Today's a mile marker because it's the day that Saturn and Neptune are exactly, exactly conjunct in the sky. It's a one-and-done conjunction, but the effects have been in play for probably a year and a half and will continue to be present off and on for another year and a half. But this is as Saturn-Neptune as it gets: right here, right now. It's a nadir point, but personally I like to mark the territory as such as an assurance that it's not going to be like this forever. This particular aspect is why I wasn't surprised at the election results in 2024 because Saturn-Neptune aspects are paranoia and red-scare equivalents. No one likes a red scare. No one likes paranoia. But the sky right now is red scare and paranoia.

And now, Mercury retrogrades. Or, it does that next week, giving us plenty of time to reflect on paranoia and bad leadership. It's in Pisces, so you can definitely expect miscommunications because Pisces communication is perpetually "what I said ≠ what I meant." So before you decide every single one of your feelings is hurt, make sure you check for intentionality in the mean words. What's interesting about this retrograde is that Mercury backtracks, passing Mars on the way (~March 15) and then stations (stops) conjunct the north node (~March 20). The north node maximizes energy and distorts it sometimes, so we have the potential for loud and wrong and weird and misguided communication. Possibly all at the same time, possibly at different times. With our climate right now, that’s not exactly a huge surprise, you know?

The combination of these two situations mean that you shouldn't take much at face value right now. Saturn and Neptune are confused. Mercury's confused. Most personal planets are either in Pisces or heading there.

Also stationing (stopping) right now: Jupiter. I talk about stationary planets because they are as loud as it gets, energetically. Hot tip: check your solar returns for slow-moving or stationary planets and you will immediately know which planetary energy will be the most noticeable for the year (unless you have a malefic planet on an angle, then it's that). I digress: Jupiter is stopping to turn direct (~March 11), so you can get traction on some of the opportunities you have floating around (check the house Jupiter is transiting in and aspects it is making to your personal planets for hints on what these opportunities might be. Like, for example, if it's in your 6th house of daily work and diet, you could learn something new from a coworker (Jupiter loves learning) or you could eat everything in sight (6th house is diet and Jupiter can expand lots of things, including you!).

Just remember: the weirdness, paranoia, and red scare vibes are impermanent and now officially on the wane.