Mercury Conjunct Uranus, New Moon in Pisces

Mercury will be exactly conjunct Uranus on Sunday, March 18, @ 10 deg. Pisces. The planet of Communications joins with the planet of Unexpected Events creating a strong potential for Surprises in the Media and Communications area during the coming days. Mercury is still Retrograde, increasing the probability of Unusual Circumstances, Misinterpretation of Information, Mistakes, etc. Mars casts an inimical 8th house aspect from its position in Leo, contributing an element of Conflict and potential for Violence.
The New Moon will be on Thursday, @ 8 deg. Pisces. This marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar month Chaitra, named for the lunar sign Chitra that the Full Moon falls in on April 6. The New Moon is tightly sandwiched between Retrograde Mercury and Uranus. Thus the lunar month is "born" with the energy of a "backwards" Mercury plus the energy of Uranus= Unpredictable Results and Surprise Events. The month is therefore a poor one for making important decisions or starting important new endeavors.
The New Moon in Pisces is the Beginning of the Lunar New Year. A chart set up for the exact time of the March New Moon at a particular location is used to foretell events for the coming year. Typically this is done for the capital of a country to predict for that country. The New Moon chart for Washington DC gives a Taurus Ascendant, with Ketu close to the Ascendant = Sacrifice and Changes for the USA. Venus and Jupiter, the two Finance planets, show up in the 12th house of Loss. The sign in the 10th house of Government is Aquarius, with its ruler Saturn in the 6th house of Struggle and Difficulty. Retrograde Mars shows up in the 4th house of Lands and The Opposition Party, indicating more trouble this coming year for Agriculture, as well as continued fighting within the Republican Party. The New Moon itself, combined with Retrograde Mercury and Uranus, is in the 11th house of Goals and Rewards, which although it can signify Realizations, is simultaneously Irrational for Making Decisions and Destabilizing for the country's Ambitions.

Mercury goes Retrograde, Venus conjunct Jupiter

Mercury will begin a retrograde phase Sunday, March 11, @ 12 deg. Pisces. The planet of Communications, Rational Thinking, Data and Information, The Media, Equipment, etc., will be traveling "backwards" in the sign of Faith and Hope for the next three weeks. The usual precautions for Mercury Retrograde periods should be observed: expect Delays and Misunderstandings in Communications, Check and Re-check that the message got through, Decision-making tends to be less rational, News and Information get Misinterpreted. Mercury is the planet of Business Transactions: Check the Math and Count your Change. Expect annoyances like Equipment Malfunctions (computers, media devices).
This Mercury Retrograde period is likely to be worse than usual due to Mercury being in its sign of Debilitation, i.e., further weakened, as well as being associated with Uranus, planet of Unexpected Events, as well as receiving the 8th house aspect of Mars, planet of Aggression and Anger. Mercury will be retrograde until April 4. There will be now be a total of Three retrograde planets: Mercury, Mars, and Saturn, for the next few weeks. The energy pattern is not favorable for beginning any new important endeavors. But dealing with past issues, or finishing up something nearly done, is appropriate.
Venus will be exactly conjunct Jupiter @ 15 deg. Aries on Wednesday March 14: The two main Benefic planets come together in the Heavens this week. They are easily visible as two bright orbs in the Western sky after sunset. Venus is the lower one presently, and will become the upper light as it passes Jupiter in the middle of the week. This energy pattern tends towards Optimism and Excess. Simultaneously, Jupiter is forming an exact Trine Aspect (120 degrees) to Mars: the planet of Optimism affects the planet of Action. Since the planet of Rational Decisions, Mercury, is in a bad way, there is a tendency to let Positive Expectations Over-rule Reason this week.

Mercury Conjunct Uranus, Full Moon in Leo with Mars

Mercury will be exactly conjunct Uranus on Monday, March 5, @ 9 deg. Pisces in the Sidereal Zodiac. The planet of Communications, Rational Thought and Reasonable Decisions is already at a disadvantage in its sign of debilitation (see previous post). This week Mercury is strongly influenced by the planet of Sudden Events, Freedom, and Rebellion. It's the planet of News and the Media together with the planet of Surprises, so no doubt there will be More Surprising News, as there already has been since Mercury entered Pisces last week. The Mercury-Uranus combination is good for Inspiration, especially in the intuitive sign Pisces. (more on Mercury's situation in the current issue of the Astrology Newsletter).
Mercury is also a planet related to The Weather, together  with Uranus in the USA chart's 4th house of Lands, produces Sudden Weather Events, as has happened just recently. The 4th house of the USA chart is also the Opposition Party, i.e., the Republicans, so we can expect some Unusual Excitement this week from that quarter.
The Full Moon will be on Thursday, March 8, @ 24 deg. Leo. This marks the culmination of the Hindu Lunar Month of Falguna, named for the nakshatra (sign of the lunar zodiac) Purva Phalguni, in which the Full Moon falls. The energy is good for Arts and Entertainment, one of the significations of Purva Phalguni. This Full Moon will also be within several degrees of Retrograde Mars, and can cause activation of the retrograde Mars "pressure cooker" effect, i.e., a potentially Violent Event while Moon is transiting in Leo, Tuesday through Thursday. In any case, we should be careful in our personal lives of the tendency to "go off" on others this week.
Venus and Jupiter are getting closer and closer together in Aries. The exact conjunction will be on March 13. The two planets can be plainly seen in the Western Sky after sunset as two bright discs, with Jupiter currently higher up; Venus brighter and closer to the horizon. Venus the planet of Pleasures, Arts, and Money, is affected by Jupiter the planet of Increase = Excessive Indulgence and Expenditure, especially in a self-centered Fire sign like Aries. The tendency is to Over-estimate what is possible. Be careful of biting off more than you can chew. Mars, the ruler of Aries and the planet of Action, being retrograde, short-circuits the potential to actually deliver. Thus the Jupiter-Venus combination leads to False Confidence.

Mercury Enters Pisces, Venus Enters Aries

Mercury enters Pisces in the Sidereal Zodiac on Monday, February 27. Mercury is considered Debilitated in Pisces: the Planet of Rational Thought doesn't do so well in an emotional water sign. Therefore Decisions are Less Rational, and more based on Feelings and Intuition. Mercury will stay in Pisces for a longer time than usual because while in Pisces Mercury will go into a retrograde phase, on March 11. Mercury will finally exit Pisces in early May.
As soon as Mercury enters Pisces it comes under the influence of Uranus, the planet of Sudden Unexpected Events. Since Mercury is the planet of Communications, it represents News and The Media.
The combination of Uranus and Mercury can give everything from Unexpected News to Sudden Inspiration. Mercury is also the planet of Speech. The combination of Uranus and Mercury leads to Unexpected Announcements, Speaking Without Thinking, Gaffs, etc.
The exact conjunction of Mercury and Uranus will be next Monday, March 5. In your personal Vedic Astrology Birth Chart, find the house containing Pisces: the area of life signified by that sector of your chart, and the relationships associated with that house, have potential for Unexpected Communications and Events during the coming weeks.
Venus enters Aries on Tuesday, February 28. Venus will join up with Jupiter, already transiting in Aries. Both Venus and Jupiter are Benefic planets, i.e., signifying Prosperity, Pleasures, Wisdom and Guidance, etc. When combined, especially in a Fire sign like Aries, the resulting energy pattern can lead to Excesses, Too much Indulgence, Over-optimism, etc. Fortunately, for this week, Venus is simultaneously opposite Saturn, which is moving slowly backwards (i.e., retrograde) in Libra, on the other side of the zodiac. Venus will be exactly opposite Saturn at the end of the week, on Saturday, March 3. This week Venus the planet of Pleasures, Beauty, Love, Finance and Agreement is strongly Limited by the influence of the Reality Check Planet, Saturn.

New Moon in Aquarius, Mercury Opposite Mars

The New Moon will be on Tuesday, February 21, @ 8 deg. Aquarius. This marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar month Falguna, named for the nakshatra (lunar sign) of the Full Moon, Purva Phalguni, which will be March 8. The month of Falguna therefore contains the energy of Purva Phalguni, which signifies Entertainment, Enjoyments, Romance, Dealing with Authorities, Use of Persuasion, Confronting Enemies.
The New Moon is conjunct Neptune, which is now at 6 deg. Aquarius. Thus the lunar month is born with the influence of the planet of Dreams,emphasizing Imagination, Idealism, Illusions, Delusion, and the Irrational. Neptune is connected with Sacrifice for Causes and Martyrdom. In another week Mercury, the planet of Rational Thought and Clear Decisions, will become debilitated (i.e., weakened) as it enters Pisces, which will only serve to pile on more energy for Irrational Events during the coming weeks.
Mercury will be Opposite Retrograde Mars this week.  The exact opposition will be Wednesday, February 22: Mercury @ 23 deg. Aquarius vs. Mars @ 23 deg. Leo. When Mars the planet of Action is retrograde, i.e., appearing to be moving "backwards" in the zodiac, it acts like a Pressure-Cooker, building up steam, waiting for something to set it off. Mercury, planet of Communication and the Media, will be the activator this week. Watch for some News which then sets off People's Actions and Events, especially Anger that has been waiting for expression. Similarly, in our personal lives, we have to be careful of our expression which sets off others' pent up emotions.

Mercury conjunct Neptune

Not Much Change in the Heavens this Week.
Mercury will be conjunct Neptune @ 6 degrees Aquarius on Monday, February 13. The planet of  Rational Thought and Intelligent Decisions combines with the planet of Dreams, Imagination, Illusions, and Confusion in the sign of the Social Humanitarian. Opposite is Mars, planet of Action, which is contributing its influence to the Mercury-Neptune energy pattern, = Desire to Act on the Social Problems, with full intent to alleviate suffering, but still Confusion as to How to Proceed. The situation in Syria immediately comes to mind.
Mars is retrograde, which creates Delay, as well as a "Pressure-cooker" effect, which can "blow" with even a mild contribution from another planet, such as when Moon enters Scorpio (Mars' sign) Tuesday -Wednesday.
Venus is pulling away from Uranus (see previous post) this week, but still close enough to continue providing Sudden Events and Controversy in the areas of life that Venus represents: Agreements, Finance, Entertainment, & Female Matters (witness the big blow-up over contraception during the past week). Two of the main malefic planets, Saturn and Ketu, are both in Venus' signs (Libra and Taurus respectively), and thereby contributing their energy to Venus. The planet of Romance and Agreement is not operating in its usual benign fashion this year; it's influence is not to be trusted.

Full Moon in Cancer, Saturn goes Retrograde, Venus conjunct Uranus, Mercury enters Aquarius

The Full Moon will be on Tuesday, February 7, @ 24 deg. Cancer. This marks the culmination of the energy of the Hindu lunar month Paushya. But this year the Full Moon is in the lunar sign Ashlesha, symbolized by the coiled snake, and therefore more portentous than the benign Pushyami, the sign for which the month is named.
The Full Moon will be exactly Opposite to Mercury, which is on the other side of the zodiac in Capricorn. This Full Moon is strong, being in its own (solar) sign Cancer. Thus the Emotions and Instincts of the Moon are pitted against the Rational and Logical qualities of Mercury. The Moon wins the contest.
Saturn goes Retrograde on Tuesday, February 7, @ 5 deg. Libra. The planet of Structure and The Established Order hangs motionless in the Heavens early this week, and then slowly appears to move in Reverse Motion in the zodiac for the next 4 months. The energy pattern thus created is more Stubborn, and Resistant to Change. Saturn is a natural malefic; planets when retrograde are at their closest to the Earth, therefore powerful. Mars, another natural malefic, is also retrograde (see previous posts). With two of the planets that are capable of doing Harm being strengthened in the Heavens, the potential for suffering increases.
Venus will be exactly conjunct Uranus @ 8 deg Pisces on Thursday, February 9. The planet of Love, Treaties, Finance, and Guidance encounters the planet of Sudden Unexpected Events, making for a potentially wild week for Venus significations . Some of the possibilities would be: Volatility in the Financial Markets, Breaking of an International Treaty, a Surprise Event in the Entertainment Industry. On Friday, the Moon enters Virgo, opposite to Venus-Uranus, thus adding more energy for further activation for events.
Mercury enters Aquarius on Friday, February 10. The planet of Rational Thinking leaves Pragmatic, Results-oriented Capricorn and enters the sign of Social Idealism and Democracy. While transiting through Aquarius Mercury will be joining forces with Neptune, planet of Dreams, and be Opposite to Mars, which is traveling in Leo, sign of Kings and Governments. The new position of Mercury increases the likelihood of confrontations between democracy-hungry populations and their despotic rulers during the next three weeks.