Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules.

And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.

They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

I have no idea where this quote comes from, but my daughter built it into this picture (above) that she gave me.

My mother read it, turned to her and said, ‘well, this is your mother, alright!’

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Uranus touches most of my chart, but, given that it’s in opposition to my Ascendant, Sun and Moon, I tend to struggle with the concepts- going from chaos and rebellious individuality back to Piscean dreamer and right back again…usually in the blink of an eye.

For me though, it’s an aspect I need to get a handle on in order to be me in my most unedited, unapologetic form.

We’ll talk more about this another time, but for now, the important point is that Uranus transits points in our chart at the very time when it’s most important that we do seek and live with freedom and authenticity.

If you are receiving or expecting a Uranus transit, for a while- at least- you might just be able to identify with this too.

What will happen? Who knows- that’s the nature of Uranus. One thing I know for sure is the more you resist, the harder it will be.

If you want some hints on how to interpret your own transit:

• Look at the nature of the planet transiting (in this case Uranus) and look at the nature of the planet being transited and put some key words around each. The nature of Uranus is to electrify, to authenticate, to free. It is unpredictable, unexpected and unique to you.
• Check out the Outer Planets tab at the top of the page- here you’ll find some hints courtesy of Bernadette Brady’s The Eagle and the Lark.
• Work out the timing
• Check out also if any other outer planet transit is overlapping- there’s usually a theme to these things.

I’ve not long come out of a lengthy series of Uranus transits- hello, I’m Pisces personified, so whenever Uranus touched one of my Pisces planets, it was felt around the whole kite formation.

Taking the Uranus-Moon as an example, this is how it looked:

Now, I’m not going to disclose what went on (it’s a 12^th house secret)- let’s just say it involved things which brought me undone (12) and things I took a risk on and had some fun with (5).

Relationships (7) and myself (1) were where the trouble started, and at the end of it I was almost completely different (1). All the action was around me questioning me, needing to reinvent me, everything to do with me. For a while there, my Moon was very Aquarian.

It was a ride and a half that I’d do again tomorrow.

So, what is Uranus doing in 2013?

• Jan 2013 4 Aries 46’
• 17/7/13 Rx at 12 Aries 31’
• 17/12/13 Direct at 8 Aries 35’

The tighter the aspect, the more you will feel it.

You may feel the vibration of the conjunction, square or opposition up to 2 degrees out, you may not feel the easier aspects much at all- a lot will depend on how your relationship is natally with Uranus.

However you look at it, one phrase is common to all Uranus transits- each is a wake up call.

I found this on Facebook, apologies, but I have no idea who to give credit to.

For other outer planet movements:

Under the Influence- Neptune in 2013

Something about Saturn in Scorpio

…I haven’t written the Pluto post yet!

my green shoes…

Apparently the colour for next year (according to Pantone, the people who know these things) is Emerald green. Nice.

So the other day I bought a pair of platform shoes to mark the occasion- I’m wearing them with my sky blue toe nail polish as we speak.

They will probably be only green thing I buy all year.

I didn’t buy them because of the green, I bought them because they were a little different to everything else in my wardrobe and I seriously needed some different.

It could possibly be because I straightened my hair the other day.

My hair has, for the last 5 or so years, (ironically the time that Uranus has been transiting my first house) been my little rebellion. I wear it out- long, thick and unruly. I curse the knots and battle the frizz, but secretly relish the chaos of it.

For most of my life it was kept short- cropped short. My Mother didn’t like long hair.

When I left home I started to grow it- just into a bob length- but cut it again when I began taking my career seriously. Laugh if you will, but you rarely find unrestrained curly hair in the boardrooms and conference rooms of financial institutions.

Back then I wore the uniform too- you know, the heels, unrestrained business suits, sensible jewellery.

It wasn’t until Uranus approached my Ascendant that I decided none of it was me. Sure I was in a corporate role, but I could do my job just as well without cutting my hair.

As it grew longer- and curlier- the business suits started to disappear too. I was as if my hair was leading my personal mini rebellion against what I saw as the constraints of conformity.

I rarely straightened it- largely because I have no idea how to use a hair dryer or straightener, but also because straightening was a little like conforming.

I had my usual 4 weekly, remove the grey, trip to the hairdresser last week. My mother had called me while I was there. In the course of the discussion, she said, ‘I suppose it’s too much to hope that you’ll get it all cut off, Joanne. It looked so much smarter short.’

Perhaps it did, but to me it also felt like the handcuffs of control. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous.

Anyways, somehow or other, I left the salon last Friday with straight hair- the stylist wanted to practice on very thick, very curly hair…apparently I’m perfect for that.

I felt a little weird with it, but given that a few friends that weekend asked me if I’d had botox, I’m thinking that I’m vain enough to buy a straightener and learn to use it- even if it does mean that I’m conforming…just a little.

The thing is, virtually every planet and major point in my chart is touched by Uranus- that makes me seriously Uranian.

Why am I telling you this?

Because later tonight, a few hours after the New Moon, Uranus will turn direct.

While Uranus was retrograde all of that bubbling, electrical energy was happening within you instead of to you. Eventually it has to explode.  Suddenly you see exactly what you need to see- just like in the Partridge Family song when you wake up with something that keeps knocking at your brain.

There is nothing subtle about Uranus. He has neither the time nor the energy to faff around with subtlety and lessons and opportunity. Instead he gets off on giving totally unexpected and utterly unavoidable shocks to get you moving out of your rut and into something that is more authentically you.

He pokes and prods at you until you have no choice but to make the changes that are necessary to become yourself. Uranus is uncomfortable and indiscriminate. If work is not right, expect stuff like failed projects, difficult clients, problems with money. Likewise if relationships need changing, problems will arise in this area. Get the idea?

If Uranus passes back across a natal planet or chart point for you during this transit your time is …now! Think about the bid for freedom you may have made when Uranus 1^st touched that planet. The retrograde period has given the opportunity for those feelings to be directed inward and observed objectively. What went wrong then? What could you have handled differently?

If a break out is still required or a change absolutely needs to be made, when Uranus goes direct over that planet you will have the opportunity to make the change real… or risk regretting it for ever.

But what will happen? I hear you ask… Who knows. The one thing I do know about Uranus is expect the unexpected.

Where is Uranus in your chart? The cause of the transit can be found where Uranus is natally. The house through which Uranus is transiting is where most of the action is taking place and the house ruled by Aquarius is the area where the transits’ energy will be manifested.

The centre of the transit will come from the house that Uranus is transiting in your chart- this is where you are being pushed into making changes that will ultimately result in a more authentic you- he makes you confront your own individuality.

If, like me, this activity is happening in the first house, it will be all about you- how you look, where you work, what you do, who you do it with, where you live and who you do that with.

The planets will tell you the nature of that transit. And trust me, resistance is futile. The more you struggle against the Freedom Fighter, the tighter the chains that bind. If Uranus thinks that changes need to be made he will not be content with a minor renovation- if your life needs an overhaul, repainting a room will simply not cut the mustard- although it may calm your restless urges for a time. If you think that you can control your environment, think again- the area of life that Uranus is transiting becomes totally unpredictable.

The more that you have done what is expected of you, or the responsible thing and been who other people want you to be, thought the way other people want you to think and felt and loved the way society tells you that you should feel and love the harder these transits will be for you. As one who has done this, and to a certain extent, continues to do this, Uranus conjunctions are flipping painful…but exciting and liberating all at the same time.

Related Post: There’s Someone I Forgot to Be: Uranus transits of the Ascendant

Rider-Waite deck

A few weeks ago when I was in Melbourne, my friend & I went for a tarot reading at Spellbox. Readings here are always fun and usually pretty spot on. This latest one was no different.

Without going into details, I pretty well got a “yes” to both questions I asked- even though one was a question I didn’t want to ask, but wanted a yes anyway. It wasn’t only a “yes”, it was a resounding keep pulling up aces and the World card “yes”. In the words of the reader, it was a “you need a good hard astral kick up the arse” yes and get out there and do it yes. It was a “I know you’re terrified of rejection but risk it” yes.  In general, I think it was more reliable than asking the Magic 8 Ball…although I did get the same answer!

The other thing she told me is that I have to start listening to my heart rather than my head and listen to what the Universe is saying- regardless of whether I want to hear it what it has to say or not. Look for the signs, take note of the coincidences, feel the synchronicity.

This morning on the tarot application on Facebook, my card was Ace of Swords. A pretty cool card:

“Ace of Swords
Need to break down the bare bones of a situation and think this through. Leave doubt behind and concentrate on the details that need your focus. Get to the heart of the matter and begin. A new business matter that needs solid planning and vision. It’s time to find your inner strength and carry out your work. Logic and reason are in focus. Factual exploration may be needed.”

In fact, over the last few days, a few of these have been coming up. A friend replied today to my “like” status with “Sooooo, you doing anything about it or just liking it??? Poke, nag, shove…..”

Then this morning I am catching up on all the RSS blog feeds I subscribe to and I see one by Sarah Wilson titled “An Astral Kick Up The Arse.”  I love Sarah’s earthy and very practical Capricorn brand of common sense:

“When we get an AKUTA we freak because it hurts and we don’t know where it came from. But if we allow it to stop us, and we then take a look around, we can see it’s in keeping with where we’re at and is a bit of a punctuation mark on a downward spiral, or a messy, bored, unmotivated stage in life where we’re not making good, proactive decisions. A punctuation mark stops things. Get’s us to notice. And switch directions.

Astral kicks happen all the time. We just don’t notice them. As someone said/wrote recently (I have no idea who/where):

every moment in life is a coincidence or miracle… it really is…we just happen to notice a handful and get surprised by them.

As my mate is saying to me right now as I type, it would be useful if we could notice the gentle, initial astral pokes and didn’t have to be kicked so violently… Noticing small coincidences and the miraculous way that life evolves and flows and makes sense is a good way to develop this skill”

Did someone say Uranus transit? Because I am soooooo feeling this one!

We are all now being given a punctuation mark in the shape of Mercury retrograde. This is our signal to slow down, go within, review, revise, rewind.

Mercury is the planet of communication- the process of getting messages out and about. This is why the main things that are impacted during Mercury retrograde periods are things like:

• Appointment times
• Travel times & arrangements
• Computers, phones & other electronic devices
• Getting to & from places
• Contracts and other documents

To mitigate the possible damage we make common sense suggestions like:

• Re-confirm appointments
• Check & re-check your travel arrangements
• Insure your luggage and tickets and make sure you have copies of all travel documents- preferably not in your bag
• Avoid mechanical problems, by making sure your car services are up to date
• Back up computers
• Avoid purchasing any major technology over this period (if you were buying a new phone or laptop before Xmas hopefully you have already done it)
• Avoid signing contracts, but if you have to, make sure you have read & re-read all the fine print
• If you must commence a new project, do the scoping work carefully- and seriously people, we should be doing this anyway!

In fact, when you look at this list, isn’t it all what we should be doing in any case?

Contrary to popular belief, whoever is up there controlling these things doesn’t just wake up, yawn & say, ‘Mercury, you cheeky bugger, get down there & stuff up everything to do with comms and stuff.’

All of these things happen because of the nature of the retrograde period itself.

During any retrograde cycle of any planet we bring our attentions within. The energy of the planet is intensified, and that energy is brought within. We review and revise in our head the nature of the area of life this retrograde is happening in for us. With our brains occupied in a different way we lose focus on what is happening around us- and that is when things happen.

For some of us with Mercury retrograde natally, this is how we operate normally- the rest of the population is now on our wavelength. We do all of that “re” stuff every day of our lives- it is when we don’t that the trouble starts. Those of us with, what the rest of the astrological community may call a “challenged” Mercury (ie Mercury retrograde, in Pisces, in the 12^th house- I have all 3), usually do OK during the retrograde period- when things go wrong for us, it has usually been the knock on effect of something going badly for someone else!

When things go awry during a Mercury retrograde, we curse the Universe and go about putting it right. But what happens if we don’t? What happens if instead we take it as some sort of sign and go with it? What happens if instead it represents some sort of Astral Kick Up The Arse?

At this time of year we need that reminder. We are all madly trying to finish things up before Xmas closedowns and holidays take effect.

This retrograde is happening in Capricorn and the last third of Sagittarius. Business communications, projects, work/life balance, goals, ambition, ideas, faith, optimism will all be the areas we will be re-visiting over the next few weeks.

Some extra hints I would give for this time of the year:

• If you are buying presents on line, do it early- don’t rely on usual post schedules.
• Take extra care with holiday travel schedules ad leave plenty of time to get to the places you need to get to.
• Check all your payments- especially those made on line.
• Don’t rush communications just because it is the Xmas closedown- take the time to get them right & wait until the New Year if that is at all possible.
• Be prepared to wait for resolutions- anything which appears to be resolved now will most likely not be.
• Business systems are at particular risk this retrograde- change freezes are there for a reason at this time of the year. If you must make changes, test, test and re-test…and then cover your butt.

So, what can we do instead?

• Take the time to recharge your batteries
• Revise your goals
• Review your bright ideas
• Regain your faith in the future
• Recommit to habits, goals, the things you need to recommit to
• Reconnect with colleagues & friends you haven’t seen or spoken to for some time
• Renew and refresh whatever is jaded and old
• Revisit places, books, movies that mean something to you
• Rest and relax

And, if things do go wrong, we can maybe think about whether there is any reason why we are being given a punctuation mark, or, in some cases, an exclamation mark. Is there a reason we are being made to pause? Is there something we should be seeing that we are not? Are we too busy climbing ladders, chasing goals, doing the political spin thing that we miss the coincidences that are right in front of our noses? Hear the same name over & over? Run into an ex? Receive an email from someone you had forgotten about? Don’t analyse it, just accept it- it could be the astral kick up the arse that you are needing.

Mercury is retrograde from tonight for the next few weeks, turning around just in time for us all to remember auld acquaintances & auld lang syne…och aye (said in a really bad Scottish accent).

Who is impacted?

The usual suspects ie anyone with their Sun, Moon Ascendant in Virgo or Gemini will, as always, feel it. My general rule is, the stronger the presence that Mercury has in your chart, the more you will feel the retrograde periods. See, I even used bold.

This time around though, anyone who has chart points between 6 Capricorn and 19 Sagittarius will also be impacted.

Peacock in KL (Pic by me)

The other day Venus crossed my Ascendant. Nothing happened. Facebook & Twitter friends having a similar transit reported similar momentous events- although one did comment that her hair was good.

The textbook blurb said that I should be looking & feeling good- attractive, loving, sexy & in a good mood. If I go shopping I would find what I need & apparently I would have the power to get people to do what I want… nice in theory…  OK, I went shopping & the trainers I wanted were there & on special & in a really cute girly pink & silver. But as for the power to cajole people into doing what I wanted? I ended up rashly agreeing (without an argument) into doing stuff that I resent having to do- simply because I couldn’t be faffed with protesting something I knew I couldn’t win. To add insult to injury, my hair was really crappy.

Yesterday Venus opposed Pluto. This one is supposed to be about facing your desires, working out what you want & don’t want in a relationship & acting on that. Well, I did have a nice date night with hubby over a great seafood platter at a local restaurant, so I guess that one counts &, just quietly, I had a better hair day than I did the other day.

Today Venus conjuncts my Sun and I should be feeling worth it and high in confidence. I will remember that as I run my daughter to todays set of social engagements & groceries & work my way through laundry. My hair should be good. Mars is also trine Saturn today, and this one is about feeling productive and goal oriented- I WILL get the ironing up to date. Tomorrow Venus is opposing Uranus possibly making me more highly strung or impatient than usual, and maybe bringing surprises in relationships. Given that my tolerance level is usually pretty low on Mondays, the only surprise will be if I get through the day argument free.

The fact of the matter is, personal planet transits, ie transits by the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars are too quick to be life changing. These planets all move too quickly (except Mars at the moment in a definite slow-down on a beach chair in Resort Leo) to have much more impact on us than the state of our hair or our temper. The Moon which tears through each sign in a couple of days has even less impact. The only exception to this is the New & Full Moons, and then particularly when a New Moon or Full Moon falls directly on a point in your chart- that is usually a sit up and take notice time. These transits really just influence your weather & where your mood falls on the scale between manically amazing and black dog storm clouds approach only with chocolate.

What the personal planet transits can do is act like a trigger. The real life changing stuff comes from outer planet transits- Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. These all move super slow and often cross the same part of your chart 3 times. Saturn, whilst quicker, is also worth looking at in this light. Jupiter falls somewhere between the personals and the outers. If one of the big 3 is transiting a particular point in your chart, the energy of transiting Mars or another personal planet may be sufficient to trigger that loaded gun. Any transit from an outer planet to a point in your chart can’t be ignored.

Saturn transits do feel heavy and you may feel like the weight of commitments is more than you can bear- I had a year of it last year as Saturn worked his way in opposition to my Pisces 1^st house planets. The worst was when he opposed Chiron & then my Moon- an old unhealed shoulder injury had me in a world of pain- possibly the Universes’ way of telling me I was carrying too much? Or maybe just shit happening. Either way, he is back for another go in a couple of months.

Pluto and Neptune transits are the slowest & also the most life changing. If Neptune hits your ascendant, you can’t see yourself clearly. If she flirts with your Midheaven, work will be frustrating & crappy with no light seemingly available. Pluto transits are often about control and transformation issues. It isn’t until something else triggers him into life that he will kick in whatever he feels is broken and leave you with the mess.

Uranus is different. Uranus things happen out of the blue- unexpected jolts. Uranus has been playing with my Pisces planets for the last 3 & a bit years, but is due to conjunct my Moon for the 1^st time at Easter.  This will occur the same day that Jupiter crosses my ascendant. Unless my schedule changes, I will be in Hong Kong at that time for work.

The New Moon in Pisces will also trigger my natal Moon and Chiron, bringing to light emotions, and stuff which hasn’t been dealt with or allowed to heal. With Uranus, the more you try to do what you think you should be doing, the more Uranus will push you towards what the Universe thinks you should be doing… and very often the two are poles apart- especially if you have always done what is expected of you.   

On Friday Venus meets my Moon and Uranus is conjunct Chiron & within a degree or so of also conjuncting my Moon. Mercury is also about to conjunct my Mercury. Given that the Moon in Scorpio is trining all the activity, the forecast I would give myself is for a day a day of lively conversation with people I feel deeply and emotionally close to. Time will tell.