Hello Friends:

Venus Retrograde and March Reflections

Venus stationed retrograde on March 1, 2025, coinciding with the start of Women's History Month. She is currently in her detriment in the sign of Aries, creating tension between Mars' assertive energy and Venus' desire for harmony and collaboration. This planetary dance continues until March 27th, after which Venus will return to her exaltation in Pisces on the 28th and turn direct there on April 12th.

Mercury stations retrograde today joining Venus in Aries until March 29th. This is loud, rude, reactionary, and emboldened. Take extra care of your tech, travel, receipts, communication, and ruminating thoughts. Patience is your most valuable tool right now.

This energetic configuration mirrors what we're witnessing in our society—the clash between rash, aggressive actions in government and the judicial system's efforts to uphold and enforce citizens' rights. Many astrologers predicted March would bring an intensity of madness and unpredictability, and indeed, it has delivered on that promise.

Finding Clarity Through Journaling

Journaling has become my personal sanctuary, allowing me to process confusion, fear, and anger by noticing where I'm placing blame and making assumptions. Through this practice, I seek clarity by researching events through various lenses: global economics, anthropology, history, and local movements. The symbolism of Tarot has also helps open my imagination to new perspectives.

My son Gabe gifted me the Women of Science Tarot deck a few years ago, and I find myself using it frequently these days for inspiration. Rather than calling forth flowing intuition, this deck serves as a weathervane, giving context to the atmosphere of my questions. I posted the full meanings of these cards in my Substack.

The Cards in Today's Spread

Marie Maynard Daly, Biochemist, Queen/Micro: "Your health comes first, no matter what."

Williamina Fleming, Astronomer, Knight/Astro: "If you succeed, leave the door open for those coming after."

Cecelia Payne-Gaposchkin, Astrophysicist, 4/Astro: "A healthy sense of wonder can sustain you for a lifetime."

The XV Devil:

In this deck, The Devil represents ownership, patents, and corporate greed. Upright, it symbolizes temptation, enslavement, unhealthy relationships, materialism, and bondage.

Local Discoveries: Books by Wimberley

I recently met Nicolle Reid while enjoying breakfast al fresco at Cafe Lago in Lakeway. She moved to Texas from Bend, OR and dreamed up this boutique bookstore because of exhaustion working for years in dentistry.

She launched Books of Wimberley on February 2, 2025, initially with a few bookshelves built by her son that she would take to farmers' markets. Though she built muscles from this setup, continuously transporting and unpacking/packing boxes of books proved unsustainable. Now, she operates from a trailer with custom shelves, still fine-tuning how to keep the books secure during transport.

Books of Wimberley is a pop-up bookshop selling gently used and new books at festivals and farmers' markets. You can find her on Instagram to check her next location. She offers a well-curated selection of reads, including cookbooks and my recent purchase: "The Echo of Old Books" by Barbara Davis.

Eve's Apple

Just down the road from my home is Flutter, a romance bookstore, which opened on February 14th. It's owner is Laurelin Paige, a NYT bestselling romance writer with a dream to create "a place dedicated to books and devoted to romance, a sanctuary for readers, a safe space for the marginalized and snubbed, and a gathering spot for all those who still seek the thrill of that butterfly feeling."

I especially love their antique cabinet of Blind Dates with a Book that not only provide intriguing descriptions, but also fun tchotchkes that match the them of the mystery book. You can see more photos of this quaint space here.

More Local Bookstores Owned by Women

• ​Reverie Books – South Austin
• ​First Light Books, Hyde Park
• ​Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar, East Austin
• ​BookWoman – North Austin
• ​Black Pearl Books – Northwest Austin
• ​Birdhouse Books and Gifts – Central Austin
• ​Lark and Owl Booksellers – Georgetown
• ​Sunday Bookshop – Dripping Springs
• ​The Book Burrow – Pflugerville

Current Reading Foray

I'm currently immersed in coursework for the next 8 months with Dr. Sharon Blackie, "Finding Ourselves in Fairytales: A Narrative Psychological Approach." The course requires 10+ books on the reading list, which keeps me busy, enthralled, and happily away from doom scrolling.

We’re discussing the benefits and challenges of a coherent narrative and how a problem-saturated story that dominates one’s view of life can be deconstructed for more spacious reimagining and healing.

Finding Your Path

Lastly, I wanted to share this Social Change Ecosystem Framework by Deepa Iyer and BuildingMovement.org. Identifying your interests and abilities on the local level might help you determine what is yours to do.

Embracing Venus's Wisdom

As Venus continues her retrograde journey from fiery Aries back to fluid Pisces, she reminds us that feminine wisdom often moves in cycles rather than straight lines. Like the pioneering women scientists in these Tarot cards, we're called to honor our health, open doors for others, and maintain our sense of wonder—even when facing the Devil of materialism and greed. In these astonishing times, perhaps the feminine response is to balance action with reflection, ambition with connection, and individual achievement with collective care. While Venus may be in her detriment now, her retrograde invites us to reclaim and redefine what feminine power looks like in our lives and communities.

I would love to know what opportunities you are finding in these challenging times. What skills are you learning and what gifts are you bestowing in faith to those who could use some encouragement? I’m finding a smile is especially powerful.

If you’d like more insight about your path or business from an astrological, Human Design, and strategic frameworks perspective, consider booking a session at Ritual Resonance.

Upcoming Events

Please join Tad Hargrave from Marketing for Hippies and me on the New Moon in Aries, Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 6-9 p.m. for a potluck dinner at my home on Hudson Bend (78734). Reply to this newsletter for address and details. It will be a small, intimate gathering and you'll likely be treated to some close-up magic from Tad.

Bring your questions about ethical marketing, your ideal client, or how you can bring your beautiful business out into the world in a way that doesn't feel awful. Or just come eat some delicious fare on the lake. It's a rare event to hang with Tad, who is a legend in the space of marketing, storytelling, and culture. Don't miss it :)

Kripalu Gentle Yoga & Sound Bath

Every Sunday night at The Yoga Common, 6-7 p.m. Reserve your spot here.

Astrological New Year Vision Boards

Save the date for Thursday, April 3, 2025. Let me know if you prefer a small gathering at my home in Hudson Bend or an adorable Runaway Luna Lifestyle in Bee Cave with cocktails/mocktails and snacks.

Thank you for reading this far and for being a part of my community.

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In mirth and wonderment,

Monica