Everything is “in preparation for” … If you have set your intentions for the year, you should be preparing AS IF they have already manifested. If you have been working on your individual foundation (for life), you should be preparing for the expansion to come.

This year (2020) brings a Venus + Mars Retrograde in the same year, which is relatively rare, they try to take turns so we’re not overwhelmed. This is a complete overhaul of our Inner Feminine & Masculine. Our values & priorities are changing and therefore our choices & actions that follow will naturally change as well. We have intense transformation going on socially & collectively, but individually, we also have access to a rare inner stability that we can fortify and build on going forward … if we navigate consciously and alert. That means consciously recalibrating your own internal Feminine/Masculine balance this year so that 2021 is easier to navigate.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is that 2012 was the last time Venus Retrograded in GEMINI, so I checked on Mars and sure enough, that Retro happened in VIRGO. This time, we have Venus in Gemini again but Mars is going to linger in its home sign of ARIES which also lends more weight to the value of doing your own individual healing, education and soul work. Theoretically, the CANCER North Node has helped activate the need and value of personal self-care and I would venture to say that most of us have been reminded that if our bodies do not feel well, we are not as effective in the world. The natural outgrowth of that work, is going to be choosing New Ideas to act on going forward. The recalibration of your internal Feminine/Masculine dynamic is going to free up new energy & ideas, customized just for you.

2/16 ~ Mercury Retrograde in PISCES:
Throughout the year (2020), you want to consider the Venus & Mars Retrogrades as backdrop to some very important decisions & interactions that you will have to navigate this year, no matter what the planets are up to! So now we dive into Mercury! This is just a reminder that we get 3-4 chances a year to do a conscious data-dump and give the Mental Body some much-needed rest & restoration. Yes, it can be frustrating to try to move ‘n shake in the world, technology tends to go wonky, cars breakdown, communication & travel can go haywire. But it can also be magical, enlightening & restorative. This is when delays are Divine and you can carve out a little extra time and space to do your own processing of what’s going on in your individual life. Check in with your own ideas, thoughts, concepts, do some research, finish projects & develop your ideas behind the scenes. New connections may be made, but more often old connections circle back to complete something. It is the *Sacred Pause* before you decide or choose something really important this Spring. Take advantage of this one to clarify where you are and where you are heading and keep in mind the power of the Imagination & Spirit (Pisces). If you imagine doom & gloom, it is more likely to manifest. If you imagine breakthroughs with relationships & resources then you will create more of that. This time in Pisces is going to have its own additional caveats. Your intuition & imagination will be involved, for better or worse, so try to connect fluid language with vivid imagery – the Pisces-way. Keep in mind nothing is linear or logical about Mercury in Pisces, this is All-Spirit or Other-Worldly. So any spiritual healing work is tremendously supported by this retrograde. It is a test to fortify your intuition, and you have to work your intuition like a muscle so that you can learn to rely on it. Check in with your own beliefs, dreams & fears. And make time to be in Nature, under the Sky, that always gives the Monkey Mind a break, but especially during Pisces time, each year, we are supposed to be dreaming up the action plan that we will execute throughout Aries/Taurus time. And don’t forget the best thing about this Retrograde is that it is totally easier to commune with your Angels, Ancestors & Animal Spirit Guides and they are even more available when in PISCES, like now. If you are at some kind of crossroads, my Astro/Tarot Reading is excellent for getting to the heart of one issue or simply checking in with your own cycles and getting support for wherever you are at this time. It’s the best time for Divinations and consulting with your personal Council to find out what will be supported throughout this year (2020).

2/16 ~ Mars Enters CAPRICORN (until March 30, 2020):
This adds some fuel & energy to the current Capricorn Stellium (Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto + Pallas) and it also makes it more personal. Plus, as I said before, Mars is making its way toward a Retrograde which only happens every 2-years. We are navigating the months leading up to it so there may be some *clues* along the way. This energy will generate the energy to focus and get very serious about your responsibilities, obligations, work, career, status and/or reputation. You may want to work tirelessly, hopefully on something magnificently creative and powerfully transforming for both you and those you choose to share your time, energy & gifts with. However, be mindful of your physical body and how much it can really handle, and still keep you operating at optimal levels. You may work better alone at this time and, if you can, this may allow you to be so productive or create something the world really needs that you are drawn into the public because of it. Either way, some form of recognition for your choices & actions may also happen at this time. Time to be practical and get organized, avoid petty distractions & disputes. This can be a very creative time as you will feel more dedicated and tend to be more disciplined than usual. This energy is as challenging as it is powerful and tends to make or break you. It is time to take a serious inventory of Self. Do you like what you find? Is there more work to be done? What have you mastered that you want or need to share with the world?

2/20 ~ Jupiter (Consciousness & Belief Systems) ~sextile~ Neptune (Faith & Connection to Spirit):
(1 of 3: 2/20 ~ 7/27 ~ 10/12)
This is an opportunity to connect to miracles, if you believe in them. It may be miracles, but it may also be the alignment between your Heart & Soul, that part of you that trusts your intuition and believes in a higher power or Source or Universal presence. There are a couple of expressions of this energy. This is a time where your spiritual beliefs expand, taking on a more broad, Universal feel. You may feel the urge to work with those less fortunate (never a bad idea) or you may meet someone that expands your thinking, opening you to new concepts of faith. Under this influence, you may feel more optimistic & philosophical than usual, about your life. It can be a fabulous energy to connect to, because when you are optimistic & faithful, as well as truly connected to the whole, you can manifest almost instantly. However, keep in mind that there are probably some very real challenges that you are facing, which require tangible efforts to resolve. Stay focused on the possibilities, while still doing what needs to be done to facilitate the highest possible outcome. The only challenge with this energy is that Jupiter, the planet of expansion and optimism, is getting together with Neptune, the planet of no boundaries, so be mindful of any excesses – of any kind. Remember, all things in balance, it is rare that excess serves the higher good.

2/21 ~ Mars (courage & passion) ~trine~ Uranus (freedom & individuality):
This is a powerful combo, however, it has to be integrated and consciously expressed to yield the best results, otherwise you may miss an opportunity for a major personal breakthrough. Mars gives you the courage and Uranus awakens new possibilities within. This is an easy alignment of your actions and your individual brilliance. You may even discover some new gift or talent that has been dormant for a while, but is now beginning to come back to life. This energy pushes you to try something new that liberates you in some way that you may have previously felt daunted by in the past. Because of the easy angle too, this new evolution to the next level should not entail you having to annihilate any other aspect of your life, you will just intuitively know it is time to change. It won’t matter what others think or say either, because the prompting for change comes from within so take advantage of this time to experiment. You never know where it will lead.

2/22 ~ Sun (source & essential Self) ~sextile~ Uranus (freedom & individuality):
This activation will help you access a deeper sense of authenticity as everyday routine events may be enlightening this week. Anytime Uranus is involved ‘ah-ha moments’ are available, those sudden inspirations or the surprising clarity that changes everything is bubbling near the surface, you need but invite it in (to your conscious mind to be useful). Eventually, you will have to ground these breakthroughs in some physical form, but this energy supports the exploration of possibilities. Where can you use a dose of freedom & liberation? This energy also promotes ‘authentic living’ – you won’t be able to be phony, nor tolerate it in others this week. Just remember that truth sometimes rattles those who would rather play ‘nice’ (keep up appearances/status quo) than face the facts, so watch out for rebelliousness, if not in you then in others. This is not a disruptive energy, except to those who resist change. Don’t fight it – embrace it! Change is good, it means you are growing!