by Leo Knighton Tallarico
We are still in the early stages of Mars Retrograde. It changed to retrograde movement on January 23 and will go back direct on April 13. While it is retrograde we pause and reflect, and perhaps rethink our previous plans.
Up to the January 23 date when Mars went retrograde, the western world and Israel seemed to be inexorably moving toward military confrontation with Iran. We posted a forecast blog about a “perfect storm” forming that would shake up our world, with the center of that storm being a war with Iran.
But since Mars has been retrograde there is an apparent reflection and rethinking of the desire to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. In fact Iran and the powers of the western world appear to be seriously contemplating diplomatic talks between them to resolve their differences. If those talks were to happen they would likely occur during Mars retrograde. At the same time however, there is much sabre rattling for war.
Perhaps the die has already been cast for confrontation, but maybe that is not true. Maybe our world does not need to go through the horrors of war in order to begin to transform the old survival of the fittest mentality into one of unity consciousness.
The next couple of months will be extremely important. Keep your eyes on the news.
In your own life, do you know what you really desire for your life or not? Do you need to be more clear what direction you need to take before you move forward again?
And how about issues of confrontation and disagreements and anger and conflict, all Mars issues? Are there individuals you need to work these issues out with now before you can move forward in the relationship?
And your personal will? Are you too willful or not willful enough? Do you need to take life into your hands now and make it work the way you want? Or do you need to surrender your will and trust the Universe or another person more?
Time will tell. Allow the process of the next couple months to unfold, do not push the river to move before it is ready. That is another Mars issue, isn’t it?
After April 13 you will more clearly know how to resolve these issues. And then in May and June, when there are two major eclipses and a Venus Passage and a powerful Uranus square Pluto aspect; life will be more passionate, dynamic, intense and alive with possibilities. The pause button will be lifted and we will be in fast forward motion.
And now this week, there is much Neptunian/Pisces energy moving in. On Sunday February 19 the Sun moves into the flow of Pisces, which is “ruled” by the God of the Sea, Neptune. And later that day that same Sun will conjunct Neptune, who has only recently moved into his ocean home of Pisces, where he will stay until 2025.
Then on Tuesday February 21 the Moon joins the Sun in Pisces to form a New Moon in Pisces at 5:35 PM EST. And of course that New Moon in Pisces will be conjunct Neptune in Pisces, and additionally it will be conjunct Chiron in early Pisces too.
So there is a plethora coming this week of inner directed mystical flowing Pisces energies. It is time to let go of anything you are holding on too tightly to. Yield and trust and be in pure consciousness as much as possible. Action is not so important now, as is allowing. And of course Mars, the planet of action going backwards, adds to this theme of going with the flow.
This theme will generally hold until mid March at the Spring Equinox. The one area of life that stands out as one where one can be more bold now, would be in heart or relationship matters. With Venus in Aries now and until March 5, you may be finding it right to assert your truth with others and say your piece.
But overall the energy now is more Piscean and laid back. It is true that with Mars retrograde in Virgo (opposite to Pisces), you will be made to pay attention to the details and be more critical and discriminaing than Pisces feels natural with. If you get too dreamy or escapist you will be pulled back to reality.
But generally speaking it will be a good time to surrender more and to feel the “music” of life, the energies of the soul world, the world behind the world we see and touch. It is a good time to feel your deeper feelings and to gain deeper insights.
Neptune/Pisces are also good energies for “putting your self in the shoes of others”, for empathy. Pisces is the “last” sign of the zodiac, the 12th, and has encompassed within it all the previous signs. This is why some Pisces people have a difficult time with identity and self assertion. They are prone to selflessness and self sacrifice.
Pisces time of year is also a time to release the old to get ready for new beginnings of spring. Pisces is the last month of winter, and one can during Pisces time of year feel the sadness of endings, perhaps endings that are not only about winter passing. One can feel how life passes and people pass from our lives. .
One can also feel the sadness and compassion for those who suffer and are vulnerable in life. It is important with the fogginess of Pisces to be aware of boundaries and not to surrender too much to emotions that are disabling or lead to victim consciousness.
Let go to the dreamy poetic mists of Pisces coming up now, but remember that sunny hope and active new starts will return in late March and April. And the roller coaster ride begins soon after during the eclipse season later this spring and summer.
See you next week,
Leo
Please feel free to find more writings and my services on mywebsite.You can get an astrological session with me during these changing times to help you on your path and with your life. Please write soulus@aol.com for more info.
Leo Knighton Tallarico is a full time professional astrologer, spiritual guide, counselor, and writer for over 25 years.
He predicted the Iraq War of 2003- in early 2001 when Bush first took office; predicted the 9-11 attacks with an article “The Tower”, written in June 2001. He predicted Obama and McCain would get the presidential nominations in november 2007, when both were low in the polls; and correctly predicted the current economic downturn before it occurred.