Greetings from Durham, NC!

It’s just like LA, only with 5000% humidity and no palm trees. Yes, surely I jest. It is hot — like most everywhere else this week — but lush and green and beautiful. The local market is a foodie’s paradise, offering delicacies such as local cheese made from water buffalo milk among the five varieties of grits. I don’t think I’d find any water buffalo cheese in the little brick store sporting “TOBACCO” in big black letters against a bright yellow background. Not “Joe’s Tobacco Shoppe,” just TOBACCO. Also in black and yellow:  fabric signs on manicured lawns  reading “Thank  you, Jesus.”  Haven’t seen those in Manhattan or Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, in the stars…

Driving the day with a need for emotional/homeland security is the Moon in Cancer, where it has been since early Friday morning. Are you staying close to home? Calling Mom? It’s a dead Moon — the last day of the lunar cycle. This would account for any sense of listlessness or restlessness felt over the past couple of days, as if you’re waiting for something new to begin, but you’re not sure what. Between now and the New Moon on Sunday at 5:46 AM ET, the Cancer need for emotional comfort will be challenged by the Moon’s weekly clash with powerplayer Pluto and rebel Uranus, at 8:49 AM ET today and 2:05 AM ET on SUNDAY.

As I was typing that paragraph just after 8:49AM ET, a friend posted an article from Scientific American on my Facebook timeline, stating that babies used to be born spontaneously throughout the day and night, but now with so many scheduled C-sections and induced labors, 8AM on Monday has become the most popular birth time in the U.S.  That’s a power play involving Cancerian motherhood concerns, right? “How does this affect natal charts,” my friend wanted to know.  Answer: babies born around 8AM will most likely have the Sun in the 12th house , which suggests a greater need for privacy than most; an ability to work behind the scenes with an insider’s perspective; and a possible strong connection to “the other side,” too. Intuitively I have always felt that a 12th house Sun may have some resistance to being born (!!!) — and being literally dragged out into the world kicking and screaming in a delivery scheduled for the convenience of Mom or a doctor would reflect that potential!

At 11:16 AM ET, the Sun enters Leo. God save the kings and queens! Creative self-expression, a sense of play and romantic love are Leo trademarks. So are royal entitlement and ego aggrandizement. Leo is born to rule; there’s no need to prove its case, and the sooner everyone in the room recognizes and honors it, the happier everyone will be. Why is that so hard for non-Leos to understand?

The New Moon will be exact at 5:46 AM ET, when the Sun and Moon conjoin at 0-ish degrees of Leo. Make a list; light a candle. A New Moon offers us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Around July 30th, 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 August 7th — which is also an eclipse — 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 14th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon on August 21st.

New Moon in Leo 2017

In this New Moon chart, the need of the Leo Sun and Moon to shine shine shine  is energized by its close conjunction with action hero Mars, also in rip-roarin’ Leo. What does Mars in Leo do best? Get away with murder with that Leonine royal entitlement. Let the record show that when we set this New Moon chart in Washington DC, the Leo Sun, Moon and Mars are strongly placed for all the world to see in the First House AND on the Ascendant. I expect we’ll have more than the usual share of regal edicts and other drives for ego assertion and recognition making waves and headlines in the U.S. during this cycle.

This “making waves” potential is echoed by the Washington DC New Moon chart’s Ascendant of 26 degrees of Cancer. You’ll note it is squared by Uranus at 28 Aries. A Cancer Ascendant needs to be seen as being nurturing, caring and sensitive; such needs are likely to be either a) disrupted or b) expressed in a way that is experienced as disruptive, eccentric, fringe and/or innovative. That disruption will also be for all the world to see, as Uranus is in the 10th house — referring to leaders and government/corporate institutions. The innovative and groundbreaking potential is echoed by a harmony between tech-savvy Uranus and Mercury (how we need to think and communicate), exact on MONDAY at 12:32 PM ET. Mercury is also in regal Leo — and we could argue that there’s a loose Grand Trine among Mercury, Saturn and Uranus, suggesting a subconscious projection of self-sufficency, i.e., who needs to ask for input from anyone else? I got this!

Note also that this New Moon chart is dominated by Fire Signs — suggesting an improvisional flair to the monthly agenda. You won’t find that agenda written anywhere; it’s make it up as you go along.

Meanwhile, there’s a harshness suggested that is likely to recall issues that were on the table in the cold, cruel month of April. –  That’s when Venus (women, money, social graces) was challenged by Saturn (patriarchy, control, ambition) in opinionated Sagittarius twice in one month. Peruse the archives of this blog to refresh your memory of that tough time.  Note that the first Venus-Saturn challenge in that harsh cycle began around the last week of January. On MONDAY at 10:53 AM ET, Venus and Saturn will oppose each other, illuminating and releasing the challenges posed during these three Venus-Saturn squares.  Venus-Saturn transits can be isolating and stark…but the silver lining is that out of the sense of lack or loss, a plan for advance may emerge. 

Also of note in this New Moon chart: power and resources to the max, suggested by the third and final of a series of squares between expansive Jupiter in Libra (law, fairness, diplomacy) and Pluto (power, news from underground) in Capricorn (Powers That Be). Follow the preceding link to a write-up on this pattern posted last December.  This third hit will be exact on August 4th. Last, but not least, nebulous Neptune, planet of the surreal, is running wild in the New Moon chart. That’s your context for the “curiouser and curiouser” events we’re likely to see in the headlines.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is 1 Leo:  “a case of apoplexy” — I kid you not!  And once again, Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee’s wonderful book offers a meaningful interpretation. Given the volatility suggested by this week’s planetary patterns, the “case of apoplexy” is remarkable. “To be apoplectic refers to any effusion of blood into an organ or tissue…sudden fits of rage or embarrassment.” We last had this Symbol activated in the Full Moon in July of 2013, accompanied by tense patterns among Mars-Uranus-Pluto — not unlike those we experienced during the last two weeks. During this new lunar cycle,  Bovee advises us to watch for “focused enthusiasm eager to broadcast self-evident, universal truths…an intense desire to burst out of the mold; dramatic outsets of fever, feverish expression or fervent belief…watch especially for creating circumstances in which the unexpected can strike.”

You’ll see this theme manifest  more personally for you if you have a planet or angle around 1 degree of Leo, Scorpio, Taurus or Aquarius…or if you were born around the 22nd of July, April, October or January.

And now, the news….

…which is pretty much a series of “I told  you so.”  Here’s the forecast for P45’s 2017 posted last November.

Meanwhile, in Donald Trump’s horoscope, we see the first of three hits to his Moon, Sun and relationship point from transiting Saturn on 12/30, 1/6 and 1/14, respectively. Thus begins an ambitious agenda (upside) or a feeling of restrictive focus, control or loss. This pattern hits again in July, September and October. The Moon is only exactly hit once, but will still be under pressure in July. The restrictive influence of Saturn suggests he will not be able to have everything he wants — bringing to life the reality of the song he kept playing at rallies, despite objections from the artists.

These limitations are countered by expansion — in the form of three hits of transiting Jupiter to his Jupiter, ruler of the area of his horoscope which refers to creative self-expression, children and speculative ventures. Saturn co-rules that area of his horoscope, so it may be six of one; half dozen of the other. Expansion of power and resources is suggested by an extraordinary double whammy of  Pluto — also to his Jupiter — now and through 2017.

A need for innovation and excitement that disrupts his mindset, communication and professional status is also at work in 2017, suggested by transiting Uranus squaring his Venus. When I think of Venus with Uranus, I think “I love you, but don’t take it personally.” I think of unconventional attractions and surprises involving women, values, money and aesthetics. OMG I am just realizing that Venus will be retrograde in brash Aries from March 4 through April 15th. What an inauspicious time to be redecorating the White House.

Back to the president-elect…

Chiron the Wounded Healer is still in play now and next year, continuing to expose toxic patterns and relationships going back years. This week, a month from now and January-February are active for Chiron, as are June, July and August. Of special interest: the total eclipse that will fall across all of the continental United States on August 21st. This hits two points in Trump’s horoscope: Mars and his Leo Ascendant, at a time when Mars (action, aggression) will be more easily provoked. The eclipse will be triggered on September 3rd by Mars and all that week by Mercury (this applies to anyone with a point or planet at 29 Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio). Fun fact: Mitt Romney’s Ascendant was eclipsed in May of 2012. Jeb Bush’s Ascendant was eclipsed in September of 2015. A change of status? The truth comes out? Mark your calendars.

Well?

Right now, the second big Saturn squeeze noted in November is putting pressure on P45’s opinionated Sagittarius Moon and his Gemini Sun. Saturn is at 22 Sagittarius, exactly conjoining his Moon on August 20th. Saturn opposed his Sun on July 7th and will do so again on October 11th. Even his relationships are feeling squeezed, with exact hits on July 22nd and September 27th.  If your Moon is around 20-22 degrees of Gemini, Sag, Pisces or Virgo, my money says you are also feeling squeezed, e.g., isolated, alienated, desperate to make an advance — even as your resources are feeling streamlined and controlled. Same for your Sun. When Saturn is in hard aspect to your Sun (life force), the squeeze and focus on your resources may include health/vitality concerns for you and/or a member of your family (often a parent).

Contrasting the squeeze of Saturn is the boundary-pushing expansion suggested by P45’s third hit of Jupiter conjunct Jupiter — and you’ll see some of that potential in the next two paragraphs. Bombast and luck?

Another chart to keep in mind is the one for P45’s inauguration. Here it is again — with the prognosis — posted  on January 25th.  Transiting Mars and the Sun just crossed the IC — the foundation — of the inaugural chart; Mars also opposed the Sun and today the Leo Sun opposes the Aquarius Sun of the inauguration. With this chart and P45’s chart, it’s no coincidence to see shake-ups in the Administration, including one involving his “ambassadors,” the recently-departed press secretary Sean Spicer and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  “Spicer’s Abrupt Departure Rattles A White House on Edge.”   “Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions,” who, by the way, totally talked with the Russians about things he said he never talked about, according to recent revelations in WaPo.   Given what we know of Mr. Sessions horoscope — posted in March — that’s no surprise.

Other (saber) rattling news included P45 warning Robert Mueller to keep his investigation far, far away from his family finances, for obvious reasons summed up in Esquire. That, along with rumblings that P45 may be looking for ways to pardon himself and his associates for any wrongdoing, tweeting this morning that “all agree the US president has the complete power to pardon.” You may recall I noted in the last forecast that we’d be seeing more and more of  “because I said so” offered as a rationale for action, now that Mars has entered Leo! Does this one fit the bill?  Vladimir Putin may or may not have been joking when he said this week that he hadn’t decided whether he would ever leave the presidency, a presumably elected  post he’s had now for 17 years.

In other news, last Thursday evening’s Sun-Uranus square was a pattern suggesting accidents and seismic activity might capture our attention.  What did I see on the news in my brief stop in New York? Planes (crashing), trains (derailing) and automobiles (also crashing — during a 120 mph Venus trine Jupiter “joyride”). For seismic activity, Greece and Turkey obliged.  Meanwhile, on the tundra, “all hell breaks loose.”

Freedom is another Sun-Uranus keyword, and this week O.J. Simpson was granted parole, a few weeks after his third hit of transiting Jupiter square his Cancer Sun. That can be expansive, for better or for worse.  He will be released in October after nine years in prison. In November he will have a hit to his Pisces Moon from transiting Saturn, along with a potentially heavy solar arc to his Sun from Saturn. That suggests a squeeze – or other serious restriction imposed. If a health issue makes news, I would not be surprised.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Aren’t you dying to know how all of these planetary patterns apply to you personally? Let’s talk about it in a personal consultation — by phone on in-person. I’m in Raleigh-Durham until Tuesday — then back in the Big Apple. Here’s how to contact me — and here’s a link to my Cosmic Tip Jar if you find these forecast informative and entertaining, with gratitude.

Thank you for reading this forecast..