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I just failed another test… well I mean mercury is in retrograde.

 

My partner just cheated on me… of course mercury is in retrograde.

 

The phrase “mercury is in retrograde” has been floating around a lot recently, so I thought the retrograde of planets would make the perfect topic for this week’s blog! This commentary is usually used to excuse or explain a bad experience or unfortunate timed events. It can be found all over social media and in casual conversations, but one questions remains. Does anyone actually know what it means? Turns out most people don’t, but there actually is meaning behind these words. These words, of course, having an astrological explanation.

 

All planets have different terms and definitions attached to them, as do most things in the astrological world. Mercury is associated with clear thinking and communication. Retrograde means to move backwards. So, when you put these two together, it means that the planet appears to me moving backwards, from the viewpoint of the earth. Therefore, all things associated with the planet currently in retrograde gets slowed down or disrupted. This offers explanation as to why relationships end (disrupted communication) or work and school suddenly gets harder (clouded thinking).  Shown by the picture on the left, all the planets face period of retrograde. These dates change yearly but can be found through different astrology and weather articles.  Each planet causes different reactions yet aren’t nearly as talked about as mercury.

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As a result, this event is tied to all sorts of negative connotations, when there actually can be benefits. This period gets blamed for all kinds of ruckus and commotion, but as all astrological events happen, there is a reason. Events experienced during the retrograde are meant to happen and will eventually alter your path for the better. This can be seen as a time for reflection and realization. There are plenty of ways– making lists of solutions to problems that arise, thinking of the whole picture, adapting to unexpected situations– to better yourself for these three weeks. So, if you are willing to look on the bright side this dark period doesn’t have to be all negatives.

 

While other planets experience retrogrades, they are not nearly as talked about as mercury. Yet, this doesn’t make them any less important. Venus, the rarest retrograde, causes love and finances to be tried. Yet, these experiences can bring an overall improved perspective in life. While Mars is in its ‘reverse’ one might feel a deduction in physicality and libido. Yet, with this comes time of reflection and goal setting. Jupiter crashes our plans, but these detours give time for inner development and growth. Saturn’s retrograde takes up about a third of the year, and during this time one might face unexpected limits that are hard to avoid. Similarly, Uranus takes up a third of the year. Yet, this offers moments of breakthrough and awakening. Neptune has subtle effects, as it takes up such a long chunk of time, but leaves people to face their anxieties and realities. Finally, Pluto gives time to face fears and self-reflect. For a more in-depth analysis of each planet, astrology.com provides a longer, more specific definition.

Overall retrogrades can be tough with all its little failures and accidents, so I say keep on blaming “mercury in retrograde” whenever its convenient.

 

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Hi all! If you tuned in last week, I gave an overview of the 12 astrological houses, and for today’s blog I’m going to explain the importance of the Summer Solstice. This event is known by several names, including summer equinox or midsummer. While this event holds tradition in many countries and cultures, it also is an important event in the astrological world!

Every summer, typically landing on a date between the 20th and 22nd of June, is the longest day of the year. The numerical dates vary year to year, and past dates can be found online. The north pole is tilted, causing earths northern hemisphere to be closest to the sun. In turn, causing a day of thorough sunshine and maximum length. This creates a beautiful day full of celebration and nature.

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The summer solstice correlates to the beginning of Cancer season, and during this time everyone is encouraged to put priority on emotional wellbeing. This is consistent through each year. The sun is affiliated with a masculine energy and meaning. Yet, the sign of cancer is a feminine placement. This constant masculinity coming into contact with the new introduced femininity is a great time for balancing your energy: some people need receptiveness and gentleness, and some may need help in being strong willed and sturdy. As previously talked about, each person has a unique chart, which shows readings about placements. Because of this, the summer solstice also has a more specific message for each of the twelve sun signs. Which makes sense- the whole premise of the equinox revolves around the sun- so it’s only logical for the correlation. The degree of the sun is constantly changing, so each year the advice is different that the solstice before. Yet, for examples sake, we can look at this past summer of ’22.

 

Say we take those with Taurus sun signs. In the previous month, the sun would’ve been placed in in second house. Yet- with the sun’s rotation during the solstice- it will shift into the third house. As discussed in last week’s blog, house three deals with community and one’s self-discovery. Therefore, this alteration will help benefit your social energy and interactions. Using this method, everyone can take their own chart and see what changes are in store for them. Or, if you are still too unfamiliar to do you own readings, there are many websites that are posted every year before the solstice. Many provide either short or detailed descriptions of what the changes in you chart will mean.

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This yearly event holds an important place in many religions, worldwide. Historically, Pagans were the first documented belief system to celebrate this event. In western beliefs, Christianity typically associates this event with the nativity of john the Baptist. Still, the most recognizable tradition is Midsummer, in Sweden. the This is a heavily photographed event, as it is an annual tradition full of meaning. When someone brings up solstice festivals, this is what most people think of. Midsummer has been covered by the media for hundreds of years, and each year tourists come from all over to witness the tradition.

All in all, the Summer Solstice is an important day each year and if you are interested in astrology, a great way to get deeper into traditions.

 

Welcome back everyone! Last week I introduced astrology with the basics of everyone’s “big three.”

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This week I wanted to take a look at astrological houses and how they change based on your zodiac signs. If you haven’t figured it out yet, twelve tends to be a recurring number when discussing astrology, especially so in this situation. There are 12 astrological houses– each coordinating with the 12 zodiac signs– all being a different descriptor of your life.

There are plenty of online websites to create a simple way to view and read your chart. Based on your big three, a natal chart is produced, and the inner ring of this wheel shows which zodiac sign is in the house and what planet rules said house. Each house reveals more about each person and their journey and is given a respective name based on its influence. These being the house of: self, earnings, relatives, family, hobbies, health, marriage, wills, philosophy, career, community or endings.  Depending on the planet that occupies each house, different explanations ensue!

 

Houses 1-6

Each person has a different combination of planets ruled in each house, and they are so peculiar they don’t repeat for thousands of years. The first six houses are known as the personal. The first is determined by the moment one came to be on earth and is aligned with the rising sign. This makes sense, as it coincides with the personality and appearance we keep up. Second reveals how a person deals with possession and tangible goods. Third shows how one interacts with the community and surrounding world for better self-discovery. Next is an important house, the fourth which signals inherited ancestral traits. Afterwards, the final houses take on opposite tasks, play and work. House five describes how an individual indulges in hobbies and creative outlets; house six informs on the habits one gains around completing tasks and jobs. All these topics are considered personal and individualistic, making them a great way to learn more about the manner in which you operate.

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House 7-12

The final six houses are described as interpersonal. To start, the seventh governs relationships and partnerships throughout life. Afterwards, the eighth is an intriguing house that deals with many topics, some being: birth, death, intimacy, and the mystery. Following this, the ninth shows morality and ethics, while also tying in travel and expansion. The subsequent house has to do with structure and public image, saying information like achievements and legacy. House eleven goes along with the communities one will encounter during friendships, society, and throughout the media. Finally– and fittingly– the twelfth rules endings and finalities. This ties up loose ends and expresses your surrendering. These topics are all very interconnected with other people and those who you interact with, providing a reason for the title of the interpersonal houses.

All in all, this provides a basic explanation for the twelve astrological houses. Once you understand what each house rules, you can look at the planet that is in each house. The planet provides the personalization and tailors the reading specifically for you! Thanks for joining me this week and be sure to come back next time!

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone has heard a horoscope reading once or twice from newspapers or magazines, but have you ever considered what is actually being said. Many write these readings off as a joke or useless, when in actuality it is widely believed that many things, including personality, can be described through astrology. These factors being your own individual rising, sun, and moon placement based on when, where, and what time you were born. When each factor works together, the different combinations help to form a deeper understanding of personality. There is so much information that it can be heard to wrap your heard around all at once, so it is easier if each placement can be individually explained.

Sun Sign                                                                                                                                                                                                  Photo Source

When someone asks what your zodiac sign is, and you google your birthday, this is the answer that pops up. This component is based off the date one was born, having twelve variants that change every month. The sun sign reads your most clear, observable personality traits. It helps drive the decisions one will make and their individual decisiveness. This is commonly referred to as your ego and core. Many people stop believing in astrology right about now, because they don’t find themselves relating wholly to their sun sign. In reality, this is only one part of a complex system.  You won’t truly understand what is being assumed about you until the sun sign is looked at in combination with your ascendant and moon signs!

 

Moon Sign

Next, the placement of the moon is another factor of your “big three.” This sign is found using the exact location and day of birth. This sign correlates with how one deals with their emotions and expresses their mood. If the sun sign is your bright personality, the moon sign is your vulnerable and honest inward feelings. It is sometimes referred to using phrases such as subconscious, inner self, or instincts. This is typically the second placement looked at when learning more about one’s zodiac signs, as it is less known than the sun sign but still more common than the ascendant sign.

Rising/Ascendant Sign

 

Finally, the ascendant sign is based off the exact time an individual is born. This likely is a different zodiac than your sun or moon sign, as there are twenty-four hours in a day and twelve zodiac signs, so each two hours the assigned rising sign changes. As previously explained, the sun sign reveals your true self, but the rising placement explains how others, and yourself, perceives you. This describes, one, what others see when they interact with you, and two, what you are trying to convey when you engage with others.  These two things do not have to be the same, because how one perceives themselves and how someone else perceives them doesn’t always have to align.

 

My next blog will go more in depth about your houses and big six, but until then… if this leaves you curious to learn more about your big three, there are several online calculators that can be used!

 

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