Eccentric Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Like the other giant planets, Uranus has a ring system, a magnetosphere, and numerous moons, but it is tilted at an odd angle. It’s energy is that of new ideas, and new approaches to the plans in your life, and it is very active this week.

Sunday brought a double dose of both Mercury energy (Communication), and Venus — ruler of romance — showing a bit of tension with both Mercury and the Moon. The Holiday Season has arrived. As old friends and family get together, often there are emotional currents that find their way to the surface. Don’t hide from it, deal with it upfront, and direct, but in a nice ‘considerate’ way—remember the Golden Rule. Find a way to embrace these emotions like you would a good friend… because they are your friends.  Yes, all that you deal with in your life, including your emotions, are indeed your guides through the rivers and seas of life. Listen well, and learn.

“…look very carefully at how failed communication can block the growth you seek.”

We launched the holiday week on Monday with a triple appearance, this time by Chiron (Health), Uranus (New Ideas), and Mercury — (ruler of communications and also right now in retrograde) the intelligent planet of discourse. And tonight if you’re on the west coast or Hawaii, a Lunar Eclipse—-for others, eastern and central time, in the early am, Tuesday. It’s a bit foggy due to the excessive rain on the west coast and Hawaii, so it will be a bit difficult to see. It’s important this week, especially today and tomorrow, to Communicate healthy ideas. Avoid getting caught up in any drama—-you’ll be thinking in dramatic terms, perhaps even a bit confused, and even feeling as though you’re in the midst of chaos with all the information coming at you from all different angles stirring up your feelings. The New ideas you have will spark you to uncover a healthy dialog with others as well as yourself, but you may have to deal with a couple issues, to actually get there.  I recommend first that you engage in healthy self talk, enabling your internal “recorder” to remember to take the necessary steps to fulfill your communication dreams, wishes and desires. Could there be a better way to end one year and start another one?

On Tuesday, we find a very interesting mix of conjunctions, oppositions, harmonies and tension. In the big picture of things, there are always relationships that are working out well, even amid the usual amount of stress and turmoil. C’est la vie — that’s life! But look very carefully at how failed communication can block the growth you seek. This can be because you are not clear about your desires? Well, if you don’t know what you want, then who would?  Refrain from clamming up —-when you truly need to open up and talk. It’s time you express yourself clearly and positively.  Use presence of mind, meditation and  prayer or two to address any relational concerns.

At mid-week, we find a bit of tug and pull as you ready yourself to enjoy the holiday weekend. Your keys for Wednesday are all about trusting your gut or your intuition when deciding what to say to those important to you, respecting the right parameters set by you and others, and opening your heart to your family and friends. This also clears a pathway to the spirit so you can get beyond any roadblocks in your important relationships. You will get there — you always do. And the holidays are going to be your best ever, this year. Enjoy!!

On this Thanksgiving week we take another look at Jupiter, planet of abundance, shown here with one of its 63 confirmed moons. When Jupiter exerts its pull, we find energy for growth and fruitful living.

Astro Update… the Week Ahead

Here comes Sunday with a good outlook for some new plans you may have for the holidays. There’s always a bit of emotion at this time of year, and excitement is in the air as the family looks forward to getting together. Make sure your key relationships don’t get lost in the rush. Your success will come as you include loved ones in your plans and honor their feelings too.

“…sometimes we block essential connections because of certain emotions we are feeling. Don’t.”

Monday launches somewhat quietly with an emotional need for boundaries today. What boundaries? Well, it can be as simple as sticking to a budget for the holiday celebrations, or it can be about your mate needing some space. Remember if any anger flares, that anger is often a cover for pain. So listen well and do the “love work” that is required and which is part of your life destiny.

Think about how your Spirit for life brings about healthy love relationships on Tuesday. Support, counsel, and help come from family, friends and mates. But sometimes we block these essential connections because of certain emotions we are feeling. Don’t. Embrace the support of those around you and even celebrate it. This is how you break through the roadblocks.

At Midweek, your plans have been made, you look forward to seeing the family and having a few days off on holiday as your Wednesday plays out. Emotionally you seem to be blocking out some key limitations which you must respect. This can be as simple as accomodating an in-law at dinner. Break through it, make compromise and move ahead… life is short, and holding onto anxiety is not good for your health.

Wondrous Planets: This image from the Hubble Space Telescope in 2005 shows Pluto, its moon Charon (below and right of center) and two newly discovered moons to the right. All the planets exert influence (gravity, etc.) on one another… and so upon Earth.

Time changed, falling back one hour, on a sleepy Fall Sunday. We also saw the Moon (Emotions) working in conjunction with Mars (Initiation) to bring the right mood to get things done. These can be home projects, shopping, cleaning, or maybe some work on a work project to get the jump on the week ahead. Venus is also glowing on Sunday, so you might even add in some love spice to the mix this week.

“Emotionally, you can make a breakthrough at work which could lead to a transfer or promotion, and in your relationship you could come to new understandings about where you’re going.”

Monday starts off a bit slow with a feeling of staying safe within boundaries in the air. This is not the day to make a risky move at work, or even at home. There’s a time for change, and also a time to stay the course and let it run. You also have an opportunity to look at some tension in your relationships today. Learn more about it by listening carefully to those you love.

On Tuesday, we find the Moon working in conjunction with Pluto — planet of transformation. What does that mean? Emotionally, you can make a breakthrough at work which could lead to a transfer or promotion, and in your relationship you could come to new understandings about where you’re going. How does it happen? Celestially, we also see the Moon (Emotions) in harmony with Chiron and Neptune — healthy spirituality. Emotions provide the impetus, and the Spirit carries us forward.

Midweek dawns with a note of tension in the air on Wednesday. Remember that a certain amount of tension — even stress — is what is required to get things done. Think of shooting an arrow — no tension in the bow, and the arrow goes nowhere. Deadlines bring a kind of tension too. You will need to communicate well today, and that means really listening, to get what you need to do completed. Even though you might feel boxed in, that won’t last forever. Just do what you know is right.

Hurricane in the Heavens: Think of the immense, uncalcuable energy at play in this distant “whirlpool” Galaxy with its companion Galaxy of millions of Stars as caught by NASA’s deep space photography. All is energy, in the Universe.

Astro-Weekend Update…

Saturday arrives with some lingering tension, though the Moon is working now in conjunction with Mars to bring a feeling of progress to the table. Again, understanding emotional discord — getting to the root of it, is what’s called for now. Remember that what we see in others, is often a mirror of our own self — our projections. Use this wisdom to look in your own mirror so you can grow and move on. Full Moon energy is available to you today as you harvest what you began months earlier.

Remember that good, creative tension is what it takes to get things done.

Sunday finds the Moons emotional energies working well with Pluto — planet of Transformation. This is a sign that some of the tension you are feeling can be changed into something good. How? That’s the key question, and while the specific answer varies from person to person — there are some other clues today too. Emotional growth is being restricted by something Spiritual in nature. You can get beyond it, but you need to take some good, healthy, steps forward — have a good look in the self-help section of your favorite bookstore.

Monday users in February, as Winter cycles toward Spring. Today is a good day to talk things over and listen well, as the Moon dances in trine with Mercury. But Mercury is showing some tension with Jupiter — planet of expansion — so it is not the best day to propose new initiatives. Instead check in on projects, and relationships, and enjoy the collaboration and conversation. It will do you good.

Tuesday finds some sparks of tension in the air as the Moon works well with Mars — planet of beginnings — but shows some stress with five other planets. Remember that good, creative tension is what it takes to get things done — a hurricane of helpful energy may be generated and used wisely. You need a certain nerve to forge ahead. But don’t press too hard today, instead, take it easy. You will get more started by taking practical, well planned, small steps toward your goals. Save the bold moves for the right timing.