Mercury is now retrograde, from August 20 through September 12. During the Messenger’s retrogrades, I’m reminded of Pythia Peay’s marvelous metaphor for this time–when we become like Odysseus, waylaid by monsters, upsets, and unexpected adventures while trying to sail a straight line home. During the Trojan War, wily Odysseus conceived of the Trojan Horse scheme, then bragged how he ended the war without the gods’ help. The gods don’t like such hubris. Poseidon sent fierce winds to blow him off course.

We have crimes to pay for too. We go for weeks without noticing all those serendipitious encounters with divine grace. We get caught up in our churning minds. We’re burning with opinions, projects and plans, forever texting, talking, and multi-tasking. Mercury’s thrice-yearly retrogrades are meant to take us off course. And maybe down a peg. The gods might foul our communications, distract us with stupid mistakes. Giggling, they may put the pen in our hands to sign unwise contracts or entice us with purchases we’ll later regret.

But if you honor Mercury now, he just might be willing to rescue you. He did that for Odysseus, slipping him an elixir made from the magical plant Moly (which grows underground and can only be seen by the gods). Moly inoculated Odysseus against Circe’s seductions. She couldn’t turn him into a pig like the others! An amazed Circe figured she’d met her match in Odysseus and immediately released his men and served them all an amazing feast. You can have a good time during the retrograde too if Mercury slips you some Moly. First you must resist the seductions of your usual ambitions, habits and deadlines. Slow down: a perfect enterprise for this Pisces Full Moon. Don’t think too much or take yourself too seriously. Just listen, play, and let the chimeras of your imagination soak in, along with a little Moly.

It’s arrived. The Cardinal Cross astrologers have been talking about for years. First taste: the lunar eclipse in late June. Second taste: end of July/early August as warrior Mars entered Libra, quickly opposing Uranus, stomping on Saturn, and charging at Pluto. These aspects make astrologers shudder. At their best, they foster great determination and effort. At their worst, they’re explosive, violent, and combustible. Mars is a fiery lord. It’s hot here in the Northern Hemisphere. Six hundred fires are raging across Western Russia, elsewhere too. The skies in my Oregon town are smoky. Throughout this week, we’ve all been wicks, ready for igniting. Yet how we’ve blazed depends on what’s gone into the candle.

Someone who’s been feeling victimized may have exploded like Omar Thornton, the truck driver who brought weapons to his disciplinary hearing and became an instrument of death and mayhem. Those who’ve been hiding dark secrets may have suddenly been exposed, like Dominique Cottrez, who admitted to smothering eight babies, burying some in the garden while hiding others in the garage. Those filled with the importance of an urgent mission and allied with like-minded others may have seen a great success, like the team working in the Gulf who finally, after months, capped that leaking well. The name of their mission, “Static Kill” is an appropriate nod to the gods involved. Superhuman efforts are possible with the Cardinal Cross, given you enter the scene with focus, preparation, and a willingness to do your best, as did Masato Akamatsu with his amazing catch. Of course it’s much easier to simply lose your cool, as did New York state Senator Pedro Espada who threw money at angry protestors.

My own candle burned on a much smaller stage. No big dramas. No big efforts. Just a busy schedule and an asteroid belt of small events that threatened to undo me… missed appointments, client crises, emails that weren’t answered quickly enough. Many times I felt an inner mob collecting, eager to start a riot. But gratefully, my inner constable worked overtime, patrolling the corridors of my psyche, offering “Calm down, move along, no big deals here.”

It is the Leo New Moon. It’s our annual opportunity to celebrate our individual star power. During times like these, being a star may simply mean holding ourselves together, offering a kindness when we’re stressed, or digging deep inside our pain to finally extract an old psychological thorn. The celestial picture is always a reflection of our personal picture, which leads to my simple recommendation for this New Moon. With fresh eyes, observe the dramas in your life and say “Yeah, this is my action movie.” Maybe you don’t feel particularly big or handsome or sparkly enough to sell tickets and popcorn. But understand that you’re still a hero. All you need do is rise up and meet your life with the Best Self you’ve got at the moment. And don’t forget to applaud.

Earlier this year, the people-who-have-nothing-better-to-do raised a ruckus about 4-year-old Shiloh Jolie-Pitt dressing like a boy. Apparently she likes short hair, boys’ neckties, jackets and hats. Mon dieu! In a Vanity Fair article, mom Angelina Jolie admitted yes, her kid “dresses like a little dude,” and later elaborated for Reuters: “I think she (Shiloh) is fascinating, the choices she is making. And I would never be the kind of parent to force somebody to be something they are not. I think that is just bad parenting.” Jolie added that “Shiloh’s hysterically funny, one of the goofiest, most playful people you’ll ever meet.”

A peak at Shiloh’s chart might make all of us wish we had a mom as perceptive as Jolie. Shiloh has Sun, Moon and Mercury in Gemini, the sign of the clown. And her girlie planet Venus is in masculine Aries: why not dress like a little dude?!

I bring this up now because the Aquarius Full Moon is a perfect time to take another look at your own chart and celebrate its special oddities. Be Angelina Jolie to your own little Shiloh and affirm what’s special about you. Especially since Mars will soon be marching into the territory of the Cardinal Cross–from July 30 through August 3–and the Moon will activate the Cross on August 6/7. These are good days to love yourself. No matter what the tabloids are saying about you.

A few weeks ago my inbox was flooded with spiritually-minded emails suggesting prayers and visualizations for healing the Gulf of Mexico. I haven’t seen many since. When I ask my spirtually minded friends how their healing attempts have gone, their eyes go curiously vacant. It seems that more of them have thought about doing it than are actually doing it.

I understand. The scale of this ecological disaster is so huge, it’s difficult to take ourselves into its center. But I’ll share what I’ve experienced, as it puzzles and surprises me. The first time I tuned in, I found myself eye-level with the water, surrounded by drops of oil. This happened for several days. Sometimes the weather was sunny. Sometimes there were clouds. I gathered I was there to simply sit with the situation, like sitting with a friend at the hospital. I listened to the lapping sound of the water, then returned to my livingroom. In further visits, I was eye-to-eye with oil-covered birds or with fish swimming in oil. This was frightening and I wanted to back out. But in their eyes I saw such fear and confusion, I got the courage to remain. This seemed important, to be calm and reassuring as they died. This too happened for several days, until I found myself surrounded by black. I was deeper, within the oil. The oil itself seemed confused, not knowing where it was. I found myself encouraging it to find the ones who wanted to contain it. I don’t know if that was right. Lately, I’ve found myself above the water, mostly in cloudy skies, looking at idle boats. I’m not sure what this means or what I’m supposed to do. I just keep tuning in, offering my heart, and hoping that others are doing the same.

Does it matter? Does it really help? I have no idea. I just keep going where intuition sends me. I’d love to hear what’s happening for you.

Mid-April 2010: The planes were grounded, liquor was flowing, and Mercury was retrograde during the weeks that journalist Michael Hastings traveled with General McChrystal and dutifully recorded the comments that eventually got the General fired. Mercury retrograde is the sleeptime of the mental cycle, when travel plans are derailed (what was supposed to be a two-day meeting between the General and the Journalist was stretched out for weeks), and the rational mind goes on vacation. As the pundits wonder at the General’s lapse of judgment, we know it was trickster Mercury who egged him on, and sister fate who broke the news during the week of the lunar eclipse.

These are accelerated times. Those of us who work with subtle energies have been noticing in recent weeks an acceleration of gifts: “My meditation has been getting deeper,” “My intuition feels stronger lately,” “I’m reaching new levels in my practice.” Those who are working with less subtle gifts, with arrogance, aggression, and power, may find their energies accelerating too. Only it may not take them where they want to go.

Recognition of the Solstice lies deep in your genetic code. Somewhere inside you know: It's time to bang the pots and celebrate the Sun. Your arms want to open and receive its sustaining power. Your body wants to dance. Tell your mind to relax. Pretend it's a vacation day. Then, during a random hour, at your desk or in a coffee shop, the Sun will find you. It will beam through a window and touch your arm. Like an old friend. Enter into this meeting deeply. It's a simple and spiritually authentic Solstice ritual: Just let the Sun touch you and give thanks.

Father Sun enters Cancer, the sign of the Mother on June 21 at 7:30 am EDT.

I’m not complaining; however, it should be noted: If you’ve opened yourself to Uranus and Jupiter at their glorious conjunction, expect to be buzzing with energy. Energy is fun. We like energy. We load up on coffee and buy energy drinks. But too much and we get jittery, perhaps a little manic and ungrounded. The same is true of drawing the energetic pulses of Jupiter and Uranus into human form. Their thunderbolts are electrical and creative, the kind of energy that raises mountains and builds cities. If you’re an energy sensitive (and most of us are these days), you may be blowing out light bulbs, computer boards, iPods, and iPhones. You may be tapping your foot incessantly or wide awake at three am. The muscles where you typically hold tension may be tight. You might feel extra touchy and easily unnerved.

The Sky Gods weren’t known for their peace and calm. Their bold yang energy is best used for creative projects, so hopefully you’ve got work that engages and excites you. But in the meantime, pay attention. Observe your new level of electrical energy and try to integrate it more smoothly into your system. Focus the energy into your central channel, which is designed to carry this current. Grounding exercises are also good. Send the energy out through the soles of your feet and deep into the earth, past the little creatures in the soil, past the bones of your ancestors, through the underground rivers, into the heart and core of Gaia. Breathe up her gratitude, and send it out through the top of your head, into the stars, and beyond. Continue this for a few rounds. Also, tune into the root chakra at the base of your spine; energy may have collected there. Get it flowing. Physical exercise is fabulous. So is doing all those neglected chores around your house. It’s amazing the problems you can solve while cleaning your windows and mirrors. This energy wants to be used!

In a related story, just as Jupiter entered fiery Aries, a fiery something slammed into the gas giant. Scientists around the globe cheered as “Jupiter took another one for the team.” Every large object this planet absorbs is one more scary thing that the rest of the solar system doesn’t have to deal with. Another example of the Sky God’s largesse, benevolence, and power. Thank you, Jupiter! And keep that amazing energy coming in. May we use it to solve our deepest problems, for we’ve got far too many of them now.

I’m dancing as fast as I can. In fact I tripped and slammed into the stone steps leading up to my house the other day, surprised I didn’t shatter my knee. I’m feeling fragile, over-stretched, and under-prepared these days. Most everyone I meet feels the same way—as though we’re already caught in the undertow of the coming eclipses and that big cardinal square between Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto. The instability of the times is palpable. Even so, I’d like to wring a little good luck out of the first of these aspects, the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction at 0 Aries, exact on June 8.

Jupiter and Uranus are an inspiring pair. Together they bring brilliance and breakthroughs. Their conjunctions, occurring every fourteen years, coincide with discoveries, great forward leaps, as well as challenge and unrest. This year’s conjunction is particularly significant as 0 Aries is the most sensitive degree in the world’s chart. Jupiter/Uranus last conjoined at 0 Libra (the degree opposite 0 Aries) in the summer of 1969. It was the summer of Woodstock, the Moon landing, anti-war protests, the Manson murders, and the Beatles’ break-up. For most alive at that time, these events are still felt quite personally (an example of the Aries point activation). Woodstock was the ultimate Jupiter/Uranus-in-Libra peace party, but this year the conjunction occurs in Aries, the sign of war. This year’s protestors will likely be more militant, angry, and conservative. Uranus was last in Aries during the rise of fascism in the early thirties.

We don’t have much control over world events, but still, we can work individually with these energies in the highest, most positive way. Find the house in your chart where 0 Aries falls. Do you need a breakthrough here? Now is the time to ask! Before the June 8 conjunction, spend a little time each day tuning into the archetypes of Jupiter and Uranus. Don’t worry whether you’re doing it right. Just tune into their sensations of growth, excitement, and discovery. If you have a problem to solve in this area of life, ask for their help. If you have gifts to offer the world, ask the planetary devas to bring you a significant opportunity. If you want to help the Gulf out of its disastrous oil spill, send your thoughts their way. Or simply get quiet and listen. Jupiter and Uranus may have an important message for you. I’ll be listening, while my feet keep dancing and skittering and probably stumbling.

When Mercury goes retrograde, for three weeks every four months, communication and machinery break down, and the logical mind goes on vacation. The trickster gums up our thinking so that we find ourselves storing the butter in the dishwasher and dropping our checkbook in the trash. It’s an aggravating time. But the next time we curse this tri-annual event, we should remember this retrograde and Faisal Shazhad, the would-be New York bomber. Despite his college education and terrorist training, he bought the wrong kind of fertilizer, erased one but not all of the auto’s traceable VIN numbers, and left the keys to his house and getaway car in the SUV that was supposed to explode. So even though the hard drive on my computer crashed, my cassette recorder died, and my iPod broke two days after its warranty expired, I’m singing “Thank the gods for Mercury retrograde!”

Mercury stationed retrograde on April 17 and will station direct on May 11.

Pluto’s retrograde station is explosive; Mercury’s is fraught with miscommunications and snafus. Between both events this month (Pluto’s on April 6 and Mercury’s on April 17), Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull erupted. There was the lord of the underworld appearing in a volcano at the top of the world. There was messenger Mercury (in earth sign Taurus) sending plumes of grit into Europe’s skyways, grounding planes and stranding passengers. Astrologers might smile at the symbolism, but we shouldn’t stop there. Planets don’t cause events, they’re omens. And truth be told, astrologers aren’t scientists; they’re diviners, just like entrail readers thousands of years ago. It’s our job to say what these things mean.

Of course meaning is elastic and looks different from different angles. But I’ll take one stab at it: I believe Pluto drew further attention to the strong earth changes we’ve already been seeing and portends there may be more. How should we prepare? Mercury’s retrograde always asks us to slow down. But this month there’s an added note: we must get grounded. Stop the busy-ness and tune into the world beneath our feet. Let’s deepen our conversation with the earth. Such intuition might send us in the weeks ahead to just the right spot at the necessary moment. Despite the frustrations, inconvenience, and loss of revenue, no plane tumbled from the sky. We got a chance to think of what really matters. We were also encouraged to listen inwardly–for the hard or soft explosions of our own passions. Is there an inner fire that wants to erupt?

At least that’s how I took it. Despite the deadlines claiming me, I slowed down and spent several empty hours outside of my routines. I let myself do nothing! Just as the stranded passengers in Europe were forced to do. My conscious quiet brought a great surprise. Several new ideas rushed in–some were the answers to questions I’ve been asking for weeks. What if the whole world had slowed down and listened deeply! Mercury and Pluto might have really been pleased.

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