I am in Borrego Springs, CA, this week under a dark sky in the desert. Getting away from the stressors of city life is a blessing.  My nervous system is relaxed, my sleep is deeper and my dreams are vivid. I lectured on the Moon Phase Families for the Astro-Bash conference and completed my first Peer Group with the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA). What a joy to connect with other astrologers to share how we do our work, learn from each other, and receive constructive feedback. I aim to finish my OPA certification by the time Saturn, the planet of hard work, legacy, and achievement, reaches my midheaven (MC). The MC is the pinnacle of our natal chart.  My MC is in Aries, and this Full Moon is lighting up my career house. High road Aries is a pioneer who inspires others to take calculated risks for self-actualization.

My peer group challenged me to stop delaying my Foundations of Astrology 101 class and launch a beta version this...

I am thrilled that Mercury retrograde ends on Friday.  My apologies for this week's Celestial Insights podcast.  Vesta was at 29 Gemini, not Leo.  I hope you understood the context. I recorded on the day Jupiter stationed retrograde while trining the trickster transiting my third house of communication. Jupiter is more focused on the big picture than the details.  Despite listening back, I did not catch my error. Yikes!

As we blaze back over the path that Venus in Leo has traversed for the third time, I am still unpacking her retrograde through Leo. Venus rules beauty, pleasure, money, women, and relationships.  Fiery Leo is a joyful, expressive, and creative sign. Retrogrades bring delays, reversals, and the collapse of anything contemplated. It was a loud transit and events will continue to unfold until Venus enters Virgo on October 8. 

• When Venus entered fiery Leo on June 5, it opposed Pluto at 0 Aquarius, both at a critical degree....

Venus retrograde over-delivered for many with delays, reversals, and collapses of anything contemplated around love, money, celebrations, and values. I am still dealing with the tax board about the missing form. It is a minor but irritating frustration. Mercury entered the retrograde dance last week, and I traveled to a wedding (Venus) in Mexico. Instagram followers and podcast listeners know I was nervous about the trip as the winged messenger is the trickster. Due to a communication mistake, we took the wrong travel route and missed our flight due to the massive traffic at the border crossing. Astrology prepared me. I purchased a more expensive ticket, knowing with my natal chart there was a significant probability of problems. Mercury is reversing through my third house of short trips, and oppressive Saturn is retrograde in my ninth house of long-distance travel. Colette at Southwest Airlines helped the four of us rebook later flights and get home the same evening. Thank you,...

I was interviewed last year for a Cosmopolitan Magazine article about the astrology of twins. Seeing it published as Venus retrograde in Leo perfected its second of 3 squares with Uranus conjunct my natal Mercury in Taurus was a delight. Venus rules women, Leo celebrities, Mercury magazines, and Uranus fame. If Our Birth Charts Say So Much About Us, Why Am I So Different From My Twin? was published the in a world-famous women's magazine. I was quoted alongside the Astro Twins, celebrity astrologers. Astrology is literal! The first square was July 3. Did you have a surprise event or awakening around relationships, money, values, beauty, or self-esteem? If there was an echo in your life last week on August 8/9, the story might have another event around the final transit on September 29.

The planetary VIP this week and the upcoming New Moon is Uranus which does not follow conventional rules. As per NASA:

Uranus is the only planet whose equator is nearly at a right angle to its orbit....

My life is a whirlwind. Expansive Jupiter conjoined my Sun and hardworking Saturn in my 11^th house of groups in July. It’s been 12 years since the cosmic Santa lit up this part of my chart. The experience includes abundance and a bit of overwhelm. I was honored to share my work with ISAR, SDAS, and Synchronicity University. I am the new host of Transit Talks every first Sunday with the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA) and a manager of OPA Live. It is a fantastic organization. Consider joining to sharpen your skills! 

My application to speak for NORWAC in 2024 was accepted. This annual astrology conference occurs over Memorial Day weekend in Seattle. I am over the Moon with joy! Join me if you want to deepen your astrological knowledge, cultivate community and have fun!   

 Bay Area locals, come to Oakland First Friday's this week. I will be at Glowdega at 2408 Telegraph Ave from 4 -7 pm.  Mini astrology...

Venus in Leo dances backward in heels from tomorrow, July 22, until  September 3. This retrograde invites us to review, redefine and reimagine our approach to relationships, material abundance, beauty, self-worth, confidence, and more. Chiron, the wounded healer, starts its annual reversal on Sunday until December 26. Think back to the summer of 2015 for insight into potential themes.

This closeness of the two internally focused transits invites healing through examining our shadows. For an in-depth discussion of the transit and illustration through natal chart readings, purchase the Venus Retrograde workshop replay.  

Oracle cards are a powerful tool for tapping into the subconscious and the current energies. I pull cards daily for myself and at the end of every astrology reading for my clients. My friend Maria Marmanides is a tarot/ oracle card reader, astrologer, and writer. I am in awe of her talents and highly recommend her Women of Myth oracle deck. "It is an...

This lunar cycle is going to bring the drama. On the day of the New Moon, the North Node enters Aries and the South Node into partner Libra until January 2025. The lunar nodes move backward through the zodiac. This transit begins at the 29^th degree of karmic lessons, crisis, and decay. The collective work shifts from focusing on resource allocation to relationship dynamics. It's time to assert personal needs, embrace courage and enforce healthy boundaries. As we adjust to the shift, I expect we will experience surges of the shadows. Selfish, aggressive, and tactless behavior will abound as the rules of civility are rewritten.

The Sun in Cancer, Pluto in Capricorn, and the lunar nodes will form a cardinal grand cross on July 21 at the 29^th degree of each sign. Crosses are planetary patterns without an outlet. Venus in fiery Leo stations retrograde on July 22. Seismic events will occur around this time. Extreme weather is likely as the New Moon is sextile surprising Uranus and trine...

On the Celestial Insights podcast dated June 26, I forecast that we might have surprising legal cases. Three stunning Supreme Court decisions reflected the First Quarter Moon (FQM) in Libra’s aspects—the sign oversees justice, artists, and marriage. FQM phases are times when we take action. In the astrology chart, Jupiter (judges) in Taurus (money, resources, artists) was in a smooth sextile with Saturn retrograde (authority rolling back judgments) in Pisces (forgiveness, atonement, oneness, and slavery). In addition, Mercury in Gemini was in a tense square with Neptune in Pisces, Mars in Leo squared Uranus in Taurus, and Neptune slowed down to station retrograde on Friday. The Associated Press is paraphrased below in italics.

The Court killed President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts & ended affirmative action in higher education.

- Mercury in Gemini rules students. Neptune governs forgiveness and atonement...

Saturn in Pisces is getting louder as it grinds to a stop and approaches its retrograde cycle. Retrogrades coincide with collapse, antagonism, reversals, difficulties, delays, and reoccurrences of previous situations. Shadows of this planet controls, denies, deceives, and bring challenges. Pisces topics include drugs, addiction, gasoline, poverty, religion, and water. Recent stories include:

• The destruction of a Ukrainian dam flooded towns, killed fish, eliminated vital drinking water, and left thousands homeless.
• Thousands of dead fish washed up on a Texas beach. A lack of oxygen due to rising temperatures is the culprit.
• On a positive note, 1.5 million fentanyl doses were seized and 40 people were arrested in Florida.
• Authorities warned Floridians that the 5000-pound Sargassum seaweed blob that hit the beaches contains flesh-eating bacteria.
• Saudia Arabia will limit oil production starting in July.
• A truck loaded with gasoline caught fire on the vital freeway I-95 near...

I just returned from the NORWAC astrology convention in Seattle, WA. These events are an amazing opportunity to meet and learn new techniques from exceptional astrologers. Being in a community with like-minded spiritual adventures is such a joy. If you are a professional astrologer, enthusiast, or addict, I recommend putting a conference on your bucket list.

Jupiter, the cosmic Santa, transits resourceful Taurus until May 2024. The blessings and expansion are earthbound. Consider how you can grow wealth sustainably, experience more embodiment and embrace simple pleasures.

My Taurus Sun is in the 11^th house of groups. In July, I will speak for the International Society of Astrological Research (ISAR), the San Diego Astrological Society, and Synchronicity University. I will keep you posted. The first of 3 Jupiter connections with my Sun is on July 23. The beauty is that if you lean in a little, the greater benefic, with surpass your expectations for expansion. For myself, this transit...