Mercury, Venus & Mars – three planets closest to the Sun play prominently as influences in our lives.

Welcome to Friday. Mercury works some mischief today, opposing Neptune (Spirituality), and showing tension with Uranus (New Ideas). The Moon shows some good feelings for the Sun (Personality), but is in opposition to Mars (Initiation). This leaves you feeling good about yourself, and “standing pat” — no new directions right now. But what is the remaining communication issue? Can you find a way to move through it? Hint: remember perhaps the most important part of communication… listening.

Saturday looks balanced for Celestial energies with the Moon in harmony with Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune. Welcome to August. Emotionally, it’s always good to be true to your Spirit — do what’s needed for your growth and that will be healthy. We also find the Moon squaring off with Saturn, Neptune, and the Sun today. You may see some discomfort with proposals that seem to restrictive. You know what to do. Lead from the Spirit and show those close to you the way to enjoy the day.

“…perhaps the most important part of communication… listening.”

Sunday finds the Moon in Harmony with Mercury — have a good discussion with your mate. About what? Well, the Moon (Emotions) is showing some tension with Jupiter (growth) and Chiron (Health). There’s your topic — what kind of growth activities could we do in our relationship that would be good for our health — the health of each of us, and the health of the relationship? I wager that very few people stop and think about that. But if you ask the question, and solve it with a retreat, a class, a new church — just a long talk… you will be a lot farther down the path.

Monday finds Mercury in trine (harmony) with Pluto — this is a good day to talk about renewing old projects. Are you stalled or blocked because something seems stale and boring? Find a new angle, so you can renew your enthusiasm. The Moon (Emotions) is showing some tension with Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune, and Mercury. Embrace tension. It will either help you forge ahead with creative tension that facilitates solutions, or it might surface some emotions you need to deal with. Remember — feel, deal, heal. The Moon is also squaring off with Venus today, so dealing with emotional tension can help you unblock your love relationships.

“Personification of Astrology” painting, by Artist Guercino circa 1650.

Here comes Friday, and it looks quiet — can you sneak out of the office early and get some needed recreation? The Moon (Emotions) shows favor with Pluto — a planet that smiles on transformation and renewal. A good place for such a retreat is to relax near a body of water — the ocean or a lake. Reflect on your life. We are so busy with plans, projects, and work, that we often have trouble stepping outside that “box” and back to the “play” that renews us… and actually makes us better at what we do.

“When you have some quiet time, take a moment to see what emotions you are holding that may not be good for your health. Let them go…”

On Saturday, the Moon is working with Saturn to bring about a practical focus in our lives. Stay grounded. Pay attention to immediate needs in the morning, so the rest of the day will feel free of them. Examine your Spirituality once again — it is a big key to your overall health. In a relationship, ask, what are the Spiritual goals for this union? Remember the rule of threes in your love relationships — you choose, pledge and have faith. Choose a partner. Pledge to be true to the partnership. Have faith it is taking you where you need to go.

On Sunday, the Moon squares off with Pluto, dances nice with the Sun, and makes a Trine with Mars. Go ahead and do something you’ve been wanting to do today… a drive to the ocean, finding a new church, a hike, shopping for a home improvement project. Act on existing plans. When you have some quiet time, take a moment to see what emotions you are holding that may not be good for your health. Let them go… use prayer, and discernment.

Six trines make this a most harmonious Monday. Good feelings abound, so now you can get things done. Venus is at play with harmonies with Jupiter (growth) and Chiron (health) — so, take the next step in your relationship… keep growing. The Moon (emotions) is also in harmony with Jupiter and Chiron, for a double whammy — plus, with Venus. This is a powerful “Love” day. Hmmmm. Maybe you should take the day off?

All cultures have looked to the Heavens for wisdom on Earth, and this horoscope is from an Icelandic manuscript during the 1750′s. It shows the twelve houses of the Zodiac in a square with the corresponding astrological signs for each house.

It’s a busy end of week, celestially speaking, on Friday, with the Moon showing harmony with Uranus, Mercury, the Sun, and Saturn. New ideas presented in practical terms have a good chance of getting a favorable reaction. But the Moon is also squaring off with Chiron (the Healer), Jupiter (Growth), and Neptune (Spirituality). What is preventing you from the kind of spiritually healing growth you need now? Meditate on that when you take your breaks today.

“I always like seeing a harmonic trine with those planets on the weekend, because it represents an opportunity for the healing that comes from nurturing your Spirit.”

On Saturday, we see the Sun (personality) in harmony with Uranus (new thoughts) this weekend, and so you can be creative in your recreational plans. Get one of those small neighborhood newspapers and check out the calendar for a new event you might enjoy. The Moon is in conjunction with Mars, and so you can feel good about taking the initiative. Who will you meet? Perhaps it is time for some new energy in your circle of friends.

Sunday finds the Moon dancing in trine (harmony) with three planets — Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune. I always like seeing a harmonic trine with those planets on the weekend, because it represents an opportunity for the healing that comes from nurturing your Spirit. This can be done in many ways, of course, and since it’s Summer, it’s good to get outside and celebrate the warm weather. Try to release worries and experience things as a child again. And, ahem… the Moon (Emotions) is also whirling in pace with Venus… planet of Love. Go for it.

Looking into the week ahead, we see Mercury (Communication) playing nice with Mars (Initiation) on Monday, which makes it a good time for you to negotiate projects and plans at work and with your family and loved ones. The Moon is showing some tension at the top of the week — so pay attention to what your emotional intelligence has to say. Sometimes it’s hard to shrug off the fun of the weekend and settle back down into the realities of work. That’s ok… the next weekend will be here before you know it.

God creating Sun and planets — detail from the Sistine Chapel in Rome where Michelangelo, the Italian Renaissance painter worked a masterpiece in 1508-1512.

Friday brings a quadruple conjunction — the Moon (emotions) involved with three (Chiron, Neptune, and Jupiter), and Jupiter, again, (Prosperity) working with Neptune (Spirituality). This powerful day, with Jupiter the massive planet of growth in two conjunctions, indicates the key to your expansion will come from the realm of Neptune, a planet of Spirituality. Neptune can also deceive, as there are many illusions on the path of Spiritual knowledge. Pray for discernment. If you feel one way is blocked, ask what would be healthiest, and proceed in that fashion.

The Sun is symbolic of the personality — which is why most “pop Astrology” focuses on Sun Signs, even though there are many other cosmic energies dancing throughout your horoscope.”

On Saturday, we see the Moon in harmony with Pluto — distant planet of transformation. Follow your instincts today and visit someone you have not seen in a while. The Moon is also squaring off with Venus (Love) today, so there may be something blocking romance in your relationship. Try good communication, and seek to understand (Listen) to what your loved ones’ practical ideas may be. Listening will get you much farther than talking.

Sunday finds the Moon in Trine (Harmony) with both Mercury and the Sun. Mercury is associate with Communication (the “winged messenger”) and also carries a sense of intervention. The Sun is symbolic of the personality — which is why most “pop Astrology” focuses on Sun Signs, even though there are many other cosmic energies dancing throughout your horoscope. So, today, you can be on the receiving end of a message that will do you good — from a loved one, old friend, and even a business acquaintence. The Moon (emotions) is opposing Saturn (restrictions) which brings that summertime feeling that you want to break out of the routine and head off to a spontaneous adventure… why not?

Looking into next week, we see a some tension in the air Monday as the Moon goes up against four planets.  This is not a day to test new ideas — just make a note of them for later as they come to you.  Mercury is showing harmony with Mars, so you can initiate conversation with someone whom you’ve wanted to connect — at work, or on the personal relationship front.  Keep it light — enjoy the Monday routine.  Tune in, listen, then simply have fun with the conversation.  The right time to forge ahead will come later.

Mysteries in the Sky: What a multitude of wondrous shapes, colors, and infinite configurations the stars form in the heavens above. Look up, on a warm Summer night, and the awe of our realm will reveal itself.

Friday shows more tension than harmony… probably the residual energy from a busy week. Remember that you can always choose how you use this energy. Just like you should let a harsh email sit and “cool” for a while, how you respond to stress is a result of discernment and wise choices. Pray for discernment. There are a couple of positive signs too, as the week ends, with the Moon in trine with Uranus, bringing new ideas to the table, and conjunction with Mercury and Pisces, allowing you to tap some hidden reservoirs within as you enjoy communicating with colleagues and mates.

“Celebrate the freedom to be who you are.”

Saturday looks quiet with the Moon opposing the restrictions Saturn likes to bring. Do you feel boxed in by plans, commitments — agreements with loved ones? That’s actually an opportunity for you to examine why and when to make such agreements… you don’t have to say yes to everything. Decide what you want. Then proceed by crossing off things that you need to do to refresh your own Spirit. After that you will be in a good place to help others. Enjoy your holiday and the celebration of freedom.

On Sunday, emotions find a kind of healing harmony, as the Moon dances in synch with Neptune (Spirituality), and Jupiter (Expansion). This brings about a pleasant mid-summer day to spend with friends and loved ones. It is also a good time to simply “take a break” and get in touch with yourself via reading, meditation, hiking and other solitary enjoyments. Not the best day to begin new pursuits, but better to get in touch with old ways, core beliefs, and long-time friends. Find your common ground that holds it all together — and enjoy the Summertime for those in the Northern Hemisphere. Celebrate the freedom to be who you are.

Looking toward next week, we see a bit of stress getting back to work after an enjoyable holiday (4th of July in the US) over the weekend. It might feel like a tough week to get going with a lot of colleagues and friends on vacation. But that also offers an opportunity for you to relax a bit, regroup, and approach your work with a new outlook. Pluto’s energy of renewal is shining today, so look for some ways to get exercise, read a book or magazine you have not looked at in a while, and enjoy the mid-summer days for those who live above the equator.