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you here. "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."
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Good Morning!
East Coasters and anyone in the Free World who is traveling today, be advised that Mercury — which in the language of astrology symbolizes travel, communication, tech gizmos and information (among other things) — is stationary direct. In other words, from our perspective on Spaceship Earth, the planet Mercury appears to be at a standstill in the sky (stationary) and will begin to move forward (direct) at 4:50PM ET. In the language of astrology, this suggests a time to be especially focused in matters of communication, because of a higher than average probability of glitches and tech snafus, especially if you have a planet or angle at 14 degrees of Aries, Capricorn, Cancer or Libra.
Thanks to Avid Reader Marc who wanted to make sure I did not miss this CBS News piece with physicist Michio Kaku explaining Mercury in retrograde. I was delighted to see Mr. Kaku use the same analogy I use in lectures to explain the optical illusion of Mercury moving backwards. I adore his books, but frankly, his understanding of astrology leaves much to be desired. Next time, oh CBS Morning News Director, why not invite a professional astrologer to explain Mercury in retrograde to your viewers.
But wait, there’s more — on this Monday after a record-breaking Snowzilla blanketed much of the East Coast and turned the weekend into a full-blown Full Moon in Leo fiesta. At 9:51 PM ET on Sunday, said Leo Moon went void…not to enter Virgo until 10:46PM ET. Got that? Mercury changing direction and a void of course Moon — all in one day. If you happened to sleep in, you could probably do so without consequence.
If you are doing business, just know that efforts to move forward in a straight line during Moon voids are subject to more than the usual detours and delays. Go with the flow — don’t make a mountain out of a molehill and chill, chill, CHILL! Stick to routine matters and see if you can enjoy the slow wandering energy. But with Mercury changing direction, do double check the details. Make sure you understand what is said. Be especially mindful when traveling from Point A to Point B.
Once the Moon enters Virgo late Monday night, the need to set things right pulls focus all through Tuesday and Wednesday. Moon goes void again at 7:11PM ET on Wednesday, entering Libra at 9:59AM ET on Thursday.
On Friday, the Moon makes its weekly clash with Uranus and Pluto, which may be unsettling for relationships (Libra needs to be ever-so people-pleasing). At 8:34PM ET, Moon goes void until 10:50PM ET on Saturday. More big chill.
Saturday and Sunday feature the third super-charged contact among Mercury, Uranus and Pluto. If you liked last week, you’ll love this week. Did you hear about the cow on the loose just down the road in Queens? It was a break for freedom and escape from certain death at a nearby slaughterhouse. The cow was captured and then given a Mercury in retrograde REprieve — a new home in a New Jersey animal shelter, along with a new name: Freddie Mercury. But of course. Thanks to Avid Reader Jennifer for sending the link. Hope your day goes as well as Freddie Mercury’s.
I’m on the road today. I will be going with the flow and chilling out. I’ll let you know if I encounter any Moon-void and/or Mercury stationary direct twists along the way. Meanwhile, if you’d like to schedule a personal consultation, here’s how to contact me.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
The Gemini Moon went void while most of you were sleeping early Thursday — between 3:01 AM ET and 8:28AM ET. If your morning comes with an odd twist or flake in your efforts to move forward in a straight line, mind the void and do not make a mountain out of a molehill of perceived crisis. Chill!
Once the Moon enters Cancer, it flows without interruption for the rest of the day, seeking to fulfill its focus on emotional/family/homeland security needs. Rose-colored visions and other dreamy escapes may be facilitated in the evening, as the Moon trines Neptune at 10:53 PM. On Friday, the Cancer Moon is less flowing, making it weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus at 12:34PM ET and 2:32PM ET, respectively. Also clashing with Pluto (on Friday at 5:04AM ET) and Uranus (yesterday at 1:28PM ET): mental Mercury (retrograde), suggesting tech and cosmic revelations, volatile communications and dirty dirt revealed. Emotional sensitivity is suggested by a Cancer Moon. Be kind.
Meanwhile, happy birthday to Aquarius! The Sun entered this airy (mental), fixed (organizing) sign on Wednesday at 10:28AM ET. Keywords for Aquarius include innovation, eccentricity, friendship, humanitarian, unconventional, rocket scientist and/or mad genius. If you were born with the Sun in Aquarius, you have the energy to innovate and intellectualize with others. If your Moon is in Aquarius, you need to be socially significant — and dare I say appreciated for it. You probably need to be unusual, too. Sarah Palin was born with the Sun in Aquarius, along with Mars and Saturn…
…which brings us to the news.
Yes, the woman least likely to receive an honorary degree in English from any university in the known universe is back, just in time for transiting Venus in rowdy, foot-in-mouth Sagittarius to make contact with her natal Venus at 0 degrees of warrior Aries. I’m kvelling as I type! The NYT is striving mightily to translate whatever words Sarah Palin was trying to say on Tuesday night, as she endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential run in Iowa. It’s interesting that her words are such a focus during this Mercury retrograde, as Mercury turned retrograde at 0 Aquarius, just one degree shy of her natal Mercury at 1 Aquarius.
I’m not surprised that Ms. Palin would hitch her star to Mr. Trump, given the Ivana Trump-inspired updo she sported for years. Nor I am surprised by the empowering reach for ego-recognition and reward, with transiting Uranus and Pluto making contact with Ms. Palin’s Jupiter (reward, expansion) in me-me-me Aries. Pluto-Jupiter patterns suggest power and resources. Are we surprised to learn that she’d love love love to be President Trump’s Secretary of Energy? Pluto will continue to amplify her Jupiter through 2016. She’s definitely baaaaaaaaaaack!
Meanwhile, thanks to Avid Reader Lucy, who wanted to make sure I did not miss this Big Cosmic Revelation: researchers at CalTech have found evidence of a ninth planet in our solar system, with a “bizarre, highly elongated orbit” around the Sun. It will be interesting to see what our collective consciousness names our newly-discovered neighbor. Because if you want to know where you’re at, look at who you’re with.
In other quirky tech news, there’s a new “world’s largest prime number” in town — with 22 million digits.
This week we’ve seen plenty of revelations in communications, reflecting the potential of Mercury retrograde (bringing back past issues for REview), supercharged by Uranus and Pluto. A public inquiry has concluded that a former Russian spy who was poisoned in London back in 2006 was “probably” done so by order of Vladimir Putin. I last wrote about Mr. Putin here.
In the category of more dirt released, we learn that some of Mrs. Clinton’s world-famous emails contained information that was more than just “top secret”. Meanwhile, Michigan governor Rick Snyder released emails strongly suggesting that state officials were in a state of dismissive denial over complaints from residents of Flint that their water was not safe to drink.
Elsewhere, California announced efforts to dig up dirt on whether ExxonMobil lied (for years) about what it did and did not know about climate change and the impact of oil production upon it….as it was announced that 2015 was the hottest year on record. Finally, bewildering dirt on Marco Rubio, expressing the wretched excess and pixie-dust potential of last weekend’s Venus-Jupiter square, combined with a Mars-Neptune trine. That’s what some might say about the details of Bernie Sanders‘ Medicare-for-all health care plan, also released in recent days. Judge it for yourself.
Markets are volatile this week. Will write about that another time, but here is a useful perspective from the NYT…and here, too.
Finally, from Canada: 500 voices singing in unison David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”. Just because…and also because the Sabian Symbol for the New Moon at 20 Capricorn – “a hidden choir singing” — is still on my mind.
Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Allll– righty then!
I was under the weather early last week. Then I got over it. Then played catch-up. You? I hope you enjoyed the material/sensual comforts and joys suggested by the weekend’s Mooooooon in Taurus — that would have been Sunday and Monday. It was aided and abetted by a excessively indulgent or wretchedly excessive challenge between Venus and Jupiter early Monday morning. Well?
Today’s Moon is brought to you by information junkie Gemini, through which it will sojourn as of 4:13AM ET. The only exact aspect we’ll have during the work day happens at 6:10PM ET, between the talk talk talk Gemini Moon and dreamy Neptune. Are you sure you got that story straight? Moon-Neptune challenges can be so confusing, anxious or visionary. Hard to think about…easier to feel…
On Wednesday, the Sun exits earthy Capricorn and enters humanitarian Aquarius at 10:28AM ET. Watch for emotions to rise as we approach the Full Moon in Leo, exact on Saturday at 8:46PM ET. Look for matters of social expression, women, finance and aesthetic values to seek prominence the closer we get to Saturday, which is also when Venus will be at the Aries Point (seeking prominence!), leaving high-flying Sagittarius for blue-blooded Capricorn.
Otherwise, mental Mercury — still in retrograde — drives the week as it challenges Uranus on Wednesday at 1:28PM ET and then meets up with potent Pluto at 5:04AM ET on Friday. This is the second of three in a series of Mercury-Uranus-Pluto clashes. The first one happened on December 20-21st. Here’s what was driving the headlines back then. Watch for similar themes this week and over the weekend of January 29th-31st, when we’ll have this supercharged blast of information/communication in the tech/space/cosmic sphere repeating. If you have a planet or point around 17 degrees of Aries, Capricorn, Cancer or Libra, you’re more personally affected than others. Elizabeth Warren falls into this category — and even more so next month. Hmmm.
There are no Moon voids this week to derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line during business hours in the Americas. So keep on REorganizng, REconnecting, RE searching, REviewing, REtreating and RElaxing in this last full week of Mercury retrograde in Capricorn. Focus on those practical details in your quest for world domination. Here are the voids, for you night owls and people living on the other side of the planet: Tuesday 1:50AM ET – 4:13AM ET; Thursday 3:01AM – 8:28AM ET; Saturday 1:21AM – 2:21PM ET.
And now, the news — catching up on a whole week’s worth.
DAVID BOWIE. Thanks to Avid Reader Diane, who emailed to tell me that rumor had it that the Moon was exact on Mr. Bowie’s 3 degree Aquarius when he transitioned. And this happened to be the moment when I was writing this:
Overall, planetary patterns this week are quite buoyant, compared to last week’s jolts and power plays. The song that comes to mind is “If You Want to Sing Out (Sing Out)” from the cult classic Harold and Maude (which does not star that drug lord dude Martin Shkreli, fyi — do not confuse him with actor Bud Cort). And wasn’t there something about singing in the symbolism of Saturday’s New Moon?
And then I woke up like everyone else and was so saddened by Mr. Bowie’s departure, perfectly timed as it was, but seemingly way too soon. But the whole world was united in tribute, and it was so refreshing to see nothing but Bowie songs and memes in the headlines and social media that day, as opposed to the Usual Suspects. I went to his Facebook page and the first thing I saw was a note of sympathy from Cat Stevens, who wrote “If You Want to Sing Out (Sing Out)”. I marveled at the synchronicity. Coincidence or conspiracy?
The public was unaware that Mr. Bowie was diagnosed with cancer eighteen months ago, but we do see in his horoscope that a big stretch of time before those 18 months was marked by a potentially bewildering Neptune transit. Neptune tends to dissolve what it touches, and can sap one’s vitality. I thought it was fitting that Mr. Bowie, who had the Sun and Mars together in the deeply private 12th house, would have slipped away to his next adventure in the dark of the lunar cycle. Another suggestion of emotional reserve, discipline and constantly regenerating public image: the Leo Moon conjunct taskmaster Saturn, which is in turn conjunct Pluto. That can pack a powerful punch.
Mr. Bowie was a Capricorn — driven by a regal Moon in Leo, exact on the cusp of the 7th house, which refers to the public. This is hardcore business acumen that needs to put on a show, connecting ever-so-personally with the public, even while keeping to himself. His Aquarius Ascendant needs to present a humanitarian face — quirky, innovative, eccentric, rebellious. His Venus is in Sagittarius, suggesting an aesthetic that needs to express its opinion and push boundaries. Venus is right at the top of the chart — potentially loved by all. This Venus-Midheaven meet-up is also in an obsessive-compulsive quindecile with weird, wild Uranus, another suggestion of the need for constant ch-ch-changes (turn and face the strange).
And how does his mind need to function? With the extreme earthy practicality of Mercury in Capricorn, supercharged by a square from visionary Neptune. It’s no surprise that the last 18 months of his life was “a burst of creativity”. Transiting Uranus would have channeled electric energy to Mr. Bowie’s Sun-Mars conjunction at 16 and 17 degrees of Capricorn. Transiting Saturn hitting the Midheaven three times in 2015 suggests a man who needs to be at the top of his game. His final album, Blackstar, went straight to #1 — a first for him. No surprises here. Now he has his own constellation.
What’s fascinating to me is that at the time of his transition, planetary patterns reflected qualities Mr. Bowie exemplified. Go back and read the Sneak Peek at the Week and you’ll see what I mean.
RUPERT MURDOCH & JERRY HALL GET ENGAGED. We had an easy connection between Venus (women) in Sagittarius (big, bold, brassy, boundary-pushing) and Uranus (eccentric) in Aries at the start of last week. A few days before, Venus met up with Saturn. Venus refers to women and social affection. Saturn refers to old people. Isn’t that wild? Mr. Murdoch’s Jupiter is conjunct Miss Hall’s Cancer Sun. Of course he’d be her biggest fan. No comment about their first meeting last summer, which may have happened while Venus was retrograde. Time will tell.
ALAN RICKMAN. News of Mr. Rickman’s passing hit on a day with Moon in soulful, suffering Pisces. Oh, no — not another light departing far too soon! The Capricorn Sun was conjunct Mercury — fried by the light. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, a planet suggesting authority, depression and austerity. Black is its color. Severus Snape, one of Mr. Rickman’s best-loved personas, perhaps expresses this Pisces/Capricorn vibe. What do you think?
We do not have an exact time of birth for Mr. Rickman. He was a Pisces, with Moon possibly in deep, dark, moody bastard Scorpio. Here is his horoscope.
MOON VOID MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: And here, we’d be talking about that “crisis” last Tuesday, when Certain People were freaking out about the two U.S. Navy boats which were detained by Iran. The crews were released on Wednesday. They said they had made a “a navigational error”. Thanks, Mercury retrograde!
STATE OF THE UNION. President Obama has been in a visionary, healing, soulful frame of mind — as noted in earlier forecasts. Last week’s SOTU — his final one — began with the Moon in soulful, etc. Pisces — and with nebulous Neptune right on the angles of the chart. What did we hear? Super-big dreams, including plans to find a cure for cancer. And why not? The speech was derided by Obama’s critics as total pie-in-the-sky. As we might expect.
UPDATE ON KIM DAVIS. There she was — feeling the love as anticipated — at the State of the Union. Astrology is amazing.
REPUBLICAN DEBATE. The following night, Neptune was once again on the angles of the chart for the latest smackdown. Moon was also in Pisces, but was void until 9:48PM ET, when it charged into me-me-me warrior Aries. War and me-me-me was pretty much the extent of it, with some pundits noting the combative tone and punches allegedly scored. Other derided the content as total pie-in-the-sky.
Senator Ted Cruz was especially called out over his denouncement of “New York values,” which is fascinating given that his wife works for Goldman Sachs (and his senatorial campaign was apparently financed with at least one loan from GS, as we discovered last week.) The NY Daily News was not amused, and went to press with this boundary-pushing front page headline. And since I live in New York and found Mr. Cruz’s denouncement especially mean-spirited, I invite you to review the memories his freshman roommate — now a successful screenwriter — has been tweeting for several years. In contrast, Senator Cruz’s current roommate seems to adore him. This concludes the entertainment portion of this forecast.
DEMOCRATIC DEBATE. It happened on Sunday, on a holiday weekend, which is when every political party wants to schedule a debate so as to attract maximum viewership, right? And the last debate was on the Saturday right before Christmas. What do you make of this strategy?
The debate began at 9PM, same as the other events noted above — so same Neptune pixie-dust sprinkled around, but with a Taurus Moon. Taurus seeks material comfort and security, along with preserving the status quo. Fascinating to note Secretary Clinton making a case for said status quo, praising Barack Obama’s accomplishments effusively. Senator Sanders made quite an impression among the limited viewership, which you can see in the headlines. Having transiting Venus in a supportive aspect to his Venus and Mars, along with a likely transiting Mercury supercharging his pioneering Aries Moon, we can appreciate why. There are other patterns supporting his expanded public reach, as we might expect.
THE END OF AL-JAZEERA AMERICA. This news network attracted plenty of attention when it launched on August 20, 2013. The concept was to report the news with remarkable depth and sobriety. The launch date has a regal Leo Sun, driven by Moon in Aquarius, striving for social significance and a humanitarian agenda. Fascinating that it has a Sagittarius Ascendant, given that Al-Jazeera is owned by Qatar (Sagittarius refers to foreigners). Alas, this big ideal (Moon is conjunct Neptune in the launch chart) failed, and its demise was announced soon after stern Saturn crossed Al-Jazeera’s Ascendant, putting the squeeze on its identity. It will reportedly go off the air in April, around the time that Neptune also hits its Ascendant, wiping it out.
COSMIC: between January 20th and February 20th, all five visible planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — will in fact be visible to the naked eye. This hasn’t happened since 2004. With Mercury so prominent in planetary patterns this week and next, perhaps we’ll see a glut of information finally in plain sight.
GLENN FREY. One of the founding members of The Eagles departed on a day with Moon in sensual Taurus, with Venus and Jupiter in an indulgent square. Mars and Neptune are in an easy and seductive flow. Sounds like a backdrop for “Hotel California”. Mr. Frey wrote the
…imagistic, vaguely mystical lyrics…hint [ing] at a drug-fueled state of being, perhaps promising rapture, perhaps not…
Here’s a live performance from 1977. Seems like only yesterday. Mr Frey had Sun in Scorpio; Moon in Capricorn. RIP — and enough music legends passing for one month, yes?
Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Good Morning!
The day is driven by a humanitarian Moon in Aquarius, well-supported by cooperative input from Saturn (structure), Venus (social graces) and Uranus (innovation). Arise, go forth and network. Plant seeds. If it’s an initiative you’d like to pitch, be advised that the Moon is more focused and engaged today than it will be tomorrow. Moon goes void at 8:09PM ET, not to enter Pisces until 6:53PM ET TUESDAY.
Moon voids suggests a higher flake factor, when efforts to move forward in a straight line are subject to space-outs, twists and/or a general sense of meh. Roll with the delays and detours and pledge now not to freak out at a perceived crisis. It’s likely much ado about nothing. We’ll have another long void on Thursday between 11:31AM ET and 9:48PM ET. Watch and learn.
Overall, planetary patterns this week are quite buoyant, compared to last week’s jolts and power plays. The song that comes to mind is “If You Want to Sing Out (Sing Out)” from the cult classic Harold and Maude (which does not star that drug lord dude Martin Shkreli, fyi — do not confuse him with actor Bud Cort). And wasn’t there something about singing in the symbolism of Saturday’s New Moon?
On Tuesday, Venus (money, social expression, women, beauty) is in alignment with Uranus (innovation, technology, eccentrics, rebels, astrologers). A woman could be your best friend this week. Your sense of aesthetics might favor the unconventional. On Wednesday, the highlight is the Sun’s easy alignment with expansive Jupiter at 5:49PM ET. NOW will we have a winner in the record-breaking Powerball lottery, whose jackpot is now over $1 billion and sure to soar even higher? It would seem to be in synch with planetary patterns.
Idealism and big thoughts are suggested on Thursday, when mental Mercury meets up with the Sun and aligns with Jupiter. Good fortune or too much of a good thing are suggested over the weekend as Venus squares off with Jupiter right after midnight next Monday. A liberal dose of pixie-dust is suggested by Mars in an easy alignment with Neptune a few hours later. Sweet seductions or snake oil?
Keep in mind that Mercury is still retrograde as you go about your business. Double check the details thrice; don’t sweat the tech snafus and don’t believe everything you hear on the news.
Speaking of which…the news:
File this under events flying under the radar (suitable for New Moons and dead Moons, when there is little light). El Chapo, the Mexican drug lord who escaped from prison (for the second time) last year, was recaptured, after a dramatic pursuit involving sewers and sex motels. How was he found? Seems that a clandestine interview he gave to actor Sean Penn in October may have had something to do it. Mr. Penn’s piece was published in Rolling Stone on Saturday, a day after El Chapo was arrested.
Why Sean Penn? Naturally I had to look at his horoscope, and noticed immediately that transiting Jupiter squared Penn’s Sagittarius Ascendant in September. It was square to his natal Jupiter at 23 Sagittarius last month and this month, expanding on themes related to publishing, travel and appearing larger than life. Remember how we were talking last week about how people with planets around 22 Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces would be personally affected by Jupiter turning retrograde at 22 Virgo?
Meanwhile, lots of stories reflecting the sober themes of Saturn (chill, reality, time, aging, ambition) meeting up with Venus (money, women, beauty, values). In the NYT, it was practically the whole Sunday Review section. “It’s Payback Time for Women,” makes a case for why a civilized nation should consider paying every citizen a basic salary to compensate him or her for (mostly) mothering, nurturing, caregiving, etc. Fun water cooler debate: why is it OK that a First Lady receives no salary for the work she does on behalf of the country?
Then there was a piece extolling the virtues of being a single woman, bemoaning the “lack of models for how to construct a life outside of coupledom”; then there was an annoyed bit about the fuss paid to Carrie Fisher over how she has aged in the nearly 40-years since her Star Wars debut; followed by a third called “You Don’t Need More Free Time“; and finally, “Be Happy: Think About Your Death“.
In other news…
It’s been almost five years since Neptune began its 14 year journey through Pisces, which it had not entered since 1848. Back in 2012, I anticipated that water would become a hot button concern, along with toxins, chemicals and poisons — all Neptune keywords. On the cover of the NYT Sunday magazine is a piece about Rob Bilott, a lawyer who has worked for years against DuPont, exposing “a brazen, decades-long history of chemical pollution,” especially in the drinking water in West Virginia. Ever hear of PFOA?
Toxins in the water came to a head last week in Flint, Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency nearly two years after an apparent cost-cutting measure poisoned the city’s water. Flint native Michael Moore penned a sharp letter outlining the situation, calling for Governor Snyder’s arrest. How interesting to note that in Mr. Moore’s horoscope, his Jupiter is being squared by transiting Jupiter right now — like Sean Penn. We’d expect an intense buzz in mindset and communication all last fall and into the spring, suggested by other patterns — helpful if you’re promoting a new film (which he is).
I wrote about Mr. Moore’s horoscope in 2012, focusing on the time he was elected to the local school board at age eighteen. Looking at his horoscope now, 2013 and 2014 looked like challenging years for him personally, starting with his second Saturn return. There were other challenging measurements, too — and for Mr. Moore, the outcome was a divorce.
Saturn returns — which occur for everyone just before age 30 and 60 — are usually intense periods of focus on what is working in life and what isn’t. There is definitely an upside. If you’re about to turn 29 or 59, I’d happy to tell you more about it. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
This just in — happy day! Leonardo Di Caprio just won Best Actor for his performance in The Revenant, which also won Best Picture at the Golden Globes. Two years ago I was thinking that 2015 would be an excellent year for Mr. Caprio, and the patterns continue into 2016. Astrology is amazing.
Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with the rest of Free World.
A slow start or twist your morning if you live on the East Coast, as the Moon will void until 10:07AM ET. After that, the energy of the day is fully engaged in Capricorn, a sign that needs to push things forward in tangible, earthy, top-of-the-mountain form. Oh, but Mercury is retrograde. Oh, but it’s end of the lunar cycle. No matter. Use this practical energy to review and clean up your desk, in preparation for the New Moon which happens at 8:30PM ET on Saturday.
Speaking of practical, on Friday, Mercury backs up in Capricorn, needing to think in more concrete terms than airy Aquarius might prefer. Capricorn needs to think about how to use things — and people, too. Something to consider until February 13th, which is when Mercury finally moves ahead into Aquarius. Also on Friday — 11:11PM ET, Venus meets up with Saturn. This adds to the no-nonsense Capricorn vibe (Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn), as money, women, aesthetics and other forms of social expression are likely streamlined and serious.
On Saturday, Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus — and 1:40PM and 3:58PM ET. Perhaps few upsets during the day — and a power play or two, likely behind closed doors (in the dark of the Moon), in the form of people pushing to make a point. There’s no Moon void to discourage your shopping endeavors, though electronics are not the optimal purchase while Mercury is retrograde.
A New Moon offers us an opportunity to re-set intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle. Light a candle; make a list. Around the 16th, 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 January 23rd, 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 31st, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon on February 8th.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is intriguing: “a hidden choir singing”. Hooray for Sabian Symbol Blain Bovee to paint a picture of how this Symbol might be reflected in your own personal world and in the news during this lunar cycle. “Many voices raised in song, hidden from view,” he notes. And how should we apply it? “With a mind to the hidden, alluring powers of sublime singing…[including) blissful joys and destructive potentials of intoxicating reveries and revelries”. Are the singers angels or knaves? Should you be tempted by their siren song? I’ll keep an eye out for headline stories and keep you posted.
On Sunday the Capricorn Moon will be void between 12:39PM and 3:23PM ET. No impulse shopping during those hours, but returning things during Moon voids can be a breeze. No sleeping in on Monday. The Aquarius Moon needs you to reach out to everyone in your database, in the spirit of Mercury retrograde REconnecting. Astrology is an Aquarian thing — did you know that? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
And now, the news.
Here’s an interesting headline about an under-the-radar gathering suitable for a Dead Moon, especially in the wake of Thursday’s Sun-Uranus (technogeek) square. “Revealed: White House Seeks to Enlist Silicon Valley to ‘Disrupt Radicalization‘”. Well…sort of under-the-radar now. Speaking of tech, the Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Vegas, where Edward Snowden made a guest appearance — “in disguise,” naturally. Of course he did, with a flurry of transits this week among Venus, Uranus, Mercury, Sun and the Sun/Moon midpoint in his horoscope. Surprise! There a few other measurements suggesting a public outreach this week. So fascinating. Astrology is amazing.
Elsewhere, another disruption of the status quo — and it’s big: “New Study Provides the Strongest Case Yet That the Planet Has Entered a New Geological Epoch”. Meanwhile, the markets are still volatile…and streamlining, perhaps suggested by Friday night’s meet-up between Venus and Saturn. In the U.S., gun stocks are soaring. Next week patterns are less volatile, more optimistic. Let’s see what happens.
So much more — but it’s time to ship this off. Closing with some fun feedback from Avid Reader Karen, who wasn’t buying The Atlantic’s REvised choice of Saturn as the “best planet,” displacing Jupiter:
No. Just no. Jupiter is fun (says all seven of my planets in Leo). Saturn is a wet blanket and worse. Don’t let all those rings ‘n things, sparkles and ethereal colors fool you! It’s a disguise for a mean old man trying to make himself look young!
Speaking of sparkles and ethereal colors disguising a…man brings to mind that Venus (fashion, beauty) -Saturn (old man) meet-up later tonight, just in time for the NYT to present an essay on men’s fashion….and for Marco Rubio to be universally lambasted for the shiny new high-heeled boots he’s been sporting since Christmas. Cue Right Said Fred now, please….and call the Fashion Police. Have a great weekend!
Keep calm and carry on, regardless of the startling revelation or upset that may greet you upon waking, as rebel Uranus squares the Sun in Capricorn, sign of the Establishment at 7:22 AM ET. Oh, and that would be several hours after a sobering meet-up between the Moon and Saturn. Someone wings may soon be clipped.
Overall the day has an optimistic and innovative flair, courtesy of the high-flying Sagittarius Moon in easy alignment with technogeek Uranus (at 9:28 AM ET) and boosted by Jupiter at 9:44PM ET. More boundaries pushed?
Yes and no. At 11:40PM ET, Jupiter — planet of expansion and reward — joins Mercury in a seemingly-backward trek across the sky. In your own personal world, Jupiter retrograde can put a hold on expansion. In Virgo, which refers to the need for perfection, organization and microscopic details, it suggests you turn inward and reconsider plans for growth, making sure they are in synch with this ideal of perfect form. As Jupiter turns retrograde at 23 degrees of Virgo, you’ll feel this shift more personally if you have a planet or angle at 23 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini and Sagittarius. Jupiter will turn direct on May 9th at 13 degrees of Virgo. Jeb Bush has his Ascendant at 23 Virgo. Hillary Clinton has her Moon at 22 Pisces. Bernie Sanders has his North Node at 23 Virgo and his Sun at 15 Virgo. I expect Senator Sanders will be on quite an expansive, potentially electrifying track in June, when Jupiter conjoins his Sun and Uranus opposes his Venus and meets up with his Mars.
Note that the Moon goes void at 9:44PM ET, not to enter Capricorn until 10:07AM ET on Friday. Also note that we are in the dark of the Moon, a time to wrap up projects initiated last month, or just do something you’d prefer to keep under the radar. The last days of the lunar cycle can have a listless, restless feel. We know something is coming, but we don’t know what. It can be challenging to stay focused, given that Mercury is retrograde, but focus is what you must do if you have to be on the clock.
And now, the news.
Lots of power plays and upsets, as we would expect. Markets are still volatile. They closed lower yesterday as oil (power/resources/Pluto) was down and China was a worry. Markets in China plunged 7% early Thursday, until a breaker halted trading (second time this week). That’s certainly disruptive. I wrote about China about a month ago — here. In California, another story about oil and gas reached a crisis point:
“This is one of the most disruptive, catastrophic environmental events that I’ve seen. It’s a truly chaotic crisis.”
“This” would be a natural gas leak in Los Angeles, which has forced the evacuation of hundreds of families since October. Meanwhile, TransCanada, the company that hoped to bring you the Keystone XL pipeline, filed a suit against the U.S. after the project was squashed last year. Or, as The Washington Times reports, “filed suit against the Obama Administration,” accompanied by a photo of President Obama looking as if he has just swallowed a subpoena. The Washington Times is one of Justice Antonin Scalia’s favorite newspapers. The other one is the Wall Street Journal. Where do you get your news?
Random sports headline, expressing the shocking potential of Sun square Uranus, empowered by Pluto: “A Star Who Gave the Mets a Jolt, and Not Just at the Plate”. It’s about catcher Mike Piazza, who has Sun at 13 Virgo, Jupiter at 15 Virgo and Pluto at 22 Virgo. Transiting Jupiter must be working its cosmic sugar daddy potential. Mr. Piazza retired from baseball years ago; he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame.
UPDATE: after North Korea claimed it detonated a hydrogen bomb (reported during Tuesday’s Moon void), the U.S. says it’s much ado about nothing. Interesting, eh?
File under “Mercury retrograde, bringing back issues from the past”: in Alabama, Chief Justice Roy Moore ordered a halt to same-sex marriage licenses. Justice Moore made headlines on this same issue almost a year ago. Really, Justice Moore? Really? Elsewhere, it was an upset for Brian Encinia, the police officer who arrested Sandra Bland in July. A grand jury indicted him on charges of perjury. You may remember the disturbing video of Mr. Encinia arresting Ms. Bland after a traffic stop. She was found hanged in her jail cell three days later. I wrote about correlating planetary patterns here.
At the moment, the top story on the Washington Times reports that after 57 tries, the Republican House successfully voted Wednesday to repeal Obamacare. The bill also defunded Planned Parenthood, and President Obama will veto it. Earlier this week, the NYT ran a lengthy piece about how the Affordable Care Act is not proving to be affordable for many, many citizens — well worth the read. In 2017 we could see some groundbreaking legislative efforts…but which way those efforts go will depend on who’s elected to the House in November. A president can’t do everything by herself or himself. If you don’t vote, somebody else will.
Let’s close with some groundbreaking news from the cosmos: “Visible Light from Blackholes Detected for the First Time.” Oh – and just in time for Jupiter to turn retrograde, a REthinking of its status from The Atlantic: “A Major Correction”
We recently published an article naming Jupiter “the best planet.” As everyone knows, Saturn is the best planet. We regret the error.
Coincidence or conspiracy?
What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Alll-righty then!
Writing this during Tuesday’s 13-hour Moon void in Scorpio, looking forward to the lift I expect we’ll all feel once the Moon enters Sagittarius at 1:56AM ET on Wednesday. If you are new to this forecast (welcome!) and are not familiar with the term “Moon void” or “void of course Moon,” here’s a lengthy explanation of what it is and why it is helpful to know about them.
A Sagittarius Moon needs to express its righteous opinion. It can be blunt, coarse and brutally honest. It needs to push boundaries and expand horizons with great enthusiasm, and it’s always up for a gamble or a gambol. Fun Moon-in-Sagittarius activities include catching a foreign film, getting out in nature, engaging in a spirited philosophical debate. At 4:40pm ET, when the Moon is squared by fuzzy Neptune, you may find yourself contemplating a dreamy escape. A harmonious aspect between the Moon and Venus at 7:54PM ET bodes well for social enjoyment, rustic as it may be.
A push for empowerment and emancipation may be on your plate, courtesy of late Tuesday night’s meet-up between the Sun and Pluto at 10:26PM ET. The emancipation or other disruption of the status quo may be experienced as an upset or revelation between now and 7:22AM ET on Thursday, as the Sun squares Uranus. Certainly we’ll see it in the headlines….and oh, look — it’s 9:48PM — and this breaking news just hit the home page of The Guardian: “North Korean Nuclear Test Suspected as ‘Artificial Earthquake’ Detected”. Amazing how that works. If the Moon weren’t void, I might freak out about it. I think I’ll chill instead.
Meanwhile…
President Obama was right on schedule Tuesday morning, announcing his efforts to do something — anything — to curb gun deaths. What got noticed? The fact that President Obama spoke through tears, which we would expect. Why? His Venus in emotionally sensitive Cancer — running wild and at the Aries Point. His caring nature needs to be prominent, and with a measurement to Venus from soulful Neptune, we would not be surprised to witness still more prominent displays of compassion and empathy from him this year. Others may be numbed out by the violence, but he can’t be, given what’s going on in his horoscope. We can expect more sweeping initiatives this year, suggested by other patterns noted in Monday’s forecast.
The good folks at the Guardian have put together a useful chart where you can find out the number of gun deaths in your electoral district in the past year, and how your elected representatives are rated by the NRA. Mine all got an F, with $0 in campaign contributions from the NRA. Yours?
Closing with a quirky fashion piece that reflects the empowered potential of the Sun’s meet-up with Pluto, combined with the aesthetic ideal of Neptune square Venus. What does one wear to a power lunch? The NYT has the story — live from New York’s famous — and soon to close — power lunch spot, The Four Seasons.
And if you do check out the Four Seasons piece, you might see — out of the corner of your eye — this one, from a few months ago: “Armani and Missoni: In the Shadow of the Supermoon”. And if you happen to read the first few lines of that story, you will snorf.
MILAN — Milan Fashion Week came to a close just after a total lunar eclipse, the sort that indicates heavenly bodies in perfect alignment. As portents go, it doesn’t get much better than that.
The clothes, however, did not quite live up to the — well, astronomical implications. All that new energy everyone kept talking about during the week? It got a boost from a gently calibrated, Balthus-inspired Arthur Arbesser show, full of youthful (but not naïve) florals and tone-on-tone ghostly cat prints, but mostly felt gone with the blood moon.
Instead, Milan ended in retrograde.
Did you snorf?
I can’t even….
Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Lots of action in the cosmos, as outlined in detail in yesterday’s forecast. Refer to that for the specifics.
It occurred to me yesterday morning that an apt term for the potential of this week would be “a hot mess,” especially when I found this explanation of its origin and evolution. My spies are reporting having experiences that are truly sublime and empowering, as well as utterly bewildering. Both kinds of experiences in the same time period. High highs. Low lows. It is fascinating.
How was your day yesterday? Wall Street was messy, as expected. Market volatility has manifested consistently whenever a planet — this week it is the Sun — has made challenging contact with Uranus and Pluto. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg announced his New Year’s resolution on Facebook. His personal goal for 2016 is to develop a robot that will serve as butler for his home. He plans to do the coding himself. A modest goal after learning Mandarin in 2010. How many creative messes will he make before he gets it right? What are your goals for 2016?
I was delighted to find that the term “hot mess” originally referred to food, having seen a number of notable stories about food in the headlines over the past two days. Like this one, for example, about how a few creative types are finding ways to grow vegetables in Alaska…or how “consumers will no longer know where their beef and pork were born and raised,” now that a labeling law has been repealed. Oh the joys of “mystery meat”…and while we’re at it, here are the secrets shared by successful food photographers. Happy nebulous Neptune square Venus, whose need for artistic expression contributed to an empowering, record-breaking week on Broadway.
Creativity is by nature a messy process; science has apparently proven that messy people are more creative. The fits and starts of the two planets turning retrograde — Mercury (today at 8:06AM ET) and Jupiter (on Thursday) add to the potential for false starts and serendipitous gaffes. The gaffe potential increases after 12:47PM ET, when the intensely emotional Scorpio Moon goes void, i.e., drifts without any particular direction, until 1:56AM ET. Roll with the twists and flakes, and be patient with the communication and technology snafus.
About Mercury retrograde…
So many people who know nothing else about astrology have heard of Mercury retrograde. Often it elicits curses and groans, and that’s a shame. Yes, on the first day of the last Mercury retrograde (back in September), all of the flights on American Airlines were grounded because of a computer glitch. And the entire country of Finland was offline because of a transportation strike. But there’s much good that can be accomplished when the Messenger Planet appears to be retracing its steps.
This month, Mercury—which in the language of astrology refers to mindset, travel and communication—will appear to move backward through the sky until January 25th. It’s not really moving backward, but that is how it looks from our perspective here on Spaceship Earth. Mercury goes retrograde 3-4 times each year, for a period of 22 days.
Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.
When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double check important details, like whether the restaurant you’ve chosen for a meet-up is still in business. Or whether it is booked for a commercial shoot or a private party — all of these have happened to me during Mercury retrogrades!
If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.
In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.
You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneously, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything.
This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.
Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion. I can tell you horror stories about a certain prestigious college’s lackluster launch of a website/communications portal which occurred last year, on a day when Mercury was stationary retrograde…
Adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones). Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading during Mercury retrogrades. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.
When in doubt, be silent!
Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating…and REviewing your life with your astrologer. If you were born on the first day of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus or Scorpio — or if you have significant planets and/or angles at 0 degrees of Aquarius, you are more personally affected by this particular Mercury retrograde than most. As noted yesterday, President Obama is in this category.
Gratitude to Avid Reader Beth Owlsdaughter, who created this fitting Banana Mercury mash-up, which I have gleefully adopted. Check out Beth’s Tarot Card pull for 2016 here , as well as her Tarot Card for the Week here. It’s just amazing how in synch her card pulls are with planetary patterns.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
…and we’re off! The first work week of 2016 is jam-packed with planetary activity. I can’t imagine you’ll be bored. Here’s what’s cookin’ in the cosmos.
First, the energy of the day is driven by the Moon in moody Scorpio, silently scheming how it may best fulfill its need for emotional depth, substance and control. Note your dreams this AM, as the Moon makes a harmonious connection to Neptune at 5:57AM ET. After that, the Moon cruises smoothly through the rest of the day. It makes two easy connections to the Sun and Pluto at 6:43PM ET and 8:59PM ET, respectively, facilitating empowered communication. Just do it…with the following caveats:
- The Moon goes void Tuesday at 12:47PM ET until Wednesday at 1:56AM ET, so ship it or pitch it before then. Moon voids are well-suited for focusing on routine concerns and rolling with any twists and flakes that may crop up in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Such as? Such as the flake I experienced on Saturday after 11:23AM ET, when I poured hot water into my coffee cup instead of into the filter filled with actual coffee grounds. “Moon must be void,” I thought. It was. Which was also reflected in the twist experienced by subscribers to the Boston Globe on Sunday, when their papers were delivered by Globe reporters and other staff who had stayed up all night to do the task. I’m digging the Globe these days. Have you seen Spotlight yet? You must. It’s going to win a bunch of awards and it reflects current planetary patterns (Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces, for starters). Anyhoo….
- Mercury will turn retrograde Tuesday at 8:06AM ET. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW…and be prepared to triple-check everything before you hit send from now through the rest of the month. Here’s a recap of how to handle Mercury retrograde — which I’ll reprint here tomorrow, for those who don’t like to click on links.
There are five other planetary patterns humming in the background, three of which are exact on Tuesday. Pattern #1: Mercury (mind, communication) squares off against action hero Mars at 7AM ET Tuesday. Let the record show that Mars entered Scorpio on Sunday morning ET. This suggests highly effective action — as in ruthless, laser-beam precision; take-no-prisoners strikes. Mars in Scorpio suggests intensity in matters of desire, which can be built all the way to Heaven or all the way to Hell. Downside: a temptation to indulge in vengeance, especially over petty grievances. Upside: a need to act with honor and integrity (even among thieves). Mars will be in Scorpio until March 5th, and again between May 28th and August 2nd — to be discussed in a future forecast.
Pattern #2 is a righteously opinionated and idealistic challenge between Venus (love, values, money, women) and visionary Neptune, exact at 9:34AM ET. This patterns suggests a rose-colored need for social expression which pushes boundaries. Pattern #3 would be the Sun in enterprising Capricorn meeting up with Pluto at 10:26PM ET on Tuesday. Talk about an opportunity for transformation and empowerment. We can expect the usual Plutonian subjects to make headlines, e.g., news from underground, power plays, stories of regeneration, resources, etc.
Meanwhile, here’s an apt reflection of the sum total of this week’s mind-blowing, empowering, technogeek, boundary-pushing, visionary and aesthetic potential: the NYT’s Sunday magazine cover story: “An Open Mind: the Terrible Beauty of Brain Surgery”. Here’s another one: “How to Cultivate the Art of Serendipity”. Or this: “‘Like a Beautiful Painting‘:Image of New Year’s Mayhem in Manchester Goes Viral”.
Pattern #4 is a square between the Sun and rebel Uranus (exact on Thursday at 7:22AM ET), which usually reflects excitement, breakouts and breakthroughs and other disruptions of the status quo. Pattern #5 is a meet-up between Venus and Saturn, exact Friday at 11:11PM ET, which is about when we can expect a “Get REAL!” response to whatever dreamy vision was proposed under the influence of Neptune in the first part of this week — for better or for worse.
Oh but wait — there’s more! On Thursday, Jupiter turns retrograde. On Friday, Mercury backs up into Capricorn, where it will facilitate your efforts to put a practical spin on your plans until February 13th. On Saturday at 8:30PM ET, we’ll have a New Moon in Capricorn, suggesting an opportunity to re-set your intentions and plant potent seeds for the next lunar cycle. Details on those stories later this week.
And now, more news.
Mercury square Mars can be pretty darn confrontational — and Mars refers to guns. Venus square Neptune can be awfully idealistic, peace-loving, forgiving — or delusional. Sun conjunct Pluto and square Uranus can’t help but challenge the Powers That Be. Exhibit A: “Armed Group Vows to Continue Occupation at Oregon Refuge”:
BURNS, Ore. — The protesters arrived in this old lumber town to support a 73-year-old rancher and his son who had been sentenced to prison for setting fires that spread to federal lands. It was billed as a peaceful demonstration, but after “Amazing Grace” was sung and hugs were exchanged, a small, armed contingent declared outside a supermarket that it was taking a stand and asked who wanted to join.
So began the latest armed flare-up….
Meanwhile, “Battleground Shifts as Obama is Set to Act on Gun Control”. In other words, without the support of Congress. Last week he also acted alone in granting clemency to a handful of federal prisoners, in a “trickle of mercy” (proclaimed the editors of the NYT). I suspect we will see more than a trickle in the coming year. Glancing at President Obama’s horoscope it is interesting to note that stationary retrograde Mercury and Jupiter are sitting right on top of his Jupiter and Mars, respectively. His mindset, actions and expansive reaches this week are especially significant. We would expect him to be thinking and acting big, with more to come. Interesting to note a Neptune-Venus measurement in effect in his horoscope, too. We would expect a need for an aesthetic ideal in matters of social expression and values.
Elsewhere, a volatile story in this volatile week is still developing: Saudi Arabia has cut diplomatic ties with Iran. Also volatile, but much more contained is the announcement that four new elements (all man-made and as-yet unnamed) have been discovered, thus completing the 7th row in the periodic table. Woo-hoo!
Stay tuned to this channel for continuing updates on these planetary patterns….and here’s the 411 on how to find out what it all means for you in a personal astrological consultation. REviewing your life is a perfect activity during a Mercury retrograde!
Thank you for reading this forecast.
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