“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.”

-Dr. Seuss

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance the occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. It’s akin to bringing an umbrella with you when rain is expected, but also helps to not take the weather personally. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us. Choose to be con(with)-siderate(the stars).

So, here comes May. It seems like it will be a great time for processing and integrating what we have been growing through and learning over the last few months and seeing what we can make of it. Perspective is super crucial throughout this month; massive overhauls could be achieved if we are prepared to let go of our old ways. But we are going to have to pay really close attention to avoid falling into one of the trap doors and trick passageways through this maze of a month. We’ll try to keep it simple; try.

Mercury sextiles Venus on the 3^rd, opening the door to more smoothness and clarity in relationships. Take the initiative by sharing your vantage point with loved ones—just do it sweetly. Make sure to listen to others; pay attention to what comes out of your mouth.

Mercury opposes Saturn on the 5^th, forcing us to balance honesty with respect, and confidence with patience. It’s a good idea to take responsibility for our crap, and to assume more control over our old reactionary tendencies and work through them. But do give yourself credit for what you’ve accomplished instead of indulging regret fantasies.

The Full Moon is on the 5^th at 8:35 pm (Pacific) in 16 degrees Scorpio. On the nice side; this is about further finding and following our passions and dancing with our inner Zorbas. On the other side; we’re trying to throw out everything that is hindering that depth of feeling and embodiment. Maybe the wise way to approach this is to figuratively take out the trash and clean the toilet before going to the dance party. Trust the gut and feel through it all.

Mercury moves into Taurus on the 8^th, where he will stay until the 24^th, making for more mellowness. We can breathe a little easier and focus on relaxing and savoring the good we encounter. Attend to worldly needs and appreciate the little things. Do what comes naturally.

Mercury sextiles Neptune on the 10^th¸ asking us to try to let go of our thoughts and our entrenched stances on our lives. Ponder how it would be without all the preconceptions and expectations. Refresh the inner space; put on some music and go with the flow.

The Sun conjoins Jupiter on the morning of 13^th, reinvigorating our drives and solidifying this new sense of self that has been stewing and brewing. Be open to goodness and better; just don’t hold your breath. Keep your visions on functional awesomeness and be grateful for and focus on the improvements.

Mercury trines Mars, also on the 13^th, giving us an opportunity to improve our mind-body connections. It would be wise to get the heart rate pumping purposefully; with a hike, dancing or other exercise routine. Yoga and stretching would also be appropriate. Beware of people with heads a-spinning and ritualize your self awareness routines. Choose health.

Mercury trines Pluto on the 14^th, dramatizing some ancient mental hang-ups and refuse while allowing us to get past them to a rather impressive degree—but we must pass the tests. Flush it all out then flush it down the drain; especially the memories of trauma and drama and the energy drains and obstacles they attract. Move past the past.

Venus stations retrograde on the 15^th, the high point of which will be her transit across the disc of the Sun on June 5^th. She will be retrograde until June 27^th, taking us back through our origin stories and thought patterns to identify what we still value. We are better served by loving the learning of our past than in glorifying it as easier or better than it was. Wherever we are, that is where we should be; practically present. Make good memories.

Mars trines Pluto on the 16^th, hopefully bringing some hefty servings of recovery and resolution for the ongoing growth wars. This will show us how well we have cleansed and regenerated our modus operandi and modus vivendi. The question now is: can we continue with our quests for betterment without being forcefully squeezed into doing so? Can we keep catching up to what could be—training and reclaiming more of our energy and potency? We’ll see.

The Sun moves into Gemini on the 20^th, taking us down the rabbit hole of self-perception and possibly self-reconception. It’s a period of revising our story line, not necessarily our trajectory, but at least how we are viewing it. Clear out some room on your brain and start something new.

There is an annular Solar Eclipse on the 20^th at 4:47 pm (Pacific) in 0 degrees of Gemini. This super potent grand-cross eclipse is demanding that we get going and stay aware or risk getting lost in the swirl. It highlights the benefits of being pro-active in as many dimensions of being as possible. It gets tricky, because we are all disparate mixes of characters, and cohesion between these parts makes things more complex. However, it does increase smoothness, cleanliness and efficiency.

Mercury conjoins Jupiter on the 21^st, getting us thinking about where we are going next. What projects and studies would we like to move forward? Set some goals and get patiently and practically moving them forward.

The Sun squares Neptune on the 23^rd, setting us adrift in the fog. This is not the time to be precise or to try to figure things out. Let it sit and stew and give yourself a break from the roles that you perform for your people and maintenance. Take a little space.

Mercury moves into Gemini on the 24^th, where he will stay until June 7^th. As usual, this will increase the pace of communications and of details to attend to. Pay attention and don’t indulge distractions, because this is a very important discovery period, looking for new methods of dealing with the morass.

Mercury squares Neptune on the 25^th, making the mind more dreamy, or mushy, depending on the circumstances. Make sure to stay present with the happenings instead of drifting at inopportune moments. Watch your words.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on the 27^th, giving us some new insights into how we affect those around us and possibly reimagining some of our storylines. Seek the middle ground of awareness and stay flexible.

Mercury sextiles Uranus on the 27^th, lending some wackiness and weirdness to the air around us. It may be wise to do something that embodies this wild card: talk about far out ideas, do silly dances, speak in accents, watch a foreign film, whatever. Play with it.

The Sun sextiles Uranus on the 28^th, making us, yes, a little crazier. Don’t do the anxiety trip; give it a nice and/or ridiculous outlet. Be willing to revert to as much innocence as possible; sing along with your favorite songs; laugh at yourself and all that you’ve been through.

Mercury squares Mars on the 30^th, which could be rather scary, at least driving will be. Pay close attention to your surroundings; learn what you can, but react to annoyances as little as possible. When you start to react, just bring the attention to your breathing and body. Stay cautious and consistent.

Who knows, May could be rather mundane or crazy bizarre, and will probably embrace both of those in unexpected combinations that will twist our brains in hilarious ways. Either and anyway, we’re supposed to be learning about how to be more awesomely ourselves—to own the symbols instead of getting owned by them. There really isn’t much time for stagnation; it’s more about catching up or getting as far ahead as we can. I mean, sure, we need to make enough time for rest, but don’t push it upon yourself when the urge to keep going is so strong. And, of course, avoid over-thinking; trust your gut.

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”

-Thomas Merton

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance the occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. It’s akin to bringing an umbrella with you when rain is expected, but also helps to not take the weather personally. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us. Choose to be con(with)-siderate(the stars).

April is different. It would be a rather mellow month if we weren’t following the momentum from March. The first part of the month finds us trying to recover and get ourselves back on track. Then we’re working on relaxing and having some fun while maintaining a rather decent working pace. Then the end of the month starts to throw some more old junk up into the air for us to sort out and clean up. If you’re moving into April with good momentum then it should be great; if not, then catch up now, but calmly.

Venus moves into Gemini on the 3^rd, where she will stay until August 7^th; a long 4 months due to retrogradation. This starts us off on quite a journey into the mundane on a quest for enjoyment. The idea is having a balanced mind that hugs the center ground between polarities and opposing viewpoints. It would be wise to begin shifting our relationships now, towards more gentle and loving communication patterns, more openness and lightness, and more humor and fun. It will require consistent awareness, but is worth the effort.

Mercury stations direct on the 4^th, taking us down the path of possible resolution for the madness that was March. The question is whether we have let go of the stuff we were grasping the hardest? It’s time to finish unraveling those outdated patterns of coping with change. Get out of the mind and into the flow now, because there won’t be much time for that after the 16^th.

Venus squares Neptune on the 5^th, pushing us to relax and have some fun with the overwhelm that is swirling around us. There is too much going on to process it all on the spot and this is challenging us to stay present with the beauty of the now and let the past go.

The Full Moon falls on the 6th in 17 degrees of Libra at 12:19 pm (Pacific). This lunation is intense. It’s challenging us to go for gusto and to get ourselves on track for a smoother ride. We can’t rely on pre-confirmation before setting out on our path. This is asking us to live by our words and aspirations instead of consoling ourselves with our own rhetoric. Don’t try, do.

Venus squares Mars on the 7^th, frothing up possible conflict if these high tension energies have not been afforded an outlet. Plan on frustrations and practice the mindfulness to make the most out of situations like being stuck in traffic. Don’t fritter away your energy reacting. Take a hike or some other strenuous activity, and/or make a dinner date. Do something.

Venus sextiles Uranus on the 9^th¸ shaking up some urgent needs for entertainment and amusement or things could get wild. Stay loose and adaptable to unforeseen frustrations and detours. Don’t believe the hype.

Pluto stations retrograde on the 10^th¸ opening the door to another process and purge cycle of our psychological depths, along with our closets and clutter. Keep working on trimming dead wood from your world and being more patient with results, especially while working through backlogs. Trust in the wisdom of plunging into the darkness willfully instead of waiting for the plunge to take you.

Mars stations direct on the 13^th, finally moving us into the reconstruction phase after a ruthless disassembly period. Ideally there should be much more cleanliness and space and health to work with as we start putting our worlds back together and begin tapering down the perpetual healing crisis that has been this Mars retrograde. But do maintain the healthier habits that have been adopted and continue with the auto-amelioration program. Keep lightening the load.

The Sun opposes Saturn on the 15^th, pushing us to be patient with the progress we have made and to stay determined to keep going. Life is full of many counter-intuitive growth processes; where taking two steps back leads to taking three forward, and then again, and again. Reassure yourself with the gains, however minor, and focus on doing what you can in each moment.

Mercury moves back into Aries on the 16^th, where he will stay until May 8^th. This quickens the pace and the crazy. It’s pushing us back into this new amalgam of self after throwing us back into the cauldron of the past—hopefully with a cleaner slate and a fresher perspective. Keep a steady but motivated pace.

The Sun moves into Taurus on the 19^th¸ slowing things down a touch and asking us to consolidate and preserve the momentum that we’ve been building. It’s asking us to stay grounded and practical in the middle of a tempest of more hectic happenings.

The New Moon is on the 21^st at 12:18 am (Pacific) in 1 degree Taurus. This should be relatively mellow as it’s really asking us to take a break and refresh our systems. We can more easily relax into the flow of things and move along more gracefully, but we have to stay present with our bodies and ourselves.

The Sun sextiles Neptune on the 22^nd, offering us a chance to dream and take another break, if even just within. It’s a good time to calm the adrenals and the anxiety as best you can. If it’s in the way and you don’t need it, let it go.

Mercury conjoins Uranus on the 22^nd, calling us to embrace the adventure and uncertainty that we face in every choice along our paths. Life is so far from a controlled experiment, we only get to play out one version, and our mental health benefits from giving the benefit of the doubt to the goodness of the version that we got. Be you with each step.

The Sun trines Mars on the 23^rd, giving us a chance to further integrate recent developments and further ritualize recent improvements. Getting or staying on a physical exercise program and following better dietary choices are much supported. The focus is on simply being as in your body as you can.

Mercury squares Pluto on the 25^th, dredging up some mental resistance, hopefully to be overcome. Beware of your own rhetoric and get over it. We can relieve ourselves of much future struggle by releasing our hang-ups now.

The Sun trines Pluto on the 29^th, allowing for some more self-simplification. Do whatever you can to make things more natural and less encumbered. Get out into nature or a garden and try to tune into the natural rhythm of the day. Feel it.

Whatever, I mean, yeah, April is relaxed, but only relatively. In reality, we’ll all probably be wishing April were a lot mellower and slower than it will feel like. Meanwhile, we’ll be rushing to refill our reserves and should remind ourselves to stop and smell the flowers and enjoy the sunsets. Find the fine line between giving yourself due credit without glorifying your efforts, and inadvertently signing yourself up for more chores. It seems like April is really about perspective, though summarizing its thesis is beyond me, but it’s something about taking responsibility for our choices and responses. It won’t be simple, and may, in fact, be rather messy, but we had better dance with the music or be willing to pay the price. Move with it.

“A journey is like a marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”

-John Steinbeck

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance the occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. It’s akin to bringing an umbrella with you when rain is expected, but also helps to not take the weather personally. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us. Choose to be con(with)-siderate(the stars).

Oh boy, here comes March. It’s going to be a wild and treacherous ride. We have a whole long list of challenging aspects from the start. Then there’s a break for a grand trine in Earth signs featuring Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto that looks much nicer than it actually is, and only offers much to those who are keeping up the with the hectic pace. Then it closes us out with a lot more challenges to purge our silliness and help us to keep growing, yet somehow to find innocence at the same time. But at least it won’t be boring.

Mercury moves into Aries on the 2^nd, where he will stay until retrograding back into Pisces on the 23rd, then making his return from April 16^th through May 8^th. This period is going to be rather ruthless, with Mercury and Mars ruling each other and sponsoring all sorts of potent energy that will require outlets. Keep yourself active; set clear and healthy goals; and get going. We would be wise to replace restlessness with resolve and motivation and to focus on our own tasks and mental calmness instead of getting suckered into silliness by others. Choose to do what you can; continually and patiently.

The Sun opposes Mars on the 3^rd at 12:10 p.m. (Pacific), acting as a bellows for yet more volatility. This could dramatically increase our vigor and drive or our frustrations and challenges, depending on the consistency with which we have challenged ourselves to weld ourselves into greater wholes. Go on a hike or do some intensive gardening–something to keep grounded and busy. But definitely be patient with yourself, others and the entire human construct while you’re at it.

Venus opposes Saturn on the 4^th, demanding respect, maturity and patience of us–or else… Reinforce close ties and give recognition to loved ones. Also, any work undoing old hurts, outdated defense mechanisms, or blame constructs would be good. Own your issues and work on managing them more wisely.

Venus moves into Taurus on the 5^th, where she will remain until April 3^rd, slowing things down and decreasing the madness a bit; though it will be more noticeable after the 23^rd. This is helpful for taking care of practical concerns and all things natural. Time spent in nature is especially beneficial, as well as focus on good diet and nutrition. Invest in your own well being and share the love.

Mercury conjoins Uranus on the 5^th, for the first of 3 passes (the 5^th, 18^th, April 22^nd). This really sets the tone for what’s to come; so shake it, don’t break it. Something’s got to give, snap or maybe even explode, so choose to start breaking with the old, shaking loose more gunk for removal, and continue to explore new ways to see your self as a more cohesive unit. This is a very crazy combination, so be prepared for the unexpected and take the initiative. Break through or break down; ready, go.

The Full Moon is at 1:39 am on the 8^th in 18 degrees of Virgo. This is a tricky lunation as there’s a lot of reaping of what’s been sown, and, whatever the quality of the crop to date, we should all be threshing through those fields of life improvement. Sift, sort, organize, cleanse, clean, preserve and follow the wisdom of the body. Embrace these steps as rituals for goodness; be grateful for the growing pains.

Mercury stations retrograde on the 12^th, staying in reverse until April 4^th. This is likely to be a precarious Mercurial review session: in the first part he is asking us to get over ourselves and into some exciting new versions of being, then, all of sudden, he’s either asking us to let go of our attachments to fantasies about the world rewarding us for taking out our own trash, Caution! Feelings of entitlement need to be morphed into hope without expectation. But we’ll make do with however much we can pull that off.

Jupiter trines Pluto at 9:31 p.m. on the 12^th, for the 3^rd (last) pass, bringing possible resolution to some deep alterations that have been ongoing since July ’11. As usual, the manifestations will be relative to how effectively we have been able to dance with the music. This dance has been about breaking both our beliefs and how we actually live in the world (our modus intendi and our modus vivendi) down to their fundamental parts and trying to keep only what constructively works. It is important to keep pushing ourselves out of future reward visions and back into the task at hands. Be optimistic, sure, but more in the quest for learning than in the promise of success.

Venus trines Pluto at 6:26 p.m. on the 13^th, frothing up the lower layers in our relationships for cleansing or recirculation. Be especially careful to own or repossess any projections you have out there towards loved ones and relationships in general. Let go of past hurts so that you may be more available for current enjoyments.

Venus conjoins Jupiter at 10:54 p.m. on the 13^th, initiating a new cycle of what we hope/expect to get out of it all; a chance to reassess our wish lists and plant some new seeds. The crux is sustainability and practicality. Go with consistency over size; and let go without attachments.

Venus trines Mars on the 14^th, hopefully stoking the fires of motivation and giving us a preview of the products to come. This opportunity could be missed without some initiative and awareness, so stay open but focused. It’s a great time for romantic gestures, and not a good time to fight. Keep it moving forward.

Mars trines Jupiter at 2:51 a.m. on the 14^th, getting us chomping at the bit to be a little farther down the road than where we could yet be. Mars will not look too kindly upon too much self-congratulation, though the punishment may be delayed which, actually, makes it more dangerous. Take action, not pride.

Mars trines Pluto at 5:32 p.m. on the 14^th, either slowing us down with unseen, dirty chores to do, or plunging us further into our depths and physicality. Taking care of the body is important, especially when impatience and motivation combine for a push. This is why ritualism supports consistency over stops and bursts. Don’t overdo anything.

Mercury conjoins Uranus on the 18^th for round 2, ‘the undoing.’ Now is our chance to choose and choose again and again to stay in the mental center of the wackiness or to proceed at our own risk. Don’t waste energy attempting to know the unknowable; instead know that we can’t know much of anything for sure. Because, in the end, we have lots of choices, but the good ones are a rarer variety; look for those.

The Sun moves into Aries on the 19^th at 10:15 p.m., throwing us into another Spring. This will add yet more fire to the mix, demanding that we stay active and learn how to stay calm despite the high speeds. Focus on breathing and enjoying the ride.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on the 21^st at 12:22 p.m., getting us all up in our heads, so we can get out of them. Figure it out, or don’t, but do put it aside and put the mental focus elsewhere. If we chew on things too long, we’ll never get through the meal.

The New Moon is on the 22^nd at 7:37 a.m. in 2 degrees of Aries. This is potent and either super awesome or dangerous, maybe both. It’s about regeneration and confidence. You either dance now or you miss out on the song. Stop thinking and feel the rhythm. This is definitely not the time to hold yourself back in other people’s names, so get over it and get out on the dance floor.

Mercury moves back into Pisces on the 23^rd until April 16^th, tossing us back into the cauldron for a little more stewing in our ancient and/or less conscious juices. Now it’s time to feel the currents and flow with them instead of trying to swim in our own directions. Realize that the wave is going its way and don’t pretend you couldn’t have seen it. Check those blind spots.

The Sun conjoins Uranus on the 24^th, which could look like fireworks or a firestorm. Be present with either scenario and it should turn out better. One is about opening to joy and recollecting the youth within. The other is a sprint through a precarious forest trail with little room for error. The optimal would be to combine both metaphors into a juicy synthesis, like the striving for an epic view that was achieved with personal effort. Make your own show.

Mercury sextiles Venus on the 29^th, which is just about the mellowest aspect so far this month. It sponsors some social relaxation and entertainment. So take a little break from the thick of it, just don’t rest too long. Savor what you can.

The Sun squares Pluto on the 29^th¸ possibly illuminating some new energies to excise from our systems. This would really like us to undo some old ego trips and not overly congratulate ourselves. Just stay thankful that the beatings were not more severe.

So, wow. Yeah, who knows where this month will spit us out; one can’t always see the destination from the trail. Either way, it’s onward and upward, then down, then up. Watch out for hazards by staying abundantly grounded in the moment. Actually, there’s too much to process at the time, so the best we can really do is to hold on to our hats and not fall. And, if you do fall, try to do it gracefully. May we all find our way through the woods.

“Dreams will get you nowhere; a good kick in the pants will get you a long way.”

-Baltasar Gracian

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

February is another rich and dynamic month. It really starts off with Neptune’s entry into Pisces on the 3^rd –a true watershed in time. But there’s still so much else going on and we’re still getting pulled in very different directions at the same time, so we’d be wise to pay close heed Neptune’s christening and launch party. We’re working on undoing old and outdated versions of our selves, but already we’re supposed to be blasting off into very new territory and forming new conglomerates of being, and even integrating them into our habits. It’s a whole lot, but when is it ever not?

Venus opposes Mars on the 1^st, frothing up latent tensions but offering a profound chance to let things go. The realities of life often don’t live up to their corresponding fantasies: We could choose to feel like a victim of this supposed travesty, or we could choose to release the fantasies and work to find more joy in what actually is, however endlessly mundane it may be. Work with what you have and be patient regarding progress.

Neptune moves into Pisces at 10:52 am Pacific on the 3rd to stay, where he won’t be done until 2026. A ritual of openness to the watery depths that this change promises would be wise, like a swim in the ocean. This is obviously going to be a long process, but we can help it along by getting in the mindset of surfing the waves. There’s a lot of paddling out, duck-diving waves and then waiting and, hopefully, getting zen-full before going with the appropriate momentum for a sweet weightless journey. More practically speaking: It’s a good idea to let go of our illusions and delusions and accept or even embrace the standard humanity of it all by chopping wood and carrying water, and then chopping more wood and carrying more water. Ritualize the practices of awareness so that they permeate your whole realm. But don’t expect an immediate tidal shift; these things have their own timing and don’t appreciate being rushed.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on the 7^th, pushing us into newer brain territory; new ideas, new conundrums, new solutions and some new challenges. This centers around whether we are patiently excited about the projects and growths at hand, or if we rebel and get annoyed at the lack of immediate reward for our efforts. First the tree, then the fruit.

Saturn stations retrograde on the 7^th. He will remain in apparent backwards motion until June 25^th. This is a potent revision period that will hover over us like a hawk. We may have added some new ways of looking at people and our relationships, but now it’s time to actually dismantle and discard the old versions that have passed their expiration dates. The idea is respect, maturity and especially taking responsibility for our own issues and not projecting them onto others. Super easily said, right? But we either do what we can in those regards or the world will push us into it in ways we wouldn’t like as much. We choose.

The Full Moon is at 1:54 pm, also on the 7^th, in 18 degrees of Leo. It feels rather dramatic, but preferably more like a play put on by children in which we are the children. Definitely stay aware of yourself and dance, play and laugh to process this energy instead of reacting to others and getting pulled into un-fun drama. Pour your heart into something, with passion, even if it’s just cardio.

Venus moves into Aries on the 7^th, where she will remain until March 5^th. This adds some spiciness to the whole mix; calling us to shake it up and keep it moving into fresh territory or risk the ever-so-dangerous boredom beast to come of out lurking. Dance, hike, run, try some new stimulations, be creative and dance some more. But really be present with everything; extract the essence from each bite.

Venus conjoins Uranus on the 9^th, offering us some beautiful fireworks, in proportion, of course, to how much we have been working on our stuff. It’s generally a breakthrough or breakdown scenario, and often something has to be broken down to facilitate the breakthrough. But five ways or another, this is demanding a reconfiguration of our constituents into a greater and more unique awesomeness.

Mercury trines Saturn on the 13^th, giving us a measuring stick to see how well things have been going. Now, unsurprisingly, this can be counter-intuitive in that some times having a shorter to-do and to-cleanse list is a sign of great progress. There usually aren’t cakes and surprise parties where Saturn is involved.

Mercury moves into Pisces on the 13^th, where he will stay until March 2^nd, and then return during his retrograde from March 23^rd until April 16^th. This could be a confusing time with intricacies and subtleties that elude explanation. The short version is that the frontal lobe, our standard inner narrator, has to relax and take time off so the more ancient parts of our brains can do their bits with some peace and quiet. It’s better to do this with ritual and practice than with more mindless distractions like television, games or whatnot. If we succeed, we may just get some useful information from our under-brains.

Mercury conjoins Neptune on the 13^th, giving a healthy taste of what this new Neptune placement has in store for us. I would say we’ll be receiving the first syllabus, but it’ll probably be a lot more free form and intimidating in its own special way: lack of direction. Don’t indulge the mind by imagining things to be clearer and more specific than they are. Swim with it.

Venus squares Pluto on the 15^th, frothing up the urge to purge. It’s time to let go of more non-essentials and other clutter, within and without, to make enough room for what’s to come. Bring light and air to the recesses.

Mercury sextiles Jupiter on the 16^th, allowing for more mental lightness and optimism. Think big and do look towards distant prospects and goal posts. But stick to mostly conceptual grounds because most is still in flux.

The Sun trines Saturn on the 18^th, asking us to approach the present happenings as what they are and not for the more theoretical future results. It’s tricky, because we should stay determined and consistent for the obviously good; but also be keenly aware of where we may be setting ourselves up for challenges to our motivation.

Mercury sextiles Pluto on the 18^th. This is sort of a trash pick up day; if you can get the cans out to the curbside, then much can be taken away more easily than having to lug it to the dump. It hinges on long ago ideas and events that are still unduly influencing our current optimization efforts. Be you now, not what you remember of you then.

The Sun moves into Pisces, also on the 18^th, pushing us down the river for another ride to We-can’t-tell-where. Take pleasure in the mystery of what we can’t see and work on strengthening your forgetfulness of the hard times and dark places. Refresh and spring clean from within.

The Sun conjoins Neptune on the 19^th, launching us into a quandary for some self-fermentation. Break yourself down into smaller more accessible pieces, fundamentals, mix together and let stew and ripen. The product may be a private mystic awareness that could infuse all we consume with depth and richness. Auto-kim-chi-ify.

The New Moon is in 2 degrees of Pisces at 2:35 pm on the 21^st. This is a very rich Piscean pile up, with Mars across the way, like a beautiful drill sergeant screaming “be human.” We may be tempted to drift around and avoid being here in ourselves. However, this is a super prime chance to dive headlong into our bodies and down to our cores. It would be appropriate to take a break from the grindstones, for sure, but don’t undermine anything either. A ritual of private and personal wholeness would be great. Do you.

Mercury opposes Mars on the 23^rd, lighting a fire in our minds. This can be used to slash and burn our silliness and our tendencies to react to things, like bad drivers. Oh, right, do be very careful driving or anything dangerous really, because we are all being tempted towards impatience and distraction. So, stay calm and practice mental centering when temptations, or frustrations, arise.

The Sun sextiles Jupiter on the 25^th, lending some lightness, either towards the end of the tunnel, or closer if all has been going well. We should still definitely be exploring our depths, but this is reminding us to bring with us the awareness that it’s for healthy purposes.

The Sun sextiles Pluto on the 27^th, plunging us a little deeper into our nooks and crannies if we work with it. It’s more old versions of self stuff to be jettisoned: most particularly regrets and obtuse fantasies of how things could have been on a different trajectory. For all we know, this could be the better and easier version, so let it go.

So, yeah. It should be another interesting voyage into uncharted territory. We may have read the brochures, but we can’t really be prepared for the adventures when they finally launch upon us. February does promise some impressive progress for those who truly seize the opportunities to auto-recycle and venture beyond their comfort zones. Just stay aware; too much distraction and you may not notice some of those traps in the trail. May we fare well.

“…A new beginning, suspiciously like the old one; only this time I’m ready.”

-Typhoon-‘Starting Over’

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

It’s a new year already. Though, astrologically speaking, it kind of already changed into the next phase in November and there is a lot going on; super-busy style. January starts by bringing December’s boil to more of a busy simmer. Then things start to get somewhat buoyant around mid-month. But then we’ll feel Mars slowing to a stop on the 23^rd and the busyness will return but with less visible progress. Mostly it’s just asking us to keep working at stuff as best we can–standard fare.

Mercury sextiles Saturn and then Neptune on the 7^th, calling us to integrate recent lessons and let the unpleasant teachers fade into the fog of memory. This could be a very important moment in time for turning towards the right direction and committing to whatever healthy path has recently presented itself. Just be sure that the functional elements are sound.

Mercury moves into Capricorn on the 7^th, where he will stay until the 27th. This period is very supportive of getting things done, organized and out of the way. However, it can also make us harder on ourselves and/or others. Keep the focus on productivity, not criticism and things should work better. Get moving or get out of the way.

Mercury trines Jupiter and squares Uranus on the 8^th, frothing up a different mental blend. This one is leaning more towards wild optimism and excitement, hopefully following on the heels of recent commitments. If things are not moving as you’d like, then be patient and keep master-minding some new angles of approach. Be aware of how the perspective shifts–and take advantage of it.

The Full Moon is in 18 degrees of Cancer at 11:30 pm (pacific) on the 8^th. This semi-mellow lunation is urging us to further support ourselves in the midst of many things/people that could be pulling at our energy supplies. The idea is simple: take care of yourself and then care for others—but the implementation from day to day is complex and always in flux. Don’t exceed your pace and make sure to put time aside for self-nurture; even just a bath will help.

The Sun trines Mars on the 12^th, giving us a chance to cut through some of our inner resistance, our stubborn ego, or other hang-ups. The challenge is that we could too easily coast on this downhill instead of pressing the gas in preparation for the next one. Keep the progress steady and consistent and be patient.

Venus trines Saturn and conjoins Neptune on the 13^th, pulling us in very different directions at once: One that is eager to be on the ground, in the garden, or otherwise enjoying natural earthly pleasures; the other pulling us up towards the ethers, into our fantasies. The ideal way to deal with this is to practice being in awe by allowing oneself to see and appreciate the dreamlike wonder that is all around us. This requires seeing through eyes of wise innocence.

Mercury conjoins Pluto, also on the 13^th, plunging us deep into whatever old detritus is preventing full integration and awesome-ification. Whatever hasn’t been purged from the body, the closet, the to-do list, et cetera, has got to go or at least be put on the soon-to-purge list. Wherever you may be in the process of simplification, keep going. Growth takes time and consistency.

Venus moves into Pisces, also on the 13^th at 9:47 p.m., where she will stay until February 7^th. This period of time is good for any inspirational pursuits: listening to more music, dancing, spiritual practices, even swimming. If it refreshes your spirit and is healthy enough, do it. Relax and unwind some of the tension, because we need to get rest when and where we can.

Venus sextiles Jupiter on the 14^th, lightening the mood of the weekend. We may want to get out with friends and be social and/or see a show. Affirm the positive and enjoy the respite.

The Sun squares Saturn on the 19^th, pushing us to keep getting ourselves together. Maturity and attentiveness are required to keep relationships balanced and smooth as this period could bring up lingering tensions. Let go of any biases and over-reactive tendencies you have and be open to seeing the perspective of others.

The Sun moves into Aquarius on the 20^th, asking us to stay open to whatever the world wants to teach us, even if it comes from unconventional sources. I mean, still take it all with a grain of salt, but be sure to suspend your beliefs enough to avoid getting stuck at a fixed vantage point.

Venus sextiles Pluto on the 20^th, stirring up the under layer of our relationships a bit. It shouldn’t be very scary and it can be useful for flushing misunderstandings and missed connections down the drain. Practice compassion and a real best-effort at understanding the issues of others.

The Sun sextiles Uranus and squares Jupiter on the 21^st, jolting us awake and/or further into action. It centers on where we see ourselves headed, how that may have changed recently, and what the heck we are going to do about it. Easily said, but, you got to strive to thrive.

The New Moon is in 2 degrees of Aquarius at 11:39 p.m. (pacific) on the 22^nd. Now is our chance to blast more fully this new coagulation of various facets of ourselves into a more functional alloy. If you have not yet gathered all these pieces, then get to work on this now. If ready, then flow with the current and use it.

Mercury trines Mars on the 23^rd, propelling us into more realizations and simplifications. This is a good time for further editing our inner narrator and keeping our minds looking decently towards the silver-lining in the drudgery of it all. Keep the mind on track.

Mars stations retrograde on the 23^rd, at 4:54 p.m. (pacific), going apparently backwards until April 13^th. And so it begins: months of training, pruning, streamlining, optimizing, cleansing, essentializing—or paying for the lack of effort. It’s very important to take care of one’s health during this period, like maybe getting back to eating better, exercise, stretching, et cetera. However, it can’t be forced; it has to be wanted enough to push through and start seeing results. Put your brain on the same program. Give yourself a tune-up. A ritual of openness to what this period could bring would be most appropriate.

Mercury squares Saturn on the 27^th, giving us a tough gauge for our growth. Use it for motivation; don’t get discouraged. Life usually has its own unique timing and this must be respected. We are better off if we work with it, patiently.

Mercury moves into Aquarius on the 27^th, taking the focus off of the grind somewhat, and shifting more towards new schemes and contemplations. The mind must be fed or it gets awfully grumpy and difficult to manage. Study and/or do something out of your ordinary.

Mercury sextiles Uranus and squares Jupiter on the 28^th, infusing a strong dose of cabin fever, if we have not been seeking enough adventure. Let us think of it as a ‘call of the wild,’ from within, asking us to get out there or risk wilting. Keep experimenting.

January, what will you bring us? We are all being pushed towards our own original take, combination, amalgam of humanity; to embrace these things in our selves more fully and inventively. This will represent very different paths for various people, but we should all be working through some old, goopy stuff, while also fostering the newness. And it’s most recommended to work on the goop and get it gone, because early February promises to change the game as Neptune ventures into Pisces, which he won’t be done with until 2026! May we all be as conscious and ready as we can be.

“Happiness is an attitude of mind, born of the simple determination to be happy under all outward circumstances.”

-J. Donald Walters

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

Well, the year is almost over. December looks like life should stay busy and interesting, (though seeing that requires work.) The first half is rather dangerous if the momentums are resisted. A level head and steady application of effort is the standard protocol–along with some deep breathing for patience. The second half continues with that volatility but adds a lot more urgency to get ready and get moving or get over it. The whole month wants us to begin preparations now for the coming Spring and the festivities it has in store for us.

Venus conjoins Pluto on the 1^st, frothing up some old hang-ups and fears for processing and, hopefully, removal. This is definitely not a good time to indulge in fears or judgments. But it would facilitate taking our passions to a deeper layer. Stay focused on improving yourself.

The Sun squares Mars on the 2^nd, making for some rambunctious and possibly dangerous scenarios. If the stagnation is yours, then start breaking it up; if it’s in others, stay out of the way and do not engage. The key is to keep your self occupied; and the easiest would be health, exercise, or personal energy processing.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on the 4^th, offering a chance to undo some inner-monologue wackiness. Too much rumination over the same material can hinder a more thorough digestion and assimilation. Pay attention to the messages of the body and emotions and be open to some challenging adjustments. Choose and choose again.

Mercury squares Mars on the 4^th, bringing some sharpness out into the open. This can be used to cut through our own silliness and find new realizations while removing clutter. Or, without an outlet, it could erupt into conflict or drama. Stay focused and clear and keep it moving.

Venus trines Mars on the 5^th, facilitating some smoother relations and adding buoyancy to our moods. This opportunity could easily slide by unnoticed, but it could also be used to make sure that mutual respect and appreciation is understood between loved ones. Cut everybody some slack; especially you.

Uranus stations direct on the 9^th. This starts us on a resolution phase where we can reconfigure all sorts of various parts of ourselves into our greater whole. Though some pieces have gone through alterations; we need to figure out how to make a whole again, before the next round of the breakthrough or breakdown game begins.

There is a total Lunar Eclipse on the 10^th at 6:36 am in 18 degrees Gemini. This is yet another pointed and volatile energy that is pushing us hard to get into the new groove. The emphasis will vary widely between people, but the general focus is on how we interpret what comes to us and what we choose to ignore. Keep your eyes open while attending to the peripheral; not everything can be perceived from the center of our vision.

Mercury stations direct on the 13^th, prompting to us to figure out what in the craziness has really been going on for the last 6 weeks. If we got the message, great, now get down to the business of living it as perpetually as possible. If we are still unclear on the lessons, then dig around until you find them. Know that most things cannot be known before their time.

Venus squares Saturn on the 18^th, grinding us down to the solid core of our beings. If we have not been cleansing our worlds of non-essentials, then it’s time to catch up. However, if the way is cleared, then we can savor the lightness and feel how much easier it is to support ourselves without as many burdens on our shoulders.

The Sun sextiles Saturn on the 19^th, giving us a chance to gauge our progress. But, it’s important to view all this in its proper context; which means cutting much slack and giving more credit than our inner hard-ass would. It is better to measure progress and learning than failure and setbacks. It’s all part of the process.

Venus enters Aquarius on the 20^th, where she will stay until January 13^th. This will lend itself to socialization and connections. It’s the break after the grind; when we can relax a bit and find inspiration and new ideas from the multitudes around us. Keep asking questions.

The Sun sextiles Neptune on the 20^th, blurring the lines of awareness just enough that we could see our predicaments in a fresh light. However, this light is bent like that which shines through water, so don’t go making precision measurements. Instead, marvel at the beauty of the world’s distortions; it adds textural richness and can delight the soul.

Venus squares Jupiter and sextiles Uranus also on the 20^th. This one could be very interesting, but, as per usual, demands openness to new adventures of being. If the day is seized, new visions of creativity and satisfaction could be germinated, but we have to be flexible enough to bend with the flow. I guess the idea is to simply lean towards the positive, while keeping the middle ground; like leaning forward while walking and letting the gravity help us along. And check out Venus in the Southwest and Jupiter high in the East as evening ‘stars’ for some more inspiration.

The Sun moves into Capricorn on the 21^st, calling us to integrate and act on the recent developments, ideas and issues. Awareness is almost nothing without follow up and follow through. Just keep doing what you can with steady application of will. And remember to support yourself with confidence and auto-pats on the back.

The Sun trines Jupiter and squares Uranus on the 22^nd, stirring some restless wanderlust from deep down. We may want to rebel from the reality of certain situations and/or how much work they would actually require to make feasible and awesome. But, this should only concern us if we have been indulging in impractical fantasies. Otherwise, keep one eye on each step and one eye on the horizon as best you can.

The New Moon is on the 24^th, at 10:06 am (Pacific) in 2 degrees of Capricorn. This offers a renewal of our capacity to understand ourselves and the multifarious facets that make up our lives. Especially prominent is contemplation of our family and cultural heritage and how we came to be shaped from and in contrast to our origins. Respect it all as best you are able and own it.

Jupiter stations direct on the 25^th, starting us down the path of integration. It’s a time to reflect on what the year has brought us, especially the second half of it. Now it’s time to further climb into our own lives; with the perspective of the observer, but not a spectator. Be fully involved, but lucid.

The Sun conjoins Pluto on the 28^th, prompting us to get stirring up some muck for filtering and removal. You could think of it as New Year’s resolutions or just commitments to invest in oneself. Either way, get planning the next way of purging and purification. Stay grateful.

Mercury squares Mars on the 31^st, tossing an erratic spark into the mix. Be wary of people with pent-up angst, it’s not a good time to engage in dangerous liaisons. Instead, focus on the positive; laugh about it, have a good time and look forward to more good work opportunities to come.

So, December. It will probably keep us pretty darned busy and may fly by as a result. It could be ultra productive and rich with learning for those ready to blast through themselves and stay undistracted. On the other hand, it could be somewhat excruciating for those who have shirked the calls to act, clear, and lighten. Either way, the cleansing will continue and there will be ample opportunity for learning and becoming more whole. Don’t forget to take care of the physical vehicle. Find a good steady pace.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

-William Gaddis

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

November almost seems to have clear-cut themes. It’s looking like an alternation between the inner and outer purging of our lives. The inner tends to be the less-visible parts: our dreams, fantasies, beliefs, self-concepts, idealizations, et cetera. The outer is standard real life stuff, especially possessions and finances. Doing each side can facilitate the other, but starting with the outer is usually easier. Go through your crap and then go through the crap that floats up inside as a result.

Mercury squares Neptune on the 1^st, blurring the lines some more but hopefully bringing respite from the recent tensions. This is not the best for precise solutions, but it’s great for letting things float downstream. Contemplative pursuits are extremely recommended; let the thoughts follow the current, but keep yourself on the shore.

Venus moves into Sagittarius on the 2^nd, where she will stay until the 26^th. Be ready to venture away from the familiar because the standard entertainments won’t be quite as thrilling. Find something to keep you stimulated or at least be ready to self-entertain.

Mercury also moves into Sagittarius on the 2^nd, where he will stay until January 7^th, (extra long due to retrogradation.) This is a brain-overload period, where ideas and information fly fast and hot. Try to focus on what is actually relevant to your path, and avoid quests of distraction and deferment. Work on ridding your awareness of impurities, or the figurative fires will do it for you.

Venus and Mercury both trine Uranus on the 3^rd. This would tend to sponsor either catharsis and/or chaos; largely depending on what’s been happening lately with and around us. It would be fabulous for breaks from old patterns that no longer serve us, but it will definitely require a conscious choice and then the follow-up.

Mars opposes Neptune on the 7^th, whisking us off for an energetic-limbo contest with our illusions. It’s important to maintain our balance while passing under and beyond our self-undermining fantasies and former-futures. If this can be done smoothly, then we may find lots of motivation, energy and possibly inspiration that had been eluding our awareness. Don’t fall.

Neptune stations direct on the 9^th, gearing us up for the final push out of Aquarius before heading into Pisces in early February. This is our chance to jettison our personal-projection fantasies about how the world should be while increasing our compassion for and surrender to what actually is. Set the awareness free of its own former visions and get ready for a deeper plunge into one’s own creations come February.

The Full Moon is on the 10^th at 12:16 pm in 18 degrees of Taurus. This is a rather pleasant lunation except for the eclipse that comes at the end of this lunar cycle. It’s time to deepen our practicality and appreciation: keep streamlining those values and possessions (attachments) and pare it down towards the functional core of things. Reach out to special loved ones and affirm the importance of those connections.

Mars moves into Virgo on the 10^th, where he will remain until July 3^rd; a whopping 8 months due to retrogradation starting in January. This is going to be a whole lot: it’s asking us to work towards perfection while cutting out our perfectionist tendencies. Thankfully, it’s more of a paradox on paper: Realistically, it means we should be cutting deadwood and enriching our soils without getting too persnickety. Don’t let the details eclipse the process and progress. And seriously, don’t over-think things; take a break and come back at it fresh.

Mars trines Jupiter on the 16^th, urging us to get some creative envisioning/planning going. We need those aspirations and something to look forward to, just don’t cross over to the crazy side of optimism. Bolster that confidence.

The Sun squares Neptune on the 20^th, demanding more purging from the back cupboards of our psyches. Old self-identities and projections, outdated dreams and projections; they all could use some recycling. Let us all get over ourselves and back into ourselves.

Venus sextiles Saturn on the 22^nd, putting the brakes on satisfaction without growth. It should give us some rewards for our recent efforts and hopefully solidify the good. Practice trust and gratitude for whatever we receive, for it could always be worse.

The Sun moves into Sagittarius on the 22^nd, asking us to further stretch our egos. The easiest way is to study; feed the passion for knowledge and hopefully it will sponsor more flexibility and consciousness. Try refreshing your perspective on your life and its trajectory and see if some new avenues present themselves.

The Sun trines Uranus on the 23^rd, helping facilitate this ego-yoga that’s been going on lately; but not without our willingness to stay open and ready. Either way, push towards being more awesome without the constraints of specific destinations.

Mars trines Pluto on the 23^rd, offering us a chance to further cleanse and purge our minds and closets. It could be a little dangerous without an outlet, so figure something that can be composted and get it broken down and cooking in the mix; these things take time to make their transformation, so start now.

Mercury stations retrograde on the 23^rd, until going direct on December 13^th. We now have the chance to undo mistakes and make other necessary course corrections. This round has a lot do with perspectives and the belief systems that create them: It’s a good time to sort through these and trim them down. Maybe even revise our personal narratives by recasting all the roles/characters as normal people struggling to live their lives to the fullest–just like us.

Venus sextiles Neptune on the 24^th, bringing some relaxation and lightness more into the mix. Have some fun, take a break from the grindstone and smell the freshness of the air, or find better air if necessary. Breathe deeply.

There is a partial Solar Eclipse on the 24^th at 10:10 pm in 2 degrees of Sagittarius. This eclipse brings a potent opportunity for renewal and purification. Hopefully we have fewer things weighing us down and can fully embrace a reset to our operating systems. It would be appropriate to do a ritual honoring the learning experiences these Earth-lives offer us. Don’t forget to ask for help from the universe and trusted ones as appropriate.

Venus enters Capricorn on the 26^th, where she will stay until December 20^th. This is more pro-practicality and really supports getting some wise things done. Invest in some solid efforts now, even in the name of long-term laziness if it helps the psyche. Work through it. Don’t indulge sentimentality if it costs too much energy.

Venus squares Uranus on the 26^th, forcing us to shift our value systems even further; to find as much joy as possible in the process and processes instead of teasing oneself with the promise of purely future rewards. Enjoy the now; fewer expectations are better.

Venus trines Jupiter on the 27^th, giving us a needed boost of optimism and faith. Confidence in ourselves and in goodness can really help the flow of life by reducing unnecessary hesitations and sensitivities. Joy within helps foster joy without: There are upward spirals; they just require more effort than the downward.

So, what more can be said. Probably lots, but life doesn’t need to be any more complicated than it already is, and overload is best avoided. Anyways, the celestial weather is clearly trying hard to get the world and us to cut way down on craptasticness and get back to greater simplicity and standard common sense. May we all get gracefully back into the natural rhythm.

"Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth.”

-Ludwig Borne

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

October may be relatively mellow, but it will still be tough because it’s working through old crap. The focus is definitely on integration. However, beyond just processing our own developments, it seems to be about reconnecting with others within this newer context; refreshing the connections. There is also a push for us to get more real, a little tougher on ourselves, but not to indulge any self-bashing tendencies, especially retro-active regret. Learn and keep going.

Mars squares Jupiter on the 2^nd, bringing up tension between our grand visions and the reality of the now. If we find ourselves disappointed, then now is the time to commit to more steady application of effort. If we feel the flames of excitement already, then it’s good for stoking that motivation and inspiration; envision practical awesomeness and keep putting it to action.

Mercury conjoins Saturn on the 6^th, pushing us to deal with our doubts and fears by either deconstructing them or by establishing and planning for positive growth. Self-support by giving yourself credit would be wise: Things take time and often involve taking two steps back for every three forward. Respect the timing.

Venus trines Neptune on the 7^th, highlighting a more dreamy and fantastical energy. Some kind of spiritual work would help, as would getting out and seeing a show or hanging with friends. The key is tolighten the seriousness of the times by stepping out onto the dance floor; flow with it.

Venus ingresses into Scorpio on the 8^th, where she will be until November 2^nd. This is a challenging placement that asks us to stay committed to our passions. If it doesn’t get the juices flowing, then don’t force it and look deeper. Love your quest, because you’re the only one on it.

The Full Moon is on the 11^th, in 18 degrees Aries at 7:06 pm (Pacific). This is a tough one in general, but will reward past efforts with less ruthlessness. Constructive and mature actions are extremely supported, or should I say required. Energy drains and causation fantasies need to be neutralized and trust needs practice. Be wary of taking things way too personally; it’s a fragile time for most. Organizing your closet and your home would be healthy outlets.

Mercury trines Neptune on the 12^th, making the mind a little mushy. This is tough for full logic and clear vision, but useful for more imaginative and mystical pursuits. Be open to whatever comes through the mind, but don’t try to grasp too tightly.

Venus sextiles Pluto on the 13^th, dragging some love and relationship issues out for processing. This could be rather emotional but can be used to deepen our mutual understandings and release some of our attachments, especially the less rational. Focus on appreciation and let the rest go.

Mercury moves into Scorpio on the 13^th, where he will stay until November 2^nd. This passage focuses on figuring out what we would really like, and hopefully increasing its presence. It’s not so much about money, but about the simple pleasures: rich conversations, emotional connections, being seen, enjoying nature, etc.

The Sun conjoins Saturn on the 13^th, forcing us to get through some issues or lingering tasks before we can relax and have fun. The main concern is whether we respect our human fallibilities and frailties without endorsing them. Can we be mature enough to accept the insecurities and immaturities and help them grow up?

Venus opposes Jupiter on the 14^th, urging us to stay open to goodness and grace and keep an eye out for all those silver linings. Gratitude is a powerful survival tool; it keeps us from over-indulging in stress hormones and tends to foster beauty. Not so much pie in the sky, but pie in the oven.

Mercury sextiles Pluto on the 16^th, promoting more refuse removal, especially of the mental fear-fantasy type. Dig in and discard any thought patterns and belief systems that are squandering your energy or setting you up for disappointment. Don’t dwell.

Mercury opposes Jupiter on the 17^th, asking us to embrace more optimism in some kind of higher purpose, or at least to be thankful for learning opportunities. Avoid hyper-vigilance and look to the light, even if it’s on the other side of the tunnel.

The Sun trines Neptune on the 21^st, giving us a chance to step out of ourselves and relax. Loosen your grip on self-identities and remember that we are all in the same human-life boat.

The Sun moves into Scorpio on the 23^rd, urging us to pay closer attention to our feelings and undercurrents. The focus is on further digesting recent changes and allowing enough space and rest to facilitate this. Baths are helpful.

Mars sextiles Saturn on the 26^th. This could be a very productive time if your world is prepared. If this is challenged, then removing remaining obstructions is the order of business. Avoid frustration and impatience, but stay focused and determined.

The New Moon is on the 26^th, at 12:56 pm in 3 degrees of Scorpio. This lunation is really begging us to stay centered in ourselves and focused on our integration processes. However, the temptation for mental distraction is very strong: So, ideally we could work with it by talking out our respective issues with family and close friends. But keep it clean.

Venus squares Mars, also on the 26^th, frothing up sub-surface angst and some steaminess. It would be wise to avoid tense people and relationships, because tolerance is scarce. But do work on recognizing the goodness in our core support systems. Some exercise in nature would be a great manifestation, or something creative and beautiful.

Mercury squares Mars on the 28^th, so drive carefully. This tends to both scatter and sharpen the mind at the same time; wanting us to find clarity in a morass of information. We don’t have to commit, but contemplating where we want to go with ourselves is supported. But this aspect can also make distracted people rather dangerous, so be aware of your surroundings and avoid confrontations.

Jupiter trines Pluto on the 28^th, for the 2^nd of 3 passes (7-7-11, 10-28-11 and 3-12-12). This is a reconsideration period; when we can rethink what we are working for and towards, when we can deepen our appreciation for the unfoldings and stop waiting for some elusive ‘doneness.’ Belief system overhauls should already be underway and working to strip things down to the core essentials; not just hard functionality/survival, but with accommodations and softness to nurture the humanity–like flowers in the bedroom. In other words: keep trimming the excess, stretch your comfort ability, but keep it soft.

The Sun opposes Jupiter and sextiles Pluto, also on the 28^th, dragging egoic resistance out, hopefully for catharsis and release. This could be a little scary, depending on how much one’s personal mythology has been projected onto the world, and how tightly it is held by the ego. A lot of it could be about releasing our attachments to former versions of our futures, or our resolution fantasies about how things could just magically work themselves out, with impeccable timing, like the plot wrap-up of a movie. Realize that these fantasies have served us by giving us hope or hard lessons to learn, but respectfully get over them. Seeing the light of the past helps us to see the light in what is to come.

Venus squares Neptune on the 31^st, which is cool for Halloween or mystical pursuits, but not good for indulgence. Pour yourself into the imaginative and uninhibited spirit of this time; but try and make it an infusion, not an escape.

Well, who knows, it seems straight forward-ish, but there are some invisible factors lurking that could really shift the momentum and the storyline. The central issue appears to be resisting change versus jumping into the fray of it. Setbacks and visits to the reservoirs can test our commitments and dampen our enthusiasms, or we can go with it and make way more progress than expected. Stay on your course and give yourself the benefit of the doubt.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

-John Muir

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context.

Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

So, September is advertising way more ease and flow than August as grand-cross, i.e. ‘do or cry,’ season is over, for now. September starts us off on the digestion and integration phase–or is it just recovery for now? Well, we should be tired; if we’ve been keeping up with the astrological demands. So now could be our chance to revitalize and recharge our physical and psychic systems. But, be sure to devote time towards keeping the momentum of change moving along, because it will be needed.

The Sun trines Jupiter on the 2^nd, helping us get our physical worlds more on track. It’s a good time to take better care of the body by (re)establishing healthy habits: to decrease the effects of stress and fatigue. Eat light and stay bright.

Mercury opposes Neptune on the 8^th, for the 3rd and final crossing; bringing or beginning some resolution to situations that have been frothed about since the end of July. It should help differing perspectives to become clearer and the hyper-sensitivity to wane. But don’t over-think it.

Mercury returns to Virgo on the 8^th, after a month of revisiting Leo, where he will stay until the 25th. This will be a welcome change that will get us into a more productive gear. It’s time to tackle those delayed projects and get our worlds more streamlined and efficient. Don’t get nitpicky, but keep busy.

Venus sextiles Mars on the 10^th, allowing us to re-imagine what we want and to contrast it with what we are getting. Recent times have been trying, and the emphasis is still leaning towards removing the undesirables from our space: bad habits, old hang-ups, excessive worry, and too many distractions. If this has already been in process, then start contemplating what will fill the newly-opened space. If getting rid of this old stuff has been avoided up until now, then get on with it!

Mercury trines Pluto on the 11^th, frothing up some residual crud to get over and clean up. It should be easier to see what has been hidden up until now, and the wiser choice can be more easily made. The time is ripe to flush away a whole big blob of old crap, but you still have to pull the handle.

The Full Moon is on the 12^th at 2:27 am in 19 degrees of Pisces. This is another nice lunation: it’s asking us to take care of the emotional reservoirs in tandem with the physical. Pay attention to the body’s messages and to whatever wisdom can be gleaned from dreams. Support the feedback loop between the physical body and the psyche. Dive inside and take a swim.

Mercury trines Jupiter on the 14^th, facilitating some better long-range vision and putting current processes into grander perspectives. It can be too easy to get stuck in the details and drudgery of any given effort and lose sight of its true worth. I guess it’s kind of: nose to the grindstone, eyes to the sky.

Venus moves into Libra on the 14^th, where she will stay until October 8th. This is a very helpful placement that will bring more easy joy, instead of dangling it in front of us like a carrot for which we must strive. Enjoy good company, close ties and connections of all sorts and work on reinforcing the beauty throughout. These things are essential.

Pluto stations direct on the 16^th, starting an even-deeper dredge-the-bottom cycle. Control and fear issues are topping the destroy-now-or-pay-later list. The good thing is that most of the cards are already on the table and now we just have to figure out how to get rid of them. Focus on each card as it comes to you; either integrate it or toss it.

Venus opposes Uranus on the 17^th, trying to break us out of our shells and open us to greater connectivity. The challenge is to reach out to the mundane with as much passion as we would to the most unique. Rise above the desire to be above and get horizontal.

Venus squares Pluto on the 18^th, pulling fears of real intimacy up for review. Enthusiastic revelry sounds like a good idea, but first we must neutralize the inner timidity. Be bold enough to be receptive and vulnerable.

Mars moves into Leo on the 18^th, where he will stay until November 10th. It’s a good time to take concrete strides towards the person that we really want to be. Cardiovascular exercise would be a natural place from which to facilitate this energetic push. Get moving with those inner longings for self-expression and creative vitalization. Be your own audience.

The Sun moves into Libra on the 23^rd, emphasizing attentiveness to others and joint endeavors. This time seems centered around supporting others and giving the benefit the doubt to, and supporting the empowerment of, loved ones. Putting our fears and insecurities away will facilitate this—we’re all presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

Mars trines Uranus on the 23^rd, adding some wild tendencies to the mix. Patience and caution are highly recommended; especially with other people. It would be wise to channel this energy through exercise or ecstatic dance or yoga. Be creative with yourself.

Mercury moves into Libra on the 25^th, where he will stay until October 13th. Listen, and learn from what comes to you. It’s a time for working with how much knowledge can come when we see our worlds as indirect reflections of ourselves. What is the moral of the story for you now?

The Sun opposes Uranus on the 25^th, sponsoring a tempest of self-awareness. If we have been working hard to overcome some of our immaturities, then this will allow us to recapture some of the innocence that led to those immaturities in the first place. If, however, resistance has been indulged, then get over those parts of yourself, like, last week.

Mercury opposes Uranus on the 26^th, possibly blowing our minds with novel improvements to eternal quandaries. It’s confusing: what to breakthrough and what to pass by. Maybe the trick is non-direct engagement; break-in to our own issues and unravel the threads that bind us get us to get hooked. Either way, be wary and tolerant of others at the same time.

The New Moon is on the 27^th at 4:09 am in 4 degrees of Libra. This one is tough, but proportionate to this year’s progress. There has been a call to establish a newer version of ourselves and this lunation is pushing us to let go of the old version. It’s a chance for us to commit to further excellence in ourselves and our capacity to join with others in awesomeness. As a mantra: “I trust in the new.”

Mercury conjoins the Sun as both of them square Pluto on the 28^th (2:35 am-1:16 pm). This is potentially ruthless or cathartic; as usual, it depends on our charts and how well we have been handling them. It’s time to cleanse and purge whatever we carry that is not true to ourselves; they may have been crucial to our survival back when, but now they’ve got to go. Try to inject some innocence into the cynical places within.

Mercury sextiles Mars on the 29^th, giving us some motivation and drive to get over the hump. But be patient with your energy levels as the body may be less motivated than the mind. Keeping things in the envisioning phase may help.

Venus conjoins Saturn on the 29^th, putting a halt to frivolous enjoyment. If it’s not deep, authentic, and mature, it needs some nurture and attention–but with a stern hand. In other words, self-correct for silliness. Also, affirm love and appreciation where appropriate.

The Sun sextiles Mars, also on the 29^th, prompting an itch for action. If all has been going well, we should feel freer to be ourselves, with less effort to boot. But adjustments are still beneficial; especially regarding what we think we are expressing versus how it may be perceived. Keep it free, but be attentive to your dance partner.

Life always keeps work on our desk: finish a stack and it tends to supply the next. But, keeping that in mind, be sure to give yourself credit for being awesome and getting it done to the best of your abilities. Anyways, it’s mostly a mellower continuation of ongoing metamorphoses. So, it ends up striking me as a ‘stew and brew’ situation: Most of the ingredients have already surfaced and the idea is to keep stirring while making minor adjustments. Breathe deeply and listen to that intuition.

“Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things"

- Noam Chomsky

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up. When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us. 

Well, I hope everybody enjoyed the latter half of July, because August is more nose-to-the-grindstone. This month definitely has some tension building until the middle of the month and then it slowly subsides. Somehow, though, we should be calmly applying ourselves or we may end up too tense and unable to keep up. Pay close attention to health and habits because our vehicles must be well maintained during this period; and they are probably already a little fatigued if you’ve been keeping up. Anyway, August should be informative.

The Sun squares Jupiter on the 1^st, stimulating some long-range visions of where we’d like to take our self-development. Focus on practical ways to increase enjoyment— Which means infusing more joy into the most mundane.

Mercury goes retrograde on the 2^nd, until the 26th. This retrograde centers around deconstructing our intellectual critic and getting back more fully into our hearts. Critical awareness can be very productive, but is best when kept in close contact with our feelings, body and heart.

Mars moves into Cancer on the 3^rd, where he will stay until September 18th. This is a challenging placement thatasks us to qualify our personal desires against the needs of our close circles and larger communities. We do need to establish what we want, but should concentrate on that which is appropriate and needed in the circumstances. And be sure not to squander too much energy on worry.

Mars trines Neptune on the 3^rd, giving us a last chance (for now) to cut through illusions that keep us disconnected. Relax the survivalist instinct and get more in a steady flow. Slow down and meditate on things before acting.

Mercury sextiles Mars on the 4^th, stirring up the intellectual angst for further review. Mental editing is strongly supported; this is also known as slapping the mind back to its center. Any lingering anger issues might also usefully be broken down into bits and hopefully repurposed towards something more productive than reacting.

Neptune regresses into Aquarius on the 4^th, where he will stay until moving back into Pisces for good on February 3rd of next year. This will be a not-necessarily-too-subtle sea change that plunges us back into the last 14 years for a final cleanse. It’s time to get more realistic and less disappointed with modern culture and society; release the utopian and dystopian fantasies at the same time and work on easing into the middle ground with fascination (and maybe even delight) for what exists.

Venus squares Jupiter on the 4^th, sponsoring some indulgent tendencies and financial envisioning. The simple message is: don’t start partying until the work is over; don’t over-extend. But do reward yourself for the effort.

The Sun sextiles Saturn on the 5^th, opening the door to self-doubt or feeling some recently-increased stability. We can make strides to stabilize our energy levels and to focus on steady growth rather than to indulge in another gas-brake-gas cycle. And it would be wise to extend this steadiness to our expression levels in relationships as well.

Venus sextiles Saturn on the 7^th, prompting some financial planning and/or concern. Patience will be required because there is much that we desire to actualize, but which must nonetheless await the proper season. Focus on what is growing now.

Mercury moves back into Leo on the 8^th, digging into our ego issues for reassessment. As per usual, the middle ground is the goal: express your truth, but without domination or a need for a rapt audience. Have independent fun with it and bring the rest back to center.

Mercury opposes Neptune, also on the 8^th, dealing a blow to a mind not open to inspiration and paradox. Don’t struggle to figure things out; just let the deeper parts of your consciousness offer its quiet truths and be attentive to hearing them.

Mars squares Uranus on the 9^th, stoking the fires of crazy for us all. Anxious and rambunctious energy is at a peak: We should be getting bold with ourselves, but still treading cautiously. Do some personal breakthrough work and get active, but definitely be aware that some people will be powder kegs right now.

Mars opposes Pluto on the 10^th, dredging up some darker elements of ourselves and our ego’s impatience. We must persist with what we resist if we are to come into our wholeness. There’s always a lesson and a chance to go deeper into our truths, however unpleasant.

The Full Moon is in 20 degrees Aquarius at 11:57 a.m. (Pacific) on the 13^th. The lunations of late have been working us pretty hard, but this one is more about sharing in mutual enjoyment and happiness, and even maybe dancing. We should remind loved ones how much we appreciate their being, and we could also benefit from some mental mantras of self-love. Whatever it is that you struggle with most internally, repeat words of love towards those issues and feel the shift in energy, or at least the brain chemistry.

Mercury conjoins Venus as they both conjoin the Sun throughout the 16^th. This continues with the full Moon’s theme: enhancing positive connections with demonstrations of love and gratitude. Getting the body moving on some figurative dance floor would be a wise choice. Make the work into a game; our minds like that.

Mars sextiles Jupiter on the 18^th, revving up our drive to keep (or get) this show on the road. This would be good for home-based projects or taking a fresh perspective towards ongoing family patterns that could use some undoing. Don’t indulge in reactionary tendencies; stay on your path.

Venus opposes Neptune on the 21^st, inducing yearnings for more connection and greater flow. We could bemoan the supposed deficiencies or use that same energy to anticipate more harmonious outcomes. The key is relinquishing attachment and owning the light within.

Venus moves into Virgo on the 21^st, where she will stay until September 14th. This is a tough place for Venus because the demands of chopping wood and carrying water must be attended to or there will be a price. Still, the idea is to find pleasure no matter the task, for this is a sure step forward on the path to enlightenment.

The Sun opposes Neptune on the 22^nd, pushing us to stay centered and to avoid unnecessary confusions. Visibility is very challenged, so we must rely on intuition for personal guidance and detachment where others are concerned. Don’t fight it.

The Sun moves into Virgo on the 23^rd, bringing yet more emphasis to working with Earthly needs. Tending to the gardens and maintaining cleanliness are crucial aspects of our lives that would benefit from reaffirmation in this era of disconnection from the natural cycles. Don’t over-think, and try to work on things as if there were no obligation to do so.

Mars squares Saturn on the 25^th, highlighting our resistances like a brick wall in the road. Don’t try to ram through it impatiently or injury will result. Seek to take it apart,brick by brick, with the knowledge that it’s there to teach us something about ourselves. Don’t push it; disassemble it.

Venus trines Pluto, also on the 25^th, giving us space to replace our fears with cathartic growth. There’s a lot of heaviness going around and this is reminding us to trust in the worthiness of the tribulations. It’s all we can do.

Mercury stations direct on the 26^th, gearing up for some difficult integration to come. Sure, we come to understand things in new lights, but what the heck we best do with the revelations is a very different issue. This is asking us to remember to constantly qualify the mind’s decisions with the heart. Keep the mind off the throne.

The Sun trines Pluto on the 28^th, dredging up some of our obsessive tendencies and asking us to get over ourselves in those regards. Readjust the measuring stick if it helps, because nothing stays perpetually optimal in this realm. And maybe it shouldn’t.

The New Moon is in 5 degrees of Virgo at 8:04 pm on the 28^th. This is a kind of sneaky lunation because it’s not yelling as loudly as those of the last months. It’s a big one though, asking us to forgive people, primarily ourselves, and to integrate the learning without swinging towards the regret side of the ego. For all we know, things have been going perfectly because (and not in spite) of the haphazard wackiness.

Venus trines Jupiter on the 29^th, lightening the weather with a call to celebration; not of a job done, but of a process well in motion. The planetary weather is very different and every stretch that widens our perspectives is helping us prepare for the future.

Jupiter goes retrograde on the 30^th, not stationing direct until December 25th. This revision period wants to get us grounded and loving it. Easily said, but not as easily applied while so much is in flux. Work on appreciating the present crop instead of rushing into the future. To each its season; patience for now.

So, it’s not as tough as it sounds, if you join with the forces that be and make the requisite adjustments. The strange thing about this month is that it seems to emphasize happiness, enjoyment and appreciation while on the other side it’s pestering us with more and more issues to work through. Clearly, we should be squishing these together, the shoulds and the enjoyment. This requires substantial changes of mind, so that each new development can be welcomed with open arms as a teacher and, ultimately, a loved one. Respect the stress that rises but promptly put it to the side and proceed with a clear mind. And may we all find loving help for our efforts.