The First Mercury Retrograde for 2018 By Felissa

                                      THE FIRST  MERCURY  RETROGRADE IN 2018

By Felissa Rose Gero

For the first time in 2018 Mercury will be going retrograde.   This occurs at 8:18 pm EDT on Thursday, March 22 when Mercury is at 16 degrees 54 minutes of Aries. The retrograde ends when Mercury turns direct on Sunday, April 15 at 5:22 am EDT with Mercury in 4 degrees 47 minutes of Aries.

Aries is the sign of activity and action; retrograde energy tends to be internalized.   This can create a disharmony between the wish to think and go over thoughts and information creating a slowing down of decision making, and the desire to move ahead quickly.    This slowing down of acting can work well with a well-planned and well-organized strategy enacted after the Mercury retrograde is over.

Life is about experience.   Much of the time we partake in whatever is going on by participating, expanding, resolving or doing whatever needs to be done.  As well as planning for future endeavors, Mercury retrograde is a time when we reflect and go over what has happened, what we experienced and learned, thinking of ways to handle It differently when it comes up again.

Mercury rules wires and along with Mars moving parts.   Many have learned the difficulty of buying things that work efficiently when Mercury is retrograde.   Anything from a car, washing machine, computer, phone or even a watch.  I have a friend who was not paying attention to Mercury retrograde and purchased a watch from a street vendor.   No matter what he did it never worked properly, either being hours ahead or behind.   He never was able to find the street vendor to replace the watch, so my friend had a truly Mercury retrograde experience.

If possible it would be a good idea to postpone non-essential medical examinations, surgical procedures or examinations.  Sometimes they are unavoidable but be open to the need for flexibility. I know of one woman who had an accident when Mercury was retrograde that required the bandaging of her leg.   Unfortunately, she was allergic to either the bandage or the medication placed under it which required it to be removed and replaced.

If you’re having difficulty connecting to people, or getting a needed response be aware that it’s a harder time to make a decision.  People are more easily distracted and less focused.  Things will take longer to enact and do.    Mercury rules information as well as paperwork and contracts.   Try to not sign anything or make a major move.   Foolishly I did so twice.   The first time the phone company was unable to find or create an outlet to connect my phone until Mercury went direct.   The other time the electric meter in the basement was mismarked. My neighbor didn’t pay his electric bill and his meter was marked as mine, so until I went down to the basement and figured it out myself, the electricity in my place kept being turned off.

Although not particularly favorable for action it’s a wonderful time for inner reflection.  Doing so can deepen one’s insight and awareness of what has happened in one’s experience and life.  It’s a period when patience is both appreciated and developed.

In 2018 Mercury will also be retrograde from July 26 to August 19 and November 16 to December 6.

Tarot is Trendy According to Dior

Tarot decks have a beauty unto themselves. And now it seems that designers are incorporating tarot themes in their fashions. That is because tarot is having a resurgence in popularity. Of course, I believe that tarot has never gone out of fashion...

This article from the New York Times explains it all. Here is a short excerpt of the article:

 Vicki Noble, who with Karen Vogel created the Motherpeace Tarot Deck in the late 1970s, hasn’t really kept up with the latest happenings in the community of divinatory playing cards. But when Maria Grazia Chiuri, the artistic director of Christian Dior, called and said she wanted to incorporate the Motherpeace into a fashion line, she and Ms. Vogel agreed. Both felt that it could breathe new life into their 40-year-old deck.

Almost six months after Dior’s fashion show in Santa Monica, Calif., Motherpeace sales have skyrocketed, up 263 percent from last year, according to Stuart Kaplan, the chairman and owner of U.S. Games Systems, a global distributor.

Tarot-deck sales in general are up 30 percent this year, after rising 30 percent in 2016 — the highest in 50 years, according to Lynn Araujo, the editorial and communications director for U.S. Games Systems. The company sells hundreds of thousands of decks a year, including Motherpeace, the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck and 123 other varieties.

The tarot boom comes as no surprise to Libby Edelson, a senior editor at HarperCollins. In 2015 an unusual new deck called the The Wild Unknown caught her eye. With images of plants and animals instead of people, the deck had attracted a dedicated following and was selling out with each new edition. Ms. Edelson acquired the rights to sell the deck with the accompanying guidebook and watched this package climb best-seller lists.

“Now there’s this whole new wave of tarot,” said Kim Krans, the creator of the Wild Unknown Tarot deck. “People are saying things like, ‘I’m going to quit my job and become a tarot reader.’”

 

“Tarot is very trendy right now, but more people are coming in with inquiries that are very thoughtful and beyond themselves,” Ms. Mack said. Contrary to popular belief, she said, and opposed to the fortuneteller’s Crystal Ball, tarot has never been about predicting the future. “It’s a mirror,” she said. “It’s an invitation into the present moment.”

Horoscope for the Week of March 19, 2018

The world is full of surprises as Mercury retrogrades in Aries, causing general mayhem. Just when you thought things were settling down, it all percolates and spurts. When in doubt, dance to your own tune or to the beat of a different drummer.

(Kate Hudson has Mercury in Aries)

Never miss your horoscope again -- free sign up here. Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2018 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 10th printing and available as an eBook

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)
You are where you like to be - right in the center of all of the action. What great ideas will sprout and grow Aries? There are seeds of revolution that are planted now that can set you off on a new and exciting direction. But don’t implement anything right away. Allow yourself time to assess, float and ride the waves. Most importantly, avoid sharks!

TAURUS (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)
Don’t even try to keep any secrets. You will not succeed this week. Anything that you try to tamp down will spring out anyway. So just stay calm, cool and collected as any mysteries are revealed. Taureans may also discover that they have a secret admirer. But once you find out who it is, they may not be the dreamboat you were hoping to launch. Now what?

GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)
Several of your friends may surprise you now. Did I say surprise? I meant shock. But Geminis have a way of taking it all in stride. After all, they are going through a few shocking changes on their own. Planning a personal makeover? Wait a few weeks. The new fabulous wardrobe you buy now will be used for scarecrow dressing later.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)
You are patient and have worked too hard and long not to reap your just rewards. But take a break while your corporate goal post moves further away. Cancers are apt to derail their current progress as they voice their displeasure and frustration. You will be given plenty of opportunity to right a few wrongs later. For now, chill out and pass the ice tea.

LEO (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)
They say travel is broadening. They say that there is nothing quite so thrilling as the lure of the chase. Well put two and two together, Leo, and see how it all adds up. The fates can stir up a veritable pea fog of intrigue, murky adventures and faraway thrills. Sounds like fun! But be prepared for anything! Pack a toothbrush and a sleeping bag for two ... or more.

VIRGO (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)
You now have an orgy of choices and decisions. But you may find that vague professional opportunities (especially regarding money) are not what they seem to be. You may be required to compromise. How much is up to you. Frankly, Virgo, you are too busy focusing on your sex life to give any attention to your career. But it might be good to find time for both.

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)
Libras may learn a few valuable lessons in achieving balance in their most important relationships. There may be a few surprises in your usual routine. What you have always thought was true, may no longer be so. The aftershocks may jostle your domestic agenda. Things will rock and roll. I suggest that you just dance along for now. But not the lambada. It is forbidden.

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)
What is in store for you this week, Scorpio? You may find major discoveries in the tiniest and moist minor details. Rather than rack your brain to discern the big picture, become more myopic. But while you are concentrating on one thing, don’t be surprised if you are tossed for another. It’s a trip to the moon on gossamer wings so pack a soft pillow.

SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)
Sagittarians are in for an artistic time. Stop, look and listen to your muse and try some creative projects before your great ideas dry up like a mental prune. And spread all your romantic energy around, lover. There is ample opportunity to get a few sexy jolts when you increase your voltage. Plug in and shine your light. But don’t make it a strobe.

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)
Capricorns should expect a few surprises in their home life this week. Your best laid plans could be tossed into the cuisinart of fate and wind up mushy. So try to avoid any rash decisions that will involved too much effort for too little impact. Let any irritating family relationship stew a little longer. You never know - some people can change... or not.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)
If you find that you are less diplomatic and are tempted to call it as you see it, chalk it up to stress and pressure. Aquarians usually cannot abide by deception and outright lies especially on the job and now you are reaching a tipping point. Rather than bite your tongue, try diplomacy. You will surprised at how eloquent you can be when you are all fired up.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)
If there was ever a time to hold on to your cash and be a bit stingy, this is that time. The fates are tempting you to squander all your hard earned dough on nonsense. Well, maybe not total nonsense but on trifles. Pisces are on a tear: feckless fun, hard charging antics and monstrous mornings after. Will they give you cab fare in the morning? They’ll need to!

(c) 2018 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
Lichtenstein’s blog www.thestarryeye.typepad.comcovers everything new age. Her astrology book HerScopes is the best in sun sign astrology.

Lucky Numbers for the Week of March 16, 2018

Lottery ads tell us you only need a dollar and a dream. But it is also helpful to have a list of lucky numbers to help spur the good fortune ... or fortunes. So with that in mind, here are some lucky numbers that can be used in any helpful way. I gazed into a pool of water, Nostradamus-like, and contemplated the cosmos. Then I mixed the tarot cards and allowed the spirits to guide me to the cards that represent the lucky numbers for this week. Nothing is guaranteed but who knows ....?

I choose eight numbers because 8 is the number of wealth.

Here are the lucky numbers for the week of March 16-22, 2018:

1, 17, 22, 33, 39, 45, 70, 75

There are many ways to delve into your own consciousness to find luck and intuition. Try reading Dream Power/Improve Your Luck (Super Strength Series) and see if your dreams give you any clues and premonitions. Here's a guide to the best books available this month

The Integratron - The Perfect Place for a Sound Bath

When you are next in Palm Springs or Joshua Tree California, check out The Integratron which is a 38 ft tall cupola structure designed by Ufologist and Contactee George Van Tassel. In designing this beautiful structure, Tassel claimed that it was capable of rejuvenation, anti-gravity and time travel.

He built The Integratron in Landers, Califronia (near Joshua Tree National Park), supposedly following instructions provided by visitors from the planet Venus. The Integratron machine was started in 1957, the structure erected in 1959 and was financed predominantly by donations, including funds from Howard Hughes.

After Van Tassel's death in 1978, the building had a series of owners (and was left in various states of disrepair) before sisters Joanne, Nancy, and Patty Karl bought it in the early 2000s. The sisters promote the Integratron as an "acoustically perfect structure," give tours and offer "sound baths" they describe as "...meditation-like sessions accompanied by tones from quartz bowls."