scorpio is receptive, intuitive, and able to know what others are thinking or feeling.

For an in-depth astrology lesson on Venus and Mars in Scorpio, watch The Addams Family movie and pay special attention to the patriarch, Gomez Addams, and the matriarch, Morticia Addams. Together, they show us the masculine qualities of Mars in Scorpio and the feminine qualities of Venus in Scorpio – two halves of a passionate whole. Gomez asks, “Are you unhappy, my darling?” Morticia answers, “I’m very unhappy, my darling.”