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I have been sitting with the incredible experience of your gift and knowledge and letting it sift down into my understanding and psyche. It was a powerful time for me. I told a friend, "she is the real deal." I don't say that very often!
--Diana S.
New York

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Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday & Thursday 12/30-31/2015: A Spiffy New Year’s Eve

According to the January 2016 issue of Chopsticks NY  (“Experience Japan and Asia in New York City”), it is customary to prepare for the New Year by cleaning and tidying up your home:

If you rid your home of the dust that has accumulated over the past year, you can greet the god of the New Year and receive divine favor.

Such housekeeping efforts may be aided and abetted by the Moon in fastidious Virgo, where it has been since Tuesday at 2PM ET — how fortunate for us all.

The day begins on a dreamy balance, suggested by a pre-dawn opposition between the Moon and nebulous Neptune at 4:40AM ET, followed by an easy flow between the enterprising Capricorn Sun and the Virgo Moon. If there’s a hitch, it may be felt around 11:33AM ET, when the Moon is challenged by Saturn in righteous Sagittarius. A wet blanket from a controlling authority? Or perhaps an ambitious reach? Every planetary pattern suggests an upside and a downside; which way it goes is up to us.

[UPDATE: I wrote the above late last night. This morning, after 10AM ET, a warrant of arrest was issued for Bill Cosby, who finally faces criminal charges for sexual assault. Mr. Cosby’s dramatic change of status was anticipated in this forecast over a year ago and in subsequent updates. Mars, the action planet, has been quite active in his horoscope this month — and you may have heard that he filed defamation lawsuits against some of his accusers around December 14th. A measurement between Chiron and his Midheaven (career, status) is particularly intriguing, as it echoes one that was exact last year between Chiron and the Moon (women, emotional needs). Chiron can suggest an opportunity for healing. For now it seems that Mr. Cosby is more inclined to fight and deny, rather than surrender…]

The rest of the day is free and clear until 7:32PM ET, when your efforts to make things right are subject to an extra dose of depth, courtesy of Pluto. “Free and clear” is the forecast for Thursday, too, as the drive for exacting detail gets an exuberant lift from Jupiter at 11:50AM ET. And that’s what will carry the East Coast into the 2016….

More news, briefly. These are headlines reflecting the disruptive potential of the still-in-effect tension between Uranus (disruptor of the status quo; wake-up call) and Pluto (power; corruption exposed; resistance is futile). You did read the article published earlier this month which stated that 20 Americans have as much wealth as the bottom half — 157 million people — of all Americans, yes? Yesterday the NYT published a piece about how some of those wealthy Americans have been able to influence a tax policy that allows them to keep all of that dough. Something to think about next November: whoever is elected President will need the support of Congress in order to enact his or her agenda, and every member of Congress is up for re-election.

Uranus suggests rebellion and breakouts. One break for freedom that is making news is Ethan Couch, the Texas teen who in 2013 went out drinking and then drove a car into a pick-up truck, killing four people. His defense? “Affluenza”, i.e., being too rich and spoiled to be responsible for his action — and the judge bought it. But he and his mother were just arrested in Mexico for violating the terms of his probation.

Also disruptive:   a grand jury declined on Monday to indict the officer who shot and killed 12-year old Tamir Rice within two seconds of seeing him in a park playing with what the 911 dispatcher was told may have been (and in fact was) a toy gun. Did you know that in August, California became the first state to ban grand juries in cases involving civilians killed by police officers? Perhaps other states will now follow suit. It takes a wake-up call to result in change, and I am an optimist…

Oh, there is so much more, but “Post now I must,” as Yoda might say. I’ve had a lovely flood of requests for consultations from wise readers who are planning for the new year, so my week has definitely reflected the “all systems go!” potential suggested by all planets moving direct between Dec 26th and Jan 5th. Hope your week has been equally productive.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. It is a joy to be of service.

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday & Tuesday 12/28-29/2015; Full Speed Ahead; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

The last week of 2015 is driven by the Moon in regal Leo, looking for a stage upon which to shine. Give ’em a round of applause, will you? The need for recognition could take on an innovative and friendly spin, courtesy of a helpful lift from Uranus at 12:13PM ET.  Moon cruises along without much interference for the rest of the night. You can cruise, too!

Note your dreams over the next day or so, as the Sun makes an easy connection to visionary Neptune, exact at 8:18AM ET on Tuesday. That’s quickly followed by an easy connection between the Moon (still in Leo) and action hero Mars at 8:33AM ET — so there’s an extra kick to get you going.  A practical mindset may be charged by a need for action with social consciousness, suggested by an energetic contact between Mercury (mindset, communication) and Mars, exact at 9:54AM ET. There’s another motivating kick for you, if you need it this week.

Moon goes void on Tuesday at 12:38PM ET — but only until 1:58PM ET, when it engages in perfection-seeking Virgo. The need to sort the wheat from the chaff drives the action until midnight ET on Friday, January 1st. So here we have a week with hardly any Moon void twists and flakes to derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Not only that, but between December 26th and January 5th, all of the planets are moving forward. Are you working this week? Even if it’s just on your own vision quest (i.e., you’re not at the office), planetary patterns suggest potential for the outward expression.

If you are new to this forecast, welcome! If you are not familiar with the term “Moon void” or “void of course Moon,” here is a helpful link describing this planetary phenomenon. Do not worry if you do not quite understand it right away. It takes a looooooooong time to master a language, which is what astrology is, if you ask me.

Notable shifts this week happen on Wednesday, when Venus leaves Scorpio for high-flying Sagittarius, exhales mightily and pushes the boundaries in social expression until January 23rd.  On Friday, mental Mercury leaves hard-nosed Capricorn for wonky Aquarius, and immediately begins to sloooooooooooooow down. Yep, this is your Really Big PSA of the Day: Mercury turns retrograde on January 5th, reviewing all the ground it covered in December. If you ordered one of my 2016 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Bookmarks, you know exactly how long Mercury will be retrograde in January, as well as what to expect, what to avoid and why there is no need to freak out. Shoot me an email if you’d like to acquire a few bookmarks for you and several of your closest friends.

Meanwhile, here’s a link to a prior forecast explaining how to survive Mercury retrograde. Check it out and BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW.

And now, the news. Briefly.

Mix the weekend’s Full Moon in Cancer (a water sign) with rebel Uranus turning direct, and the expectation was for something wild and wacky. Certainly the weather did not disappoint: freak storms in the South and Southwest here in the U.S., as well as people running around in shorts here in New York. Had it been 40 degrees cooler, we would have had a white Christmas. There are floods in northern England – and in South America, too.

Keywords for Uranus include: innovative, maverick, eccentric. Uranus has been traveling through Aries since early 2011. Keywords for Aries include: pioneer, inspiration, fearless, warrior, innocent, first.

At the end of every year, the NYT Sunday magazine is devoted to a series of profiles collectively called “The Lives They Lived” — about notable people who passed away during the year. Those memorialized this year seem especially innovative, eccentric, rebellious and/or pioneering — a fitting reflection of Uranus in Aries. Enjoy.

To discuss what’s likely to be on your plate in 2016, here’s the 411 on personal consultations. With Mercury turning retrograde next month, a REview of your goals now would be aptly timed.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday-Sunday 12/24/2015: Merry, Merry, Happy, Happy; Full Moon in Cancer; Uranus Direct; More Astrology in the News

Happy, happy, merry, merry….even if you are not preparing to celebrate a holiday tomorrow or Saturday. A pixie chatterbox Moon in Gemini has been driving the action since Tuesday at 9:22PM ET, and today it receives an expansive boost from jolly Jupiter at 12:16PM ET. Sweetening the deal is a cooperative connection between said Jolly Jupiter and Venus — which in astrology, does in fact, refer to sugar. How generous can you be to those on your shopping list, along with the rest of the Free World?

Get it done by 3:04PM ET and then prepare to roll with any twist or delay which may crop up in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. The Moon goes void on an easy connection to Mars, planet of action at that time, not to enter Cancer until 12:26AM ET on Friday, a.k.a. early Christmas Day — or late Christmas Eve, for those in time zones west of New York — at least in the Americas.

Remember that crises which crop up during Moon voids tend to be much ado about nothing. Also remember that the emotional tide is rising, as reflected by the Moon, which will be exactly full on Friday at 6:11AM ET.

A Cancer Moon is driven by a need for emotional security. Wherever you may be over the next few days, I hope it feels like a nourishing space where you feel at home. However it may feel, you may well receive a flash of soulful, yet practical insight, courtesy of the day’s other planetary patterns. First, a soulful connection between Moon and Neptune infuses the morning, exact at 1:20PM ET. Second, big ideas and ease of communicating them are suggested by an easy flow between Mercury and Jupiter at 3:19PM ET. Whatever thoughts are percolating now, they may return for a second and third review on January 14th and February 6th. Third — as noted in the last forecast, Uranus — the cosmic disruptor of the status quo — turns direct at 10:53PM ET. More on that in a minute.

The last time we had a Full Moon on Christmas was in 1977. Why is that important? I’m really not sure, but let’s note for the record that the asteroid Chiron was discovered in 1977. Chiron is known as the “wounded healer,” suggesting tremendous potential for awareness and empowerment — after no small measure of angst. Chiron is also seen as a bridge between what is old, material and visible (Saturn) and what is new, electric and unseen (Uranus — which is can’t be seen with the naked eye). Hmm. Star Wars was released in 1977, too — now that was a big cosmic awakener, hmm? Perhaps the biggest since the Uranus-Pluto conjunctions of 1965-66 were reflected by Star Trek.  Hmm, again.

You may feel the emotional depth of this Full Moon more personally if you have a planet or angle around 4 degrees of Cancer or Capricorn, and to a lesser extent, Aries and Libra. The Sabian Symbols for these degrees are as follows. For the Sun at 4 Capricorn: “a party entering a large canoe”.   For the Moon at 4 Cancer: “a cat arguing with a mouse”.  Inspired by Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee’s masterful musings, our immediate response to these Symbols might be “why”?  Why would a cat argue with a mouse? What’s there to argue about? Cats are born to hunt mice — end of story, right? Why would a “party” enter a canoe? Canoes are, as Bovee notes, “notoriously unstable”. How dumb is that? What are we to make of these Symbols at this time?

First, I recommend you get Bovee’s wonderful book, so you can read his whole take. Briefly, he notes that a cat arguing with a mouse suggests an image of “the power differentials between instinct and reason”. A “party” in an (old, fast but unstable) canoe  could be a group of people on a festive outing, or it could be a group with a shared philosophical purpose, such as a  — huh — “political party”.  How interesting, given what is dominating headlines in the United States, though the U.S. is hardly the only nation experiencing unstable and/or shifting political climes.

Bovee suggests we apply these Symbols with a mind to the “challenge to find one’s place between the instinctive animal urges and the sublime natures of being human…calling for order while entering an unstable circumstance…rationalizations, especially those that smell fishy…sexual politics…hidden motives behind well-reasoned positions…rocking the boat…knowing when to pounce”. He offers more in his wonderful book.

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about “the challenge to find one’s place between the instinctive animal urges and the sublime natures of being human,” as well as “calling for order while entering an unstable circumstance”. That’s because I’m reading The Life of Pi. I’ve mentioned the movie in years past as an apt reflection of Neptune’s ingress into Pisces. So now I’m finally reading the book — beautifully written as it is. It’s a story about faith in God and what it takes to survive as a human being in the direst of situations. “Pi” is the name of the main character; it’s short for “Piscine,” the French word for swimming pool — and, as you can see, is related to Pisces.

Pi is Hindu, though his parents are more secular. His older brother is into sports. Pi is into God, and he sees the beauty in all religions. As a young boy, he becomes a practicing Christian and a practicing Muslim, in addition to being a practicing Hindu. The priest, the imam and the pandit at their respective houses of faith are moved by Pi’s pi-ety, until they discover — in Chapter 23 — that he has been practicing all three religions.  Pi’s faith is challenged, much as Neptune in Pisces is currently being challenged by controlling Saturn in righteously opinionated Sagittarius, (which also refers to dogma). Would that this book were required reading for all — hint, hint —  if you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea other than a gift certificate for a personal astrological consultation (I am able to send beautifully decorated gift certificates via email, FYI — it’s not too late)

Moving on to Saturday…

In the early AM, while most in the Americas are sleeping, the Moon will make its weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus. Given that the two planets are only a degree apart, and that Uranus will have just changed direction, we may wake up to startling headlines. We’ll see more drive late in the day, as the Moon opposes Mercury at 7:21PM ET, followed by a clash with assertive Mars at 9:57PM ET. A connection with Venus may help smooth things out around 10:36PM ET, as the Moon goes void for the rest of the night. Chill!

On Sunday at 5:31AM ET, Moon roars into fiery Leo, seeking applause, playtime, creative self-expression or regal drama. If you’re working on Monday, no sleeping in. The Moon will still be in Leo, and it will still be engaged.  Consider ways to shine — and help others shine, too.

And now, the news.

This week I’ve been tracking stories relating to 1) PROMINENCE, suggested by the Winter Solstice and the Capricorn Sun at the Aries Point; 2) the disruptive insight suggested by Mercury meet-up with Pluto and  challenge from Uranus last weekend; and 3) Uranus in me-me-me pioneering Aries, as it sloooooooows down to a standstill (relatively speaking) and prepares to change direction late Friday night.

FYI — the flashes of insight we experienced related to the Mercury-Uranus-Pluto engagement may be up for review again Jan 20-Jan 22nd, as well as Jan 30-31st.  More FYI: Mercury refers to writing, communication, travel. Uranus refers to aviation, freedom, rebels, eccentrics, technology and…astrology.

Exhibit A: “U.S. Says Hacker Stole IDs and Unreleased Scripts from Host of Celebrities”“Start-Up Personalizes Books for Children, With Robot as Co-Author”  Technology. Fame. Innovation. Me-me-me! Meanwhile, Elon Musk “hailed a revolutionary moment” when his company successfully “launched and returned a rocket to Earth, landing it in an upright position”.   So awesome, and Mr. Musk continues to dazzle, as anticipated here two years ago.  This did not stop him from being labelled a “Luddite” by some who believe his concerns about AI are unwarranted. Hmmm…

Exhibit B: unbeknownst to most, the TSA announced a change in its opt-out policy for passengers who would rather undergo a pat-down than walk through the full-body scanning whizbang machine. As of Friday, some passengers may not be allowed to opt-out, and it is not clear whom. A lawsuit challenging the policy change has been filed. Aviation. Technology. Personal freedom….

…so where’s the astrology? Again in the New York Times, following up on the “Modern Love” essay noted here last week. This week, its “Room For Debate” section asks, “What is the Appeal of Astrology?”:

A recent essay in n+1 examines the appeal of astrology, even among those who say they don’t believe in it. Are horoscopes fundamentally irrational, or are there reasons to read to them? Why are so many of us drawn to them?

And by “horoscopes,” they are referring to those fluffy Sun Sign blurbs you might find in the comics section of your local paper, which may or may not have been written by an astrologer with professional credentials (and most likely not).  What’s clear from reading the opinions of all of the panelists is that none have the faintest idea of what astrology is and isn’t. What’s fascinating is that if the NYT were writing about any other subject, my money says they would have found a few people with legitimate understanding of the subject. In this case, it is as if they wanted to have a debate on the merits of believing in sonograms, and asked a flight attendant, a welder, a cake-decorator, a U.S. Congressperson and a lumberjack to weigh in.  Can you imagine if they neglected to include a radiologist in such a discussion?

It should not surprise you to learn that no professional astrologers were invited to the debate.  Instead, they asked a historian, a psychology professor, a therapist, an editorial assistant and  a fiction writer who also pens fake horoscopes. But hey…it’s a start….it’s a start, and perfectly timed, even if the Paper of Record won’t win a Pulitzer for it.

If you do happen to read the debate, don’t miss the reader comments.

As for an answer to the question the NYT posed, before you read a horoscope such as one you might find in the comics section, you should do what you would do with anyone from whom you might seek a professional opinion. Check the writer’s references. Where did she go to school? Is she a professional credentialed astrologer? And then, let’s clearly define our terms. If by “horoscope” we mean to say “fluffy blurb in comics section, designed to apply to general Sun Signs,” take what is written with a grain of salt. It’s general information. If by “horoscope” we mean to say “unique planetary patterns at the moment of your birth” and you’ve checked the credentials and references of the astrologer you’ve hired to interpret the chart, then congratulations, you are going to learn a lot.

A wise astrologer was once asked by a reporter, “When did you start believing in astrology?”

“I don’t believe in astrology,” the wise astrologer replied.

There was an uncomfortable pause, as that wasn’t the response the startled reporter expected.

“Astrology isn’t something to believe in,” the wise astrologer continued. “It is something to know about”.

Funny thing, though. Regardless of your belief in astrology, astrology believes in you. Not sure why it works, but it does.

And now, an adorable baby otter.

Thank you for reading this forecast.  Thank you for sharing it with others. Here’s how to contact me to schedule a personal consultation.

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 12/21/2015: Winter Solstice; Sneak Peek at the Week; Mercury Madness

Good Morning!

Wake up with a vision on your mind? Today’s steady Taurus Moon can facilitate your efforts to materialize it, especially if it relates to creature comforts and sensual pleasures. The Moon made an easy connection to Neptune at 7:30AM ET — that’s the vision thing. It pushes forward without interference all day, making another easy connection to Pluto (empowerment; transformation; depth of perspective) at 7:52PM ET.

The big news today is the Sun’s move into the earthy, ambitious, “make it happen” sign of Capricorn — at 11:49PM ET. This is the Winter Solstice  — the time when light begins to push back against darkness — and prevail. Unless you live in South Africa or anywhere else south of the equator, where they are celebrating the first day of summer. What’s it like having a serious sign like Capricorn associated with bikini weather, I wonder???? In any case, with Capricorn, we move from ideas (Sagittarius) to practical application. What will we build?

Here’s what you need to know about the first day of any season from an astrological point of view. The first day of each season (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) corresponds with the first day (or first degree) of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively. Got that? Good. These four signs are called cardinal signs of the zodiac, with “cardinal” here suggesting (from the Latin root of the word), “that on which something turns or depends.”  Cardinal signs take action. They initiate. Nothing happens without action. And action leads to necessary change. As in a change of seasons — suggested by solstices and equinoxes. Clear?

The first day of a  season is prominent in our culture, right? We make a big deal over it — yes? In Japan, the first day of each season is actually a holiday (holy-day)! Isn’t that wonderful?

In astrology, we observe that planets that are at the first degree of a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra & Capricorn), tend to pack a more powerful, prominent punch. They suggest ACTION which leads to CHANGE — prominently. The first degree of all four cardinal signs is known as the ARIES POINT — just to confuse people who are not professional astrologers. Got that?

If you have a planet or angle at the Aries Point, you can expect that the energy of that planet will demand prominent expression in your life. Your friends and family — and perhaps the entire free world — will notice it. William Shatner was born with the Sun at 0 Aries — what a pioneer.  “To boldly go where no man has gone before”? I should think so — and the whole world knows him for playing that role.

This should be a good week for retailers, as holiday shoppers are likely to be feeling especially generous, courtesy of an easy connection between Venus (money, beauty) and Jupiter (expansion) that will be exact on Thursday at 5:03AM ET. If you haven’t checked everyone off on your list and you’re looking for a gift that is truly unique and valuable, consider gifting them with a personal astrological consultation. I’ll put together a custom-crafted gift certificate for your Special Someone with my very own hands — and will include a few Really Useful 2016 Mercury Retrograde Bookmarks, too. Did you know that the first Mercury Retrograde of 2016 happens on January 5th? You would, if you had one of those bookmarks on hand…

Christmas Day dawns on Friday, along with a Full Moon in Cancer. For some reason the lamestream media is feeling a need to tell you that we haven’t had a Full Moon on Christmas since 1977. Far more important, if you ask me, is the fact that Uranus — the disruptor of the status quo — turns direct on the 25th at 10:53PM ET. Uranus refers to revolutions, rebellion, seismic activity, innovation, genetic mutation, accidents, aviation, space travel, technology, astrology, uranium and genius, to name a few. In Aries, Uranus suggests a need for self-reliance, favoring an entrepreneurial spirit. Watch for movement, flashes of genius and/or illumination, as well as shake-ups in the headlines on these areas as we get closer to Christmas.  In your own personal world, consider how your genius insights and notions of freedom can be applied outward. Surely you’ve been feeling an intense buzz about making a break, especially if you have a planet or angle around 17 degrees (just over halfway through) Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, yes?

Your Moon voids for the week: Tuesday 9:26AM ET until 9:31PM ET; Thursday 3:04PM ET until 12:26AM ET on Friday (will Santa get a late start?); Saturday 10:36PM ET until 5:31AM on Sunday. Stick to routine matters on those days — and roll with whatever twists, flakes and “crises” derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Example: the “crisis” that erupted over at the DNC headquarters on Wednesday and Friday — during a Moon void.  Thanks to a security breach in software provided by the DNC, staffers working on Bernie Sanders’ campaign had access to certain voter data that had been culled by the Clinton campaign (and presumably vice versa, though we have not had any reports about Clinton staffers doing so).

The DNC responded by cutting off the Sanders campaign’s access to the software, which contained data that had been culled by Sanders’ staffers. Sanders fired staffers, then filed lawsuit against DNC. DNC relents; no word on whether software vendor gets to keep working with the DNC. Perhaps nation begins to wonder why the Democratic debates have been held on weekends, when few people are watching…and contemplating which candidate might benefit the most from that lack of exposure. There was a debate on Saturday — did you know?

Fun fact: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the DNC — who also co-chaired Hillary Clinton’s campaign run in 2008 — has her Mercury at 17 Libra. Thus it was directly impacted by the weekend’s Mercury-Uranus-Pluto clash, suggesting disruptive information/revelations/juicy dirt. Interesting to see how the spotlight is shining now on Ms. Wasserman Schultz’s mindset and communication...here’s a link to a blog she recently started about “clean cooking” — clearly her mindset about some things is changing.

Other disruptive news involving communication and travel — both Mercury-ruled topics — happened in Vegas around the time of Mercury’s exact square to Uranus. Did you hear how Miss Universe pageant host Steve Harvey accidentally crowned the first runner-up Miss Universe — instead of the actual pageant winner? Took over five minutes to fix that one…oops. Just minutes earlier, there was a shocking traffic incident right in front of the hotel that was hosting the pageant. Wondering how planetary patterns were impacting the horoscope of Las Vegas…(yes, it does have one).

Gotta fly. Busy day today.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday-Sunday 12/17-20/2015: Astrology in the News and Other Big Things

Alll–righty then!

This Thursday is brought to you by the Moon in Pisces, driven by impressions and intangibles. Who can say it isn’t real if it’s what you feel? This whole month has an element of that. And next month, too.

A potentially heavy kick from karma cop Saturn may have gotten you up this morning around 5:13AM ET. It was followed one hour later by a communicative aspect between Venus (in Scorpio) to “resistance is futile” Pluto (in Capricorn).  Venus-Pluto aspects suggest an empowered intensity in matters related to values, money, aesthetics and women. With Mercury on the verge of an exact engagement with Uranus and Pluto on Saturday and Sunday, the potential for shocking or otherwise disruptive communication and information is high. Let the juicy dirt- digging begin!

My vote for today’s planetary poster child has to be Martin Shkreli, whose horoscope I’ve been meaning to revisit all week. Why? Because he made headlines when it was revealed that he paid $2 million for the one and only copy of an album by Wu-Tang Clan — and then taunted the rest of the Free World about his successful bid (for power and control of the album). That, and doing other things denounced by the Free World as totally loathsome. How interesting that the karma cops knocked on Mr. Shkreli’s door early this morning and arrested him for securities fraud. Here is what I wrote about his horoscope back in August.  We do not know his exact birth time. Music, FYI, is another Neptune keyword.

East Coasters, start your Friday early, as the Pisces Moon will go void at 10:14AM, not to enter me-me-me Aries until 4:26PM ET.  Regular readers of this forecast know that Moon voids are best suited for chilling and taking care of routine matters. Go with the flow of whatever twists or flakes you may encounter in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Know that most crises that crop up during voids turn out to be much ado about nothing. Chill!!

Friday’s Moon void kicks off on the First Quarter Moon, which suggests a potential challenge to the agenda you set on last Friday’s New Moon. Make adjustments as needed to your plan for world domination. With the Moon in Aries over the weekend, we can expect a faster pace (so watch where you’re going), with the potential for an emotional power play or upset to the status quo in the window between 4 and 8PM ET on Saturday night. Why? Because that’s when the Moon makes its weekly clash with Uranus and Pluto. Plus, that intense Mercury-Pluto-Uranus thing.

Hey, here’s an idea. Rather than rush about doing your holiday shopping, battling crowds in the malls, I invite you to consider gifting your loved ones with a personal astro-logical report or consultation.  There’s only one thing I enjoy more than decorating gift certificates for personal astrological consultations, given to Lucky Someones by thoughtful friends and family. And that would be the emails I receive after I meet with that Lucky Someone, e.g., “Thank you so very much for our amazing meeting today. Girls from the office will be calling you already!!! You were 100% on target!!!” I am delighted to be of service.

If you sleep in on Sunday past 5:50AM ET, you’ll miss the face-off between assertive Mars and the Moon.  Sounds good to me; I’m not planning on running a marathon. The fast pace of the Aries Moon, combined with the expansive, high-flying Sagittarius Sun may feel more balanced for the rest of the day, as the two form an easy connection. But there’s still a buzz in the air, suggested by mental Mercury’s exact hit to rebel Uranus at 10:07PM ET. Not only that, but on Monday at 11:49PM ET, we’ll have the Winter Solstice, which always suggests a turning point. Watch for people with planets around 0 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn to be making news.

Moon goes void Sunday at 5PM ET and enters comfort and security-seeking Taurus at 7:13PM ET. Good food, sweet music and a snuggle with your sweetie?

No sleeping in on Monday.

And now, the news…

The week started out BIG, didn’t it? Big premiere of biggest blockbuster ever for sure, right? May the Force be with you — and through the roof when the new Star Wars film opens Friday. Hooray for Monday with its big giant square between Jupiter and the Sun!

There was big news in the fishing industry, suggested by an obsessive connection between Jupiter and Neptune that will be with us through January and beyond. Jupiter is BIG. Neptune is fish, oceans, slavery and suffering. Who packed that shrimp cocktail? Read this and you’ll never eat it again, aided by a dose of reality, too, as Saturn also puts pressure on Neptune.

Other exposes involving horrible human behavior include today’s front-page piece about a cover-up involving Navy SEALS (Neptune) and a death in Afghanistan, as well as last Sunday’s NYT piece about a cover-up involving prison guards and an inmate’s death in upstate New York. It’s all happening in the U.S., as transiting Pluto continues to put anguished pressure on the U.S. Saturn. Once Pluto finally passes the 15 degree mark, we may see a domino effect in efforts to repair the corruption we uncover.

We had a BIG publishing story in which casino magnate and huge political donor Sheldon Adelson paid $140 million for a Las Vegas newspaper. Scandalous, you say? Who owns your favorite news sources? Do you know? The story broke after the last BIG debate of 2015 happened in Vegas on Tuesday. Here’s the NYT’s Gail Collins with her always-cheerful wrap, in case you missed it.

BIG hoax in Los Angeles and New York on Tuesday — which shut down the entire school system in Los Angeles…

BIG news in finance yesterday was Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellin’s announcement that it would raise interest rates — the first hike since June 2006. How interesting that in August of 2006, Saturn and Neptune would be in the first of a series of challenging aspects to each other, as they are now (and have not been since that series completed). Worth more study, I’m sure…

I can’t say I was surprised by Ms. Yellin’s announcement, even as some journalists were on pins and needles, wondering what she would say. On Twitter, financial journalist Pete Spence tweeted:

Peter Spence

@Pete_Spence

With under 60m left until the Fed announces its decision, what do Yellen’s horoscopes say? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/12054025/US-federal-reserve-raise-interest-rates-hike-december-live.html 

We do not have an exact birth time for Ms. Yellin, Mr. Spence. Could you be an awesome reporter and dig that up? The general Sun Sign horoscopes you posted from the Daily Mail and the Daily Star are just that — general — and thus not reliable. Plus they were written for a different time zone — adjustments must be made. That being said, we can see from patterns on her birth date how Ms. Yellin might be inclined to take a speculative risk now…and we may have a sense of how that is playing out in mid-February. I wrote about patterns on her birth date over two years ago.

Guess how else astrology made news this week? First it appears to have been dissed in a rap video Michelle Obama made with SNL’s Jay Pharoah, encouraging teens to go to college. Boo hiss! Mr. Pharoah, do you have any idea how many years of study and experience it takes to become a skilled astrologer (obviously not)? Second, Hillary Clinton mentioned astrology when answering a question about whether she’d rather be president or Beyonce (thanks, Washington Post):

“Now, if I really had a choice, I’d rather be president because I can’t sing,” she said. “Nobody would pay to see me sing or dance. Even when I was a way lot younger, it just wasn’t in the cards for me. You see her on TV, it’s impressive. You see her in person, you’re just stunned. Thinking like, how does she do that? Really. I mean, she sings, she’s up, she’s down. It’s just amazing. So it’s just not in my astrological reading, I think (she laughs). So I want to be as good a president as Beyoncé is a performer.”

Mrs. Clinton is correct that the potential for singing and dancing is not strong in her horoscope. Public speaking, absolutely. Can’t speculate on what her cards might say, but I bet Beth Owlsdaughter could. Her weekly Tarot Card offerings are always in synch with planetary patterns…and she’s such a darn good writer…

I know there is much more I could write about, but then I’d have to charge you. Thank you for reading this forecast…and keep those cards and letters coming. Have a wonderful, wonderful  weekend, in this magical holy-day season!

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 12/14/2015: Late New Moon Post; Sneak Peek at the Week; Leonardo DiCaprio, Right on Scehdule

Good Morning!

I hope you accomplished much over the weekend, driven by the Moon’s ingress into Capricorn at 1:47AM ET on Saturday. The need to make things happen could have flowed beautifully that day; maybe with a few bumps early Sunday AM ET, as the Moon made its weekly clash with disruptive Uranus and Pluto, followed by Mars — all before 11AM ET.

After that, an easy flow resumed, with festive spirits perhaps lifted by a connection to expansive Jupiter at 6:07PM ET. Moon went void at that time – wandering without specific direction until 7:59AM ET on Monday. So if you’re reading this early Monday on the East Coast, and you are having trouble getting focused as you head to the office, trust that the energy will feel more engaged soon — and big!

Make the most of this week. It offers New Moon energy to move things forward — with an expansive vision and a potentially dreamy, healing aesthetic. How so? This New Moon happened on Friday in Sagittarius, an expansive, pie-in-the-sky sign if there ever was one. Big, bold, collective beliefs and opinions are expanded exponentially by a charge from Jupiter — exact Monday at 10AM ET. If you have a planet or angle around 20 degrees of Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini or Pisces, you are likely feeling the lift more than others.

The dreamy vision comes courtesy of an communicative flow between Mercury (mindset) and Neptune, exact Monday at 2:40PM ET. The healing and/or idealized aesthetic is suggested by the afterglow of Friday’s easy flow between Venus (beauty, women, values, money) and Neptune (fantasy, empathy, spirits of all kinds). There’s even a potentially disruptive, quirky, macho and/or humanitarian element to it all, in the aftermath of Thursday evening’s face-off between Mars in Libra (partnership) and Uranus in Aries (freedom of the individual). And let’s not forget the big upheaval potential of an increasing tension between Uranus and Pluto.

Let’s pause for a minute and consider a few headlines reflecting the themes outlined noted above. In the category of big, bold, collective belief — with a healing vision and humanitarian thrust — how about the “major leap for mankind” a.k.a. the Paris climate deal that was announced over the weekend? Sounds pretty awesome on paper, though some scientists see more of the “pie-in-the-sky” potential suggested by planetary patterns than hardcore action.

As for hardcore action, sprinkled  with idealized Venus-Neptune pixie-dust and emotionally detached, Mars-Uranus techno-geekness, consider this item entitled, “Sex, Love & Robots: Is This the End of Intimacy?”   Looks that way to me. Over on the homepage of the NYT, we find these planetary patterns reflected in an article about one of the first transgendered women in New York to have her hi-tech surgery paid by Medicaid. And if that’s not controversial enough for you, consider this NYT “Modern Love” essay entitled “The Heart Said Yes; The Horoscope Said No”. It’s actually wonderful how many positive reader comments the article received. And we will forgive the NYT fact-checkers who didn’t correct the essayist when she referred to Rahu and Ketu as planets, when they are in fact two axis points of the Moon — but significant nonetheless.

OK, back to the rest of the week.

But first — a thought about your holiday shopping list (you can still get a gift for Hannukah — they won’t care if it’s a little late). Why not gift some lucky someone with a personal astrological consultation? Isn’t that a fabulous idea? Here’s the 411 on the many options available, including reports and those Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmarks that would make such super stocking stuffers, especially with Mercury turning retrograde on January 5th, 2016 — you have been warned.

Back to the week.

We’ll have a Moon void on Wednesday between 2:17AM ET and 12:45PM ET — no big deal for most of the Americas. Stick to routine matters; chill out over any crisis that erupts (as it is likely much ado about nothing); avoid making impulse purchases. Get back to work on Thursday and then chill on Friday, when the Moon will be void between 10:14AM ET and 4:25PM ET. Just go with the flow of any twists, delays or other upsets that may derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. If you do not know what a Moon void is, shoot me an email; I’d be happy to explain.

During Friday’s six-hour void, we’ll be processing the challenge that may be presented by the First Quarter Moon, exact at 10:14AM ET. We will also be feeling the mental buzz of Mercury as it makes contact with 1) Pluto on Saturday at 1:54PM ET; 2) Uranus on Sunday at 10:07PM ET. Words and commerce that disrupts the status quo, likely revealing some bit of potent dirt is my take on it. You’ll be more affected by Mercury’s supercharged action if you have a planet or point halfway through Capricorn, Aries, Cancer or Libra.

And now, a little more news.

Other reflections of disruptive planetary patterns suggesting headlines involving gender: 1) in Saudi Arabia, women went to the polls for the first time ever — and 17 women were elected to public office.  2) in Oklahoma, an all-white jury found a police officer guilty of multiple counts of rape. His targets: African-American women. Read the article if you do not understand why that point is significant.  After over two years of seeing horrific accounts of  abused sexual energy (thank you Saturn in Scorpio) in the headlines, perhaps we can now argue that the raised awareness is beginning to effect change. 3) Angela Merkel was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year — the first time in 29 years that a woman has received that honor, how depressing is that? What’s interesting is that 29 years ago, Saturn was in Sagittarius — around the same degree it is right now. Wonder how that relates to the horoscope of Time Magazine? Wish we had a birth time for Angela Merkel, too. Oh , well.

Meanwhile…

So pleased to see Leonardo DiCaprio nominated for a Golden Globe this year. His horoscope was hot back in 2013 (when he was also nominated for the award). Two years ago, I wrote

Solar arcs and transits in DiCaprio’s horoscope over the next 2-4 years suggest increased public prominence and acclaim. The synchronicity with Wilson’s horoscope is faaaaaascinating –I could write more — but for now,  I’m dashing this off — and we’ll see how this film project develops over the next two years. Di Caprio should do very well, regardless…

Mr. DiCaprio also made BIG headlines in April, as noted here.  Isn’t astrology amazing? What’s going on in your horoscope?

Dashing this off again — and wishing you a splendidly productive week.

Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with all of your friends and relations. Referrals never fail to make my day!

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 12/10/2015: An Orangutan Walks Into a Bar…

It’s the last day of a lunar cycle. The New Moon begins tomorrow at 5:29AM ET. The time before a New Moon suggests listlessness or restlessness, as we sense something new is about to begin, but we don’t know what. This “dead Moon” isn’t likely to quell anyone’s opinions about anything, as it got into gear in Sagittarius as of 5:25PM ET on Wednesday, ending a long Moon void.

A Sag Moon is a fiery energy that needs to push boundaries. It’s a great time to get out into nature and/or expand your mind with an appreciation of something or someone outside your usual comfort zone. It could be quite daring, explosive and/or a revelation, as the buzz of a building face-off between action hero Mars and rebel Uranus releases tonight at 8:30PM ET.

Reflecting the Mars-Uranus face-off, today we read that  North Korea claims it has a hydrogen bomb, on the same day that an uncle of the current Dear Leader talks about why he made a break for freedom 20 years ago. Guns are still on the front page of the NYT; today it is talking about fear of restrictions as the reason why sales are soaring.   Guns are also the subject of Gail Collins’s always cheerful commentary. Meanwhile, a “revolutionary” new device that plugs up gunshot wounds has just been approved by the FDA.

I expected we’d see a breakthrough or upset in aviation. Here’s a piece about an airport in the US — and Mexico — that is breaking boundaries…as United announces that snacks will again be offered on its domestic flights. In other tech news, Nevada is said to be the chosen site of a ginormous new Chinese-backed plant that will make electric cars. Google and NASA were talking yesterday about their quantum computer that is 100 million times faster than a PC. Is that good? Time will tell. And this just in…a subway train in Boston apparently left a station this morning without a conductor. That’s upsetting. Investigators are investigating…

There are a zillion headlines of other upsets in places other than the U.S. that I wish I had time to link. Brazil’s president is facing impeachment. There have been upsets in recent elections in Venezuela and Argentina. The whole world is reflecting the push for change that we see in planetary patterns. Or perhaps the planetary patterns are reflecting the push for change. It’s not as if the planets are choosing to take action…that’s what people do (my teacher loves to say).

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations, in which we will have a most excellent discussion together. I have beautiful gift certificates, should you want to light up a special someone’s life. If you have a child and you wish to deepen your understanding of why they are the way they are (and thus improve your relationship), consider scheduling an appointment to discuss his or her horoscope.  That’s an investment that would pay off most handsomely.

I leave you with a wacky video that’s gone viral, on a day with Moon in Sagittarius, which fiercely adores animals and clownish humor, spiked by the nuttiness of Mars-Uranus. Please enjoy this orangutan’s reaction to a bit of “magic”.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday & Wednesday: Mars-Pluto-Uranus Fallout; More on Donald Trump

Carry on, driven by the intense focus of the Moon in Scorpio (where it has been since 6:26AM ET on Monday). Get it off your desk today if you can, as the Moon goes void Wednesday at 1:39AM ET, not to enter the next sign — Sagittarius — until 5:25PM ET. Remember the Moon void if you find yourself overwhelmed by a twist, delay or other crisis. Such events are usually much ado about nothing, though it doesn’t mean that nothing is likely to happen. But let’s cover Tuesday first.

On Tuesday at 9:38PM ET the fiery Sagittarius Sun makes an easy connection to Uranus in pioneering Aries. Uranus is tech-savvy, eccentric and usually up for overturning the status quo. This aspect has been in effect for a few days now. One news items that caught my eye was about one of the founders of the Tea Party, described here as a “firebrand”. Her name is Debbie Dooley and her tech-savvy, eccentric, rebellious thing is her passion for — get this — solar power. A Green Tea Partier? Why not.

Back to Wednesday. Other than the mostly-all day Moon void, Mercury leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn at 9:35PM ET. Mercury in Capricorn puts a no-nonsense, strategic, earthy and practical spin on ideas and communication. No more of this Mercury in Sagittarius Big Giant Philosophical Opinion That Really Can’t Be Proven Because It’s An Opinion (we hope). Mercury will be in Capricorn until January 1st; it will turn RETROGRADE in Aquarius on January 5th, and then move back into Capricorn on January 8th…where it will stay until February 13th.

On Thursday, action hero Mars will oppose Uranus at 8:30PM ET. More tech break throughs — perhaps in aviation and in the cosmos. We’ll also have the potential for more outbursts of energy in matters related to action, war, firearms, rebellions, seismic stuff, the usual…

The New Moon begins at 5:29AM ET in Sagittarius, accompanied by a sensitive, artsy and potentially healing flow between Venus and Neptune (exact at 1:14AM ET). Perhaps we’ll see some rosy resolutions as the UN Climate Change Conference wraps in Paris, especially in light of the disruptive news from Beijing this week, as the city shut down under its first-ever air quality red alert.

I’ll write more on the New Moon in a future post; know that it will go void on Friday at 11:06AM ET, not to enter Capricorn until 1:47AM ET. Sounds like a good day for an early holiday party, with no consequences for overly indulgent festivities…merry, merry….happy, happy…and for whatever holiday(s) you are celebrating this season.

And now, the news.

Guns and more guns — certainly in the U.S., anticipated by planetary pattern noted in the last forecast. Must we talk about them now? Well, yes — because that’s what made headlines over the weekend, especially at the NYT — the paper of record — and that is the conceit of this forecast.  At the New York Times, the editors did something they hadn’t done in decades: publish an editorial opinion on the front page. What was it about? Guns — and a demand for gun control. Why is the U.S. so nuts about guns? Is it something in its horoscope? How about Mars (firearms, action heroes) squared by a the rose-colored fog of Neptune?  Could that reflect the family Christmas card photo released over the weekend by Nevada state assemblywoman Michelle Fiore, with several generations decked out in  blood-red T-shirts, jeans and packing assorted varieties of heat?

Meanwhile, gun stocks are up in the wake of President Obama’s Sunday night speech on the subject of terrorism. Guns made news at the Supreme Court yesterday, when it declined 7-2 to hear a challenge to one city’s assault weapons ban. The dissenting justices were Messrs. Scalia and Thomas, FYI.

Mars in touch with Pluto — the major pattern of last weekend — suggests more than just guns. It suggests the potential for regeneration and also that which we consider masculine. The timing of this headline is epic, if you ask me: “Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops”.  Astrology is amazing.

The Mars-Pluto pattern affected Donald Trump’s intrinsically macho horoscope. With his natal Mars in Leo and on his Leo Ascendant, we could expect a regal personal projection, driven by a seething sense of entitlement. The fixed star Capulus conjoins his 24 Taurus Midheaven, the point of career and public status. Capulus refers to “male sexual energy,” and this webpage offers a ton of observations from various sources on how it may be reflected in a horoscope. Transiting Mars, Pluto and Uranus are making contact with Mr. Trump’s natal Jupiter, suggesting a potential for expansive opportunity and resources.

Until yesterday, coverage of Mr. Trump’s campaign was relegated to the entertainment section of The Huffington Post. After his comments over the weekend that the US should ban all Muslims from entering the country, HuffPo decided to take him seriously — check out its editorial explaining why it is moving him to the politics section. Two other observations about Mr. Trump. First, he has Mercury square Neptune, suggesting no small amount of idealism and/or delusion and/or fantasy. Second, his horoscope continues to be quite strong from now into 2016…and 2017…and 2018….

What’s going on in your horoscope? Let’s meet by phone or in-person to discuss your prospects for 2016. Here’s the 411 on consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 12/4/2015 & the Weekend: Mars-Pluto Everywhere; Elizabeth Taylor, Right on Schedule

TGIF.

The Virgo Moon goes void at 11:59PM ET on Thursday, not to enter Libra until 5:34PM ET on FRIDAY. Keep this in mind as you are out and about. You may already have experienced a twist, delay or moment of “derp” in your morning routine, even if it’s just the barista at Starbucks greeting you with a cheerful “Good afternoon!” at 7AM. Stick to routine in your efforts to make things right. Avoid making a mountain of crisis out of a molehill of any spaced-out details.

Since Friday begins with a challenge between blah blah blah Mercury and inflationary Jupiter, big ideas in which the forest may not seen for the trees may run rampant. A need for fairness, balance and social graces kicks in with the Libra Moon. Seize the window to make an airy diplomatic pitch until 11:15PM ET. After that, Venus ditches her Libra charm and enters the watery depths of Scorpio.

The people-pleasing Libra Moon continues through the weekend. There is no Moon void to deter your shopping efforts until 9:03PM ET on Sunday. My money says your Special Someones would love love love a handcrafted gift certificate for a personal astrological consultation. It’s super-practical, unique and empowering — and we would have such a good time together. Plus, aren’t these horoscopes pretty? I have boatloads of designs…

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Saturday’s patterns are fairly smooth, but building to the intense energetic release of 1) the Moon’s weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus (between 10:28PM ET and 3:37AM ET on Sunday); and 2) the clash between warrior Mars and ruthless Pluto I told you about on Monday…which we’ve been feeling all this week, as evidenced by headlines involving war and violence.

The Mars-Pluto thing happens at 3:47PM ET on Sunday. You’re personally affected if you were born halfway through Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn…or if you have a planet or angle halfway through those signs. Apply this build-up of energy to a constructive release, such as a gym workout or an intense project. Please refrain from lashing out at others. Avoid being drawn into a conflict. Chill after 9:03PM ET on Sunday, when the Moon goes void. No sleeping in on Monday — the Moon will be in Scorpio and fully engaged.

And now, the news.

Which I could not bring myself to write about yesterday. Too much violence with no silver lining, as the U.S. horoscope suffers through the anguish of the third hit of transiting Pluto to its Saturn. Not only that, but the Ascendant of the U.S. horoscope is being hit by the wigginess of Saturn and Neptune, which is a perfect reflection of the sinking feeling you may have that the inmates are running the asylum.  Oh, and transiting Mars is about to hit the U.S. Sun and Saturn over the next few days. Let’s hope some of the assertiveness we see is constructive.

In the aftermath of this latest episode of violence; i.e., the wretched event in San Bernardino (linked in the paragraph above) we’re seeing a shift in tolerance regarding the usual response to these awful events, consistent with planetary patterns. Journalist Igor Volsky was “sick and tired” of the canned political response, “our thoughts and prayers are with the victims,” so he began tweeting how much money each of those politicians has received from the NRA. The NY Daily News offered a stern headline (Saturn in Sagittarius) challenging the standard faith-based expression of compassion (Neptune in Pisces): “God Isn’t Fixing This”. What does it want? Action that disrupts the status quo — Mars challenging Uranus and Pluto!

Meanwhile, in an alternate reality (Saturn square Neptune), the NY Post wasted no time stooping to the lowest level of Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces: fear of what is foreign, especially if it involves religious dogma. MUSLIM KILLERS, their headline blared, perhaps because they thought their first effort, “MURDER MISSION” would not sell enough papers. Today, the NY Daily News shot back with a front page calling NRA head Wayne La Pierre a terrorist, along with the perpetrator in San Bernardino and other people one might wish had never been able to purchase a gun.

Where do you get your news? It’s wise to consider more than one source, as I hope you can appreciate.

In Washington, new House Speaker Paul Ryan (a man with visionary Neptune right on his Ascendant), laid out his outline for “an alternative agenda”. It sounds great Mr. Ryan, but if you want to ensure that every American has a “good-paying job,” why are you opposed to having a minimum wage? Meanwhile, a “upbeat” jobs report was released today, prompting speculation that the Federal Reserve will finally raise interest rates when it meets later this month.

Elsewhere, yesterday the Senate immediately voted down ( 50-47) a modest gun control measure, while voting to pass a measure eliminating federal funding for Planned Parenthood and repealing Obamacare (which President Obama will veto). A group of physicians went to Washington to ask that a ban on funding research on gun violence be lifted. In Missouri, one fed-up state legislator introduced a bill to make it as easy for men to purchase a gun in that state as it is for a woman to obtain an abortion. The language of this bill is well-worth the read.

A pause, while I look ahead to planetary patterns in 2017, which suggest the potential for serious breakthroughs in action and policy…but which way we go will depend on who is in office. This next election isn’t just about who will become the next President. Every office up for grabs deserves your careful consideration when you go to the polls. Something to think about when you consider that Lamar Smith, the Chairman of the House Committee on Science, does not believe the scientists (97% of them) who say that climate change is happening.

In other news…continuing on the themes of war and violence we’ll be seeing for the next several days: yesterday it was announced that women will be allowed to serve in all military combat roles, including its elite forces. In South Africa, an appeals court declared Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering his girlfriend, overturning his prior conviction for manslaughter. He faces prison time. In Germany, its Parliament voted to send military assistance to others directly fighting against Daesh. In Cairo,  a firebomb attack in a nightclub killed 16.

Any silver linings? Sure. A police officer in Maryland was convicted of assault after he pointed a gun to a civilian’s head. It was captured on tape. In Louisiana, four corrections officers were indicted after a 19-year-old woman was found dead in her cell. Slowly the tide may be turning…

Mars-Pluto events suggest “news from underground”. Ooh, look at this spectacular pic of Mt. Etna erupting. Meanwhile, this week it was revealed that legendary actress and humanitarian activist Elizabeth Taylor ran an illegal safe house where AIDS patients could get medical help, including pharmaceuticals. How unbelievably cool that this news would come out RIGHT NOW, in the aftermath of last week’s Saturn-Neptune square which falls EXACTLY on Miss Taylor’s Sun at 7 degrees Pisces and 7 degree Sagittarius Ascendant! Plus, transiting Uranus, now at 16 Aries, is making contact with her fiercely eccentric, free-spirited Venus-Uranus conjunction. You better believe Miss Taylor was a champion for those whose social affections went against “the norm”. Here is her horoscope.

And that’s how I’m ending this forecast — on a high note — and a gentle nudge that if you enjoy receiving these forecasts from the goodness of my heart, please consider supporting my efforts by booking yourself or gifting someone else with a personal consultation and/or report. Donations for the cause are also welcome, with much much gratitude. You would also be an awesome support if you forwarded this forecast to the rest of the Free World.

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 21/2/2015: Mark Zuckerberg’s Really Big News

Moon enters Virgo at 5:09AM ET, driving the day with a need for perfection, organization and details. It cruises unimpeded until 7:13PM ET, when it faces off against Neptune. At 8:41PM ET, the Moon is challenged by Saturn. Unreal. Real. Dreamy. Focused. Intangible. Tangible. Perhaps the Virgo Moon will inspire us to separate the wheat from the chaff in what we collectively believe and how we are getting the word out.  Perhaps you can use it to fine-tune the structure of your latest vision.

And now, the news.

Gosh, there have been a ton of items about maritime issues — some heavy; some fantastic. Thank you, Saturn square Neptune in Pisces. The Japanese are going to start hunting whales again — 333 of them — boo hiss. It’s being presented as a “research” study, but few are buying it. Real. Unreal.  And how strange to see a story about 337 whales discovered beached in Chile last June — but only being reported now.

Also in Japan, a somber story of “ghostly ships” washing ashore with ghoulish cargo from unknown origins…

Thanks to Avid Reader Barbara, who emailed to make sure I did not miss this item about people who make a living hunting for sunken treasure (fantastic!), fighting for their rights in the face of heavy criticism by others in more academic pursuits:

Treasure hunters are to maritime archaeologists what astrologers are to astronomers,” said Filipe Castro, a nautical archaeologist at Texas A & M University.

My money says Mr. Castro has never consulted with an astrologer.

Meanwhile, I’m pleased to report one big news item that beautifully reflects the potential suggested in yesterday’s planetary patterns:

Moon is fully engaged in Leo, sign of drama kings and queens, as well as creative self-expression. How can you shine — and encourage others to shine — today? There are no serious bumps in the planetary highway…as the Leo Moon’s regal drive is supported by a number of planets (Saturn, Sun, Mars, Mercury and Uranus). Good for rocket scientists, humanitarian rebels and crusading warrior types.

Yesterday Mark Zuckerberg (and his wife, Priscilla Chan), made big news with two announcements: 1) the birth of their daughter, Max; and 2) the “birth of one of the world’s biggest charities”; i.e., a pledge to donate 99% of their Facebook shares in a “mission of advancing human potential and promoting equality”. I am intrigued that Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Chan did not tell the Free World when their daughter was born — not even what day. The NYT said it was sometime last week.

The last time I wrote about Mr. Zuckerberg was on August 6th:

I do not believe we have a confirmed birth time for Mark Zuckerberg, but several times have been proposed. One proposal suggests a 20 Virgo Ascendant, and it has a boatload of solar arcs exact soon and into next year — among planets involved with the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th houses. Solar arcs involving the Moon and Mars (action) at the IC (the angle referring to home & family), as well as between Jupiter, ruler of the 4th (family, foundation, home)  and Saturn, the ruler of the 5th house (children, creative self expression) reflect the potential for changes in his personal life.  Other arcs and transits involve Uranus, which refers to the spark required to start something new.

These arcs will be exact on various dates between now and April. Last week Mr. Zuckerberg and his wife announced they were expecting their first child after trying without success for several years. On September 13th, the 20 Virgo Ascendant will be eclipsed, suggesting a major change in life. This eclipse will be triggered by transiting Jupiter (expansion) on  November 29th  and again on February 16th. The Zuckerbergs did not say when their baby girl was due. Let’s test this horoscope with its 20 Virgo ASC and see what happens.

Well? What do you think? Fascinating, isn’t it? When astrologers do not have a birth time, they use their knowledge of planetary cycles to create what is called a rectified horoscope. They test the proposed birth time by working backwards through the life of the individual, checking the timing of significant events with planetary transits. It’s like cracking a safe. When all of the tumblers are lined up correctly, the horoscope can be used as a tool to anticipate events in the future. But as my teacher wisely says, “We can never know for sure if our rectified horoscope is correct…” unless documentation turns up later to confirm our effort. The objective, then, is stay humble and do our best to craft a horoscope that seems to work as a predictive tool.

We know Mr. Zuckerberg is taking a couple of months off to spend time with his wife and daughter. He’ll have just returned to the office on February 16th. Jupiter will hit 20 degrees of Virgo for a third time in July. Stay tuned.

What’s going on in your horoscope? I can’t imagine why you would not want to find out in a personal consultation. Or perhaps you’re in search of a truly unique holiday gift idea that’s clearly all about your cherished friend or relative. Here’s the 411 on consultations and astrological reports.

Thank you for reading this forecast.