Robin's Zodiac Zone April 26th to May 3rd, 2017: Mercury Stations Direct

Thursday: Just past New Moon, this is an energized, active time. Mercury retrograde can put a hold on something or cause a bit of indecision, but you can still lay groundwork, consider options, do routine tasks and perhaps enjoy creative process without rushing. Taurus Moon lines up with Venus, ending her journey in Pisces, and with Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. Going back to unfinished business, personal or professional makes sense. Can you find different perspective and possibilities this time? Taurus Moon void 9:18 pm to 9:39 pm EDT and then shifts to changeable Gemini. Today's color is Blue.

Friday: Gemini Moon meets Mars. Stay busy and productive, write, create and keep the body working so the mind doesn't move into overanalyzing mode. Avoid arguments since Mars could heat up verbal exchanges.  Mercury and Uranus meet in Aries, which can also be overly aggressive or disruptive verbally. Events and news occur swiftly. Last minute plans may work out or drive you mad. Venus moves into Aries, sparking new interests in people or projects and possibilities. Today's color is Pink.
Yin Yoga at Riverbend Yoga Yarmouth, Maine 12-1 pm

Saturday: Gemini Moon in harmony with Mercury and Uranus, two of yesterday's active planets. Life might be a roller coaster especially in terms of plans and communication. What was true or seemed to be may not seem the same today. Changes of mind, miscommunication, and the dual nature of Gemini feed into all of that. However, maybe today things seem easier or happen with more flow.  Important debates takes place as the Moon opposes Saturn retro in Sagittarius. Listen to each other and don't steam roll over others' words or values.  Void Moon 5:28 pm to 9:48 pm EDT. Cancer Moon moves in and squares Venus in Aries. Differences in love style may lead to a stalemate, or with understanding may lead to compromises.  White is today's color.

Sunday: Cancer Moon aligns with the Taurus Sun and Neptune in Pisces. Being empathetic, understanding, nurturing, creative, and loyal will put you in harmony with the universe. At 11:23 pm EDT, the Moon squares Jupiter. Be fair in your dealings and in how you treat others, especially family.  Today's color is Light Blue.
Deep Stretch at Greener Postures Yoga South Portland 5:30-6:45 pm

Monday: Cancer Moon starts out initially cranky or challenged by Pluto retrograde's opposition and by squares with Mercury retro and Uranus in Aries. According to these aspects, there's a lot to be somehow addressed or dealt with. Compassion may not come easily.  Aggravation could be consuming. Breathe well and remember the problem is temporary. Void Moon 4:23 pm until 12:12 am overnight (EDT, so adjust to your zone) Today's color is Lavender.
Heated Flow at Greener Postures Yoga South Portland 6-7 am

Tuesday: Leo Moon starts at 12:12 am EDT. Purple is today's color. Be loyal and loving as the Moon and Venus align. Accept generous offers or help. Moon and Mars align to get things accomplished or for fun and socializing.  Moon and Sun square for a day where progress is valued. This is the final full day of Mercury retrograde. Purple is today's color.
Gentle Yoga at Scarborough (Maine) Yoga 9:30-10:30 am

Wednesday: Leo Moon aligns with Mercury in Aries, direct at 12:33 pm. Jupiter and Uranus are also in harmony with the Moon. The Sun and Neptune are in harmony, and the Sun is Leo's ruling planet. Qualities of Leo, like talent, generosity, creativity, and optimism, activate. You may feel surprisingly good (I hope so!). Do be willing to ease in to new situations on this day when Mercury stations. Don't rush, but do see the light at the end! Today's color is Yellow.

My current schedule of yoga classes is at www.RoZoYo.com/yoga

Save June 22nd 5:30-7 pm for outdoor yoga in downtown Portland. Live music will accompany our RoZoYo Solstice practice. Mark 4th Thursdays of July, August and September for Robin's Zodiac Yoga with local, live musicians this season.

Yoga Nidra at Greener Postures this month will be Friday, May 19th 6-7 pm.

Peace on Earth. Robin

Robin's Zodiac Zone April 19th to 25th, 2017: Pluto Retrograde

Yoga Nidra: guided meditation for deep relaxation and deeper healing. There is no wrong way to do this, just open up to the experience in one reclined posture.
This Friday at Greener Postures in South Portland 6 pm & on Sunday at Scarborough Yoga 3-4 pm. Drop ins welcome. Scarborough has more limited space so registering early is recommended (just in case!) Sign up at www.scarboroughmaineyoga.com

Thursday: Pluto retrograde begins. Pluto spends about 5 months a year retrograde, so it's not uncommon. The effects are more internal than external. A cleanse, purging the brain or body, may be due. You may need to conquer a fear or banish negative thoughts or scary dreams.  Pluto retrograde is a process that results in transformation. Be careful of holding things in and keeping secrets that could harm you or other people. A downside of Pluto retro could be obsession. An upside could be renewal through cleansing.  Pluto is retro until September 28th.  Meanwhile, Mercury retro backtracks into Aries for some revision and rethinking as well as reconnections with more people or places from your past.  If you're born at the late Aries dates, Mercury saunters past the Sun in your birth chart and potentially impacts your thinking and your actions in the days ahead. In Aries, the Sun meets Mercury today and the Moon in Aquarius lines up geometrically with Jupiter retro in Libra. It's a people oriented day, good for sharing ideas. The Sun and Mercury lead to expressiveness, leadership, and announcements.  Today's color is Violet.

Friday: Mars moves to Gemini at 6:32 am EDT. The Moon and Mars form a square at 4:13 pm EDT, activating both emotional and intellectual intelligences. Effort and understanding are required as you work through a problem or creative process. Venus squares Saturn continuing a relationship theme of the past few weeks. Venus is now direct and Saturn pushes for mature and wise decisions about partnership. The Moon moves from Aquarius to Pisces after a short void of course time 2:23 to 3:43 pm EDT and forms 4 sextiles along the way today. Sextiles are easygoing, harmonious 60 degree angles. Put your energy where results are most likely since some things will manifest readily now. Today's color is White.

Saturday: Quick refresher! With so much change and several retrogrades, here's the current lineup: Sun in Taurus, Mercury retrograde in Aries, Venus direct in Aries, Mars in Gemini, Jupiter retro in Libra, Saturn retro in Sagittarius, Uranus in Aries, Neptune in Pisces, Pluto retro in Capricorn. The retrogrades lead us to focus inward and back in time. Reoccurrences, reconnections, and reasons to revise are present themes. Take your time and move thoughtfully and as slowly as you need to. Pisces Moon meets Neptune and feelings, dreams and imagination are active. Trust could be an issue, as could escapist tendencies.  Creative peaks and lack of dependability are likely. Blue is today's color.

Sunday: Pisces Moon aligns with Pluto and squares Saturn. Serious issues, thoughts and personal matters are a focus.  Understanding, compassion and moderation are helpful. If your inner critic and self judgment are speaking too loudly, consider a meditation or talk with a trusted friend or family member to put things in perspective.  From 5:34 to 8:32 pm EDT, the Moon is void of course and then shifts to Aries, meets Venus, and aligns with Mars in Gemini for strong interpersonal connections. This could be a good date night, and first meetings are favored. You may also work on a business partnership or collaboration successfully with these aspects.  Tomorrow begins similarly. Pink is today's color.

Monday: Aries Moon opposite Jupiter retro in Libra. Also, Mercury retro in Aries trine to Saturn retro in Sagittarius. Be careful about false starts. The intention and impulse may be there before the conditions are 'right'.  Try not to push too hard. Growth and change are in the works, but are you in too much of a hurry? Consider options and stick with flexible plans and solutions.  Today's color is Red.

Tuesday: New Moon is on Wednesday, and this day prior lends itself to reflection, rethinking and clearing clutter.  If you're cleaning and organizing, don't toss things mindlessly during Mercury retrograde. Instead sort and make piles or boxes to look at in May. Clear mental excess with meditation. It's easy to find good, guided meditations online. Use healing sound like crystal bowls or chimes if you prefer that to spoken word.  I posted a Simple Meditation you can try, on soundcloud (free site, free listening, and p.s. Higher quality audio meditations coming this summer.) Moon conjunction with Uranus and Mercury has the mind working overtime, and we may need to quiet or calm our reactions through unusual or surprising events or news today. At 5:53 pm the Moon trines Saturn and moves void of course until 9:56 pm EDT. The serious nature of decisions and even thoughts is in focus. This is a natural time to be revising your philosophy of life or changing life plans.Taurus Moon moves in, preparing the way for New Moon at 8:16 am EDT on Wednesday. Today's color is Yellow.

Wednesday: New Moon in Taurus. Neptune is the only planet aligning with the Moon today. Generally this feels easygoing, and both creative and methodical. Make art, dance and be physical, connect with nature, water and earth. Spend time or energy in the garden, or build. Usually a new Moon in Taurus leads to long term decisions, however with Mercury retrograde it may be best to slow down. Develop a plan of action and take your time. Keep focus on a goal and on prosperity, and let the events unfold naturally. Watch for opportunities and keep your mind open.  Today's color is White.

Taurus by Dali

Robin's Zodiac Zone April 13th to 18th, 2017: Mercury Retrograde

Thursday: Scorpio Moon aligns with Pluto in Capricorn and opposes Mars in Taurus. The tendency is to stick with your opinions and what you believe in. Spiritual beliefs and intuition are heightened. It's not a good day to have to state your case or convince someone to change their mind. Stay centered. Romance is also favored*. Today's color is Indigo.

Friday: Scorpio Moon void of course from 12:18 am EDT to 6:27 am, a good time for dreaming. Dream states are stimulated as is instinct and intuition. Moon and Venus align so it could be a romantic night.* Sagittarius Moon for the rest of Friday and Saturday, and the Sun meets Uranus in Aries. Situations will be surprising, newsworthy and in some cases wild or out of control. Genius ideas come. Write things down to follow up on later. Capture the moment or the inspiration in some way.  There's a bold and impulsive streak present.  Make sure actions won't come back to 'bite you' in the future. Magnetic attractions occur at times like this, and Aries you're in the midst of that. Today's color is Red.

Saturday: Venus is direct again, in Pisces, at 6:18 am. Relationship, love, and partnership matters are highlighted for weeks ahead. Fresh starts and new love is favored. Mercury is still retrograde, however.  One on one relationships may smooth out or become exciting and vibrant, but remember to keep communication clear. Promises are better saved for after May 3rd. Sag Moon square to Neptune in Pisces and in harmony with Jupiter retro in Libra. Uncertainty, delays, and reasons to renegotiate or change plans make today feel a bit unstable. Consider what is most fair to all parties. Today's color is Light Blue.

Sunday: In the midst of Passover and Easter Sunday, the Moon changes signs, from Sag to Capricorn at 7:05 pm. Void Moon from 2:26 to 7:05 pm EDT. Moon harmonizes with the Sun and Mercury and meets Saturn for an eventful day. Important topics come up, though final decisions are best saved for May. However, you can find temporary solutions or decide to try something out successfully during Mercury retro. Be willing to negotiate and explore.  Moon square to Venus and Venus in harmony with Mars makes relationships interesting and top of mind. Good chemistry between Venus and Mars is helpful especially to Pisces and Taurus and their Scorpio and Virgo partners. New and interesting romantic or creative partnerships light up for Scorpio and Capricorn.  People may very well be getting along better. Mixed feelings are an undercurrent, and it's fine to keep a bit of healthy skepticism as to how things will go. Live in the moment and take people as they come and as they are today. Reunions of all sorts are characteristic of this time period. Today's color is Green.

Monday: Capricorn Moon, and the Aries Sun aligns with Capricorn ruling planet, Saturn. Structure is a key theme. Organize, and if you're clearing things out, be thoughtful. Mercury is retro, so if you're uncertain just makes piles and hang onto things until you feel sure they're no longer wanted. The Sun and Saturn put structure around ideas and plans. You can lay some really great groundwork for a plan you hope to launch this spring or summer. Put in the effort. Be up front and honest. Today's color is Yellow.

Tuesday: The Moon and Pluto meet in Capricorn. Moon also squares Uranus in Aries and Jupiter in Libra. Those cardinal sign squares often hit hot buttons. Try not to be triggered by 'old stuff'. Leadership needs come up. Who's ready to get past a fear or uncertainty and move the group forward? Overdue recognitions or promotions will come for some of you. Mercury is retro, but don't let that stop you. Just proceed with an open mind. Today's color is Black.

Wednesday: Capricorn Moon void from 5:57 am to 6:52 am EDT (very short void Moon). Aquarius Moon sets in then. The Sun spends a few more hours in Aries season and moves to Taurus at 5:27 pm EDT. This is the cusp day. Moon aligns with Venus and Mars on the overnight/early hours, and squares the Sun and Mercury retrograde in Taurus.  If you're dissatisfied, do something other than complaining. Avoid gossip. Use facts to back up statements or documentation.  Today is meant for methodical and logical thinking and problem solving. Wear Turquoise.

Full Moon Restorative Yoga on July 8th at Maine YogaFest at East End Community School Grounds in Portland, Maine. This workshop is filling up quickly already.
Follow Robin Ivy Payton and Maine YogaFest on instagram
instagram.com/robinivypayton instagram.com/MaineYogafest

See the rest of my schedule at www.rozoyo.com/yoga

Happy Spring!
Robin

Robin's Zodiac Zone April 6th to 12th, 2017 (Full Moon in Libra)

Thursday: Saturn retrograde starts at 1:06 am EST. Certain life matters, reflection on aging and the wisdom of experience require processing time now. Educational decisions and plans may be harder than you'd expect and we could experience travel restrictions on a global level. Sagittarius is the sign of philosophy, freedom, global travel and higher education. Patience could be wise and necessary during this period, especially when Mercury is also retrograde starting Sunday. Leo Moon void of course  from 8:16 pm to Friday 12:20 am EST. Many aspects of the Moon include themes of longevity, loyalty, promises and commitments. Be true to your word. With Mars trine Pluto, determination comes from deep inside. Be authentic and honorable with your motivation and motives. Today's color is Indigo.

Friday: Virgo Moon 12:20 am EST, trine to Mercury on the brink of retrograde. Temporary problem solving and versatile thinking will help until more permanent plans can be made.  The Sun opposes Jupiter, emphasizing self interests vs partnership, individuality vs compromise, and equality and harmony in the processes. Are you overdoing or going too far or pressuring someone? Determine what needs to be done now and what can wait, in terms of both actions and discussions. Taking a step back may be helpful. Today's color is Brown.

Saturday: Virgo Moon with multiple aspects. Be practical as much as possible. Stay close to the earth and grounded in tasks or creations.  Venus squares Saturn retrograde. As we move toward Libra Full Moon, love, partnership, and one on one relationships where there's (supposed to be) interdependence and co-ownership come strongly into focus. If there's imbalance and disharmony, situations will peak and feel the stress required to break them down or push to change.  The Sun squares Pluto. Conflicting ideas, matters of who's in charge and power plays come up with that square. Be wary of  manipulative actions and behavior during this period of time (all week). It might feel like you're just spinning the wheels and going nowhere, in which case it makes more sense to pause and conserve your energy. Black is today's color. 

Sunday: Mercury retrograde starts, lasting until May 3rd. Use extra care with schedules, details, and choice of words. Matters of stability and security are likely to create anxiety or stress of another kind. Uncertainty is a challenge, and temporary plans are more advised than permanent decisions. It's not the best time for final word on anything.  Libra Moon starts at 8:34 am EST after about 4 hours void of course. The Virgo Moon prior is opposite Venus and square to Saturn (both are retrograde), challenging us in relationship matters. Full Moon warmup is on too. The intensity level is peaking all the way around. Today's color is Lavender.

Monday: Full Moon will be exact on Tuesday EST at 2:08 am (so for Pacific time it's technically on Monday). It's in Libra, sign of justice, balance and partners. Today the Moon meets Jupiter in Libra. This Full Moon has a theme of growth in love and partnership, also whether you can grow together or not.  All relationship matters, concerns, or collaborations are spotlighted during this Full Moon. Aim for realism, fair outcomes, and mutual respect as well as maximum potential. What is your relationship concern or message? The first thing that comes to mind is probably the area to contemplate. remember all this retrograde activity makes it a better time to explore and experiment rather than make a long term change. Can you sit with your feelings during this Full Moon? Can you avoid reacting too recklessly or impulsively? In some cases you've done that and it's time. But give yourself a 'minute' in intense situations. There's a good deal of change in the air. take it slow. Today's color is White.

Tuesday: Full Moon in Libra opposes the Sun and Uranus and is sextile to Saturn. Some news will seems to come from out of the blue, and there could be impulsive moves (though that's not recommended.) If you find yourself in a surprising situation or conversation, stop, observe, and use your finest judgement before responding.  The Moon is void at 2:19 pm EST, and moves to Scorpio at 8:42 pm EST. Major decisions are not recommended today. Do meet a deadline and try not to stir up emotional matters. Quiet, reflective or relaxed time is a plus. This Full Moon is about relationship, but it's not very romantic. Problem solving together could bring you closer though.  Today's color is Blue.

Wednesday: Scorpio Moon, just beyond Full, opposes Mercury retrograde in Taurus. Stubbornness and stuck points seem to dominate.  Try not to give all your energy to something unchanging and unmoving now. Determine how energy is most effectively spent, including on rest, personal priorities and creative process as the Moon and Neptune align. You may need to shut the world out for a while. Privacy is valued today. Wear dark red, like Maroon.