Share

Archives: testimonials

"

Advanced knowledge about bad luck is leverage.

In other words, knowing the probability of an individual’s success or failure is priceless.

“Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory.”
Miguel de Cervantes

Knowing when you will endure personal adversity, and when you will be freed from it, can help protect your interests and limit your risk.

In my view, bad luck (or good luck) is merely personal fate in action.

Just as you probably didn’t learn about negotiating, self-awareness, stress management, and entrepreneurship in school, you didn’t learn that countless kings, queens, rulers, warlords, successful merchants, and others throughout history relied upon advisors who were astrologers. The custom went underground in the 1700s when those in power during the Age of Reason unjustly condemned the sciences of astrology and number mysticism.

I sympathize with skeptics of astrology and numerology. I don’t believe in the types of astrology and numerology you’ve been exposed to either. My debate with an astrology skeptic offers more information.

Whether or not a person will get what he wants out of life in any given period of time (e.g., one year, five years, ten years, or longer periods of time) is measurable, and I offer this type of insight through my profiles.

Getting what one wants from life directly relates to success in career, finances, or love life, for example. Though success or failure can relate to other areas of life too, such as vitality and physical health.

Knowledge is power. For example, if you know your potential hire is highly likely to get what she wants out of life with her career and money over the next several years, it’s that much more likely she’ll be a good hire.

If you know a rival hedge fund manager isn’t likely to get what he wants out of life over the next decade, contrasting greatly with successfully getting what he wanted over the past twenty years, you can confidently avoid mirroring his investments in the financial markets.

If you know a potential business partner is likely to get what he wants in his career in the foreseeable future, you gain peace of mind that partnering with him is a good idea.

The applications are endless. Knowing in advance when any given person will face fierce headwinds (or tail-winds) in any given area in his life gives you priceless leverage.

Gaining leverage is often necessary to limit your risk. Greatly decrease your vulnerability and increase the likelihood of success with my penetrating profiles.

Copyright © 2023 Scott Petullo

Revealed: Advanced Knowledge About Bad Luck is Leverage

"

"

Inside information about personality characteristics is power.

In a perfect world you wouldn't have to worry about gaining leverage in your career or personal life. But the real world demands that you do so in order to protect your interests.

Success doesn't require you to be a genius, but exploiting an edge can make a huge difference and help you prepare for potential peril.

Everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses and nobody is perfect. Even the most trivial details about your adversary's personality can be used to gain an advantage in negotiations or other matters.

Traditional security investigations, personality self-tests, and psychologist interviews are some of the ways you can get to know someone. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend months with him and wait until he is under a lot of pressure.

“In tough times, that's when you see true colours and personality.”
Didier Deschamps

Unorthodox methods, including handwriting analysis and comprehensive astrology and numerology, are my preferred methods to really understand authentic personality. All you need to provide to me is a snapshot of their handwriting and their birth data.

Read more about handwriting analysis here. Read more about comprehensive astrology and numerology in my debate with an astrology skeptic blog post.

Below are select characteristics that I routinely determine through handwriting analysis and comprehensive astrology and numerology. The more excessive any given personality trait, the more easily it can be identified.

Thinkers vs. Feelers

An extremely analytical person without empathy can be cold as ice. But a predominantly feeling person without critical thinking skills can be easily manipulated.

Past oriented vs. Future oriented

A past oriented person is consumed with nostalgia and oftentimes regret. A future oriented person would rather focus on tomorrow.

Emotionally responsive vs. Self-absorbed

An emotionally responsive person would do anything for a loved one. A self-absorbed person wouldn’t.

Emotional security as primary motivation vs. Goal achievement vs. Material security oriented

There is nothing wrong with primarily being interested in emotional security (e.g., happy marriage), goal achievement, or financial security. The problem is being excessively motivated in one of these areas, to the detriment of the others.

Surface thinking vs. Deep thinking

Someone who is a surface thinker doesn’t care about why things happen. He will accept things at face value. The deep thinker wants to know why things happen and won’t automatically accept the consensus view.

In touch with feelings vs. Detached

Those strongly in touch with their feelings might be swayed through an emotional plea. Those who distance themselves from their feelings would be more objective.

Open-minded vs. Closed minded

Open-minded people are receptive to new ideas. Judgmental people, generally, aren’t.

Intellectually sharp vs. Slow, methodical thinker

Although the intellectual typically believes himself to be shrewd, all too often the unsophisticated person has more common sense. “Smart-stupid” people, particularly if they are biased, can be influenced just as easily as anyone else.

Detail-oriented vs. Big-picture

Excessively detail-oriented people tend to get lost in the trivialities. Big-picture people tend to see the overall idea, but might miss the finer points.

Greedy vs. Generous

Excessive desire for acquisition of money can be a vulnerability. But so can being too altruistic.

Vanity vs. Modesty

The narcissist can be manipulated through excessive praise. But those who are too modest might give too much away.

Savior complex vs. Egoist

Those with a savior complex would “do the right thing,” excessively, to her detriment. But self-seekers make it all about themselves.

Secretive vs. Forthcoming

A lack of transparency can cause big problems. But someone who is too candid might reveal information that is supposed to remain secret.

Lack of Integrity vs. Honorable

Knowing you’re dealing with someone who has great difficulty living by her asserted convictions can help you prepare for the worst. Though the righteous might be more easily controlled in negotiations.

Self-deception vs. Objectivity

Someone with excessive rationalization might fool himself into settling for something less than he would otherwise. Yet the world sometimes seems bleak to those who squarely face the cold, hard realities of life.

Defiance vs. Submission

Those who are defiant won’t give an inch. But those who are too submissive are doormats.

Excessive sensitivity to criticism vs. Not caring what others think

Those with excessive sensitivity to criticism might hold back, but those without any inhibitions could act inappropriately.

Problematic emotional balance vs. Stoic

While under pressure, those with problematic emotional balance lapse into a childish disposition. But those who are too stoic might be repressing their emotions, leading to an eventual blow up.

Gaining leverage is often necessary to limit your risk. Greatly decrease your vulnerability by knowing the other person, beyond the everyday persona, with my penetrating profiles.   

Copyright © 2023 Scott Petullo

Revealed: Inside Information About Personality is Leverage

"

"

Knowing how to identify and hire winners is vital to your business success.

There are many ways to identify and hire winners. I recommend you use multiple evaluation methods, including both conventional and unconventional means.

Below I list five crucial concerns that you must address to identify and hire winners.

These five principles also apply to those you partner with in business, and who you choose to partner with romantically.

Are his personality strengths and motivations a good fit for the demands of the job? One surefire way to identify real personality strengths and challenges is through handwriting analysis, which identifies subconscious character. Subconscious character is the real personality, beyond the persona that you see during the interview process.

Besides authentic strengths and challenges, actual motivations are critical to identify. For example, you want to hire someone who is motivated by money, not creative expression or leadership, if he is in a commission sales position.

Note: I understand if you’re skeptical of handwriting analysis. Rest assured, handwriting analysis is an authentic science. It’s one of the most objective and non-discriminatory forms of personality analysis. Handwriting analysis can’t be manipulated, unlike psychological multiple-choice tests and other self-executed character assessment methods.

Do any red flag personality issues make her a bad fit for the job? Everyone has his or her own unique personality challenges. But questionable personality traits that are at great odds with the potential success of the job result in trouble. For example, excessive secretiveness would lead to wasted time in having to pry information out of her, and excessive conflict avoidance yields a risk of subordinates or competitors manipulating her into a decision involving less discord. Remember, the real personality doesn't appear until he or she is under pressure.

Is his personal power waning? If you hire someone based on his past success it can sometimes work out. However, if his personal power is declining you'll be hiring someone who isn't likely to meet your expectations. Pattern recognition involving comprehensive astrology and numerology is one way to know the general inclination of a person's future life circumstances. In other words, it's possible to know if he is ascending within his career (or the opposite), making him a great hire. After all, if he's going to shine, so will your business.

Note: I sympathize with skeptics of astrology and numerology. I don’t believe in the types of astrology and numerology you’ve been exposed to either. My debate with an astrology skeptic offers more information. 

Is she heading toward trouble and a downward correction in life? Dramatically falling from grace is discernible in the comprehensive astrology and numerology patterns. The details of downward corrections vary, but typically involve loss of money and status. It’s better to know the probabilities in advance and pass her by so she doesn’t take you down with her.

Is the potential hire compatible with you and the success of your business? The better the compatibility, as measured by comprehensive astrology and numerology, and handwriting analysis, the more she will represent the success of your business.

Extremes are easy to measure: an individual with whom you have fantastic compatibility or one with whom you have horrible compatibility. With the former, everything seems to go right. With the latter, everything seems to go wrong. Find out ahead of time about your compatibility so you can stop wasting time with the wrong people.

Authentic compatibility isn’t a choice. The compatibility between every pair of individuals is as exclusive as your fingerprints, it’s unchangeable, and it’s measurable.

Whichever methods you use to identify and hire winners, make sure you're able to effectively scrutinize the five areas of interest above. You have the option to successfully identify and hire winners who will help take your business to the next level.

Copyright © 2023 Scott Petullo

How to Identify and Hire Winners

"

"

 

How to find your calling should be a class in high school. Everyone has a calling, but not everyone has an easy time identifying it.

The first thing you need to do to find your calling is to realize that it may be something you’re already good at and that you like doing. If you’re resourceful enough, you can turn almost any hobby into a career.

In my view, everyone has a divine purpose, something you’ve agreed to do before you were born, and it may be more important than your career. For example, it may include one or more of the following: being a good friend, sibling, mother, or father; empowering others; standing up for human rights and freedom; speaking the truth; being who you are instead of being who someone else wants you to be; doing the work you do, no matter how inconsequential it seems.

 

Ask yourself these questions to help discover your calling:

  1. In which classes or activities in school did you excel?
  2. What did you want to do for a career before the age of 10?
  3. What did you want to do for a career before the age of 18?
  4. What have you always wanted to do but lacked the resources or courage?
  5. What's the hardest challenge you've mastered in your life?
  6. What do you really enjoy doing in life now (e.g., types of projects, pastimes, activities, social gatherings, etc.)?
  7. What do you believe you are good at now? What do others consider you good at? Is there something you could teach if called on to do so?
  8. What types of skills or talents have been most responsible for your successes?
  9. Is there a particular skill you would like to have (e.g., artistic talent, analytical ability, writing ability, persuasive ability, etc.)?
  10. Think of the last time you were so involved in what you were doing that you lost track of time and didn't even feel like you were working. What were you doing?
  11. What makes you feel like you are in the right place at the right time, forgetting about life's problems? What gives you the most joy?
  12. What do you want to be known for?
  13. If you were paid enough, what would you do for a career, no matter how crazy it sounds (e.g., professional socialite, warrior, philosopher, etc.)?
  14. If you could go back in time and be any sort of person you would like for a year, what would you be (e.g., explorer, knight, hunter, merchant, princess, king, nun, Geisha, temple priest, etc.)?
  15. What charitable causes do you most strongly identify with (e.g., veterans, helping the elderly, needy children, cancer patients, the homeless, etc.)?
  16. What matters to you most at this point in your life, what do you value most? Rank each of these on a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest, 5 being neutral, 10 being highest: _____ Education _____ Family _____ Social life _____ Romantic relationships _____ Leisure (vacations, travel, etc.) _____ Money _____ Work that you feel inspired and fulfilled by _____ Recognition/fame
  17. What do you really want in life? What will you be happy with?
  18. What type of person do you respect the most? Rank each of these types on a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest, 5 being neutral, 10 being highest: _____ Political leader (such as a senator or president of a country) _____ Small business owner _____ CEO of large corporation _____ Stay at home mother _____ Blue-collar worker _____ Famous writer _____ Starving artist _____ Professional athlete _____ Skilled tradesperson _____ Intellectually courageous metaphysician/psychic _____ Comedian _____ Lawyer _____ Business consultant _____ Astrologer _____ Behind the scenes partner in a business _____ Business to business salesperson _____ Accountant _____ Scientist _____ Actor _____ Volunteer worker _____ Billionaire philanthropist
  19. Do any of these careers appeal to you? Rank each of these on a scale of 1-10, 1 being least appealing, 5 being neutral, 10 being most appealing to you: _____ MBA business management position _____ Police officer _____ Entertainer _____ Graphic designer _____ Social worker _____ Teacher _____ Engineer _____ Business consultant _____ Astrologer _____ Human resources management _____ Paralegal _____ Criminal investigator _____ Lawyer _____ Office worker _____ Military _____ Holistic health _____ Child care taker _____ Psychologist _____ Healer _____ Accountant _____ Therapist _____ Homemaker _____ Artist _____ Musician _____ Dancer _____ Scientist _____ Clergy _____ Politics _____ Government
  20. Respond to this statement with the Very first response that comes to mind: “If I knew what I wanted to do and was doing it I’d be ______________________."

 

My long-term findings show me that the more you are in sync with your calling, the less inner conflict you will experience, the happier you are, and the more your life “flows.”

Regarding money, you might have heard something like this fanciful myth from a motivational speaker: “All you have to do is find your divine purpose and all the success and riches will be yours.” The truth is, when you find your best path, it may not include riches and widespread recognition, and that’s okay.

 

Follow these tips to find your calling:

  1. Get centered. Detach from your inner fears, defenses, and daily mind dramas. Meditation, or getting away and spending time in nature helps a lot.
  2. Learn about your subconscious mind. You can’t control it, but you can detach from it through meditation and other disciplines that put you in a zone, which helps you more easily focus on what’s really important to you.
  3. Get rid of faulty beliefs, such as the New Age myth that you can avoid all personal adversity. My findings show that personal adversity serves a distinct purpose in life.
  4. Understand that not everyone is supposed to discover their calling in life at a young age. It’s also common to have several callings over the course of your life, and you may not find the one you really enjoy until later in life.
  5. Use the power of gratitude and faith. Be grateful for where you are now and have faith that you will be where you want to be.
  6. If you need help identifying what really motivates you, consider the services of a well-trained handwriting analyst or other professional. Additionally, through my work I can tell you if you are best suited to work in an existing structure (e.g., corporate employee, licensee or franchisee, etc.), or if you are more suited for independent action. My systems of analysis based on comprehensive astrology and numerology won’t tell me the exact livelihood for which you are best suited, but I can certainly help you narrow it down.
  7. Be receptive to unconventional callings. A traditional job may be right for some, and an unusual livelihood may be right for others.

 

Here’s a very good article to further help you find your calling in life.

Follow your interests, regardless of what others around you think. Doing what’s best for you is better than having regrets later in life.

No matter how insignificant your calling seems to be, it’s vital to your destiny, and probably a lot more important to the fate of others than you realize.

 

Copyright © 2022 Scott Petullo

How to Find Your Calling

"

"

The following beginner's guide to astrology can be used in conjunction with the information Scott offers in periodic blog posts, such as dates and times of astrological phenomena including, but not limited to, select transits, solar and lunar eclipses, retrogrades, New Moons, and Full Moons.

Would you like to see how astrology reflects your life’s circumstances, and possibly even benefit from that wisdom?

By tracking some easy to follow, elementary, universal considerations in this beginner's guide to astrology, you can get some idea.

Watch how they relate to your basic natal chart and you can get more of an idea.

Observe how they connect to your collective natal charts and you can get an even better understanding, and even avoid some of life’s hassles and capitalize on positive trends.

Sporadic vs. Everlasting Timing Indicators

Transits, conjunctions, retrogrades, eclipses, Moon Voids of Course, and other commonly known astrological occurrences are considered intermittent indicators because they are sometimes active, and sometimes not.

For example, solar eclipses occur between two and five times every year, yet during the bulk of the time they are not a concern at all.

Another example is the supposed harsh transit of Saturn through your natal 7th house, the house of love relationships and marriage (among other things). While it’s true it can represent relationship troubles and even collapse, depending on supporting or mitigating natal and timing indicators, this transit only happens for about 2.5 years every approximately 29.5 years.

The meager temporary functioning symbolism of irregular cycles, which are heavily favored in modern astrology, is a problem in prediction. Modern astrology, unfortunately, rejects most of the more valuable predictive methods of ancient astrology and number mysticism, such as using natal patterns to forecast, making use of the cycles represented by uniquely potent natal heavenly bodies and other natal factors, and using uninterrupted cycles such as 3, 7, 12, 19, or 27-year cycles, which have proven to be of more value.

NOTE: The infrequent cosmic events outlined in this beginner's guide to astrology amount to less than 10% of a reasonably solid system of checks and balances. They are mostly modifying indicators and are best used to firm up an existing comprehensive analysis derived from perpetual cycles (astrological and numerological). However, the factors in this beginner's guide to astrology are easy to track. Doing so allows you to grasp the omnipresent, cyclical nature of reality. They can even help you plan your days and have more success reaching your goals. Comprehensive astrology and numerology, beyond the scope of the information presented in this beginner's guide to astrology, are the dialects of personal fate. They are as complex as any foreign languages, and must be utilized correctly for respectable accuracy rates.

Today it’s common to hear of someone (even a professional) erroneously linking a single universal astrological or numerological consideration to a specific happening, such as, “Venus is in Libra so people are more pleasant.” There’s a reason the science of astrology isn’t in very good standing today; the immeasurable amount of misinformation on the topic in circulation on the Internet and in print makes a mockery of the ancient tradition. This beginner's guide to astrology offers important points to help you cut through the haze and gain more clarity about astrology.

Five Crucial Truths Regarding Astrological or Numerological Indicators:

  1. Any single universal indicator, even the most notorious, relates to any given person in a unique way, in various amounts of reward or challenge. The universal energy is important, but how it harmonizes with your natal charts prevails.
  2. Even the worst of the universal indicators may not apply to you personally or symbolically make any impact whatsoever on your life.
  3. Any one indicator’s energy (negative or positive, balanced, over-balanced, or under-balanced) alone may be corroborated or even completely mitigated by the energy of the rest of the indicators (500+) in the comprehensive charts. Therefore, focusing on only one or even a handful of indicators to delineate or predict is unwise.
  4. Numerous universal afflictions are always transpiring at any given time. The more commonly known ones include retrogrades, eclipses, and Moon Voids of Course, for instance.
  5. Nothing “affects” you in astrology or numerology, it symbolizes; indicators don’t “make” something happen. Also, collections of indicators, not single ones, represent life circumstances. There is no “this means that” (a single factor relating to a specific life circumstance or personality trait) in astrology or numerology.

As mentioned above, tracking such minor factors serves as a valuable introduction to the ever-present cyclical nature of life.

Astrology Basics

It’s not easy relaying exactly how you should view each astrological dynamic in this beginner's guide to astrology without trivializing the science. But here are some very, very generalized meanings of the ten core heavenly bodies:

Sun = vitality, recognition, conscious identity, charisma
Moon = inner being, personality desires, moods, emotional self
Mercury = communication, messages, mind, changeability
Venus = pleasure, socially-oriented matters, romantic life
Mars = utilization of energy, action, aggression, strife, dissension
Jupiter = abundance, philosophy, opportunity, ease, expansion
Saturn = restraint, challenges, endurance, fear, anxiety, efficiency
Uranus = the unexpected, technology, unconventional, individuality
Neptune = dreams, fantasy, deception, illusion, idealism
Pluto = power, transformation, upheaval, destruction, renewal

Keep in mind that there is much more to each heavenly body than listed in the beginner's guide to astrology. For example, Saturn has a bad reputation for being all about hardship and restriction. But if you have a very potent, healthy, well-placed natal Saturn for instance, it’s not symbolic of limitation, but of opportunity, unique to its condition, sign, placement and everything connected to it. A healthy, well-placed Saturn can symbolize wealth, as an example.

Another example could involve Jupiter, which is commonly known to be symbolic of rewards and the good things in life. However, if your natal Jupiter is in very bad shape, it’s possible that it could represent tragic excess and over-indulgence, if supported by other indicators.

Signs

Basic sign particulars are as follows:
Aries = action oriented, drive to be on top
Taurus = propensity toward material and sensual things in life
Gemini = clever, eclectic, mentally oriented
Cancer = oriented toward emotions and home
Leo = propensity to seek honor and the spotlight
Virgo = critical analysis, details, discernment, precision
Libra = evenhanded, socially-inclined, diplomatic
Scorpio = mysterious, control-oriented, acute intensity
Sagittarius = independence, freedom, adventure, idealism
Capricorn = determined, calculating, pragmatic
Aquarius = humane, need for autonomy, originality, inventive
Pisces = sensitivity, feelings, compassion

To give you a very basic idea of planet and sign combinations, combine Mercury and Aquarius, for instance, and you could have original thinking, contingent on other factors. Or, blend Venus and Taurus, and it might equate to a strong interest in romance and, or sex, depending on other considerations.

Elements

The elements of the signs offer some additional basic awareness. Generally, fire and air are harmonious, and earth and water are harmonious. Also, each element commonly blends well with itself (fire and fire, etc.). But just keep in mind there’s a lot more to compatibility assessment than signs and elements.

Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Fire = dynamism, vigor
Earth = sensibleness, pragmatism, tactics
Air = active mind, communication
Water = compassion, empathy, feelings

Ptolemaic Aspects

Even though contemporary astrology, in my view, emphasizes Ptolemaic aspects too much, it’s good to have an understanding of them. They relate to the amount of ease or friction between two entities or points (such as between two planets, or between an Arabic Part and the Ascendant, etc.)

The major Ptolemaic aspects consist of oppositions (180 degree angle), conjunctions (0 degree angle), squares (90 degree angle), trines (120 degree angle), and sextiles (60 degree angle).

The “hard” aspects include oppositions, conjunctions, and squares, and they typically symbolize life’s challenges, which many people consider to be opportunities in a spiritual sense.

Oppositions include the following:
Aries is opposed to Libra.
Taurus is opposed to Scorpio.
Gemini is opposed to Sagittarius.
Cancer is opposed to Capricorn.
Leo is opposed to Aquarius.
Virgo is opposed to Pisces.

Square aspects are combinations of signs that are of different elements (see above), like Scorpio with Aquarius, and suggest challenge and tension.

Conjunctions (same sign combinations) relate to an intensification of the sign’s energy, and are sometimes positive and sometimes negative, depending on related factors.

Trine aspects are combinations of signs that are of the same element, such as Cancer with Pisces, and are largely harmonious, as are sextile aspects: combinations of signs that are of compatible, but in different elements such as Scorpio with Capricorn.

Moon opposing Sun, as what happens during a Full Moon, is an example of two heavenly bodies in aspect.

The Horoscope and Houses

Horoscopic astrology, which includes the basic astrology chart system with its Ascendant (the degree of the rising Eastern horizon at the chart's inception), or "rising sign" and house divisions, is believed to have originated in Hellenistic Egypt (approximately 330 BC – 30 BC).

It's inappropriate that much of today's Sun sign astrology (i.e., poetry and entertainment) is referred to as horoscopes, since it has nothing to do with the Ascendant.

Natal astrology involves establishing horoscopic charts (natal charts) at the precise time and location of a person's birth to determine personality traits and fated life circumstances and events.

Basic meanings of the 12 house divisions:
1st house = self, physical body, talent, life force
2nd house = money, possessions, personal resources, earning ability
3rd house = siblings, communication, state of mind, neighbors, education
4th house = home, father, family, real estate, end of life, endings and new starts
5th house = social life, love life, sex, pleasures, performing arts, speculation, children
6th house = work, service to others, health—minor illnesses, work environment, skills
7th house = partnerships, relationships, marriage, litigation, public relations
8th house = matters relating to death, taxes, inheritance, other people’s money, sex, occult
9th house = international interests, spirituality and religion, higher education, publishing
10th house = career, status, public honor or scandal, your actions and fate
11th house = friends, clubs, associations, wishes, rewards from others, goals
12th house = health—major illnesses, limitation, secret enemies, self-undoing, confinement, large organizations, secret activity, inner world

Please keep in mind that the meanings listed above in this beginner's guide to astrology are only a preview.

A very simplified illustration of a heavenly body in a house includes Mars in the 7th house, which could imply discord in partnerships. In order to authenticate such a life circumstance, it would have to be corroborated by the collective natal patterns, comprised of multiple indicators.

Phases of the Moon

The Moon orbits the Earth through an approximate 29.53-day cycle. The phases of the Moon are as follows:

New Moon
Crescent Moon
First Quarter Moon
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous Moon
Last Quarter Moon
Balsamic Moon

New Moon rises and sets with the Sun; it is conjunct (in the same sign) the Sun. Full Moon is opposed the Sun (in the opposite sign).

Generally, the period between the New Moon and Full Moon is viewed as favorable, and the period between the Full Moon and New Moon is unfavorable. But don’t be alarmed if you were born between a Full Moon and New Moon, as it’s only one consideration of hundreds in doing comprehensive analysis. By itself, this indication is not directly symbolic of a blessed or wretched life by any means.

Pay attention to which house in your basic natal chart the New and Full Moons occur. Full Moon in your 4th House, for example, draws attention to life concerns connected to the 4th house (home, father, family, real estate, etc.).

Eclipses

Solar and lunar eclipses usually occur within the same 29.53 day cycle of the Moon (solar eclipse during New Moon, lunar eclipse during Full Moon), and take place between 2 and 5 times each year.

During a solar eclipse (which is always during a New Moon), the Moon moves between the Earth and Sun, masking part of the Sun, and the Moon’s shadow hits the Earth. Only during the New Moon periods where the Moon’s shadow connects with the Earth does the solar eclipse happen.

The Moon is eclipsed during a lunar eclipse (which is always during a Full Moon), which is to say the Moon travels through the Earth’s shadow during a Full Moon, but this doesn’t happen every Full Moon, just as a solar eclipse doesn’t happen every New Moon.

Astrologically, eclipses relate to, in part, symbolic death and rebirth or transformation. Generally, important beginnings can relate to solar eclipses, and key endings can be symbolic of lunar eclipses. Breakthroughs in some way or another tend to be themes.

For instance, if you have natal Moon and 10th house cusp (MC, or Midheaven, the peak or apex of the basic natal chart) close enough by degree in the same sign to a particular lunar eclipse, it’s one potential sign of many that you have some significant changes and completions going on at that time in relation to your 10th (career, status, actions, etc.) and Moon (emotions, habits, personality needs/the inner self, behavior patterns, etc.—the definitions I list here are only meant to offer only a preview).

New and Full Moons which include eclipses are periods of intensified energy and emotions (more so during a Full Moon/lunar eclipse), and unexpected occurrences are common. On average, the heightened sense of liveliness and even drama of each spans 10 days prior and 3 days after an eclipse, with the intensity peaking at the time of the eclipse.

Eclipses can be symbolic of weighty changes and during eclipse energy it’s a good idea to be extra cautious about important purchases, signing legal documents or contracts, working out the details of vital arrangements in your business, career, or personal life, and any other higher than average risk-oriented areas of concern.

Be wary of inspired and, or unusual ideas that you develop near and during an eclipse if they involve financial or other risk of any kind because chances are higher than usual they won’t manifest as you expect due to your reasoning being somewhat distorted. Wait a few weeks to review new ideas before initiating.

As always with all universal indicators, take notice where it occurs in your natal charts.

Moon Voids of Course

Moon Void of Course is, in my opinion, a critical affliction. Yet as I always say, I recommend you avoid relying on only one or a few astrological or numerological indicators since a comprehensive approach involving hundreds of indicators is necessary in order to achieve consistently high levels of accuracy in prediction and outlining personality.

By itself, a Moon Void of Course is minor, but combined with several other key afflictions, it becomes more important. You can benefit even if Moon VOC is the only phenomenon you follow, but please acknowledge that there exist hundreds of other considerations, which collectively, can symbolically void any given Moon VOC.

The Moon is intimately connected to your instincts, subconscious, and intuition, so any affliction or fortunate indicator connected to it is good to track in relation to your decision-making and perception. An appropriate analogy of Moon VOC is like traveling through an underground tunnel where your phone signal is cut off. During a Moon VOC, especially a worse than average one (Moon VOC varies in intensity—some are more dreadful than others depending on other indictors), you’re in a temporary vacuum and your discernment is distorted. Time seems to slow down, your focus isn’t as clear, and unfounded fears and unrealistic ideas are more common.

NOTE: as with any consideration, how it relates to your personal comprehensive charts rules. If your natal Moon, for example, is the most potent heavenly body in your charts, then Moon VOC is more important to you.

The Moon orbits the Earth just about every 29.53 days and spends an average of 2.5 days in each of the 12 astrological signs. The Moon is Void of Course if it fails to form a major Ptolemaic aspect to another planet before it leaves the sign it’s in. The duration of a Moon VOC can be as brief as 10 minutes, to as long as about two days.

Also, it’s been said that an area of concern, such as the initiation of a new enterprise, under a Moon VOC will “come to nothing,” but I believe that’s only true if the other relative considerations support the notion en masse. Still, it’s a fascinating astrological indicator to track.

During a Moon Void of Course, do:
*Routine work.
*Creative hobbies.
*Routine cleaning.
*Exercise.
*Relax.

During a Moon Void of Course, don’t:
*Make important plans—they may not happen or will happen differently than expected.
*Brainstorm—new ideas never manifest or will backfire.
*Start anything new—things initiated are never finished or take much longer than expected to complete. If you meet someone during a VOC, the interaction will not be meaningless, but probably different than you expected, and may be short-lived.
*Buy anything of importance—purchases made will never be used, will break down, or will have to be returned for unforeseen reasons.
*Schedule important appointments: they may have to be changed or rescheduled.

If you would like to investigate this phenomenon, observe other people’s actions during Moon VOC. Without telling them about VOC, notice what plans they make, what they purchase, people they meet, and ideas they generate under the Moon VOC.

Your perception about a new acquaintance, for example, during a Moon VOC is much more likely to be inaccurate. Sudden apprehension often proves to be baseless: you wake up after a nightmare during a Moon VOC and you’re concerned about the terrible vision of a friend in danger, yet it never manifests. However, over-eating and drinking, and otherwise generating an ill-at-ease feeling through over-consumption is common, as are things like overlooking your time in the Sun and inadvertently getting bad sunburn.

Four classic examples of Moon VOC related occurrences:

  1. You meet a new friend during a Moon VOC. Although you realize it’s a VOC, it seems to be a great connection, yet later you attempt to get together a few times but your schedules never coincide. Then, a couple months later your new friend tells you she’s relocating to a different country.
  2. During a VOC you’re suddenly concerned about a physical symptom you’ve just become aware of and you’re panicked about your well-being. After consulting with your doctor, you realize that your fears were unfounded and it was only a reaction to something you ate.
  3. You get dressed one morning during a Moon VOC and realize later that what seemed like a great fashion choice turned out to be a fashion crime.
  4. Your Internet connection completely disappears during a long Moon VOC and you’re worried you may not be able to access the Internet for days. A couple hours later you regain your Internet access.

Additional information about Moon Voids of Course, along with a full Moon Void of Course calendar, can be found in the Direct Your Destiny e-package.

Transits

I view transits and other minor indicators mentioned in this beginner's guide to astrology as modifiers. For example, transiting (i.e., in motion) Moon in Taurus is an exalted Moon and lends a distinct flavor (the specific type depends on your natal indicators) to whichever house in your basic natal chart it’s moving through.

Saturn transits (and everything connected to them) are, in my view, some of the more important transits to watch.

At the time of writing this beginner's guide to astrology (January 2010), Saturn is at about 4 degrees Libra (each sign has 30 degrees). It takes roughly 2.5 yrs. to move through each sign. About every 7 years it moves through an angular house (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) in your basic natal chart. Angular houses are more important; they represent the most potent positions (1st and 10th in particular) of the fundamental natal figure. If you have a Libra Ascendant, for example, Saturn is hitting your 1st house at this time.

This is to say it brings the energy of the universal transit to your 1st house, along with the significance of your exclusive natal Saturn energy to your 1st house. The uniqueness would be different for each person, and you must factor in everything else that is connected to your natal Saturn (e.g., its ruler or rulers, Ptolemaic aspects, fixed stars, et al.) and first house.

If a heavenly body in a person’s comprehensive charts is the most potent heavenly body of their natal configurations, special emphasis is given to related universal considerations. For example, if Venus dominates a person’s natal charts, it’s a good idea watch anything universal related to Venus more carefully.

Again, you must look at any universal indicator in relation to the person’s distinctive, comprehensive charts. First contemplate the planet or heavenly body. Then consider the sign. Then take into account its location, the specific natal house it is in. That is a good start.

Miscellaneous tips about transits:
*Pay attention to transits of Mars, Saturn and any planet or heavenly body in your natal charts that dominates. Also watch when such transiting heavenly bodies enter your natal 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th houses (the angular houses of your basic natal chart), as well as when universal indicators replicate your natal indicators, such as Universal Year of 2014/7 matching your year of birth of 1960/7, or when Sun squares Saturn, if your natal configurations include that. Also notice what transpires when they (Saturn and Mars) connect with your Sun, Moon, or Ascendant through hard aspect (conjunction, square, and opposition).
*Transits symbolically temper the collective energy of the other, more important indicators, such as constantly-in-effect cycles like 3, 7, 12, or 19-year cycles, cycles represented by natal patterns, and cyclical timing phases symbolized by outstandingly potent natal considerations, and other factors. By themselves, transits aren’t significant enough to reflect key life circumstances. They are useful to firm up an existing comprehensive analysis, and they can help to give you an idea of the cyclical nature of life and how it is reflected by astrology.
*Planetary returns are beneficial to take notice of. A return is when it moves all the way around the basic natal figure, back to where it was when you were born, such as a lunar return, which is when the Moon enters the same sign (and exact degree to narrow it down) as it was in when you were born (which happens every approximately 29.53 days).

Each heavenly body transits as follows:
Sun remains in each sign for about 30 days, on average
Moon remains in each sign for about 2.5 days, on average
Mercury remains in each sign for about 18 days, on average
Venus remains in each sign for about 18 days, on average
Mars remains in each sign for about 50 days, on average
Jupiter remains in each sign for about 1 year, on average
Saturn remains in each sign for about 2.5 years, on average
Uranus remains in each sign for about 7 years, on average
Neptune remains in each sign for about 12 years, on average
Pluto remains in each sign for about 20 years, on average

Retrogrades

Though retrogrades aren’t really about planets actually spinning around and reversing course, retrograde planets look like they reverse direction during retrograde. It only appears so because of our vantage point in viewing the retrograde planet’s orbit during Earth’s orbit. A post-retrograde planet (i.e., when it goes “direct”) appears to turn back around and move forward. It then continues to progress through the astrological signs.

Retrogrades are an affliction, but don’t get too concerned about it. It’s only one of many possible afflictions and any one retrograde by itself won’t symbolically wreck havoc on your life, nor does a retrograde planet in your natal configurations symbolize misfortune, by itself.

As with any universal event, watch where it occurs in your natal configurations.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all appear to go in retrograde motion every once in a while. At least one of these planets is retrograde at any point in time, and the further it is away from the Sun, the longer the duration of retrograde.

Every retrograde has three periods, including the first “station” when it turns retrograde, the second “station” when it stops going retrograde, and when it moves direct again, advancing through the signs.

Approximate Duration and frequency of Retrogrades, on average:
Mercury: 24 days, about every 4 months
Venus: 42 days, about every 18 months
Mars: 80 days, about every 2 years
Jupiter: 120 days, about once every year
Saturn: 140 days, about once every year
Uranus: 150 days, about once every year
Neptune: 160 days, about once every year
Pluto: 160 days, about once every year

Retrograde periods are reflective of reconsideration, reviewing the past (and potentially finding solutions to old problems), delays, holding back, internalizing, repressing, rear-view mirror perspective, reviewing existing ideas, et al. Combine these concepts with the planet’s energy (see below) to get a better idea.

Mercury = communication, messages, mind, changeability
Venus = pleasure, socially-oriented matters, romantic life
Mars = utilization of energy, action, aggression, strife, dissension
Jupiter = abundance, philosophy, opportunity, ease, expansion
Saturn = restraint, challenges, endurance, fear, anxiety, efficiency
Uranus = the unexpected, technology, unconventional, individuality
Neptune = dreams, fantasy, deception, illusion, idealism
Pluto = power, transformation, upheaval, destruction, renewal

Someone born under Mars retrograde is more likely to (depending on other factors), in part, naturally direct their energy inward vs. outward resulting in repression, and a Mars retrograde is more important to that person. During mars retrograde period, there is an increased focus on faulty execution of personal energy, for example, but again, the phenomenon is unique to each person—for some it’s a non-event, for others it represents key life circumstances, if supported by other indicators.

Or, someone born with Mercury Retrograde might have a higher tendency than average for subjective thought when an objective viewpoint is required.

Mercury retrograde is one of the most well-known astrological events, aside from the phases of the Moon. It occurs about every four months, lasting about 24 days as outlined above (excluding pre and post-retrograde energy periods).

Mercury retrograde is notoriously known for such things as communication screw-ups and misunderstandings, computer and other technology glitches, travel delays, scheduling conflicts, machinery break-downs, setbacks, and complications with new project launches. But Mercury retrograde doesn’t make such things happen, just as any astrological or numerological consideration doesn’t affect your reality; it’s just symbolic of the circumstances. As above, so below.

Re-doing things, reconsidering matters, slowing down and exercising a bit more caution in relation to communication, and finishing up projects that are already in motion are appropriate for Mercury retrograde.

Note that if the planet Mercury isn’t a potent planet in your natal comprehensive charts, then Mercury retrograde won’t be as much of an issue for you. However, if you have Mercury retrograde in your natal configurations, any Mercury retrogrades will be more important to you, depending on other indicators.

Also pay attention to where a transiting retrograde planet falls in your natal charts: if it’s in an angular house (1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th), it’s more important to you than if it were in a cadent (weak) house, such as 3rd, 6th, 9th, or 12th.

Too much importance is given to Mercury retrograde, in my opinion—it’s too often the scapegoat for life’s challenges when it really isn’t the problem, while dozens more other indicators are collectively more symbolic of the particular events and circumstances.

One key point to keep in mind is that up to 17-28 days before Mercury goes retrograde (pre-retrograde period), Mercury retrograde related circumstances can be worse than the actual retrograde period. Also, the second half of the approximate 24-day Mercury retrograde period usually, overall, goes more smoothly than the first half.

It’s recommended to be cautious of great new ideas involving any risk during Mercury retrograde periods because after Mercury retrograde it’s typical to see the idea from a different angle (i.e., more clearly), changing your view of its prospects.

By all means, go ahead with anything you have planned during retrogrades or other universal afflictions mentioned in this article, but just make sure to be a little more cautious in your dealings.

If you were born under retrograde of any of the following planets, listed are possible personality traits:
Mercury: subjectivity, over-analysis, possible trouble with written or spoken communication
Venus: later than usual marriage or meaningful love relationships, repression of love-related emotions and affection, relationship issues, social/sexual withdrawal
Mars: aggravation, drive and personal energy is subdued, possible eventual sublimation of aggression into constructive initiative, impulsiveness, timidity
Jupiter: rewards come later in life, comfortable with solitude, truth seeker, extravagance, recklessness, muted eagerness and excitement
Saturn: anxiety, frustration, burdens, father absent or inactive, success is more difficult to come by, issues with authority (from either standpoint—as an authority as with misuse of power, or with authority figures)
Uranus: eccentricity, inhibited sense of independence, possibly rebellious tendencies, unpredictable
Neptune: escapist tendencies, possible addiction problems, excessive imagination
Pluto: bottled up personal power, secretive, possible control and power issues—either controlled by another person or possesses a controlling personality, possible past life pattern of being banished or sent into exile

Possible transiting retrograde circumstances of planets, Mercury through Pluto:
Mercury: past associations come back to you, communication and transportation problems
Venus: relationship concerns come up, past loves return, examination of relationships
Mars: enemies return, strife revisited, misdirected anger, anguish, destructive activity
Jupiter: assessment of life philosophies, questioning spiritual and religious beliefs
Saturn: decent time to restore, re-model, and reconstruct, goal reassessment, issues with authority, progress is sluggish
Uranus: unforeseen circumstances arise, technology problems, radicalism, restlessness
Neptune: illusion, dreams and fantasies take over, possibly with detrimental effects, deception
Pluto: destruction and rebuilding, misplaced power, struggles, manipulation, secrets

Final Note

Retrogrades, eclipses, transits, progressions, Moon Voids of Course, solar returns, and other modifying agents are largely superficial compared to tried and true comprehensive charting methods and amount to less than 10% of all indicators and methods of a reliable comprehensive system. However, they do offer a decent introduction to the cyclical nature of life, as I say in this beginner's guide to astrology. Accuracy in prediction and delineation of character has everything to do with a solid system of checks and balances. It’s pattern recognition. If I find 88% of all possible natal indicators favoring recognition, for example, and that person is moving through favorable collective timing for recognition, they will be known.

Copyright © 2010 Scott Petullo

Beginner’s Guide To Astrology: The Cyclical Nature of Life

"

"

Mercury retrograde occurs from March 15 to April 7, 2025.

As mentioned in the linked information below, the approximate three-week period leading up to Mercury retrograde usually involves more challenges than the actual retrograde period. That three-week period starts approximately February 22, 2025.

Additionally, Mars is retrograde from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025, in Cancer, which symbolizes a very debilitated Mars.

Considering this, there’s a higher likelihood of disruption in the area of life symbolized by transiting Mars in your natal horoscope.

As always, transits, retrogrades, and other surface indicators are best used to firm up an already comprehensive analysis, but it’s always interesting to observe such celestial phenomena, particularly in conjunction with corroborating natal and timing patterns.

Some of the common problems the Mercury retrograde period is more likely to include are delays and setbacks involving travel and communication, faulty discernment, increased indecision, and trouble with new endeavors. Charging ahead without careful consideration is more likely to yield disaster during these types of periods.

However, the Mercury retrograde period frequently offers, for example, an opportunity to find solutions to existing problems, complete ongoing projects, and connect with old friends. It’s a time to redo, rethink, reconnect, and reassess.

Be extra careful with important decisions involving investments, large purchases, and legal matters, including contracts. New concepts and ideas originating during Mercury retrograde (particularly during the first half of it and the three weeks before Mercury goes retrograde) are often amended later.

See this page for a thorough list of Mercury retrograde themes and a general timeline.

 

Mercury retrograde March/April 2025 details:

  1. Mercury goes retrograde on 3-15-2025 at 1:46 a.m. EST, 09 degrees 35 minutes Aries
  2. Mercury goes direct on 4-7-2025 at 6:07 a.m. EST, 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces.

 

This post includes the March/April 2025 Mercury retrograde period, along with other basic astrological events.

Following Mercury retrograde and other basic astrological cycles allows you to witness the cyclical nature of life and reduce your overall risk.

Learn more about the planet Mercury here.

 

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

Mercury Retrograde March 15 to April 7 2025

"

"

To most people, what predicts successful relationships is a mystery.

To me, and others who do the type of work I do, it isn’t really a mystery. In order to solve certain problems, you must think outside the box.

According to this article, extensive studies show, “…the demographics, preferences, and values of two people had surprisingly little power in predicting whether those two people were happy in a romantic relationship,” and, “a person who is happy outside their relationship is far more likely to be happy inside their relationship as well.” The author goes on to say, “Good romantic partners are difficult to predict with data. Desired romantic partners are easy to predict with data. And that suggests that many of us are dating all wrong.”

The data in the studies involved the following: “…demographics (e.g., age, education, income, and race); physical appearance (e.g., How attractive did other people rate each partner?); sexual tastes (e.g., How frequently did each partner want sex? How freaky did they want that sex to be?); interests and hobbies; mental and physical health; values (e.g., their views on politics, relationships, and child-rearing)…”

It turns out that similar age, income, education, race, physical attractiveness, sexual tastes, hobbies, mental and physical health, and values are a mere starting point only as it relates to compatibility.

The following additional considerations, discerned through handwriting analysis, are often cited for the level of harmony between two people.

  1. Problematic subconscious fears and defenses, including personality red flags such as stubbornness, excessive bias, dishonesty, vanity, jealousy, irrationality, and resentment will make a connection between you and another person worse.
  2. Tact, modesty, sincerity, objectivity, dependability, emotional maturity, discretion, and other admirable qualities serve to enhance partnerships.

 

But that’s still only part of the puzzle. Both people having positive qualities in excess and lacking red flag personality traits won’t override a horrendous, inherent bond, the innate level of compatibility, measured by comprehensive astrology and numerology.

Sometimes it’s obvious to you in the beginning of the relationship if the inborn level of compatibility (as measured by comprehensive astrology and numerology) is rewarding or challenging. Basically, the harder you must work at a relationship (personal or business), the worse the natural connection between you and the other person. Read about six more relationship compatibility secrets here.

Whether you’re “willing to work at it” or not is important too, as is being more selfless and striving toward the goals of the relationship.

Ultimately, authentic compatibility is not a choice; it’s unvarying and endures forever, and each two-person connection is different.

“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.”
Nikola Tesla

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

What Predicts Successful Relationships

"

"

Hermes Trismegistus, the author named in the text of the enigmatic Emerald Tablet, said, “That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that is below.”

According to the Hermetic tradition, occult sciences such as astrology and numerology symbolize events and circumstances in your life. Notice the quote above states “...is like . . .” instead of “makes happen.” The microcosm reflects the macrocosm, and the macrocosm reflects the microcosm.

The ancient adepts believed human beings were intimately connected to the universe. You have a choice to learn about the energy flow of the universe and move with it, or fight against the currents of life.

One of the best ways to move with the currents of life–to know and capitalize on your personal timing–is through personalized, comprehensive astrology and numerology.

If you aren’t ready for an in-depth strategy, learning about universal occurrences such as the Universal Year (e.g., 2025 = 2+0+2+5=9), eclipses, and retrogrades can still be helpful.

Two Universal and Personal Numerological Cycles

See this blog post and this article for information about the Universal Year. Scroll down within this article to get an idea about the balanced, over-balanced, and under-balanced form of each of the root numbers 1-9, which can give you a little insight about each Universal Year and your Personal Year. The Universal Year is intimately connected to the Personal Year, which is more relevant to you, personally, than the Universal Year. The second linked article above also features information about the Personal Year and how to calculate it.

To take it a step further, simply add the Universal Year or Personal Year to the current calendar month to get the Universal Month or Personal Month. For example, since the Universal Year in 2025 is 9 (2025 = 2+0+2+5=9), in January the Universal Month is 10. Since January is the first month of the year, simply add January (1) plus 2025 (9) which equals 10. The Personal Month is derived the same way. If you’re in a 5 Personal Year in 2025, you’re in a 6 Personal Month in January of 2025.

These four cycles are a good place to start with basic numerology. Although these cycles are only four of hundreds of timing cycles, they are easy to follow and symbolically strong enough that you will recognize their importance.

Listed below are select universal astrological events for 2025.

2025 eclipses: 

Lunar eclipse 3-13-2025, 23 degrees, 56 minutes Virgo 

Solar eclipse 3-29-2025, 9 degrees Aries 

Lunar eclipse 9-7-2025, 15 degrees, 22 minutes Pisces 

Solar eclipse 9-21-2025, 29 degrees, 05 minutes Virgo 

2025 Mercury retrograde periods:  

Mercury retrograde 3-15-2025, 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries 

Mercury direct 4-7-2025, 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces 

Mercury retrograde 7-18-2025, 15 degrees 34 minutes Leo            

Mercury direct 8-11-2025, 4 degrees 14 minutes Leo          

Mercury retrograde 11-9-2025, 6 degrees 51 minutes Sagittarius

Mercury direct 11-29-2025, 20 degrees 42 minutes Scorpio 

2025 Venus retrograde periods: 

Venus retrograde 3-1-2025, 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries

Venus direct 4-12-2025, 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces  

2025 Mars retrograde periods: 

Mars retrograde 12-6-2024,  6 degrees 10 minutes Leo

Mars direct 2-23-2025, 17 degrees Cancer 

2025 Jupiter retrograde periods:  

Jupiter retrograde 10-9-2024, 21 degrees 20 minutes Gemini

Jupiter direct 2-4-2025, 11 degrees 16 minutes Gemini            

Jupiter retrograde 11-11-2025, 25 degrees 09 minutes Cancer

Jupiter direct 3-10-2026, 15 degrees 05 minutes Cancer

 2025 Saturn retrograde periods: 

Saturn retrograde 7-12-2025, 1 degree 56 minutes Aries

Saturn direct 11-27-2025, 25 degrees 09 minutes Pisces

Be a little more cautious with important matters involving higher than average risk on the day of and the days surrounding eclipses and Mercury retrogrades. This includes, but is not limited to, big purchases, investments, and legal contracts.

See this blog post for information about Mercury retrograde.

See this blog post for information about eclipses. See this blog post for additional information about eclipses.

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn retrogrades traditionally are not as noticeable as Mercury retrogrades. As always, any single universal celestial phenomenon symbolically affects you in a unique way, as it relates to your personal astrological patterns. A particular retrograde or eclipse may represent big life changes for one person and almost nothing for another person.

This blog post includes information about multiple, basic astrological factors, including Mercury retrograde, Venus retrograde, Mars retrograde, and more.

Although the aforementioned celestial and numerological happenings are only a small part of all universal and natal indicators, tracking these cycles and events, especially in conjunction with your natal factors and patterns, can help you limit your risk and save time and money. 

Copyright © 2024 Scott Petullo

Select 2025 Astrological and Numerological Highlights

"

"

Mercury retrograde occurs from November 25 to December 15, 2024.

Some of the common problems the Mercury retrograde period is more likely to include are delays and setbacks involving travel and communication, faulty discernment, increased indecision, and trouble with new endeavors. Charging ahead without careful consideration is more likely to yield disaster during these types of periods.

However, the Mercury retrograde period frequently offers, for example, an opportunity to find solutions to existing problems, complete on-going projects, and connect with old friends. It’s a time to re-do, re-think, re-connect, and re-assess.

Be extra careful with important decisions involving investments, large purchases, and legal matters, including contracts. New concepts and ideas originating during Mercury retrograde (particularly during the first half of it and the three weeks before Mercury goes retrograde) are often amended later.

See this page for a thorough list of Mercury retrograde themes and a general timeline.

As mentioned in the linked information above, the approximate three-week period leading up to Mercury retrograde usually involves more challenges than the actual retrograde period.

 

Mercury retrograde November/December 2024 details:

  1. Mercury goes retrograde on 11-25-2024 at 9:42 p.m. EST 22 degrees 40 minutes Sagittarius.
  2. Mercury goes direct on 12-15-2024 at 3:56 p.m. EST, 06 degrees 23 minutes Sagittarius.

 

This post includes the November/December 2024 Mercury retrograde period, along with other basic astrological events.

Following Mercury retrograde and other basic astrological cycles allows you to witness the cyclical nature of life and reduce your overall risk.

Learn more about the planet Mercury here.

Copyright © 2024 Scott Petullo

Mercury Retrograde November 25 to December 15 2024

"

"

Edward Dolnick shares fascinating details about Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and others in his book, The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World.

He writes, “All these thinkers had two traits in common. They were geniuses, and they had utter faith that the universe had been designed on impeccable mathematical lines. What follows is the story of a group of scientists who set out to read God’s mind.’’

My philosophy mirrors what these luminaries determined: Nature and the universe are mathematically ordered.

Thousands of years of empirical research suggest humans are connected to that order as symbolized by comprehensive astrology and numerology.

Below are excerpts from Dolnick’s book (bold emphasis, mine).

“Newton himself owned some thirty Bibles in various translations and languages that he endlessly perused and compared one against another. Every word in the Bible was meaningful, just as every twig and sparrow in the natural world offered up a clue to God’s intent. The Bible was not a literary work to be interpreted according to one’s taste, but a cipher with a single meaning that could be decoded by a meticulous and brilliant analyst. Newton devoted thousands of hours—as much time as he spent on the secrets of gravity or light—in looking for concealed messages in the dimensions of the Temple of Solomon and trying to match the prophecies in Revelation with the battles and revolutions of later days.”

“If God was a mathematician, it went without saying that He was the most skilled of all mathematicians. And since nature’s laws are God’s handiwork, they must necessarily be flawless—few in number, compact, elegant, and perfectly meshed with one another. ‘It is ye perfection of God’s works that they are all done with ye greatest simplicity,’ Isaac Newton declared. ‘He is ye God of order and not of confusion.’

“The primary mission that seventeenth-century science set itself was to find His laws. The problem was that someone would first have to invent a new kind of mathematics.”

“As able as the Greeks had been, they never found a way around one fundamental obstacle. They had nothing to say about motion. But if mathematics was going to describe the real world, it had to find a way to deal with moving objects. If a bullet is shot into the air, how fast does it fly? How high does it rise?”

“The conceptual breakthrough was called calculus. It was the key that opened the way to the modern age, and it made possible countless advances throughout science.”

“‘His peculiar gift was the power of holding continuously in his mind a purely mental problem until he had seen straight through it,’ wrote John Maynard Keynes, who was one of the first to examine Newton’s unpublished papers. ‘I fancy his pre-eminence is due to his muscles of intuition being the strongest and most enduring with which a man has ever been gifted.’ An economist of towering reputation and intelligence, Keynes could only marvel at Newton’s mental stamina. ‘Anyone who has ever attempted pure scientific or philosophical thought knows how one can hold a problem momentarily in one’s mind and apply all one’s powers of concentration to piercing through it, and how it will dissolve and escape and you find that what you are surveying is a blank. I believe that Newton could hold a problem in his mind for hours and days and weeks until it surrendered to him its secret.’”

“Alchemy, which was a scientific quest for a magical-sounding goal, provides perhaps the most striking example of the coexistence of old and new. The aim was to find a substance called the ‘philosopher’s stone,’ despite its name a liquid, which held the power to transform ordinary substances into silver and gold and to convey immortality to anyone who drank it.”

“A devout belief in alchemy was standard in the seventeenth century, but no one exceeded Isaac Newton in persistence. His small, crabbed handwriting fills notebook after notebook with the records of his alchemical experiments. In all Newton lavished some half million words on alchemy, about as many as in War and Peace. He and countless other researchers spent long hours at their flasks and fires mixing potions according to closely guarded recipes. (Leibniz’s only fear was that if gold became too readily available its price would fall.) An assistant watched Newton’s experiments with reverence but without understanding. ‘Whatever his aim might be, I was not able to penetrate into, but his Pains, his Diligence at those Times made me think he aimed at something beyond the Reach of human Art & Industry.’ A peek inside Newton’s notebooks would have left an observer scarcely more enlightened. He never spoke of anything as crass as growing rich; his focus, it seems, was solely on uncovering nature’s secrets. In any case, alchemical formulas were too valuable to state openly.”

“The language was encoded—‘Saturn’ stood for ‘lead,’ for instance—and the procedures sound like something from an X-rated Hogwarts spell-book. Newton jotted down recipes with such ingredients as ‘the Green Lion’ and ‘the menstrual blood of the sordid whore.’”

“…Newton started out by studying chemistry but abandoned it in favor of what he saw as the deeper mysteries of alchemy.”

“Chemistry dealt with matter-of-fact questions like what salt is made from. Alchemy sought to explain the invisible forces of living nature.”

“‘God always complies with the easiest and simplest rules,’ Galileo asserted.”

“On the one hand, delving into the world’s mathematical secrets gives a feeling of having one’s hands on nature’s beating heart; on the other, in a world of chaos and disaster, mathematics provides a refuge of eternal, unchallengeable truths and perfect order.”

“But mathematics is a cruel mistress, indifferent to the suffering of those who would woo her. Only those who themselves have wandered lost, wrote Einstein, know the misery and joy of ‘the years of searching in the dark for a truth that one feels but cannot express; the intense desire and the alternations of confidence and misgiving, until one breaks through to clarity and understanding.’”

“‘A mathematician, like a painter or poet, is a maker of patterns,’ wrote G. H. Hardy, an acclaimed twentieth-century mathematician and an ardent proponent of the Greek view. ‘If his patterns are more permanent than theirs, it is because they are made with ideas.’”

“When Newton declared that he stood on the shoulders of giants…one of the great predecessors he had in mind was the astronomer Johannes Kepler. A contemporary of Galileo, Kepler was a genius and a mystic whose faith in God and faith in mathematics had fused into an inseparable unit. Kepler was both astronomer and astrologer, though he never sorted out just how much the heavens influenced human affairs. ‘In what manner does the countenance of the sky at the moment of a man’s birth determine his character?’ he wrote once, and then he answered his own question. ‘It acts on the person during his life in the manner of the loops which a peasant ties at random around the pumpkins in his field: they do not cause the pumpkin to grow, but they determine its shape.”

“Since he had no idea of the forces that moved the planets, Kepler took on the code-breaking challenge as if it were purely a task in numerology. Like a safecracker armed with nothing but patience, he tried every combination he could think of. If there was no pattern in the lengths of the different planets’ years, for instance, perhaps there was a pattern if you took the lengths of the years and squared them. Or cubed them. Or perhaps you could see a pattern if you computed each planet’s maximum speed and compared those. Or the minimum speeds. For more than a dozen years, Kepler tried one combination after another. He failed every time. Then, out of the blue, ‘On March 8 of this present year 1618, if precise dates are wanted, the solution turned up in my head.’ The discovery itself was complicated. Characteristically, so was Kepler’s response, which combined gratitude to God, immense pride in his own achievement, and his customary willingness to paint himself unflatteringly. ‘I have consummated the work to which I pledged myself, using all the abilities that You gave to me; I have shown the glory of Your works to men,’ he wrote, ‘but if I have pursued my own glory among men while engaged in a work intended for Your glory, be merciful, be compassionate, and forgive.’ What Kepler had found was a way—a mysterious, complicated way—to tie the orbits of the various planets together.

“Kepler had taken the first giant steps toward showing that mathematics governed the heavens. Galileo showed that mathematics reigned here on Earth. Newton’s great achievement, to peek ahead for a moment, was to demonstrate that Kepler’s discoveries and Galileo’s fit seamlessly together, and to explain why.”

“‘My aim is to show that the machine of the universe is not similar to a divine animated being,’ Kepler declared, ‘but similar to a clock.’”

“What Galileo did, and what no one before him had ever done, was find a new way to think about time.”

“The breakthrough was to identify time—not distance or temperature or color or any of a thousand other possibilities—as the essential variable that governs the world. For years Galileo had tried to find a relationship between the speed of a falling object and the distance it had fallen. All his efforts failed. Finally he turned away from distance and focused on time. Suddenly everything fell into place. Galileo had found a way to pin numbers to the world.”

“Algebra was a forest of symbols, geometry a collection of pictures. Now Descartes had come along and showed that algebra and geometry were two languages that described a shared reality.”

“From the moment he unveiled the theory of gravity Newton was hailed as almost superhuman. Voltaire observed Newton’s funeral and was stunned to see dukes and earls carrying the casket. ‘I have seen a professor of mathematics, simply because he was great in his vocation, buried like a king who had been good to his subjects.’”

“Newton had been the first to learn how to pin down the mysterious infinitesimals that held the key to explaining motion. He kept his discoveries secret from all but a tiny circle for three decades." 

“This new tool for describing the moving, changing world was called calculus. With its discovery, every scientist in the world suddenly held in his hands a magical machine. Pose a question that asked how far? how fast? how high? and then press a button, and the machine spit out the answer. Calculus made it easy to take a snapshot—to freeze the action at any given instant—and then to examine, at leisure, an arrow momentarily motionless against the sky or an athlete hovering in midleap. Questions that had been out of reach forever now took only a moment. How fast is a high diver traveling when she hits the water? If you shoot a rifle with the barrel at a given angle, how far will the bullet travel? What will its speed be when it reaches its target? If a drunken reveler shoots a pistol in the air to celebrate, how high will the bullet rise? More to the point, how fast will it be traveling when it returns to the ground? Calculus was ‘the philosopher’s stone that changed everything it touched to gold,’ one historian wrote, and he seemed almost resentful of the new tool’s power. ‘Difficulties that would have baffled Archimedes were easily overcome by men not worthy to strew the sand in which he traced his diagrams.’”

“Calculus was a device for analyzing how things change as time passes.” 

“America’s founding fathers argued explicitly that the success of the scientific approach foretold their own success. Free minds would make the world anew. Rather than defer to tradition and authority, the new thinkers would start from first principles and build on that sturdy foundation. Kings and other accidental tyrants would be overthrown, sensible and self-regulating institutions set in their place. In the portrait of himself that he liked best, Benjamin Franklin sat deep in thought in front of a bust of Newton, who watched his protégé approvingly. Thomas Jefferson installed a portrait of Newton in a place of honor at Monticello. As they spelled out the design of America’s political institutions, the founders clung to the model of a smooth-running, self-regulating universe. In the eyes of the men who made America, the checks and balances that ensured political stability were directly analogous to the natural pushes and pulls that kept the solar system in balance. ‘The Constitution of the United States had been made under the dominion of the Newtonian theory,’ Woodrow Wilson would later write. If you read the Federalist papers, Wilson continued, the evidence jumped out “on every page.” The Constitution was akin to a scientific theory, and the amendments played the role of experiments that helped define and test that theory.”

“’If we evolved a race of Isaac Newtons, that would not be progress,’ Aldous Huxley once remarked, with a mix of wonder and horror. ‘For the price Newton had to pay for being a supreme intellect was that he was incapable of friendship, love, fatherhood, and many other desirable things. As a man he was a failure; as a monster he was superb.’”

“At Cambridge, Newton could occasionally be seen standing in the courtyard, staring at the ground, drawing diagrams in the gravel with a stick. Eventually he would retreat indoors. His fellow professors did not know what the lines represented, but they stepped carefully around them, in order to avoid hindering the work of the lonely genius struggling to decipher God’s codebook.”

Copyright © 2024 Scott Petullo

Mathematically Ordered Universe: Little Known Facts About Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and other Luminaries

"

"

A lunar eclipse occurs on September 17, 2024. It’s exact by degree at 10:34 p.m. EDT, 25 degrees 40 minutes Pisces.

Two weeks later, a solar eclipse occurs on October 2, 2024. It’s exact by degree at 2:49 p.m. EDT, 10 degrees 03 minutes Libra.

Your discernment and understanding of circumstances in your life are likely to be at least somewhat flawed during eclipse periods, so be very careful with important decisions. A common occurrence is temporary volatility in the financial markets, causing many to react in fear. Avoid that trap.

Also avoid hazardous situations such as a spontaneous decision to try skydiving, rushing to hire new employees, impulsive financial speculation, or other risky practices.

Three to four weeks before an eclipse and a few days after is roughly the window of time that eclipse-related issues manifest. Thus, avoid excessive risk during this period.

See this blog post for more information about limiting your overall risk during an eclipse.

See this article for information about using eclipses as predictive indicators.

This blog post includes the above-mentioned eclipse, along with other basic astrological events.

Copyright © 2024 Scott Petullo

Two Eclipses: September 17 and October 2 2024

"