​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.

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.

Buckle up now for Monday's upcoming full moon in Aquarius, because it's going to be big energy.

This is a "breakaway" full moon in independent Aquarius surrounded by potent growth astrology that goes from Wed. 8/14 all the way until Thurs. 8/22.

Full moons are always an energetic climax, but the energies surrounding this one make it more intense.

Exact on Wed. 8/14, we have Mars conjunct Jupiter in Gemini - tap into this because is just the right boost of courage, ambition, determination, optimism, faith, and belief, to see you through the coming week of bumpy astrology.

A big key to really harnessing the gifts of this astrology lies in your perception. With Jupiter in Gemini and all the activity with Mercury and Uranus, the solution lies in breaking free of old limiting beliefs and conditional thinking and opening to new ideas, new ways of seeing things.

Over the weekend (8/17 & 8/18) as we move towards Monday's full moon, we have Mercury retrograde having just backed out of Virgo into Leo backing right into the sun while it is at an intersection with Uranus. This is Mercury's 2nd of 3 squares to Uranus.

Anytime Mercury is square Uranus it acts like a mini-Mercury retrograde, so this particular retrograde being centered around Mercury making a series of 3 squares to Uranus is powerful. The 1st is always the intro to the issue/problem, and that occurred on 7/21. The 2nd, this one, is the review. The 3rd one, coming 9/7 will bring resolution. This 2nd hit happens to be while Mercury is cazimi - meaning retrograde and conjunct the sun - while the sun is also square Uranus, just before we arrive at the Aquarius full moon - ruled by Uranus.

The cazimi of the retrograde is the "aha moment," and with Uranus in play right before an Aquarius full moon, expect the aha to be a big one.

Expect heightened tension, uncertainty, and anxiety moving into this full moon. Ground, move, and support your nervous system with this big change energy.

Remember: creativity is the antidote to anxiety, fear is excitement without the breath, and chaos is the void of creation.

What is being illuminated? Focus on what you are creating and use the increased changeability in the air to your advantage. Embrace discomfort and the unfamiliar/unknown as your path to your desired new.

Mercury is the Magician; Uranus is the Great Awakener. Now is your chance to make the edits in thinking that will create the life you want.

​Work your alchemy. Liberate yourself from the old narratives and mental structures that aren't helpful. Tune into glimpses of the future, sudden flashes of insight, and out of the box ideas.

Mercury Retrograde in August is inviting you to return to your heart - to the throne of your heart, your inner throne - and to shine your light bright.  It's here to remind you that you are the sun of your own life, ruler of your realm.

Before you think that sounds a little egotistical or self-centered, imagine you, as the sun of your life, shining your unique heart-light, but then zoom out so you can see all of your loved ones doing the same, as the sun of their own lives, shining their unique heart lights bright.  And then zoom out further so you can see every single human on the planet doing the same, and how we form this amazingly beautiful web of heart lights, all interconnected and shining for and with each other.

We can't create this web of light if we don't begin by coming into our own hearts and cultivating our own unique light.  

This August's Mercury retrograde is here to remind you that we need your light.  The world needs you to be your authentic self and shine.

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

The vibe is that we are standing on the precipice of huge change, and with Pluto getting ready to do it's final stint in Capricorn - a transit that began in 2008 with the Global Financial Crisis and has to do with death and rebirth of large systems - working with this karmic full moon at 29° Capricorn, it's no wonder.  

With so much big change in the air, it's important to remember where your power truly lies:  in being the change.  As within, so without.  The more you cultivate calm, peace, trust, and love within, the more you contribute to that in your personal life and out in the world.  ​

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.