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Astro-logical Forecast for Monday & Tuesday 9/29-30/2014: A High-Flying Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

The work week gets off to a high-flying start, courtesy of the Moon in fiery, opinionated Sagittarius. Righteous debate or a surge of energy may be encountered around 2:34PM ET, when Moon meets up with action hero Mars. This surge may well continue on a wave of optimism and innovation,  courtesy of an easy flow to the Moon between expansive Jupiter and eccentric Uranus, until the Moon goes void with a sigh at 11: 29PM ET. Get it off your desk today or wait until after Tuesday to finalize important decisions, as the void continues until 12:41AM ET on WEDNESDAY.

Stick to routine matters on Tuesday and roll with whatever twists and flakes may detour your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Avoid making impulse purchases, as such items generally prove to be of little use when bought during Moon voids. In Sagittarius, a void of course Moon facilitates any desire you have to wander, especially to a foreign place or spot in Nature. Wherever you go, remember not to make mountains out of molehills, as crises that manifest during voids often turn out to be much ado about nothing.

Other Moon voids this week: Thursday from 12:18PM ET until 4AM ET on Friday; Saturday from 2:32PM ET until 5:24AM ET.

The most significant planetary event today (Monday) is Venus (women, art, money, beauty, social expression) leaving prissy Virgo for Libra, one of the signs it rules, at 4:52PM ET. Look for headlines involving those Venusian themes.  Oh happy day, as social graces, peace and harmony once more become fashionable — at least until October 24th. Beautifying your home? Doing anything artistic or cosmetic? Working out kinks in a relationship? Initiating a project that requires great diplomacy? Great! Venus in Libra is happy to accommodate.

Also of note at the end of week, with effects building in intensity now, is the Libra Sun making a challenging contact with ruthless Pluto on Saturday. Stay tuned for power plays, corruption exposed, energy resources in the headlines and news from underground. Like a volcano erupting, as one did (sadly) in Japan. Or another on alert, as there is now in the Philippines. You’ll feel this power surge more personally if you were born around the 4th of July, October, January and April….or if you have a planet or angle around 12 to 16 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. And since you must know by now that we can’t have a Pluto contact without one to Uranus (thanks to the never-ending Planetary Pattern Everyone Should Be Talking About), note that the Sun will challenge rebel Uranus on October 7th.

Also please note that mental Mercury, which refers to electronic gizmos, thinking, communication and travel, is slooooowing down now as it prepares to (appear to) move backwards in the heavens on Saturday at 1:02PM ET. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS AND IPHONES, and consider that whatever agenda you are moving forward with this week may be up for review next week. More on how to have a super-fun Mercury retrograde (and who is more likely to be impacted by this one than others) as we get closer to Saturday. For now, just please back up your computer. And consider that Mercury retrogrades are an excellent time to REview your life with your astrologer. Here’s the 411 on consultations.

And now, the news.

A tech innovation that perfectly reflected the weekend’s Moon in Scorpio was the revelation that the new iPhone 6 is designed to be Secret Squirrel-proof. Did I just write Secret Squirrel? I meant to write “NSA”. But that’s not the only phone story that’s a concern to U.S. spies.  Using information for the sake of power and control appears to be the motivating factor in Facebook’s announcement that today it is launching a new ad platform that…

will allow marketers to tap its detailed knowledge of its users to direct ads to those people on thousands of other websites and mobile apps...

…none of which you or I will ever click.  Am I right?

In other news, George Clooney, who got engaged in April when his Venus at 13 Aries was supercharged by the buzzworthy Cardinal Grand Cross, got married in Venice on Saturday. Should we be surprised to see transiting Saturn exactly opposed the ruler of his 7th house of marriage/partnerships, suggesting a serious focus or ambition in such matters? Or transiting Jupiter, ruler of Clooney’s Midheaven, squaring his Taurus Sun, suggesting a happy expansion or reward? And that these transits coincide with two other measurements called Solar Arcs, one of which involves that same ruler of the 7th and the Midheaven and the other which involves his enterprising Capricorn Moon and his Pisces Ascendant (personal projection)? No, we should not be surprised at all to see significant life events happening in synch with significant planetary patterns. Here is his horoscope.

Finally, a few uplifting headlines in the spirit of today’s optimistic Sagittarius Moon. First, a truly high-flying item — and a first — about the female fighter pilot who led the United Arab Emirates‘ first airstrike against ISIS a few days ago. No comment on the reaction to this ground-breaking story from two boobs on the ground. Second — a feel-good story with the word “high-flying” in the headline. Find out why the head of a $2 trillion dollar investment fund quit his high-profile job a few months ago and how he’s spending his time.  Third, an item from last month that is still inspiring: a man in Australia reportedly saved over 160 people who were on the verge of suicide over the course of 50 years. His approach was oh-so-simple. And oh-so effective.

How are you being an angel today?

Your donations never fail to make my day, with much gratitude to you for  your appreciation. Gratitude also to those of you who share this forecast with friends. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Have a wonderful day!

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 9/26 & The Weekend: Moon in Scorpio;Mercury Retrograde Alert

TGIF!

The Moon is Scorpio until 6:50PM ET on Sunday, seeking knowledge to fulfill its need for power and control. Right now I’m fulfilling that need in the latest edition of “This American Life,” which I’m listening to as I type. Have you ever heard of Carmen Segarra? She was a regulator at the NY Fed who was assigned to work at Goldman Sachs. She was so concerned about what she witnessed on the job that she began secretly recording what she heard — 46 hours’ worth. What concerned her was the Fed’s alleged reluctance to stand up to the banks (in this case, Goldman) it is supposed to supervise.  She was fired; lawsuits are in process, but the release of the tapes is a surprise. Here’s another article on the story; read or listen to the broadcast and decide for yourself if this is another example of corruption in hallowed institutions exposed, a potential suggested by the never-ending rebel Uranus in crusading Aries challenging Pluto (power) in Capricorn (the Establishment).

Planetary patterns are relatively light over the weekend, save for mental Mercury’s brief shift into Scorpio at 6:39PM ET on Saturday. I say brief because the planet of communication and computer crashes will be turning retrograde on Saturday, October 4th and re-enter Libra on October 10th.  BACK  UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW. Until the 10th, the mindset of Mercury in Scorpio suggests a need to think with depth and substance…and perhaps a bit of secrecy and paranoia, too. To further fuel a potential need to dig up dirt, here’s another expose published today, this one from Rolling Stone about the Koch Brothers and how they made their fortune.

The only Moon void to deter your shopping impulses this weekend is on Sunday between 4:31PM and 6:50PM ET. After that, Moon soars into high-flying Sagittarius, lifting spirits and seeking to broaden horizons. No sleeping in on Monday; there will be much to accomplish before the Moon goes void on Monday night at 11:29pm ET, not to enter the next sign, Capricorn, until 12:41AM ET on Wednesday.

Other news of note:

With the first of Jupiter’s cosmic trines to Uranus yesterday happening in the fire signs of Leo and Aries, it’s interesting to read that four fireballs (i.e., meteors) were spotted in the skies over the United States. Coincidence or conspiracy? Fire in an air traffic control tower disrupted flights this morning (during the Moon void), as you would know if you were scheduled to fly in or out of airports in Chicago. Arson is suspected, and I can’t help but notice an erratic, obsessive-compulsive connection today between mental Mercury (transportation) and disruptive Uranus.

Speaking of erratic, Jupiter-Uranus aspects also refer to speculation and gambling, including the stock markets. And markets have been swinging a bit in the last 24 hours…and one stock in particular has surged thanks to the unexpected jump of Bill “the Bond King” Gross from PIMCO, a company he “helped build from scratch,” to Janus. Rumor has it that some were concerned that his recent behavior seemed erratic — or at least eccentric — and that had he not jumped today, he would have been asked to leave soon thereafter. We don’t have an exact birth time for Mr. Gross, and time does not permit an in-depth discussion of possible patterns in his horoscope that would reflect this life event.

Last, but not least, in honor of the Moon in secretive Scorpio, some Important Safety Tips about privacy settings of pictures and videos you might post on social media sites. The writer is a mom who posted a video on YouTube of her adorable daughter talking about equality. Someone stole it, and it went viral. Here’s what the mother learned.

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 9/25/2014: When Jupiter Trines Uranus — Huzzah!

L’shana tova! For those celebrating a happy new year today, you’re off to an uplifting and innovative start, suggested by the first of three exact trines (harmonious connections) between expansive Jupiter in love-love-love-me-do Leo and rebel technogeek Uranus in pioneering Aries. Got a great idea to pitch today? Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes. Or run it up this cosmic space elevator (to be completed by a Japanese company around 2050, after the Uranus-Pluto opposition mentioned yesterday).   Jupiter-Uranus connections are well-suited for pushing boundaries, for better or worse. For better, we can all be inspired by India, which just sent “an orbiter around Mars on its first try…on a shoestring” budget, no less. Woo-hoo!

Whatever big, bold idea is percolating or pitched under this buoyant pattern, you’ll likely see the next stage of its development on the second trine in March, with a third hit in June that may well bring realization and/or reward. But wait, there’s more! Next week and into October, action hero Mars in righteous Sagittarius aligns with this windfall potential, suggesting an ease of energy applied on your pet project. And yes, some people may access this easy flow more readily than others, depending on patterns in their unique horoscopes. To find out how this potential break may manifest in your own personal world, consult your local astrologer.

Meanwhile, the Moon continues it sojourn through Libra, seeking appreciation with a focus on relationship. Moon goes void at 8:39AM ET Friday morning — but only for a couple of hours before plunging into the intense watery depths of Scorpio, changing its quest to acquiring knowledge for the sake of power and control. That’ll be the vibe through most of the weekend…until 6:50PM ET on Sunday.

And now, the news.

Just a quick follow up on that story posted yesterday about the trolls threatening to post nude photos of actress Emma Watson in retaliation for her speaking out on gender equality. That got a lot of attention, with even more attention today because….the threat was actually a…well...now no one is sure what it was exactly…but having been put out there with the Sun and Moon at the prominent Aries Point, it was noticed!

Meanwhile, I’ve been mulling over the curious Sabian Symbol of yesterday’s New Moon. It is  “light of the sixth race transmuted to the seventh.” I’ve been wondering how the element of “race” would continue to manifest prominently in the headlines. A new biography about Bill Cosby has just been published, and yesterday the NYT published an appreciation about the ground-breaking significance of “The Cosby Show”. Hmm. And remember the story I mentioned a few weeks ago, about the young African-American who was killed by police after a panicked shopper called 911 to report that the young man was walking around pointing  a rifle at people? It turned out that the rifle in question was an air rifle — not a “real” firearm — and it happened to be for sale in the store. The horoscope for that 911 call was discussed here — scroll down to the last paragraph of the post.

Well, a grand jury reviewed the surveillance footage from Walmart and concluded that the police acted “reasonably”. No indictments were handed down….but the FBI is now pursuing its own investigation to determine if federal charges might be filed, and if you watch the truly disturbing video finally released today, you may appreciate why. Adding to the reflection of potential confusion, bewilderment, exaggeration and aggression (note Mars is square the Ascendant) suggested by the horoscope for the 911 call is this surreal fact: Ohio is an “open carry” state.  Anyway. Now, finally, the New York Times has mentioned the story…ever so briefly. Stay tuned…

…but let’s end on a lighter cosmic note. Also in the NYT and reflecting the adorably egocentric potential of today’s Jupiter in Leo (love me!) trine Uranus in me-me-me Aries is this creative effort, “Me and the Universe: Exploring My Relationship to the Totality of the Universe”.    Cue the B-52’s now, please.

Your donations never fail to make my day, with much gratitude to you for  your appreciation. Gratitude also to those of you who share this forecast with friends. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Have a wonderful day!

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 9/24/2014: New Moon in Libra

If you want to know where you’re at, look at whom you’re with. You can quote me on that, assuming the grammar is correct (the downside of life without an editor). But seriously folks, this New Moon in Libra offers us the opportunity for a prominent focus on relationships of  all kinds — interpersonal, international, interracial, maybe even intergalactic.

The New Moon — i.e.,  the monthly meet-up of the Sun and Moon — happens at 2:14AM ET this morning.  A New Moon offers us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Sometime today or tomorrow, light a candle and make a list.  Around October 1st, on the First Quarter Moon, we can expect a challenge to those goals, with appropriate adjustments made. At the time of the Full Moon on the 8th, we can expect illumination on the success or failure of our goals for the cycle. If we succeeded, we can consciously release our success into our reality; if we failed, we let go of whatever did not work. After the Third Quarter Moon on the 15th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon on the 23rd.

Libra is the sign of partnerships; marriage is an obvious partnership; some business relationships are partnerships, including adversarial ones. We went through the first half of the zodiac with New Moons focusing on the Self: Aries = my identity; Taurus = my values/possessions; Gemini = my mind; Cancer = my emotions/family; Leo = my love to give; Virgo = my service/work/body. Now we’re ready to go public. Take a look at your relationships: how are We doing? What is the State of Our Unions?  How do they reflect the Libran qualities of justice, fairness, diplomacy, peace, beauty and sweetness? Is there resentment or a lack of appreciation? Are there issues hanging in the balance (Libra is the sign of the Scales)?

Use a bit of creative visualization in your New Moon meditation  — and if you’re not a meditating type, grab a pen and paper and make a list of partnership objectives for the next few months.  If there’s anything/anyone on that list that you already have, make time for social graces and express your appreciation. Libra NEEDS appreciation for being valuable in relationship; by extension, our relationships need grace and appreciation, too.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon at 1 degree 8 minutes of Libra is this: “Light of the sixth race transmuted to the seventh,” and I’m so glad Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee has thought long and hard about how we might apply it in real life. This is an “image of a shifting in the quality of light energy into a higher, accelerated frequency,” he writes. “‘Race’ can be a dicey topic if approached in a less than enlightened manner.” Mmm-hmmm, so perhaps this suggests a need to proceed with a delicate consideration in relationships during this lunar cycle, especially since much of it will occur during mental Mercury’s next retrograde, which happens on October 4th. Mercury retrogrades suggest a higher probability for misunderstandings, doncha know.

And what about this idea of transmutation? “In esoteric philosophy, transmutation from the sixth to the seventh ray is the movement from a path of devotion to a path of ceremonial magic that realizes the unity of all things, as well as open-mindedness, gentleness and love.” Not bad traits to cultivate in your relationships during this cycle, along with “an awareness of all uplifting shifts within experience; from dark to light; cold to warm…consider ultrafine sensibilities; ultralight tenderness; imperceptible impressions”…all those refined expressions of appreciation Libra can do so well.

There’s no Moon void to delay or detour your efforts to move forward in a straight line today, though note the potential for a bit of emotional intensity or a power play around 9:39PM ET, when the Moon is challenged by ruthless Pluto. Adding to the mystical pixie dust of the fading Mars-Neptune square is an approaching easy connection between expansive Jupiter in regal Leo and rebel Uranus in Aries. Jupiter-Uranus connections spark high-flying ideas and ambitions….some humanitarian, others cosmic or at least, high-tech. Let’s watch the headlines for innovation and boundaries pushed….and oh, look, here’s a TV show premiering later tonight that perhaps aims to do just that. It’s called “black-ish,” which is quite intriguing, given the Sabian Symbol for the New Moon.

You may be feeling the high-flying optimism of the Jupiter-Uranus trine if you have a planet between 8 and 17 degrees of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. That would include NYT columnist David Brooks, whose shiny happy ode to New York in today’s paper has some readers wondering what he’s been smoking. Brooks has his Mercury (mindset) at 14 Leo, which is exactly where Jupiter is now. Jupiter making contact with Mercury suggests a need for uplifting and expansive thinking, for better or for worse. To be fair, the aforementioned column does segue into a more sober tone, perhaps reflecting the fact that stern Saturn at 19 Scorpio is squaring his 18 Leo Sun.  And last week, he wrote about the importance of friendship, as Uranus (ruler of “who’s yer buddy?” Aquarius) made contact with Mercury. I’ll bet your current train of thought is reflected in patterns in your horoscope, too.

And now, more news.

Pluto turned direct on Monday, suggesting a potent release of energy, possibly destructive. With Pluto almost exactly opposing the US Sun in Cancer, let the record show that airstrikes against ISIS were launched in Syria and elsewhere. News from underground often bubbles to the surface during Pluto activity, and in that article you’ll read about a troubling group of individuals known as the Khorasan. We’ve never heard of them before…until now.  Meanwhile, the Sun at 0 degrees Libra (the Aries Point, as discussed in the last forecast), suggested a need for prominence in the Libran concern for equality in relationship. And there was Emma Watson,  who brought Hermione Granger to life and is now serving as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, delivering an impassioned speech on gender equality. And boy did this speech attract attention — including threats from the social media trolls, who have now been categorically proven in this recent study to be the sociopaths, sadists and narcissists we always suspected them to be.

Finally, in case you missed the (virtually non-existent) TV coverage of Sunday’s Peoples’ Climate March in New York, here’s Jon Stewart’s take on the event, along with an excerpt of a  stunning recent hearing held before the Congressional Committee on Science, Space and Technology. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry — and you might find it helpful to know that all of the illustrious Congressmen in this Daily Show segment are up for re-election in November…and if you don’t vote, somebody else will.

Oh. One other astrological tidbit reflected in today’s news. Scientists (bless them) have released predictions on which US cities are most vulnerable to the anticipated effects of climate change. Which ones are your safest bet?  Which ones might be toast and which ones might be under water by 2047-2048?  It’s fascinating that scientists are keying in on 2047 as a significant date. Why? Well, for years we’ve been talking about the dramatic crisis/awareness suggested by the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square, a.k.a. the Planetary Pattern Everyone Should Be Talking About. But of course I say never-ending in jest; the seven series of squares wrap up next year, though the pattern will still likely be felt through 2016.  Then what? Well, in 2047, we’ll have the Uranus-Pluto opposition. For clues on what we can expect, think of the opposition operating as an opposition between the Sun and Moon (i.e., a Full Moon) — and re-read the second paragraph of this forecast. Will we work out the challenges of the Uranus-Pluto square (which operates like a First Quarter Moon) by the time the series completes? Fingers crossed….and here’s some good news: 40 companies have pledged to stop tropical deforestation by 2030 and others are stepping up to the plate. It’s a start.

Have an uplifting New Moon day planting beautiful seeds for graceful, balanced, loving relationships. Take time to express appreciation — you will raise the vibration of the entire planet; people will appreciate you in return and your generous heart and spirit will be rewarded a thousandfold…and you can take that straight to the Good Karma Bank.

Thank you for reading and sharing this forecast.

Your donations never fail to make my day, with much gratitude to you for  your appreciation. Gratitude also to those of you who share this forecast with friends. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Have a wonderful day!

 

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Tuesday 9/22-23/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week Sun Enters Libra; Pluto Direct

Good Morning & Greetings from New York!

I’m fairly certain it’s morning and that I am in fact in New York, though it’s taken me a couple of days of time-travel adjustment to reach this conclusion. It’s an odd feeling to cross the International Date Line, and either lose a day (flying West) or have a chance to re-live a day all over again (flying East).  Waking up at 2AM, ready to start the day, for example — or wanting to pass out at 7PM. Space and time can feel so relative sometimes. Food for thought….

We are in the balsamic phase of the lunar cycle, a.k.a., the dark side of the Moon. This is a good time to wrap up projects from your New Moon agenda and contemplate your next to-do list to put into effect when the New Moon in Libra begins at 2:14AM ET on Wednesday. For the next two days, the Virgo Moon energy can be used to efficiently sort, analyze and organize — hopefully without worrying too much about whether it’s absolutely perfect. There’s a certain restlessness or listlessness you might feel in this “dark” lunar phase, sensing that there’s something new around the corner, but not quite sure what it will be.

We have two notable planetary shifts happening today. First, at 8:34PM ET, Pluto turns direct at 10 degrees of Capricorn. If you are a Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra born around December 31st,  March 31st, June 30 or September 30, prepare yourself for third and final round of whatever forces have resulted in a major change in perspective over the past year, ultimately leading to an empowerment, regardless of what needed to be let go in the process.  If you weren’t born on those days and you’ve been experiencing some kind of intense transformation — or the pressure to have one — your Moon or other acutely sensitive point (such as your Rising Sign) might be affected. Consult your local astrologer for details.

Pluto’s change of direction suggests a potent release of hidden or underground energies, reflected in the headlines. Here’s one example of such a release: the cold, hard facts about one woman’s experience with poverty, presented in a book just published. This book got its start as a post in an online forum that subsequently went viral. An empowering transformation, no?

Today also marks the last day of summer — the Sun is at the end of Virgo and will move into Libra at 10:29 PM ET and then…happy Autumnal Equinox…a perfect balance between day and night.

The first day of each season is especially powerful. We are immediately alerted to the likelihood of change and the beginning of a new cycle. These days are prominent, noticed and in some cultures even celebrated (it’s a national holiday in Japan).  The astrological signs that mark the seasons are Aries (spring), Cancer (summer), Libra (fall) and Capricorn (winter). Thus if you are born on or near the first day of those signs, or you have a planet or angle within the first two degrees of those signs, you will likely have a drive to be noticed in whatever areas of your life that planet signifies. In astrology, we use the term “Aries Point” to describe a planet that is in the first two degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Got that?

Libra is a airy, mental sign, generally concerned with relationships, social graces and with promoting fairness, justice and balance. This does not mean Librans are balanced; it means they generally are seeking balance and are quite capable of swinging back and forth wildly as they search for it. As sweet as Libra can be, they are not marshmallows. The term “iron fist in a velvet glove” often applies.

If you must ship something today or tomorrow, ship it today if you can, as the Moon will be void of course during business hours in the Americas tomorrow: 8:15AM – 11:59PM ET. Stick to routine tasks or chill during voids. Be willing to roll with whatever flakes, twists and delays you may encounter in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Avoid impulse purchases, as experience suggests that what is purchased during voids is not something you really need. Above all, avoid the temptation to make mountains out of molehills. That “crisis” you may experience is often much ado about nothing.

Other voids for the week: Friday from 8:39AM ET – 10:29AM ET. Onward!

And now, the news.

There were climate marches all over the globe yesterday, and the largest one happened in Manhattan, where at least 310,000 people marched two miles down Central Park West, Sixth Avenue, across 42nd Street and past many of the media companies headquartered in the city. Really hard for a roving TV news reporter to miss, and yet the Peoples Climate March — which apparently “shattered records” — received very little on-camera coverage. Well, the event did start at 11:30AM ET, when the Moon was void-of-course, suggesting a higher probability of being of no consequence.  Coincidence or conspiracy?

On a related note, consider this piece about dissolving boundaries (Neptune in Pisces) and disruptions of the status quo (Uranus square Pluto) in the face of climate change that affecting Louisiana. Everyone knows what the state of Louisiana looks like on a map of the United States, right? It’s shaped like a boot…or so we’ve been led to believe. Apparently a lot has changed since those maps were first drawn…take a look and find out why.  Reflecting themes of charity (Neptune) potent resources (Pluto), oil (Neptune) and change (Uranus) on a more proactive note, it seems that the Rockefeller heirs whose fortunes were made in oil are now divesting their investments in fossil fuels. This is a shift that is sure to gain traction, suggested by planetary patterns.

Meanwhile, the surreal razzle-dazzle potential of Sunday’s square between action hero Mars and nebulous Neptune definitely made a mark in the headlines. First, a bewildering feature in the NYT magazine called “Turning Microcelebrity into Big Business” caught my eye. Who are these people and why should we care? Exactly, but that hasn’t stopped them from making millions. Mars-Neptune contacts can be seductive or spiritual, and this story about a once-adulterous pastor trying to put  a local strip joint out of business has both elements — especially since the strip joint has devised some creative ways of fighting back. A strip club is also making news in the current governor’s race in Kansas. Mars and Neptune together suggest things not being as they seem, and are an apt backdrop for the premiere of a documentary about a notorious art forger.

Last but not least, Neptune refers to drugs…and isn’t it interesting to see a NYT homepage article about Prozac…on the same day that Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of “Prozac Nation” wrote a piece about her unexpected marriage at age 47. I had planned to do a little write-up about Ms. Wurtzel’s horoscope, but I do not have time to do that today. But I wanted to point out one paragraph in her article

Most people get sick and tired of being sick and tired by the time they are 28, which is the average age of marriage in the United States. I was more like 45….

…and I point this out because 28-29 is when everyone experiences their first Saturn return. This intense transit usually presents an opportunity to grow up, get serious, go back to grad school, get that super-ambitious job, buy a house and yes….get married. At age 45-47 everyone experiences an opportunity to make a major assessment and change of direction in life. In Ms. Wurtzel’s horoscope, we see the enormous potential for a radical change of identity and public status happening since last year and continuing into 2016. What planetary cycles are you in right now? How can you use them to plan for and maximize opportunities for growth and change?

Your donations never fail to make my day, with much gratitude to you for  your appreciation. Gratitude also to those of you who share this forecast with friends. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Have a wonderful day!

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday-Sunday 9/18-21/2014: Serious Vision?

Good Morning!

OK, well…it’s morning in Japan…

Moon continues its sojourn in Cancer, seeking to nurture and be nurtured in its efforts to build emotional and home security. There’s a nice balance suggested to the work flow today,especially in communications,  courtesy of an easy connection between the Sun and the Moon. If you must ship today, ship early, as the Moon goes void with a sigh at 2:38PM ET. Chill and tend to routine matters until 11:10PM ET, when the Moon enters fiery, royal Leo, looking for a creative outlet of self-expression…or at the very least, a party.

The only exact pattern of note on Friday is an energetic connection between the Leo Moon and action hero Mars in broad-minded Sagittarius. A well-coordinated effort to shine may be afforded the opportunity to push a few boundaries. If  you’ve gone too far, you may feel it on Saturday when the Moon is squared by stern Saturn at 2:46PM ET.  Make the adjustment and carry on.

Moon goes void at 12:33AM ET on Sunday; it enters Virgo at 11:54AM ET, just in time for the world to demand that we clean up our collective mess. One way we’ll see that in the headlines will be in hundreds of demonstrations around the world, in conjunction with a climate change summit being held in New York. Is there a Peoples’ Climate March happening in your neighborhood? Find out here.

Humming in the background on Sunday are three other patterns of note. One is a connection between Venus (social expression, women, money, beauty) and taskmaster Saturn that supports productive communication about no-nonsense matters. That’s exact at 9:03AM ET on Sunday, getting the day off to an efficiently-minded start. Just before midnight ET, however, action hero Mars is challenged by nebulous Neptune. On the plus side, this offers opportunity for a sublime vision of a better world, right in synch with the timing of a global event such as a Peoples’ Climate March. Cool, huh? On the down side, the charisma and showbiz dazzle of a Mars-Neptune aspect can just as easily be applied by con men and others whose agendas are escapist and dishonest. Ooh — what just landed in my Facebook newsfeed? An effort to build a utopian paradise based on the books of Ayn Rand has apparently failed, burning investors who believed in the scheme.

The third pattern of note is Pluto, which will be turning direct on Monday at 8:34PM ET, suggesting that between now and then we may see an uptick of news items involving power plays, resources and news from underground. You’ll feel the subtle shift of Pluto’s turn if you have a planet around 12 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn. You may be more influenced by the visionary and/or wiggy potential of Mars-Neptune if you have a planet or angle around 5-7 degrees of Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo or Pisces. Mark Sanford, the former governor of South Carolina who brought new meaning to the words “hiking the Appalachian Trail” is feeling Pluto personally, as noted in an earlier forecast. Now, as predicted, he’s had another disruptive change of status, announcing on Facebook that his engagement to his Argentinian soul mate is now off, which was apparently a surprise to his fiancee.

And now, a bit of news.

We’ll know this week if voters in Scotland will elect to break free of Britain — first noted in this forecast here. Shake ups and break ups are registered trademarks of the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Interesting to note that Scotland is having its election on the Mars-Neptune square. Here’s another op-ed from the NYT, written by Scottish actor Alan Cumming. Guess which other country declared its independence when Mars was squared by nebulous Neptune? Why, the United States of America, of course. No wonder we need to believe so strongly in the American Dream. And perhaps a need for that dream explains the bewildering mindset of voters in Kentucky, where the Affordable Care Act has been an astounding success. The number of uninsured has dropped from 20% to 11%, yet many — and perhaps a majority — are more likely to vote for lawmakers who are committed to repealing the benefits those voters now receive. Meanwhile, keeping in synch with the practical communication about serious matters, suggested by this week’s alignment of Venus with Saturn (and Pluto, a few days ago), more level-headed minds have declared that the United States needs to “completely overhaul” the way it handles “end-of-life care”.

No sleeping in on Monday….

If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times, That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence. 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Wednesday 9/15-17/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week

Good morning!

The work week begins with a buzz of supportive planetary patterns that can facilitate efforts related to communication and information-gathering, courtesy of the Moon in pixie chatterbox Gemini. Innovation is favored, as the Moon connects with rebel Uranus and mental Mercury at 7:13AM ET and 12:52PM ET, respectively. As noted in my last post, the Third Quarter Moon at 10:05PM ET suggests an energetic push or insight regarding whatever illumination you received on last week’s Full Moon. Mull it over without turning it into a mountain; the Moon goes void at that time, not to enter the next sign — Cancer — until 11:24 AM ET on Tuesday.

With the Moon in the sign of the Crab, the need of the day is emotional and/or homeland security. Consider issues of home, patriotism, motherhood and a chicken in every pot. What nourishes your body, feeds your soul and makes you feel safe at home? Do you even have a home? A vision about these matters may well be yours around 10:35PM ET on Tuesday, when the Moon makes an easy connection to rose-colored Neptune.

Wednesday’s planetary patterns are more dynamic, as the Moon makes its weekly contact with the Uranus-Pluto square, a.k.a., the Planetary Pattern Everyone Should Be Talking About.  Moon opposes Pluto at 9:05AM ET, suggesting a potential emotional catharsis or power play — for better or worse. Moon squares rebel Uranus at 5:38PM ET, suggesting a potential disruption, innovation or other upset — again for better or for worse.

Your Moon voids for the week, other than the one that begins tonight: Thursday 2:38PM ET unti 11:10PM ET and Sunday 12:33AM ET until 11:54AM ET. Use the voids to take care of routine matters and/or chill. Avoid shopping sprees, as impulse purchases made during voids have an odd way of proving to be not nearly as useful as you thought. Avoid finalizing plans, signing contracts and making mountains out of molehills.

And now the news.

One potential expression of the  healing, empowering potential of Sunday’s trine between Venus (love, social expression) and Pluto (regeneration, potent) was duly reflected in this story about Pope Francis marrying couples who had co-habitated and/or had children outside of marriage. In other news, a look at how successful Germany and some other countries have been as they ditch conventional energy sources for solar, wind and other renewables. Read the article and note how many times the words “disruptive” and “transformation” are used; those are keywords for the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Elsewhere, a city in Vermont is pleased to announce it is now running on 100% renewable energy — how cool is that?

Speaking of disruption, have you heard about the short film called “Disruption”? It’s about climate change — and was produced to build awareness for the so-called Peoples’ Climate March happening this Sunday the 21st in New York and other cities around the world.  I opined some years ago that climate change — and what we must do to stop trashing our planet — would be the biggest shift in awareness to come out of the disruptive dance Uranus and Pluto have been doing since 2011….and will continue to do for another year or so. You can watch the 52 minute film here.

I’ll be back from Japan and available for personal astro-logical consultations on Saturday.  See you on the other side of the International Date Line…

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 9/12 & the Weekend: Postcard from Tokyo; Obama Update

Konbanwa from Tokyo!

Yesterday’s flight during the mostly all-day Moon void was uneventful, save for an early AM technical smartphone glitch which rendered by Uber app inoperative, causing a momentary much-ado-about-nothing panic as I searched for car service for a car service with an available driver to pick me up, stat. At the airport, I opted out of the whiz-bang techno body scanner machines, as I always do, and the TSA patdown lady was very sweet and far too young to have experienced a time when there were only metal detectors — or even no metal detectors at all, and passengers were greeted by loved ones directly at the gate. I know this because we talked about it, and my intention was to make our interaction as pleasant and human as possible. Our conversation made me wistful and sad, especially since I was flying on 9/11. I wondered if any human will ever be greeted by a loved one at an airport gate again…or at least in my lifetime.

It’s actually Saturday morning here, but it’s still Friday night in the Americas. The Moon is holding steady in security-seeking Taurus, and lunar aspects are harmonious and upbeat, if a bit indulgent. Let the sensual delights commence!

Moon cruises without interference until 6:24AM ET Saturday, when it is challenged by dear Saturn, everyone’s favorite wall or wet blanket. Push through whatever rained on your parade and keep your end goal in sight. Balance is restored with a sigh at 9:31AM ET, when the Moon goes void of course until 2:26AM ET on Sunday. Take care of routine tasks; avoid the malls and yard sales and chill, chill, chill.

By the time you wake up on Sunday, Moon will be in chatty Gemini, gathering and sharing information that may have more of an emotional depth and healing potential than usual, given an easy connection between loving Venus (arts, money, women, social expression) and potent Pluto, exact at 10:33AM ET. Note the potential for dreamy bewilderment around lunchtime, as Moon is challenged by nebulous Neptune at 1:05PM ET. Great for a day at the museum or your meditation temple; not so great for instant clarity, unless it shows up in the form of sublime intuition.

No sleeping in on Monday — the Gemini Moon will be buzzing happily until 10:05PM ET, supercharged by the 3rd Quarter Moon. Other planetary news of note: on Saturday at 5:57PM ET, action hero Mars leaves intense, effective and oftentimes vengeful Mars in Scorpio and enters high-flying Sagittarius. When it comes to action for the next few weeks, the sky’s the limit, especially when it is challenged by nebulous Neptune on the 21st. Who said anything has to be practical? Mars-Neptune aspects, especially in Sagittarius-Pisces, love a good razzle-dazzle show, whether it’s on Broadway or pitched by your local snake oil salesman…or guru…or fanatic.  There’s gotta be a vision — often based on the loftiest ideals and collective beliefs. The challenge is whether is based on anything real. Watch the headlines for showstopping actions and opinions…from the sublime to the ridiculous to the quite possibly deranged.

And now, the news.

Take last week’s sublime rose-colored face-off between Venus and Neptune and mix it with mental Mercury’s engagement with rebel technogeek Uranus and transformational Pluto and you’ve got a perfect recipe for the launch of Apple’s latest ground-breaking products. In other news, George Zimmerman made headlines again — in yet another raging social expression — as predicted he would continue to do until transiting Pluto finishes its square to his Libra Sun later this year. Even then, the over-the-top emotions are likely to dissipate any time soon, thanks to Pluto also challenging Venus, which refers to social expression. Triggering the bombastic entitlement expressed in this latest outburst: transiting Mars in Scorpio squaring his Venus in royal Leo.  Here’s his horoscope — birthtime unknown.

Elsewhere, President Obama gave a speech in which he said he would expand military actions intended to defeat ISIS. The speech began just two minutes after the Moon went void on Wednesday night. In Aries, sign of the warrior. Hmmm. When we last looked at Obama’s horoscope, transiting Mars (action/war) had just squared his Aquarius Ascendant. What did he do? Authorize military strikes. On Wednesday, transiting Mars was conjunct his Scorpio Midheaven, suggesting more assertive action — likely quite public. Add this to transiting Saturn now squaring his Ascendant, and we would expect to see a heavy authoritative hand, likely operating under considerable pressure. Check. And with Saturn ruling Obama’s 12th house (secret enemies, self-undoing, critical illness, government institutions and stuff kept tightly under wraps), we can expect that actions taken now are perhaps based on criteria of which we know naught…or at least not much.

Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to have a lovely weekend. Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times, That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence. 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday – Thursday 9/9-11/2014: Full Moon Fallout

Non-stop sirens and honking horns all day yesterday, as the Moon waxed to a lush, ripe fullness last night. What was going on in your neck of the woods? Did you note your dreams yesterday and this morning?

Moon continues its sojourn through soulful, empathic Pisces for most of the day. A positive application of energy is suggested for whatever task you’re on as the Moon makes a harmonious connection to an especially effective Mars in Scorpio around 3:09PM. Then it goes void for a few hours, offering the chance to focus on routine matters and/or chill. Get it off your desk before the void, as actions initiated during voids are more likely to be delayed or have no consequence. And don’t forget to VOTE!!!

Empowered revelations and news from underground are suggested in the headlines, as mental Mercury engages once more with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Today it makes contact with ruthless Pluto at 6:38PM ET; it opposes rebel technogeek Uranus on Saturday.  Combined with other patterns in yesterday’s Full Moon, these stories seem especially relevant: first, a former portfolio manager at the notorious SAC Capital was sentenced to nine years in prison for insider trading.

Second, football player Ray Rice has finally been booted off the Baltimore Ravens’ roster, after a graphic video showing him punching his then-fiancee in the face and knocking her unconscious went viral. Is this one of the wounds to our collective psyche this Full Moon’s contact with wounded healer Chiron is seeking to release and cleanse? Do we really believe NFL bigwig Roger Goodell never saw this video until yesterday? Why was it OK for the Baltimore Ravens to Tweet several months ago that the fiancee in question took responsibility for her alleged role is having the living daylights knocked out of her? And why the heck is she defending her husband now? What’s up with those Venus-opposing-Neptune rose-colored glasses? And why do Americans love football so much? Don’t they know how dangerous and damaging it is? Astrologer Bill Herbst has written a compelling article about the Uranus-Pluto square and its impact on professional sports in the U.S. He’s written a lot of compelling articles, and I owe him a debt of gratitude — and also to astrologer Rockie Gardiner, who told me about Herbst so many years ago.

At 7:33PM ET, Moon shifts gears and charges into RAMbunctious Aries. That should carry us through a dynamic day of action and initiative tomorrow. Some of it may be bumpy, as the Moon makes contact with Uranus and Pluto, but overall, thoughts and communication will likely be flowing freely and spirits will be high. Moon goes void Wednesday at 8:58PM ET….not to enter the next sign, Taurus, until 9:17PM ET on Thursday. Rule #1  for coping with crises that crop up during Moon voids: consider that they may well be much ado about nothing. There’s a tendency to make mountains out of molehills during voids, and said mountains have a way of going “poof” once the Moon is back in gear. Case in point: CNN was in total alarm-freakout mode last Friday when the unfortunate pilots of a private plane lost touch with air traffic controllers and veered off course towards Cuba before crashing in the Caribbean. I saw it while standing in line at my credit union and thought, “Man, this is some mountain…”

Other news, in the wake of this Full Moon: weddings and impending births — the lush, ripe and dreamy potential of a Harvest Moon, combined with the romance of Venus opposed by Neptune. Neil Patrick Harris got married. So did two women in their 90s who have been together for over 70 years. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales are expecting another child.  Hooray!

It’s nice to end on a positive note, don’t you think? Yesterday the Senate passed what could be the beginning of a meaningful effort to overturn Citizens United with a constitutional amendment. Did I mention there may be a primary election in your state today? Don’t forget to vote!

If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times! That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence. I look forward to a fine discussion with you about your horoscope.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 9/8/2014: Full Moon in Pisces – Practically Ideal or Totally Wigged Out?

Note your dreams upon waking, as the Pisces Moon conjoins visionary Neptune at 5:09AM ET. Intuition, feelings and other sensitivities are likely on the rise, in synch with the waxing Full Moon, exact at 9:38PM ET tonight. In between, around lunchtime ET, note the potential for a healing heart-to-heart or other deep revelation as the Moon makes a supportive contact to potent Pluto.

More on the Full Moon, as its patterns will ripple out through the rest of the week. This is the Harvest Moon and it’s a Supermoon — and you can find out why that’s so special here.  Full Moons offer enlightenment and/or release of projects that started or landed on your desk two weeks ago. What will you learn? Planetary patterns suggest a startling blend of the mystical and the practical. First, there’s a sharp contact between mental Mercury and ruthless Pluto (exact Tuesday at 6:38PM ET), suggesting a power play or empowerment in thoughts and communication.  You may find yourself making a bold pitch or laying it all on the table if you have a planet or point around 11-13 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.  You’d be feeling quite optimistic about it, too, given that Mercury is also supported by expansive Jupiter (exact on Wednesday at 2:37PM ET).

Second, there’s a face-off between Venus (art, women, money, social expression) in discerning Virgo and nebulous Neptune, exact on Wednesday at 6:51AM ET. This is the mystical element, suggesting a need for beauty in its most idealized form, preferably accompanied by a choir of angels. Or a sublime ile flottante (floating island). Look for idealized Venusian themes in the headlines. You may be feeling the bewildering, bewitching fog of Neptune more personally  — and have been for some months now, with more to come — if you have a planet or important point around 5-7 degrees of Pisces, Sagittarius, Gemini and Virgo…or were born 5-6 days into any of those signs.

Third, there’s a communicative connection between taskmaster Saturn and the Sun (exact on Thursday at 11:04AM ET) which can be superbly applied to projects requiring discipline, detail and structure — and actually shipped the day before, when the Moon will not be void. Fourth, there’s an added flash of insight — electric and/or cosmic — suggested by another face-off between mental Mercury and rebel Uranus, exact on Saturday at 4:06AM ET. Here are a few stories that made headlines the last time Mercury made contact with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square at the end of July.  And finally, action hero Mars is running wild in intensely focused — sometimes ruthless — Scorpio. Some may want to count to ten before lashing out.

The Sabian Symbols for tonight’s Full Moon at 16 degrees Pisces/Virgo are as follows. For the Moon in Pisces: “A Easter promenade.” For the Sun in Virgo: “A volcano in eruption.” Once again, astrology presents us with contradictory images and challenges us to figure out how they can be integrated. Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee observes that we have an image of raw, uncontrollable creative power on the one hand, versus an image of a socially acceptable and contained mode of creative expression. If you love Sabian Symbols, get Bovee’s book for more details. What happens when one wild energy comes into contact with that which is controlled? Bovee suggests we be mindful of “social capacities of acceptance and tolerance being tested by new, raw social expressions…flare-ups of all kind…energies that flow with a mind of their own…ideas that take form only after a long period of cooling down, as opposed to the natural pace…of a promenade”.

There’s an added element to the heightened emotional rush of this Full Moon, and that is an exact conjunction between the Moon and Chiron, often called “the wounded healer”. So whatever is slated to erupt into the headlines over the next few days is likely to be rooted in a long-standing wound to the psyche. You may feel this in your own personal world if you have a planet or angle around 15-17 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius or Gemini. It’s always helpful to know in what area of the horoscope Full Moons and New Moons fall, as you can expect that area of your life to be stimulated soon thereafter. If you don’t know where your planets are, consult your local astrologer.

Moon voids for the week are as follows. First on Tuesday, Moon will be void from 3:09PM ET until 7:33PM ET. That means if there’s an election happening in your city, as there is in New York, cast your vote before the void. You’re more likely to flake out during the void, or some other thing is more likely to happen that makes your vote of no consequence. So vote early! Because if you don’t vote, somebody else will. One of these days I’ll put that on a T-shirt.

Moon will also be void from Wednesday at 8:58PM ET until 9:17PM ET on Thursday — that’s a long time to focus on routine and roll with whatever twists detour your efforts to move forward in a straight line, but roll with them and chill you must. Moon will also be void from 9:31AM ET Saturday until 2:26AM ET on Sunday. Here’s more on Moon voids, if you’re new to the forecast.

And now, a little bit of news.

First, my favorite practical, mystical headline today concerns scientists who have been able to devise an experiment that enabled them to “transmit the thoughts of one individual into the brain of another thousands of miles away.”  Oh, these scientists — they’re finally catching on! Here’s a practical/mystical bit about hardcore data in the world of online dating, in which the CEO of OK Cupid notes the disconnect between what certain men say they are looking for in a mate vs. the prospects they actually contact. And speaking of hardcore, this week’s Modern Love column in the Sunday Times was written by a practical-minded woman who works in business that’s all about fantasy. She met her husband on the set of a porn movie; their marriage is rock solid, but not without a number of “strange realities”.

In other news, here’s a story the NYT has yet to cover — and I find this to be a strange reality, given the columns of ink devoted to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson last month.  On August 5th, another young man was shot and killed by police while he was shopping at a Walmart. A panicked shopper (an alleged ex-Marine) called 911 to report that a man was waving a rifle around and pointing it at shoppers. This happened at 8:21PM ET in Beavercreek, Ohio. If you run that chart you will immediately notice the Moon in pie-in the-sky Sagittarius squared by nebulous Neptune, and also action hero Mars trining Neptune. And if any of the police officers responding to the call had been astrologers, they might have paused for a minute and thought, “Hmm….with Neptune so prominent, things may not be as they seem.”  Or “Gosh, that Mercury-Jupiter conjunction in Leo right on the 7th house cusp suggests the potential for exaggeration.” Alas, they were not astrologers, and two people died in the confusion. Now, a more accurate version of reality is beginning to take shape. I will be interested to see where this story is at in a couple of weeks.

Thank you for reading, sharing and supporting this forecast.

If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times! That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence. I look forward to a fine discussion with you about your horoscope.