Working with Saturn Retrograde

ach year Saturn spends several months in retrograde – that strange state where the planet appears to be going backward in its elliptical orbit, but is not actually doing so. In classical astrology the traditional understanding is that when a planet goes into retrograde it actually descends into the Underworld, descending into shadow. Practically speaking, since Saturn retrogrades happen just over every 12 months, they provide us with one (or a handful) of handy astrological markers that we can work with to do a deep review and reassessment of our past year.
Mercury retrogrades also offer the opportunity to go into review and edit mode, but whereas a Mercury retrograde only lasts for a few weeks, Saturn retrogrades last for several months, giving us a longer span of time to work with and the opportunity to really commit to a thorough review.
As with all retrogrades, Saturn’s retrograde also gives us certain challenges and certain opportunities, here are some of the Do’s and Dont’s for this period.

Do’s
– Pay down/off debt
– Review previous lessons and learnings
– Recommit to anything or anyone that you are serious about
– Get in touch with teachers and guides from your past
– Refine the areas of diet, exercise, and sleep
– Re-organize your medicine cabinet and make sure you have the medicines that you need
– Re-set all clocks and watches
– Reflect on the big moments over the past year and their lessons
Dont’s
– Try rush things
– Make hazardous or ill-informed investment (I mean, you should never do this obviously but really don’t do it during a Saturn retrograde)
– Flake out on a previous commitment
– Make new commitments
– Be immoderate when it comes to food and diet
– Do minimal exercise
– Ignore or neglect sleep and dream cycles
– Act recklessly
– Buy a new watch or clock
– Perpetuate an old pattern that no longer serves
– Try to be younger than you are – have any plastic surgery or cosmetic enhancement procedures
– Ignore debt or allow debt to balloon out of control

On the deepest level when Saturn retrogrades it gives us an opportunity to reflect on where we have gained maturity and wisdom over the past year and what areas of our lives might still be in need of maturity and wisdom.

Generally speaking, if you are Saturn-sensitive and concerned about the effects of the retrograde you may engage in the following acts of honoring and propitiating the Lord of Time:

– Attend church, temple, mosque, or religious services and devotions
– Abstain or limit your intake of alcohol, sugar, salt, fat, and caffeine
– Exercise and dedicate the merits of your work to Saturn
– Donate to a local food bank
– Donate to a local animal refuge
– Donate services for people who are blind
– Offer dishes of almonds, milk, rice, and water to Saturn
– Maintain excellent physical posture
– Take cold showers

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer: Low Risk Securities

Foundations

iracles, securities

The final area of our lives to pay special attention to while Mercury is retrograde in Cancer deals with privacy and security. This is not a good time to install a security system but it is a great time to do research on what security system is best for your needs and the needs of your home. Think and feel into what makes you feel secure and then do research and at the end of the RX period invest in those products. Mercury RX in Cancer can often reveal to us the areas where we are not as secure or where we need more support so pay attention to omens and information that you receive during this time.

Likewise, Cancer is one of the signs affiliated with money so make sure that you are watching your finances during this time. We are especially vulnerable to attacks and break-ins during this astrology so exercising extra vigilance and deciding intentionally what you want to make available and what you want to have locked down and classified as “for your eyes only” is a very good move with this astrology. Valuable should be insured and all insurance policies should be up to date.

Magically doing protection work is an excellent idea at this time, especially around your home and those who dwell within. securities securities

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer: Mum’s the Word

Foundations

iracles, mum’s

From house and home to family, we drill down with Mercury’s Retrograde in Cancer and now look at a specific family member – our Moms.

Cancer is the sign that rules our relationships with our mothers starting with the relationship between us and our literal mothers and then moving out to more archetypal understandings of a mother. It will be easiest to break this down into categories. Note that for our purposes mother applies to both biological and adopted mothers as well as the women AND men in your life who have mothered you in some way.

If your mother is still living and you have a good relationship with her then…use this time to reach out, connect more deeply and let her know how much you love and appreciate her.

If your mother is still living and you do not have a good relationship with her then…ask yourself if you would like to pursue healing and reconciliation in the relationship.

If the answer is yes then spend some time feeling into what the right approach may be. If the answer is no then following the next guideline.

No matter what your relationship to your actual mother is…take a moment to think about the other men and women who have shown up in your lives in a maternal capacity. Take time during this period to reach out and check on them, letting them know that you love and appreciate them.

If your mother is not living then…begin doing ancestor work to honor her memory and to connect with your matrilineal line.

As you connect with your female Ancestors you may also feel a connection with the Archetypal Mother – Divine Feminine energy that lives in all of us. This might sound woo woo but the image of the Great Mother is one that has been with us since ancient times and is found in our oldest religious writings and stories.
Which leads me to my final piece of advice: work with this time to honor the ways that YOU have showed up and mothers others.

Check in on your maternal feelings whether they are directed to your latest work project, half finished poem, or actual child…how are you mothering right now and is your approach what is currently needed and appropriate? mum’s mum’s

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer: The Ties that Bind

Purification and Cleansing

iracles, family

When Mercury retrogrades through Cancer issues around family, tribe, and tribal identity often emerge. These can be national or global in scope – nationalism, for instance, is a shadow side of the Cancerian dedication to family and what is “one’s own” but they also show up in our personal sphere and in our own families.

Just as many of us have spent more time in our homes of late, many of us have also been around our families much more than we usually are – and during the best hours of the day. Chances are that there have already been scuffles and misunderstandings and that, by the time June rolls around and we are in Mercury RX territory you and your family members have had some hard conversations.

If you haven’t had these conversations but know that hurt feelings have been simmering in the background then do not be surprised if during this RX period it all comes out to the fore and there is a blowup. It may not be fiery (we are after all dealing with the cardinal Water sign of Cancer) but it is definitely going to be felt. It is possible that right around this Mercury retrograde we will hear calls and be given opportunities to return to the “way that things were before” the Coronavirus hit.

If this is the case then I won’t be surprised to see this Mercury RX in Cancer have us re-thinking what was normal before we had to self-isolate and quarantine with our loved ones and if that “normal” is something we want to change or adjust in various ways. This is an ideal time for peaceful homework.

While things with living family members may feel a bit tense or stressed we may also well feel pressure from the family members who have gone beyond the veil, our Ancestors.

Our Ancestors have collectively very active since the beginning of the year and their activity is only increasing. If you have not felt really connected to your Ancestors then this time of Mercury’s descent into the Underworld might have you sensing their presence in a stronger way.

As is the case with Mercury retrograde periods this is also a time to reflect on what makes your family feel most together and what does not. If there are any wounds with either immediate or extended family members then now is a wonderful time to address them and seek reconciliation and healing. If there are any big issues around the family that need to be discussed and they have not been addressed before Mercury retrogrades in Cancer, then I recommend that they are put on hold until after the retrograde has completed.

Partners who have been in a tense relationship should recognize that now is not the time to either try to “fix” things or make a final decision about the future of the relationship.

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer: Home Bodies

Ceremony and Ritual

iracles, cancer

When we think of Mercury Retrograde we typically think of computers frying, travel delays, and losing our car keys.

We don’t tend to think as much about being at home during Mercury Retrograde because Mercury is not a hearth and home kind of planet – he is a traveler, trickster, and magician on the move.

But when Mercury retrogrades through Cancer those things all change and our hearth, home, and home life become THE focus.

This year this retrograde takes on a special poignancy as many of us have been forced to stick to home and our family members in unusual ways. This retrograde period gives us a chance to show our homes appreciation in the form of scheduling or committing to minor and major repairs.

While this is a good time to get started on repairs, the actual Mercury Retrograde period is not a good time to buy equipment so if you know that you need a new hot water heater, microwave or dishwasher you might decide to purchase those things before the retrograde period begins.

It is a great time to redecorate or begin planning a redecoration scheme. Redesign or remodeling are also supported at this time but often remodeling projects are also delayed given the Mercury retrograde movement. As we all have been at home more we have noticed that there are certain areas of our home that simply do not feel organized. Mercury RX in Cancer is the perfect time to make a list of the things that need to be reorganized and then start doing them. This can be a good time to look into refinancing a home.

Typically this is NOT a good time to try to buy or sell a home – you can make plans and have a review of what needs to be done to get your home ready to buy or sell but trying to make the transactions happen during this period is not advisable. In the same vein, this is not a good time to look for a new place to rent nor is it a good time to try to put a rental on the market.

This may be a period where you have a big realization about your home and your home life – you may find that you really love and appreciate something that beforehand you took for granted or you may discover that something that up until this point has not seemed like a big deal actually is a big deal. Take note: conversations with landlords, banks, and roommates can be especially fraught during this time, especially if you are seeking favor or cooperation of some kind. If you need to have a conversation like that better to have it before Mercury goes retrograde and that way you already have agreed upon terms once the RX period occurs.

This is an excellent retrograde to work with as we feel into what home really means for us – what we need from our homes and where we locate home. Ultimately this retrograde gives us a chance to get clear on and integrate what the new normal with respect to our homes is all about.

Whether that means that we are now working from home more, expecting to have our children home with us more frequently or calling on services like grocery delivery that allow us to go out less and stay in more, we are all experiencing a deeper relationship with the actual places that we live than we have in a very long time. Mercury Retrograde in Cancer supports this relationship and the insights that come out of it. One of the best times to do house blessing work!

Homelessness is going to be a problem that blooms over the next months. If you are blessed with a home and want to honor and acknowledge Mercury’s work on the homefront during this retrograde period consider making a donation to an organization that serves homeless populations where you live, it is a beautiful way to enchant your aid.

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot

Star Stories: March 2020

Ceremony and Ritual

strology for March 2020

Note for March: Happy March! This month starts with a pretty watery feel as Mercury continues its retrograde through Pisces and then Aquarius. Any last sleepiness from the past few months will be felt the first week and change of March. Once that period has passed the fiery, renewing, the energy of Aries takes center stage and we all feel energized and ready to dive headfirst into Spring madness!

3/1: Rabbit, Rabbit!!! Happy March!

3/2: Waxing Quarter at 12 degrees Gemini, 1:57 PM. This is the perfect time to brush up on your divination practice! https://brianasaussy.com/teaching/20-question-tarot/
Ask: What message is growing within me?

3/3: Venus moves into a square with Saturn and this could strengthen tensions we already feel with the Mercury RX madness.
Ask: Where can I exercise just a little more kindness right now? Pro tip: If your romantic relationships are feeling particularly roughened up by the astro, try a honey jar!

3/4: Mercury Retrogrades out of Pisces and into Aquarius where it spends the remainder of the RX period. Mercury RX in Aquarius is more measured than the Pisces trip was, and you may find your thinking starts to clarify somewhat.
Ask: Where do I need to review ideas about the future?

3/4: Venus moves into Taurus. Venus loooves to be in Taurus. The next month is a strengthening time for relationships and love generally speaking. Prioritize beauty!
Ask: Where do I need more beauty in my life?

3/8: Venus conjunct Uranus. Expect surprises especially when it comes to love and money on this day.
Ask: What relationship needs to be stirred up?

3/8: Daylight Savings Time begins at 1:00am cdt. Spring Forward!

3/8: Sun conjunct Neptune. Expect dreamy, sweet, loving connections today and possibly a brilliant new creative idea arriving at your door. This is also a day where magical dream tending is always advised and one where it pays to watch your wallet and spending.
Ask: Where do my depths need illumination?

3/9: Full Moon at 19 degrees Virgo, 12:48 PM. Some ideas for how to work with the Full Moon can be found here: https://brianasaussy.com/how-to-honor-the-full-moon/ and here: https://brianasaussy.com/six-months-of-magic-every-full-moon/
Ask: What is my relationship to sovereignty?

3/9: Mercury Retrograde ENDS!!!

3/16: Waning Quarter at 26 degrees Sagittarius, 4:34 AM. Reminder that this is a great time to banish: https://brianasaussy.com/what-are-you-really-banishing/
Ask: Where does my aim need to be improved?

3/16: Mercury moves back into Pisces – but direct this time. Mercury in Pisces brings great discoveries when it comes to art, music, and creativity but can encourage fuzzy thinking around love and money.
Ask: What creative work wants to be heard now?

3/19: Sun enters Aries (Spring Equinox) 10:50 PM — Spring Equinox
Ask: What is ready to be balanced?

3/20: Mars conjunct Jupiter. This is the astrological equivalent of rocket fuel for your dreams! It has the ability to live and elevate you in the most amazing ways and to give you the energy to carry your big vision to its conclusion.
Ask: What audacious endeavor am I ready to tackle?

3/21: Saturn moves into Aquarius, giving us relief from all the Capricorn drama and turning our attention to the future.
Ask: What kind of future do I want to build?

3/22: Mars conjunct Pluto. This is a tricky conjunction that brings power – our quest for it and our experience of it – into contact with aggression and even violence. At its best this conjunction leads to a deepening of personal power paired with martial discipline. At its worst, it can bring out violent tendencies.
Ask: Where would my relationship to power be improved through greater discipline?

3/24: New Moon at 4 degrees Aries, 4:28 AM. Here are Four Ways to Honor the New Moon just in case you missed them: https://brianasaussy.com/4-ways-honor-new-moon/
Ask: What new adventure is calling me?

3/27: Venus and Jupiter trine – this is a wonderful astrology to make your dreams and visions come true. Venus and Jupiter are two of the most powerful positive celestial influences. When they come together all manner of good things are positive.
Ask: What blessings am I ready to accept?

3/30: Mars moves into Aquarius. Mars in Aquarius gets things moving and typically leads to more protests and activism on a global level. This is powerful astrology for optimizing our future.
Ask: What vision of the future am I willing to fight for?

3/31: Saturn conjunct Mars. All efforts to optimize, overpower or charge through obstacles meet with a wall on this day. A better bet is to coolly strategize your next move and resist enacting it until after this conjunction is over.
Ask: Where do I need more strategy and less tactics?

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot

Hearth and Home Vol. 17: All Stars All the Time

Alchemy and Magic

Miracles, moon

Happy New Moon in Libra! I possessively consider this “my” New Moon. Why? I am doing some deep magic during this time, sowing seeds for even bigger magic that will come to fruit later on this month when the full moon occurs…on my birthday!

It is appropriate to begin this missive talking about the moon because I feel like I am saturated with brilliant moon-shine, stardust, and planetary frequencies. Did you know that the planets make sounds? I’m in full tilt astro mode because I’m working on my second book which is about astrology and parenting.

At the same time, I am preparing the Mercury Retrograde Survival Kit reports and the Star Stories for 2020. I am doing both of these reports pretty early because I think in both cases it is useful to have the information sooner.

For Mercury Retrograde especially I like people to have at least a week to work with their information before the planet retrogrades. In the case of the Star Stories, it is necessary to start early. Each report takes 3-4 hours to put together and I have 40 to complete! A lot of my clients do their planning for the next year in November and December, so I like them to have next year’s astro info as early as possible.

And of course, while tackling all of this, I’m still sharing far and wide the joy of my first book! I recently got to sit down with Michael Stone for an interview that covered a big range of topics: from magic (naturally enough) to enlightenment philosophy, to the importance of language. You can listen to it right here.

One of the most lovely things has been opening up my inbox to find wonderful little messages from readers who just adored the book and wanted to reach out and say hi. I’ve had several mental health professionals seek me out specifically and give the book accolades, and I’ve also heard from a couple of folks in locked institutions (ie, jail) who were deeply moved by the book.

To me, this is far and away higher praise than any award or top pick book list could confer. (One day I want to go into the energetics of writing a book because it is so fascinating, but that’s another story.) But the short version is: it takes a lot of out of you!

I was speaking to a client of mine who has a BIG book coming out next year (you’ll see her name in national media coverage) and she was talking about how much energy the output has been for her. I reminded her that she will receive energy back from the book. In the most obvious way, remuneration, which honestly is usually not very much at all; but the money is not really the most important consideration in this case. The real exchange is when people reach out to you and say…your book…changed something for me. That is the payoff, the knowledge not so much that someone likes your work, but that your work is out there, being of good use to others.

The other big piece of personal news is that after a 9 month sabbatical I am back on Facebook. Why did I return? Well, Sounds True, my amazing publisher, invited me to do a Facebook Live video in their private book club group and I saw a host of familiar faces, people I realized I only get to see on Facebook. So I thought about it, got clear on my intentions, and returned in a way that works for me and my busy life. You can see on my page evidence of this work. When I am on Facebook, I am conveying a steady beam of goodness out into the noisy, negative world. So my personal profile is full of inspiring news and my business page features information about upcoming events, recipes, enchantments, how-to’s, classes, offerings, and of course…books!

In October David and I celebrate our fourteenth year of marriage and 17th year of togetherness. He continues to be my true love and best friend. We still feel like we got married yesterday and, perhaps most importantly of all, we still have so much FUN together!

Then, right after that milestone, I’ll be celebrating my 39th birthday — wha??? As I indicated above, it is happening on the Full Moon in October so I’m pretty excited.

Heath has started going 2 days a week to our local day school. He is enjoying it although he did get mad at the teachers when they encouraged him to move from an art making project onto something else (typical of this family!) But great teachers as they are, they let him continue working on his pictures – something he loves doing with his daddy and big brother. Jasper is playing flag football and composing music, getting ready to start learning the ‘cello, and planning an elaborate Halloween costume that involves a piano and a Phantom of the Opera costume.

So…as we round out September I am celebrating a rich month and getting ready for another. I’ll be back around the Full Moon with a lunar letter that looks a little different, as I’ll be focusing on specific ways to make magic. So keep your eyes out for that! In the meantime, blessings of the season and pumpkin-spiced kisses!!!

xo,
Bri

magic, miracles: receive my lunar letters

ARRIVING on full moons each month.

20 Question
Tarot