Planets, all of them, are ALIVE. Yes alive. Just like you and me, planets are conscious entities with goals, destinies and a mission to fulfill for the Universe, which is in fact the Universe growing into something "more" all the time.

The Sun is the center of our solar system, but Earth is our Home. She shelters us, feeds us from the land and the seas, we breathe her air, we bask in the sun and we often take her completely for granted. So who is this gal we call Mom? She is a master entity, as befitting her size compared to us. She is a larger "chunk" of Universal matter, formed into a separate being with a purpose. Her purpose is life as we know it.

British Scientist James Lovelock created a scientific study of the planet when he claimed that earth, air, fire and water on our planet is how she lives, and that she also breathes and that all life on her allows this process, and we and trees, and water and birds and deer, live symbiotically with her! Without us she does not live, without her neither do we. He named her after Gia the Greek Goddess who brought life and form into matter from chaos. Indiginous tribes believe she is alive too, including the American Indians.

We know the story of the Creator being alone in the Universe, so s/he takes pieces of herself and creates new life forms from herself so she can share the experience of life with others. Each entity she creates lives forever because the Universe is forever and that includes you and me. Shirley McLaine was right, we ARE God or the Universe, because we are just pieces of the whole, separated so we can share, experience and learn and create together, but it's really just one entity "playing" or "pretending" to be something else. "I am you, and you are me, and we are all together" sang/wrote George Harrison.

There are stories of Angels and Arch Angels as guardians of truth and the laws of the Universe. There are higher beings and mundane beings, each with a purpose and part of Her grande experiment. And Planets are part of the fabric of life as well. Our mom is ALIVE just like we are. She is a beautiful Blue Planet mostly water based (so why do the land people think they are in charge??? What might the dolphin or whale know better than we?)  And like us, she is eternally growing, learning, becoming, evolving and reaching for more. And she is far more powerful than we are in terms of energy and evolution and knowledge, and it is now time for her too to evolve into something "more than she is now". And our changing, creating a higher vibration in our own lives enables her to make the change. She and we are evolving together into something bigger, better, and more profound. And you and I are here right now to not only witness it, but be a part of it all. Is that cool or what??!! So what is our role? It is to build a strong connection to our SOUL CHAKRA (see last weeks horoscope for more on this) and raise the vibrations of the planet to new heights. As your vibrations change, so do mine, and ultimately the planets. Your soul holds ideas to help us evolve, so you must connect to that to see it/feel it/live it.

When you awaken in the morning, take a moment to thank the universe for your life. Hey you woke up today and that is a gift. Who knows what the day may bring. What adventures you will have. Be thankful and say so out loud or in your head. (I find saying it out loud more effective for me). Ask that your higher self be connected to you all day and night and feed you "universal information" so you can connect to this higher purpose instead of your ego driven purposes. No I am not saying give up your regular life, I am saying ADD THIS to your daily routine. As you connect to Higher Self more and more, you become a better person, a happier person, a calmer person, a more satisfied person....and this energy feeds the earth with the good energy she needs to evolve, or give birth to her new self. Her life forms (us) must take part in this birth and help her find her way. And as she evolves and her energy shifts, so too does ours, and we become more enlightened with her and a part of her future as well as our own. As I keep repeating, right now our spiritual life is so very important. Practice that connection everyday. This is your chance to be a part of something amazing and so much bigger than yourself.

Thursday Mercury leaves its home of Gemini and moves into Cancer. It's a long transit as Mercury goes retrograde June 7th (start new things now, but wait until July 1 to start something new again when Mercury leaves retrograde. June 7-30 is a good time to clean up old stuff.) and stays in Cancer with a return to Gemini for a while until July 31st. Our thinking is a little more emotional and stubbornness could be an issue in your thinking. Take a deep breath before you answer a proposal so you won't be so quick to say no. Ground family relationships, whether they be blood or chosen people in your lives. I keep stressing the bonding. You need people around you who "get it" so you too stay on track when the outside world is telling its business as us it's business as usual.

Wednesday Venus leaves Aries and moves into Taurus, the sign ruled by Venus. Slow but steady and lasting love time coming in, combined with Mercury in Cancer, you will be ready for something real. An old friend might become a lover, or a new friend could become one down the road. Taurus is slow to fall in love, but once there it's very difficult for them to fall out of love (they are extremely loyal and faithful) but may stay in a bad relationship because its so hard for them to let go once they have made an attachment. For those relationships, it could be a time of finally talking it out for some kind of resolution, including ending it forever. Once a Venus in Taurus says goodbye, its set in stone.

Wednesday is also a new moon in Gemini. Gemini's - this is the time to set the tone for your entire year, until next year's one and only new moon in Gemini. But new moons are new starts for everyone, so think about your attitudes, and what needs changing - then change it! Make lists of goals and dreams, then set about making them a reality. This is a MANIFESTING time. Dream it then make it come to life! Mars is direct now, so no more excuses! Have you been enjoying your new found energy levels? Did you get suddenly sick? I think it is just releasing pent up negativity created during the frustrated retrograde Mars for 7 months. Take the down time to think about your life, and vow to make changes to give yourself a happier life.

We are all giving birth right now...to new lives, new selves, new ways and new patterns. Embrace it!

Mars, the ruler of Aries, and the energy we have in life (or don't have) depends on where Mars is in your horoscope. Our energy level affects our whole life, and our chakra's are the energy centers of our bodies, or should I say our etheric bodies. Now more than ever, our energy BALANCE matters.

There are seven Chakra's, from the base of the spine to the crown, each vibrating at a higher octave the higher up you go. But not a lot of people have heard about the 8th Chakra, which floats about one foot above your head. This is the SOUL CHAKRA and is the connection between your physical body and your true energy body self and knowledge of our real selves and our purpose.

Meditating, Prayers, asking for Divine Guidance, and assorted disciplines, keeps the connection and builds it back if it has deteriorated. We are being bombarded with intense soul based energy right now, so keeping balanced helps us more easily make the transition. Not doing that makes us nervous, edgy, cranky and perhaps angry if it's pushing our world view buttons.

Non-soul based thinking clings to the material, soul based thinking KNOWS something so much better than that exists. In these crazy times of endings and beginnings, you are less afraid or confused when these changes take place, and you therefore accept even embrace the changes you need to make now.
It's a simple matter of making it easier for yourself. Please go to my meditation page and download the FREE How to Meditate manual and practice this everyday, whether its 10 minutes or 60, it helps a lot.

Our energy friend Mars is ruled by Aries and is unbridled energy, as Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, the initiator, the leader, the idea person who can be quite impulsive. Mars and Go are the same word. Mars can't sit still for long, it has places to go, people to see, adventures to experience. And Mars has been in it's opposite sign, Libra, now for 7 months. This alone is quite uncommon, as Mars usually stays in a sign for 6 weeks then moves on, but in Libra for so long, you have a Mars that is pretty fed up with being held back, especially from the last couple of months of being retrograde or even more blocked. 

Finally on Monday the 19th, Mars has turned direct in Libra. Tired from his confinement, it will take a little time for energy momentum to build, but it is finally happening. All those stalled projects move forward, attempts to complete tasks are no longer thwarted, creativity, exploration and FUN get the go ahead! It's also time to have those conversations you've been putting off. Speak from the heart now. Wake from your imposed slumber and get ready to rock and roll. And Mars will now oppose Venus in Aries, so expect great ideas out the blue, love at first sight or lovers reunited and opportunities to do things you love doing. Mars and Venus opposed is powerful energy, lust, excitement - your whole energy level is about to take off to much more free and happy places. I won't go into the Uranus Pluto square this week. Time for a break from the battle talk, but know this square will be fueled by Mars moving direct. The energy for change is building, growing, increasing, getting ready for the summer of change. Rest up on Sunday, so you are ready to Go Monday. I bet you can already feel it, things breaking loose and ready to go forward any day now.

Wednesday the 21st, the sun moves into Gemini, the thinker, communicator, gad about. It joins Mercury already there. You continue to move faster, think faster, get out more, and Mars is giving you the energy to do it now. Your fun calendar should start filling up! Like sleeping beauty arising from a deep sleep, you are getting ready for the summer of amazing change and energy.

Saturday Jupiter, the planet of good luck and abundance currently in Cancer, is going to Trine Saturn, the serious Taskmaster. It's a time of fruition. Positive outcomes, offers, opportunities come through in a solid and reliable way thanks to Saturn. It's a good thing!

Think positive and with gratitude. Focus on the good and more good will come. Have a happier, lighter week - next weekend is a welcome 3 day break from hard work.  Relax, play, enjoy. You deserve it!!!

So how did the practicing being positive work out for you last week? Hard isn't it? We live in a world were griping and gossiping is a way of life, and its up to us who take the challenge to change that. Happy people don't moan and groan all the time.

Emotions are high now. Crying is a way to release them, so don't stop yourself from crying, its helpful, like venting with letting go added to it. My wonderful teacher Shirin of Shirin Healing, teaches a live on-line class every Wednesday from Hawaii using Theta Energy Techniques to work at clearing our energies and keeping us balanced. Last week several people spoke of sadness, depression and self incrimination going on with them (and me). I had a heavy heart last week. And then she pointed out something I know, but forgot, and it was like an epiphany and helped me release a lot of darkness. People working on their "stuff" are more intuitive than most, because they are deliberately tuning into themselves and doing some soul searching. And this is a good thing, BUT it also opens us up to the energy at large, so we are also picking up other people's energies too. It's like the pool I spoke of. We all draw from it, and many sensitive people get in touch with it "all" and mistake it for their own issues, vs the collective issues. The key is to separate your feelings from the collective. If you are a Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces this is especially true now, as you water signs feel emotions more than most of us (I don't envy you!) so you are "feeling' more than most.

There is pain in the world. So much pain now. Economically people are hurting the world over, even here in the so-called richest nation on earth. 26 states in our country could offer medical care to their citizens but don't for political reasons. Fracking is destroying communities, water tables and the air we breathe, yet Governors keep saying yes to it. Factories moved to China have decimated the once middle class mid-west, who has fewer good paying jobs than ever before. This forces people to leave their communities and seek work elsewhere, which causes a break down in family and a sense of community (I am originally from Illinois and I have seen the destruction first hand.) When you are living on the edge your spirit is heavy with worry. Then there is endless war, and the costs not only in human life but in fiscal madness. Our supreme court has handed over the country to the richest by claiming corporations, who never get sick, or die or breathe, have the same rights as people. Now whomever has the most $ has the loudest voice in our so-called democracy. Schools are being deliberately underfunded so corporations can privatize (code word for profitize) schools and make money off our kids. Public services have been and continue to be cut during a time when more and more are in need of assistance. It's depressing stuff!!!! And all that agony is pouring into our energy pool and making us more sensitive to the suffering in the world.

Meditation really helps replenish you, and builds an invisible wall around us, to protect us from the negative entering our aura so easily with such a heavy bombardment going on every minute. Eating right, exercising and sleeping well are also keep to keeping yourself balanced. But the negative pulls at you NOT to do these things to help you. Just keep trying to think of the good things, the gifts you have, the things you take for granted. This is a way to replenish yourself and the world at the same time.

This week is a full Moon in Scorpio. BIG emotions. Over Monday night and Tuesday the moon is there, causing the week to start off with a lot of emotion. Breathe. Sort yours from the collective and PRAY for all of us, ask the Universe to help us through these tough times. Wednesday is the Full Moon, opposing Saturn, the Taskmaster. It is likely some serious decisions will have to be made due to some sobering news. Breathe before you decide what to do. At 1AM Thursday the moon moves into Sagittarius, giving you a much needed break from the Scorpio energy. Your mood will be uplifted.

Also on Thursday, Venus conjuncts Uranus in Aries. It will soothe some of the war between Uranus and Pluto, while giving you amazing ideas to create something good for lots of people, fall in love with a person who inspires you, join a group, etc. It will be a good energy day and likely give you answers to any problems the wednesday energy may have brought to your door.

It"s only one week until caged Mars, in jail for 7 months, is finally released. It will open blocks and allow forward movement for us all. Yippee!!!

Yesterday my best friend and I went to a local, privately owned bookstore to look around. I love bookstores because thousands of people have written down their ideas, dreams, inspiration and research and made it available to everyone. There is a kind of holiness about the place for me (my Gemini is showing!).  Upon entering the store, I spied a book on Celtic Lore. Having recently had a vivid dream about the Celtic Cross, it jumped out at me. I asked the man behind the counter about it, and I proceeded to meet the most amazing person who captured the attention of me and my friend for 2 hours, listening to his stories of book writers, writers clubs, loving books. He explained he had been a professor and retired early because of the craziness in academia. He started this store 30 years ago, and you could see this light emanating from him. He LOVED what he did for a living. We left floating for having met him. As I drove home after dropping my friend off, it occurred to me that you seldom ever meet anyone who is in love with their work. I hear about being tired, money woes, employee woes, boss woes, stress, wishing to retire, regretting retiring. But not much about joy in doing what is only second to sleeping, work. The hours we put into work are huge, but how often does our work make us smile, give us a lift, make us "happy dance" like the guy on Restaurant Impossible?

It occurs to me that this is yet another way, and I think huge, in being Thankful and adding good energy to the world. We are formless energy in our natural state. We have vibrations, and each kind of vibration has its own power. As humans on earth, we have come together by the millions to live together. Our own energy goes into a "pool" of energy from which we all draw from on an unconscious level. If you are angry, a little part of me feels that anger on a soul level. If you are sad, I become a little sad. The more sad or angry people there are in the world, the more we all feel that energy and becomes very disturbing on an unconscious level. It breeds discontent, and more anger and sadness. Thankfulness is the fuel which depletes negative vibes and replaces our "pool" with happiness, optimism an hope. And right now the Universe is asking us all to GIVE GOOD ENERGY TO THE WORLD. This is part of being a spiritual warrior, fighting in a fun and positive way to change things.

So here is an assignment for the week if you care to participate. Whether you are self-employed or an employee, go to work this week and look ONLY FOR THE GOOD there. Do you have a lousy boss? Go to your office and focus on the work, not on the boss. Focus on the client, and not on the boss. Focus on job hunting to get out of there if you can't change it, while you're being grateful for what you do have. Feel it, focus on it, love it. Think of the bad stuff as gnats. Shoo it away from your mind where possible, and DWELL on what gives you pleasure, makes you feel good about yourself, and makes you enjoy your day. Bond with people in your office who are like minded. Build a "tribe" in the office which sustains you. Be the leader of this effort, or follow someone trying to do this, but do it! The gnats get second place from now on, and finding ways to love what you do all day is key to happiness.

If you are self-employed, stop dwelling on the problems. I don't mean ignore them, I mean don't let them consume you. Look around at your staff. Be grateful so many people are giving their business lives to you. Be thankful when you make payroll, or pay the bills, or a client says nice things. Focus on what is good, and you will find that what is bad is somehow working itself out and being released. HOLDING ON to negativity GROWS negativity. Holding onto happiness and gratefulness, creates more things to be happy about. It's a simple law, as most of the Universe's laws are. It's not complicated or rocket science.

And if you are in a bad place career wise and working for crappy money, why not look for a job in a field you enjoy. Non-profit organizations hire people. They don't generally pay as well as the private sector, but they usually pay more than minimum wage. Everyday you will be around people who are working toward making something better. You will gain a sense of purpose, something bigger than yourself and it will take you places you need to go. This is also important for retirees. Do the things you always wanted to do. Love animals? Volunteer at a pet hospital, animal shelter, the zoo. Into politics? Join a campaign and give of yourself and meet new people and create a tribe there.

I apologize that this is not so much about astrology transits, but it is about the times we live in. Being a positive person in deeply discontented times is your calling now. CHANGE is a verb. Time for action.

Astrologically you should be feeling more grounded than you have been, as all those stabilizing Taurus influences are making us feel less shaky. On Wednesday Mercury, your mind and your thinking, moves into Gemini - it's home until May 29th. Your thinking will be sharper, faster, and multi-tasking skills peak  and help you find solutions quickly, while Sun in Taurus gives you stability to make the change. Pluto and Uranus continue their battle, and the Blood Moon, Solar Eclipse and Grand Cross are still influencing our world and our destiny, and May 19th when Mars finally goes direct and the Sun enters Gemini, things will really start to move. Take these next couple of weeks to get your ducks in a row and be ready!