Just as there are many branches of science or religion, there are many branches of astrology. The daily write-up in the newspaper – if the write-ups and newspapers still exist – is personal natal astrology generalized for a solar chart. The personal natal astrology you experience with an astrologer takes into account your date, place and time of birth which makes it specific to you.

In addition to natal astrology, there is horary astrology which tries to answer specific questions, electional astrology which tries to find auspicious times for events and mundane astrology which examines regions and events. And on top of that you have different types of astrology from different cultures (Vedic, Egyptian, Mayan, etc.). And, like all disciplines, variations on these traditional types.

As there are many types of astrology, there are many types of astrologers. Since starting this blog, I’ve become less interested in personal natal astrology and much more interested in mundane astrology. Most astrologers are involved with both the macro and micro energies – we all are individuals yet part of the times. Astrologers can’t avoid seeing upcoming events – like the conjunction of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn in 2020 – and reflecting on it both in natal horoscopes and for the world at large.

The sun, moon, Mercury and Mars are considered “personal planets.” Jupiter and Saturn are social, where you meet society (like when you go to school or work). Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are the transpersonal planets – far away, slow moving, they represent generational energies.

This blog tends to focus on these transpersonal planets. But not this one!

A Crack in the Veil of Communication

In the spiritual world the barrier between physical and spiritual energy is referred to as “the veil.” With both Mercury and Mars in Virgo (and now sun), it’s become apparent that the veil of communication has a crack.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, as is Gemini. Gemini (an air sign) is associated with pure communication, intellect, learning, stimulation. Virgo (an earth sign) tends to focus this intellectual energy into work, health and pets. Virgo is detailed and discriminating. Virgo is a perfectionist, afraid of criticism. Virgo is picky.

Both Gemini and Virgo are thinkers. Virgo being practical and less social than Gemini tends to focus the thoughts on work, routine, health, and diet. Virgo is a worrier, nervous often making itself ill through nervous tension and anxiety.

Being practical, Virgo is the identifier, labeler, and organizer. Virgo overwhelms itself with detail and can appear to be a disorganized Pisces (its opposite sign). Virgo misses the forest for the trees, which are being catalogued in a notebook somewhere.

So that’s Virgo. Mercury in Virgo is talkative, informative, full of detail and exacting.

Now enter Mars, the assertive principle and put it next to Mercury in Virgo and what do you have?

You have a lot of talking, for starters, with lots of detail. And with Mars pushing on Virgo you can have several results:

• Passionate defense of position / too much information
• Keen discernment / excessive criticism
• Activism / complaining
• Active planning / neurotic worrying

How much of what you want to say during a given day do you actually voice?

For some, it’s 100 percent and unless one is the 45th president, you generally get in trouble for this.

With Mars and Mercury in Virgo right now, the Mars forward drive can push into verbal form what normally spins through your head. Be careful.

Moon and Neptune in Pisces

As I write this blog, the moon is in Pisces, the mutable water sign that is opposite of Virgo. If Virgo is analysis, Pisces is synthesis. Virgo thinks; Pisces feels. While the Western world discourages feeling, it’s another antenna into experience.

Neptune has been transiting Pisces, the sign it rules, for ten years now. For the Virgos of the world, it’s been tough as what were once considered “facts” are now up for debate. One plus one may no longer equal two – it may be just your opinion as a very educated guy on YouTube said that one plus one actually equals three and has some cool charts to prove it.

Balance, the great lesson of astrology, is the goal. Thinking/feeling – not one or the other but both. We are taught thinking and feeling are opposites and believe one cancels out the other which I’ve learned is untrue. But it took awhile to understand this. Maybe you won’t agree. Maybe Mars and Mercury in Virgo will even motivate you to prove it.

You can have a fun and interesting day examining all of your personal “opposites.” During a meditation retreat I found a few fascinating ones.

Because of the Piscean opposition to Mercury/Mars in Virgo, when Mars cracks the veil of communication be prepared for emotional responses. Be prepared for some imaginative conversations. Be prepared to explain those things you didn’t mean to say.

Be like a Virgo – be prepared!