All day, the Moon is in Pisces, just radiating dreaminess on its own, with no aspects to other planets. It's a day for pottering, being with the muse (be-mused), pondering nature's mysteries, or escaping into the Neptunian dark of the cinema. Pisces is Neptune-ruled, and is about voyages into the depths. There can be transcendent experiences, but there's also a danger of drowning.

There's a film out now called Neptune's Return, by the Cosmic Intelligence Agency. The trailer describes Neptune's sighting in 1846 in the constellation of Aquarius. Neptune's discovery in modern human awareness, it's recounted, coincided with things like anesthesia, photography, impressionism in art and communism (dissolving of class structures).

The movie celebrates Neptune's return to its discovery degree of 25 degrees Aquarius. There's a fabulous montage of fashion through the Neptunian eras, from flappers with flair (Neptune Leo) to the big hair and platform shoes of the 70s (Neptune Sagittarius). The narrator gets into the fluid realms of our atmosphere (air, water), and how we're becoming aware of the often invisible toxins that run through them.

It's significant that Neptune's return to its discovery degree coincides with a Jupiter (expansion) and Chiron (healing) conjunction. In 2009/2010, its return heralds an awakening to shared unseen currents, and how we create reality as a collective. It's a time, says the narrator, when we're faced with the choice of whether to sink or swim. "Whether the universe is a dead sea of randomness, or to recognize Neptune's pull to reverence for its turbulent realm. To dance with its ever-shifting currents."

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Two years ago, my Dad -- my first love and a soul mate -- died in early June, and then my sister had a child on Winter Solstice. That first Christmas we missed Dad, but had a tiny dark-haired new life to hold, confirming Carl Sandburg's line that, "A baby is God's opinion that life should go on." Winter Solstice is the longest night in Northern latitudes, but it's also the start of the Sun's return. In the dark, around fires, there's a celebration of the birth of the new Sun.

It's like the Sun's Dark Moon time, and has a similar cloistered-in-the-mystery feel to it. It's the solar cycle's deepest low, where we're wrapped in darkness and all that signifies. We're just three years away from the Winter Solstice of 2012, when the Sun aligns with the galactic center. How will we be changed, when we're mixing with these mysterious cosmic energies?

More than ever, with foundational structures on shaky ground, we're facing the great unknown. In this dying time of the year, we're asked to have faith in the promise of new life, and new beginnings. It's a potent day for rituals, like lighting a candle and making a wish. What would you like to incubate, to bring forward in the Spring?

Even as we're drawn into the womb-like dark, there's a Jupiter-Neptune conjunction today that evokes wonder and awe. This is our silver lining in shimmery Aquarius. That no matter how dark things seem, things can change in an instant. There may heartbreak now with the economy, but there are also miracles happening. These two planets gift us with faith in the dark, that new possibilities can come out of the blue in 2010.

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It's the eve of Winter Solstice (December 21st), one of the sacred solar days in the wheel of the year. Here at mid-winter the new Sun is born, and the days slowly begin to get longer.

At the winter solstice sunrise, a beam of light shines into the chamber at Newgrange Cairn in Ireland, and onto one of the many triskele, or triple spirals. In his post Stargate Ireland, investigative mythologist William Henry tells of going to Newgrange, which he calls a Neolithic tomb of transformation.

Henry says many believe the triskele stands for the three realms -- Land, Sea and Sky, also known as Body/Heart, Soul and Spirit. The triskele is found throughout Celtic Ireland and Scotland, the unique "logo" of an ancient people William calls wise and spiritual, and "who may fairly be called the Irish Magi."

Henry's research reaches back into time, to ancient esoteric traditions of transfiguration, or activating the light body. He sees the Celtic spirals as wormholes, or stargates, of a people that had mastered the art of traveling across time and space. Newgrange, he writes, is "where the Tuatha de Danaan are said to have escaped to another dimension."

Who are the Tuatha De Danaan? Writes Henry, "They are considered to be direct reincarnations of the 'Shining Ones', the Anunnaki gods of ancient Sumeria, born again to serve as guides and teachers for the new and evolving souls." Jesus, writes Henry, was also a master guide, showing through his story how to activate an embedded code within the cross of the human body. The code is DNA, and shown in braids on Celtic crosses like that of Athlone, 8th century. There's also a triple spiral (wormhole or stargate) above Jesus' head, which Henry uses to support his theory of Stargate Christianity.

Whenever I read or hear Henry's threads of research, my mind and intuitive imagination are stretched to the limit. It's fascinating to consider this recent Norway Spiral, as a supernatural sign. Henry looks at speculations about what it is, against Christian prophecy and the foretelling in indigenous cultures of wormholes appearing at the end times.

Newgrange Cairn, Ireland

Mars goes retro on Sunday (exact 8:26 am) at 19 degrees, winding back through the Leo degrees to 0, before going direct on March 10th 2010. A Mars retrograde has the energy turning back on us, churning around within. In Leo, you could say it's roiling captive within us. Like the lions pacing in the zoo. Mars Leo is virile, proud and dignified. This retrograde creates a closed circuit of that vibrant creativity. It could be a time of spinning on what makes you feel alive. It's a chance to feel our own unique mojo, even as it builds intensity, and is held back from forward motion.

In her post on Mars retrograde, Stephanie Gailing of Planetary Apothecary writes that the stifling of Mars (anger, passion) can lead to depression. "So, make sure to find ways for moving fiery martial energy though; exercise--including the martial arts actually--can be great vehicles for this." She suggests Vetiver to among other things, dispel Martian heat, and Scarlet Monkeyflower essence

Since Mars signifies passion, it's what captures the heart, and sparks desire. For some it could bring back an old flame! For others, it blocks the exits, so you'll re-discover the creative sources within. Leo involves things like children, risk, hobbies, love affairs, celebrations, dramatic self-expression and leadership. Mars lures you back into all the loves of your life. It fixes you on what you burn for. Mars' retrograde takes you to the heart of your uniqueness, so you're animated with it when it's time to move forward.

• Mars Retrograde Through the Houses

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