That I’ve been writing horoscopes and related material for a while? Sure. That I get to spend a portion of my time in consultation with actual people? That helps. The almost random appearance of certain types, that shows up frequently? OK. Patterns emerge. The most recent? Four Degrees. Drilling down on that idea? Four Degrees of Aries.

Four Degrees

There was an eclipse, the Lunar New Year — Fire Horse — started, and Saturn closely followed Neptune entering the tropical zodiac sign of Aries. Mercury is in a watery retrograde cycle, just to add an element of confusion, already prefigured with Neptune and its influence.

Horoscopes for 2-17-2026… Horoscopes for 3-3-2026…

What showed up, repeatedly in recent weeks?

Four Degrees

Perhaps a dozen years past? I had a procedure for carpal tunnel on my left hand. An in-office procedure, nip and tuck, a handful of pain pills, plus a new fishing rod/reel and an alternative mouse arrangement — trackpad, no more mouse? No more problem. Last doctor check-up, the capable PA answered a question about a sore elbow: repetitive stress injury, similar to that old carpal tunnel. Simple enough, I adjust my working position, and it goes away. Still? That sore elbow? That’s what the Saturn/Neptune, looking around and gesturing at everything, that’s what this is about and the place where this hits hardest? 4°. Four degrees. It’s that sore spot that a simple adjustment can fix.

Four Degrees

Grabbing an ephemeris, Saturn hits 4° of Aries around 3/20 moving to 5° around 3/29, rough numbers, as an approximation. Slower moving Neptune hits 4° Aries in late May, turning stationary and then backwards in July, staying in retrograde motion until December, arriving back at that 1° Aries.

The American Ephemeris for the 21st Century

Realistically, the first four degrees of Aries, and by extension, all the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will feel its influence. Realistically, though, the sensitive points for this time is that first Four Degrees, and more pointedly, as with Saturn, it’s that first few degrees of Aries. Digging around, I found that I did post about this, a while back, about two transits. At the end of the post, there’s the long form of my (dated) assessment of Saturn conjunct the Sun, and Neptune conjunct the Sun. That applies, over this next three-four months, to the first few degrees of all cardinal signs, in varying stages, but more so? For the first Four Degrees of Aries. As noted.

Kramer Wetzel’s little book of transits

More as an aside, rather than as a hard-and-fast rule, but as a sidebar item? The fire signs, Aries, The Leo, Sagittarius? Especially the flaky Sagittarius and stalwart Leo? The Leo? The fire signs gain clarity through this as it is a trine. Aries? Good thing ya’ll like hard work.

Observed, update

Meditation is a regular thing, and a buddy was teaching a “class” in zen meditation. More like a half hour of sit down and STFU. Works for me. Six souls. Four were Sagittarius.

Observed, update

I was supposed to meet a couple fishing buddies for coffee, morning after the eclipse. We agreed to 10:30 AM, different coffee shop than before. I left a little early, planning to get some work done, only to get a call, “Am I at the right place?” Yes, right place, ahead of schedule but then, so was I. The other guy rolls in right at 10:30, “What? I thought you said 10:30?” I did.

Observed, update

“Get up so we can se the eclipse.” Rolled over. Got up. Stood in the backyard while heavy clouds scudded over the darkening full moon. No blood. No view. Back to bed. Got up to meet the buddies for coffee. My lower back screamed in pain. Metaphysically, as I understand, the lower back is emotional pain about a single issue. Two ibuprofen and I was all better. And coffee. Coffee cures many ills. Blame the eclipse along its Virgo/Pisces axis.

Overheard, update

“My sister’s husband, he works for DPS, you know, he was a Ranger. I gave her a call, and asked if I needed to be worried. You know, nothing he would tell me, but if there was something to watch out for, any threats on the horizon. “She said he said that they said the word was to stay away from crowded areas.”

the Portable Mercury Retrograde