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Hello Everyone!

Not one, not two, but three planetary bodies are stationing this weekend! Neptune stations on Friday, 29 May, followed by Chiron the very next day. These planets are stationary retrograde, which means that once they sit still for a minute, they will begin their apparent backward motion through the heavens. Conversely, Mercury is stationary direct, meaning that after a slight pause, he will move forward in the sky.

Whenever a planet is retrograde, it gives us an opportunity to re-visit, re-think, re-organize, or any other “re-” word we can employ. Retrograde planets give us a second chance to learn something or to meet a challenge successfully. When a planet is in a 90 degree relation to any other planet, then we say they are square to each other, and a square relationship is also a challenge. Challenges force growth. No challenge, no growth. We all know this instinctively. Learning to eat is a challenge for a baby, but as the baby slowly begins to develop his hand-eye coordination, then he slowly learns to feed himself. The challenge of learning how to use the tool at the end of the arm is a great opportunity for the child to grow. Not only does he begin to understand that he may have more control over his body that he previously thought, he learns that he can meet his own needs. Good for you, little baby!

During this Mercury retrograde period, Mercury has been squaring both Neptune and Chiron, both of whom are aligned with Jupiter at 26 degrees Aquarius. Mercury began his backward motion at 1 degree of Gemini before moving into the later degrees of Taurus. Gemini is an information gather, so the first week of Mercury retrograde (roughly 7-17 May) was all about re-ceiving and re-assessing information. Once Mercury moved into Taurus, the focus of our re-examination shifted to Taurus-ruled issues, like money, finances, and natural ability and talent. Even the finals of American Idol occurred during Mercury retrograde… Well, this makes perfect sense, Mercury retrograde in Taurus is all about recognizing the talents and resources we have.

The square of Mercury to the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron challenges us to grow by meeting our own needs in the Taurus and Venus ruled areas of our lives through the inventive, healing energy of Aquarius. Neptune is associated with healing, as it is the modern ruler the sign of Pisces. Adding more force to this healing energy is Chiron representing the wounded healer who can affect healing because he understands his own wounds so well. Jupiter is the greater benefic, enlarging and expanding all he touches, and he is the ancient ruler of Pisces as well.  The challenge here is to learn how to heal ourselves through the re-discovery of where our resources and riches are hidden. Money isn’t everything, and money doesn’t bring happiness. Loans create money, but not value. If this were true, all of the bad loans that have been made would not have affected the value of our real estate.

So with this square of Mercury Retrograde to the current denizens of 26 Aquarius comes a call to recognize our talents and resources for what they are: the key to our own intuitive healing processes. This honest recognition will begin the healing process as it relates not only to our finances, but to our values and overall happiness as well. Taurus is ruled by Venus, who is still very active in Aries, traveling with Mars, on a mission to start new relationships: the most important one being the relationship we each have with our Selves! Once we can get that relationship back on track, getting everything else on the right rack should be a relative breeze! When Mercury goes direct on May 31st, it will be time to take the information we have re-assessed and begin to move forward creatively in the our thinking.

At the same time, Neptune and Chiron will begin their retrograde travels together, asking us to internalize the healing that we began when Mercury was retrograde.  Recognizing our issues is only the first step, and this was the task of Mercury retrograde. Neptune rules our dreams and our visions, and Chiron rules our core wounds. The demand here is to take the information that has come up from Mercury retrograde regarding our talents and resources, and to use this information is a deep and personal way to change what is holding us back.

Sound familiar? The traditional ruler of Aquarius is Saturn, and Saturn is in Virgo opposing Uranus in Pisces through next summer! Uranus is the modern ruler of Aquarius. Uranus in Pisces wants to bring healing by freeing us from our self-imposed limitations. Saturn in Virgo asks us to pay attention to detail, to habits, to routines, to the everyday minutiae of our lives. Making this energy even stronger is the mutual reception of Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces, and Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius. This relationship brings harmony to these energies so that they work in concert together. Finding an appreciation of our own resources and talents and learning how to integrate them on a daily basis will surely lead us to better experience of ourselves and our world. Making room in our daily schedule to allow our talents to create wealth in our lives will free us from the limitations we have imposed on ourselves. Most of us can agree that talented people should use their gifts! Well, we are all talented somehow!

Make everyday American Idol! Perform, practice, rehearse everyday. All talent needs to be rehearsed, to be nurtured. Why not start today, while the energy of the universe is there to support you. You will be so glad you did.

Of course, if you aren’t sure what your talents are, then maybe you should talk to someone. Ask your friends, ask your co-workers, ask your astrologer. That’s what we are all here for.

I invite you all to share this column with your friends, post it on your Facebook page, Tweet it out to the universe! Its always great to share good news!

with love,

m

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

Dear Friends,

Change is the only constant. Change is linked to growth. A seed must change in order to grow, and so must we.

Each new moon is a time to plant a new seed which we would like to see grow in our lives. Another way to say this is that at the time of a new moon, we should set our intentions to create and nurture growth in our lives. This Sunday, May 24th, we will have a new moon in Gemini. Gemini rules our daily activity and the things which we take for granted, probably because we are so familiar with them. Gemini rules siblings and neighbors, and our communication patterns, as well as the ways in which we process information. A new moon in Gemini is giving us the chance to set our intentions on how we deal with information, how we deal with our daily routine, how we deal our siblings, and any other aspects of our daily lives. This is also the theme of Saturn in Virgo, which is demanding that we adjust our daily habits and routines in a way that better supports our efforts to be happy and prosperous.

Mercury rules the sign of Gemini and at the time of the new moon, Mercury is retrograde at 24 degrees Taurus. Taurus is the sign we associate with money, the economy, our values, and our talents. When Mercury is retrograde, we have a second chance to get something right that we did not complete to our best ability the first time. Gemini represents information, and now we are are receiving a second chance to respond to the information we have received. What issues have come back to us that involve money, siblings, neighbors, or our innate talents. These are the areas where we have a chance to encourage and support growth. If we think of our lives as a garden, then we must cultivate the beautiful flowers in order to produce the bounty of fruit and vegetables which can sustain us and give us not only strength, but support and encourage our own growth. A good gardener knows that fruits must be nurtured, while weeds must be destroyed. Weeds don’t need nurturing. They grow easily, despite harsh conditions. A good gardener attends his garden daily to protect the fruits and to ward off the weeds.

With Mercury retrograde in Taurus at the time of the new Moon in Gemini, we have the chance to correct some bad gardening decisions. We need to weed out that which robs our fruits of their nutrients. How have we allowed weeds to ruins our finances, create unhealthy routines, and to sour our relationships with our brothers and sisters? How have we been communicating? At least half of all powerful communications involve active listening. Have we been listening to ourselves, to others? Have we been listening to the sound of our fruits growing, or the rustle of weeds overtaking our source of nutrition?

Saturn spent the first 4.5 months of the year retrograde, giving us the to time to adjust to the demands being made by the first half of the Saturn/Uranus opposition period which will last through July 2010. This is the first lunation of the year in which Saturn is direct. Saturn is now back in the drivers seat, demanding that we adjust our schedules, routines, and coping mechanisms to better suit our needs. Both Virgo and Gemini are ruled by Mercury as he retrogrades in Taurus through May 30th. Mercury is also carrying a square to Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron, who are all sitting together at 26 Aquarius, focusing their energy on healing our core wounds, or pushing the knife in a little deeper. With Pluto in Capricorn, we must accept responsibility for the current state of our affairs, so any attempts to deny our own responsibility for where we are now will certainly make our wounds and illusions that much harder for us to bear.

Taurus rules our natural talents, and with Mercury retrograde squaring Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron, we are being told that we already have the talents we need in order to heal ourselves, to adjust our perspectives, and to develop our values in a way that will bring us more happiness and more prosperity. Every situation we encounter is a chance to support our own growth. If all we can see is a setback, then we need to adopt a new perspective. This flexibility of mind is a trait we associate with the sign of Gemini. This is the power of this new moon. We must see the potential for growth everywhere. We must welcome change. We must nurture and share our talents, no matter how insecure we feel about them. Insecurity is a weed, it does not need nurturing.

As with all Mercury retrogrades, now is not the time to make big decisions, start new projects, or buy expensive items. We should use this time to weed our gardens, stake our plants, and fertilize. Gemini lunations will make our tongues wag, as we begin to share information and comment on our own gardens, as well as the gardens of our friends. Make sure to speak wisely and honestly, and don’t indulge in gossip. Gossip creates weeds. A Gemini lunation during Mercury retrograde is a great time re-dedicate ourselves to integrity. The gardening we do now will bear its fruit at the time of the Sagittarius new moon in 6 months. Commit to a harvest of self-sustaining talent, wholesome values, and balanced finances. The option will be weeds of martyrdom and regret.

I know you are flexible enough to grow a good garden!

With love and appreciation, I dedicate this week’s column to the many men and women who sacrifice their own gardens so that mine can grow luxuriant. Thank you for your hard work and sacrifices.

m

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

Dear Friends,

I have been having the most intense dreams almost every night for a week. I also notice on Facebook that people are mentioning their dreams and sleep habits more often lately. This is not surprising. Neptune is the planet which rules dreams, and he is lining up with Jupiter, the planet of expansion, and Chiron, the wounded healer. With so much change and uncertainty in the world these days, it is no surprise that people’s fears and desires are surfacing from their subconsciousness in the form of dreams. Dreams are illusions projected by the subconscious mind onto our unconscious mind. Often we dream without remembering, but when we remember a dream, I believe it is because the dream has a very meaningful connection to the issues which occupy our waking, conscious mind. These dreams are a mechanism which allow our subconscious mind to communicate with our conscious mind. If the communication is meaningful, then we remember the dream, but our conscious mind cannot always find the meaning. For this reason, we often label our dreams strange, weird, scary, or bizarre.

Neptune also represents the power to heal, as does Chiron. Both of these bodies are sitting with Jupiter, whose influence also brings expansion. Whatever Jupiter touches, it becomes larger, good or bad. I have also noted on Facebook that many people are seeing doctors and dentists this week. I even experienced the influence of these planets as I scheduled three different check ups in two days this week! That’s getting healthy in a big way! My “three doctors in two days” marathon also reflects the influence of Mercury retrograde, as I have been putting off these things out of pure laziness. Mercury retrograde is a time to re-visit things we haven’t done correctly, and I have not been keeping up with my yearly check ups!

For the past month, Neptune, Jupiter, and Chiron have been coming closer together and they will remain together through January 2010. This is a great window of time for us to heal ourselves. Neptune represents our dreams and inspirations, the illusions which inspire us to reach beyond our immediate grasp. To paraphrase BetteMidler , Neptune can be considered the wind beneath our wings. It is the power of a dream that propels us to reach new heights. Chiron brings the influence of a wounded healer, someone who can touch and bring healing to others because he has, himself, felt the pain of whatever ails us. Chiron also brings a mentoring energy to the areas he touches, so even as we heal, we may be called upon to mentor or heal others. Jupiter will bring expansion and growth to these processes.

All of the bodies are together in the sign of forward-thinking, humanitarian Aquarius. Aquarius is not a self-centered energy. Aquarius is more concerned with the greater good, so it is important to acknowledge that what is best for each of us an individuals should also be best for the larger group. For this reason, Aquarian energy is often labeled as “detached” because it does not play favorites: what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Being selfish or self-centered in our approaches to healing and mentoring wont bring the desired results. As we inch ever slowly into the Age of Aquarius, we must remember this. The ancient ruler of Aquarius is Saturn, while the modern ruler is Uranus. These two planets are in opposition through the summer of 2010. Uranus is disrupting the restrictive influence of Saturn so that new growth can occur. We can think of this like pruning a wild vine growing up a beautiful tree. If the vine is allowed to grow out of control, it will eventually strangle itself and its host. Its single-minded pursuit of its own development will actually results in its own downfall. By pruning the vine, we allow for growth without causing destruction of the entire organism. This, of course, is healthy for the vine and the tree! If we extend this metaphor to our own lives, then we must think about grooming ourselves in order to allow for our own personal growth while at the same time taking care of those who take care of us. What can we cut back, get rid off, or free ourselves from, in order to grow more luxuriantly and free?

There is a down side to this energy, and it requires that we play a martyr role. If we cannot change, learn to roll with the punches, or swim with the current, then we are most likely holding on to our wounds and identifying with the pain. Our dreams and inspirations become illusions which prevent us from creating a new reality. We stop at the wound, never allowing it to heal. We need the wound in order to justify our pain. Just as we have the opportunity to heal and free ourselves from our wounds with these three bodies all together in Aquarius, we have the ability to twist the knife a little deeper, sealing our fate as martyrs to our own pain. Addictive behavior is ruled by Neptune, as well, and Chiron could make sure that this behavior has a wounding influence, while Jupiter can make sure that the influence is big! It would be a great manifestation of the healing properties of this triumvirate if we could intervene in the affairs of someone whose self-destructive or self-indulgent behavior was leading down this dark path.  We often heal ourselves as we heal others. Aquarian energy asks us to be our brothers’ keepers.

There is no doubt that all of this energy can be overwhelming. Neptune is always a difficult energy to work with, and no one likes to be reminded of their wounds or weaknesses, but we must acknowledge what we wish to correct or develop, and now is that time. Mercury retrograde is bringing up things for us to revisit as our healing window opens. In fact, Mercury will square Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron on Wednesday, May 20th. A square is a challenge that presents the opportunity for growth and forward movement. Whatever comes up for us this week, we can be certain that dealing with it the same way we always do will not bring us the success we wish to achieve. If we follow the path that Mercury is laying out for us, then surely we will find the healing, and subsequent freedom, that we deserve.

As always, the devil is in the details, and on Sunday, May 17th, Saturn will turn direct and the stern taskmaster of the universe will be back in action. Saturn has been in Virgo for one year now, demanding that we learn to be healthy and pay attention to the details. He has been retrograde for the past 4 months, giving us time to integrate whatever information he has given thus far. Now that he is direct at the same time that Mercury retrograde squares the healing triad, we can bet that there will a need to payattention to the details of our experience. Saturn will now begin to move forward to the big showdown with Uranus which will occur in September 2009. Everything we are experiencing, all of the things we are working on, all of the pruning and developing we are doing, will be tested at this time. If we have been diligent and paid attention to the details, if we have taken care of not only ourselves, but the others we share our world with, if we have improved our habits and routines then we can surely expect to pass this big test… and then it will be time to move on to the next one!

Much love and happiness to all!

m

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

Dear Friends,

T.S. Elliott referred to April as “the cruelest month” in his epic poem “The Wasteland.” For many us, the experiences of this past April confirmed this observation. Everyone everywhere is aware that times are changing . Economies both personal and global, governments both local and national, triumphs both small and large are happening visibly and with force. The backdrop for these changes is the Saturn/Uranus opposition, which only happens once every 42 years. If we go back to 1967 and compare what was happening in the world then to what is happening now, we can see many similarities. Great, sweeping changes were happening in our social consciousness, in our government, and in our perception of the world. Today, technology makes the world smaller everyday, and in 1967, the television was doing the same thing. The US and the USSR were pressuring each other and the Vietnam war was a global thorn in the lion’s paw. Today, The US and Russia are once again at odds and we have another unwinable war in the Middle East.

Pluto was in Virgo for the summer of 1967, and in the US this meant that our society was transforming its notions of what it meant to be healthy, as well as bringing in a renewed interest in having the government serve the will of the people. Virgo energy wants to be of service, wants to be practically helpful. For us today, Pluto has just finished a 10 year cycle in Sagittarius, where there was no restriction to the possibility of growth and expansion. Look at what happened to the global market and our own personal ability to get credit from 1995 until last summer. Everyone had credit, everyone was buying houses with interest only loans, and money, although no one had any, wasn’t a problem like it is today. Six months ago, Pluto entered Capricorn, the sign that brings restriction and boundaries. Pluto transforms what “is” into what “needs to be.” What needs to happen is that people can only spend what they have, and the government and financial markets of any country should support the greater good of its people, not the personal wealth and power of a few.

Pluto rules extreme power and wealth, as well as dictators, prisons, and shared resources. Pluto is the co-ruler of the sign Scorpio, along with Mars. In fact, we can view Mars and Pluto as a team. Mars plays the smaller and faster point man to Pluto’s heavy-handed Terminator. Whatever Mars cannot convince us of through our own personal experience (we knew we couldn’t afford that house once the real payments kicked in…), Pluto will cram right down our throats. Nothing personal.

This Saturday, May 9th, the Moon will be full in Scorpio, showing us clearly where we have given away our power. Scorpio also rules shared resources, so things like mortgages, credit, and financial systems in general will be highlighted, along with issues like taxes, inheritances, and areas where we have power struggles or control issues. Speaking of power struggles and control issues, our relationships will be front and center, too, because it takes two to share: a giver and a receiver. We will finally see where we have made mistakes, where we have misused our resources or the resources of others, and where we must make adjustments.

Adjustments is a key word for Virgo, and Saturn is still very much a force in this equation. Saturn has been retrograde in Virgo since the first of the year, but on May 16th, Saturn will go direct and move forward once again. While retrograde, Saturn has given us a chance to get accustomed to the idea that we have to make big changes in the way we do things. Saturn first entered Virgo in September 2007 and this is when we first started hearing about a possible foreclosure crisis. Saturn went retrograde in mid-December 2007 through the beginning of May 2008 in order to give us time to get things under control. Well, that didn’t happen and we argued about what to do in Iraq, instead. Once Saturn went forward again, the reality of the situation hit home and the presidential election went from being centered on the war to being centered on the real estate crisis. Saturn in Virgo opposing Uranus led to the triumph of the new and unexpected over the status quo, and our country elected the first African-American president. We have heard a lot of news about his plans for the economy and the nation in general this week. This is good, because we need a plan to get control of the situation. During this time of Saturn retrograde, I have been counseling all of us to get a plan for ourselves. What do we need to do in order to flourish in these changing times? Saturn has been retrograde since Obama took office, but on May 16th, once Saturn goes direct after this full Scorpio full Moon, we will be in a much greater position to move forward. We will get the final message from the full Moon in Scorpio.

Mercury went retrograde at one degree of Gemini this past Thursday. Mercury is information. Gemini is an information gatherer. Although this sets the mood for the Mercury retrograde period, the real area of exploration and research for this Mercury retrograde will be 30-22 degrees of Taurus. Taurus represents the things we own, our talents, and our finances and our real estate. These degrees represent the Capricorn decan of Taurus, bringing a heightened emphasis on the question of personal responsibility to this research. Don’t forget, Pluto is n Capricorn, forcing us to transform our understanding of what is means to be responsible. Taurus and Scorpio are oppose each other on the zodiac wheel. Taurus represents the resources to which we have direct access, and Scorpio represents the resources which we need the help of others in order to develop or access. The downside of Taurus is self-indulgence and the down side of Scorpio is the use of resources for ego-centered pursuits. Scorpio represents shared resources. If we do not share what we gain in the Scorpio ruled areas of our lives, then those resources will become a burden. I like to think we should use the Taurus resources in our lives to help develop and build the Scorpio resources so that we can share our full talents and resources with the world. If we keep them for our own personal enjoyment, then we become prisoners to them. All of the riches and power in the world wont buy us happiness, personal fulfillment, or love.

This Mercury retrograde period will be a time where we have a chance to re-discover what our resources are and how we can work with the other people in our lives in order to develop these resources. The first half of a Mercury retrograde period is usually the period where the problems are defined or illuminated. The midpoint of the cycle is when we shift from identifying to resolving the issues. The midpoint of this Mercury retrograde cycle is May 18th, just two days after Saturn goes direct. The force of these two planets going direct at the same time will propel us towards to a new understanding of what we need to release and of what we need to hold on to in order to develop and share our talents and skills, and how we can begin to regain some control over ourselves so that we can navigate the twists and turns of the new era of exciting shifts, transformative change, and enlightening growth!

Change is happening all around us. The pain is in the resistance, so let go and allow yourself to enjoy and share the talents that the universe has given you. Let’s put aside our petty egos and look at the larger picture. How can our talents make our family’s lives better? Can our talents and gifts be enjoyed by our friends. Why stop the sharing with them? The more we have, the more we can share, and the more we will receive. Its simple, really.

Much love to all!

mark

PS: In the spirit of the Scorpio full Moon, I’d like to ask your help in sharing my work with others. If you like my column this week, please consider posting it to your Facebook, MySpace, or personal webpage or blog. Tweet about me! I’d really apreciate anything you can do to help share my work and to help me develop my practice.

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

Dear Friends,

There are many obvious topics of discussion for us this week, but we can only examine so much in any given week. Time is an issue for all of us: you don’t have the time to read a ten thousand word article and I wouldn’t have any time for anything else if I wrote one. Time is ruled by the planet Mercury, for he is swift and never spends time in any one place too long, unless he is retrograde. That’s right! Its time for Mercury retrograde again! Mercury will station on Wednesday and turn retrograde on Thursday May 7th at 1 degree 44 minutes of Gemini. He has been in his shadow since April 22nd, which means that he will be re-examining whatever ground he covered for us from that day until he comes out of his shadow on June 16th.

One thing we know for sure about this period of time, Venus has been square to Pluto retrograde in Capricorn the entire shadow time. We have been experiencing a series of three Venus square Pluto events. At the first square on Feb 6 2009, both Venus and Pluto were traveling direct. This square gave us some idea of how we should consider re-inventing ourselves. On the second square, Venus was retrograde and we were expected to make a serious change on a deep, inner level that would allow us to be more creative and assertive. The final pass was this past Saturday with Venus direct and Pluto in retrograde motion. As an added bonus, Mars has joined Venus for this event to give Venus some moral support - or perhaps simply to hold her up. The Venus squares have been an intense period and perhaps we have felt like falling down under the weight of Pluto’s demand. Mars and Pluto co-rule the sign of Scorpio, and Venus is in her detriment in this sign. With Pluto retrograde, it is clear that we are now being given some time to integrate the deep changes we were to have made during the Venus retrograde period. Venus and Mars together in Aries will bring the energy and action necessary to start “walking the walk” of the new and improved YOU.

We often look at the cycles of Mars and Venus as the arbiters of personal relationships. When they come together and begin a new cycle, we begin new phases in our personal relationships. The Mars/Venus cycle is a measure of our own personal growth in relationships. Usually, Mars moves much more slowly than Venus, but because Venus had a prolonged retrograde period recently, Mars and Venus are spending a great deal of time together, with Venus chasing Mars a few degrees behind until the day she finally catches him on June 20th.  What normally only takes a few days to happen is now taking over a month. This is significant. We are receiving a flood of information in the next month about our relationships so that when the conjunction of these two planets finally happens on June 20th and a new phase begins, we will know what our mission is and how we should move forward and develop our relationships as an extension of our own personal growth.

On Saturday, May 9th, we will have a full Moon at 18 degrees of Scorpio. Full Moons are an intense period of energy release and Scorpio is an intense energy, but not a bad energy, as many people like to misunderstand. Scorpio is co-ruled by Mars and Pluto. Scorpio energy is the energy of transformation, and as such threatens the status quo. This is the reason so many people give Scorpio such a hard time. The status quo is ruled by Capricorn. Well, the sign Capricorn is being renovated by Pluto for the next 16 years, so we can expect the status quo to get a good makeover! As an example, we can look at the status quo on Wall Street and Washington, D.C. Capricorn rules big business and big government. There’s a whole lotta shaking going on in both places!

Whats is status quo in our relationships? Is the status quo good, bad, or simply comfortable. Why do we maintain the status quo in our relationships? These are questions we would all be wise to ponder, as we prepare for the cosmic report card known as the full Moon! With Mars in Aries, sitting with Venus who still carries the scars from her three recent run-ins with Pluto, we can expect to see, larger than life, the “real’ effect of maintaining the status quo in our lives. Of course, if the status quo is working beautifully, then we should get lots of confirmation. Clearly, long-lasting, stable, and rewarding relationships are built upon a firm foundation. But what if the foundation isn’t firm, or it needs to be reinforced? Well, then we can expect a few walls to tremble, or perhaps the entire structure will crash down. Only we know how solid our foundations are, and only we are responsible for doing the maintenance work required to keep the foundations secure.

Paul and I just celebrated our 9th year together. When our relationship was new, we were drunk on love, or what we thought was love. The joy and desire for each other we felt seemed like love to us, especially since we both felt like we had been denied love in the past. Well, some of that was love, but it was new love, it was infatuation - a very important part of young love. Let me remind us all that we don’t have to be young in years in order to experience a new, young love. Anyway, as love matures, as a relationship develops, it requires support, for the merging of two foundations into one cannot happen without structural rehabilitation. Paul and I have learned that we need to renovate occasionally and shore up our foundations, even when we are not excited about the prospect of all of the dust that renovation creates. I can tell you a little dust is worth the mess when the cleaning crew finally shows up and we once again inhabit comfortably that space we created for ourselves so many years ago.

The past few months, we have all been called upon to make some serious changes in ourselves so that we could be more free and more happy. Now, these changes will be put to the test as we are called to share them with the people in our lives. As we grow as individuals, our relationships must grow as well. Paul asked me once what I wanted in a relationship and I answered that I wanted a relationship that could grow and change with me, because I knew I needed to grow and change. He seemed perplexed at the time because his concern was for stability. Well, if you create a little dust now, there will plenty of stability to support the changes to come. Nothing stays the same, all things change, even our most cherished relationships. The mistake is thinking that change is bad. When we allow our insecurities and fears, our illusions and our fantasies, to overshadow our need for change - which is another word for growth, then our foundations become “status quo,” and there will always be a Pluto or an Obama who comes along eventually and shakes things up. If we have been in denial, like Chrysler, then the shake up will be severe. If we have been cultivating our own growth and relationships carefully, renovating when necessary, then the Plutos and Obamas of the world simply confirm that we have been doing the right thing all along.

This week as the Moon waxes to full, we will receive lots and lots of feedback on our relationships. Pay attention, don’t shoot the messengers (Mars is still carrying a square to Pluto, which means that fighting right now is not the answer), and remember that if you want something to change, then you have to be the one who changes first, otherwise, all you are doing is complaining. It takes two to tango, and you are in the lead!

Good luck and be well!

mark

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY