The Moon is in Scorpio today, meaning that we're all experiencing a time of withdrawing from the world a little, especially when it comes to our emotions. We may not be as willing to share, and may need time to heal from people who tend to push our buttons. Scorpio can be very sexual, and need to express itself that way, and it's also very engaged in the power dynamics, so don't be surprised if you find yourself attracted to your boss, doctor, local cop or someone else in authority. 

Meanwhile, Jupiter is moving through the sign of Pisces (around 23 degrees today). Pisces is a super-sensitive Water Sign (like Scorpio) and is ruled by Neptune. So it's as if this aspect really has four planets coming out to play -- the Moon, Pluto (ruling Scorpio), Jupiter and Neptune (ruling Pisces).  As you might guess, this is a huge and powerful bunch of energy, which will affect all of us in different ways -- for the next 24 hours or so. 

Jupiter-Moon is a wonderful time for all kinds of creative projects. From the germination of ideas (make sure to write all of them down -- you never know what might come in handy later) to the development of these ideas, deciding which medium to express them in and any action you take to bring them into being -- all are encouraged and supported now. Since Jupiter and Pluto are involved (though a little removed), the ideas you have now could really change your life, or the world on a larger scale. 

So don't stick your head in the sand, fall asleep or ignore what your mind is bringing forward. If you're a creative person, and even if you feel you couldn't draw flies if you were covered with honey, you have something to offer. This aspect may show it to you, verbally or visually. Check it out! 

In many spiritual systems, we're trained to accept that what happens to us is our fault. That if we were better in a past life, or were a little nicer to people in this one, things would turn out fine. I don't buy this. At all. 

I've been studying nearly every spiritual discipline there is since I was 18 or so, and I have yet to come across a deity that hates people. There are your everyday gods, who seem to be pretty happy having people worship them, making sacrifices and leaving behind neat gifts. There are your tricksters and demi-gods who may or may not have the power to actually help, and then there are your wrathful Gods, who may very well want you dead. Those fearsome images on Tibetan thangkas are like that for me, though they're supposed to represent the fierce quality of cutting through our own bullcrap and getting on with a clearer way of thinking and being. 

Imagine facing life like that every day and you get a sense of how daunting it might be. 

But we're not our minds. Every single thought we think doesn't immediately pop into being, or we'd all be multi-millionaires, or at least dating Megan Fox or George Clooney by now. We contribute to our realities, as do others. Since energy is constantly moving back and forth among all of us, that's a lot to manage. If we want to be happy and fulfilled, we can start by dealing with our own stuff. 

Rather, we're more dimensional than that. We can learn to be kinder (not a bad goal at all), more tolerant and loving. We can dedicate our lives to helping to alleviate suffering. And it may get us no rewards. Because that's the damn point. If we're serious about it, we're not all up in our heads, same as we're not all up in our bodies. We're a mixture of both, truly human and fallible, capable of screwing up royally and then apologizing because it's the right thing to do. 

From there, creating our own reality is a little easier, not to mention a lot less full of shit. And isn't that what we're all after? 

Most psychics will tell you that about 80% of what they're asked has to do with love. It's incredibly, important, of course. No messing about with that little chestnut. But how important it is, ranking below friendship, jobs, money, creative success and spirituality, is always a little eye opening. 

For the past few days, I've been asked a slew of questions related to love. It may be Mercury retrograde, which tends to bring all that was back into being. You may find yourself having all kinds of dirty thoughts about that high school sweetheart you tracked down on Facebook, and wonder if she was really the one. You may also return to old ideas about love, such as that the wife should stay at home raising children while the husband goes out to earn money. Good luck if you're in a gay relationship, I guess! 

The point is that Mercury, which rules how we think, is undergoing a shift. Today, it's going to square the Moon, which is moving through the sign of Leo. Our emotions want to be big and bold, professing our affection and taking the chance on asking that special someone on the next treadmill out for a post-workout Gatorade. But by tomorrow, the Moon will square Venus, planet of love and affection. What we saw in that person today may not be there tomorrow, or may be spoiled by something we do or say suddenly. 

What's a guy or gal to do? Be patient. Mercury retrograde, which lasts until May 11th, is never the best time to begin something new, including a new relationship. Get to know the person you're attracted to. Find out what he or she likes and dislikes. Heck, even determine what you have to give in any potential love situation. When this planet flips in a few weeks, you'll be poised and ready to make your move. 

I so wanted it to work out, for the season finale of Damages to surprise me, prove me wrong, something. But all I could think about was a never-ending train wreck as I sat watching it last night. Only this train wreck didn't just hit something and come to rest. It kept going, almost like it had a consciousness, looking for other things to collide with and destroy. 

This show began with so much promise. Great actors at the height of their game, and a wonderful premise-- powerful female attorney fights for maximum damages, bringing corrupt corporations to justice. She's not perfect but no one wants her to be. We just want to see the bastards get it, season after season, because they're cheating us, too. 

The legal aspect was all but abandoned as a narrative device during seasons 2 and 3. Other than a few teeny threats, like the group wanting to replace Patty at one point, none of it seemed real in the least. There was no tension and nothing that seemed part of an intentional arc. 

So my hope is that this last episode will stay that way. Tom is dead, Joe has been arrested, Mrs. Tobin's jumped off a bridge (we don't know what happens to Carol -- maybe she's still trapped in that apartment). Meanwhile, Wiggins gets away (both of them) and the homeless guy stays in his cardbard box. None of it is interesting, none of it is dramatic. Too many strands come together conveniently -- why exactly does the son need to steal Ellen's car to smash into his own mother? -- and too many of them simply don't matter. I've watched every episode and like the Timothy Olyphant arc. But he's been gone so long, it was difficult to remember who they were talking about. Sigh. 

Oh, and we never see the people who lost all their money at the beginning -- you know, the ones we care about? -- get their money back. It's implied, but then we're seeing ghosts from the past (what is this, Medium?) and images of Patty's horse dream and miscarriage of her daughter. Strange time and place to bring all that in, but there you have the shame of this show. Let's hope we're seeing everyone in the cast with some better material next time. 

I was getting ready to write a blog entry on Mercury retrograde -- how it works, what it means, etc. when it decided to hit me in a big way. Some of you may have noticed that the PayPal buttons on the Readings page don't work, and that kind of makes it hard to get a reading. 

Please bear with us. The web designer and developer have been notified and they're working to make sure we're back up and running in the next day or two. If you have a pressing need for a reading, please use the contact form for now, and we can arrange alternate arrangements or payment and scheduling. 

Mercury, of course, is the planet of communication, and when it goes retrograde, or appears to move backwards in the sky, all kinds of things break down. Communication becomes difficult, technology backfires or turns on us. And when it comes to contracts and negotiations, let's just say it's best to wait until May 11th, when Mercury will go direct again. 

This time around, it's in the sign of Taurus, moving from 12 degrees back to 2 degrees. If you're traveling during that time, make sure to bring extra documentation, check and double-check reservations and leave extra time to check in and make your flight. 

Otherwise, sit back and enjoy what this period brings to you. It's not all doom and gloom. People and ideas from the past sometimes come back into your world to be re-examined. And the more you can relax, adapt and look forward, the better off you'll be for the next three weeks or so. 

And don't forget to let me know if you have a pressing need for a reading. That sometimes happens, too, during these periods. 

I grew on Eastern Long Island. Ergo, I was a Mets fan. A National League girl, as anti-Yankee as they come. In fact, if it had come to it, I may have engaged in Diner-style pre-marital quizzes to see if my husband was worthy before taking the plunge. Luckily, he was a Giants fan. 

After moving to Southern California, I couldn't really get into the Dodgers or the Angels. Credit the beach ball thing (annoying) or my issue with American League teams (OK, maybe the Twins are interesting enough to check out from time to time). But the Giants had all the cool stuff. Bonds (when his head wasn't scary big), Jeff Kent, public altercations in the dugout, a brand new ballpark facing McCovey Cove, Robb Nen and assorted others. They even managed to get to the World Series in 2002, losing to the Angels after a spectacular meltdown in Game 6. Sigh. 

But Bonds is behind us, along with the bloated salaries. The Baby Giants -- Pablo Sandoval, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum et al -- are upon us, whispering hope for the future both offensively and defensively. But since I live in SoCal, I don't get to see as many games as I'd like. I get up to AT&T Park maybe twice a year during the season, and see the games when they're playing the Dodgers. Occasionally, when MLB.TV actually works (the interface is still pretty wonky, guys) , I can watch games on the Internet. Oh, to be a Giants gal in a Dodgers world. 

This weekend, however, there's a three-game series at Dodger Stadium so it's on at our house. Vin Scully will be calling the games, but you can't hate on Vin. He's as pleasant as they come, kind of booster-y but not bad intentioned. I'm sure Ethier, Kemp and Co. will be ready, and the rivalry will be renewed. Now all I have to do is find the "birth info" on both teams and run charts to see who'll win. 

I've been reading people for over 25 years now, studying everything I could get may hands and mind around along the way. But what never ceases to amaze me is how the universe does seem to strive toward order, at least in the psychic realm. I can't speak for quantum physics, but I can recognize a pattern when I see one, and there's one going on around me right now. Maybe for you, too. 

People tend to come to me when they need a dose of truth in their lives. While I'm very diplomatic (Moon in Libra, natch), I also like to give people what I would want to hear, the real deal. How else are you supposed to make decisions and take actions, am I right? 

But some people don't like hearing the truth, They may not realize it yet, but they want the sugar-coated, the "nice," the dumbed-down. and even though I can usually see this from the first few sentences that come out of the person's mouth, I'm forever torn between saying what I see (which may not always be pleasant) and saying what I know they'd like to hear. 

That being said, I'm making a promise to myself and whoever gets a reading with me. I will say what needs to be said, even if it's not popular. I will be kind and tolerant but I will not lie. It never helps anyone anyway. Painful emotions can be transmuted and released, but forgiving a liar is harder. 

There, that feels better, saying that out loud. 

You know that feeling when everything's going right and you're just cruising through life? When people get out of your way and ask for some of what you're having? With Jupiter conjuncting the Pisces Moon today, you can break off a little of that for yourself. Jupiter expands whatever it touches, and the Moon is indicative of your emotional nature and how you express this part of your life. Jupiter could exacerbate something you haven't been dealing with, but since Jupiter is so damn lucky, it's more likely that you'll enjoy some emotional satisfaction today. Heck, you may even want to spread some of that lovin' around, by paying someone an unexpected compliment or spilling the beans about your long-held feelings for that cutie special someone. 

How it affects you depends on where it hits your chart (and how it hits your other planets), but anything involving Jupiter makes you more creative. Bust out the finger paints, crank up the laptop so you can write that great American novel or hook up with someone on Facebook to start a band. Aspects like this won't last forever, since the Moon changes signs every few days. Take advantage of it while it lasts and you won't be sorry! 

Pisces, ruled by dreamy Neptune, isn't  known for its ability to instill clarity. Instead, these lunar periods are great for metaphysical work, connecting with spirit guides and guardian angels and launching creative projects and flights of fancy. Pisces Moons can make woolgathering a way of life, reverie a staple of your days. 

But the next few days offer a unique opportunity to attain new clarity, especially if you're trying to untangle a difficult situation or disengage from something that's just not serving you anymore. Before it changes signs, the Aquarius Moon will conjunct Chiron, asteroid of healing through pain, and help us release any negative patterns that may have been holding us back. Tomorrow, the Moon will have made its move into Pisces, and will sextile Pluto in Capricorn, as well as Mercury and Venus in Taurus. 

Whenever the Moon moves through a sensitive sign like Pisces, our emotions may want to move inward so they can be experienced and processed. But with all these personal planets urging us to get on with it, chances are that any personal issues will be released quickly. With Pluto in the mix, we're able to learn from any difficult situations without letting them hamper our progress or weigh us down with unhealthy emotional patterns. 

What we put into motion now will bear fruit next week, as the Moon moves into Aries and then Taurus. This will provide us with the encouragement we need to be more social and attract the people into our lives that will help us learn and grow.