March 2018 By Bob Mulligan March is a month of transition from winter to spring, from shorter days longer ones, Pisces to Aries, from faith to action, from water to fire. This is always a time of renewal, but this year it is particularly potent as we are in a mighty battle between the forces of joy and inclusion on one hand, and the forces of fear and division on the other. There are many long distance influences (Pluto on his own South Node, the waning Square between Uranus and Pluto, etc.) that have laid the groundwork for change. There will be an ironic foreshadowing of events this month that will manifest in May. This is a time of faith in things unseen….at its worst that means many people in the general public will consume lies as if they were the truth and be willing to die for them…or even worse, be willing to kill for them. On the other side are those who teach tolerance and work to uplift the human spirit. We are all given the opportunity to help others by raising our own consciousness. Mercury turns Retrograde on the 22nd at 16 degrees and 54 minutes of Aries. Aries, being the first sign, is symbolic of initiation. For the next three weeks, Mercury (god of thought and communication) will be backing up, providing us an opportunity to take a second look at things we have recently said and done. Thoughts create our reality as “energy follows thought”. We are all responsible for making our new world; we help ourselves and others by being particularly self observant now. All month Mercury and Venus are doing a dance with each other; this gives an opportunity to unite the head and heart. Also, Mercury keeps aligning with Neptune encouraging us to re-evaluate our highest vision of truth. The Full Moon on March 1st is at 7:52 PM EST. With Neptune in his own sign, Pisces, Conjunct the Sun and Opposite the Moon, we are more emotional than normal. Mercury (ruler of the Moon’s sign, Virgo) is in Pisces Conjunct Venus (goddess of love) and Trine Jupiter in Scorpio; the inner river of emotions that binds us all is stronger and more conscious than we have experienced before. Mars is Square this Conjunction and Trine Uranus showing immense potency as well as potential for violence as self justifying anger is easily released. This starts a two week period of ignoring facts and embracing a larger vision of truth, or fantasy, as the case may be. The New Moon on March 17th at 9:11 AM EDT on 26 degrees 53 minutes of Pisces. With this lunation Trine Jupiter (joy) and Square Mars (anger), we have an opportunity to either be part of the problem or part of the solution. With the Mercury/Venus Conjunction Trining the North Node of the Moon in Leo, we are encouraged to express the best side of our nature even when everyone else is going in another direction. The Spring Equinox (the Sun crosses into Aries) is on March 20th at 12:15 PM EDT. This is the astrological new year, setting the tone for our annual cycle and more specifically, for the next three months. The Moon in Taurus is in a Trine to Saturn. The general mood of the public is aimed at obtaining stability. With three planets in Earth signs and four in Fire, there is a heavy emphasis on utility; this is a pragmatic combination. People are apt to go for what works, even if it is just for the short term. Our actions have consequences. With the Sun Square Mars (greed) and Saturn (fear) in Capricorn, markets and political situations can be quite turbulent. It is only through discipline and prudence that we can truly operate toward a higher purpose. The Full Moon on March 31st is at 7:38 AM EDT on the 10th degree of Aries/Libra. We are ending some important project or aspect of our life. The Full Moon between Aries and Libra always emphasizes the dynamic tension between our own desires and our wish to be connected to others. Mars (self) and Venus (others) are in Earth signs and Trine each other. This indicates that very productive steps can be taken now to cement our romantic relationships. Cardinal signs are physically active; with five planets forming a Cardinal T-Square, we are destined to take some actual physical steps at this time to bring our lives into attunement with the changing circumstances. Action is required in order to stay balanced over the next two weeks. From the 1st to the 4th we start the month with much excitement. If we put the most important things on the top of our “to do list”, we are on the way to success. Luck, enthusiasm, and energy are in abundance now. From the 5th to the 11th step by step, energy and excitement builds toward something important. Success comes by corralling this enthusiasm into tangible results. One door closes and a new one opens. “Hang loose in the saddle” and take advantage of the spontaneous changes. From the 12th to the 18th emotional responses to new circumstances can help us embrace the changes. Time spent in contemplation and meditation can strengthen our resolve and give us peace of mind. From the 19th to the 25th timing is everything. Not only our perceptions and actions are changing, but more fundamentally, our attitudes. Without this adjustment now, the world of opportunities will pass by. The train is leaving the station with or without you. From the 26th to the 31st our emotional responses to life are very active; the urge to create is strong. When the head and heart are aligned we move forward with assurance. We are being offered an opportunity to recalibrate our thinking process. Something needs to be completed in order to move forward. 1st – Thursday – Venus Trine Jupiter, Sun Semi-square Uranus, Mars Semi-sextile Pluto, the Full Moon is on the 11th degree of Pisces/Virgo at 7:52 PM EST, Mercury Parallel Venus – We are offered yet another opportunity to channel our energy into something useful. It is necessary to release circumstances that no longer serve us in order to fulfill the next step of our journey. The “coin of the realm” is empathy. Knowing the right thing to say comes easily when we adhere to a truth that may be beyond the facts. 2nd – Friday – Sun Parallel Neptune, Mercury Trine Jupiter – Honesty never really goes out of style, but our personal perception of the Truth may stray from the collective sense of reality; we avoid this by holding ourselves to a higher standard than external circumstances impose on us. Careful listening is the key, helping us gain a deeper understanding. 3rd – Saturday – Venus Semi-sextile Uranus, Mercury Semi-sextile Uranus – Being both bold and receptive allows us to adequately adjust to the prompting of life to innovate. Some of our ideas are useful, but an update of data may be essential in order to be relevant. Harnessing passion to commonsense and deeply entrenched habits gives us the vitality and flexibility to materialize our dreams. 4th – Sunday – Sun Conjunct Neptune, Mercury Conjunct Venus – This is the perfect time to promote a project, to share big ideas, to explore the possible implications of the most visionary ideals. Too many options can leave us trapped in inaction. Faith in life, in ourselves, and in the nature of our own higher consciousness strengthens our resolve. 5th – Monday – Mars Semi-sextile Jupiter – Clarity and true wisdom may elude us. Major undertakings are best postponed for a day or two. It is easy to feel that others haven’t given us what was promised. Misunderstandings are exactly this, information not correctly handled. We fare best when we give others the benefit of the doubt, without judging motives. 6th – Tuesday – Mercury enters Aries, Venus enters Aries – A profound feeling of liberation comes by taking positive steps. It is easy to get ahead of ourselves. Being in motion is wonderful; going in the right direction is even better. Does our chosen vehicle match the road ahead? 7th – Wednesday – New information and new vistas expand our consciousness. Doing something for the first takes us on a grand adventure, even if it only changes our environment for a short period of time. Correctly evaluating options gives long term payoffs. 8th – Thursday – Jupiter turns Retrograde – All forms of integration need to be internal. Trying to regulate and organize circumstances in our lives comes through observing our own inner processes first. Support arrives for our primary concerns when we help others. 9th – Friday – Innovation comes, but we must be committed to the process in front of us. Last minute changes can alter the course of events. Presenting our highest ideals is easy if we take time to package them in the most understandable terms. 10th – Saturday – Sun Contra-parallel Mercury – Staying on the well trod course in front of us is the best way to get the results we require from the day. Mental adjustment and careful pacing is the best way to manifest something permanent now. 11th – Sunday – Mercury Square Saturn, Mercury Sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Mars Trine Uranus, Sun Sextile Pluto – Even though we may have to keep on a time schedule and perform some basic tasks, we do have an opportunity to change the dynamics of the day by taking bold steps. Freedom comes through taking courageous actions. 12th – Monday – Sacrifice is not required in order to grow at this moment. What is needed is personal honesty and commitment. Following a traditional format can actually carry us to something new. Freedom is on the other side of long periods of discipline and effort. 13th – Tuesday – Venus Square Saturn, Venus Sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Sun Trine Jupiter – Joy and luck bless us; we make something useful of this abundance when we remember the circumstances surrounding us. If we are willing to change directions, the path smoothes out. Loving someone or something gives us potency to move forward. 14th – Wednesday – Sun Contra-parallel Venus, Jupiter Semi-square Saturn – We need a little grace and balance in order to extract the genuine beauty of the day. Support for our current projects may seem halfhearted, but success comes through limiting the scope of our interests. This is necessary so we can get closure over the absolutely primary concerns. 15th – Thursday – Mercury Contra-parallel Neptune – Escaping into a world of fantasy is fine as long as we know that this is what we are doing. Daydreaming and imagining things beyond our perceptions can be just the ticket for enriching our lives. Imagination is the mother of innovation. 16th – Friday – Mercury Semi-sextile Neptune – Creative thinking can be the backdrop for exploring our familiar world in a new way. Meditation and planning allows us to prepare for the final round of completion of our continuing projects. Certain ideals are timeless; we can be receptive, becoming the fertile ground in which they are planted. 17th – Saturday – Sun Semi-sextile Uranus, the New Moon is at 26 degrees of Pisces at 9:11 AM EDT, Mars enters Capricorn – We can see more that needs to be done than we can actually take on at the moment. It is good to take notes and make some plans. Also, it is good to take steps forward on a few things and not be overwhelmed by the mountains in front of us. 18th – Sunday – Venus Semi-sextile Neptune – There is great pleasure in being able to create something of worth that can eventually be shared with others. We are spanning the distance between our wishes and our reality. Bold assertions start a process, bringing us closer to our ideal. 19th – Monday – Mercury Conjunct Venus – A synthesis of intentions can finally be achieved. The “on again off again” relationship of thoughts and feelings to each other unite when we apply our enthusiasm to some tangible project. Achieving results now is merely a matter of time if we stay focused and patient. 20th – Tuesday – The Sun enters Aries at 12:16 PM EDT – Our reward now is in direct proportion to our discipline, preparation, and obedience to the rules. If we have completed our tasks, now is a time of experiencing the exhilaration of going beyond our previous limits. 21st – Wednesday – We may struggle with a desire to be generous and still have a hard time sharing something of our own with others. We grow in consciousness through detachment and expressing our innate urge to serve others. 22nd – Thursday – Venus Contra-parallel Neptune, Mercury turns Retrograde – We may have second thoughts about how we express our love. Compassion emerges in unlikely places. Being self-correcting and self-observant is much more beneficial that being critical. Our heart opens if we don’t question other people’s motives. 23rd – Friday – Venus Square Pluto – Obsessive focus on an unobtainable object can weaken our constitution. Quieting the mind can bring a sense of inner peace and allow us to occupy the spectator’s seat for our own inner drama. “There is greater joy in a desire overcome, than a desire fulfilled” – Buddha 24th – Saturday – Sun Square Mars – Emotional energy is running at a very high level. Our empathic bond with other people in our personal lives can be very fulfilling if we can find it and embrace it. Our real difficulty now is that we are easily frustrated from a sense of lack of time, money, or energy. This can lend to anger and outbursts that are ugly. Our best strategy is to keep our attention on the things we truly love. 25th – Sunday – Venus Quincunx Jupiter – Our instincts are correct if we can pay attention to them. Keeping our attention on only the positive aspects of our lives, brings us personal joy and great improvement in interpersonal achievements. We can all get healthy together if we take care of our own emotional state first. 26th – Monday – We all have something to share. Giving our heartfelt gifts to others can lift everyone’s spirits. We need to be conscious of the dividing line between our lives and other people’s. Much is accomplished quickly when we handle our own responsibilities thoroughly without taking on anyone else’s. 27th – Tuesday – Mercury Parallel Venus – Whatever we are working on can be taken to the next level now. A few minor corrections, and putting our full attention on how we express ourselves, can really help push things along. Making room for others does not have to stop us from being first. Self-assertion is only counterproductive when it is blind. 28th – Wednesday – Sun Sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Mercury Semi-sextile Neptune, Venus Conjunct Uranus, Venus Parallel Uranus – Our “eyes can be bigger than our stomach”. We can commit to something without fully understanding the amount of detail involved in completing our task. Interruptions and distractions can carry us in a new direction. Sudden attractions can give us new motivation. 29th – Thursday – Sun Square Saturn – Personal power and expression may be limited by circumstances, but the root of our immediate situation is lodged in undigested past actions. If we slow down, but keep moving, much is accomplished. 30th – Friday – Mars Semi-square Jupiter, Venus Semi-square Neptune, Venus enters Taurus – Both our competitive urges, and our wish for inclusiveness, reach for our attention simultaneously. Simply enjoying life and feeling good is sufficient. Being our better selves sometimes means just relaxing and letting circumstances remain as they are without inner struggle. 31st – Saturday – The Full Moon is on the 10th degree of Aries/Libra at 8:38 AM EDT – We have desires and obligations. We wish to do our own thing, but also to maintain healthy relationships with others. We keep learning about boundaries by finding the edge of our responsibilities. We can break free by releasing so much of what has been holding us back. Choose wisely. Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. Call him at 239-261-2840 or by e-mail at bobmulliga@aol.com. Visit our web site, www.theastrologycompany.com My sister, Mary Alice, is visiting from Indianapolis. She usually comes for a week or more during winter. It is always a joy to see her. We speak often, sometimes every day. I’m close to my older sister, Dawn, and my younger brother, Richard, but we don’t speak as often. We are planning a get together, perhaps for the summer. This is a good year for expanding our feelings and paying attention to our families. With Neptune in Pisces and Jupiter in Scorpio, we have a Grand Trine in Water every month when the Moon travels through Cancer. That would be the 24th, 25th, and 26th this month. This can be an especially potent time for addressing family issues, but also every pattern of empathetic bonds we have in our lives. I have three siblings, five children, and two grandchildren. As my friend, Susan Falk, said to me recently, ” I say that having grandchildren is the payoff at the end of the line.” In this morning’s newspaper was an article from USA Today titled: “No, It’s Not Just You, Everybody is Tired.” We are constantly bombarded by social media, vitriolic commentary, and catastrophic world events because we are all tied into (and addicted to) instant communication. We are all connected, and courtesy of the internet, we are conscious of this connection. .My friend, Daniel Stone, turned me on to the book, “Better Angels of Our Nature” by Steve Pinkor. Take a look. It will lift your spirits. Another dear friend, gave me a book, “Crisis of Responsibility”. This is a perfect read for this period of Saturn in Capricorn; ultimately we have to quit blaming others and take responsibility for ourselves; we are required to keep developing, to grow spiritually. When in the car, I listen to news on the radio which serves as a balance and enrichment for the daily newspaper. I listen to a spectrum of shows on seven different stations presenting me with a wide array of opinions on all the subjects of the day. If I had to choose one show that captures the essence of what is going on in the most honest and comprehensive manner, it would be Steele and Unger “Rational Radio” on POTUS Sirius XM 124. Weekdays 6 – 9 PM Eastern Time. Give it a try sometime. You may actually be amazed because it is factual and thoughtful. Of course, catching the news on BBC is necessary to break out of the American obsessions of the moment. And NPR gives unbiased and in depth reporting on interesting issues. Regular fare is available on FOX, CNN, and MSNBC. It’s fun to go back and forth between them; it’s informative to see how these different stations present the same stories. PROGRESS (XM 127) has the most interesting call-in shows. I have shared many times how in my own life I have tried to “flatten out” prejudicial thinking by absorbing information from many sources. It helps to consciously develop friendships in many different ethnic communities, social, religious, and political backgrounds. Daniel Moynihan had once said, “You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.” Well, we live in a time where some people believe they are entitled to their own facts. So we have a choice. We can just completely unplug: no newspapers, TV, radio, or internet. Or, we can try to get a sampling from around the globe. Overcoming the built in arrogance of limited human consciousness is quite difficult. Most of us, most of the time, get caught in the “echo chamber” of only listening to sources that reinforce our own prejudices. Breaking out of this trap is required to grow in consciousness and also to be of any help to others. Well, I’ll be in San Diego from the 8th until the 14th of March, seeing clients and friends, giving a Friday night lecture, “Astrology, Karma, and Reincarnation” and a Saturday and Sunday workshop, “Your Birth Chart as a Spiritual Roadmap”. After this I will be seeing clients here in Naples and working on the material for UAC. I give two talk in Chicago on Sunday, May 27th: “The Five Gifts of Astrology” and “The Hierarchy of the Planets”. More information is on my website, www.astrologycompany.com. Here is the link to the UAC website https://www.uacastrology.com. My good friend, Lynn Bell, is coming from France to give a workshop for NCGR in Ft. Lauderdale on March 17th. I’m going to try and make it….My old friend ,Ray Merriman, was here a few weekends ago giving a workshop and I missed him. This was really sad. We are all too busy now. I have some longstanding clients that can only see me on weekends and this makes it difficult for me to get away to attend other people’s workshops. It is true, I tell all of my students that they must take in new experiences just to stay fresh and continue to grow professionally. This is one of the things I have been missing in my own life during the last few months and hopefully my schedule will lighten by summer. “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” ― Denis Waitley | 
