Wow! Wow! Wow! Just look at this list. Mercury seems to be everywhere and true to his quixotic nature. Remember that Mercury (Hermes) in mythology was the winged messenger. He was able to go in and out of hell unscathed. He was the conscience for all the heroes and heroines, the second voice in the head that asks you, “Do you really want to do this?” “Perhaps you should negotiate or look at this agreement one more time?” or some such conversation or conversations.

This is another ‘week that was’ as we start Monday with not only a New Moon in late Pisces, but which is charged by Mercury (communications). New Moons always represent something new, a type of planting of a new seed or idea. More electricity emits as Sun and Uranus align at 26° Pisces 34′! This is a classic ‘ah ha’ moment aspect. It can also put you in the right place at the right time (if you have the right attitude) for meeting new opportunities and new people. It can, wherever it falls in your chart, set a new cycle of progressive new things to happen. This is needed, because though Mercury has been active this week, it has been traveling through Pisces the last few weeks, which is not its favorite place to be. On Wednesday sluggish Mercury in Pisces enters energized Aries early in the morning and on that same day ignites Mars (task completions and motivation) late in the afternoon releasing creative and sensual fires as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Sober Thursday (isn’t that perfect??) presents Mercury opposite Saturn, which supports finishing writing that report or editing that paper or starting that writing project. This focused energy continues through Saturday when Mercury and Pluto challenge each other (good for research and finding out truths) and then we have Spring Equinox, as the Sun enters Aries at 10:32 AM. More building blocks are laid out on Sunday (do you need to finish your project?) with two great aspects of Sun to Mars and Sun to Saturn. What a rollercoaster ride of a week! Hold on and enjoy the ride!

This is the Week That Was as Mars finally goes Direct on Wednesday March 10. Mars has been retrograde since December 20, 2009. A Mars retrograde is never a pleasant passage because it sets people off of their paths and it is difficult to find one’s direction or motivation. However, it is good for reviewing plans, particularly the cost effectiveness and the efficiency and even the efficacy of those plans. With Mars going direct this week, if you have done your homework, you could see some of those ideas that seemed sidetracked for so many weeks, beginning to right themselves now.

Starting on Wednesday when Mars goes direct at 00 Leo. It always takes a few weeks for it to speed up and get back on track, which really doesn’t fly until it reaches its shadow position (degree at which it went retrograde) on May 16 and 17 when everything kicks in with creative fervor. This brings particularly welcome news for those with predominant signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius in their charts who’ve been trying to make major moves in their personal and professional lives as well as their homes or properties. You should feel more motivated to do so as this action shifts.

Book ending this event are two challenging alignments of Venus. One is with Saturn on Tuesday — which suggests a duty and business day. On Thursday, Venus and Pluto are square creating the impetus to make difficult choices that require certain levels of risk. Sunday brings enlightenment as the Sun and Mercury line up at 23° Pisces 50′.

Mercury enters Pisces on Tuesday suggesting the need to talk about and explore more spiritual and creative as well as romantic possibilities. It also asks us to remember to finish our sentences!! Whenever a planet is traveling through Pisces, there is an unseen parallel to reality surrounding circumstances. Intuition is high as is the capacity to believe what you hear. Since Mercury in Pisces regales itself in deep internal conversations with our souls and selves, the conversations we have with ourselves feel so very intense that we really do believe we conveyed our thoughts verbally! An interesting week, As Mercury not only enters Pisces, but soon conjoins Jupiter in Pisces at week’s ends. Jupiter is only in Pisces once every twelve years (1998 was the last time) and when the faster planets like Mercury, Venus, Sun, and Mars all cross this threshold an entirely new direction for one’s visions and ideas emerge. Electric conversation, social gatherings, meetings seem like Kismet on Wednesday as Venus aligns with Uranus, bringing unexpected opportunities for those of us who are ‘dressed for the party’. Things seem like they are swimming along with Venus in Pisces until Sunday, when the energies begin to step up a notch as Venus enters more direct and definitely fiery Aries, the sign of passion. This ingress along with the annual alignment of Venus, Mars and Mercury all aligned with Jupiter on Sunday suggest a hot time in the old town for the next few weeks!! Write, run, think and feel. The best!

Though Mars is still retrograde (possibly tripping up the best laid plans) there are some very sharp and distinct occurrences this week, particularly involving the planet, Mercury, the planet of communication and thinking.

Mercury is often the messenger, the trader, the commercial salesperson, the character in mythology who is the only one that goes in and out of ‘hell’ unscathed! He is the ‘conscience of the Hero’. This week Mercury aligns with Neptune on the 23rd, then Chiron on the 27th, both days positioning themselves as the ‘gates’ into the deeper meaning of this week’s Full Moon. In other words, there is more of awareness, whether good or bad, as you enter the territory of the Full Moon, which often brings things out in the open — clarity and the decision to act. Regardless, the Full Moon aligns with Jupiter, so protection and opportunity are also there. Enjoy the later part of the week remembering that when Jupiter is around it also unleashes the more overindulgent aspects of life, too. Some very savvy investment or financial opportunity could surface on Tuesday as Sun and Pluto sextile along with the Mercury combos. Once you cut the deal, then step back and examine any ‘magical thinking’ that may arise on Saturday regarding planning for future contracts or journeys. Saturday is a great day to talk about possibilities, but the suggestion is to do the research in the following days to make sure you are choosing the right venue.

This is a week of movement and change as Monday presents you with a healthy alignment between Mars (who gets tasks done) and Saturn (who can work long hours without breaks)! The result of your hard earned effort is seen beginning on Tuesday as Venus and Jupiter line up for their once a year venture, bringing social opportunities and alignments. Mixing business with pleasure is always fun and these two together are just the ticket. In fact, if you are thinking of someone you need to contact, do it, or, perhaps just run into them (often happens when we think of people). They say that one should act on their ideas within 48 hours of the idea, while the energy is fresh and vibrant.

Along with the social buzz you could feel some exhaustion resulting from the Neptune and Chiron conjunction on Tuesday. This is their one and only meeting in 2010 and it triggers a brand new cycle — thus the exhaustion prior to the conjunction.

This alignment is very rare. Last time it happened was on September 4, 1945 and the time before that June 8, 1879!! The next time it occurs is in 2094. So we are looking at a cycle variation between 55 to 84 years! The combination suggests the opportunity to move out of pain through some sort of spiritual awakening — also a psychological awareness that we’ve never seen before. It affords the ability to go deep into something that is blocking you regarding achieving something that is desired on a deep, emotional level. It affords a cycle of healing and moving forward. This is a time to heal. Take the time to do it.

As Valentine week begins, transitions of Mercury, planet of communications, occur on Wednesday entering its favorite placement, Aquarius, for a few weeks. On Thursday, romantic Venus enters its exalted position of Pisces — laying the groundwork for some tender moments for those few days. Venus in Pisces occurs once a year and it is one of the most ‘gentle’ of the Venus transits. It is an excellent time to go to the movies, see a favorite stage play, attend a gallery exhibition, or plan a very romantic evening. Enjoy it while it lasts — which is usually about four weeks.

On Friday, it really is back to business as Mercury trines Saturn (a building block day) promoting positive action to any sort of communication exercise — writing contracts, papers, perusing a negotiation and all of its ins and outs. It is a great energy to focus on studying for that test or certification or beginning a program in which you need to study for certification or licensing.

If you have a project sitting on the fence, the Mercury opposing Mars on Saturday pushes that plan forward. Watch tempers and back talk. Think before you raise your voice, particularly on Sunday as the Sun (often associated with fathers, brothers, and men in general) confronts Chiron. A good use of this energy is to attend some sort of learning event providing some insight into those confrontations. This is a great time to start therapy with someone who really knows what they are doing. If you need a suggestion for some excellent local therapists, please contact me at 925-689-7827.

During this time you are forced to remove obstacles standing between you and your life goals. Once that is done — and this is one of those weeks that test your mettle — you gain confidence in pursuing the areas important to you as Jupiter and Pluto as well as Mercury and Uranus negotiate sweet conversations on Saturday.

Jupiter brings opportunities for education, travel, contract negotiations as well as some writing or lecturing opportunities. Those windows of opportunity are transformative for you, the presenter, or, pitch-person, or for those receiving the message. In other words, they hear you. Sunday, however, presents challenges as Venus, planet of relationship, aligns with Chiron and then Neptune late Sunday. In order to shift, you may have to confront those close to you who always rain on your parade. Perhaps it is time for the “I feel judged when I share my dreams with you” conversation. Someone has to have the courage to speak up so that everyone can move forward without resentment and worry.