Paper covers rock

Mercury retrograde is over—see, that wasn't so bad, was it? What was your favorite snafu? I broke bad news to my dentist (usually it's the other way around, right?).

Something you may enjoy: right now, when the sun is setting, there's a really, really white "star" in the sky just above the sunset. You can't miss it if it's not cloudy. That star is Venus, which is currently appearing as the evening star. It's far enough away from the sun that it's very pronounced and super-bright, so it's something to enjoy.

In terms of major sky happenings, the transiting north node is conjuncting transiting Neptune for the next couple of months. For now, it's a relatively simple situation: go out and tackle a dream or two. Is there something you've always wanted to do, that if you stretched a little bit, either financially or logistically or imaginatively, you could get to? (Please note I did not say "a lot.") For example: you've always wanted to write that novel but you've never had time, and currently you could maybe squeeze in 45 minutes a day, but you're not. Right now is a great time to do it. If it's within reach, but requires just a little more reaching, now's really the time. Maybe take that road trip you've always wanted to go on or read that book you've put off reading for 2 years. The magnitude is not important here: if you have a dream that you can actualize, DO IT.

A second option: whimsy. Do you have it in your life right now? If not, where is your inner child and what did you do with her/him/them? Go do something that your inner child would enjoy even if you feel vaguely silly.

Here's the thing you should not do: fight. Mars retrograde is heading back toward Pluto, which is very much in play during the holidays and a little bit after. It's a repeat of the prevalent energy around Halloween and the election. The aspect is an opposition, which is what it sounds like: someone facing an opponent. In a Mars-Pluto fight, Pluto will always win. Pluto energy (when used well) is in control of its faculties regardless of whether it gets hit in the head with a rock. Pluto picks up the rock, holds it up to Mars, and says "do that again and see what happens." That's the energy.

Writing that made me think of "paper covers rock" in Rock, Paper, Scissors, and in trying to find out why paper covers rock, I found the World Rock Paper Scissors Association. It's free to join. You're welcome.

Anyway, the way to navigate Mars-Pluto is as follows: if you're itching to start a fight, channel that energy into finding something better to do ("itching to fight" makes you Mars, and Mars doesn't win in this case). If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, leave immediately or call for help if you can't leave. If you find yourself facing someone with bad intentions toward you, again, get to safety and then consider your options. Also consider aligning yourself with a more powerful force than you if you know you're not strong enough to take on someone trying to fight you.

Last time this energy was in effect, someone tried to fight me a week after he tried to fight someone else, and was just being a bonehead (Mars energy is notoriously boneheaded). I'm lazy and didn't feel like fighting, plus I knew the energy was in the air. So I just watched him and...strategically told a few people what he did, and the cavalry kind of assembled itself. I knew he had a history of trying to start these fights, so others who had previously been on the receiving end of his nonsense came out of the woodwork to align themselves and voice their discontent. If he tries something again anytime soon, with me or anyone else, he's truly a bonehead.

My point is: use your head and your wits and bide your time, but do not engage unless you're capable of being cool-headed and tactical.