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.

A Daytimer

The other afternoon at the shop? My promoter and coordinator pulled out a classical “Daytimer,” in attractive leather. Sparked deep-seated memories for me.

“I’m only available one Tuesday in May and one Tuesday in June.”

I explained a schedule point.

“If I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it.”

True dat. However, in our digital age, when a phone remembers so much of what we do? Location, time, listening into the conversations? Seeing an actual “Daytimer” brought back a flood of memories. I had one more than four decades back. I spent lavishly at the time for that real leather binder, then filled it with the outlined pages. Names, addresses, phone numbers, a calendar of events, the months ahead, what was going on, and when. Who. Action lists, activities. Appointments. As a sidebar note? Those action lists only work if one uses them.

A Daytimer

That “Daytimer” was a last gasp, desperate attempt at imposing order on a chaotic life. Many years distant, I tired several other ways to keep track of dates, times, appointments, and so forth. As I’ve basically been self-employed since before college? I need a way to keep track of who, what, and when. Where, too. Eventually, an electronic calendar fulfilled all my needs. Like Sir Occam? The simplest answer is sometimes the right answer.

A Daytimer

But that “Warm Leatherette” Daytimer brought back a flood of unfulfilled desires, wishes, and sometime? The greatest gifts are wishes not granted.

• Daytimer binder
• Warm Leatherette

the Portable Mercury Retrograde