Mark Dodich's "ASTROMARK" Weekly Astrology Horoscope Forecast

The following ASTROMARK Astrology forecast provides weekly planetary energy for all zodiac signs. ALL TIMES BELOW ARE QUOTED AS CURRENT PACIFIC TIME ZONE. USA Eastern Time is 3 hours later than quoted times. Global readers: add 8 hours to convert Pacific Standard Time (+7 hours for Daylight Savings Time) to Greenwich Mean Time.

You can get the NEW and FULL MOON email newsletters by signing up on the front page of this web site. The QUARTERLY ASTROMARK ASTROLOGY FORECAST (Like the one that used to be postal mailed to you) is now available for download in the left column here, at solstice and equinox points).

Check out specific info about upcoming Mercury Retrograde cycles near the bottom of this page.

March Astrology Forecast :

There is good news this month in that Mars ends its retrograde cycle on the 10th. Since December 20, 2009, you have been reviewing the activities and ambitions of your life to see where your heart is engaged, and where it is not. As Mars leaves it's shadow period through May 18, you will take steps to remove those people and activities that no longer hold energy for you. My email newsletter (register on the index page) stated that life was easing up- and several readers told me that I was wrong.

While I still believe that planetary energies are easier this spring than at the start of the year, I did fail to remind everyone that there is a challenging pattern building up this summer, called a cardinal T-Square. This pattern started in October of 2009 and will be especially intense this coming July and August. Currently, Saturn is in a ninety degree angle to Pluto, termed a square in astrology. Think of walking around a blind corner only to find someone coming in the other direction to meet you head on. You bump each other and neither wants to yield the right of way. Saturn is the structure of your life and Pluto burns bridges behind you. You are being restructured to go to the next level of soul expression. The new age community has seen these changes coming to planet earth for a long time, and now we must face the reality that the times of change are here. After Mars turns direct on the 10th, progress will be made in going towards the peak of these energetic shifts in July and August.

March 1-6: The moon is in its quiet void-of-course phase until 4:31 pm PST Monday. A void moon means that this relationship oriented "planet" is not making relationships. Tend to humdrum tasks rather than initiating important new starts through late Monday afternoon. It would be wise to mediate or do some visioning work as well. Communications planet Mercury enters Pisces for the next three weeks, signaling a time to re-vision you ideas on what is important to you. Wednesday evening the 6th has romance planet Venus aligning with friendly Uranus. This is a combination that is exciting. Get out of the house and do something new and different on Wednesday. Enjoy an early evening out on Friday, possibly dinner with a friend and them home by the time the moon turns void at 8:31 pm PST. On Saturday, the moon moves into adventurous Sagittarius. You just have to get out and move your body on Saturday, be it through an outdoor activity or a social party.

March 7-13: On Sunday, romance planet Venus enters fiery Aries for the next three weeks. Also on Sunday, Venus makes a harmonious trine relationship to Mars. All of this makes Sunday a wonderful day to get out and about, be it for romance, exercise, or pushing a social agenda. For the more spiritually inclined, try a walking meditation, yoga, or some tantra to get you blood flowing. On Wednesday, ambitious, masculine Mars turns direct in the sign Leo. Open your heart and begin to emphasize heart-centered activities in the weeks ahead. In other words, adjust your life to allow more room for those activities and people that you connect with on a heart level.

Thursday morning the 11th brings minor challenges as Venus is in a square relationship to Pluto. It may be that your values are not the same as someone else's, so find a peaceful way to deal with differences of opinion. Friday is the friendly and social day of the weekend, so get out and network with others. The moon moves into romantic and dreamy Pisces on Saturday-great for intuitive activities, gentle music, a movie, or romance.

March 14-20 : Your clocks "spring forward" on Sunday into Daylight Savings Time. The Sun aligns with Mercury early Sunday morning, so it would not be a surprise to wake up early and get into movement.

The New Moon is exact at 2:01 PM PDT Monday the 14th (26 degrees Pisces). There are five planets in Pisces right now, so you would do well to open to the gifts Pisces has to offer. Intuition, compassion, forgiveness practices, music, dream therapy, meditation and going beyond the boundaries of this material world are just a few of the activities of Pisces. Of course, you want to avoid getting caught up in illusions, falling into martyr roles, or becoming exhausted. Sneak away for a short vision quest or open to insightful and progressive ideals in the days surrounding the new moon. And remember that ambitious Mars just ended its eleven week retrograde period, so incoming activities have to call to you on a heart level. If not, you will need to readjust them so they do open your heart, or your efforts will seem like drudgery.

The middle of the week, including St. Patrick's Day, are very exciting. The Sun aligns with "expect the unexpected" Uranus on Tuesday evening the 16th. Then Mercury enters courageous Aries for three weeks beginning on St. Patty's Day. This combination will make for a wild green holiday, but do be extra careful in traffic under these inpatient influences. The energy then settles down on Thursday and Friday to help you accomplish practical tasks.

Spring Equinox arrives on Saturday the 20th at 10:32 AM. The Sun in Aries is holding the position that Uranus will be in this summer, a part of the T-Square mentioned above. More will be written bout this patter later. For now, I am viewing this as a gateway into innovative new ways of thinking about life on planet earth. Naturally, this will require release in the way we think about many things on a personal and government/economic level. But you get the preview of these changes now. How will you restructure you life as we go through summer? What lifestyles and behaviors no longer hold energy for you. It would not be a surprise to see a lot of people moving this summer, Expect to feel pulled apart, or at the maximum level of talent and tolerance. In the Sabian Symbols, there is a symbol of "an airplane performing a nose dive." This symbol has a machine operating at its top tolerance against nature. So too are we being pushed to our full level. You can either be stressed out about the whole thing for the next three months, or you can learn to be in this highly potent flow. Recognize that the Universe is not out to get you, just that it is pushing you to help you clarify your priorities.

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March 21-27: Sunday morning is fun, and physical exercise is especially favored. The evening is not so much fun as it holds an "I'm tired" feeling. There are lots of changing lunar aspects this work week, so just get in the flow and know that energy is going to be changing constantly. Remember the old Ram Dass mantra "This too shall pass." If something challenging comes along, say "this too shall pass." If something wonderful comes along, know that it too shall pass. Thursday evening the 25th does have the Sun square Pluto, a definite challenge. Avoid "my way or the highway" mentality or forcing your will on others-or them to you. Just remember to breath through any anger or impatience.

Friday is the fun day day this weekend. Saturday is fine too, but it does have a quieter, more productive tone as the moon moves into efficient Virgo.

March 28-31: The moon continues in Virgo on Sunday. Virgo is good for goddess work, or it can go into a weekend work projects mode.

The Full Moon is on Monday the 29th at 10 degrees Libra/Aries (7:25 PM PDT). The elements fire and air are emphasized right now, so passionate idea will be in full flow. Make room for your creative side, be it in art, business, or relationships. At the same time, the earth element is not strong. This means that some of those wonderful insights you have not will not come down into the practical realm at this time. Still, it is important to dream and hold a higher vision now. On a practical level, find a better way to balance your individual needs with your partnership needs. The moon is aligned with the star Diadem in the tuft of hair of the tail of Leo the lion. This star is associated with feminine strength, especially where a sacrifice of great value is made for selfless service or love. Consider what you may have to offer now for the greater good of someone special in your life, or some greater good for the world.

The month ends with the moon entering intense Scorpio and Venus beginning a three week path through Taurus. Scorpio helps you get down to the depths of your emotions. Taurus either helps you open to your artistic and sensual nature, or it goes in the direction of manifesting physical prosperity (go make money!).

April 2010 brings the next Mercury Retrograde cycle in the sign Taurus, so expect to rethink how you spend your money, your values & desires, and maybe even have a yard sale to get rid of clutter. Restructuring Saturn also retrogrades backwards into Virgo to help you clean up any old business since Fall 2007. Check back for details.

The trip to Greece and Crete was postponed to late May-early June 2011. Please start a travel savings account if this journey calls to you. Details will be coming out by late summer.

Wounded-healer Chiron enters the psychic sign of Pisces. Neptune also enters Pisces for the next 14 years. This trip will help you tune into these energies which include healing, psychic abilities, visionary anything (art, music, world advancements).

Several people have expressed an interest in another trip to Egypt. I am tentatively thinking that early fall 2012 would be a wonderful time to go back.

Upcoming Mercury Retrograde cycles

When people question whether astrology is a viable tool, I like to advise them of Mercury retrograde cycles so they can watch for themselves. Mercury represents scheduling, planning, ideas, communications, transportation and things that happen in a short, quick way. Retrograde means that a planet appears to move backwards. Although planets do not actually move backwards, they do provide an optical illusion of doing so. Imagine you are on a train and another train passes you going in the same direction. For a brief moment, your brain is fooled into thinking you are going backwards. Sometimes you also experience this feeling in a parking lot.

All of the planets (except the moon) turn retrograde relative to our view of them from earth. Each has their own cycle. Mercury is retrograde for about 3 weeks and approximately three times each year. A distant planet like Pluto is retrograde for almost six months each year.

In the case of Mercury, communications and scheduling can get screwed up. You must practice better communications during these times. For example, I was to meet some friends at a Thai restaurant in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood. It is a relatively small neighborhood so I thought I knew exactly where the restaurant was based upon the friend remembering only that the restaurant had a 'fruity' name. I assumed I knew exactly where it was, having been to Papaya Thai before. My friends had a wonderful dinner at Mango Thai and I ate alone at Papaya Thai (I even forgot to take my cell phone!). So, clear communications are important in Mercury retrograde.

You also want to back up your computer, repair your car, balance your checkbook, or catch up on phone calls during the shadow period that begins about ten days prior to Mercury retrograde. As a rule, astrologers frown on signing important contracts during Mercury retrograde. I have seen several people buy perfectly good cars during Mercury retrograde only to find that the interest rate was excessive after they hurriedly signed the lease.

Mercury retrograde is good for retreat, re-visioning, and other "re" words. It is good for making a general plan, then hammering out the details later. Behind the scenes preparation or learning something new is good under Mercury retrograde.

Below are upcoming Mercury retrograde cycles and the degrees and signs they are in. If you know where the sign (s) land in your birth chart, you know the areas of your life that are up for re-visioning during the cycle. If you have natal planets that Mercury crosses over, you would also look to the meaning of that planet for added information. For example, if Mercury is retrograde in Libra in your seventh house, you would be communicating balance and harmony in your relationships. If you have Saturn placed in your seventh house when you were born, you would be communicating boundaries in your relationships. There is a free pdf download of a Basic Astrology Primer in the left had column of this page. It will help give you basic meanings of the signs and houses to help you.

The main thing during Mercury retrograde is to practice mental flexibility. If the important person you need to talk to is on vacation, then there is no sense being in anxiety while you wait for them to return. I like to leave extra time in my schedule in case something changes. If you know that this disruptive energy is up, then you don't take the world quite so seriously.

Your friends will also see that astrology really does work just by paying attention to Mercury retrograde. Of course, then they are hooked and will want to learn more!

April 17 -May 11, 2010, 13-2 degrees Taurus. Money, real estate, sensual pleasures, comfort, possessions and your values are all represented by Taurus. This would be a good time to prepare for a garage sale, getting rid of those things which no longer hold value. If you are planning to sell your home, this is a good time to be doing cosmetic fix up. As a general rule, astrologers do not advise signing contracts during a Mercury retrograde cycle. If you are signing up with a real estate agent, it would be best to do it before this cycle begins, or do the research on which agent to use but hold off on the signature until the cycle ends. In the body, Taurus rules the throat and thyroid areas of the body, so pay attention to any special needs here (Mercury was retrograde in Taurus in May 2009, and I got laryngitis).Taurus also rules money, so watch your own checkbook as well as the changing of the value of the dollar.

August 20 -Sept 12, 2010, 20-5 degrees Virgo . Mercury rules Virgo and Gemini, meaning that this retrograde cycle is in one of Mercury's favorite signs. It is time to get organized and simplify your life. This is a highly mental combination, so tend to mental clutter. On a good level, you can use this cycle to become more efficient. Release those tasks that could be called "too many straws on the camel's back." Avoid critical voice and all will be well.

December 10-29, 2010, 5 degrees Capricorn back to 19 degrees Sagittarius. This Mercury retrograde begins with Mercury aligned with transforming Pluto just as was the case in January 2010, so the same energy is like a bookend at the beginning and end of 2010. The difference is that now action-oriented Mars is aligned with the two. Although Mercury is behind the scenes planning when retrograde, you can bet that you will be ready to take action on decisions that did not quite come to fruition this year. In other words, you get serious about the decisions you made in the back of your mind, and they come out strongly as we get into 2011.

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FYI: The Central Sun Meditation CD is available. During 2009, there is a $5 discount on the CD when you purchase it at the time of your consultation.

Mitakuya Oyasin

Regarding email problems (bounce backs)to mark@astromark.us: A few people have been having problems with their email being bounced back to them, or having them lost in cyberspace. I am excellent at returning phone calls and emails, so please call if you experience a problem.

Regarding unreturned phone messages: I am really good at returning all phone calls. Sometimes people leave a message from a cell phone where the reception is poor, then I get a partial phone number on the recording and cannot return the call. Please call back and do leave your phone number twice.

Nikola Tesla – Cancer Sun

Nikola Tesla was a genius, yet his fame and fortune experienced numerous highs and lows. Born during the sign of Cancer, this is not a surprise. Cancer is associated with things that move in cycles, like the moon, emotions, and public image. He was both wealthy and poor at different times of his life. His popularity has its swings too, considering his conflicts with Thomas Edison. Aquarius Edison experienced greater public success because he was a better people person than Tesla. Nikola Tesla’s sun sign was harmoniously linked to the planet Neptune, a psychic visionary. Tesla would get his ideas in his dreams at night, and he could even “see” his inventions working before he built them. In this way, he repaired or redesigned his inventions before they were even built. The sign Cancer and the planet Neptune are associated with empathy and compassion. Rather than letting one of his electrical inventions bankrupt the Westinghouse Company, he tore up the $12m contract so that people could receive electrical power at an affordable cost. Of course, Neptune can bring an idealistic or fantasy-like form of love as well. Rather than fall in love with a woman, he fell in love with one of his pigeons!