‘You’re swearing a lot lately,’ says Mr T.

I shrug. Whatever. I admit it- I do have a potty mouth. I know I was brought up better than that and I know it’s not ladylike- but I’ve never pretended to be a lady. Having said that, I pick my audience and descend into the gutter only when I can get away with it. The rest of the time I can fake a pretty convincing professional exterior.

‘But it was nice that you dressed up last night,’ he said.

Mr T has Venus in Libra and, along with all the other wonderful Venus in Libra traits he has, one is that men with this placement tend to like their partners to be quite Venusian, quite Libran in manner and maintenance.

The sort of woman who won’t scream obscenities at the football, or yell at the plonker who took her parking space, or who stands with her hands on her hips and chin stuck out and argue until a resolution is reached- even when avoidance of conflict would mean a more peaceful existence.

The sort of woman who always looks well put together and makes an effort with her appearance.

Boy, did he luck out! I’ve even been known to throw the occasional shoe- but only when it was really warranted. Hello? Mars in Scorpio in he 8th and Venus in Aries- my temper is quick and lethal when roused.

With Venus in Aries, I am the absolute opposite to his ideal woman, yet somehow he’s managed to put up with me and my occasional deviations into fishwife territory, my peeling nail polish, frizzy hair, track pants and ugg boots (or flip flops- depending on the season), for over 20 years.

In any case, the concept of “ideal” is over rated.

With his Mars in Scorpio and Gemini Moon, I suspect he’d be bored witless with “ideal”- as would I.

Anyways, if you want to know more about Venus in Libra, here’s the link to a piece I wrote a couple of years ago.

Why am I prattling on about this? Because Venus will be home in Libra in the next few hours.

Also about to change signs is Mercury who will soon join Mars in Sagittarius. This means that Mercury in Jupiter will be in what we call mutual reception, ie they are each in the others sign. Mercury rules Gemini, the sign that Jupiter currently is in and Jupiter rules Sagittarius.

It’s just a brief visit this time- Mercury is slowing down and will turn retrograde in a little over a week, before dipping back into Scorpio soon after.

In any case, Mercury in Sagittarius is a loud mouth- a loud mouth with Big Ideas, a good sense of humour, and who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is.

Want to know more? Here’s one I prepared earlier.

What else is happening?

We’ll have the just flipping do it energy of the Aries Moon for another 24 hours (or thereabouts) before La Luna moves into Taurus and prepares for Tuesday mornings (Sydney time) Full Moon…more on that one tomorrow.

For now, I have an ironing basket that’s going to require a super human effort (and possibly blue and red lycra) to jump over.

Until next time…

I have this feeling that I want to run off and do something stupid- jump out of something that works perfectly well, or sign up for something that I know I won’t end up finishing.

It’s a restless, physical energy that has me reaching for the bucket list and looking to tick something off. I wrote a little about it yesterday over at and anyways.

I’m thinking it’s probably nothing more than the Mars-Uranus trine that’s in the sky at present. When these two bad boys get together in fire signs, you know there is some fun to be had.

This is real use it or lose it energy- the type of energy that if it isn’t used positively or physically, will mooch around the house looking for a fight to pick…with someone, anyone. All in all, it’s a pity that it’s Monday and a work day!

Anyways, later tonight (at about 11.03pm here in Sydney, to be precise, that’s just after 5am Monday PDT and just after 8am Monday EST for US readers) we will have ourselves a New Moon at 22 Libra 33’ (or thereabouts).

This degree is important because it is where Saturn stationed to turn direct just a few months ago. If you have planets or chart points here, someone is definitely trying to tell you something!

New Moons, as we know, are empty blackboard times- a chance to start afresh…but before beginning something new, you must, of course, finish something off.

Finishing off also means that the dark of the Moon and the few days of the balsamic cycle are also perfect for banishing things. Try writing it down and burning it, or burying it…getting rid of it- whatever (or whoever) “it” is- metaphorically speaking, that is! The cycle that is ending is whatever began at the Libra New Moon last year….If you can’t remember back to then (and seriously, how many of us really do?), it will probably have something to do with relationships or relating- because that is, after all, what Libra is about.

The Libra Moon is one of “we” as opposed to “me”. Libra is also the sign of balance, relationship, partnership. Not necessarily “love” as such, it is more how we can get along with each other, find compromise…at least that is the theory- although the Uranus/Mars trine we just finished talking about will probably have something to say about that one.

Venus, the ruler of this New Moon is in hyper-critical, details orientated Virgo- a placement where she doesn’t have a whole lot of confidence.

For the next few days she is applying to square off against Jupiter. This aspect is one that can bring with it over indulgence. For now, though, be careful that you don’t give too much of yourself in relationship- something Venus is Virgo is naturally prone to.

Wherever 20-25 Libra is in your chart is where this will be playing out- so check out what is going on in that part of life.

At the Aries Full Moon last year I confessed to an inexplicable and hidden addiction to plastic cheese and True Blood. I’m over True Blood now- the witches series pretty well did it for me. In truth, it was just an excuse to put an image of a shirtless Alcide on the blog.

The Aries Full Moon shines the spotlight squarely on the me/we question. Which leads me to another tenuous connection to the wolf pack in True Blood- a reminder that as strong and independent as we are individually, we are even stronger when acting together with others. The whole “no I in team” scenario.

This years Aries Full Moon has more than enough heat in it that we don’t need to add extra fire with some token half naked, but very buffed and supremely attractive man. Anyways, it’s Grand Final weekend here in Australia, so we’ll get to see a lot of buffed action over the next couple of days as men wearing shorts chase after or kick around a football.

This Full Moon (early afternoon Sunday 30 September, Sydney time) falls at 7Aries22’. That degree sounds familiar, I hear you say…

And you’d be right. Pluto is just a smidgeon away from 7 Capricorn and is still within shouting distance of the square he recently made against Uranus in Aries… This means that the Moon will settle neatly beside Uranus on Sunday and trigger the whole T square thing again. Uranus tends to be a bad influence…and the Moon is very suggestible.

This time though, we have the Sun and the Moon (ego, emotions) on either end of the opposition, with Pluto (power, compulsion, control, ambition) squaring both points…and Uranus sitting there whispering to La Luna, ‘go on, I dare you…’

Possibly why I have had Ke$has’ Blow running round my brain as I write this:

This place’s about to blow…

Remember last week we talked about how to find release for the t square? First look for a release point off either end of the opposition. Nope. Then you look at the empty arm of the square. What do you know? It’s 6/7 Cancer- the other Cardinal point.

This place’s about to blow…

The instability doesn’t stop there.

Check out the rulers of this Full Moon- Mars and Venus. Mars is super strong in Scorpio and Venus is being fabulous over in Leo…yep they are squaring each other. Venus might be running away, but we all know that Mars in Scorpio prefers his revenge a little cooler.

And the nodes are involved. The North Node is beside Mars in Scorpio, while Venus is squaring the South in Taurus (ruled by Venus). If the south node is a little like chocolate- easy, known and tasty, this one is about having the courage (Mars) and the intensity to step out of the light and into the darkness a little to find your way forward. Courage vs chocolate. Your choices will have karmic consequences- ie regardless of the outcome, whatever happens was meant to happen…and meant to happen stuff should never be regretted.

Saturn is in the last degree of Libra and is having one last burst of energy on the whole relationship patterns/habits/responsibility in partnership/whatever front…but I’m not sure that anyone else is really listening…and Saturn doesn’t like to be ignored.

This place’s about to blow…

Full Moon contacts usually indicate a trigger point from an external source- something happening to you rather than within you. The nature of that event will depend on the area of life being exposed, the planet being aspected and the house/s ruled by that planet.

Wherever this Full Moon is in your chart is where these issues (all of them) will be playing out for you- more so if you have planets at or around 5-8 Aries, Libra, Capricorn or Cancer. Has there been something heating up in your life? Think back to the New Moon in Aries- what was happening then, what were your New Moon wishes? Are they about to come to fruition? Will the Magic 8 ball finally be right? Do you have the intestinal fortitude to take the initiative and make it come true? Do you have the courage to turn I into we? To make a move and take things to the next level, or to walk away entirely and be prepared to not look back?

You won’t admit you love me

and so how am I ever to know?

You only tell me

Perhaps perhaps perhaps

A million times I’ve asked you

and then I’ve asked you over again

You only answer

Perhaps perhaps perhaps

Mars is the planet of desire, the planet of action. Mars is the energy of expansion, the urge to push to achieve what it is that you want. Exciting and inspirational, Mars is all about physical action and forward motion.

Yet in Libra, Mars is in the sign of his detriment. To the Traditionals, this is Not A Good Thing. Unless you are looking at Mars in a horary chart, this really just means that Mars is unable to work in his normal physical just flipping do it way. It’s a little like finding yourself somewhere completely unfamiliar with completely the wrong wardrobe, no local phrasebook and rupiah when you need euros. You need to find another way to get what you need.

Where Mars pursues the achievement of a desired outcome, Libra is more interested in the process of relating. Where Mars inspires through (sometimes) excessive energy, Libra detaches in order to logically and objectively observe situations, weighing up all possibilities carefully. Where Mars represents male energy, Venus rules Libra and represents feminine grace, social skills and refined beauty.

In Libra, Mars’ normally sure action is indecisive and directed towards the process of relating rather than physical action. In Libra he gets what he wants by being charming, using diplomacy and finding the compromise points in all situations. He gets what he wants by using his head and his connections, not his brawn. He searches for peace, harmony, beauty and balance. Feel the serenity.

In doing so, he can get be frustrated by indecisiveness as he weighs up all viewpoints, options and perspectives. Or should I say that others are frustrated by his indecisiveness?

In Libra, he asserts himself with grace and through his relationships. In Libra he pursues balance, fairness and beauty. This is Mars in touch with his feminine side, so to speak. This is Mars dressed to have a party, this is Mars with his fashionably stylish flirty pants on.

As with all things Libran, Mars in this sign takes on a refinement that he doesn’t have elsewhere (wait for next months Mars in Scorpio post for the exact opposite!). This means that in Libra, he is not particularly passionate and tends towards the traditional when it comes to sex. In Libra, sex is given a romantic, almost old fashioned and polite flavour. There is none of the earthy sensuality of Virgo or the intense merging of Scorpio, just something different. Not better, not worse, just different.

Mars in a woman’s chart gives an indication as to what she finds attractive and desirable in a partner. Mars in Libra is drawn to Libran tendencies- someone smooth, urbane, charming, well-balanced, well dressed and equable. He may have personal planets in Libra, he may have personal planets in the 7^th house, he may have Mars conjunct Venus and he may be reluctant to run headfirst into conflict. He will be fun to be around, be interested in equality and justice and will want to stand beside you.

So, have a look at your chart- wherever Libra is will be the area of life being stimulated by Mars at the moment. For me it’s 8^th house stuff- life, death, taxes, other peoples money and uncontrollables. Fun or hard? I can’t decide.

If you can’t make your mind up

We’ll never get started.

And I don’t wanna wind up

Being parted, broken-hearted.

So if you really love me

Say yes, but if you don’t dear, confess

And please don’t tell me

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.


Lyrics from “Perhaps, Perhaps Perhaps” by Doris Day…and others… I am particularly fond of the version by Cake or perhaps this one by Pussycat Dolls. But then again, there is the version done for the Baz Luhrman movie “Strictly Ballroom”…and I am thinking perhaps that the version Mari Wilson did for the UK sitcom “Coupling” might just be my favourite. I can’t decide…what do you think?

There’s this cute little trattoria in a suburb near me. It overlooks a bush valley with brightly coloured rosellas and king parrots darting through the gum trees in amazing flashes of colour. The restaurant itself is one of those real traditional Italian let us serve you styles.

This essentially means that there is no menu as such, but rather you are served a series of courses based around what is in season or what was available at the local farmers market that day. No decision required. This means that you can sit and talk, with interruptions only when something gorgeous is brought to the table. Perfect carbonara made with quail eggs, the lightest, airiest gnocchi ever made, paper thin slices of home cured salami. The food is always good, the service friendly and my husband hates it.

The whole idea of no menu means no decision, no deliberation, no umming and ahhing, no checking out what is coming out of the kitchen, no tasting what is on my plate, no triumph when he considers his choice is better than mine (he is a Scorpio after all), no endless guessing of what can possibly be on the plates at the table beside us, no debates over who gets to have the prawns because we both want them but I saw them on the menu first and we can’t possibly have the same thing, no arguments which begin with him trying to change my mind and end with me slamming the menu shut and demanding that he just make a flipping decision.

Clothes shopping ends in much the same way, as does the rare occurrence of an empty car park. . My husband has both Mercury and Venus in Libra. With Mercury in Pisces and Venus in Aries, I make my mind up quickly, but can change it just as quickly. I am a woman who is open to persuasion…and as I said, he is a Scorpio… and yes, that was very nearly going to be the title of this post.

I am sure that (most of the time) he doesn’t do it to piss me off (although I suspect that sometimes the temptation to do so is a tad too strong for him to resist- I am an easy target when I am hungry). Nor does he do it because he has problems with decisions- he holds down a senior and extremely stressful think on your feet and deal with lots of conflict sort of job.

He does it for balance. Knowing all the different points of difference and an awareness of all the information available helps him come to a decision. In the workplace it comes naturally, but in a restaurant he has the unpredictable nature of me to deal with J.

When he looks at a menu, he wants the outcome to be right. This means it needs to be finely balanced between what he thinks he wants to eat, what he thinks I might want to eat, how he thinks each of the courses will go together, whether he needs to choose something that will go with the wine I am drinking and so on. Apparently it isn’t as easy as just announcing ‘I’ll have the oysters and the fish please’ and continuing with whatever we were previously talking about.

Mercury in Libra is above all else fair, objective and diplomatic in his communication style- he knows that tact and balance is needed in order to bring people together…and connecting people with each other and with ideas is what Mercury in Libra is extremely good at.

Feedback is absolutely necessary- not just to ratify decisions, but to clarify and objectify thoughts and ideas. At its’ best, Mercury in Libra can quickly assess a situation and calm a disgruntled client- turning a complaint into an opportunity. At its’ worst, Mercury in Libra can turn a simple request for a coffee into a nightmare of indecision. This is one placement that can suffer buyers remorse at the McDonalds drive through- and not just for waistline related guilt.

Mercury in Libra looks for grace and decorum in communication- which I have to say, can cause more than a few ripples of discontent in our house, given that I have the ability to give Gordon Ramsay a run for his money in the swearing stakes when I am in full potty mouth mode. Not only should what you say be balanced, but it should be aesthetically pleasing. Hmmmm.

Nor does Mercury in Libra actively look for arguments- he will avoid conflict wherever possible, and use his talents instead to attempt to defuse a situation before it gets too far out of control. Having said that, his motivation is very firmly on the side of fairness and he will defend out of a need to see justice served. Naturally before venturing in, all potential outcomes and risks will have been assessed.

What else? Mercury in Libra is consultative rather than directatorial, relying on feedback and connections (and, in some cases, spin) to engage colleagues. As soon as he needs to dictate, he has lost.

Before posting this I did run it past Scorpio hubby (after all, he is a Scorpio). He agreed, but also took the opportunity to remind me that he could see the differences in our communication style by how I picked the snow peas I had brought home for tonights stir fry:

‘you just grabbled a handful, didn’t you?’

‘Yep, don’t I always?’

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps….