​MORE IS MORE!

Receiving and holding more good in your life - whether it's love or support or success or opportunity or abundance or straight up money - begins and ends with your nervous system.

Yes, limiting beliefs and everyday thinking and feeling habits and patterns, of course - but that stuff all originates from the state of your nervous system on a moment-to-moment basis, and the nervous system is 1) all about "safety first" and 2) evolutionarily linked to survival, so the strongest game going in your system if it senses danger.
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And it can be a bit confused about what "danger" actually is....click on "read more" below to find out why and how your nervous system keeps you from expanding into more of what you want in life, and how to teach it that more is safe so you can get more of the love and abundance you want.

In fact, the nervous system learns through experience, so if you've ever experienced something really good coming with something bad, like money with a job you hate, or help and support with hidden agenda/obligation/strings attached, or love bombing only to find out you're with a narcissist, or conditional love as a child - only if you're "good," - your nervous system likely equates danger with you getting what you want, which can really throw a wrench in your spoke when manifesting.

Whether we are talking about our capacity to receive and hold more love or abundance - whether it is support, opportunity, or an actual monetary amount - we are talking about the same thing: our receivership and our capacity to hold more "good" in our lives.

The nervous system gets to where it is at (the level it can hold or can't hold) through experience, and it expands to hold more through experience.

The nervous system takes in information mostly through the body, but it is closely tied to the brain - to our beliefs, whether they are supportive or limiting (also downloaded through experience) and the resulting thought patterns that result.

So when our sympathetic nervous system gets triggered - likely from an emotional trigger linked to a past experience - and we go into fight, flight, or freeze, we also go back to the age of the original event that imprinted us AND that creates a thought loop running very specific neural pathways that is tied to that, which creates a certain emotional response as well, which also triggers a very specific physiological response in the body - a stress response that includes things like a dumping of adrenaline and cortisol.

It only takes 90 seconds for those stress hormones to run their course, but we re-trigger it over and over if we are stuck in the thought loop and can't get out because our sympathetic nervous system is triggered and "stuck on."

Many times, because of past experiences and conditioning, our nervous system has learned to equate "more good," or anything at all coming at us (even if it is what we've been wanting and working toward manifesting) as DANGER.

This is what's going on when we something good comes in to our lives and we suddenly have this "freak out," and our minds start spinning out with what could go wrong.

Or a sum of money suddenly lands like a tax return and the car breaks down and it costs that same amount to fix it.

Or someone compliments us and we deflect it immediately.

It's too uncomfortable - because our nervous system isn't safe receiving any more than exactly what we have now.

And your nervous system will always be stronger than your desires and intentions, because it has evolved over thousands of years in humans to do one thing: keep us safe.

What you have in life right now is exactly your nervous system's comfort level of what it feels safe to allow.

If you want to receive and hold MORE GOOD in life, you have to teach your nervous system, in its own language and through experience, that more is safe, and that expansion is safe.

We're past the final eclipse portal of 2024, and in the transition from the set of eclipses on the Aries-Libra axis of the zodiac - the relationship axis - that began in July 2023, to what's next:  a string of eclipses focused on the Virgo-Pisces axis of the zodiac that will carry us into 2027.

The theme of the Aries-Libra eclipses, "a karmic rebalancing of the 'me' and 'we' in your life," is still strong as we have Mars, ruler of Aries, going retrograde (something that only happens once every two years) over this time helping us prepare for the final eclipse in this series - the new moon eclipse in Aries sign of self coming up in late March.

Besides Mars retrograde this winter, we have a few other main energetic currents we want to focus our attention on and work with:  Jupiter retrograde October 9th to February 4th, Saturn stationing direct in Pisces on November 15th, and Pluto, direct as of October 11th, moving back into Aquarius for good on November 19th.

I break all of this down for you in this post - click "read more" to check it out!

​If there's something we are deeply desiring yet feel we simply cannot get in life, it's a sure sign we need to cultivate that energy on the inside. It's a sure sign that we have a limiting belief active around this and consequently a default program running of thinking, feeling, and being that's keeping us in this loop and energetic prism of doing life through.

2024 is an 8 year numerologically - a year where abundance of all sorts is on the menu, IF we step into our power and claim it.

Astrologically speaking, the dominant soul theme of 2024 is a "karmic rebalancing of relationships," or a rebalancing of the "me" and "we" in our lives.

This is because the north node of soul growth, future, and destiny is in Aries, the sign of self, and the south node of karma, past, and release is in Libra, the sign of relationships.

We've been working this theme all year. You may have noticed situations coming up all of 2024 in your life that have brought any old unhealthy patterns of being in relationship to the forefront of your awareness and pushed you to choose yourself.

This theme is intensifying in September as we have the rebel, untamed feminine sitting with the south node in Libra as Venus moves past both, and then we move into our final eclipse portal of the year with the 9/17 full moon and the 10/2 new moon - in Libra.

If you've continued this year to not choose yourself and give yourself up in unhealthy ways because of fears of abandonment and not having an identity beyond relationship, September is going to be driving the point home that it's time to move boldly towards a stronger sense of self and bring balance back to your relationships and life.

It's clear. The path to the soul-aligned love your heart so deeply desires is coming home to yourself. A healthy sense of self creates healthy relationships. As within, so without.

It's all energy, and this is an energetic shift that brings big magic to your life and relationships.

While this Mercury retrograde begins in Virgo, most of it will take place in Leo.

Leo is the sun-ruled fire sign of the heart, the inner child, and the performer and artist.  Yes, Leo has the ego and self-confidence to claim the spotlight, but the highest expression of Leo is as an instrument for divinity.  It's about being the instrument through which divine inspiration comes through.  That's why it's all about being heart-centered and even connecting with the inner child - because that's when it becomes pure.  

That's the highest purpose for our individual creative self-expression - and that's why what wants to come through you out into the world is sacred.  It is to be shared, not hidden away in shame for fear as being seen as "just wanting to be the center of attention."  That judgment is a sure sign of someone who is not allowing their own light to shine, so have compassion.

It's not about one person outshining another - it's about everyone shining in their own unique way.  Our ability to create and express and inspire is truly limitless.

Mercury will be in Virgo from July 25th to August 16th, stationing retrograde there August 4th.

From July 25th til August 4th, it will be direct, in the pre-shadow of the retrograde.  Then it will station retrograde at 4° Virgo on August 4th, and backtrack those early degrees of Virgo, returning to Leo on August 16th for the remainder of the retrograde.  It will make a one-time conjunction with Venus in Virgo while retrograde on August 7th.  

Mercury's stint in its own sign of Virgo is working in support to the majority of this retrograde in Leo by showing us where our self-criticism and perfectionism blocks us from truly shining our heart-light and sharing our gifts with the world through creative self-expression.  

Look for clues to how your inner critic shuts you down and keeps you from joining the interconnected web of light while Mercury is in the pre-shadow in Virgo from July 25th to August 4th.   Then from August 4th to August 16th, let Mercury retrograde help you to edit that self-criticism and change your internal critic to an internal cheerleader.  There's nothing wrong with being detail-oriented and wanting to be the best we can be, unless it is stopping us from doing what we came here to do and share.  You might want to ask yourself who that voice in your head sounds like too.  It's likely something you picked up along the way in your younger years by osmosis that's not actually yours at all!

Mercury stations retrograde at 4° Virgo August 4th at 21:56 PT/August 5th 00:56 ET.

That means that the day of the 4th is when this energy is likely to be most intense as Mercury slows to station.  Keep in mind that because Mercury rules Virgo, it's extra strong here.   

Mercury is at its trickiest when stationing.  This is when you want to be across all the details of your life, especially tech and communications, but considering Virgo, it's just as likely to affect daily schedules and routines.  

Be extra careful in communications.  Speak to be understood.  Paraphrase what others say in conversations and repeat it back to them to create extra clarity.  We can be easily scattered and distracted when Mercury is stationing and we can easily misunderstand.

Double check schedules, appointment times, and itineraries.  Allow extra time for commutes.  Be mindful of what you did with your phone and keys.  Take extra care with passwords.  Double check who you are actually sending emails and texts to.

In short, slow down, especially on August 4th.  (Same goes for when Mercury stations direct on August 28th.)

Besides Mercury's one-hit-wonder with Venus in Virgo on August 7th, the main influences on this retrograde will be a series of three trines to Chiron in Aries and a series of three squares to Uranus in Taurus.  

Mercury in Leo will make its first trine to Chiron and square to Uranus during the pre-shadow, July 18th and July 21st, respectively, then will aspect each again during the retrograde for a review, squaring Uranus August 17th and trining Chiron August 22nd during the heart of the retrograde journey, then making a final "resolution" aspect to each in the post-shadow of the retrograde, making the final trine to Chiron on September 2nd, and the final square to Uranus on September 7th before returning to Virgo on September 9th and leaving the post-shadow of the retrograde on September 11th.  

Mercury in Leo trine Chiron in Aries:  7/18, 8/22, & 9/2

Mercury in Leo, as we discussed earlier, is about coming through your heart and shining your heart light bright, sharing your gifts with the world.  Chiron is the wounded healer, and in Aries, sign of self, it is about how we play small because of wounds to self that have left us doubting ourselves and maybe even our right to exist.  This is about healing the shame we carry.  Mercury is the mind, thoughts, and communications, so Mercury retrograde is here to help us create a new story around that old wound so we can transcend it and start taking pride in who we are and shine that heart light bright.  Your intro to this will be 7/18, the review will be 8/22, and then the resolution comes 9/2.

Mercury in Leo square Uranus in Taurus:  7/21, 8/17, & 9/7

Mercury square Uranus being a major influencer of this Mercury retrograde can feel like a double-strength Mercury retrograde.  That's because the Mercury square Uranus aspect acts much like a Mercury retrograde.  Use extra caution on the days this is in effect.  Expect the unexpected.  Uranus is unpredictable, especially in square aspect.  Understand that this aspect is here to help you innovate - especially in the way you think and communicate.  It's here to shake things up.  Be open to flashes of insight and new ways of thinking and doing things.  Be open to fresh perspective.  Think before you speak.  Slow down.  This aspect may very well bring anxiety and nervous tension, so hydrate, ground, and spend time in nature to help counteract that.  

July 16th ~ Mercury enters the pres-hadow of the retrograde at 21° Leo 

July 18th ~ Mercury trine Chiron #1 of 3

July 21st ~ Mercury square Uranus #1 of 3

July 26th ~ Mercury enters Virgo

August 4th ~ Mercury stations retrograde 4° Virgo

August 7th ~ Mercury RX conjunct Venus 

August 16th ~ Mercury RX returns to Leo

August 17th ~ Mercury RX square Uranus #2 of 2

August 18th ~ Mercury Cazimi (Mercury RX conjunct sun 26° Leo)

August 22nd ~ Mercury RX trine Chiron #2 of 2

August 28th ~ Mercury Stations Direct at 21° Leo

September 2nd ~ Mercury trine Chiron #3 of 3

September 7th ~ Mercury square Uranus #3 of 3

September 9th ~ Mercury reenters Virgo
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September 11th ~ Mercury leaves the post-shadow of the retrograde 4° Virgo

That's not the way forward with this year featuring the north node of soul growth in Aries, sign of self, and the south node of release and past in Libra, signaling us to let go of any unhealthy patterns in relationships that keep us people-pleasing and giving up our authenticity for connection.

This week it's time to be the observer, (there's no need to act/react) because you are being shown where you still aren't fully standing in your inherent sense of worth, where you aren't completely in your own inner security, and where you are still giving away your power to others and in situations because of that. 

I'm saying this specifically not just because of the Venus-Pluto opposition with Venus being ruler of how we align with and attract our desires by way of our value of ourselves, but also because Venus is the ruler of Libra, sign of relationships, where the south node of past, karma, and release is this year, and Pluto is now retrograde, and that always means reclaiming our power by letting go of what no longer serves.

This astrology is pointing directly to letting go of unhealthy relationship dynamics that we use as coping mechanisms to regain a sense of security when wobbled because we haven't developed our own sense of inherent self value and inner emotional security now matter what - things like enmeshment, people-pleasing, and codependency.  I'm talking about the kinds of things we do in relationships thinking (or subconsciously feeling like) it is the only way to create stability and security and not lose the relationship, but requires us to give ourselves up and be inauthentic, "taking one for the team," except we are always the one "taking one for the team," and it ends up creating an unbalanced and unhealthy relationship where resentment breeds.

You're leaving past patterns of giving yourself up in the dust now and taking a bold and courageous step towards rebalancing the "me" and "we" in your life, which means reclaiming your power to be able to create win-wins for all involved, including yourself, rather than automatically giving yourself up for the relationship.

In the meantime, on July 18th, the Cancer sun will align with Uranus and then on the 20th Mars leaves Taurus for Gemini, activating communications. This could have our mouths activated, and with Mars' fiery and impulsive nature in Gemini sign of communications, we might impulsively say things we regret later.

With all of this culminating with the second of two-in-a-row Capricorn full moons at the 29th or karmic degree of the sign on Sunday the 21st, conjunct Pluto retrograde at 0° Aquarius, patience truly pays this week.

Mars aligning with Uranus brings a strong urge for freedom, and this has been building. Patience will ensure you are being strategic and proactive, not simply reacting in the moment and regretting it later.

With a karmic full moon conjunct Pluto retrograde on deck, it pays to use caution with this astrology.

It's not just that Pluto retrograde is sitting 1° away from this full moon at 0° Aquarius - on September first, Pluto moves to 29° Capricorn, the degree of this full moon, where it will remain until November 19th, and this is it's very last stay in Capricorn, where it has been since 2008, for over two centuries.

Pluto has been working on making the transition from Capricorn to Aquarius for a couple of years now, retrograding back and forth over the cusp.

We did most of the Capricorn wrap up with last year's Pluto retrograde, but this is Lord of the Underworld's last dip back into the sign, and with Sunday's full moon coming at the same degree, and being our 2nd of two-in-a-row full moons in Capricorn, all signs point to wrapping up the Pluto-in-Capricorn era of our lives that began in 2008. We are cleaning up any last remaining loose ends, closing doors, and moving on.

As the pressure rises this week, be willing to stick with the discomfort without reacting unconsciously or reverting back to old coping mechanisms and patterns, knowing you're okay no matter what. Hold that line, feeling into what exactly you are wanting to break free from, and how you can choose a new path that is more authentic and maybe even honors everyone involved and creates a win-win.

After the full moon on Sunday, the 21st, the pressure will be dissipating and things will be more clear and solutions may even present themselves.