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Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 5/29/2015 & the Weekend: Color It Rose

Take note of your dreams this morning….

After a potential jolt to the peace-loving Libra Moon at 8:17AM ET, the day is mostly free and clear. Ship it before 4:20PM ET, when the Moon goes void on an indulgent contact between the Libra Moon and Venus (money, women, social expression, values). TGIF and head for the nearest happy hour.

Moon enters emotionally intense Scorpio at 5:34AM ET, looking for depth, power and control. Idealism runs high through the weekend, many may be walking and talking with blinders on — or in a rose-colored fog. Don’t worry, it will lift a bit next week…

There’s no Moon void to detour your shopping adventures this weekend, but with Mercury retrograde, I would not invest in a major purchase. Feed your soul instead — with senseless beauty and random acts of kindness. You can probably get away with a late start to the work week, as the Moon will be void on Monday between 7AM and 2:39PM ET…

And now, the news.

Here’s a random post from almost four years ago, noting a few events that hit the wires in a prior Neptune-Sun-Mercury extravaganza. This was before someone taught me how to use hyperlinks…

Talk about shrouded in fog. Big news today is that former House Speaker Denny Hastert has been indicted on charges of lying to FBI agents about millions of dollars paid to an “Individual A”. This unknown person received these funds as compensation for an equally unknown transgression on the part of Mr. Hastert…leaving much to the imagination. It should surprise no one who reads this forecast that planetary patterns on Mr. Hastert’s January 2, 1942 birthday have been mightily supercharged by Uranus and Pluto over the past few years. His 11 Capricorn Sun and 18 Capricorn Mercury have been under pressure, along with his sensitive (degree unknown) Cancer Moon.

More Neptune on the home pages:  “In Europe, Fake Jobs Can Have Real Benefits”; Delusionary Thinking in Washington”; “Detailed Plans vs. ‘A Whole Lot of Crazy‘”. That last story refers to James E. Holmes, whom you may remember as the man who dressed up as The Joker and killed people at the midnight premiere of a Batman movie. The “detailed plans” refer to his Moon in Virgo; the “crazy” refers to Neptune running wild. His horoscope was covered in this forecast here , before an exact birth time was known.

Heavy Neptune, combined with other patterns, sometimes calls up an image of pouring oil on troubled waters. My teacher once said that Neptune “puts ambition to sleep”. In the Middle East, the entity known as ISIS has conquered Palmyra, but oddly enough, it has not destroyed the city’s “magnificent Greco-Roman ruins”…at least not yet.

Neptune is one of the planets associated with memory. How interesting to see this story: “Amnesia Researchers Use Light to Restore Lost Memory in Mice”. Meanwhile,  this story of healing borders on the surreal:  “Woman Comes Face-to-face with her Dead Brother’s Transplanted Face”.

Want to buy your own magical Neptunian retreat? Neverland, Michael Jackson’s former home, is for sale.  Or just escape into your mind with Google’ new virtual reality device. Last but not least, “Water: the Strangest Chemical in the Universe”.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Feeling a bit bewildered? You may be going through a heavy Neptune transit. A personal astrological consultation can bring you clarity and solid strategies for making the most out of what is often a confusing time. Here’s the 411 on consultations. We will have a excellent discussion together.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 5/28/2015: More on Neptune

Moon continues its sojourn through Libra, seeking balance, harmony and social graces. Its quest is beautifully supported by easy connections to the Sun (willpower), Mercury (mindset) and Mars (action), so enjoy the smooth ride during business hours today.

Bumps may arise in the late evening and wee hours of Friday morning, as Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto (at 12:10AM ET) and Uranus (at 8:17AM ET). Some surprises in Friday’s early headlines…some of which will stem from the confusion/illusion/vision suggested by an exact square between nebulous Neptune and Mercury at 2:59AM ET.

And now, the news.

Neptune, Neptune and more Neptune — combined with Mercury in retrograde. Oy vey, what potential for sensationalism, based on delusion and/or lies. How else to explain a totally lame video making the rounds on social media, alleging that a “rare planetary pattern” happening this weekend will lead to a certain natural disaster in a specific place. It evens cites a verse from Nostradamus, blathering about Mercury in Taurus and Mars in Virgo (neither of which are currently happening). I am not mentioning the specific catastrophe or the place, because there is no “rare planetary pattern” and this video is the kind of thing that gives serious astrology a bad name.

HOWEVER….

If you were a clever marketing person at a movie studio, releasing a FAKE video (as described above) to generate HYPE for a MOVIE when Neptune-Sun-Mercury alignments do facilitate gullibility (e.g., this Friday), that would be a brilliant strategy…

Meanwhile….

Am I the only person who found this headline totally surreal?  “U.S. Vows to Rid Global Soccer of Corruption”. Like we don’t have enough to clean up here at home? But seriously, folks, this is a major major scandal, with dawn raids and arrests made at a five-star hotel in Switzerland, as well as allegations of millions of dollars taken in bribes.

Cleaning up corruption in sports has been noted here before as a likely consequence of the Uranus-Pluto square (with thanks to astrologer Bill Herbst) — and we could expect Saturn’s streamlining transit through Sagittarius (a rather sporting sign with an international reach) to further assist, but the fact that it is the Justice Department of the United States that is leading the cause feels a bit mind-blowing. Then again, with Neptune so active in the U.S. horoscope for at least the next year, bewilderment is sure to be part of our collective experience.

Other Neptune headlines — briefly. Neptune is sleep and drugs. It is viruses and healing. It could be compassion and redemption, after an intense 28-month focus on Saturn in Scorpio matters of life and death (penalties).

Much more I could write — but in your own personal world, I recommend using Neptune to fine-tune your vision and intuition over the next few days.

Gotta hit “send” now to post by 10AM ET. Enjoy!

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 5/27/2015: Curiouser and Curiouser…

An exact meet-up between action hero Mars and mental Mercury at 6:37 AM ET suggests an urge to multitask and translate sharp words into fast action. Well guess what? The nitpicky Virgo Moon is void of course and Mercury is retrograde. Be especially mindful in your travels this morning. Chill, check your facts, make sure what you heard is actually what was said — and appreciate that a void Moon suggests crises that crop up are often much ado about nothing.

Moon doesn’t get into gear until 5:42PM ET, when it enters people-pleasing Libra, seeking to restore balance and harmony to any hypercritical situation. Patterns are relatively quiet until Friday, save for the building tension between Mercury and nebulous Neptune, which we last experienced on May 9th. What were you thinking about around then?

And now, the news.

You know there’s really something to planetary patterns when your astrologer writes about how surreal the headlines might be…and then you read Serious NYT Economist Paul Krugman’s column. Yesterday he referenced one of the wackiest (and wisest) books ever written, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Let’s keep talking about Neptune, because it’s everywhere this week (as noted in yesterday’s forecast). Neptune refers to intangibles and illusions, such as photography, television and film. On Monday famed documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark passed away. As a photographer, we’d expect Neptune to be strongly emphasized in her horoscope (March 20, 1940 in Philadelphia) — and it is. We see Mercury opposed by Neptune and Venus-Mars-Uranus trine Neptune, suggesting vision, aesthetics and compassion (Venus is in Pisces), the latter of which she was especially known. Here are some of her photographs.

Another photographer making headlines is very much alive and raking in the dough. Richard Prince uses what some might call the sleazier side of Neptune. Is Neptune strong in his horoscope? Mr. Prince was born on Aug 6, 1949. Ooh — look — Neptune is square to Mars and recently supercharged by transiting Uranus and Pluto.  His Capricorn Moon, which knows oh-so-well how to put things and people to good use, might be in touch with Neptune, too — we’d have to have a birth time to know for sure.

Mr. Prince’s latest exhibit consists of photos lifted from Instagram — without permission from the original photographers — and they are selling for up to $90K per print. Which might be a strong argument for posting your pix on Snapchat, where the images will disappear. Snapchat just announced plans for an IPO, btw…

Boundaries — or lack thereof — are another Neptune theme. Neptune dissolves whatever it touches. This is why its influence can be so bewildering. In the material world, we like to have boundaries. They define structure and structure can make us feel secure. Saturn is structure. Where would you be without Saturn? Living a field, for sure – there would be no structure over your head.

Neptune dissolves Saturn — or, on the plus side, can give structure a vision.

Oh geez, Louise. This story just hit the wires:

A federal judge has thrown out evidence collected by FBI agents who posed as Internet repairmen to get into Las Vegas Strip hotel rooms last summer during an investigation into illegal bookmaking…

In this case (which gets weirder with every paragraph), Saturn struck back — giving nebulous Neptune a hard, cold reality smackdown. Got that?

Have I mentioned recently that Mercury retrogrades are an excellent time to REconnect and/or REview your life with your astrologer? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 5/26/2015: Weird, Wild Neptune — All Week Long

Good Morning!

Still a lot of pixie dust in the air this week. Could be magical and mystical. Could be a total scam. More likely a little bit of both…with an added touch of the surreal. Why?

Mercury is still in retrograde, encouraging us to slow down, review, reconnect, relax. Mercury is in Gemini, along with the Sun and action hero Mars, so we can expect a need for a bit of buzz.

Mercury meets up with Mars on Wednesday, suggesting tongues may wag ever so sharply. Mercury meets up Neptune on Friday, suggesting a need for vision or a rose-colored fog. Mercury meets up with the Sun on Saturday, reinforcing those idealistic rose-colored glasses. On Sunday the Sun is squared by Neptune.

Dream away — but be advised that your visionary reverie may require a reality check once Mercury turns direct on June 11th. Still, it can be a sublime time to be an artist, musician, healer or some other spiritual type. You’ll understand when I tell you about some of the headlines we saw under the spell of last night’s wiggy Neptune-Mars square.

The Moon is in Virgo, continuing the quest for perfection it started on Monday. We had a First Quarter Moon yesterday, too — suggesting a challenge to the New Moon projects you began last week. Moon goes void at 10:21PM ET…not to enter the next sign, Libra, until 5:42PM ET on WEDNESDAY.  Yet another reason to chill and not verbally shoot from the hip in the foggy potential outlined in the preceding paragraph.

The only other void this week happens between 4:20PM ET on Friday and 5:34 AM ET on Saturday. So what, big deal.

And now, the news.

I love the headlines that crop up when rebel Uranus squares off with Venus (social expression, values), which it did last night. In the few days leading up to this “can’t we all get along?” pattern we saw Ireland — yes — Ireland — become the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. And then the president of the Boy Scouts announced that gay scout leaders were A-OK, and perhaps it might be time to stop banning them.  And the Girl Scouts formally welcomed transgendered girls into the club. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Now add the bewildering scam potential of a charged Mars-Neptune contact to the mix, and what is on the NYT home page as I type: “Maligned Study on Gay Marriage is Shaking Trust”.  Fascinating.

My favorite Mars-Neptune pixie dust story is this one: “Five hundred new fairy tales discovered in Germany”.  Spellbinding! Mars-Neptune also refers to Hollywood glamour and movie magic…and along with the “unconventional women” potential of Uranus with Venus, this item about last of the silent movie stars is aptly timed. Find out where she is now! Also aptly timed: a story about the “fairy godmother” who helps out Broadway divas Kelli O’Hara and Kristin Chenoweth — and she’s quite an eccentric character, too.

Seriously, why are these stories making headlines now?

And then there’s this one — just posted on the NYT home page — which begins:

The High Line.

Shake Shack.

The ballet.

Fleet Week is not what it used to be.

Fleet Week is the weekend that New York welcomes hundreds of sailors to town.  Neptune refers to the sea…and things are especially bewildering this year, as the sailors have apparently traded alcohol for other transporting experiences.  Neptune also refers to drugs…and apparently druglords can be tourists in New York, too. And we’re hearing about it now.

Neptune refers to water in general…and charity. Here’s an apt story: “NYC-based investment firm helps Detroit residents pay water bills, avoid shutoff”. Meanwhile….toxins? Poisons? Music? Neptune!Stronger Regulations of Toxic Chemicals” is the headline of Monday’s NYT editorial. Elsewhere, B.B. King’s daughters have alleged that their father, who passed away last week, was poisoned.

Wait — there’s more. Neptune-Mars suggests a potential for scandal. Case in point: Josh Duggar, the eldest son of the Duggar tribe resigned his post at the Family Research Council after he was “forced to acknowledge” that he had been investigated for molesting underage girls when he was a teenager.

Before I glanced at planetary patterns on March 3, 1988 (Duggar’s birthdate), I had a strong hunch we’d find a challenging relationship between Mars and Neptune. Sure enough, they are together. along with Saturn and Uranus. Challenging indeed. Astrology is amazing.

Alrighty, then. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little focus on (mostly) Neptune. We’re likely to see plenty of similarly-themed stories this week — and now you know about the planetary patterns they will reflect. Those born in the first ten days of Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces and Virgo are more likely to be affected than most.

As always, if you’d like to find out how planetary patterns are influencing whatever bewildering state you might be in…and how to successfully chart a course through all that fog…then by all means schedule a personal consultation. Here’s the 411.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday & the Holiday Weekend: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

With the long holiday weekend about to begin, it already feels like a Friday night. But no, it’s still Thursday (as I type). The Moon is void in Cancer, not to enter Leo until 5:42PM ET on FRIDAY. Roll with the flakes and twists that may derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line and stick to routine matters, especially ones that reinforce your sense of emotional security, foundation/home and general nourishment. Hang with your best gal pal.

If you were to sneak out early tomorrow, there would likely be little consequence — unless your horoscope is directly impacted by the ambitious reach/wet blanket suggested by the 9:35PM ET opposition between the Gemini Sun and Saturn in Sagittarius. In other words, if you were born in the first day or two of Gemini, Pisces, Virgo and Sagittarius…or if you have a planet or angle around 1 degree of those signs.

Otherwise, a Leo Moon during a holiday weekend presents a fine opportunity for partying, playing and drama. Good news for theatergoers everywhere! Other planetary patterns suggest strong potential for out-of-this-world experiences and major pixie dust.

Like what, you may ask. Like electric Uranus challenging Venus (social expression, women, money arts). Like nebulous Neptune challenging Mars (men, action, aggression). Both of these aspects come to a head on Monday. Could be weird and wiggy in a wonderful way between now and then.

Do your shopping on Saturday or on Monday, after the Moon engages in Virgo around 5AM ET and cleans up big time. Sunday is another day-long Moon void in drama king/queen Leo. Chill!

Here’s what happened when Neptune squared Mars once before. Here’s an example of what can happen when Venus is supercharged by Uranus (and Pluto).  A more current example would be NYT columnist Gail Collins writing about efforts to ditch Andrew Jackson in favor of Harriet Tubman as the face of the $20 bill. Forget about a birth time; we do not even have a confirmed birth date (or year!) for the inspiring Ms. Tubman, but I’d bet a small sum that her horoscope, once rectified, would have major points around 15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn. This would reflect her achieving so much prominence right now.

Update on Barack Obama’s Twitter launch earlier this week. Remember I said that the time of the launch was not ideal for fostering a warm and fuzzy reception from the public? Apparently the reception has been so chilly in certain circles that the NYT was compelled to write about it.

Have a fabulous holiday weekend under a festive Leo Moon. When the Moon enters Virgo on Monday, you may feel like sorting, organizing and analyzing — all of which are excellent activities during a Mercury retrograde. And if your analytical focus moves from your files and sock drawers to your life direction…or any other burning question on your mind, consider scheduling a personal astrological consultation. I guarantee your will find the perspective helpful. Here’s the 411 on all of that.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 5/21/2015: News, News and More News

Should be busy. First, the Sun leaves Taurus for Gemini at 4:45AM ET, adding more air to the action and mindset we’ve already got going with both Mars and Mercury in the Sign of the Twins. The keywords for Gemini are “I think.” Geminis are known for their curiosity, diverse interests and the energy that is designed to disseminate information. ,

A meet-up between the Cancer Moon and Venus sounds lovely and nurturing around 1pm ET, but it may also feel intense, given that it will oppose ruthless Pluto at 1:50PM ET. At 8:36PM ET, we may expect a jolt or buzz, as the Moon then clashes with rebel Uranus. At 9:54PM ET we’ll have that Pluto-Venus face-off we’ve been talking about all week.

Busy…intense…and with Mercury retrograde, too…so…check and double check your lines of communication to avoid flipping out over snafus. Moon goes void at 8:36PM ET until 5:42pm ET on FRIDAY. Really — start your Memorial Day weekend early — and chill! If you’re working tomorrow, TRIPLE check everything.

And now, the news — so much of it, that choosing among a truckload of stories has delayed today’s forecast.

We’ve got more potent stories in a Pluto-Venus vein, i.e., concerning big money, empowered women, aesthetics and social expression. First, I’m delighted to report that as anticipated in this forecast, a lawsuit is about to filed against Bill Cosby. Janice Dickinson announced she will sue the comedian for defamation.

I thought I’d written about Ms. Dickinson’s horoscope last fall when she accused Mr. Cosby of drugging and raping her, but apparently not. If I had, I would have noted that Ms. Dickinson’s Saturn (control/karma cop) is conjunct Mr. Cosby’s Mars (action, machismo) in Scorpio, and that her Mars in warrior Aries is conjunct Mr. Cosby’s Ascendant. These connections, along with other potent measurements, suggest she may well be a formidable opponent.

We do not have a birth time for Ms. Dickinson, but I’d wager her Moon is in very early Sagittarius.  Thus we could expect an ambitious reach — driven by a righteously opinionated Moon — and prodded by transiting Saturn. Stay tuned…I expect there will be much more to come on this story.

Second, we have a fascinating shift in the world of corruption and high finance, as “5 Banks to Pay Billions and Plead Guilty in Currency and Interest Cases”. The fines are not news, of course, but the “pleading guilty” part is. No is going to jail, however.

Third, another fascinating admission from George W. Bush’s CIA briefer: “Bush and Cheney Falsely Presented WMD Intelligence to Public”. I’ve been anticipating some kind of reckoning for Mr. Cheney this summer ever since I noticed that transiting Saturn opposed his 27 Taurus Midheaven (public status, reputation) last fall and will come close to exactly hitting it again in July. Here’s what happened in December, when that Saturn transit was exact. Plus 27 Taurus, as you may recall, was the degree of Monday’s New Moon, so you can now see an example of what can happen when a horoscope is personally affected. Next year transiting Uranus squares the ruler of Mr. Cheney’s Midheaven, suggesting further changes in status. We shall see.

George W. Bush’s horoscope is also hot. Mars, the ruler  of his Midheaven, is under the foggy spell of transiting Neptune. Well, that can be helpful if you happen to be an artist. His 13 Cancer Sun is being hit by Pluto all year; his 16 Libra Moon is being hit by transiting Uranus through 2016…suffice it to say dramatic changes of status are in store.

Meanwhile, it didn’t take long for a headline about someone literally losing their head to hit the wires. A Brazilian journalist who has been missing for several days has been found — decapitated. With Monday’s New Moon conjunct the fixed star Algol, this was expected.

Oh there is so much more. For Pluto opposing Venus: Michelle Obama packs an empowered punch (literally) in a workout video that’s gone viral. A woman named Maria was awarded $83 million by a jury that was not at all happy by a debt collector’s “malicious prosecution” over a debt she did not owe (the actual debtor was a man, who presumably was not named “Maria”).

Oil and “news from underground” are to be expected with Pluto triggered by another planet. There’s a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara; a massive settlement reached involving Transocean, one of the companies that brought us the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and spill a few years ago.

Elsewhere, the organization known as ISIS, IS, ISIL or Daesh has officially conquered new territory. This entity does have a horoscope and it should not surprise you to learn that it has about 50 planets in warrior Aries, three of which are being supercharged by transiting Uranus through the summer. OK, 50 is a bit of an exaggeration. Still, risks, upsets and uncompromising self-assertion are to be expected.

Let’s end on a lighter note. Let’s salute David Letterman, whose departure was perfectly timed, as written about in this forecast a year ago. His final show aired last night. Here are ten of the funniest remote shoots from his 33-year run. Choosing those ten was as challenging as it’s been to choose from the headlines this morning…enjoy!

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 5/20/2015: Empowered Women and Other Pluto-Venus Musings…

One of the fun things you can do when Mercury  is retrograde is to go through your Rolodex (how quaint) and REconnect with people you have not seen in months, years, decades….

Try it and let me know what happens.

Writing this during a long Moon void in information-junkie Gemini. The Moon won’t get into gear until 9:56AM ET, when it enters Cancer. That’s when any feelings of “meh” may lift…and the double potential for twists in your efforts to move forward in a straight line may end. Huzzah!

There are no exact aspects today. A Cancer Moon seeks emotional and home(land) security, so projects involving nurturing, Mom, home and patriotism are favored. Do things that show you really care….or make you feel cared for.

Humming in the background is an approaching face-off between Venus in Cancer and ruthless Pluto in Capricorn. That’s exact tomorrow. Hard aspects between Venus and Pluto suggest witchy-bitchy women, or power plays and other deep happenings involving the feminine, money, aesthetics, social expression. Here’s what happened the last time we had this pattern. Use it as a guide for anticipating what we can expect this week…and for understanding what we’re already seeing, like this piece about a bill to grant women in the military greater access to contraceptives. There it is on the home page of the  NYT — empowering Venus-Pluto stuff.

So the other week I was talking about some of my favorite maxims, and apparently they were well-received. Would you like some more?

OK, here’s one — for those of you who feel you are involved in a Challenging Relationship Situation: “If you want to know where you’re at, look at who you’re with”.

Whoa.

The corollary is this: “You have to be willing to give up what you do not want.”

Ahhhhh….that last one is oh-so-appropriate for days when Venus and Pluto are especially supercharged…

Food for thought until next time…and meanwhile, if you’d like to discuss your relationship situation from an objective, helpful astro-logical perspective, here’s the 411 on personal consultations (via the preceding link).

Peace out.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 5/19/2015: Barack Obama on Twitter; Losing Your Head

So how’s your Mercury retrograde going? The wireless driver on my computer died and set me back a couple of hours. But thanks to the magic of Google, I found a solution. All I needed to do was not panic, stay focused and download a new Realtek driver. Take THAT, Mercury retrograde!

Lots of buzz in the air today. Take care of business before 2PM ET and then focus on what is routine, as the Gemini Moon will be void until 9:56AM ET on Wednesday. Don’t turn molehills into mountains of crisis, especially with emotions running so high and wiggy under current planetary patterns.

Yesterday I mentioned the wiggy part, due on Memorial Day. The high emotions will show up now and through the week, as power maven Pluto opposes Venus (social expression, money, women, art) in Cancer late on Thursday. On Friday, we’ve got the annual face-off between control freak Saturn and the life-giving Sun.  Sounds like a week of market volatility, for sure.

And now, the news.

I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Within minutes of posting yesterday’s forecast wondering how the darker side of the feminine and themes of “losing your head” would be reflected in the headlines (as suggested by planetary patterns, these items appear. Exhibit A: “Irish-born Samantha Lewthwaite has murdered 400 people…”. Exhibit B: “Saudi Arabia advertises for eight new executioners as beheading rate soars”. Exhibit C: 170 (!!!) people were arrested and charged in Waco, Texas, in the aftermath of a shoot-out among bikers that left nine people dead. Exhibit D: a New York City council member proposed that panic buttons be installed in the backseats of taxicabs.

How does this happen? It’s a mystery. All I know is that it works. I do not know why.

Meanwhile, at 11:38AM, with the transiting Moon in clever, chatty Gemini exactly conjunct his natal Gemini Moon, President Obama launched his very own Twitter account. At that moment, expansive Jupiter (King of the Gods) in regal Leo was conjunct the 14 degree Leo Ascendant — within a couple of degrees of the president’s own Leo Sun. I mean, really. Coincidence or conspiracy? Is there an astrologer in the house?

Oh, and there is technogeek Uranus in the 9th house of broadcasting, trine the Ascendant and Jupiter. Nice. Let the record also show that the Moon was thisclose to warrior Mars. Not a pattern that is likely to mince words, especially with Mercury/Pluto at the prominent Aries Point.

Not so crazy about the Sun, ruler of the chart, being opposed by Saturn, ruler of the 7th (the audience). Not every tweet will be well-received. I guess you just can’t please everybody all the time. Thus I conclude that it is unlikely that the President will tweet the full text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal in 140-character installments any time soon.

Have I mentioned that Mercury retrograde is awesome for reviewing your life with your astrologer? I would be delighted to help you assess your progress over the past three months and make a plan for the future. Here’s the 411 on consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 5/18/2015: New Moon in Taurus; Mercury in Retrograde

Good Morning!

Moon entered Gemini at 5:27AM ET. A new day, a new week — and five hours earlier, a New Moon. More on that in a minute.  High-flying ambition and action designed to tell the world about it are in play, as Moon is challenged by Saturn at 8:49AM ET, followed by a meet-up with warrior Mars at 1:26PM ET.

Hmm. I wrote that line last night, and the headline dominating the home page of the NYT is this: “Obama to Limit Military-Style Equipment for Police Forces”. Excellent, Mr. President. Now when are you going to back off this TPP (doubtful).

Be aware that mental Mercury is at at standstill (from our Earthbound perspective) and will turn retrograde at 9:53PM ET. You can be quite productive during this period of mental review, so no whinging, please.

Did you back up your computers and other electronic gizmos? Good. Will you promise to triple check written communications before you hit “send”? Excellent. Do you swear you will call the restaurant before you meet that important client, just to confirm that it is still there and/or not closed for private party? Awesome. And will you promise to slow down enough to make sure that what you say and what you hear are accurately understood? Great! You’re going to be just fine.

I meant to post this forecast last night, but my computer “mysteriously” froze. I did not get upset. I read an inspiring book and then went to sleep. This morning the computer is functioning as designed.

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. Ya know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down…and tuning IN. And as you slow down and tune inward, it is vitally important that you re-adjust your FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde through June 11th, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, projects from the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said.

Adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter, as with void-of-course Moons. Avoid making major purchases (especially mechanical ones). Avoid gossiping and believing everything you hear or read in the papers. Most important, avoid losing patience. Make friends with your inner Zen Buddha instead.

Mercury turns retrograde at 13 degrees of Gemini. If you have a planet or an angle around that degree, you’ll be more personally affected than most. If you know where 13 degrees Gemini falls in your horoscope, that’s the area of your life that will be most stimulated by Mercury’s apparent backward motion.

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating. Mercury retrogrades are excellent times to REview your life with your astrologer.

The NYT published a superb article about Mercury retrograde back in January. So encouraging to see a Serious Newspaper run a serious, smart article about astrology. In February, the Washington Post also ran a piece about Mercury retrograde, but with a sensationalist headline. Mercury retrograde “madness”? Give me a break. For potential “madness,” wait until Memorial Day. That’s when we’ll have a fanatical/delusional/starstuck challenge between Neptune and Mars and a challenge in which rebel Uranus shakes up Venus (women, social expression, art, money). But I’m getting ahead of myself.

About this New Moon…

The New Moon in Taurus happened at 12:13AM ET, offering us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Make a list, light a candle, say a prayer. Around May 25th, 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 June 2nd, 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 9th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon cycle on  June 16th.

New Moon in Taurus needs to build material stability and security. So what do you want to have? What do you value? How creative can you get when it comes to acquiring what you want?

There is a dynamic action potential in this New Moon chart, for better or for worse. The Sun and Moon are applying to warrior Mars and controlling/ambitious Saturn. The Sun and Moon are also conjunct the fixed star Algol, which you may remember was prominent in the departure chart of that ill-fated Germanwings flight.

Algol suggests losing one’s head. The word “alcohol” comes from “Algol” — isn’t that interesting? Algol also suggests “immense female passion and power,” as you’ll read in this fascinating piece by UK astrologer Nick Kollerstrom.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon at 27 Taurus echoes this overwrought feminine theme: “a squaw selling beads”. “Squaw” is a controversial word. Some say it is derogatory because it means vagina. This is also a point of controversy. But with two powerful symbols of feminine energy that is seen through a distorted lens and is thus feared, I’m curious to see how this will manifest in the headlines.

Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee suggests that “a squaw selling beads” is a image of someone having to take on a job that is beneath her dignity. Is she selling herself short? Why does she have to “sell out”? Bovee also notes that Manhattan was sold for a handful of beads.  How interesting to be faced with this Symbol as the aforementioned  Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement gains traction in the news.

On the plus side, Bovee suggests this Symbol implores us to consider being true to ourselves. How we can not “sell out”? How can we not throw our precious pearls (beads?) before swine?

And on that note, I’ll close…so I can post this by 10AM ET. Apologies for any typos left uncorrected as a result…

To be continued…

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 5/15/2015 & the Weekend: It’s A Wrap

TGIF!

Up with a buzz perhaps, as the feisty Aries Moon meets up with rebel Uranus at 8:03AM ET. A twist in your morning routine may follow, as the Moon then goes void until 3:02AM ET on Saturday. Chill, take care of routine matters and start the weekend early. We’re in the dark side of the Moon — nothing to do but wrap up your projects that started a month ago and prepare for the next cycle. That New Moon happens at 12:13AM on Monday.

Shopping for items of beauty and material comfort may be a distraction on Saturday, with a Moon in cozy Taurus, aided by a artsy alignment between Venus (art, women, money, social expression) and dreamy Neptune at 2:49PM ET. Color the day rose…and keep it that way on Sunday.

No sleeping in on Monday. We’ll have New Moon energy to report on, as well as Mercury turning retrograde at 9:50PM ET. Did you back up your computers yet? Already I’m hearing reports of communication snafus. Slow down, be patient; make sure you heard what was actually said or suffer the consequences. The key to surviving Mercury retrograde is FOCUS. More on all that on Monday.

And now, the news.

Take the militant potential of Friday’s controlling Mars-Saturn opposition and add it to the aforementioned artsy Venus-Neptune alignment exact on Saturday. Then sit there stupefied, when you see how the Fox “news” affiliate in New York City censored the breasts of “Women of Algiers”, the Picasso masterpiece that sold for $179 million dollars earlier this week.  Or be further stunned by this one: “ISIS Reaches Gates of Ancient City of Palmyra, Stoking Fears of Destruction”. Then ponder what difference there is, if any, between the thinking behind the acts reported in these two stories.

Update: it is being reported that Brandon Bostian, the engineer on the Amtrak train that derailed earlier this week, has no memory of the events leading up to the crash. A bewildered mindset is what was anticipated in yesterday’s forecast.

In a related story about memory, here’s an interesting item about what witnesses said they saw on during Wednesday’s violent confrontation between the police and a man wielding a hammer. Their accounts do not reflect what was captured on camera. Verrrry interesting indeed. And a good thing to be reminded of, in preparation for this next Mercury retrograde.

To be continued…