Astrology for Wednesday, 13 May 2020:

Today marks two major shifts in the astrological tone of the season: Mars ingresses into Pisces and Venus stations retrograde in Gemini. Mars has spent twelve weeks not only in signs ruled by Saturn but also co-present with Saturn—first in Capricorn then in Aquarius. Saturn can be a rigid, heavy, restrictive ruler. As Mars moves into the mutable water sign of Pisces, with reception from its fallen ruler Jupiter in Capricorn, more movement and change may feel possible. Resources may be limited, so be intentional with your adaptations. As adrienne maree brown writes in Emergent Strategy, “How we live and grow and stay purposeful in the face of constant change actually does determine both the quality of our lives, and the impact that we can have when we move into action together.” Venus stations retrograde still within a tight square from Neptune in Pisces. This retrograde cycle will ask us to review the ways in which we are communicating in our relationships, but also the ways in which we are loving in alignment with our ideals for what love could and should be. bell hooks writes in All About Love, “Undoubtedly, many of us are more comfortable with the notion that love can mean anything to anybody precisely because when we define it with precision and clarity it brings us face to face with our lacks—with terrible alienation. The truth is, far too many people in our culture do not know what love is. And this not knowing feels like a terrible secret, a lack that we have to cover up.” What if we use this Venus retrograde to not only confront the lack of clear definitions of love but also to research and refine the ways in which we want to practice loving? As the Moon in Aquarius makes a square to Uranus in Taurus, we may feel shaken by these shifting tides, and compelled to let go of that which is no longer allowing for authentic embodiment.