Full Moon in Cancer | January 15, 2014

Though the Moon in December was technically fully effaced in Gemini on the 17th, it quickly moved into Cancer 9 hours later and magnified the still powerful effects of being in it's most resonant home. Today however, Moonrise is at 7:06 pm and full by 10:52 pm. She has already occupied Cancer for two days and the differences of these two Moon transits will be felt.

Take the themes of the Moon and Cancer, put them into a tea cup and pour warm water on top. You'll find yourself immersed in a brew of instinct, intuition and emotion. Psychic precognition and spirituality will be on your mind. Allow your passion and sensuality to guide you with gentle, compassionate hands. Retreat into your home and do water rituals like bathing with herbs, fertilize your garden, make soup and drink tea. Embrace the water. Hold it. Go under and open your eyes. Feel the liquid shawls slide across your skin and rest in the weight of it's waves. This is a very feminine influence. Cancer is the nurturer. She mothers everyone and everything. She tends and takes care of those in need. She rules the reproductive organs. She has a giant heart that looks like a shell. There's a pearl inside. Wear it with silver and abalone. Resonate with the magnetic energy that is the strongest. Gather it up like string and let it drive you, uninhibited.

There are also subtle flares that can be felt with all Full Moons, coming from the influences of the angles made between the Moon in full (it's most powerful position) and the other planets. These are called aspects. They form squares, triangles and diametrically opposed lines.

• Moon square Mars | Challenging influence felt with freedom, restraint, expansion, travel, exploration and physical activity.
• Moon opposition Mercury | Polarizing or magnetic influence felt towards introvert | extrovert, mental activities or study, invention, learning, new concepts and ideas.
• Moon trine Saturn | Harmonizing influence towards challenges and limitations, problem solving, lessons and morals.

These are fleeting aspects that will shift every few days but whose effects are powerful when added to a Full Moon equation. Keys to understanding Astrology are drawn by looking into the areas of our life that become illuminated each day, month and year. It allows us to get a deeper understanding as to why themes in our life continue to repeat and why we feel drawn or compelled to activities, moods, objects and elements. Life is too short to waste a Full Moon - go out and jump in the water!

Surviving Mercury Retrograde 2014 | Prospects, Positions, Perspectives

Let's talk about that thing that drives everyone up the wall into chaos every year, numerous times. Even non-believers will blame their cathartic messes on Mercury Retrograde without even knowing what exactly that means. All they know is, it causes frustration and complicates everything when it's happening. And the truth is, living things will be affected by it's apparent backwards motion whether they choose to or not. We don't have a choice when it comes to planetary influences. Magnetic forces work scientifically, under the thumb of nature. We are at the mercy of it and the best advice here is to just go with it. Don't resist - lay down in the water. Educating yourself on the principles and key functions of big transitions and learning how to use them to your advantage arms you with a tool for your tool box.

So what exactly is Mercury Retrograde? The planetary bodies are in constant forward motion meaning, that Mercury only appears to be moving backwards when actually, it has just slowed down it's usual speed as it becomes conjunct with the sun. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and as the two form certain angles 3-4 times a year, their magnetic fields become antagonistic for roughly 30 days, which is about how long it takes for each one to move into a new sign. Where ever your sun is in your birth chart, is where your Mercury will also be. And when Mercury appears Retrograde, it's affects are felt with restraint, challenge and limitation as it tries to push against the magnetic forces that are creating resistance.

Mercury rules the mind, mental activity, analysis, invention, problem solving and the nervous system. These will be the primary rooms affected with difficulty. You will likely hear Gemini and Virgo bark the loudest as both are ruled by Mercury and are polar opposites. The phases of Retrograde are themed by the sign that it and the sun are occupying during the transit. It will also have an affect on the parts of the body those signs rule and their accompanying qualities. The road to successfully exiting the phase with the little or no casualties is simple. Avoid signing contracts, binding agreements and executing wills or deeds or documents (if possible) until after Mercury has gone direct again. Be aware of conflicts with superiors, authorities, officials, partnerships and co-workers. These can be especially confrontational. If you feel something arise, try and diffuse it without fireworks. After all, YOU will be the one with the insight as to why eruptions are happening and you will be able to take the inside track to the high road. Competition will feel heightened and argumentative natures are illuminated. You may find yourself taking opposition to someone for no reason but to take the opposite. This can be productive but typically ends in a stand off. Stay composed and centered - this will stabilize this effect.

Here are the Retrograde transits for 2014 and the themes they will occupy. Put it on your calendar so that you can stay afloat when conflict feels suffocating:

• FEBRUARY 6 - 28 : Sun conjunct Mercury on the 16th in Aquarius, the sign of invention, creative originality and uniqueness. Remember that art is a process, not an immediacy. Focus and harness the power of this highly competitive influence by accepting a challenge with individuality as you define and redefine your goals. Rules the shins and ankles.
• JUNE 7 - JULY 1 : Sun conjunct Mercury on the 20th in Gemini. This is the transit where Retrograde will be most difficult all year, due to the intensity of Gemini, highlighting snap judgement, biting rhetoric and sharp-tongued wit while fueling the deeply imaginitive mind that leads to great thinking and conceptual thought. A healthy debate would be educational. Rules the hands, wrists and forearms.
• OCTOBER 4 -25 : Sun conjunct Mercury on the 17th in Libra offers poise, command and control over communication but challenge in partnerships and relationships. You might be inclined to revise your artistic endeavors and your nature to create beautiful things. The spark of new ideas and projects would be a good place to put your excessive energy. Rules the low back, the lumbar and the booty.

I hope this explanation sheds some light on your challenges for the new year during these transits where ultimately, you can come out on top with deeper insight and a sharpened awareness of what this all really means. I am certainly not saying that Retrograde is easy, but it can be better than just tumbling into the ether with our claws out.