Storm Cestavani

Mercury is in Charge This Week: Expect Genius Ideas, Confusion, and a Little Chaos

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Mercury again, swooping in for yet another week of running the show, and here is your astrology forecast for the week of September 23, 2024 – September 29, 2024.

Mercury is making moves, turning our brains into finely tuned instruments, and our conversations into impromptu TED Talks. But before you go congratulating yourself for that burst of intellectual brilliance, remember: Mercury’s like a Swiss army knife, useful but potentially hazardous if used incorrectly. Let’s take a deep dive into what this week has in store, and why you might want to double-check those emails.

The Magic of Venus: Turning Love, Beauty, and Harmony into Your Personal Superpowers

Let’s talk about Venus, the planet that practically invented love, beauty, and balance. Think of her as the cosmic diva, sashaying through the zodiac in designer shoes, leaving trails of rose petals and romantic playlists wherever she goes. Whether you’re looking to add a little sparkle to your love life, channel your inner Aphrodite, or just get people to stop bickering at family dinners, Venus has your back.

Love Spells? Venus is Your Wingwoman

Ever had a crush that made you feel like you were back in high school, fumbling with words and sweating through your t-shirt? Yeah, Venus sees that and says, “Honey, let me help you out.” She’s the planet of attraction and relationships, and no one understands chemistry like she does. Whether you’re swiping right or trying to reignite that flickering flame in your long-term relationship, Venus magic is here to level up your game.

But here’s the thing: Venus isn’t just about romantic love. She’s also big on self-love. And let’s face it, no love spell is going to work if you’re walking around like a sad sack. So, before you start casting, light a candle, draw a bath, and tell yourself all the things you wish your ex had said (preferably with a glass of wine in hand). Love yourself first, and the rest will follow. Venus insists.

Beauty? Let Venus Make You Shine

You know those days when you look in the mirror and think, “Not bad”? That’s Venus giving you a wink. This planet rules over beauty and aesthetics, making her the go-to for spells that enhance your appearance or help you feel like the best version of yourself. It’s like having a personal stylist, only with fewer judgmental looks.

Glamour spells? Venus is all over that. But don’t stop at contouring and cat-eye eyeliner. With a little Venus magic, you can radiate beauty from the inside out. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about feeling like you’ve got the spotlight on you, 24/7. Try enchanting your beauty products, light a pink candle (Venus loves pink, obviously), and repeat affirmations that remind you just how fabulous you are. Trust me, that glow will be real.

Venus Brings the Peace (and the Drama)

Now, Venus may be known for love and beauty, but she’s also the queen of harmony. If you’ve got friends or family that bicker like it’s their favorite hobby, call on Venus to sprinkle some peace over the situation. She’s got a talent for turning chaos into calm, kind of like that one friend who mediates every argument without breaking a sweat.

You can also use Venus magic to smooth over disagreements at work, avoid awkward holiday dinners, or even negotiate a raise (because harmony is about balance, and balance includes your bank account).

Abundance and Pleasure? Oh Yes!

Speaking of cash, Venus isn’t all love hearts and sparkles—she’s also about living your best life. That includes abundance, luxury, and all the finer things that make you feel like royalty. Want to manifest wealth in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re hustling 24/7? Venus is your gal. Cast spells that invite both prosperity and pleasure into your life—because Venus knows you deserve it all.

Bring Home the Venus Magic

Now, if you’re ready to bring some serious Venus energy into your magical practice, let me introduce you to the **Venus candle** from the Astro Magic line, created by none other Coventry Creations and myself. This handcrafted beauty is designed to channel all the things we’ve just talked about—love, beauty, harmony, and abundance—right into your living room. Light it up during your Venus rituals and watch as your desires blossom like a garden of roses (or at least make your apartment smell amazing). Ready to work your Venus magic? Grab this candle and let Venus do her thing.

Emotional Tsunami Alert! Navigating the Lunar Eclipse in Pisces Like a Pro

Hey Storm Chasers, get ready, because we’re diving deep into the dreamy, watery world of Pisces during the Lunar Eclipse that occurs on September 17, 2024. And just to make things a bit extra, this one is conjunct Neptune—the planet often associated with all things mystical, elusive, and, well, occasionally a little foggy. Think of it as an emotional tsunami with a dash of stardust and a sprinkle of confusion. But don’t worry, I’m here to guide you through the cosmic chaos with humor, insight, and maybe a few wisecracks along the way.

The Astrology Forecast for the Week of October 10, 2022 – October 16, 2022

The astrology forecast for the week of October 10, 2022 through October 16, 2022 features three major planetary aspects (Mars square Neptune, Mercury opposes Jupiter, and Venus trines Saturn) and Mercury moves out of Virgo and back into Libra.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Cosmic Overview

The aspect of the week is Mars in Gemini square Neptune in Pisces. Mars is the action planet; he goes out and gets us what we want and desire. When Mars tangles with Mars we often feel like our energy sources have been sapped or depleted. Now, this can be extremely frustrating if we have to do something or need to use energy to accomplish our goals. If you can, it’s best to involve yourself in spiritual matters or charitable activities, but if you can’t back away from the grind (Mars square Neptune happens on October 12^th), you may need to manage your patience.

Also, be careful with shady people, because they will be lurking heavily while this aspect is active. Avoid them at all costs!

The Astrology Forecast for the Week of October 3, 2022 – October 9, 2022

The astrology forecast for the week of October 3, 2022 through October 9, 2022 features Mercury forming a lovely trine to Pluto, Pluto turning direct in Capricorn, and a Full Moon in Aries.

The good news is that the cosmos slows down for the first week of October. But make sure you get plenty of rest, because the rest of the month is ferocious. Get prepared!

Cosmic Overview

I recently received a call from a friend. She is relatively astrologically knowledgeable, but she told me during the call that the energy was wonky because all these planets are retrograde (at the time – Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were retrograde). She blamed the planets for why situations were not working well in her life.

Another friend, who is more metaphysically inclined, told me that the world was in a disturbed state because all these planets are retrograde. I must admit, I rolled my eyes at this one. The world has been in a disturbed state since, well, since forever.

The main issue is that often we blame the planets (or other people) for our problems, rather than take responsibility for the choices we make in our lives.

Even today, I had a client question me if things will improve in her life when Pluto turns direct on October 8th.

So, I thought I would explain a few things in this weekly update.

Let me begin with Pluto. Pluto takes approximately 250 years to go around the Sun. He’s a slow mover, and even though his orbit is elliptical, meaning he spends more time in some signs than others, he still crawls through the zodiac.

Pluto went retrograde on April 29^th and turns direct on October 8^th. That is a little over 5 months that he spends retrograde, and if you include the ever-popular planetary shadow obsessions, he is pretty much in retrograde watch for the entire year. That’s right – he went into shadow in early January of 2022 and will go out of shadow in January of 2023, only to return to being in shadow a few days later.

I will be perfectly honest. I do not pay attention to the outer planets when they retrograde, because what’s the point? Pluto is still Pluto, and he reflects collective issues, not personal ones. He represents our urge towards survival and the elimination, destruction, amputation, and eventual rebuilding of the sign he is moving through. In Capricorn, Pluto is concerned with the destruction and elimination of corrupt leaders, which has steadily been going on since Pluto moved into Capricorn in 2008.

Now, I pay attention to when Pluto stations in aspect to an inner planet (The Sun, The Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars), because it seems to trigger the transformation of the planet, he aspects. By stationing, I mean on the same degree as the other planet, and I only use hard aspects (conjunction, square opposition).

So, what retrograde planets do I pay attention to?

Simply put, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. They are personal planets that reflect issues we deal with daily. Mercury is how we understand life and communicate that understanding to others. Venus is our urge for relationships, and Mars is our ability to go out into the world and get what we desire. However, I will also say that I do not believe these planets DO anything to us. When these three planets are retrograde, they reflect periods where we should review the areas of life ruled by those planets. We all need times of reflection to ensure that we are on the right path, and these planets give us the ability to course correct if necessary.

In closing, don’t fear retrogrades and don’t blame them for situations that occur in your life. Instead, use them for what they are — times when we should pay close attention to the themes of the planets.

Astrology Forecast for the Week of September 26, 2022 – October 2, 2022

The astrology forecast for the week of September 26, 2022 through October 2, 2022 features six major aspects (Venus trine Pluto, Mercury Rx conjunct Venus, Sun oppose Jupiter, Mercury Rx trine Pluto, Mars trine Saturn, Venus oppose Jupiter), Venus moves out of Virgo and into Libra, and Mercury turns direct in Virgo.

This week is busier than the New York subway at rush hour. So, buckle your seat belt!

Cosmic Overview

This week Venus moves out of the sign of her fall (Virgo) and into the sign she rules (Libra). In traditional astrology, Venus is considered the lesser benefic, and moving into her own sign gives her power to maneuver in ways that are helpful to our growth. Now, this doesn’t mean you can sit on your couch and eat a package of Godiva chocolate (although Venus would love to do that), a planet in its own dignity still requires work.

In many astrological cookbooks, Venus in Libra relates to finding the perfect and ideal mate. Often our ideals of relationships look good on paper (after all, who doesn’t want a tall dark handsome stranger?), but our ideals often don’t work well in real life. Furthermore, you need to acknowledge that whoever you get involved with has romantic ideals of their own, which can bring forth complications, especially if one person gets their needs met more than another.

Practically speaking, Venus in Libra helps us look at whether our relationships are balanced. Sometimes they are not, and you can use this placement to bring them back to center. It’s also a time to seek compromises when necessary for the overall health of the relationship. Additionally, with Venus in Libra, you can seek new relationships (wait until Mercury goes direct before committing to one). If you’ve been holding back and waiting for the right to connect with someone, take advantage of this energy, because the time is now.