Mercury in Aries Direct

April 23, 2011 - We may feel a sense of relief and freedom now that Mercury has gone direct, but there will still be energies helping us hold still a bit longer to maintain our sense of connection to the deep wisdom we've been working to understand and join with during the recent retrograde period. Saturn is opposing Mercury until early May so that will put some brakes on our rush to get on with business now that Mercury has gone direct.

As Mercury goes direct it runs into Mars in Aries, and that really intensifies our desire to go full steam ahead with whatever has been calling to us, simmering in our Mercury-retrograde guided brains for the past three weeks. But with Saturn opposing the energies, we're asked to hold on a bit longer to clear out more fears and unnecessary elements. This time will help us really pare down the information we've received and beliefs and information (inner and outer) we've been working with all our lives and for centureis until what we're left with is simply and honestly what needs to be there in order to build the lives and world in the vision we've been guided to blend with our own unique visions. This won't be an overnight process. It will still take some time and work.

This is also about recognizing that the different aspects of ourselves may still be out alignment with one another. Some may still be in an adolescent phase while others are more mature. Aries wants us to rush into battle, but can the cooler and more disciplined, older and wiser heads of Saturn prevail while we learn enough to be really effective as we explore and move along these new pathways? Can we recognize where we need to allow ourselves to grow some more while the wiser parts of ourselves understand the need to give appropriate boundaries while at the same time allowing for freedom to grow and learn?

Integrating the lessons of the cooler-headed Saturn will serve us well as we then run into Jupiter in Aries as we travel the wheel of life, giving us an opportunity to expand our consciousness and our desire for new adventures and experiences. Over the next few weeks we'll have the chance to face our fears, our self-imposed inner and outer boundaries and oppositions and then move on to the expansion and light that is Jupiter. We'll be able to take what we know, what we envision, our clearer vision and a sense of elder wisdom and patience to begin to plant, build, create with love, inclusivity, dialogue and tolerance. We'll have a better and more honest connection with the hidden elements of nature and a deeper respect for the Earth and Her children and resources rather than crazy, unthinking, immature passion to make change, win at all costs, and destroy in the process rather than transform. These are not givens; they are possibilities we must choose and then work for.

The point over the next few weeks is to make sure we're working on ourselves, on our lives, on what our hearts call us to do. Slacking off will simply not do if we really want to expand our worlds. This kind of work is introspective, meditative, prayerful, mindful and paying attention to the world around us that is often unseen by our human senses. This work is that of listening to Earth, to the songs of the birds, the whisper or howl of the wind, the plop, plop, plop of rain, the crackle of thunder and the electric charge of lightning. It's about listening to the cries of the marine animals and sea life, the power of the water, the breathing of the trees and plants and so much more.

We'll be moving into the Taurus energies soon and that will give us a chance to catch our breath, add some form and structure to all that fiery passion and high energy we've been experiencing lately but haven't been able to do much with. It will give us a chance to take stock of where we're at, what we have going on, and where we want to go. We may feel tempted to sit it out on the front porch, but we still need to keep working.

Patti