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

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

The month of March starts off with Venus leaving Capricorn for Aquarius on March 1st, where she remains for most of the month. Venus represents love, relationships, money, our values and our aesthetics. In Capricorn, Venus is conservative and desires permanence. By contrast, in Aquarius, Venus is unconventional and somewhat spontaneous.

In general, Venus in Aquarius is friendly, social, a communicator, experimental, open-minded, and may prefer a group setting rather than a closer one-to-one situation. Aquarius is the humanitarian of the zodiac, aware of social situations and cares to improve upon them. In love and relationship, the Aquarian energy cannot be denied its independence and prefers a counterpart who is also independent, forward-thinking and a little quirky. Intellectual stimulation is a must if you're to snag and hold on to a Venus in Aquarius. In money matters, saving is not exactly a priority with Aquarius-Venus so, watch your wallets, especially if budget is tight.

Venus enters Aquarius on March 1 at 6:39 p.m. PST / 9:39 p.m. EST and will stay through March 26 (PST) / March 27 (EST). While in Aquarius, Venus will align with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• March 10 ~ Venus sextile Jupiter. Happy, happy, joy, joy. Optimism. Giving in to desires. General good mood or hopeful attitude. Watch out for overdoing things, overestimation or overgenerosity. Tomorrow, Uranus returns to Aries where he remains for about seven years.
• March 14 ~ Venus trine Saturn-rx. Saturn's influence seeking more security and/or commitment within our significant relationships -- marriage, intimate relationship, business partnership, etc.
• March 26 ~ Venus conjunct Neptune. Compassion. Helping others. Random acts of kindness. Understanding. Remembering our dreams and hopes. Wanting to escape.

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

A day after the New Moon in Aquarius, Mercury leaves the practical thinking sign of Capricorn for the freer thinking sign of Aquarius. Mercury governs our mental activities, ways of communicating, and short travels.

In Capricorn, Mercury is determined, focused, conservative and purposeful. In Aquarius, Mercury is friendly, quirky, progressive, independent and with strong humanitarian ideals. At best, Mercury in Aquarius is inventive, intellectual, experimental, caring while remaining detached. At worst, scattered, opinionated, chaotic, too idealistic, promotes change at any and all cost.

During his stay in Aquarius, we are encouraged to expand our minds, breaking through metaphorical walls, and expand our social circle to venture beyond our typical hangouts or preferred crowd/situation. Try seeing existing situations from a different set of eyes with a different set of rules or perhaps no rules. Brainstorm unique solutions to common but lingering problems. Discuss or ponder upon alternative ways of doing something ordinary.

Elsewhere in the sky today, Venus will also change signs later in the evening and begin her transit in Capricorn.

Mercury enters Aquarius on February 3rd at 2:19 p.m. PST / 5:19 p.m. EST and will stay through February 21st. While in Aquarius, Mercury will align with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• February 5 ~ Mercury sextile Jupiter. Big ideas. Meeting of the minds. On a personal level, philosophical thoughts and knowledge/wisdom seeking. Also today, the Sun trine Saturn-rx.
• February 14 ~ Mercury trine Saturn-rx. Oh just in time for Valentine's day :) Saturn in Libra's influence may have us thinking about the relationships we have in our lives -- marriage, intimate relationship, business partnership, etc.
• February 20 ~ Stellium between Mercury, Mars and Neptune. Ideal for helping others and humanitarian efforts. Compassion. Understanding.

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

農曆新年快樂 Nónglì xīnnián kuàilè "Happy Chinese New Year!" and 恭禧發財 Gong Xi Fa Cai "Wishing you prosperity in the coming new year." On February 2nd, we celebrate Chinese New Year and the New Moon in Aquarius.

New Moons signify rebirth, beginnings, a clean slate, the start of a new cycle. This new moon highlights Aquarius qualities (inventive, independent thinking, unconventional, humanitarian) and 11th house themes (friendships, group relations, relation to humanity as a whole). Aquarius is natively ruled by Uranus (radical change), who is in the last degrees of Pisces and linked up with Mercury (thought/communication) and Venus (relationships/finances). In Aquarius, the Moon is eccentric, unpredictable, fun, friendly, and a humanitarian without the emotional attachment.

This Aquarius-New Moon (blending of heart & soul between the Sun and Moon) occurs on February 2 at 6:31 p.m. PST / 9:31 p.m. EST and blends energies with Mars (action/motivation) and all three get friendly with Saturn-rx (reality/hard work). Elsewhere in the sky, in addition to the aforementioned Mercury-Uranus and Venus-Uranus links, Venus is also optimistically aligned with Neptune (hope/insight). This new moon phase is indeed an ideal period to break away from bad habits, old ways of thinking, toxic relationships and/or overall negativity in your life.

My friend, Suzi of Starcana.com wrote Tarot Affirmations that are useful for breaking free from what binds us -- may it be others' influence on us or thoughts/perceptions that keep us in fear/in doubt or even the self that gets in the way -- The Eight of Wands - Movement; Page of Wands Meditation for Purpose; and The Devil. Dependency, Depression, Saturn.

This new moon occurs at 14 degrees of Aquarius. Those born within 3 days of February 2 or July 6; or have planets/house angles around 14 degrees of Aquarius may experience the effects of this new moon stronger than most.

For me, this New Moon falls in my natal 5th house of creative ventures. I have some projects planned for 2011. I have been working on adjusting my schedule to make time for them and gearing up to get them started. This new moon phase is an ideal period to kick start them into action. I'll need to tweak the details to my schedule/plans as I begin to do the actual work and get a realistic feel for what kind of time and energy each step will take. The Aquarius-New Moon trines my Moon and squares my Venus. As I pursue the desires/goals of my inner drives, my existing relationships may go through some changes. Perhaps, I won't be able to hang out as often because I have some personal deadlines to meet if I'm to achieve my goals.

How might this new moon manifest in your life? Look to the natal house/s this new moon will occupy in your birth chart. Match the sign and degree to the sign on the house cusp/s. Use the list below to identify the Aquarius zodiac sign then click here to read about the New Moon in Houses.

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

The day after the Full Moon in Cancer, the Sun leaves Capricorn to join Mars in transiting Aquarius. The Sun visits Aquarius from January 20 at 2:19 a.m. PST / 5:19 a.m. EST to February 18.

The Sun represents our vitality, potential, ego and conscious will. In Capricorn, the Sun is realistic, determined, purposeful and an achiever. In Aquarius, the Sun is idealistic, experimental, forward-thinking and a humanitarian. At best, the Sun in Aquarius is friendly, socially aware, civic-minded, advocates change for the greater good, and an intellectual. At worst, a risk-taker at any cost, abrupt, unpredictable, and unable to develop a sound plan to successfully carry out objectives.

While the Sun is in Aquarius, we are reminded that our situations are changeable. We do not need to keep operating on auto-pilot. We do not need to stay in a situation that no longer challenges us or gives us happiness. We are reminded that there is life outside what's familiar or comfortable, that our life is indeed well within our control. It's okay to rock the boat, if the rocking produces an improved situation or, at the very least, the awareness for the need of an improvement to the existing situation.

Those with birthdays from January 22 and later will have both Mars in Aquarius and Jupiter in Aries for their Solar Return (astrological birthday). Mars is action, motivation, self-assertion, and drive. His energy in Aquarius should help with making things happen ... not just thinking or talking about things, but actually doing something about it. Jupiter is the planet of plenty, luck, opportunities, expansion, and personal growth. His transit in Aries happens in third house of thought, communication and siblings for Aquarians and Aquarius-risings. Big ideas. Inventive. Unique. Perhaps adopting new ways of communication. Maybe spoken/written words will be more influential or be listened to by those who normally wouldn't pay any mind. Improved relations with siblings is also a possibility. However it may actually manifest, Jupiter's energy in pioneering Aries should prove beneficial during the return year.

While in Aquarius, the Sun will make alignments with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• February 2 ~ New Moon in Aquarius at 6:31 p.m. PST / 9:31 p.m. EST
• February 4 to 6 ~ Sun conjunct Mars and trine Saturn-rx. Finding work fulfilling. Commitments don't seem to be a burden. Hard work rewarded. Alternate solutions to issues. Working around restrictions. Limitations lifting. Aid available when needed.
• February 17 ~ Sun conjunct Neptune. Seek within. Opportunity to help others. Tap into spirituality/intuition. Insight. Find the divine within the self. Compassion. Kindness. Understanding.
• February 18 ~ Full Moon in Leo at 12:36 a.m. PST / 3:36 a.m. EST

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

Mars breaks away from Capricorn's disciplined ways to exert his freedom in Aquarius beginning January 15 at 2:41 p.m. PST / 5:41 p.m. EST until February 22. Mars is the planet of action, energy and movement. He represents our physical drives, aggression, passions, anger, self-assertion, confidence and the motivation behind our efforts.

In Capricorn, Mars is cautious and purposeful, with the long term in mind for each step taken or each decision made. In Aquarius, Mars is experimental, innovative, unconventional, altruistic, can be erratic, and may spurn into action just as quickly as the ideas/opinions begin to form. At best, Mars in Aquarius is progressive, independent, enterprising, ingenious, humanitarian, friendly. At worst, disruptive, rebellious, stubborn, argumentative, awkward, weird.

While Mars is in Aquarius, we're urged to break out of our comfort zone. Go ahead and do what you've been saying you'll do. No more talk. Just act. Whether it's learning a new language, how to salsa, get started with volunteer work, start your own business, look for a new job ... whatever it is that you've been putting off for one reason or another, but know that it will enhance the quality of your life ... no more thinking/fantasizing about how it will be someday. Someday is now. Take a step toward what you dream of. What's a little, bitty step? Nothing scary about that :)

The new year started off with a blessing from Jupiter and Uranus (opportunities/change) collaborating together, and a Solar Eclipse (renewals/beginnings) that remains influential during this first half of the year. Surely, we can utilize these celestial energies to work for our needs/objectives. Throw in the help Mars in Aquarius offers, and yes we can! Aquarian energy is unorthodox, unique and original so, the way/method to get yourself off and running may be unconventional, as well.

"Unconventional" for you ... What's different to me, may be the norm to you; and in that sense, I can learn something of your ways or thoughts/ideas. Perhaps that will open up a means for me to do something I've wanted to do or figure out whatever unrest I may have burning inside and how to handle it. It all starts with one step, though. So, go ahead and take it.

Those who have their natal Mars in Aquarius will have their Mars Return this year, which signals an ideal period for creative ventures, making a go at things, initiating/creating, or planning for future activities. With Jupiter (opportunities) returning to Aries (pioneering) to finish his transit in Aries this year and Aquarius' ruler, Uranus (radical change), re-entering Aries to stay for a long while, it's an excellent time to have a Mars return! Mars returns to the sign and degree that your natal Mars was in approximately every 2 years.

While in Aquarius, Mars will align with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• February 4~ Mars conjunct the Sun. Both in Aquarius, actions can be abrupt and disruptive. Motivation driven by excitement and of what might be possible now. Think things through before moving ahead. But keep going! With Mercury also sextile Jupiter during this short period, there's optimism, opportunities and a little bit of luck.
• February 6 ~ Mars trine Saturn-rx. In air signs, no movement without understanding. No decisions without a logical explanation. This could be a grounding influence which might stabilize the frantic, excitable energy of the previous few days. Solidifying what may have been initiated.
• February 20 ~ Mercury conjunct Mars and Neptune. Understanding. Forgiveness. Taking the high road. Not giving in when being baited. Humanitarian efforts. Kindness and compassion. Venture out of your comfort zone. Try something new.

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

Coming off at the heels of a New Moon in Scorpio (November 5/6) and following Chiron's lead in also becoming direct (November 5), Neptune stations on November 6 at 11:04 p.m. PST (Nov. 7 at 1:04 a.m. EST) and prepares for direct motion. She began her retrograde cycle on May 31st.

In a previous post, I explained that:

After five months in retrograde motion, Chiron stations to prepare for direct movement on November 5. He'll be revisiting his steps from 26 to 29 degrees of Aquarius for a third and final time until early February 2011. Chiron remains in a very close conjunction with Neptune through his transit in Aquarius, never more than a little over a degree away from each other. This collaboration between Chiron and Neptune promotes healing, release or coming to terms with past hurts, deeply rooted wounds -- may they be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. As mentioned in a previous post, "their alliance is strongest around November to December 2010, where they receive a boost from the Lunar Eclipse at 29 degrees in Gemini on December 21st that trines this Chiron-Neptune conjunction."

Also taken from a previous post:

The Moon grows strong as she waxes and becomes full in the progressive, independent sign of Aquarius on Sunday, July 25. She grows fuller as the sky fills with the tense, impatient and dynamic energy Cardinal T-Square -- a push-pull between Saturn (out with the old) and Uranus (in with the new), while both shove Pluto (purge and transform) into a corner.

The Moon represents our heart, our private life and our inner drives. Full moons signify the completion, culmination of what may have been initiated during the previous new moon solar eclipse in Cancer which encouraged us to strengthen family ties, as well as come to terms with the past and let it go.

This Full Moon in Aquarius illuminates Aquarius' humanitarian ideals while supporting Cancerian concerns and seeking balance with the Leo-Sun's individualistic goals. Time to tie up loose ends (full moon phase bring endings to Cancer/4th house new moon) and begin thinking about how single individualistic acts (Leo/5th house) can make a difference on a larger scale (Aquarius/11th house).

The Aquarius-Moon (heart) opposes the Leo-Sun (soul), while both align to the energies of the Cardinal T-square ~ Saturn (old), Uranus (new) & Pluto (purge & transform). Elsewhere in the sky, the Cardinal T-Square that I mentioned previously, is in full force and continues to build strength & gain momentum which has been happening for months now (click here to learn more about it). In addition to this Cardinal T-Square energy, retrograde-Chiron's return to Aquarius on July 20 stimulates his conjunction with Neptune which, interestingly, perfected during the Aquarius-New Moon phase earlier this year and that we've also remained under the umbrella of. Their conjunction began in 2008, was then joined by Jupiter last year for the rare Aquarian Triple Conjunction, but the Chiron-Neptune conjunction did not actually perfect until this year; also in 2008, the opposition between Saturn and Uranus began to form, has then perfected four times already with their last perfect pass occurring at Aries Point on July 26 (a day after this Aquarius-Full Moon).

But what does all that mean??? Some things that may have begun as early as 2008 -- may they be in thought or deed -- might be coming to a close now. Endings or culmination ... rewards or recognition ... achievements or coming to terms with failure. Chiron, Neptune and this Aquarius-Full Moon are supporting each other by offering healing/release (Chiron), hope/insight (Neptune) and endings in preparation for beginnings (Full Moon). Saturn and Uranus have been having their tug of war between Virgo and Pisces since late 2008, and now for their last hurrah, they tug at each other in cardinal signs Libra and Aries. Cardinal energy creates, initiates. What Saturn and Uranus may have stirred up these past years also comes to a milestone of some sort ... an ending, perhaps and a beginning to another phase as their opposition now is a part of a greater energy with far reaching influence and impact may continue to unfold in the months/years to come.

Whether or not anything from two years ago is getting a final look now in your world, this full moon is asking us to take stock and break away from old, obsolete ways of doing or thinking. Accept failures as a part of the journey. Recognize achievements because it's easy to overlook them and give more focus to what may have failed. Release. Let go. Prepare the self for what's to come.

This Full Moon occurs on July 25 at 9:37 p.m. EST and at 3 degrees of Aquarius. Those born within 3 days of January 23 or July 25; or with natal planets and/or house angles on or around 3 degrees of cardinal or fixed signs may experience the effects of this full moon stronger than others.

For me, this Full Moon trines my Uranus while my Sun remains under the umbrella of Pluto's opposition; as a Cancer-Sun, the full moon falls in my 8th house of debt & endings; as a Virgo-rising, in my 5th house of fun & creative projects. Inevitable changes, maybe even brought on by unexpected events, are what might be in store for me. With the cardinal t-square beating up my Cancer-Sun, the surprises may not necessarily be pleasant but will undoubtedly force changes. During this full moon phase, I will be moving from the East coast (of the U.S.) to the West coast. We'll see what surprises arise *crossing fingers*

How might this full moon in Aquarius manifest in your life? Match the sign and degree to determine what house this full moon falls on. Use the list of zodiac signs below to identify the sign Aquarius on your birth chart then click here for a brief explanation on the Full Moon transit in that house.

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

While retrograde, Chiron steps out of Pisces and returns to Aquarius on July 20, where he remains until February 8, 2011. When he re-enters Pisces next year, Chiron will not return to Aquarius for approximately another 50 years. Chiron revisits 29 degrees and back to 26 degrees of Aquarius from July 20, 2010 to February 8, 2011.

Taken from a previous post:

Celestial energies continue shifting with Chiron, who begins his retrograde cycle on June 4 lasting until November 5. While retrograde, Chiron returns to Aquarius on July 20 then re-enter Pisces on February 8, 2011 to stay all the way through 2018, then again for a few months in 2019.

Chiron represents both what is broken and how to heal it. Unlike a headache where the discomfort can be dispelled by a pill, probing through the darkest recesses of our selves and piercing through our thickest walls to uncover what is at the root is a painstaking process, but well worth the effort.

Chiron joins Neptune and Pluto in retrograde motion. As with any celestial body in retrograde, Chiron's focus turn inward, allowing us to experience his inner workings. We are able to reflect, review and repair. We become aware of the problem, the extent of the problem, the root of the problem, ushering in the solution and healing to the problem. Because Chiron, like Neptune and Pluto, is slow moving, his movements have global implications. However, this post will focus more on the possible personal implications of Chiron's retrograde cycle.

While retrograde in Pisces (the seeker), Chiron's focus may be to delve deep into our broken spirit (losing the will to live or live a life with purpose), or where we may have lost our faith (in humanity, in our own abilities, etc.), or our belief in that which is greater than the self (God, the Tao, the Divine, etc.). We are given a chance to reconnect our bond with the 'essence' of who we are/of our existence, or if we are already attuned, find where the link may be weak and strengthen those areas.

Upon Chiron's return to Aquarius (the awakener), we are awakened to what we may have been doing for the sake of doing...living life in auto-pilot and making decisions that reflect what's safe or doesn't take much effort or rock the boat. But when looking at the bigger picture, longer term effects are actually more destructive to us. Becoming aware should stir the consciousness to make changes. As we heal the self, we are then able to turn around and help another heal their wounds.

Along with Neptune's retrograde, who is in Aquarius, we have the chance to get in touch with our spirituality and psychological self, giving us the ability to really open ourselves to a world of hurt that no longer needs to be a part of our present or future. Be aware that Neptune is known to cause confusion and is easily tempted with escapism. Remind yourself of the healing process you are committed to achieving and fight excessive escapism. If clarity eludes you, ride the wave of confusion, and arrive at your destination ... enlightened.

Add Pluto's transformative energies while retrograde in Capricorn, we become empowered to make the difficult changes necessary in helping us move forward. We'll be required to purge, eliminate and cut ties as we become enlightened to the truth. No matter how harsh and crushing truth may be, we must recognize them and accept them before we can release them. Healing is a process so, be kind to yourself as you come face to face with old memories that haunt, unrecognizable shadows of the self, toxic thought processes or relationships, deeply-rooted reasons for destructive habits, etc.

Chiron will retrograde between zero degrees of Pisces all the way back to 26 degrees of Aquarius. Look to the natal house/s that Chiron is transiting to find out how this transit might play out in your life. In addition, those with natal planets or house angles between 25 degrees of Aquarius and zero degree of Pisces may feel the influence of Chiron's retrograde more strongly than others. And those who are going through their Chiron Return, please be extra kind to yourself. Uncovering and tackling decades of buried wounds can be painful, draining, frustrating, but it is a process that frees the soul and opens you up for what can be possible when burden is lifted.

Unsure if you have natal planets/house planets at 25 degrees of Aquarius and zero degree of Pisces? Cast your own birth chart -- birth date, time, and place required.

Alternatively, I am also available for personal astrology consultations. Are you celebrating a birthday? Schedule your session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months) 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:

• Chiron in Pisces
• Neptune Retrograde in Aquarius ~ May 31 to November 7, 2010
• Pluto Retrograde in Capricorn ~ April 6 to September 14, 2010
• Chiron Returns to Aquarius ~ July 20, 2010 to Feburary 8, 2011
• Chiron Direct ~ November 5, 2010
• Chiron Re-enters Pisces ~ February 8, 2011 to 2018/2019

The planet of all things hidden and illusions, Neptune, joins Pluto as she stations on May 31 in preparation for retrograde movement. Neptune, who is still slowly strolling through the last degrees of Aquarius, will retrograde from May 31 to November 6/7, 2010.

In a previous post for Neptune's retrograde last year, I wrote the following explanation about Neptune retrograde in Aquarius: