Astrologer, Ron Akanowicz, and I recorded this podcast to demonstrate the various tools astrologers use when forecasting, or looking ahead. This “map” of next year offers us the same benefits of a road map; directions, and the general terrain, but from a celestial perspective. This map has a unique twist–we’ll look at 2012 from both the Western AND the Eastern (Vedic) astrological perspectives.

Ron will demonstrate Western astrology techniques on my birth chart to look at 2012; the transiting progressed Moon, transiting Saturn, and the transiting nodes of the Moon.

And I will demonstrate the Vedic Gocara transit technique on Ron’s birth chart to see what 2012 holds for him. Gocara is simply the transits of  planets from the natal Moon. We will look at the transits of the two “destiny” planets, Saturn and Jupiter, and Ron’s dasa lord, Venus.

If you want to watch a slide show while listening to the audio, go here.

As a special BONUS to listeners, you can download a copy of “Gocara: 2012 Forecast from the Natal Moon.” This report is the reading of the two destiny planets, Saturn and Jupiter, from each Moon sign (if you don’t know your natal Moon sign, find out what it is by using my chart calculator). The Moon represents the mind, our ability to adapt to the environment, and growth. If the transiting planet is in a favorable position from the Moon, then it is able to grow what it’s in charge of, if it is not in a favorable position, then it’s time to adapt, or let go of whatever is no longer serving us.

Then head over to Ron’s website to download your complimentary copy of “Saturn Through the Signs in 2012,” where he delineates Saturn’s position from each Sun sign (Saturn changes signs in October of 2012) from the Western point of view.

To find out MORE about your year ahead, get a personal reading with either Ron or me. With a personal New Year Reading you can:

• Plan ahead with the exact dates of important times
• Accomplish your goals by knowing when to push and when to go with the flow
• Avoid or reduce negative periods with personalized remedies
• Know the trends for career, love, and health
• Find out if the solar and lunar eclipses of 2012 hit on your sensitive points
  

Get your personal map read, and ENJOY your life to the fullest in 2012!

Contact me (Vedic), or Ron (Western) to schedule your New Year Reading.

The fee for a reading with me, or Ron, is $97 for 60 minutes, plus, as a special bonus, you will receive a FREE 30-minute follow-up six months after your reading to answer your questions, review timing, or clarify the chart!

May the stars bring you hope, healing, and a Happy New Year!

Mars in the 2^nd, 4^th, 8^th or 12^th from the Ascendant, from the Moon, and from Venus. This must be done for all three charts and in every instance that Mars has this placement, one point is given. So look at the Rasi first. Count how many times Mars falls in these positions from the Ascendant., Moon and Venus.

Now look at the Navamsa, do the same there and then the same with the Trimsamsa.

Add up the total.

If the couple has more than two points of difference, then one person will be pushier in the relationship than the other, and the person with less Mars consciousness will feel like they are backed into a corner from time to time. The more of the difference between the totals, the more one person is assertive and the other is passive.

It is the duty of the astrologer to point this out to the couple because Mars will make for problems down the road. If otherwise, the compatibility is good, then the difference in Kuja Dosha can be weathered.  If the compatibility is teetering on average, then the difference in Kuja Dosha can push it over the edge. If the compatibility is already less than average, then having a difference of more than two points in Kuja Dosha, will almost certainly end the relationship.

There are exceptions to Kuja Dosha and this must be taken into account when tallying up the totals for Mars affliction:

Mars in the 2^nd in Virgo or Gemini

Mars in the 4^th in Aries or Scorpio

Mars in the 7^th in Cancer

Mars in the 8^th in Pisces

Mars in the 12^th in Taurus

Some say Mars in Leo or Aquarius, but I have not found this to work at all.

The following is an explanation of Mars in the various houses of the partner and family and a general description of Mars.

Mars is a planet of consciousness because Mars is the will power. The Sun is the Soul and the Moon is the Mind, but Mars takes what is in the mind and puts it into action. The Moon is the perception and the manas, but Mars is the General that takes our perceptions and acts in the world. To assert ourselves in the world is Mars. Mars is logic and he is celibate. He is not swayed by emotion. Mars is swift and jumps into action to get the job done immediately. Mars gets directional strength in the 10^th house which is the opposite of the 4^th house, the house of the emotions and home life.

Mars in the 2^nd house: the 2^nd house is a house of family and of our environment. Asserting our will and being logical within the family will cause discord. Anytime logic is used in the realm of the family or partner, there will be fertile ground for hurt feelings and resentment. The family is not a logical place, it is an emotional place, and should be a place of comfort.

Mars in the 4^th house:  The 4^th house is similar to the 2^nd house as being a house of the home. But it is also a house of happiness and emotional security. Mars gets no directional strength here. This will make the person overbearing in their emotions and appear needy. The family members and partner will sometimes feel the brunt of their angry feelings.

Mars in the 7^th house:  the 7^th house is the house of the partner. A person with Mars in the 7^th house will assert their will with their partner. They will be logical with their partner. Emotion will be lacking when it come to romantic relationships.

Mars in the 8^th house:  the 8^th house is the house of the marital bond and also the partner’s money. Mars in 8^th person will assert their will in how their partner handles their assets and finances.

Mars in the 12^th house: the 12^th house as it applies to relationship life is the sex life. Mars in 12^th house person will assert their will and be very logical when it comes to sex.  There can be an element of selfishness on the part of the Mars in 12^th house person and his/her partner may come to feel like they are not having their sexual needs met.

Venus is the ruler of the natural 2nd and 7th houses, Taurus and Libra. The 2nd house is worth, and the 7th house is desire. The ultimate desire being for “the other,” or for a romantic partner. Thus, Venus rules desire and the choices we make to obtain our desires.

Venus also rules weighing what is more worthwhile in order to obtain what is desired.  Libra, the moolatrikona sign of Venus, is represented by the Scales. When Venus is afflicted in a chart, the person makes poor decisions that take them down a path they do not want to go, and where the amount they must give up is not worth what they would receive.

There is more than one name given for Venus in the classical texts. Shukra is the most common and it means “bright white”. Another name for Venus is kama which means desire. Venus is also “Kritajna” or “knowledgeable in conduct.”  Thus Venus rules manners and politeness. Manners are necessary to navigate the world of others and have one’s desires fulfilled.  “Dinavegya” means “offering to the miserable” and is another name for Venus.  Whatever is offered to the miserable is to make them more comfortable, thus Venus rules all comforts, nursing, and therapy. Venus also rules upayes, or remedies, for afflictions in the chart.

Keep all that Venus represents in mind while evaluating its effects in the Signs. The Signs in which Venus is deposited, in addition to its position in regards to the Moolatikona sign of Libra will color and control all the effects of Venus within the horoscope.

Venus in Aries

In addition to the natural indications of Aries, Venus here will give the effects of a 2nd and 7th house Venus.  Aries is 7 houses away from Libra, the Moolatrikona sign of Venus, and counting from Venus, Taurus is the 2nd Sign from Aries. For Taurus, the feminine sign ruled by Venus, we always start counting from Venus first, because the feminine sign receives the energy and the masculine sign initiates the energy. Venus in Aries people enjoy the give and take of relationships and are almost always in one. They are sensitive and respectful of their partners and highly sensual. They have beautiful manners when dealing with others. The 2nd house Venus connotations will make these natives be receptive to romantic partners with beautiful faces. Comfort and decoram play a major part in their lives. They react strongly to beautiful words and speech and can appreciate good food. These natives find much value in the beauty of their surroundings and have an eye for fine art. A man with Venus in Aries will have a wife or girlfriend who has problems with subservient workers, servants, maids and physical labor (because Saturn rules subservient workers, servants, maids and physical labor, and  is debilitated in Aries).  He will also have a wife or girlfriend who has great luck with her bosses, the government, politicians and benefits greatly from her father ( because the Sun, which rules bosses, government, politicians, and fathers, is exalted in Aries).

Venus in Taurus

Venus in Taurus gives 8th and 1st house connotations in addition to the natural effects of Taurus. 8th house connotations because Taurus is the 8th Sign from Libra, Venus’ Moolatrikona sign, and 1st house connotations because Venus is in Taurus is in its own feminine sign. Venus in Taurus will initiate romance in a secretive, hidden fashion. They will be attracted to romantic partners who are also secretive and mysterious. They will find much value in the hidden, occult side of life. They often find that they transform themselves through relationships. They are naturally able to benefit from their partner’s resources. Relationships often have abrupt endings (because of the 8th house connotations). These natives are well-groomed and take care of their appearance. They are on the receiving end of much nurturing and comforting within relationships. Receiving love, and the results of their choices, directly affects their self-esteem. A man with Venus in Taurus will have a wife or girlfriend who benefits greatly from her mother and has a wonderful relationship with her mother (because the Moon is exalted in Taurus, and the Moon rules mothers).

Venus in Gemini

This Venus has 9th and 12th house connotations. Venus in Gemini will initiate romance, nurturing and decision-making through a philosophical or religious platform (9th house). They are also very attracted to and desiring of these qualities. When they make a choice, it is often after considering how it will benefit their higher learning and wisdom. These natives may also incur expenses while being on the receptive end of a relationship. The consequences of their decisions will cause them to incur expense also and they more often than not will have to give something up in order to receive in their relationships. Venus in Gemini people will often find that foreigners are attracted to them (12th house). Sometimes their love interests are kept secret or hidden away. There is an inclination towards clandestine affairs but Venus would have to be very afflicted by aspect, or low in Sthana bala (positional strength) or Cheshta bala (focused energy), for the illicit nature to manifest.

Venus in Cancer

Venus in Cancer carries 10th and 11th house connotations in addition to the natural characteristics of Cancer.  This placement of Venus will initiate romance, nurturing and decision making based upon duty (10th house). The 10th house is the house of karma or action, and these natives often initiate their romances instead of being on the receiving end of someone’s affections. Venus in Cancer will make a career out of helming the relationship and of nurturing the partner. They are often on the receiving end of friendship oriented crushes from others. Because the interested party always presents themselves as a friend, the Venus in Cancer person is obliged to initiate the relationship.  The 11th house connotations on the receiving end of the Venus in Cancer person will cause this native to be drawn to nurturing friends. The friends will also be consulted on a regular basis in important decisions by this native. Social life is of immense value to this person as well. Often, the results of decisions are financial or material gain. A man with Venus in Cancer will have a wife who has had abusive or anger-prone siblings and trouble with real-estate (because Mars rules real estate and is debilitated in Cancer) but at the same time, she will also have a very good husband (the native himself, because Jupiter is exalted in Cancer) and  she has very good fortune when it comes to the Jupiter-ruled realm of higher learning, philosophy, religion and teachers. She is also generally happy and philosophical if Venus is not afflicted.

Venus in Leo

Venus in Leo natives initiate relationships and decisions based upon what they have to gain from it.  Venus in Leo often find that their partners have a lot to bring to the table either in wealth, resources, beauty or knowledge.  The Venus in Leo person is inherently attracted to these types of people, people who stand out in some way.  These natives will utilize friendship and social interaction as their main force when beginning and sustaining relationships.  The inherent value of the relationship will be based upon the friendly feelings between the two people and the ability of the couple to social climb and be recognized in social circles.  Venus in Leo natives will find that they are often showered with love and devotion that they very much enjoy unless Venus is afflicted.  This is because Taurus is 10 Signs away from Leo and they are on the receiving end of romance in a 10th house fashion.  Their partners will make a “career” out of the relationship and nurturing the relationship

Venus in Virgo

Venus is Virgo has 12th and 9th house connotations. Virgo is the debilitation sign of Venus. Venus in Virgo natives will initiate their decision-making process in a vague, hidden manner. They are often unaware of why they made a certain choice. Loss is the catalyst for entering into relationships and they often enter them just for sexual gratification (12th house). When they initiate a decision, they must almost always give up something before they can obtain what they desire. In addition to this, the idea of self-negation drives them in their choice of mate. This is why Venus is debilitated in this sign. Venus has to do with worth and if you are coming from a place of loss or thinking of devaluing yourself (12th house) in order to have a relationship, then you are going against the very nature of Venus as a karaka (producer). Venus in Virgo natives are often the object of desire for philosophical, religious types and also their mentors and teachers. The consequences of their decisions will affect their higher knowledge, their philosophy of life, and their spirituality (9th house). A man with Venus in Virgo will have a wife or girlfriend who benefits greatly from her friends and who has many skills. She will also be very articulate.  (Mercury rules communication and is exalted in Virgo).

Venus in Libra

These natives have characteristics of the 1st and 8th houses. Venus in Libra will initiate its Venusian energy (partnership, relation, making choices and comforting, nurturing) through their body language and personal charisma. The native is polite, charming and well-mannered, gives good advice and has a soothing, comforting demeanor. The native will receive romance, nurturing and the consequences of their decisions through 8th house venues. This means through mysterious, hidden and taboo channels. They will often become caught up in secret trysts. The resources and wealth of the partner serve to nurture and comfort this native. A man with Venus in Libra will often get a wife or girlfriend who has a less than stellar relationship with her father (the Sun, which rules the father, is debilitated in Libra) but very good luck with servants, tenants, and/or subservient workers (because Saturn rules servants, tenants, and subservient workers, and Saturn is exalted in Libra). A woman with Venus in Libra will often get caught up in romances that are very long-term (Saturn exalted in Libra) but that lack stability and consistency (the Sun is a stable and consistent energy but is debilitated in Libra).

Venus in Scorpio

These natives have characteristics of the 2nd and 7th houses (just like Aries, the other Mar-ruled Venus). The native with this placement initiates relationships, decisions and comfort producing activities through the agent of their wealth (2nd house). This person likes to feel stable within their own self-worth and financial situation and uses this to choose their partners and romantic interests. When they are trying to decide if something is worthwhile, the Venus in Scorpio person will calculate how it will add to their value. They are attracted to partners with beautiful faces. These people receive Venusian energy from partners that are highly sexual (7th house). When the partner wants to nurture and comfort the Venus in Scorpio person, they do it through sex. The consequences of the decisions made by the Venus in Scorpio natives will often lead them into relationships and/or dealing with business partners. The consequences of their choices will also have a wide ranging effect on the people in their lives. A man with Venus in Scorpio will have a wife or girlfriend that was abused by her mother either emotionally or physically, or had a mother that was not present (because the Moon rules the mother and is debilitated in Scorpio). The woman with Venus in Scorpio will have romances that are full of heavy emotionality and some paranoia.

Venus in Sagittarius

These natives have a Venus with 3rd and 6th house connotations.  Venus in Sagittarius will initiate relationships out of curiosity. They will be playful and love to go on adventures with their partner. When they make decisions and weigh the worth of something, they look to how much excitement it will bring them. The 3rd house is all about communication so these natives enjoy picking partners that they will be able to effectively communicate with. They are often on the receiving end of love interests that enjoy argument and sparing. Venus in Sagittarius is not the most auspicious place for Venus because the 6th house is the house of divorce. Many times, these natives will attract partners that turn out to be their enemies and do not have their best interests at heart. The consequences of their decisions often wind them up in debt. But they can benefit a lot from their decisions through the agency of their health (the 6th house).

Venus in Capricorn

The native with Venus in Capricorn will have 4th and 5th house characteristics to his/her Venus. This Venus will initiate relationships to find happiness and from deep emotional need. Nurturing others and making worthwhile decisions are an integral ingredient to their happiness. The 4th house is also a hidden house, so when the person is interested in someone romantically, they will show their interest very subtly and the object of their affection must be tuned in to their emotions. The Venus in Capricorn person receives love from others in a grand, romantic fashion (5th house). The partner of the Venus in Capricorn person will be very creative in the way they express their devotion. The consequences of decisions made by Venus in Capricorn people will often lead them into some kind of creativity and the opportunity to express their creativity will weigh heavily on the decisions they make.  Also, if they have children, these children will always be taken into consideration when making decisions (5th house). A man with Venus in Capricorn will have a wife or girlfriend that has ill luck with Jupiter-ruled people such as teachers, mentors, philosophy and/or religion, and money (because Jupiter is debilitated in Capricorn).

Venus in Aquarius

Venus in Aquarius gives 5th and 4th house effects, exactly like Venus in Capricorn, however the initiative/receptive dynamic is reversed. Venus in Aquarius will initiate relationships and maintain them very creatively, and in an over-the-top romantic way. Before making decisions, they weigh how it will improve their creativity. Partners that are attracted to the Venus in Aquarius person will show their affections clandestinely, and in a deeply emotional way. This native naturally attracts very nurturing partners. There are no planets that are exalted or debilitated in Aquarius, so reading some life experiences of the wife or girlfriend for the man with Venus in Aquarius does not apply.

Venus in Pisces

This is Venus’ exalted position. This is odd because Venus will give 6th and 3rd house effects here. Interestingly, such characteristics reveal a naturally cruel facet of the nature of Venus. After all, the avatar for Venus is Parasurama, an avatar that is known for his killing. And Venus is the guru of the demons. Venus in Pisces people will initiate relationships from an inimical standpoint, meaning they will love to challenge their partner. Verbal sparring will be their method of amorous fraternizing. Venus in Pisces people will attract partners who are interested in adventure and are very curious about having new adventures. There will be much indecisiveness when making a decision for these natives. The enemies of a Venus in Pisces native will have much to do with the choices this native makes, and he or she often finds that the consequences of such choices will lead them into their own hobbies, travel, and modes of self-expression (3rd house). The man with Venus in Pisces will have a wife or girlfriend that has trouble, and ill luck, with her friends and has issues with communication (Mercury rules communication and is debilitated in Pisces).

Any education that furthers your skills, talents, abilities are usually good, but what if you choose the wrong class, at the wrong time, or one that ends up costing you more in time, money and energy than it’s worth?

For many of us, our time and money are limited enough that we have to be very careful about what we spend it on, so, there has to be a high “rate of return” to make it worth it.

There Are SO Many Great Classes

As a self-employed person, there are many, many classes, coaching programs, and products I could buy to increase my ability to make more money, attract the best clients, and have more free time. So many of them are as alluring to me as a shiny bit of bait is to a hungry fish!

Recently, I was talking with a friend who was expressing regret that she had paid for a course that was going to be running at the same time she was involved in another professional training situation (my friend has a packed schedule and is juggling a staggering amount of responsibilities).

Being an astrologer, naturally I suggested that she ask a Horary question the next time she was tempted to sign up for a course in the future to see first if it would actually pay off for her (a Horary chart is based on the time and date that you ask a question, not your personal birth data).

Then I realized that I could do the same for myself. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that earlier! It’s funny, but many astrologers seldom use their astrological skills for themselves, and like all other humans, we like to think that because we want it so bad, it must be a good idea.

Plus, some of us have an excess of Jupiter energy (Jupiter is the planet of expansion and optimism), so we think we can do it all too.

Reality Check

Very soon after the conversation with my friend mentioned above (another Jupiter-type person), two very juicy business courses came to my attention.

This time, however, I cast a Horary chart about each course first, before pulling out my wallet.

Not surprisingly, the answer was “no” on both courses. There was nothing wrong with the courses, in fact, the charts showed them to be very good, but the “profit” I would make from them was not good at all.

The chart is showing that the knowledge is either not appropriate for my business at this time; I won’t be able to translate the information to fit my type of business; or I am too busy with what I need to do now that I wouldn’t be able to do a good job implementing the ideas (see the chart and how I came to the answer).

I’m Not the Only One

Right around the same time that I was asking my question, I was asked this very type of question by two clients, AND an astrologer friend told me of a similar question asked by one of his clients.

Continuing education is obviously something that a lot of people are considering right now to improve their professional success, probably because of the current state of the economy.

Recent Similar Client Questions

“Will this program on clearing my (emotional) money issues pay off for me?” The program would have cost her at least $2,000, but more likely, $5,000. The chart’s answer was a resounding “NO!”

“Should I take these computer classes and get a certificate of expertise?” This Horary chart showed that he would hate the classes, be very unhappy with the profits, and wouldn’t have enough time for it anyway. Maybe if he asks the question in a year or so from now, the Horary chart will have a different answer.

My astrologer friend’s client asked, “If I go to art school, would I be able to make a living as an artist?” That Horary chart also showed that she would be very disappointed with the results of that investment (art school would cost thousands of dollars and a good chunk of her time).

If we added up the cost of each one of these courses, it would easily be thousands of dollars, but because of Horary astrology, it turns out to be thousands of dollars SAVED!

If you are thinking of going back to school or paying for additional professional training for whatever reason, but don’t want to waste the money, or the time, if it’s NOT pay off for you, ask me a question about it, and see what the Horary chart says!

Well, whether you read my previous articles on Mercury or not, there are other times that Mercury can cause you to have “Mercury-retrograde-like” experiences, even when Mercury is NOT retrograde. These times are when transiting Mercury is in one of the five unfavorable positions from your birth Moon sign.

I’m in one of those “unfavorable” periods right now. My Moon sign (in my birth chart) is Pisces, and transiting Mercury is now in it’s exaltation sign of Virgo. Pisces and Virgo are opposite each other in the Zodiac, so that means that Mercury is the 7th sign from my natal Moon.

The 1/7 position is often one of opposition and conflict, literally like being on opposite sides of an issue or a debate. The other four unfavorable positions are when Mercury is in the 1st place as your natal Moon (which means Mercury and your natal Moon are in the same sign), in the 5th, 9th and 12th signs from your natal Moon sign, (counting in a counterclockwise direction, starting from your natal Moon sign).

Computer Problems

People trying to email me were getting their emails bounced back, so I had to contact AT&T (love those phone trees and several transfers), but they said there was nothing wrong. Sigh. Obviously, that wasn’t true, so I contacted my website service provider to see what they could tell me.

Turns out my mailbox size was set too small, so the very helpful person at Go-Daddy simply set it to a much larger size (for no extra charge).

It was time-consuming and tedious, but I did learn something that will save me trouble in the future. Did you know that you have to delete emails from the SERVER and not just from your mailbox if your mailbox is too full? I didn’t (and apparently, neither did the guy at AT&T, even though it’s their server).

Well, I tried to delete emails from the server, but it takes about 10 minutes for one email to be deleted! You know what that means, don’t you? I have to call AT&T again. Luckily, Mercury will go into the sign of Libra on 9/26/11, the 8th sign from Pisces, a MUCH more favorable place. I’ll call them then.

Massive Overwhelm

When Mercury went into Virgo, it seemed I suddenly felt completely overwhelmed by the details of life; all the things I have on my To-Do list, and tons of follow-up stuff. Oftentimes a feeling of panic would well up inside of me making me want to throw things, scream, or just go lay down
for a while (tip: stepping away for short periods of time helps more than throwing things).

Misunderstandings

Then there are the misunderstandings between my husband and I, that turn out to be NOTHING once we get to the bottom of it, but when it’s going on, I feel really helpless and remarkably like a two-year-old just before she throws herself to the ground, kicking and screaming in frustration (no, I haven’t actually done that).

Other Moon Signs Affected

Does any of this sound familiar? We all experience these types of frustrations at some time during the year. Right now, Pisces Moon people are not alone on this bumpy ride while Mercury is in Virgo. People with these Moon signs are experiencing it too (if you don’t know your Moon sign, find out by using my free chart calculator):

VIRGO Moon Signs
TAURUS Moon Signs
CAPRICORN Moon Signs
LIBRA Moon Signs

Libra Moon people will continue to have issues during Mercury’s transit through Libra, so this next part about remedies is especially important for you.

Mercury Mantras

I decided to do Mercury mantras because of my impaired ability to manifest things like money, order, simplicity, and mastery of the details involved in my projects, not only during the current transit, but because Mercury is “weak” in my birth chart and I always have some degree of difficulty with Mercury things. (If you haven’t read my three previous articles about Mercury’s job of managing, manifesting, and making money for you, then you can read them on this page, just look to the left for titles with the word Mercury in them).

The best time to start the Mercury Mantras was yesterday (according to my Muhurta Report), and I felt soothed and relaxed after reciting them (I’ll let you know how my Mercury abilities improve).

Very Simple Tai Chi Exercise to Increase Money & Prosperity

A delightful British man, known as The Barefoot Doctor, generously created a free video demonstrating a simple Tai Chi exercise for increasing prosperity. It’s very easy, and I especially enjoy the brief visualization at the end of the exercise. It strengthens the “spleen” (or Earth) energy in your body and helps you to manifest abundance (a Mercury function). If you are concerned about your finances, try it for three days or longer and see what happens.

Oh, What A Relief It Is!

To reduce my feelings of overwhelm, I decided to unsubscribe from “Interesting, but Irrelevant” newsletters that don’t help me with what I’m doing in my life RIGHT NOW.

I have a tendency to try to “learn ahead” by downloading free PDF reports, subscribing to newsletters, buying educational products, signing up for free tele-classes, and browsing websites about things that I plan to be doing EVENTUALLY.

It’s embarrassing how many free tele-seminar MP3′s, educational products, PDF reports, and newsletters I’ve collected over the past three years or so that I STILL haven’t read, listened to, or studied! Yet they are still “pulling” on me energetically, because I have them on my mental “To Do” list.

After unsubscribing from about 12 newsletters, tucking my MP3′s and PDF’s in folders out of sight, I feel wonderfully clear-headed and calm! The reality is that when I need the information, not only will it be available then, but it will be current. Mercury transiting an unfavorable position from my natal Moon really pointed this out to me, so I could adapt (Moon) to the demands of my environment in a more efficient (Mercury) way.

It’s Good MORE Than 50% of the Time

Seven times a year, everyone’s Moon Sign gets to be in a FAVORABLE position from transiting Mercury, while there are only five unfavorable positions (Moon signs currently in a favorable position from transiting Mercury in Virgo are: LEO, CANCER, GEMINI, ARIES, AQUARIUS, SAGITTARIUS, and SCORPIO).

Mercury is a relatively fast moving planet, typically staying in a sign for an average of 18 days. When it is in it’s apparent Retrograde motion, of course, it stays in a sign longer than that (it was in the sign of Leo for a total of 59 days this year), but Mercury goes retrograde only three times
a year.

What we can learn about ourselves, and the subsequent positive changes we make, during these “inauspicious” times are invaluable, and are much longer-lasting than ALL of Mercury’s transits.

To learn more about your Moon/Mercury cycles, the transit effects of the other planets to your natal Moon, or anything else, contact me for a reading!

If you have set goals to achieve your dreams, but time keeps going by and you haven’t reached many of those goals, or have manifested few dreams, a weak Mercury is no doubt involved. If you are easily overwhelmed by the details of a big project, or organizing an event, then the Mercury energy in your life needs to be strengthened.

In Vedic Astrology, Mercury is of the earth element, not the air element as portrayed in Western Astrology, and the”condition” of Mercury in your birth chart determines your ability to manage the details of manifesting your dreams and goals.

Best Signs and House Positions for Mercury

Mercury is in its Joy in the first house, the house of the basic self, or body. Considering we live on earth, and Mercury is of the earth element,  Mercury in the first house helps a person live in the concrete world better than if it is in any other house of the birth chart.

Mercury Afflicted Mercury especially hates being in the sign of Pisces (the fishes), because Pisces is the opposite sign to Virgo. Mercury in Pisces is great at conceptual thinking, but not linear, sequential thinking. Mercury is the planet of discrimination; what things are, and are not, but Pisces is about merging with God and the realization that we are all One. People who have trouble with “boundaries” often have a weak or afflicted Mercury.

My daughter’s boyfriend, is a Pisces Sun, and he has Mercury in Pisces too (tuna is also full of mercury, but it’s not the same thing). Anyway, he is brilliant, and according to Jaimini Vedic Astrology, more brilliant than everyone around him, but no one who knows him would ever ask him to help them to remember an appointment, proof a paper for typos, or to plan an event more complicated than going to the beach.

He’s a very accomplished musician, highly spiritual (he can talk for hours about the Bhagavad Gita), and has a phenomenal knowledge of South Park episodes, but my daughter is the one who makes sure that the bills are paid, that things are put back where they belong (she describes him as a really laid-back tornado), and she will probably need to manage his career if he is to make money as a musician.

My daughter’s boyfriend is the archetypal brilliant musician, who would starve without a practical, grounded, Mercury person to promote him and manage the business side of things (my daughter has three planets in earth signs, one of them in the sign of Virgo, AND she has Mercury in the first house, so she’s happy to do it).

Mercury can also be weakened by being too close to the Sun (combust), in one of the “misery” houses in the birth chart (6th, 8th, or 12th), or by being with the Moon, Mars, or Jupiter (Pisces is a sign ruled by Jupiter).

What to Do if Your Mercury is Weak or Afflicted

• Reciting Mercury mantras is a great way to increase the “vibration” of Mercury in your energy field (Google Mercury mantras to learn more about them and how they work).
• Wear a Gem. This is highly personalized remedy based on the sign that Mercury is in in your birth chart (and/or the 30th divisional health chart, called the Trimsamsa), and what Mercury house you want to emphasize or strengthen. I’m wearing a Red Zircon gemstone right now to help me write  about Mercury and to better manage the details of my life. Mercury is in the sign of Aries (a Mars sign), in my birth chart, in a “bad” relationship with Mars (an enemy of Mercury), and combust the Sun. In other words, I really hate doing paperwork, and being organized is not that easy for me.
• Read Books About Organization. A great one is Getting Things Done by David Allen. Even if you don’t make even half of the
  changes suggested, your life will be more manageable than it was.
• Hire Other People to manage your house, office, or whatever. There are people with a really strong Mercury in their charts who
  would be happy to work for you and take care of the stuff you are not good at. Until I can hire a wonderful Mercury person, preferably, a nit-picking Virgo, I will keep re-reading, and slowly implementing,  the principles in Getting Things Done.

By the way, if you are thinking of hiring someone to help you, you can have a Horary chart done to make sure that they have the appropriate skills for the job, are trustworthy, can get along with other people, and will stay awhile. I know I will certainly run a Horary chart when I’m ready to do that!

As you can see, Mercury is a very important planet to everyone, whether your natal Mercury is in good or “bad” shape. But you don’t have to endure a less than happy Mercury, because there are always remedies in Vedic astrology. Often, it’s helpful just to know where your troubles are coming from. Make Mercury your friend, and Mercury will help you make your dreams come true.

From the Vedic astrology point of view, Mercury does not act like a trickster like this, and it doesn’t affect everyone the same way at the same time. Mercury’s effects are stronger when retrograde, because it is orbiting between the Sun and the Earth and is, therefore, closer to Earth.

The reason why it seems that things go wrong during this time for some people (not everyone), is because Mercury is showing the flaws in the systems we’ve been relying on, and is giving us a chance to go back and fix it, rethink our positions, or slow down and be more grounded.

Why would Mercury do this?

Because Mercury is of the Earth element, in the Vedic system, not the air element as it is in the Western tradition.

The Earth element is concerned with details and making dreams, ideas, and plans tangible. Mercury is the planet of manifestation, and is the great manager among the planets. Mercury is required to bring about concrete realization, and is therefore important in all activities. When Mercury is strong in your birth chart, you are naturally more organized and very detail oriented, and more aware of what is required in order to make make an idea work in the real world.

Mercury is exalted in the sign of Virgo, because it is an Earth element sign. Mercury can be strong in other signs too, but it depends on its house placement in the chart.

In my last corporate incarnation, I worked with two people who have Mercury strong in their birth charts, my former boss and a another co-worker. My former co-worker has Mercury in her ascendant, which as you know by now, is basically the Self (Mercury is in his joy in that position), and my former boss has the Sun and Mercury in the sign of Gemini (the other sign ruled by Mercury) and another planet in the sign of Virgo.

Both of them were the “eagle eyes” in the company and they proofed my work. I am not that detail-oriented and would get preoccupied by the arrangement of the elements on the page (I did graphic design) and the concept of the piece I was working on, and I relied on them to find my mistakes even though I didn’t enjoy it (in a future newsletter, I’ll tell you how Mercury people can drive you crazy). Their eagle eyes helped me to polish the piece for publication.

Now that I work for myself, I drive myself nuts because I am NOT naturally organized or detailed-oriented, and my office is organized just enough that I can do my work, but I know it can be way more efficient than it is. Eventually, I will hire someone to help me with what seems like millions of details involved in running a business. Exactly the kind of person who sometimes annoyed me when I worked in a corporate setting.

A strong Mercury person will enjoy managing the day-to-day details of business and will be very organized naturally (what I used to think was ‘anal’). I will pay this person very well to do this, so long as they’re cheerful, and not gleeful, when pointing out my mistakes.

Now, why you would care about any of this?

Because Mercury is retrograde for almost the next three weeks, but stays in the sign of Leo until September 10th, and this will, or will not, affect you depending on the sign that your natal Moon is in (natal means the sign the Moon is in your birth chart).

Planetary Transits Are Different in Vedic Astrology

Transit forecasts in Vedic astrology are considered from your natal Moon, not from your natal Sun sign as they are done in western astrology. The Moon is used because it represents how we feel about everything in our lives, and is the part of us that adapts to our environment. When Mercury is retrograde and in a favorable position from your natal Moon sign, the good effects of the Moon’s adaptation and receptivity are magnified, because Mercury is closer to the Earth then.

When Mercury is not in a good position from your natal Moon, that is when Mercury will point out where you are not adapting to the conditions of the environment, or to the needs, or demands, of other people. Of course, you may choose NOT to adapt, and willingly pay the price, which is your right as a being with free will. The trick is in realizing that that is what we are actually doing, and not that we are being picked on by the planets.

The truth is, within limits, we can have whatever we want if we are willing to do everything necessary to make it happen, but we often just don’t want to. Besides, sometimes it good to let something go, it’s just easier when it seems that it’s being taken away from us, rather than admit it was because we didn’t want it bad enough, or that we couldn’t accept that it was out of our control in the first place (we can’t control other people, for instance).

Below are the forecasts of how Mercury Retrograde is likely to affect you, based on the sign your birth Moon is in for the next several weeks.

NOTE: I’m using the Tropical Zodiac, not the Sidereal Zodiac that is usually used by Vedic astrologers, and the ayanamsa is the Galactic Center, not Lahiri or Krishnamurti.*

Mercury Transits From Your Natal Moon

ARIES Moon: Mercury is in the 5th position from the Moon, and normally this would cause quarrels with your spouse or significant other, and children, but because Jupiter is in the sign of Taurus, the negative affects of this position are neutralized.

TAURUS Moon: Mercury is normally in a good position from here, and your family would progress in their affairs, but because Mars just entered the sign of Cancer, these good effects are blocked, and there is no extra trouble, things just go on as usual.

GEMINI Moon: As of the 9th of this month, Mercury’s good effects will be available for this natal Moon sign until the 10th of September. The good effects are making new friends (Mercury rules friends in general), and your enemies will trip themselves up (hoist themselves on their own petards, so to speak).

CANCER Moon: Mercury will bring some extra money your way, or will increase your influence and general prosperity, but there will be something about the circumstances of your good fortune that you wish were different.

LEO Moon: Watch out for thieves on all levels, people telling lies behind your back, and expect people to be irritable. You may get a summer cold or flu (my husband is still getting over the flu), and traveling will be more difficult, or expensive, than normal. Double check to make sure you don’t violate any kind of copyright laws in your work or personal life (it could cost you a lot of money), and your relatives may be more argumentative.

The good thing is that this is short-lived, because Mercury moves fast and will be in a more favorable position starting September 10th, so maybe you can just dodge everyone’s calls until then, unless you’re willing to adapt to whatever it is people want from you in order to keep the peace.

VIRGO Moon: The results of Mercury are neutralized for you because Mars is in the 11th position blocking the negative effects that Mercury in the 12th position (the sign of Leo) would normally cause for you. Even though Mars is in the sign of his debilitation, he is still managing to rescue you from undue annoyances.

LIBRA Moon: This is a great time all around for you. You will be even more charming than usual, there will be fresh gains, and happiness in pretty much everything.

SCORPIO Moon: Your enemies will have setbacks, you will make gains in your finances, your love life will be steamy, and you will enjoy especially yummy foods and sweet words.

SAGITTARIUS Moon: The effects of Mercury in Leo (whether retrograde or not) are neutral for you because Jupiter is in the sign of Taurus. Normally, this position would cause some health issues (stay hydrated anyway, just in case), and obstacles of all kinds, but Jupiter is protecting you.

CAPRICORN Moon: This is a good time to buy new clothes, and to study or increase your knowledge and skill set. You will overcome any obstacles in your way, enjoy success, peace of mind, and will have joy in your abilities.

AQUARIUS Moon: You may feel that you’ve lost your luster or are a bit off your game, and that you are having more quarrels or misunderstandings than usual. Try to be detached and just listen more, it’s not a good time to try to solve everyone’s problems. Maybe you can even manage to get some needed time alone. If you’re not there, an argument is impossible.

PISCES Moon: You will make good progress in general over the next four weeks. You will be more popular, lucky, and may even get a promotion of some kind.

Remember that these forecasts are very general and the other planets are having effects too. This is not tailored to you individually, but to everyone who shares the same Moon sign as you.

*If you want to know more about why I do this, go here and download the article, The Mystery of the Zodiac, in PDF format,  explaining why I think this is the most accurate way to calculate astrological charts.

He said he wished he was more ambitious, more willing to fight for his position and ideas, and he was depressed because he thought he didn’t try hard enough at anything in his life. Yet he still had a great job, a wife, and two children he left work “early” to see each night (it was an unwritten rule that the managers were expected to stay after hours) .

My other boss, the Dynamic one (he was always too busy to talk for very long), wanted to find his true love, get married, and have children, but he was always at work, long after everyone else, including other managers, had gone home. He worked weekends, and he frequently traveled for work. He rarely took vacations, and came in even when he was sick.

It was obvious to everyone that he loved his job, and that work WAS his true love. But he felt there was something wrong with him because he was still single in his forties. His dream was to be a CEO of a big, successful, company someday.

Together, they made a great team. Unfortunately, neither felt okay being who they were (nor did they realize the value of knowing their birth chart).

You Are a Dynamic Person?

Do you feel that there is something you MUST do in your life before you die? Do you think you are supposed to do something, that you have a “calling?” Do you feel more alive when you have a lot of responsibilities? Would people who know you describe you as “driven?” Do you get depressed if you don’t feel like you are always making progress in your life, in one way or another? Are you a goal-setter with several accomplishments under your belt? How many times have you heard that “no one on their death bed wishes they’d spent more time at the office?”

Then you very likely a Dynamic person, and the planets in your birth chart are predominately in “masculine” signs.

Are You a Magnetic Person?

Have you NEVER felt the urge to be the CEO of a company, or believed that life is all about a “great” career? Do you find meaning and pleasure in just being alive and believe that life is supposed to be enjoyed? Are your relationships more important to you than anything and will you drop everything to help a friend or family member? Are you are the kind of person who can show up reliably every day to do your job, but even if you are an executive, your job is NOT the most important part of your life? How often have you thought you were just “lazy” and that you’re “not living up to your potential”?

You are probably a Magnetic person, and the planets in your birth chart are predominately in “feminine” signs.

Your Birth Chart “Describes” Your True Nature

Every planet, except for the Sun and the Moon, rules either a masculine or feminine sign. All the signs, except for Leo and Cancer, are one half of the masculine/feminine (Dynamic/Magnetic) polarity:

Signs ruled by Mercury: Gemini (masculine), Virgo (feminine)
Signs ruled by Mars: Aries (masculine), Scorpio (feminine)
Signs ruled by Venus: Libra (masculine), Taurus (feminine)
Signs ruled by Jupiter: Sagittarius (masculine), Pisces (feminine)
Signs ruled by Saturn: Aquarius (masculine), Capricorn (feminine)

The Sun is masculine (Dynamic) by nature, and is most comfortable in the sign of Leo. The Moon is feminine (Magnetic) by nature, and is most comfortable in the sign of Cancer.

Conclusion

Seriously, if I saw a dead person show up at the foot of my bed in the middle of the night, I would scream my head off. Nor would I enjoy dreaming about murders several times a week, or ever, for that matter.

However, I certainly wish sometimes that I could know what was going to happen before it happens without having to use astrology (though Horary astrology is excellent for this). I am, what I call “very intuitive”, but not enough to stop using my beloved astrology. Besides, I like astrology because I get more sleep than Allison does, (and because I’m kind of a chicken and don’t WANT to see dead people).

I’ve had some clients who weren’t sure if the experiences they were having meant that they were psychic, or that they were going crazy. So far, I was able to tell them that they were definitely psychic (and maybe just a little crazy).

How did I know this?

Jaimini astrology! Now I’m going to tell you how you can tell if you are psychic too by looking at your birth chart using Vedic Jaimini techniques.

I’m going to use Allision DuBois’ birth chart to demonstrate how to look at your own chart. I was reading some comments people had made on-line about Allison, saying she was a fraud and the show, Medium, was all fiction.

I knew with Jaimini astrology I could prove to myself whether she was a real psychic, or a fake. As you will see, she is NOT a fake, and in fact, she is a very powerful psychic (her real personality is much more confident than the TV version of herself played by Patricia Arquette). You can look at the houses and planetary arrangements in your chart to see if you are psychic too. You may be wondering if you are if you often have experiences like these:

You “know” things before they happen (through dreams or gut feelings)

You have dreams that tell you what people you know are doing or  feeling even when you live far apart

You know who it is before you pick up the phone (without looking at  Caller ID of course!)

You sense when there is “someone in the room” who is not of the “visible” world

You know details about people’s lives before they tell you anything

You can “feel” when someone you know, who lives far away from you, is visiting your town, even though they did not tell you they were coming

TO FIND OUT FOR SURE, go here to see how I used Jaimini astrology techniques on Allison DuBois’ birth chart, the same techniques you can use on your OWN birth chart to see how psychic YOU are!

Sun sign columns are NOT MEANT to give a comprehensive picture of your life, because your Sun sign is something you share with millions of other people. Even so, it’s a fun to spend a few minutes checking into the divine dimension of our lives through a horoscope forecast.

Though we know that Sun sign astrology is astrology “lite”, we keep reading our horoscopes anyway. Even I do it, and I’m a professional, traditional Western and Vedic astrologer (Sun sign columns are typically modern Western astrology). Whether we read them seriously, or just for fun, there is a way to get a LOT more out of it.

The Secret to Getting More from Horoscope Columns

When you read your favorite horoscope, don’t just read your SUN sign, but read your MOON sign, and your ASCENDANT sign too. Here’s why:

Your Ascendant Sign

From the position of your Ascendant sign, the constant cycles of the transiting planets are in the right “houses,” of your PERSONAL birth chart, bringing to light the right areas of life for you to focus on. The forecast information from the Ascendant is still much more general than a personal reading would be (you are not always affected by the transits of the planets for various reasons), but from your Ascendant sign, is much more personal than just the Sun sign information would be.

If your Ascendant sign turns out to be the same as your Sun sign, this means that your Sun is in the FIRST “house” and you were born sometime around sunrise in your part of the world. If your Sun sign is Taurus, for instance, this would make you a “double-Taurus”, and you would only need to read the forecast for Taurus and for your Moon sign.

Determined by what TIME and PLACE you were born, the Ascendant, or first house, is the most important house because it represents YOU in general, your body, your temperament, and how you appear to others. The sign of the Ascendant is a big part of your true path in life, and the current transits of the planets are more likely to make a deeper impact on you from this point.

What Your Moon Represents

The Moon is the emotional part of you, how you FEEL about everything in your life, where your “heart” is. The Moon is your senses, memory, and the part of you that “just knows” the truth about situations. The Moon is adaptable by nature, so by reading the forecast for your Moon sign, you can see where you are willing to ADAPT to what the environment is presenting in order to have what your heart REALLY wants (which is often very different than what we think we want).

From the Moon position, you see where all the “drama” is in your life, and where you are not willing to adapt or do all the work necessary to have something, or someone, in your life. That’s just fine, because we can’t constantly juggle EVERYTHING our heart truly desires anyway, and some things that we don’t really want, that we’ve been grudgingly putting effort into, needs to be let go of.

What Your Sun Represents

The Sun is the part of you that is connected to the Universal Soul, your physical vitality, your career in only a very general way, (unless the Sun is at the highest degree compared to the other planets in your birth chart, but this is a different topic), your basic purpose and your ambitions. Your basic purpose is your innate abilities, or the aspect of the Divine as described by the characteristics of your Sun sign, that you’re learning to understand and express in the world.

Your Sun represents what you’re willing to sacrifice in order to maintain a consistent and steadfast effort to follow your inspirations and/or ambitions. It could be re-organizing your desk at work, adding a new service to your business, getting a promotion, or going back to school to change your career. Any of these can require a change of priorities, resulting in something having to be sacrificed in order for your inspirations or ambitions to be fully realized.

To Find Out What Your Ascendant and Moon Signs Are

If your birth certificate doesn’t say what TIME you were born, just put in 12:00:00 (noon), in the time section of the Chart Calculator. You’ll still be able to find out what your Moon sign is (and the signs the rest of the planets are in too), but you won’t have an accurate Ascendant sign (unless you happened to have been born at noon).

In that case, just read your Sun sign and Moon sign in your favorite horoscope column, and you will still get a LOT more out of it than you would if you were just reading your Sun sign.

A Few Fun Places On-Line to Read Your Horoscope

Here are a few links to a couple of really fun sites to read your horoscope (I don’t get paid or anything for this):

Michael Lutin- He can be pretty outrageous (he makes me laugh), but he always has something relevant to say. Check out the video on the Horoscope Alley page, it’s funny!

Rob Brezsny-You’ve probably read his astrological forecasts in the newspaper before, he is a pretty famous astrologer. If you haven’t, I think you would like his totally unique forecasts that often include bits of poetry or excerpts from books he’s read, or written.