​If you have been feeling more agitated and inspired, we are in a planetary lineup, perhaps never see before: Multiple planets in Aries. As of April 17, we have Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron and Eres in the sign of the masculine warrior.

As Aires is a fire sign, it is a lot of new ideas and activities wanting to be seen.

Mud and puddles are playgrounds to enjoy. Building and watching fires are also on the agenda. Any excess energy can be directed towards silliness rather than tears. If the control you’re hanging onto dissipates, it might make the absurd more approachable. As rules and strict formats can be used in moderation, see them as ephemeral cotton candy.

Which is more important? To be at peace or to feel whole and connected?

Most of us, who write, do so, to sort out the mercurial mind, and produce focus. Words on paper, computer or spoken aloud can provide a certain stability. The need to race, we all seem to love, is often attributed to a need to control what opposition we are trying to resolve.

As I sit and contemplate the world at the moment, I need to remember playfulness.

​My oldest and best friend came to see me. We are definitely in the Bob Hope space, singing “Memories”. Remembering is a quality of Pisces.

Mainly the feelings relating to different times. We are meant to learn from our past but not dwell in it. The most important thing to realize is, as blood flows continuously it also becomes rejuvenated with conscious expression.

The story of the Grail and the life force shows the importance of rebirth.

Recollections of how to disappear to be reborn are fraught with projection. The thing is, we can only let go and cease control.

Lotte Berk, the exercise guru from long ago, had a phrase, “tuck, release”. This applies to most things in life, the brain, the body and even the psyche. I like it better than sin vs perfection. As we all share the conundrum of opposites we would like to resolve, focusing on humor helps.

Back to memories and relationships, why is it easier when younger to form them? Of course, the nerves, enthusiasm and desire are stronger. Still, if we remember trust and hope, we shall also see the light.

​What does the Age of Aquarius mean to you? In the story of “HAIR” it is announced that the key word is Freedom. To be able to express yourself. The story, also relates how the elite celebrate coming of age. The incongruous but delightful dancing on the debutante dining table shows the irreverence. Every culture has a way of observing transitions of age. These communal events give structure and pleasure to what is, becoming. Long hair in the Samson story represents strength. Hair is a Leo thing. Leo being the opposite to Aquarius. Leo is the king who needs his own autonomy. Aquarius is the collective whole. The duality of restriction and freedom is such a conundrum. An easy way to remember is watching your breath. Release and contract.

Aquarius is an air sign that revels in water. Mind and emotion. Longing for peace but needing diversion. The old ruler, Saturn, makes for extremely innovative rules and regulations. The new ruler Uranus, is part of the old Parthenon of extremism evolving into insight. Science fiction like “The Matrix”, ignites our brains into observing rules that are antiquated.

The beginning of the Chinese New Year is the day of the eclipse. Numerous planets in Aquarius and in harmony with the new era of Saturn/Neptune in Aries is only disturbed by the Aquarius ruler, Uranus in Taurus. As this is the year of the Fire horse, be prepared for the drama of extremism. Turn up the volume and grab the energizer bunny.

Have you been aware of the NASA inspired, new machinery to enhance the body and brain? Things like sound waves, red light therapy, and motion sensors are maybe becoming part of the medical belief system. The slight changes encourage us to a different awareness. In the 60’s it was called “go with the flow”. The symbol for Aquarius being one curvy line floating over another.

A tricky thing to take the simmering anger and use it for energy and focus. It might be the best way to curb depression. As the rules of behavior have changed so radically, politically correct phrases are meaningless as they can’t truly say anything. They seem in abundance, as are abbreviations of capital letters that are pointless and absurd. The noblesse oblige idea of live and let live is not good enough when others want control over you. 

What would happen if we were all required to wear the color that is pleasing to those in power? There is a practicality with uniforms. The restrictions put on us for another’s choice is of necessity, painful. Then, when the lies are perpetuated, what to do?

There are a hundred different ways to drive into NYC. Everyone has a different perspective.

Indigenous reactions to how others eat, sleep, communicate are all up for grabs. If you were raised with certain habits, it is hard to break them, but mostly, hard to know if you want to. The new habits of table manners and over exposure in couture, with no content are hard to accept. If your sense of beauty, harmony and balance are no longer recognized, be comfortable with a slightly dated wardrobe.

What does it mean, thoughts are things? They are hard to hang onto. Good sales people understand this. The preoccupation with selling their point of view. Would they not be better if they allowed the buyer, improved insight?

Healing comes if you can figure out, what to let go of. I feel often, that busyness becomes the priority when I’m not observing my feelings. With age, aches and pains become the red flags to attempt to let go of, if only to remember to stay in the present.

So very difficult to not be angry when there is a consistent energy where you live of injustice and manipulation of facts. The transformation comes with utilizing the anger, to not react.

Soon we will enter the year of the fire horse. Be sure your costumes are ready!

​Unconditional love. We can have sublime moments, and then we push away as if the magnitude is overwhelming. The holidays can make us feel this way, which is perhaps how we get verklempt. 

Even if you choose to be an independent thinker, it is too hard to remember all the things and people who have altered your way of thinking.

Like the emotions that spark, what are truly your thoughts? And what are someone else’s?

My Grandmother used to talk about the weather all the time. She was born in 1903. Not really sure what to do about it. We can build fortresses with heaters and air conditioners, will that make a difference?

Being addicted to the internet is problematic as opinions are as contradictory and obsolete as the penny. What do you desire? Is the refrain of TVs Lucifer? Advertising creates demand for travel. Practical objects like toothbrushes and socks are in demand for the fireplace stockings. To believe that anyone can answer the difficult questions, is a myth. Inside us, we have a place of knowing. Becoming attached to it, is essential, if elusive.

The days we wake up grumpy will always be replaced by other days of joy. Hang on to the concept.

What you like that is repetitive and disciplined can be as simple as watering the plants. This is special.

Celebrate the season!

​Words, words, words, as Henry Higgins said. We talk to hear ourselves most of the time. The tone, thoughts and vibrations are reassuring to our soul and psyche. It is also a part of conscious understanding to try and see the unconscious. As we observe an ache or pain, perhaps rub it a bit, we also observe our thoughts and emotions. To analyze this is a strong part of our purpose.

As we move towards the darkest day of the year, we notice shadows more. Is time speeding up? The earth may be spinning faster? As this is an asset in our competitive culture, at times we cannot hold the atoms together.

Perhaps the five planets in retrograde are a bit helpful, to aid us in having a second look.

Saturn and Neptune in Aries may have contradictory desires but it will be interesting and exciting. Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus in Gemini will complement the rapid changes and innovation booming.

There are many tricks and disciplines that observes this desire for peace and calm. It is the time it takes, that is frustrating. Do you remember “patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace etc…”? 

Remember, that which we worry about, usually disperses within a day or two. Sing a happy song, dance in a way to loosen up.

Fairytales remind us of the beautiful and ugly images our soul requires. The thoughts that have wings, are those that blend reason and fantasy. Mercury, who loves a medley of discordant and harmonious lyrics, combined with Neptune, the master of the sea. Neptune is ferocious in his movements. He also provides the melodic rhythm of illusion, giving way to inspiration.

What is the difference between inspire and illusion? Breath is the power to keep going. Spirare is the Latin for breath. Love can be an illusion. Belief in it, can be a disillusion also. The feeling you can make anything work is what love delivers. As sustaining the perception is tumultuous, it may also cause feelings of remorse, depression and anxiety.

Drama and comedy come from the Greeks. But, the Egyptians performed religious dramas and Abydos was their initial stage production of the play of Osiris and his brother Seth. Isis collected all but his manhood—probably an attempt at humor.

There is a certain grisly humor when Aeneas, Venus’ son and founder of Rome, conquers his lover Dido, through her passion for him. There is always a kind of crime of passion involved with desire.

Hephaestus, the husband of Venus was often in despair over her lover Ares. His fiery talent for creating great works of art in metal, was admired. His lameness caused by his Mother Hera was curse but also gift. To be incapacitated, one is also more focused, as awareness often comes from what is lacking.

​Eclipses come in pairs. The south node is where you’ve been in a previous existence. The north node is where you’re going. In Greek, eclipse means abandonment. We periodically need to lose the shining moments of the Sun and the Moon. To be aware of our journey in this lifetime, we need time to assess the nature of light and dark. We want to make decisions with immediate benefit, but our instincts sometimes like to play the trickster. Voicing very emotional feelings can be disturbing to others, the rub is if we don’t, we eat the emotions. They do come out in more undesirable plateaus. If you can find a person who has been through this, they may contain your outbursts with velvet ropes.

As we enter the fall season in the northern hemisphere, the chilly winds bring needed action. The repetition of cycles brings already experienced aspects of the human conditions. The basics, to be born, to produce, to die are all on a revolving scale to allow us to figure out why the repeating, happens. 

Puzzles are a stimulating way to focus our over active brains. Can you find a partner to enhance this for you? Playing cards, backgammon, chess are all ways to suspend time. Slow down, you move too fast, you gotta make the morning last. Paul Simon gave us an anthem ending with: "Life, I love you, all is groovy."

This feeling of suspension is providing lightness of spirit.

​Where do you find silliness and relief? Generally I love romance books, movies and music. Some folks relate well to sadness and adventure. Adrenalin is what makes us move, but can also force too much speed. This ongoing dilemma of serving reality but loving illusion.

The global frustration of being competitive and yet wanting to help those in need has gotten so intense. To make money, one needs tremendous focus that doesn’t always play well with others. And yet, we do want to be generous and sympathetic. The different belief systems regarding how to acquire and spend government money is as frustrating and confusing as competing religions. 

Why are comic heroes still so popular? Could it be their consistent, fighting for justice? Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash, all have exciting and astounding moments.

Then we have the vampire stories which begin with premise of the power of blood. The Holy Grail legends are recognizing the importance of our copper smelling fluid that keeps our heart beating. Copper is the metal of Venus, which is our belief in our selves. “I’m worth it”!

Why do we love happy endings? Probably because they don’t happen enough. If you can believe it will all turn out alright in the end, it will.