Most Astrologers identify eight distinct phases of the Moon — we are in Phase 2 right now.

Today, Saturday, the Moon (Emotion) is dancing with Mercury (Communication) which makes it a good time to speak about what you feel. Are you able to express your feelings? It can seem difficult, but when you speak what is in your heart in a calm collected way it is for the best. Think of three steps: meditate quietly on what you are feeling so you can put the right words to it, pick a good place to talk with the person your feelings involve, and after you get it off your chest, be sure to listen intently for what you can learn from your friend/partner/spouse.

“Maybe it’s time to get creative about your spirituality? …to be healthy, Faith always requires an active and passionate awareness.”

Looking into Sunday, Venus (Love) is dancing well with Uranus and this can bring out a passion for a new idea that you present in a group (like a club) setting. Mercury and Neptune’s dance today make it possible for you to address your spiritual beliefs, and creative pursuits. Maybe it’s time to get creative about your spirituality? Sometimes the way you deal with your Faith can become a sort of habit on auto-pilot. But to be healthy, Faith always requires an active and passionate awareness. Is it time for a Spiritual retreat?

Looking forward into the week, the Sun and the Moon are working well together on Monday, and this gives the right balance to start it off right. You’re coming back from a vacation, you’ve seen your family and friends, and you’re ready to tackle the mid-summer projects at work. You’ll have some creativity left over from Sunday to help you get started. And the Moon this week is in “Waxing” (growing larger) mode, which is also a good time to focus on your ambitions. This is a time of “doing” and a time for action. Make good use of it.

From a mid-17th century Icelandic manuscript showing the 12 Houses in Astrology.

Are your days becoming more interesting? It’s the time of year when everyone is busy. The planets are in some interesting configurations — Mercury coming out of Retrograde, while Mars is showing and preparing to go into Retrograde. This means it’s still good to proceed with caution on important negotiations. Remember during this busy season to look at things with logic and take the time to get at deeper meanings in your communication.

“…we look in your “Fourth House,” to learn about your home and family influences, we look in your “Tenth House,” to see where your ambition might lead…”

How are your relationships going? One revealing area of Astrology lies in the interpretation of your “houses”, and those of your loved ones. If you’ve ever looked at an actual horoscope chart, you may have noticed it is divided up into 12 sections of a large circle. These section are your “houses”, and each one relates to a different part of your life. And what planets fall in a particular house determines how you are influenced in that area. For example, a planet, or planets, in your 7th House will have a major influence on your relationships, marriage, and business partnerships.

Most folks seem to know about their Sun Sign, since it’s pretty easy to determine based on the date you were born. But there are some things that are even more important than Sun Signs, and those aspects depend on your time and place of birth. For example, we look in your “Fourth House,” to learn about your home and family influences, we look in your “Tenth House,” to see where your ambition might lead, and we look in your “Third House” to get an idea of how you communicate with those around you. This can be helpful for introspection, and also to learn more about what makes loved ones “tick.” There are 12 houses each pertaining to a different aspect of the personality. These can be helpful in understanding your own questions about yourself, and questions you have about others.

The houses are determined by dividing the path the Sun takes at your time and place of birth, across the sky, into 12 segments. They are numbered counter-clockwise from the eastern horizon. There are actually different systems to determine “Houses” used by Astrologers around the world. In the West, most use that which was brought out by the Babylonians.

Below is a simple list of the 12 houses of Western Astrology with their Latin name, Ruling Sign, and a brief statement of their influence.

1. 1st House- Vita (Aries) : The self, ego, beginnings.
2. 2nd House – Lucrum (Taurus) : Money, values, priorities.
3. 3rd House – Fratres (Gemini): Communications, siblings, neighbors.
4. 4th House – Genitor (Cancer): Family, caring, imagination.
5. 5th House – Nati (Leo): Leisure, holidays, creativity.
6. 6th House – Valentudo (Virgo): Employer, work, duties.
7. 7th House – Uxor (Libra): Marriage, partnerships. negotiations.
8. 8th House Mors – (Scorpio): Birth, death, relationships, self-transformation.
9. 9th House – Iter (Sagittarus): Religion, education, freedom.
10. 10th House – Regnum (Capricorn): Status, ambition, celebrity.
11. 11th House – Benefacta (Aquarius): Friendships, clubs and societies.
12. 12th House – Carcer (Pisces): Retreat, reflection, sacrifice.

NOTE: Remember, that in your horoscope, the planet(s) falling in each house also impact the meaning — making your horoscope as unique as your own individuality.