Spring 2012 Column:

There are two articles here, 1) Is about March 2012 when there is a very lucky planetary combination, titled "Get Lucky". This is the article I wrote for New Connexion Journal, a column I write bi-monthly for over 12 years now. 2) Venus is turning retrograde this spring, along with a rare transit across the face of the sun.

Get Lucky!

It gives me great pleasure to finally have the opportunity to tell you about optimistic, supportive, and yes, lucky planetary combinations this spring. Astrologers love to get out their highlighters and draw patterns in the planets, like a child with a connect-the-dot coloring book.

From March 7th though Spring Equinox on the 19th, there is a harmonizing pattern in the sky called a Grand Earth Trine. Think of the Giza pyramids- strong and able to hold great loads for a long time. In this case, you can draw in a helpful triangle between the earth-element signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Before you run out and buy a fistful of lottery tickets (and the days surrounding March 13th are the best), remember that if your luck is up, one ticket is enough. Also remember that you heard it here when you win.

At the risk of bringing you down into reality, earth signs make their luck through constructive effort. So after you buy your lottery ticket, roll up your sleeves and get to work. There is opportunity if you are willing to create long-ranging plans, and then make the initial efforts to bring your goals to fruition. Do not rush the process, as the Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn areas of your natal chart create a plan, then they work the plan over time.

The most positive point in this lucky triangle is the alignment of Venus and Jupiter late on March 13th. Venus is associated with love and money; Jupiter is the risk-taker who expands your belief system to propel you beyond self-limiting boundaries.

The second point is Pluto in restructuring Capricorn. Be willing to release outdated ways of doing things, old emotional hang-ups, and let go of anything that gets between you and your spiritual connection to the One Source of all that is. If you are into ascended master work, call upon Archangel Michael to use his sword to clear the path for you.

The third point of the triangle is a bit more complicated. The planet Mars has been moving backwards in Virgo since January 23rd, and continues its retrograde motion until Friday, April 13th. Mars represents your masculine, ambitious side. When Mars wants something, he assertively goes after it.

However, with Mars retrograde for nearly three months, you get to stop and review and revise your battle plan. In Virgo, you must first clean up your act. This can be as simple as clearing clutter from your home, an emotional cleanse, or purifying your physical body.

If you want to start a new business or personal project, this retrograde Mars cycle is excellent for making the business plan or blueprints for your endeavor. Just know that the plan will need to be adjusted after mid-April when the warrior slowly begins to initiate his battle plan.

There is another factor to consider this spring. Communications planet Mercury is retrograde beginning March 12th through April 4th. This mentally disruptive cycle begins in the sign Aries which wants to hurry ideas into action. In spiritual astrology, this is a very powerful combination because it represents communicating right action into the world, based upon a clear connection to your divine source.

On the worldly level, Mercury retrograde in Aries can manifest as impatience and annoyance. Do be cautious on this one because this retrograde combines with explosive and accident-prone Uranus. It isn't’t that the universe is out to get you; it’s just that the universe wants to remind you of who is in charge. Tune into divine timing rather than trying to force the river uphill!

By March 23 rd, Mercury is moving backwards into Pisces to help you revision your ambitions. Open to creative time or go to a relaxing, watery location. Make room in your life between March 23 and April 4 to go beyond the veils of this material world to allow higher inspiration to come to you.

The combination of Aries and Pisces during Mercury retrograde is also strong in a chart cast for the Vernal Equinox. You will experience an energetic rush to do something new, but feel unclear on exactly what that is supposed to look like. Allow your intuition to guide you in the months ahead because much of the new Neptune in Pisces frequency wafting in is still in an intangible form. It will show you what it wants to be, but you will need to be patient with the process.

For now, enjoy the lucky combination that is going on and allow clarity to come to you in divine timing. Trust that your greater good is unfolding, and be open to receive.

Mark Dodich has been a professional astrologer and intuitive consultant since 1980. Mark’s specialties include Natal Astrology, AstroCartoGraphy® Relocation Maps and Seven Ray Spiritual Purpose Astrology. Receive his free ASTROMARK newsletter and download a free Basic Astrology Primer at www.astromark.us, or call 503-252-1558

Venus Retrograde in Gemini May 15-June 27

Venus transit the face of the Sun on June 5

Venus makes a significant shift this spring. The goddess of beauty turns retrograde May 15-June 27, which only happens every eighteen months. Venus represents love, marriage, money, stocks, art, beauty, grace, and harmony. She will be retrograde in Gemini, suggesting an opportunity to re-think your values. She asks you to open your mind to new ways of doing things in your life, and to adapt your ideas on money and relationships. She wants you to re- balance your life at higher value system levels.

On June 5th, she makes a rare transit across the face of the Sun. This last happened in 2004, and then not since the 1880's. It will not happen again for over 100 years. The Mayans watched Venus cycles and phases closely, determining when to go to battle or not.

On the esoteric level, Venus is said to "rule" Gemini, meaning that they are good friends when operating on a higher, spiritual level. This is associated with the Fifth Ray, the ascended master Hilarion and Archangel Raphael. This is the energy of healing, and bringing a greater sense of beauty and higher values to the world.

During this cycle, it would be wise to communicate clearly in all your relationships. Review your goals and priorities to see if you are doing activities that support your priorities, or if you got off track. It is time to explore new methods, ideas, and open to new people in your life. Remember that the people who come into your life now may or may not stay. Sometimes they just come in to help you open your mind to new ways of thinking, not to be a lasting relationship.

Note on the information below: I kept this old column up because revolutionary Uranus is making a challenging (motivational) square relationship to Pluto from June 2012 though Spring 2015. Think of the Tea Party challenging the Oppose Wall Street movements. Both sides agree that the system is broken, but they have very different ideas on how to fix it. Capricorn is a conservative sign that wants to change the system from within. Uranus in Aries wants to throw the baby out with the bath water and start fresh.

Spring 2008, Pluto enters Capricorn through 2024

Note: I decide to keep the spring 2008 column up here. I did so because Pluto will be in Capricorn for such a long time. This destructive Pluto energy can be seen in the economy, infrastructure needs, government, taxes and the integrity issues in big corporations such as AIG, banks, and others. Although it would be easy to talk badly about all these groups, it is true that we have know these changes needed to come to the world for a long time. It has brought up many fears in people when their lifestyle has been restricted due to investments, jobs, real estate and all the rest. Please understand that while this is totally uncomfortable, it is also totally necessary in bringing about a world that is aligned with higher Universal principles. So, I thought it might be useful to keep the Pluto in Capricorn issue up a while longer.

New 2011 Information to add to this old column: In 2011, revolutionary Uranus will almost exactly make a challenging 90 degree square aspect to Pluto (termed: Uranus square Pluto). From 2012-2015, they will exactly square each other. The beginning of this cycle started in the mid-1960's (think of that being like a new moon, and this square being like the first quarter moon, only between planets instead of the sun and moon). The revolutions you see going on in Tunisia and Egypt are the tip of the iceberg to this changing energy. In the USA, President Obama said in his State of the Union speech in January 2011 that he wants to redo the entire government, stating that it has not been through a major remodeling since black & white televisions were the norm. Pluto in Capricorn has to do with government, big business, taxes, regulations, and infrastructure. Uranus wants to blow everything up and start fresh. During the next several years, there will be competing elements of change ranging from those who do not want change to those who want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Because this planetary aspect is going on for everybody, expect the entire world to go through this transformation until they find the proper compromise after 2015. Although the economy is starting to show signs of improvement, I suggest that it will be after 2015 before the new economy begins to take hold, and even through 2019 before Uranus is finished its current job.

A major shift is occurring this Spring (2008). Transforming Pluto begins it long journey through Capricorn from January 25-June 13. This is just a teaser to begin your process of regeneration as Pluto retrogrades into Sagittarius for the summer to help you clean up old business since Pluto first went into Sagittarius in 1995. On November 26th, just in time for the holidays, Pluto re-enters Capricorn and will stay until 2024.

This will change the world. Think back to the last time Pluto was in Capricorn- the USA went through the Revolutionary War! Issues like the Stamp Tax and the Boston Tea Party tax were up. Now, tax-talk is everywhere ranging from infrastructure taxes like bridge and road tolls to giving tax money to the people to spend to provide an election year bump to the economy.

In esoteric astrology, Capricorn is the sign of initiation into a higher vibration. It is not about being able to beam off of Mother Earth never to return; rather, it is similar to being a bodhisattva who brings a greater energetic frequency into service in the world. Although this sounds nice, know that Pluto is responsible for breaking up old patterns of belief and behavior. This transforms the core foundation of society including stressed out bridges in Minnesota, tax structures, elder care, to corporate responsibility. "Accountability " will be an important word for both individuals and the collective in the years to come. In the book Esoteric Astrology by Alice Bailey, wise teacher Djwhal Kuhl advises that Capricorn helps you manifest your worldly desires. Once these desires are met, they are then transformed into the higher vibration. An example would be the person who longs for and eventually finds the romantic love of their life, then must take that love to a higher form as that lover becomes ill and begins the transition beyond this world.


Pluto in Capricorn is going to rock your socks. Pluto brings "burn your bridges" change into your life, and you wanted it! Know that those deeply felt needs and desires are coming to the surface to take an active part in your life. Like the little chick breaking free from its safe eggshell, you must be willing to go beyond your comfort zone. Capricorn urges you to go beyond personal gain in order to serve the collective. Pluto helps you step into your power and this power must be used for the greater good of all.

In the body, Capricorn rules skin, teeth, the skeletal structure knees, and hair. Be sure to stretch and/or do yoga to keep your body flexible. Patience and discipline are key words for Capricorn, so consider a long term plan for your life during this initial phase of Pluto in Capricorn. It may be the end of the year or in 2009 when you really get the entire process on line, but now is the time to plant the seeds and make preparation for that long term plan.

And lastly, and just because I love the blues: Ben Franklin (you know he was an astrologer like many of the founders of the United States, right!?) provided an inventive improvement to the harmonica the last time Pluto was in Capricorn. So maybe that is good news for the blues world.