Neptune joins Saturn and Pluto in retrograde motion. She'll station on June 3 at 12:27 a.m. PDT / 3:27 a.m. EDT and remain retrograde until November 9th. Neptune governs all that which is hidden and operates in the unseen world -- our subconscious, psychological self, dreams, imagination, and spirituality. She is often associated with confusion (lack of clarity), escapism (drugs/alcohol), creativity (music), transcendence, "oneness," and unconditional love.

Neptune, who came home to Pisces on April 4th, will now retrace her steps from zero degree of Pisces and back to 28 degrees of Aquarius. Neptune returns to Aquarius for the last time on August 4, 2011. Then next year, Neptune re-enters Pisces on February 4, 2012 to remain until 2024/2025.

While Neptune is retrograde, Chiron will also be retrograde from June 8 to November 10. Their energy together offers greater opportunity to give attention to our spiritual side, psychological self, imagination, and ideals; aspects of our selves that we may have neglected during the course of living our busy, daily lives. This is the time to get in touch with realities in the spiritual plane that are just as true and substantial as the realities we face in the physical world. Be wary of excessive escapism, especially with drugs, during this period, especially with Jupiter sextile Neptune also on June 8th. A fog of confusion is also common; don't fear it. Instead, embrace the abyss of the unknown. In surrendering, clarity will follow.

Those born between February 16 to 20 (+/- 2 days) or with personal planets/house angles at zero degree of mutable signs or between 29 and 28 degrees of fixed signs may be experience this Neptunian energy/fog more strongly than others.

How might Neptune's retrograde transit influence your life? Answering the following questions is a good place to start. Where does her current transit fall in your birth chart? Do you have natal planets or house angles within 29 and 28 degrees of fixed signs to zero degree to mutable signs?

Unsure if you have natal planets/house planets between zero degrees of Pisces (or mutable signs) and 28 degrees of Aquarius (or fixed signs)? Cast your own birth chart at alabe.com for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Alternatively, I am also available personal consultations tailored to your needs. Are you celebrating a birthday? Or know someone who is? Schedule your session for a Solar Return (birthdays), 3-Chart Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months), 24-month Neptune Transit reading or request a quote for a more customized reading tailored to your needs. You might also consider giving a loved one the gift of insight.

Related articles:

• Neptune's initial transit in Pisces ~ April 4 to August 4, 2011
• Neptune's Transit in the last degrees of Aquarius ~ November 9/10, 2010 to April 4, 2011
• Jupiter sextile Neptune ~ June 8, 2011
• Chiron's initial transit in Pisces ~ April 20 to July 20, 2010
• Chiron re-enters Pisces ~ February 18, 2011 to 2018/2019
• Chiron Retrograde in Pisces ~ June 8 to November 10, 2011
• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Schedule an appointment
• Client reviews

Rejoice, Taurus-Suns! and Taurus-risings :) Jupiter will soon be leaving Aries to visit Taurus for a year! Jupiter represents good luck, joy, expansion, opportunities, higher education, and personal growth through our interests, experience and spirituality. He also governs publishing, travel, foreigners and exposure to other cultures. At best, Jupiter brings a wealth of knowledge, understanding, growth, opportunities, and also financial gains. At worst, overindulgent, excessive, wasteful, and unable to get past "dreaming" to make dreams a reality.

Jupiter enters Taurus on June 4 at 6:56 a.m. PDT / 9:56 p.m. EDT and will stay through July 11, 2012. He retrogrades on August 30 at 10 degrees, turns direct on December 25 at zero degree, and then retraces his steps over the first ten degrees of Taurus all over again before continuing on to transiting the rest of Taurus through July 11, 2012. That's a full year of uninterrupted visit in the sign that governs material worth, financial security, and tangible possessions (in the physical plane); and self-worth, our value system, and special talents/gifts (in the spiritual sense). Maybe our wallets get fatter or maybe we overspend. Maybe we gain a greater sense of self or develop an overblown ego. Maybe we learn to create opportunities for ourselves instead of waiting around for things to be offered to us. Or maybe we learn to recognize when opportunities are knocking at the door. How will you make use of Jupiter's Taurean transit in your life?

Upon entering Taurus, Jupiter quickly allies with Neptune (inspiration/insight), who is transiting her home sign of Pisces and is focused on the higher purpose, our interconnectedness, and how we can all benefit or ruin each other through our decisions/actions/inaction. Jupiter's first week in Taurus can be a period where our actions are inspired by our higher self and thoughts driven by what represents 'the greater good'. Do watch out for overoptimism or being overly generous. Jupiter and Neptune getting along too well might give the effect for a false sense of security.

From the moment Jupiter begins his transit in Taurus until early 2012, he will be under the umbrella of a semi-sextile with Uranus in Aries (radical change/breaking away from the norm), a sextile with Chiron in Pisces (old wounds surfacing needing to be healed), and a trine with Pluto in Capricorn (restructuring foundation/purging unnecessaries). Since the slower moving celestial bodies are still within the early degrees of the zodiac signs they are transiting, Taureans and those with fixed & cardinal sun signs who are born early in their signs may experience these Jupiter alignments more readily and undeniably than others. Those with natal planets/house angles between 4-6 degrees of fixed and cardinal signs may also notice certain areas within their birth charts triggered and gain extra focus during this time.

For those born with their natal Jupiter in Taurus, you're lucky enough to have your Jupiter Return. Jupiter Returns occur every 12 years, approximately, and usually coincide with major life events in both or either the external world or the more personal, inner journey. Whichever it may play out for you, if you are going through a Jupiter Return, take advantage of Jupiter's blessings especially during the first 12 months of your return. This is typically a time for new ventures.

Jupiter's links with the slower moving celestial bodies will perfect on the following dates. (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone and influence is strongest within the immediate days before and after the exact dates):

• June 8, 2011 ~ Jupiter sextile Neptune-rx at 0 degree, 55 minutes
• June 28, 2011 ~ Jupiter semisextile Uranus at 4 degrees, 20 minutes; 1st of 3 occurrences
• July 2, 2011 ~ Jupiter sextile Chiron-rx at 5 degrees, 12 minutes; 1st of 3 occurrences
• July 7, 2011 ~ Jupiter trine Pluto-rx at 5 degrees, 20 minutes; 1st of 3 occurrences.
• November 18, 2011 ~ Jupiter-rx Trine Pluto at 5 degrees, 57 minutes; 2nd of 3 occurrences.
• December 6, 2011 ~ Jupiter-rx sextile Chiron at 0 degree, 58 minutes; 2nd of 3 occurrences
• December 12, 2011 ~ Jupiter-rx semisextile Uranus at 0 degree, 38 minutes; 2nd of 3 occurrences
• January 17, 2012 ~ Jupiter semisextile Uranus at 1 degree, 16 minutes; 3rd of 3 occurrences
• February 14, 2012 ~ Jupiter Sextile Chiron at 4 degrees, 32 minutes; 3rd of 3 occurrences. Happy Valentine's Day :)
• March 12, 2012 ~ Jupiter Trine Pluto at 9 degrees, 20 minutes; 3rd of 3 occurrences.

• Aries-Sun or Aries Rising ~ 2nd House
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 1st House
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 12th House
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 11th House
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 10th House
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 9th House
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 8th House
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 7th House
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 6th House
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 5th House
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 4th House
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 3rd House

Mercury zips through the zodiac about every 3 weeks. He has been transiting Taurus, where he is thoughtful, careful, practical, thorough, and persistent. In Gemini, he is social, good-humored, witty, quick-thinking, and curious. At best, intelligent, charming, a great conversationalist, friendly, relaxed, secure and expansive. At worst, unfocused, not serious enough, quick to become disinterested, and can be non-committal.

Mercury governs all manners of mental activity, communication, writing/publishing and short travels. He rules the zodiac signs Gemini and Virgo. The planet Mercury is the fastest moving planet in the zodiac. He represents how we think, how we process information, and how we communicate the information we've processed. He also rules commerce and trade.

Mercury is at home in Gemini -- quick thinking, quick-witted, curious, friendly, and versatile with varied intellectual interests. With my natal Mercury in Gemini, I'm a bit partial to this sign placement for Mercury. Gemini is the first Air sign -- cool, detached, logical, objective. Conversations fluid; ideas flowing; interactions friendly. However, despite Gemini-Mercury's vast curiosity, hunger for learning, and active intellectual pursuits, his knowledge can be superficial and at times fleeting; so make sure to write down any brilliant ideas conceptualized during this period.

Mercury in Gemini encourages us to entertain our curiosities; run with small ideas and see where they take us or what they evolve into; collaborate and brainstorm with others because more minds working together is better than one; meet and greet with new people so we can learn from them; get captivated in engaging conversations; and generally, become a sponge for information gathering. As human beings, we are wired to make connections with others. Even an introvert can find comfort and joy in meaningful contact.

This year, Mercury transits Gemini from June 2 at 1:02 p.m. PDT / 4:02 p.m. EDT to June 16 and quickly squares Neptune as she prepares to retrograde on June 3rd, then he moves to sextile Uranus and Jupiter by June 4th -- making his first few days in Gemini exciting and possibly action-packed! While Mercury visits Gemini, the Sun also transits Gemini until June 20th, and Venus joins them both on June 9th.

Related articles:

• Transiting Mercury in Natal Houses
• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Schedule an appointment
• Client reviews