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"The reading was a partnership between the two of us; she did not simply recite planetary signs and meanings, but had a conversation with me, continually asking what I made of what she saw, and what I thought I could do to change the things I want to change.

When the names of other people in my life came up, she quickly looked up their charts on her computer and commented on their roles in my life -- painting a fuller picture of where I was, where I wanted to go, and how I could get there.

What was impressive was that Elisabeth took all the planets, people, and situations that made up my life and created a context for them all that was positive, hopeful, and exciting!

She has a lovely personality, a sharp wit, and a gift for astrological interpretation."

--Bill W.
New York

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Astro-logical Forecast for Monday & Tuesday 6/29-30/2015: July Fireworks After Busting-Out June

Alllll righty then!

A lot of news to digest today, the start of a holiday week. Today’s Moon is in Sagittarius, potentially lifting spirits and encouraging the expansion of horizons everywhere. Sagittarius is a fire sign, adding to the spark already suggested by Uranus (in Aries) and Venus-Jupiter (in Leo). Plus the Moon is waxing to its fullness on Wednesday, so emotions are likely running high and righteously so. We can expect boundaries to be pushed in opinions, as well as a mood that’s up for a gambol or a gamble until the Moon enters earthy Capricorn on Wednesday at 5:11AM ET. We can also expect a bit of bewilderment or need for an escape as the Moon is challenged by nebulous Neptune at 5:12PM ET.

Meanwhile, get it off your desk today or by 2:18PM ET on Tuesday, which is when the Moon goes void for 15 hours. That is the only void (natural rest period) of note, for those of you who are not on vacation. Friday is a holiday in the U.S., and many have already left the building.

Actually, tomorrow morning features one of those rare patterns often associated with luck and timing: a grand trine. Picture an equilateral triangle involving these three planets: Uranus in Aries, Venus-Jupiter in Leo and Moon in Sagittarius. If you have a planet around 20 degrees of those signs, you are more affected than most.

Other than this Wednesday’s Full Moon, notable planetary patterns include Wednesday morning’s meet-up between Venus and Jupiter, which was discussed last week. Nebulous Neptune is also active, as it makes an easy alignment to the Sun on Wednesday afternoon. This inspired connection can enhance the innovative and expansive ideas I expect to see as the week progresses, as mental Mercury makes easy alignments with Uranus and Jupiter on Thursday and Friday, followed by an idealistic connection with Venus on Saturday.

As we roll into the weekend, I expect power plays, resources and news from the underground to pull focus, as “resistance is futile” Pluto opposes the homeland and security-oriented Cancer Sun. That’s the day Greece reopens its banks. More on Greece in a minute.

This concludes the sneak peek for the week, to be followed by more weeks of dynamic action in the cosmos as we move through July. Stay tuned to this forecast for updates.

And now, the news.

“Boundaries pushed in opinions” and “bewilderment” describe my thoughts as the Supreme Court issues its rulings today. One 5-4 opinion held that a controversial drug (Neptune) used in executions (Saturn now back in Scorpio) was A-OK, despite its horrific malfunction in botched executions last year. When I got to the last paragraph of this article describing a proposed alternative, I nearly spit my coffee all over my keyboard. I wonder if you’ll do the same.

In another 5-4 decision, the Court tossed out the EPA’s recent efforts to limit the amount of pollution generated by coal-fired power plants. Why? Follow the money. But while I may be bewildered by this ruling, consider that over at the Washington Times, this is very good news indeed. Right now, it’s the lead story, replacing an earlier top headline about how the Brady Center — a non-profit advocate for gun control — has been ordered to  pay the legal fees of an ammunition dealer who sells his stock online. The dealer’s name? Lucky Gunner. Seriously.

In other “limitless” rulings, the Supreme Court also ruled that independent panels may draw election district lines, and that states may not require prospective voters to provide proof of citizenship on voter applications, as Arizona and Kansas wished to do. So “limitless” seems to be the theme for the day.

Meanwhile, Greece. I’ve been writing about its horoscope since 2011, which is when disruptive Uranus and corruption-routing Pluto began hammering a number of planets: Venus, Moon, Pluto…and recently Mercury, Saturn (ouch) and the Ascendant. It’s the hits to the 13 Cancer Ascendant that are coinciding with the most dramatic shifts. The final hit of Uranus coincided with the stunning election of Alexis Tsipras, he of the “anti-austerity party”.  The last two hits of Pluto will happen on August 30th and October 20th — should be significant action around then. Pluto transiting the Ascendant usually reflect a transformation of perspective in one’s identity that can be empowering. What is no longer working is purged so that a new form can thrive. A phoenix rising from the ashes is a good Pluto metaphor. Ditching the Euro for the drachma? It would be no surprise at all.

Pride and joy is one potential of the exuberant meet-up between Venus and Jupiter in Leo, as noted last week and in the rainbow-colored photos beaming all over social media. Wretched excess is another, especially in matters of fire, fun, sugar and drama. Will we see a significant story on diabetes, I wonder?

Meanwhile, on Saturday, during a moody bastard Moon in Scorpio, over 400 people attending a music party in Taiwan were hospitalized when they were burned by an explosion of colored fireworks powder; one woman has died. Equally wretched were the comments of the Usual Suspects outraged by Friday’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage — too many to list here.

If I were writing this during a moody bastard Scorpio Moon, I might say something catty about Bristol Palin’s latest wretched excess. Ms. Palin, who is best known for being a single mom who scored an awesome gig as a highly-paid ambassador for abstinence, announced that she is pregnant again — weeks after breaking off yet another engagement. But rather than be catty, I’m linking  a thoughtful piece from Salon, while noting that over the next several years Ms. Palin could well become the mature spokesperson envisioned therein. Even without an exact birth time we can see that hits from Uranus and Pluto will afford her the opportunity for liberation and empowerment, after a likely period of austerity. Kinda like Greece.

Since I’ve been writing this forecast, I swear six ambulances and fire trucks have passed by my building, with sirens at full blast. Seven…make it eight…oh, and choppers, too. And now police yelling “get down on the ground!” as mothers push strollers on the sidewalk. Just another day in New York. It occurs to me now that both Saturn (control) and Pluto (power) are running wild in the cosmos, today. Add those to the rising fiery emotions and the bewilderment of Moon challenged by Neptune…be prudent in your otherwise exultant state today.

Aren’t you dying to know what all this planetary activity suggests in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. I guarantee you will find our discussion meaningful and enlightening.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the “busting-out June” reference, if you’re not up to speed on your Rodgers & Hammerstein repertoire.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 6/26/2015 & the Weekend: Scorpio Moons & Other Depths

TGIF!

Moon is void in Libra until  1:57PM ET. A slow start or twist to your morning, perhaps? If you slept late and missed your usual train, chances are that the snafu will prove to be of no consequence. Moon voids are notorious for coinciding with multiple challenges in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Chill and debate the pros and cons of Thursday’s SCOTUS decision upholding federal tax credits (a.k.a. subsidies) for eligible citizens in ALL states, not just the ones whose state governments enthusiastically established their own health insurance exchanges (and also accepted federal funding to expand Medicaid).

What’s next? Legalizing same-sex marriage throughout the United States? Well, the Moon is in Libra…and on Monday we’ll have an easy connection between Venus (social expression, love) and playing field-leveling Uranus…I am hopeful…

Intense emotions and other power and control needs emerge when the Moon plunges into Scorpio after 2PM on Friday. There it will brood until Sunday at 11:21PM ET, with no Moon void to interfere with your summer shopping and yard sale binging all through the weekend. The binge may come courtesy of next week’s luxury-loving Venus-Jupiter hook-up in Leo, discussed yesterday.

Otherwise, hang out with some strong, silent types and contemplate what heights you may reach by exploring the depths. The easy connection between Venus and Uranus at 2:26AM ET on Monday serves as your tourist visa. Start with the Sunday NYT magazine — it’s their mental health issue and it includes more than one article about sex and happiness, including this confessional penned by Elizabeth Gilbert. OK, so I said a Scorpio Moon could brood, didn’t I?

Sunday evening around 9:50PM ET may feel especially heavy as the Moon meets up with taskmaster Saturn and then goes void for an hour and a half (chill time!). It then rockets into Sagittarius, where it will gamble and gambol on Monday and Tuesday. No sleeping in — you’ll miss out on the high-flying fun.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 6/25/2015: When Venus Meets Jupiter — Oh Joy!

The relationship-focused Libra Moon swings back and forth today, starting with a power play or catharsis around 7:07AM ET, as Moon gets its weekly challenge from Pluto. Lunchtime is pleasant enough, generously supported by an easy connection between the Moon and Venus at 1:16PM ET. Feel free to talk about it.

Around 6:20PM ET, note the potential for a shake-up or flash of insight, courtesy of the Moon’s opposition to rebel Uranus. One hour later, a jovial vibe ensues as Jupiter makes a communicative alignment with the Moon, which then goes void with a sigh until 1:57PM ET on FRIDAY.

Chill, chill, chill in the evening…ease into the workday tomorrow or start the weekend early.

No news today, though I imagine there will be plenty to report on tomorrow. Until then, I invite you to consider how these extraordinary planetary patterns are reflected in your own unique horoscope. Here’s how to schedule a personal consultation.

Meanwhile, be advised that Venus (love, money, women, arts) is about to conjoin Jupiter (expansion) in warm and fuzzy Leo, doncha know — exact on July 1st — hooray hooray! Look up in the sky tonight and you’ll see these two bright, beautiful lights. Venus and Jupiter are currently making a harmonious alignment with Uranus, which rules astrology. Sounds like a time for indulgence. Go ahead and splurge.

Here’s what was going on in the category of generous and creatively self-expressive efforts when this aspect happened last summer — wasn’t it fun?

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 6/24/2015: Mars in Cancer; Hot Horoscopes

If you feel like you’re being kicked out of bed, you’re picking up on the energetic boost suggested by the First Quarter Moon, exact at 7:02AM ET. Said Moon is in people-pleasing Libra, seeking popularity, balance and fairness in relationship. What challenges may come to light re: the agenda you set last week on the New Moon? You’ve got the whole day free and clear to work it out.

Two and a half hours later, action hero Mars pulls focus by leaving Gemini for Cancer. Look for prominent action related to home and homeland security — or general Mars matters such as iron and steel. Here’s a story that popped up an hour or so ago — about an axe thrown by a Fox & Friends host that missed its target and hit a West Point drummer instead. Will this be tomorrow morning’s hot topic?

Mars will be in Cancer until August 6th. You are more personally affected by transiting Mars entering Cancer if you are someone like — say — Barack Obama, who has his Venus at 1 degree of Cancer. Immediately we expect his social expression to be more active and prominent. And — oh lookie — here is an article from the NYT about how he’s been wearing his heart on his sleeve more than his usual cool, airy (Moon in Gemini; Aquarius rising) mode of expression allows. Blame it on transiting Mars activating his naturally caring, sensitive social expression (yes, really), brought to a sensitive, deeply spiritual blossoming suggested by a prominent transit of Neptune. Really, no surprises here…but I suppose journalists do need something to write about.

Meryl Streep is another person affected by Mars at the Aries Point. She has Sun and Uranus conjunct at the Aries Point in Cancer (happy belated birthday, Ms. Streep). Yesterday she made headlines by urging Congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.  You may recall the last time her horoscope was discussed in this forecast it was expected that she would experience a change of direction in her career that would also be prominent. And now she is getting quite serious about this women’s equality thing — RAH.

In other news, the Trans-Pacific Partnership was fast-tracked by the Senate yesterday. Score another victory for Barack Obama’s horoscope, which clearly suggests he’s at the top of his game. No lack of ambition and gravitas for him through early fall, as Saturn completes its series of transits to his Midheaven and his Moon.

Maybe someone else can think of a good reason why this deal should go through, but I am skeptical for reasons cited here, and in this video here. If you can think of a good reason, feel free to share.

Elsewhere…

That flag. That Confederate flag. Suddenly most everyone is in agreement — as if it just hit them for the first time in a quantum leap of consciousness.  Soon it will be off the state license plates in Virginia; Walmart and Sears won’t be selling flag-emblazoned items anymore; heck, maybe Mississippi may change its state flag.

In South Carolina,  Governor Nikki Haley urged state legislators to consider taking it down from state grounds. Calling it an “emotional” decision, she said:

“It came down to one simple thing,” Ms. Haley said in a phone interview Tuesday. “I couldn’t look my son or daughter in the face and justify that flag flying anymore.”

Just like that. A quantum leap facilitated in the aftermath of the Uranus-Pluto square and the brutal force of transiting Pluto square Saturn in the US horoscope.  Wake up and smell the coffee. Change or die. Stuff like that.

Fun fact: Sabian Symbols work in pairs. I did not tell you about the opposing Symbol of last week’s New Moon at 25 Gemini but here it is: “a flag bearer”. Interesting, eh? Wish I had time to write more…

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday & Tuesday 6/22-23/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

Another day to note your dreams upon waking, as the rose-colored fog of a Moon-Neptune opposition crests at 8:40AM ET. Put your grounding cord down if you’re out and about in the material world in the early part of the day. Deep healing and a potent emotional flow are favored around 6:23PM ET, as the Virgo Moon makes an easy connection to Pluto.

Did I mention that the Moon has been in perfection-seeking Virgo since 12:59PM ET on Sunday? How will you make things right in your world today and tomorrow? Organize, analyze, prioritize!

Perfection may reach new heights — or at least strive for them, given two exact aspects we talked about last week. Jupiter makes the third of three easy connections to cosmic/technogeek/rebel Uranus at 9;43AM today; nebulous Neptune challenges mental Mercury on Tuesday at 2:09PM ET. Got a vision you’d like to sell? Feel free to walk your talk.

This is a week for action. Moon voids (natural rest periods) are few and far between. Wednesday AM there’s a 30 minute void starting at 1:12AM ET. Thursday evening the Moon goes void at 7:22PM ET and wanders around aimlessly until Friday at 1:57PM ET. That’s it.

Meanwhile, Mars — planet of action — pulls focus midweek when it leaves Gemini for Cancer at 9:33AM ET on Wednesday. As you know from last week’s discussion about the Summer Solstice, planets at the first degree of Cancer are at the Aries Point — and thus attract prominence. Prominent action in communication and home(land) security matters is to be expected.

And now, the news.

Who remembers the sneak preview of next month’s Venus retrograde I posted some days ago? Well, guess what? Over the weekend Venus was at 14 degrees of Leo, marking the beginning of what we call “the shadow period” of the retrograde. Why is this the beginning of the shadow period? I’ll tell you.

Venus turns retrograde at 0 Virgo on July 25th. It will appear to move backward into Leo, until it turns direct on September 6th at….14 Leo! Venus will reach 0 degrees Virgo again on October 10th. So between now and October look for reviews and re-evaluations in all matters related to Venus: money, relationships, values, aesthetics. What does this have to do with the news, you may wonder? Just check out this article from the NYT, “No Time to Be Nice at Work”.

So there’s your sneak preview of Venus retrograde in Leo potential. Don’t let this happen to you. Do your part to focus on courtesy and kindness between now and October 10th, mmmkay?

In the technogeek awesomeness of Jupiter’s alignment with Uranus, check out this story about Taylor Wilson. He’s 21 and he’s from the South (Arkansas). He has not done anything horrifying with a firearm. However, at age 14 he did build a working nuclear fusion reactor. In his garage. And he’s just getting started. With transiting Uranus and Pluto supercharging his natal Mars (and probably his Moon) in pioneering Aries now and through 2016, my money says we can expect more innovative breakthroughs from his brilliant mind. Other measurements in his horoscope — even without an exact birth time — suggest as much.

A stroke of luck in a daring enterprise also evokes the potential of Jupiter aligned with Uranus. In England, a parachutist was very lucky when he was rescued in mid-air by a fellow skydiver when his chute failed to open. Meanwhile, another man appears to have survived the 8000 mile flight to London from Johannesburg, which he made as a stowaway on British Airways. Whether there was another stowaway on that flight — who wasn’t so lucky — is under investigation.

In the last forecast about the Aries Point, it was noted that William Shatner was born with his Aries Sun at that point of prominence. And there he was making news — in at least two separate stories — over the weekend. First, at 84, he’s traveling by motorcycle along Route 66 — from Chicago to Los Angeles. Second, George Takei had plenty to say about Mr. Shatner’s need for prominence in the NYT. See how planets at the Aries Point function? Even in an interview with Mr. Takei about the upcoming opening of his Broadway show, in the end it was all about Bill. Coincidence or conspiracy?

What’s going on in your horoscope? Do you have a planet that needs to attract attention? If so, what are you doing with all that potential? Your local astrologer would be delighted to provide you with valuable insight on why you are the way you are…and when things are likely to happen for you. Here’s the 411 on consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with the rest of the Free World.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 6/19/2015 & The Weekend: Bright Leo Moon; Happy Summer Solstice; Ranting on the News

Moon entered Leo this AM at 2:23 ET, after a thirty-minute void so brief you would have barely noticed it. Put aside for one minute the latest dreadful headline reminding us that the U.S. is still in the throes of 1) an anguished and brutal “get real” transit demanding it face the wretchedly twisted parts of its psyche; and 2) a bewildering identity crisis, thanks to nebulous Neptune. In your own personal world, you can reap the potential sunny festivity the Leo Moon inspires, aided and abetted by beautiful Venus and expansive Jupiter also in Leo. Big party; big drama; big hearts may rule.

There are no Moon voids to deter your shopping expeditions, save for a 50 minute break on Sunday between 12:09PM and 12:59 PM ET. Then Moon leaves Leo for perfection-seeking Virgo, so if you want to make Dad feel like a king, do it before 1PM.  The rest of the afternoon and evening are driven by a need for detail, service and making things right.

On Sunday at 12:38PM ET the Sun leaves Gemini for Cancer. Happy Summer Solstice!

Here’s what you need to know about the first day of any season  — i.e., equinoxes and solstices — from an astrological point of view. The first days of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter correspond with the first day (or first degree) of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively (there are thirty degrees in each sign of the zodiac). Got that? Good.

These four signs are called cardinal signs. Cardinal signs initiate. They come up with the idea and put it into action, which leads to necessary change. “Cardinal” suggests (from the Latin root of the word), “that on which something turns or depends.”  So the first day/degree of a Cardinal sign is a turning point. In astrology, the technical term for the first degree of any Cardinal sign is the “Aries Point”, just to confuse people who are not professional astrologers. In other words, the first day of Cancer, Libra, Capricorn and Aries is the Aries Point. The first day of Taurus (and the rest of the signs) is NOT at the Aries Point).

Equinoxes and solstices are also prominent. We make a fuss over them, right? In Japan, the first day of each season is actually a national holiday. How cool is that? Thus, in a horoscope, a planet or angle at the Aries Point needs to be prominent. Off the top of my head, Meryl Streep & Elizabeth Warren (both Cancers — happy birthday!) and William Shatner (an Aries) were born with the Sun at the Aries Point. They’re pretty prominent in everything they do, don’t you think?

And now, the news.

Here’s what I wrote for Wednesday:

Up and at ’em. The drive of today’s Cancer Moon is mostly free and clear. It’s also fresh and new. Launch away! Cancer is a nurturing energy which needs to focus on home(land) and family concerns. It is emotional and intuitive, and it will carry us through the end of Thursday.

Between now and then we may see a power play or other catharsis around 9:42PM ET tonight, as the Moon makes its weekly challenge with Pluto. Thursday morning may present a wake-up call or upset to the status quo, as the Moon is challenged by Uranus at 7:24AM ET. Keep planting seeds related to your New Moon projects.

How unsettling to wake up Thursday morning with an upsetting story dominating the headlines (once again). On Wednesday night around 8PM,  as I am sure you have heard, a disturbed young man entered a church in Charleston, SC. Shortly after 9PM, nine people had been fatally shot with a pistol he had been given for his 21st birthday (April 3rd). So here we are with our hearts breaking all over again because of this hardcore fact:  if you combine a firearm with an angry person who may or may not be living in a distorted, hate-filled and possibly drug-induced reality, bad things are likely to happen.

Unless someone wants to send me a big, fat check for my time and focus, I’ll refrain from writing about planetary patterns on Dylann Storm Roof’s birthday, other than to say Neptune Saturn Pluto Uranus are all doing what you’d expect on this loner/misfit’s Sun, Moon and Saturn. I’d much rather focus on this tribute to the nine beautiful lights Charleston, SC just lost.

Speaking of distorted reality, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley delivered an emotional speech yesterday, telling her constituents:

“As all eyes of this country are on our state and our city,” she said, “what happened in that church is not the people of South Carolina.”

However, she said, “If this can happen in church, we’ve got some praying to do. If there’s one thing we can do in South Carolina it’s pray. … We are a state of faith, we are a state of prayer, we are a state of love.”

…which is in no means diluted or besmirched by the Confederate flag flying lovingly at full staff on top of the building where Governor Haley works, alongside its other Official State Flag — the one emblazoned with a rainbow, a peace sign and a smiley face.

Dear Governor Haley, I knew I’d see this in your horoscope, but could you please remove the rose-colored glasses reflected by  your Neptune square Venus in (empathic) Pisces? At least until the end of your term? Your idealism is getting in the way of your relationships. And you might be forgetting that Charleston made headlines on April 4th when Walter Scott was killed by a police officer at a traffic stop (I thought the website of the Post and Courier looked familiar).

Odd that the Confederate flag also made headlines in Texas. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that by refusing to issue an official state license plate imprinted with said flag (like the one on Mr. Roof’s black Hyundai), it was not infringing upon the free speech rights of its citizens. Justice Clarence Thomas joined the four liberal justices in that decision.

Well, at least plenty of people are now talking about this issue. And anger can be channeled for productive purposes, too…with the “burning intensity” suggested by the Sabian Symbol of Tuesday’s New Moon.

Meanwhile, what did we miss while focusing on the latest karmic consequences of our die-hard right to bear arms? First, the House reversed itself and approved a bill granting President Obama authority to move forward on the TPP. Well, with Saturn returning to the top of the president’s horoscope, we do expect him to be at the top of his game. Have to see what the Senate does next week…

Second, Brian Williams’ need to be Number One (suggested by his Moon in me-me-me Aries) has been permanently disrupted by transiting Uranus and Pluto to his Mercury and Mars (and probably that Moon, too). He won’t be returning to the anchor chair at NBC; he’s been reassigned to MSNBC.

Third, Amnesty International released a report alleging that “every state in the US fails to comply with international standards on the lethal use of force by law enforcement officers”. Holy transiting Pluto square U.S. natal Saturn, Batman! The U.S. is living out its horoscope, as noted in the first paragraph of this forecast.

Finally, a positive spin on the encyclical on climate change issued Thursday by Pope Francis. And by positive, I mean a story in The Guardian about how U.S. Catholic leaders are preparing to implement this directive. If you read about the encyclical in The Washington Times, you’d think from the headline that it was mostly a personal attack on President Obama. Fascinating.

Where do you get your news? And more important, what’s going on in your horoscope? Are you poised to be on top of your game or are you poised to make a fresh start? Why not contact me for a personal consultation?

No sleeping in on Monday. Have a fun and festive weekend!

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday & Thursday 6/17-18/2015: Planting Seeds; Rachel Dolezal, Pope Francis & More…

Up and at ’em. The drive of today’s Cancer Moon is mostly free and clear. It’s also fresh and new. Launch away! Cancer is a nurturing energy which needs to focus on home(land) and family concerns. It is emotional and intuitive, and it will carry us through the end of Thursday.

Between now and then we may see a power play or other catharsis around 9:42PM ET tonight, as the Moon makes its weekly challenge with Pluto. Thursday morning may present a wake-up call or upset to the status quo, as the Moon is challenged by Uranus at 7:24AM ET. Keep planting seeds related to your New Moon projects.

And now, the news.

As noted earlier, the nurturing Cancer Moon is a perfect time for Pope Francis to release his status quo-disrupting statements on climate change. And of course he would publish a major work with transiting Uranus opposing his natal Mars, which rule his 8th and 9th houses, respectively. This is a time for daring initiative, and I said as much back in December.

Did you know he has a degree in chemistry? A pope who is also a scientist — what a concept — and you’d think that all of the howling climate change deniers who are also politicians and avowed Catholics would know that about the leader of their church. Don’t they know how dumb they look when they say stuff like this? Here’s an interesting article about how the archbishop of Miami is planning to incorporate the pope’s encyclical into his sermons.  What do you think? Will things change?

Here is another past post about the pope and his horoscope. This one is pretty darn good, too. Read it  and you’ll appreciate my thoughts on journalism, two paragraphs down.

Themes of nurturing and security are also evident in the headlines buzzing about the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on the Affordable Care Act. Will residents in states that did not create their own health care exchanges lose their federal tax credits and thus be unable to afford their health insurance premiums? If the ruling comes during the Cancer Moon, one would think that security would be preserved. But it does not solve the insurmountable challenge of delivering health care sustainably in a system that is driven by profit, as noted in this article about why some  hospitals mark up costs by 1000%.

Meanwhile, an update on a story that broke in the aftermath of the last Full Moon — the one about laid-off workers at Disneyworld whose jobs were handed over to temporary workers imported from India (but not before the laid-off workers were forced to train their replacements). After the story was published, a senator got involved. And yesterday, 35 Disney employees in New York and Burbank who were facing similar fates were told that their layoffs had been canceled. That’s good news!

Let’s pause for a moment and consider the power of investigative journalism. Now let’s consider that on the home page of the Washington Times, which is one of the two papers Justice Antonin Scalia says he reads (the other is the Wall Street Journal), there is absolutely no mention of this Disney story or the Affordable Care Act or Pope Francis. The top story at the moment is this: Green Berets’ Efforts to Take Down ISIS Undermined by Shoddy US Intelligence. Well, at least they are concerned with homeland security, as we would expect with a Moon in Cancer. Nothing about Pope Francis or those other two stories on the WSJ home page, either. The top story: “Greek Central Bank Sees ‘Uncontrollable Crisis’ If Talks Fail.” Another version of homeland security. “I just LOVE uncontrollable crises in banking!” said no one with Moon in Cancer ever.

Where do you get your news?

Meanwhile, I’ve been thinking a lot about one of the Sabian Symbols for that last Full Moon — “a topsy saucily asserting itself”. There was Caitlyn Jenner looking saucy on the cover of Vanity Fair. And yesterday, there was Rachel Dolezal on Today, asserting her identity as a black woman. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Ms. Dolezal (November 12, 1977 in Montana),  is a Scorpio with Moon in righteously opinionated Sagittarius. We don’t have a birth time, but my money says she was born with that Moon in close contact with visionary/illusionist Neptune, and it may well be under the bewildering spell of a Neptune transit now. She has Mars in regal Leo, of which astrologer Grant Lewi notes, “gets away with murder”.  Do you really want to argue with her? Uh-uh. And would you be surprised to see that rebel and eccentric Uranus is running wild in her chart?  Nope. Nor would you be surprised by a contact between Pluto and the Nodal Axis, suggesting a mother-daughter relationship that is quite the power struggle.

That Pluto-Node pattern is under stress from transiting Pluto through the rest of the year. Ms. Dolezal’s Saturn at 29 Leo just got hit by transiting Saturn at 29 Scorpio. That’s no surprise, either. We’d expect to see challenges to the ambitious reach she would have made about seven years ago, when she had her first Saturn return. A Saturn return can be experienced as a new lease on life. It appears to be about seven years ago that Ms. Dolezal began to alter her appearance, so much that others perceived her as African-American.

That pressure from transiting Saturn won’t subside until this fall, when Saturn makes it back to Sagittarius. In August, Ms. Dolezal’s older brother faces charges of child sexual abuse.

Kinda makes you stop and compare all of the trials and tribulations you have in your life right now. Would you really trade them with someone else?

Meanwhile….

I’m expecting plenty of cosmic breakthroughs between now and next week’s easy alignment between Jupiter and Uranus. Here’s one about

…a lost generation of monster stars that ushered light into the universe after the Big Bang and that jump-started the creation of the elements needed for planets and life before disappearing forever.

Cosmic indeed. Always good to end on a high note…

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 6/16/2015: Awesome New Moon in Gemini; Jeb & The Donald on Mars

Alllll-righty then!

A New Moon at 10:05 AM ET in chatterbox Gemini, and into the void it went immediately thereafter. If you’re planting seeds, plant when the Moon enters Cancer at 6:51PM ET tonight (and for the next couple of days). Otherwise enjoy the information buzz and discern which stories are solid and which ones are much ado about nothing. Go with the flow of whatever twists or flakes may detour efforts to move forward in a straight line. Revel in the fresh energy of the New Moon and re-set your intentions for what may well be a dynamic and wish-fulfilling month of action.

Mars is prominent in this New Moon, as it is closely conjunct both the Sun and Moon. Mars is the action hero planet, and you may recall last week’s brief discussion of the driving force it can bring to your life when it transits your horoscope, especially the angles.

We see this drive loud and clear in Jeb Bush’s horoscope, as transiting Mars (and the Sun) hit his Gemini Midheaven  and squared his 23 Virgo Ascendant. He formally declared himself a candidate. How nice for him that transiting Jupiter will enter Virgo later this year and hit those angles in January and August of 2016. Certainly this July should be pleasant, as Venus and Jupiter will make contact with his natal 23 Aquarius Sun-22 Leo Pluto opposition, giving him another opportunity to shine.

We see Mars active in Donald Trump’s horoscope, too. Last week it made contact with his natal 22 Gemini Sun-“here’s my opinion even though you did not ask me for it” 22 Sagittarius Moon. Saturn just squared his regal 29 Leo Ascendant, inspiring an ambitious reach; Jupiter will conjoin his Ascendant in August.  Also in Trump’s chart: authoritative Saturn progressing by solar arc to the Aries Point, suggesting a need for executive authority becoming prominent. Today, during the Moon void in Gemini, Mr. Trump is allegedly announcing his run for office, too. Much ado about nothing? Perhaps, but he’s not going away anytime soon.

In addition to Mars, we see two other patterns in this New Moon that offer the potential for inspiration and reward. One is the third in a series of three trines (easy connections) between cosmic sugar daddy Jupiter and lightning bolt Uranus that began last fall. The other is the third in a series of three squares between mental Mercury and visionary Neptune. The first two bewildering/pixie-dusted challenges happened in May, before and during Mercury’s retrograde. The third happens on June 29th.

What does it all mean for you? I haven’t the foggiest idea….unless I’m looking at your horoscope. Schedule a personal consultation and let’s find out!

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “winter frost in the woods,” and much of what Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee has to say about this image evokes warmth and magic.

Apply this degree pair with a mind for transforming the world, transforming life through inspiration and crystallized standards of integrity…(alternatively)…Ice Queen coldness; casting spells of a prurient nature; a cool social demeanor…burning intensity…branching out to try new talents….

Transforming the world? How wonderful for Pope Francis, who aims to do that later this week…

(Support Blain Bovee’s work. Buy his wonderful book.

Gemini does need to talk. Mars in Gemini energizes a Gemini Sun and Moon.  How fun to see this article about why we talk too much and how we should probably shut up.

You are more personally affected by this potent New Moon if you have a planet or angle at….

Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with the rest of the Free World : )

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 6/15/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

Moon is in Gemini — buzzing around, chatting it up, seeking to be informed. It makes contact with Neptune at 6:59AM ET, so note your dreams. The rest of the day is free and clear of planetary patterns, so there’s little static or other charge to impede your progress, with one caveat. As we are in the dark of the Moon, we may feel listless or restless, sensing that there is a new cycle about to begin. If so, use the energy of the day to wrap up projects started four weeks ago. The New Moon happens Tuesday at 10:05AM ET. Make your wish list a good one. More on that tomorrow.

Moon voids for the week: Tuesday from 10:05AM ET until 6:51PM ET; Friday from 1:52AM – 2:23AM ET. That’s it. Much can be accomplished this week, because the one pattern that is building in strength (exact next Monday morning) is a “sky’s the limit” connection between Jupiter and Uranus — huzzah!

This is the third in a series of Jupiter-Uranus connections that began in September 2014. The second was in early March. Did you start a expansive project in late September? You might be poised to reap a reward if you have a planet or angle around 19 degrees of just about any sign, but especially Aries, Leo and Sagittarius…or if you were born around the 9th of April, August or December. Watch the headlines for fiery and/or cosmic breakthroughs as we get closer to Monday…say, for instance, the miraculous resurrection of the Rosetta spacecraft that’s been hibernating ever since it was launched on a comet’s surface seven months ago.

And now, more news.

Mars pulled focus over the weekend, meeting up with the Sun in Gemini at 11:56AM ET. Mars is firepower, and when connected with the fiery Sun, words like “explosive” and “fighter” can be expected in the headlines.  Exhibit A: “Explosive Intervention by Pope Francis Set to Transform Climate Change Debate”. Indeed, and Pope Francis is publishing his papal letter on the subject on Thursday, on a day with a nurturing Cancer Moon. Most excellent timing.

Exhibit B: in her first big rally on Saturday, Hillary Clinton portrayed herself as “a fighter”. Of course she did. And let the record show that at the scheduled start of the event (at 11:45AM ET on Roosevelt Island in NYC), we see Mercury, ruler of the chart, beautifully placed on the Midheaven, with that fightin’ Sun-Mars meet-up in the 10th house. Mercury is opposed by Saturn (an ambitious reach) and squared by nebulous Neptune (idealism).  Fascinating to note Neptune exactly on the cusp of the 7th (the public),  a similar dose of pixie-dust presented in the event chart for her formal campaign announcement in April. Fascinating to note a lot of patterns in this chart, frankly….

What’s going on in your horoscope?

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 6/12/2015 & The Weekend: Saturn Back in Scorpio; A Bit of Schadenfreude

Roll with any twists you may encounter in your morning routine. The energy of the day slows down and stabilizes once the Moon becomes engaged in Taurus at 10:16AM ET. Taurus needs to build material security and comfort, and those are your marching orders for the day and most of the weekend.

Take care of shopping on Saturday; the Moon does not go void until 6:06PM ET. Chill and enjoy a few stimulating sensual pleasures until 1:51PM ET on Sunday, when the Moon enters Gemini and invites you to talk about it. Why stimulating? Because that would be one productive way to channel the willful and potentially provocative release suggested by Sunday’s exact meet-up between the Sun and action hero Mars at 21 Gemini.

The build-up to that release may well be felt between now and then, especially if you have a planet or angle at 21 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius and Gemini. If an angle is involved, work it out at the gym, not on a human being. I would not be surprised to hear you’re feeling restless, irritable or seriously motivated. Be careful around steel, including motor vehicles.

When Mars hit my Ascendant last year, it inspired me to take up dance classes after a lapse of some years. When Mars hit my natal Mars a few months ago, I sparked a friend’s de-cluttering of her apartment with a zealous focus. There are plenty of positive applications for Mars! The down side of a Mars transit happens when the release of energy is taken out on the body in the form of an accident or illness — often inflammatory in nature. Thus, it is helpful to know when Mars is active in your unique horoscope. Consult your local astrologer for details.

The other pattern of note this weekend is Saturn’s retrograde movement baaaaaaaaaaaaack into Scorpio on Sunday at 8:38PM ET.  So from now until September 18th, we’ll see an uptick in efforts made to resolve the heavy issues raised by Saturn’s transit through Scorpio which began in October of 2012. Resistance is futile.

Scorpio is concerned with issues of power and control, of building all the way to Heaven and all the way down to Hell.  These depths and heights apply in  matters of sex, death and (other peoples’) money. Saturn in Scorpio forces us to face the nitty-gritty consequences of our highest and basest instincts; we can not look away. Significant headlines about reproductive freedom (or lack thereof), sexual abuse, capital punishment and crushing debt are likely to return with a vengeance. Once Saturn turns direct August 1 and gets back to Sagittarius, Saturn’s controlling agenda will be more focused on collective belief systems, righteous opinion and other forms of mind control, including religion, journalism and education.

If you have a planet or angle at around 29 degrees of Scorpio, my money says you are feeling a squeeze to streamline or else. This is an opportunity to formulate an ambitious reach based on that feeling of lack or loss. It’s another life transit that would be helpful to discuss with your astrologer. Barack Obama (whose Midheaven is 28 degrees of Scorpio), that means you. Sir Tim Hunt, we’ll talk about you in a minute.

And now, the news.

First, an update on Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose horoscope we’ve been tracking for a few years now, ever since he was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a chambermaid in a New York hotel. This upset dramatically altered the course of his brilliant career and is an excellent example of a horoscope under pressure from Uranus, Pluto (and Saturn. too).  That pressure is now off, and as noted here some months ago, patterns in his horoscope suggest success and acceptance. Yesterday, as predicted, he was acquitted of charges of pimping. Thank his lucky stars.

Second, Sir Tim Hunt, whose sexist remarks about women scientists caused an uproar earlier this week has resigned his university professorship and inspired a debate in the pages of the New York Times. Let the record show that Sir Hunt — whose horoscope was briefly discussed earlier —  has transiting Saturn exactly square his Sun and opposing his Uranus right now. For Sir Hunt, it’s time to cut his losses and regroup. His expansive and robust Mars-Jupiter opposition is being hit by Uranus and Pluto, suggesting the potential for, among other things, an upset to the status quo involving his need for earthy, practical, no-nonsense action.

Sir Hunt does not always say stupid things. In April he made headlines in India:

SRINAGAR: Nobel laureate Sir Tim Hunt today said any scientist can win a Nobel Prize if he or she is ready to work hard and persevere with research in the chosen field of study.

“Anyone can win the Nobel Prize if the scientist works hard on his research subject,” Hunt told young students, research scholars and faculty members at Kashmir University here.

Oh, if only he actually had said “his or her”…

Meanwhile, Neptune. It refers to drugs, fraud, music, film, spirits and oceans, for starters. Look at the headlines — filled with such stories. Actors Christopher Lee and Ron Moody passed away, as did jazz great Ornette Coleman. In New York, a psychic is behind bars after taking over $700,000 from a man who wished to be “reunited” with an unrequited love, even when it turned out that the love interest had died.

I once went to a storefront “psychic” as a research project. As the linked article notes, most of the time these storefronts are empty. How do they make a living with such a high overhead, when their advertised walk-in fees are five or ten dollars? I had to find out for myself.

The psychic made some valid observations. But there was so more she could do to help me, she said. And this involved potions and herbs she could gather — blah blah blah — to break spells and such — for additional — heftier — fees. I was absolutely fascinated. And I said thanks, but no thanks, and left, with my wallet intact.

Speaking of possible deceptions, have you heard about Rachel Dolezal, the civil rights activist who has been accused by her parents of misrepresenting herself as an African-American? It raises an interesting question about unconventional ego-identity (thank you, freaky Uranus in me-me-me Aries), doesn’t it?  Because if Caitlyn Jenner and others like her can convincingly and credibly identify as female despite having been born with a Y chromosome, might I declare myself Hispanic (as Jeb Bush once did) despite my English-Italian-Russian genes? Why or why not?

Meanwhile, the latest leak of the so fabulous that we’re not going to let anyone read it until it gets signed even though it will impact everyone Trans-Pacific Partnership is out. This section pertains to drug companies and public health. You have heard about the TPP, yes?

Update: for those who watched yesterday’s linked video of John Oliver railing about how bail is set in our criminal justice system, note that country singer Randy Howard was killed yesterday by a bounty hunter….

…while in Zimbabwe, a celebrated bounty hunter of another sort was crushed to death by a baby elephant. That’s your schadenfreude for the weekend.

Thank you for reading this forecast.