Backward and Facet-to-Facet
Retrograde Mars reenters Most cancers (Jan. 6, 2025, 2:44 am PST) for the primary time because it fled to extra congenial Leo on Nov. 3, following a tough opposition with Pluto.
The emotionalism of Most cancers creates thorny terrain for Mars, because the signal through which the warrior planet is in its “fall,” or notably challenged. We don’t at all times take probably the most environment friendly or wisest actions after we’re feeling emotional about one thing. Additionally, Most cancers is symbolized by the crab, a creature that doesn’t transfer in a straight line. That’s a great way to guard your self from getting attacked, nevertheless it’s additionally a great way to frustrate your self and others – and that’s particularly so whereas Mars is retrograde. Once we’re transferring backward AND back and forth, and it’s exhausting to get wherever!
On the plus facet, Mars in Most cancers will struggle furiously and unabashedly for his or her household and shut buddies, for youngsters and pets, and for the underdog. When it’s retrograde, look at the actions you’re keen to take to have a protected and nurturing dwelling life, and to guard your traditions. In case you really feel you’re always being attacked or disrespected by others, check out your individual behaviors and attitudes to see when you may be attracting that. By the point Mars leaves Most cancers on April 17 and reenters Leo, you need to be prepared to maneuver full steam forward and stand as much as anybody who’s attempting to place you down.
Campfire Tales
There’s a bonfire burning on the seashore, and also you’re sitting round it with a small group of fellow vacationers and campers. Everybody is much from dwelling; in some instances, you don’t share a standard language. You are taking turns introducing yourselves, and when it’s your flip, you start to recite the same old particulars – your identify, your job, the place you name dwelling.
As a substitute, you end up telling a distinct story. One about sitting round an identical hearth with your loved ones, again whenever you have been too younger to have a lot of a biography. The way you and your sister received up and entertained the adults with a foolish music, and your older brother made shadow puppets towards the background of the tent. How mother and pop leaned into each other and laughed; the way you all toasted marshmallows. Round your present-day campfire, this odd assortment of strangers calm down and smile, maybe remembering childhood tenting journeys of their very own.
It’s typically tougher to inform the story of who we at the moment are, than it’s to recollect the place all of it started. Possibly it’s as a result of we’ve advised the previous tales for therefore lengthy that we all know them by coronary heart, have realized how you can pause on the proper moments for impact. Or perhaps it’s as a result of who we’re is at all times shifting, and the continuing story wants time to search out its construction. As Mercury squares imaginative Neptune this week (Jan. 6, 5:56 am PST), there’s a gap to inform a brand new story across the campfire.
O Pioneers!
The Moon in Aries is a pioneer at coronary heart. And this explicit Aries First Quarter Moon (Jan. 6, 2025, 3:56 pm PST) is a pioneer set out on an unforgiving western panorama – not out of a love of journey, however as a result of it’s burned its bridges within the lush, verdant hills of its delivery. Or maybe, as a result of its dwelling had change into a dustbowl with no financial prospects, and the one answer was to hunt alternatives elsewhere.
It’s a troublesome mixture, Aries and Capricorn; Mars, the brutal warrior planet, is the ruler of 1 and exalted within the different, and that just about tells us what we have to learn about its ferocity.
Nevertheless it’s a fearless and decided mixture as effectively. At any time when we discover ourselves on a tough street, beset by hazard, these two indicators serve us effectively. Neither will hand over, give in, or be denied their goal. So, what was the search you set your wagon to on the Capricorn New Moon on Dec. 30? Possibly you don’t keep in mind, or perhaps it wasn’t even a acutely aware choice; New Moons are darkish occasions, in any case. Typically we don’t understand what we planted on the New Moon till the First Quarter shines a light-weight on the primary tiny, cussed shoots rising on the dusty plain.
Cursive
I spent some youth in Catholic faculty, the place the nuns have been fairly severe about penmanship. That was a very long time in the past; however check out the Christmas playing cards you obtained from anybody who realized handwriting in a Catholic faculty and you may even see vestiges of fastidiously cultivated Palmer cursive.
In its recognizability we discover each the advantage and the shadow of Mercury in Capricorn (Jan. 8, 2025, 2:30 am PST), which favors clear, well-ordered, and tidy communication—however can even mire pondering in inflexible conformity. Use Mercury’s time in Capricorn (via Jan. 27) productively by taming the unruly stacks of paper in your workplace, crossing long-neglected duties off your to-do listing, and catching up in your thank-you notes. And when you’re attempting to perform one thing in your inventive work, begin by stripping down the work to its naked bones, then rebuild it to higher readability and integrity.
Spirit and Spreadsheets
Let’s say you’re the analytical kind, elbow-deep in spreadsheets, skeptical of issues that aren’t seen to the attention. Through which case you most likely wouldn’t be studying this tour into one thing as illogical as astrology – proper?
Or would you? Opposites appeal to, and in the identical approach your extra inventive or astrology-loving buddies would possibly flip to you to defrag their exhausting drive, you would possibly depend on them to offer you an inside take a look at the world of the spirit and of creativeness.
This week, the Lunar Nodes enter the indicators of Pisces and Virgo (Jan. 11, 2025, 3:02 pm PST, via July 26, 2026). These Nodes mark the factors the place the Moon’s path across the Earth intersects with Earth’s path across the Solar; that’s the astronomy. Astrologically, the South Node is mostly related to what we’re already good at/skilled in/all full up with, whereas the North Node describes what we may use a bit bit extra of in our diets.
Typically, the South Node is painted as an evil place. Optimistic Sagittarius rising that I’m, I don’t consider it that approach. I think about it as a storage unit that’s chock stuffed with improbable stuff that you simply don’t occur to have a use for in the mean time, or that you’ve got simply an excessive amount of of. Within the North Node, we’re headed for someplace new, to search out completely different sides of ourselves there; nevertheless it’s not as if we gained’t discover a use for something from that storage unit.
Whereas the nodes journey via these opposing indicators, give your fanciful, imaginative Pisces facet an opportunity to come back out and play. Study to learn tarot playing cards, start a meditation apply, or take up the guitar, protected within the information that your sensible facet will hold you from quitting your job to affix a rock band whenever you’ve solely realized three chords.
Stop Hearth
At daybreak on Christmas morning 1914, within the throes of World Struggle I, a heavy fog allowed each British and German troopers cowl to restore their trenches, and resulted in an unofficial truce. The Germans emerged from the trenches and known as out “Merry Christmas!” in English. The British troopers initially thought it was a entice; however after they noticed the Germans have been unarmed, they too emerged. The enemies shook palms, exchanged presents of cigarettes and sweets, and sang carols collectively. Some Germans lit Christmas timber across the trenches, and there have been even stories of an impromptu soccer match.
Think about you’re removed from dwelling (Mars in Most cancers) at Christmas, chilly and damp and depressing, afraid to your life – when a wave of surprising heat, kindness, and humanity unexpectedly washes over you. Maintain your eyes and ears open as Mars trines Neptune this week (Jan. 12, 2025, 1:16 pm PST); somebody you’ve been defending your self from would possibly truly welcome an opportunity to clink glasses and share a music with you.
Writing and pictures © 2017-24 by April Elliott Kent
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