This year's final Mercury Retrograde will occur from October 4-25. While it's true that Mercury Retrograde cycles can really wreak havoc on daily communications, technology/internet connections, and travel plans to name just a few things, this is a transit that has the potential to serve us well if we can tap into our inner reserves of patience to review the issues that are coming to the forefront. Review is the key purpose of any retrograde cycle, and since Mercury is the planet of the mind, events will highlight the need for review and careful thought processes in any and all matters involving communication in our daily lives.

This particular Mercury Rx cycle begins in the sign of Scorpio, which is known for its probing emotional depth and intensity. As an archetype, Scorpio craves depth interactions that lead to security on the emotional and soul level, while working to bring any shadow issues to the light that are in need of release and healing. With the planet of the mind and communications here from September 27 to the beginning of Mercury's retrograde period, we're likely to find ourselves engaged in dialogue about profound and honest feelings, secrets/taboo issues, and the more mysterious aspects of life. Whatever may surface at this time in relation to our own shadow issues, if it does, will be up for addressing when Mercury moves back from its short stay in Scorpio and into Libra on October 10. Expect issues of balance to be prevalent in relation to how we communicate our deepest feelings/fears, passions and desires, and to have an opportunity to do important work in relation to how we balance these emotions within ourselves. This may also signal a time of addressing those issues within partnerships. We'll get much more of a chance to delve even deeper into the darker aspects of life and our own consciousness when Mercury moves back into Scorpio on November 8. With the pair of eclipses coming up - both during this retrograde cycle and highlighting themes of empowerment and self-assertion/balance in relation to others - we can be sure that issues up for review in key areas of life for each of us will play a pivotal role in the weeks, months, and even years ahead.

The phases of the moon provide us with an ongoing cyclic pattern that move us along the path of life. We experience beginnings, meet challenges that spur growth and change, reach culmination points, and experience the dissolution of the old which leads to continued new beginnings. While all phases of the moon act as emotional catalysts for the ever-changing landscape of life, the new moon phase is associated with the energy of new beginnings. When we explore our heart's desires and set intentions in alignment with the new moon, we are tapping into the most profound opportunity for conscious creation available to us. 

I have experienced the power of consciously creating with the new moon, and am honored to share key elements of this process at my first annual New Moon Manifestation Gathering! Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Learn the astrological symbolism of the new moon and why it's the most powerful time of the month to declare your heart's desires
• Learn key themes influencing September's new moon
  
• Be guided through the intention-setting process in a supportive environment of co-creation
• Receive a LaHo-Chi energetic blessing for increased light flow and high-vibrational support for all intentions!

When we tune in to the energies of the new moon, we connect with cosmic support that can assist us in bringing our dreams to fruition. Come and align your intentions with the creative power of the cosmos!

The event will be held on September 24 at Panara Imports in Marquette at 6:30 PM. Suggested love donation $5. Light refreshments will be provided.                 

This month's full moon - our final supermoon of 2014 -  is peaking in the sign of Pisces, exact at 8:39 PM EDT this evening. If you're familiar with astrological archetypes, you'll know that Pisces is the deeply emotional water sign that seeks to dissolve the perceived boundaries of the physical plane to merge on the collective unconscious level. It's no surprise, then, that many of us are feeling incredibly emotional as the moon, which symbolizes emotions and the unconscious, peaks in this highly sensitive sign of artists, dreamers, and visionaries of all kinds. 

I am no exception to feeling the effects of this heightened sensitivity. On the day to day level, I have natal Sun conjunct Neptune  - the planet that rules Pisces - at zero degrees in the sign of Sagittarius. The location of Neptune in the birth chart can indicate many things, with the presence of deep intuition, compassion/self-sacrifice, and artistic gifts being among them. My Sun-Neptune conjunction has blessed me with the gifts of spiritual insights, keen intuition, compassion, natural healing capabilities, and musical and other gifts of artistry, but it does not come without its struggles. Like all empaths, I am highly susceptible to the energies of people and environments, am easily distracted, and must filter the things I see and hear in the news as not to absorb the negativity so often shared in the media. I have slowly learned how to filter for my own good, to become less "porous" and radiate my inner light more fully with age. I am also learning how to navigate the fine line between helping those in need and sacrificing myself to "save" others in an imbalanced way, but the journey has not been an easy one. Though I am a Sagittarius sun and do possess many of that sign's core traits, I have gifts and challenges like that of a Pisces sun, and this full moon is impacting me deeply.

I took a long walk beneath the white light of the moon last night. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that, as an astrologer, it's been months - maybe even years - since I last basked in Luna's light. Those in healing and esoteric circles know that the light of the full moon cleanses and recharges gemstones and crystals, and has the same effect on living things, too. The responsibilities of life can sweep us away and take our mindfulness with it. But tonight I felt a deep sense of desire, and even excitement, at the possibility of communing with the moon. I strolled beneath a sparkling sky serenaded by September crickets, allowing my tangled and complex feelings to rise to the surface without judgement in knowing that feeling deeply - especially with the astro-atmosphere as it is now - is ok. It wasn't long before I could tangibly feel the moonbeams soothe my heart full of feelings, bringing the emotions stirred up by the supermoon gently into balance again.

This moon cycle began with a New Moon in Virgo opposing Neptune on August 25. Virgoan themes of day-to-day responsibility, attention to details, and purifying mind, body, and spirit were up for reviewing then, with the opposition of Neptune suggesting the need for deeper integration of spiritual mindfulness into daily life. Now, at the peak of this moon cycle, the essence of those themes is still at play, but is reconfiguring our point of focus. The Piscean Super Full Moon now opposes the Sun in Virgo, putting the emphasis on allowing ourselves to feel deep compassion and experience a sense of oneness with all of creation. Like those with strong Pisces influence in the horoscope, the potential struggle of this full moon will be giving in to "victim consciousness," tapping too deeply to the collective energies of suffering in our world to the point of emotional overwhelm and debilitation, and escapism through substance abuse or addictions of any kind.

An additionally strong influence is that of Chiron, the asteroid of deep wounds and holistic healing, as it meets the moon in an exact conjunction. Chiron represents the area of life in which we hold the deepest hurts and greatest sorrows, and where we have the greatest potential for healing and transformation. This month's meeting of the moon and Chiron can provide us with an opportunity to face our own hurts and transgressions with self-love and compassion to experience a greater sense of wholeness. As I was reminded of while openly receiving the healing gifts of the moon tonight, it is often through the acceptance of our feelings - no matter how intense and overwhelming they may be - and allowing them to move through us free of judgement that we can experience genuine healing. 

This supermoon is presenting us with a profound opportunity to access unconditional love that can bring more light to our corner of the world when shared openly with those around us in the spirit of compassionate service. In doing so, we are facilitating the merger of Heaven and Earth through the integration of our soul's wisdom and joy into a contradictory and sometimes painful physical experience. 

If you're feeling especially emotional, set aside some time for yourself today. This is an exceptionally good time for prayer or meditation in a soothing environment, having an energetic healing session, or doing anything that puts you in the essence of healing via spiritual means. Take a bath in sea salts or baking soda to clear your auric field, or take steps to cleanse and purify your immediate environment. Enjoy the beauty of nature; share a warm embrace with a loved one. And if you have the chance, let the light of the full moon wash over you tonight - an abundance of gentle love and healing awaits.