Astrology

If tentative feelings and a rise in anxiety are proving to be unsettling right about now, there is a cosmic reason. The Messenger of the Gods - planet Mercury - has virtually no motion today and for the rest of this week. In addition, it is preparing to halt its forward direction at 2 degrees of Virgo and make a retrograde station tomorrow evening at 8:50PM PDT until August 26. Generally speaking, Mercury rules over communication and transportation - along with its big brother, giant Jupiter. Together, these two celestial bodies have always been in charge of the four mutable or adaptable signs of the zodiac - Gemini and Virgo (Mercury), and Sagittarius and Pisces (Jupiter). Before the Mercury reversal happens on August 2, we have the Moon leaving void status today at 1:43AM PDT as the lunar orb enters Virgo. Shortly thereafter, the Moon makes its monthly union with Mercury (3:29AM PDT). You can feel a surge of inspiration and intellectual empowerment around this time. Be the efficiency master and supreme organizer around your residence. Meanwhile, all is not necessarily peaches and cream regarding Jupiter since this commander-in-chief is at odds with the ultimate authority in our neck of the woods in the universe - the Sun - via a square pattern of 90-degrees (7:42AM PDT). Sun-Jupiter face-offs like this happen twice in a calendar year, and large-scale ventures require extra scrutiny and care. There are other challenges in store as Venus opposes Pallas (2:03PM PDT) - making problem-solving a little more difficult - while Venus also makes an off-kilter, 150-degree link to the lord of the underworld Pluto (4:50PM PDT). Love and money matters are iffy at best. And you also have to deal with another void lunar cycle - arriving during what should be a mind-expanding Moon-Jupiter flowing trine in earth signs (4:39PM PDT). This is one of those elaborate void lunar cycles that will continue through the rest of the night, all-day tomorrow, and only ending on Wednesday August 3 at 3:05AM PDT. Thus, it is wise to finish old business on a high note after the void Moon energy-field takes hold and steer clear of launching bold, new projects.