Many years ago (and I’m talking back in the depths of time) Kings would use astrologers to help them choose (amongst other things) the best time to go to war.

I would seriously doubt anyone would choose a time when Mars was in Pisces- both armies would be likely to get very soggy underfoot, stuck in the mud, with the campaign being long drawn out with an uncertain and hazy outcome that would most likely lead to both King (and hapless astrologer) being brought down in an equally gruesome manner.

Maybe if submarines were involved? But submarines weren’t around in those days.

Mars is energy. It’s what turns us on and what turns us off. It’s what gets us out of bed in the morning. When we feel ambition we feel our Mars. When we desire something or someone, we feel our Mars. When we assert ourselves we do it through Mars. Mars is masculine, it’s hot, it’s dry, it’s direct. So how does a planet like Mars exist in what is arguably the wettest, most emotionally volatile and inconstant, feminine sign there is? What drives Mars in Pisces?

Pisces represents the 12th house and those things that bring us undone. It represents escape, addiction, fantasy, dreams, sentimentality, sensitivity and romance. It represents that which can’t be said, but can only be felt. It represents that which can’t be thought or logically explained. It represents that which has no practicality or connection to real life. It is vague, it is delusional, it is illusional, it is psychic,. It is imaginary and imaginative.

Mars in Pisces is all these things- is driven by all these things. He is creative, sensitive, romantic, artistic and fantastical. Mars in Pisces is in love with romance, is in love with love, would fight for love and die for love…until he falls out of love and then he will do the same all over again for the next love.

Mars in Pisces doesn’t just fall in love, he Falls with a capital F. But, like all planets in Pisces, he finds it hard to verbalise what he wants or who he wants…no, what or who he yearns for. And yearn he does. This isn’t an obsessive Scorpio sort of yearning but an almost drug like need for that special person.

Mars in Pisces is turned on by the sensuality of love, that wonderful rush of butterflies to the chest. Mars in Pisces is especially drawn to 12th house types of romances- secret loves, affairs, the one you know you can’t have but lie awake at night dreaming of. The illusion and the fantasy are aphrodisiacs that help keep the real world at bay and the dream alive for just a bit longer. Love and sex are escapes of sorts- and with none of the added calories or side effects of some of Pisces other preferred escapes or addictions. Mars in Aries gets off on the hunt, Mars in Pisces on the escape. It is the sensation, the feeling that keeps them coming back.

But what when that goes? What happens when real life intrudes into the happy ever after? There’s a very good reason why movies and romance novels end with the happy couple declaring their undying love for each other before jumping into bed for sex that you just know will be life changing. After the hearts and flowers are replaced by the mundane of real life, the temptation is for Pisces to chase that next fix. The one that will make them feel like that again. The one that will make them feel needed and sexy and excited.

To keep the relationship alive with Pisces is to keep the romance alive and the sex interesting. Add a little fantasy, a little spice- not all the time, just every so often. Don’t just tell him you love him- he has to feel it.
Pisces Men take on the qualities of Mars in Pisces. This is a man who is very much in touch with his feminine and sensitive side. It is his softness that makes him strong. On the flipside, it can also make him extremely high maintenance!

Women with Mars in Pisces will be drawn to men with Piscean or 12th house qualities- whether he be spiritual, sensitive, artistic, addicted or addictive, a victim or just someone who can write beautiful poetry on the back of a beer coaster at your local pub while the footy is on. In fact, paying you attention while the footy is on is the ultimate in romantic gestures! If you have Mars in Pisces check out the chart of those you have really felt drawn to. It is likely that they will have personal planets or the Ascendant in Pisces, personal planets (especially the Sun, Moon or Venus) in close aspect to Neptune or a pretty busy 12th house.
While on the subject, Mars in Pisces characteristics may also be seen in anyone who has Mars in the 12th house or in close aspect to Neptune- this is particularly true of the conjunction, square & opposition.

The other thing about Mars in Pisces is energy or rather the lack of a constant energy source. Pisces, as we know is mutable, so energy comes in unpredictable bursts. So does confusion. Mars in Pisces often is unclear about his desires. What he wants is somehow merged with what he thinks he wants and what other people think that he might want and what he thinks he should want. He is not deliberately indecisive, he really doesn’t know. This is Pisces single biggest problem with goal setting- what do you go after when your mind and heart changes so completely so often?
It is for this reason that Pisces often falls into things- often, like rivers, following the path of least resistance to the sea…and dragging all the silt and river junk along with them. But water runs deeply and truly and will carve out the path it wants slowly and surely. The danger is, it may not be the right path. Pisces can be a tad directionally challenged and has an unreliable internal GPS.

Pisces, whilst not outwardly competitive is absolutely manipulative and can be a cruel and dirty fighter. Like the other water signs, Pisces is able to feel out the weak spots in her opponent and play to them. Whether the role is that of victim, martyr, tortured artist or simply misunderstood partner, he will do what he needs to do to make his point- usually in a passive aggressive way- keep an eye out for the hang dog woe is me expression…and Pisces men do it better than Pisces women. Pisces does passive aggressive better than most, and when you are doing passive aggressive, sex is a great spot to start. It is also this tendency to hang onto feelings that can cause health problems in Pisces.

1927 was an Aussie band from the 80′s who specialised in schmalzy unrequited love songs- so very Pisces. Check out the song on YouTube and listen hard to the lyrics.

Snowy River October 2008

I’m going camping this weekend.

Ok, It’s not strictly camping per se- there are no tents or toilet rolls on a spade. There is, however, outdoor fires, a cabin in the middle of not a lot, wild animals (sure kangaroos and wombats), sleeping bags and an outside toilet involved. As such, it qualifies as camping.

There will be marshmallows at 10 paces and the rule is unless it can be cooked outside on the fire, we won’t be eating it. Should be interesting. Oh, did I mention that all of this is taking place above the snowline in forecast maximum temperatures of minus 2 degrees C?

So in the tradition of the Pisces Moon I will pretend that I’m really roughing it. I’ll take it one step further, I’m also taking all my camera kit so I’ll pretend that I’m a wildlife photographer waiting around for the perfect shot of the wombat stealing the potatoes…or something like that.

last time we didn’t “camp”…Lake Crackenback October 2008

After all, anything is possible under a Pisces Moon.

Anyways, I am pressed for time & have to pack what looks like the whole pantry, so here is one I prepared earlier on Neptunitis…

Moon and Neptune sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G (I’m keeping it g rated).

Feeling unusually prepared to touch nothing that may be remotely work related? Feeling unusually drawn to the open bottle of vino on the kitchen cabinet even though this week absolutely you are not touching the stuff between Monday & Friday? Already constructing highly plausible and justifiable excuses as to how you can blow off Monday night training and still lose your targeted 5kgs this week? Actually believe you can lose 5kgs this week and keep all your limbs and not change your training or eating patterns?

If that is you, you are under the spell of Neptunitis.

Neptunitis (or Lunas Pisces as it is becoming known) is an affliction that attacks the central emotional systems of anyone with the underlying condition of a Moon-Neptune contact or a water Moon. People most at risk of this debilitating condition are those with Pisces Moons or those with their Moon in the 12^th house. Some unlucky individuals may have a combination of all risk factors, making them particularly likely to be infected.

Not to be confused with cyber-chondria (the condition which has you typing medical symptoms into google or previous episodes of House or Greys Anatomy and them all resulting in a diagnosis of cancer- commonly borne by those prone to Lunas Virgoas), Neptunitis has some worrying, but thankfully short lived symptoms. These include, but are not limited to:

• The tendency to find anything and everything distracting
• The ability to construct creative excuses and have them seem plausible
• An increased tendency towards procrastination
• An increased tendency towards daydreaming
• The ability to believe that fantasy actually is reality
• An increased tendency to trust the world
• Complete failure of all internal warning and radar systems
• A feeling of compassion for the person who last knifed you in the back because they must have been having a bad day
• A feeling of compassion towards the last person who broke your heart because he really didn’t mean it
• The need to cry at cute puppies in toilet paper ads
• The increased ability to actually forget that you are supposed to be dieting
• The increased ability to believe that wine really does contain no calories at all when consumed under a Pisces Moon

If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, administer tissues, but do not allow the afflicted person to consume copious amounts of anything as persons prone to Neptunitis do not process alcohol or prescription medicines well under the best of circumstances.

Time and hard exercise may be the only cure.

Also, while under the influence of Neptunitis, take care not to gaze into the eyes of anyone you slightly fancy as you may fall under their spell even more. I can’t stress this one enough.  And if it does happen, take care not to weave the entire relationship into the fantasy land that is your head if at all possible.

Try hard to avoid movies with a sad ending, a happy ending, anything where the dog is lost or harmed and where people get together or split up. Likewise stay clear of books where any of these events may result in copious amounts of tears. Keep songs which you know will trigger memories and tears off your playlist and if, like me, you tear up at particular scenes in particular movies don’t watch them.

Do not commit to anything you may regret in 2 days time or make declarations without substance. If possible stay clear of anyone who will not understand the depth and breadth of the emotional impact you are under for these 2 ½ days each month- namely anyone with heaps of Saturn or Earth. Aries and Sagittarians should also be avoided if possible- the former will tell you to just flipping do it and the latter will make you cry with some off hand remark that they have already forgotten but which you will remember for ever. Accept that your flight control tower is faulty and simply do not take the risk.

As for me? With a Pisces Moon aspecting Neptune natally, I have already forgotten and ignored my own advice… be careful out there!

taken last time I was in the Snowy Mountains October 2008

Pisces under stress…like a fish out of water? My latest post for astrology.com is here.

Pisces and goal setting? An oxymoron? A contradiction in terms? Or perhaps it is just a matter of visualisation? My latest post for Your Career & the Cosmos is here.

I interrupted my husband (he was busy cooking dinner…a thai green curry, in case you are interested…) to ask him what I can say about this Full Moon.

He paused to make out that he was considering my question seriously.

‘Well,’ he said, with great authority, ‘it is round and it is big…’

Wow- such insight!

‘And,’ he added, ‘I don’t reckon we will see it again tonight because of the cloud cover. Does that diminish its power? Do you think it’ll ever stop raining?’

Obviously not a lot of help from that quarter…

‘So,’ he asked, ‘what sign is it in?’

‘Do you care?’

‘Sure, I’ll impress you with what I know.’

‘It’s in Virgo.’

‘oh Jeez…well, you would have to say that reason goes out the window wouldn’t you?’

‘Why would you say that?’

‘Well, that’s what they say don’t they? What about “Virgos should avoid making judgement on people at this time?”’

Hmmm not bad. Lucky he makes a bloody good thai green curry.

‘Oh, by the way Darlin’, I think you need to say that Scorpio is the most mis-understood sign. I don’t know why people assume we want retribution. You need to write that.’

Then he says, ‘and make sure you don’t misquote me- I don’t want to have to hunt you down.’

So, Virgo Full Moon. Technical details: 7.38pm (Sydney time) at 18 Virgo.

Sure it links with Mars (retrograde, but a link is a link). The usual attention to detail and critical analysis applies- particularly to the areas where the Full Moon lies in your chart. But you know what? I’m just a tad over talking about Virgo and order or organisation.

Virgo is, like all earth signs, sensual and body aware. So, at this Full Moon, rather than looking at the usual Virgo stuff, let’s think about this dichotomy in terms of body and spirit or judgement and non-judgement. What about thinking not about where we see perfection, seek perfection, idealise perfection but rather where we choose not to make judgement, choose to overlook those niggly little concerns and instead embrace what is.

The Pisces/Virgo axis is that area where we work so hard for absolute perfection that we forget all about moderating behaviours and pleasures. It is also this axis where we project our own imperfections (or perceived limitations) onto those around us. It is where we discriminate and where we are completely indiscriminate.

The ruler of this Full Moon is Mercury, who, we remember, is about to turn retrograde. Mercury is also approaching a square to Pluto. It is particularly important at this Full Moon to keep an open mind and avoid dwelling on worries that are either inconsequential or where there is no action that can be taken.

Pluto tends to compulsion and obsession, so when Mercury squares off against the Lord of the Dark, there is a very real possibility of frustration regarding getting your message across to others. Just remember, the only thoughts you can control are your own (well, if you have a better Mercury than mine anyway).

Further, you can’t, control the thoughts or opinions of others- nor should you try to do so. I have big trouble with this one- and often take things personally when randomness and detachment is more appropriate.

So, at this Full Moon, turn the energy inward. Think about where you may be casting judgement where in fact, you may be better of to just let it be. Think also about where you can make positive improvements whilst still being gentle with yourself. Think also about what may be hidden and what now will be exposed…

In my case, this Full Moon falls across the ASC/DC line in my chart- that is the line across the middle. It is conjunct Pluto and therefore opposite my Ascendant (and Sun), and inconjunct Venus…oh, and square the Midheaven. Any Full Moon that falls on an angle ie near the 1^st/7^th or 4^th/10^th is important. I know very well just where I am overly hard on myself…I also know where a little more effort would actually be a good thing…

So, check out you chart (if you need to cast one, go to astro.com and throw your details in) and check out any planets or chart points which fall between:

16-20 Pisces

16-20 Virgo

16-20 Gemini

16-20 Sagittarius

You may also feel it at: 16-20 Taurus, 16-20 Capricorn, 16-20 Cancer, 16-20 Scorpio.

Anyways, todays #marchphotoaday challenge is “window”. The photo above is the view out my study window, ie where I work. The photo below is the detail of the stained glass fairy/mermaid-ish/bubble lady and butterfly that I made (quite) a few years ago when I was going through a bit of a stained glass phase.

From a distance it looks pretty good, but if you notice closely, some of my bubbles are not completely round (have you ever tried cutting and filing a perfectly round glass circle?) and quite a lot of the copper and welding work is way too thick…and the butterfly isn’t meant to be so close to it, but fell against it as I pressed the shutter, and seriously, what is going on with that hair/head join? And as for next doors’ cherry tomatoes, there are a few that need picking…

Full Moon in Virgo…see what I mean?