Purity, passion, and (im)perfection

Hey there, sorry I missed last week’s newsletter. How are you holding up? We’re in the midst of some pretty gnarly astrology and I bet you’re feeling it in some way. Many of us, including myself, feel as if things are coming to a head and that the time for action is now.

As Pisces season wrapped up on March 19th, we closed out one cycle and began another as Aries season began on March 20th, also known as the spring equinox. Aries season is the start of the astrological new year and we can associate it with new beginnings. A seed in the soil has finally germinated and is sprouting into life. Aries energy is all about asserting oneself and taking a bold stance. Here I am world whether you’re ready for me or not. You may have an impulse to start the thing you’ve been thinking about or commit to a new way of doing things. However, the Sun entering Aries is just the tip of the iceberg in our current astrological setup.

On March 14th, we experienced a lunar eclipse in Virgo. Were you able to take a look at it late in the evening? I happened to jolt awake at about 2am around its peak and ran outside to join my neighbors watching it. Her blood red color was like an ominous eye staring back at me, imparting her gaze upon my body, ready to accept her healing powers.

This eclipse was all about purifying the system from the toxins that have been wreaking havoc on our lives. A toxin in this case could be anything that presents itself to you as a salve but is actually holding you back, making you sick, or keeping you from experiencing the true joy and nature of your being. It’s the devil in disguise. Virgo wants to get to the bottom of something, to excavate and cleanse. Virgo needs you to get to work and this lunar eclipse was like being handed a key to unlock the shackles around your ankles. This is a moment when our fears and inhibitions are reduced, allowing movement to take place. You have a lot to share, but in order to give your gift to others you need to trust your intuition and resolve the emotional blockages keeping you from taking action. No one is asking you to be perfect and your gifts don’t have to be the perfect solution to anyone’s problems. There is no need to present things on a silver platter. Baby haven’t you heard? Perfectionism is out. Flaws are in. Embrace your entire self and proceed with abandon.

Running in the background of all this are the Venus and Mercury retrogrades. Now before I continue, let’s clear something up: Retrogrades aren’t bad! I repeat, retrogrades aren’t bad! Pop astrology has us fearing transits and thinking that certain things in astrology are good and bad. Nothing in astrology is “good” or “bad.” If you direct your belief that way then you will create bad situations for yourself. Retrograde periods are typically a time of slowing down and reassessing the direction we’re heading in and they are often experienced as periods of introspection.

That being said, I will acknowledge that sometimes conflict is the thing that prompts us to enter a time of reassessing, particularly conflict with others. Venus retrogrades are important transits in our lifetimes because they reconnect us with our values and where and how we experience love, desire, and connection. A Venus retrograde period may remind you of forgotten loves, whether that be another person or a creative passion. Venus wants us to enjoy life and experience the beauty all around us and when she retrogrades she may smack you upside the head in order to act in accordance with your values. This is why couples and polycules may experience fights or arguments during this time. Something needs to be worked out because we’re not all on the same page. Sometimes that means someone needs to exit your life, other times it’s that the agreed upon structures need updating.

Mercury, the little trickster, happens to be dancing in the same spot of the sky as Venus, making this a double retrograde in the same areas of our lives. Chances are the events of this Venus retrograde are corresponding with Mercury. Perhaps you are rethinking your desires and where and how you connect with others. Have there been roadblocks to your thinking, communicating, or your mental acuity? Did someone show up in your life and now you can’t stop thinking about them? Did an old song come on that you haven’t heard in years and now you can’t stop playing it? There might be a bit of an obsessive or all-consuming quality to these retrogrades. Remember to ease up, take breaks, and rest your mind.

The last thing I want to mention about these retrogrades is that there is going to be a major focus on your self and your vitality. What are your needs? What is holding you back? Remember, this is all happening in Aries. Who or what has put out your spark and how can you light it back up? All of these conflicts, realizations, and desires are trying to set you up to be the strongest version of yourself. The torch is ready to be passed to you, but if your hands are tied behind your back you won’t be able to reach out and grab it. These two planets will move back into Pisces before eventually stationing direct and head back into Aries. Whatever actionable changes we are making or planning on will move into a place of deeper reflection. I strongly encourage you to think creatively about your issues or situations. What happens if you loosen the boundaries of your tightly held ideals and allow for an injection of spirit and creativity? Think outside the box and let things flow where they naturally want to go.

Remember that there is beauty all around you and that beauty emanates from within your own soul. When you cherish the beauty, you cherish yourself. I love you and as always, hit reply and reach out with your thoughts, questions, and to share your experiences if you feel inclined.

See you next Sunday,
~Ry