Greetings from Santa Fe…

…where the sensitive, intuitive and impressionable Pisces Moon went void at 9:38 AM ET. Go with the idealistic flow all through the day. Stick to routine concerns. Avoid impulse purchases. Remember that crises which crop up during Moon voids are often much ado about nothing. Chill — and consider indulging in a nice pedicure, as Pisces rules the feet.

Any indulgence in beauty and aesthetics would support the the idealism and optimism suggested by patterns today and early Saturday morning: Mercury and Sun in cooperative alliances with Venus and Jupiter, respectively (today);  Venus in nurturing Cancer in harmony with dreamy Neptune (Saturday).

At 1:22 AM ET on FRIDAY, Moon charges into me-me-me Aries, likely looking to get something started. Which, given that Mercury will turn retrograde on SUNDAY at 9:01 PM ET, should be something that is a REview or REorganization or REconnection project — not something brand spanking new. Start a vacation, maybe — a REtreat is also an apt action — and perhaps the heads of state in the U.S. and North Korea will take that under advisement. One can always hope.

In preparation for the Mercury retrograde, BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW.

And now, the news.

Remember the Sabian Symbol for the current New Moon cycle that began on July 23rd? It was “a fit of apoplexy.” Remember how there was a dominance of  planets in Fire Signs in that New Moon horoscope, suggesting four weeks of heated improvisation (because Fire doesn’t take the time to plan a strategy; it goes wherever the wind blows)? See any of that in recent headlines?

And now, the news.

Yesterday P45 improvised another threat aimed at North Korea,  “They will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.” Regular readers of this forecast should not be surprised by the escalated rhetoric at this time. As mentioned before, P45 has a Mars line running through Washington and North Korea. What does that mean? Places on a Mars line in the horoscope are likely areas of militant conflict for heads of state,  and we’ve seen that theory tested in the horoscopes of other U.S. presidents. Get a copy of The Psychology of Astrocartography  by Jim Lewis and Kenneth Irving and you’ll find multiple examples.  For comic relief (comedy being a necesseary coping strategy for anxiety and  suffering), here’s master improvisor Stephen Colbert grading P45’s effort.

North Korea is angry about new sanctions recently imposed by the UN; thus, it has threatened retaliation against the United States because we’re so exceptional. In the horoscope of North Korea (courtesy of Jamie Partridge), we see Saturn (control, authority) at 28 Leo, which sits right on top of the Leo Ascendant of the U.S. Tweeter-in-Chief. This suggests the P45 (and the U.S., by extension), is likely to experience North Korea as a major block or wet blanket on his fiery regal image. Reading Partridge’s most excellent write-up of the North Korea horoscope, this bit about Venus jumped out:

Venus generally rules peace and diplomacy, but in mundane astrology signifies war in hard aspect. In ancient Mesopotamia, she was the Goddess of Love and Procreation when the evening star, and the Goddess of War when the morning star. In the North Korea horoscope she is Goddess of War, visible before sunrise. The furthest she can ever be in front of the Sun is 48 degrees, so at 46 degrees ahead of the Sun in this chart, she is a very fired up Goddess Ishtar. “her morning appearance woke them up to go to war” [Deborah Houlding].

So an angry Venus woke the North Koreans up at half past two in the morning to go to war. The square from Mars, ruler of the military and war, turns her anger into blind fury. The lunar eclipse before the declaration of independence was at 03°17′ Scorpio, less than half a degree from the North Korean Mars. This increases the aggressive and reactionary nature of the country.

North Korea’s Venus is 0 degrees Leo. Where was the New Moon on July 23rd? 0 Leo! No wonder North Korea responded by announcing plans to strike Guam.  Where will the next New Moon — also the Great American Eclipse — occur? On August 21st, at 28 Leo, right on North Korea’s 28 Leo  Saturn…and, as noted in previous posts, on P45’s 26 Leo Mars and 29 Leo Ascendant. Do you have any planets at 0 Leo and/or 28 Leo? Would you like to know how the Aug 21st total solar eclipse may impact your own personal world? I am offering a special mini-reading to answer just that question for  $44.88. Send me your date, place and time of birth and I will email you a brief write-up.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that on July 26th,  the FBI conducted a pre-dawn raid on the home of Paul Manafort, looking for “tax documents and foreign banking records.”  Glancing at the horoscope of Robert Mueller — time unknown — we see that his Venus at 26 Leo will be hit by the August 21st solar eclipse. This suggests an increase or decrease of effectiveness in relationship and/or financial concerns, so we’ll be watching the headlines carefully the first week of September. Without a birth time, we are limited to what we can anticipate. Mr. Mueller is a Leo with Moon in late Pisces or early Aries. His 14 degree Leo Sun was hit by this week’s Full Moon eclipse at 15 Leo/Aquarius. What else will be released in the aftermath?

In other news…. from Across the Pond. A source says that  Queen Elizabeth plans to bypass Prince Charles. Prince William will become England’s next king, in a story that has NOT — let the record show — been picked up by mainstream papers. Thus we are inclined to chuck it in the rubbish bin labelled “Mercury Retrograde Rumors That Turn Out To Be Much Ado About Nothing On An All-Day Moon Void.”

But just as an exercise — and as a relief from writing about the mainstream media’s deplorable Usual Suspects —  what do the horoscopes suggest? Last year we noted that the Queen’s horoscope would experience three hits of Uranus squaring her Capricorn Ascendant, suggesting potential break-ups, separations and a need for a fresh start in matters of self-worth and values. Those hits started in 2016 and continued into early 2017.  Brexit fit that potential perfectly.

Meanwhile, according to today’s tabloid story, a palace insider said:

“Her Majesty realized that William and Kate are the future. She has spent 65 years making sure that the House of Windsor survives, and she sees William and Kate as having the energy and star quality to do the job in a modern world. Queen Elizabeth will always do what is best for the long-term health of the monarchy,”

When might this rumored transition of power happen? It’s interesting to note that transiting Uranus will conjunct the Queen’s Taurus Sun three times, starting in 2018.  This suggests a need for freedom and independent expression, unconventional though it may be. We also see transiting Pluto conjunct Her Majesty’s Ascendant, starting in January of 2019, continuing through that year.  This suggests a dramatic change of perspective in personal identity. We see another measurement between her Midheaven and Saturn exact in December 2018, suggesting a change in professional status and/or significant family development. Clearly the horoscope is ripe for continued change.

In Prince William’s horoscope, we see transiting Saturn conjunct his 27 Sagittarius Ascendant three times in 2017, suggesting a streamlining squeeze on his identity, enabling him to emerge at the end of it as “Prince William version 2.0”. Saturn will oppose his 0 degree Cancer Sun and 4 degree Cancer Moon, starting in January of 2018. More gravitas for sure.  In 2018, transiting Uranus will oppose  his 2 degree Scorpio Midheaven, suggesting a disruption in the family and in his professional status. That opposition occurs twice next summer: on July 23rd and August 28th, accompanied by another measurement between the Sun and Venus. Sun-Venus measurements suggest a focus on love, popularity, creativity and/or birth.

UPDATE: It was announced on September 4th that the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William are expecting their third child. Huzzah!

What’s going on in Prince Charles’ horoscope? In 2018 transiting Uranus will conjunct his material comfort and stability-seeking Taurus Moon three times, suggesting an intense disruption. In 2019, transiting Uranus squares his regal Leo Ascendant, suggesting a fresh start. Uranus rules the area of the Prince’s life regarding relationships and the public. It’s interesting to note that the Midheaven in Prince William’s horoscope is hit in 2018 — a year before the hits to the Queen and Prince Charles.

UPDATE: Soon after this forecast posted, Avid Reader Patricia wrote to set the record straight:

I love all the info about the Queen. Unfortunately she can’t give the crown straight to William bypassing Charles because in England titles and the crown go to the next in line. Nobody gets to choose who gets it next, it’s birth order. If it ever happened it would be because Charles died or has become mentally or physically impaired. Also the only way we would find out is the Prime Minister announcing it in Parliament. The laws in England are somewhat rigid when it comes to inheritance and after the whole what they term “nightmare” of the abdication of her uncle, who became the Duke of Windsor, the Royal family are somewhat skittish in this area.

Patricia is English and therefore someone who ought to Know About These Things. Thank you, Patricia for writing and helping me make a point about taking at face value a story that makes news during a Moon void and/or a Mercury Retrograde. Remember this when reading the headlines between now and September 5th!

Meanwhile, in the Land of Enchantment (New Mexico), it is ever so peaceful and quiet…so, so quiet. During the day in the middle of nowhere,  there is not a sound to be heard. It reminds me of the haunting opening of the movie Contact, as the camera pulls back from Earth through our solar system, finally surpassing the reach of audio transmission beaming out from this ‘big, blue marble.  Silence can be such a balm for the senses and the soul. I hope you will take time to tune in to this perspective as a necessary break from the tension of these”interesting times.”

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Would you like to know how the Aug 21st total solar eclipse may impact your own personal world? I am offering a special mini-reading to answer just that question for  $44.88. Send me your date, place and time of birth and I will email you a brief write-up.