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Happy last week of 2017!
The Moon was void in Pisces for most of Christmas Day, encouraging you to go with the flow and not make mountains out of molehills. It also suggested resisting the impulse to buy flannel sheets online, no matter how tempting the discounts offered. The 25th was notable for one other pattern and a shift: Venus (women, money, social expression and aesthetics) left high-flying Sagittarius for Capricorn at 12:26 AM ET. Twelve hours later, Venus met up with Saturn.
In social-climbing Capricorn, Venus suggests an enterprising spin on social interactions for the next few weeks. If you were born with Venus in Capricorn, you could be quite adept at knowing how to use relationships to get ahead. You may wait until later in life before realizing that love is more valuable than status. A Venus-Saturn meet-up (the technical term is “conjunction”) suggests a sobering or ambitious reality check on issues related to Venus. “Reality check” might also include cuts, limitations and other brick walls. Here are some Venus-Saturn headlines from a past conjunction.
Meanwhile, Moon charged into Aries last night at 7:27 PM ET, where it will zoom until early THURSDAY. Humming in the background is a harmonious alignment between Mars (action, yang, war, courage, anger) and Neptune (fantasy, lies, drugs, forgiveness, fog) that will be exact Thursday at 1 AM ET. Mars-Neptune aspects suggest charisma and other forms of pixie-dust, facilitating starpower and scams. Less so with the scams, given that is an easy Mars-Neptune connection, but still. This particular configuration conjures up images of secrets, sexuality, peace offerings, spirituality and (the potential downside) more than a little fanaticism, likely of a religious kind.
The Aries Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus at 5:25 AM ET and 3:57 PM ET on WEDNESDAY — watch for impulsive power plays and/or upsets around those times. Your Moon voids — times to chill and avoid impulse shopping purchases — are WEDNESDAY 3:57 PM ET until 1:23 AM ET on THURSDAY; FRIDAY 9 AM ET until 3:31 AM ET on SATURDAY. By then emotions will be on the rise, waxing to fullness with the Moon on New Years Day, 9:24 PM ET in Cancer.
And now, the news.
Venus (social expression, love) was exactly trine Uranus (freedom) last Wednesday…and also in an applying conjunction with Saturn. Freedom and a reality check about family obligations and social expression? How about “Debunking Myths About Estrangement.”? In this NYT article, “new research challenges the deeply held notion that family relationships can’t be dissolved and suggests that estrangement is not all that uncommon.”
Take the far-out potential of the Sagittarius Sun in harmony with Uranus (12/16/17), along with a New Moon exactly on the Galactic Center AND a REview of the past suggested by Mercury in retrograde, and here’s this from 12/18: Former Navy pilot describes UFO encounter studied by secret Pentagon program.
Saturn and Capricorn refer to bones. With Saturn in Capricorn, WaPo offers this: “Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements May Not Prevent Bone Fractures.”
From yesterday, when Venus met Saturn (and got down to business): “Business Schools Now Teaching #MeToo, N.F.L. Protests and…” Here’s another involving art, women and gobs of cash: Clock Is Ticking on $10 Million Reward in Gardner Art Heist. This one involves isolation, social expression, faith and other spirits (Mars trine Neptune), for better or for worse: Thousands Once Spoke His Language in the Amazon. Now, He’s the Only One.
Meanwhile, in the world of surreal and prominent finance, Bitcoin has been on a wild ride. Up…then drastically down… and now up again. What is it and why is it significant? This piece tries to explain. A big shift coming up in 2018 is Uranus leaving Aries for Taurus. We are likely to see many techological and philosophical disruptions (Uranus) in matters related to Taurus and its need for material comfort and security. These matters include: possessions, earth, food, agriculture, our physical bodies, money and banking. What might that look like? I stumbled across a prescient essay by Seth Miller a few months ago. It beautifully connects the dots between some of what was achieved while Uranus has been in Aries — i.e, the technology (Uranus) that developed the self-driving car (Aries). Where will it likely take us in the near-term future? “When Delivery is Free, Will Ownership Survive?” In other news…expressly defying expectations, P45 did not wait until January to sign the sloppy tax bill that will likely take the country back to 1929. It was signed on impulse on Dec 22nd, with Mercury at a dead stop in Sagittarius, square to wiggy Neptune. Yeah, like that’s really going to work as described. Avid Readers might recall that the House first passed its version of the bill when Mercury was stationary retrograde earlier this month — another suggestion of unintended consequences that will later be revealed.
I have yet to find a news outlet announcing the exact time of the signing — can’t even find a timecode on the C-Span video — thanks, lamestream media! I’m using the time of the first tweet I saw announcing that the bill was signed — less a couple of minutes — so 10:57 AM in DC. This C-Span video first aired at 11:07 AM ET. If anyone has a documented exact time, I would love to have it. Regardless, I’m noting the first week of February 2018 and March of 2019 for more fog and mirrors to become visible with respect to this duplicitous piece of legislation. Regardless, here are five things you can do to before January 1 to lower your tax bill, according to WaPo. UPDATE : Back in August it was noted that transiting Saturn would be sitting on the Sun of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, suggesting a block, squeeze — or at the very least, a wet blanket, dumped on him with great prominence, given that his Sun is at the Aries Point (his birthday is Dec 21 — Winter Solstice). So what happened? A bomb squad was called to his Bel Air home a few days ago, to disable what turned out to be the dumping of…a box of horse manure. And it’s all over the media now…because prominence.
It would be good for Utah if Hatch, having finally caught the Great White Whale of tax reform, were to call it a career. If he doesn’t, the voters should end it for him.
Astrology is amazing. Are you about to have a Saturn squeeze? Find out in a personal consultation and make a plan to handle it effectively. Here’s the 411. Thank you for reading this forecast.
Moon entered humanitarian Aquarius yesterday at 9:29 PM ET, bringing a bit of humanitarian relief to the status and strategy-focused Capricorn Moon that was wandering through the day yesterday. Arise, go forth and mingle with your friends, the more unconventional, the better.
Here’s a fun real-life example of a Moon void twist. Yesterday I received an “urgent” email from a journalist looking for input on a story about astrology. I called the reporter and we’re having a scintillating discussion about potentials — made more delightful because the reporter is especially sharp. But in the back of my mind I am thinking…Moon void…Mercury retrograde…this isn’t going to fly. And sure enough minutes after we end our conversation, she emails to say her editor gave the topic to another reporter. I wish I’d told her at the start of the conversation that this “urgent crisis” was likely much ado about nothing! So then we talked about another piece she’d been assigned…and I do hope there will be more to come. Fun! How was your all-day Moon void?
Today at 11:29AM ET, we say goodbye to the Sun in Sagittarius and hello to the Sun in Capricorn. Happy Winter Solstice! In the Northern Hemisphere, days will be getting longer and nights will be getting shorter. If you live in South Africa or anywhere else south of the equator, you are celebrating the first day of summer. What’s it like having a serious sign like Capricorn associated with bikini weather, I wonder? Somebody please write and tell me. In any case, with Capricorn, we move from big-picture thinking (Sagittarius) to practical application. What will we build that will materially define our collective philosophy? Think corporations, governments and maybe The Junior League. Think status and ambition.
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. Got that? Good. These four signs are called cardinal signs of the zodiac. 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.
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. I’ll give you a detailed example of someone famous who was born around the Aries Point in a minute. Off the top of my head, Meryl Streep (a Cancer) and William Shatner (an Aries) were both born with the Sun at the Aries Point. They’re pretty prominent in everything they do, don’t you think?
A chart for a new season suggests the gameplan for the next three months. Today is not the worst day in the world this year, and its darn disappointing that some people who know enough about astrology to be dangerous would be telling journalists these horrible things. Yes, the Capricorn Sun is exactly conjunct Saturn in Capricorn, suggesting a need for gravitas and responsibility for one’s actions. That’s not necessarily horrible. There are upsides to limitation and focus…and the pendulum will eventually swing the other way. Of greater concern as a gameplan for the next few months is Mercury — about to turn direct on FRIDAY at 8:51 PM ET. It’s still in sloppy Sagittarius and it is in a challenging pattern with foggy Neptune. Translation: it’s looking for a vision that likely may not materialize, and what does materialize is likely to have holes you could drive a starship through. For the next three months, you are advised to take the visions presented by outside influences with a grain of — nah, make it a full Himalayan salt lamp the size of Brazil. Like this Exhibit A, left here without further comment. Trigger warning: that’s not a link to a Himalayan salt lamp. It’s about politics and may be skipped if you’re not in the mood. Enjoy your eggnog!
Another challenging pattern on this solstice is an stubborn square between the Aquarius Moon and Mars, planet of action, in ruthless — but oh-so-effective Scorpio. This suggests emotional clashes of will between those on the cutting edge…for better or for worse. Yes, could be innovative. Yes, could also be inclined to slash and burn. If your lunch today felt like a bit of a stubborn clash around 1:13 PM ET, that’s when the Moon-Mars clash happened. The headline on the WaPo homepage read “After success on taxes, GOP returns to infighting ahead of deadline to avoid shutdown.”
Work on planning and strategy in your own personal world. Do your best to create supportive structure. Capricorn may start out heavy and serious at first, but the older it gets, the lighter it becomes. Wry humor is one of its most effective coping strategies — and proven best medicines.
And now, the news.
UPDATE: Meryl Streep, whose horoscope we’ve been covering over the years. She is a Summer Solstice baby, which means that transiting Saturn at 0 Capricorn is putting the squeeze on her 0 Cancer Sun (same goes for her astro twin, Elizabeth Warren). Ms. Streep is being trashed in a street art campaign calling her out for her work with Vernal Equinox baby Harvey Weinstein (who is also obviously due for a streamlining reality check):
The poster campaign caps a torrid week for Streep who was already on the defensive after fellow actor Rose McGowan, who says she was raped by Weinstein, accused the grand dame of Hollywood of silence and hypocrisy.
Meanwhile, the snafus and sloppy Mercury Rx in Sagittarius thinking of the tax bill passed yesterday just keep on manifesting. It won’t be signed by Christmas — and likely not until early January because of….wait for it…technical difficulties.
Meanwhile, I noted a few headlines yesterday expressing the potential of Saturn’s controlling efforts in matters related to Capricorn. Facebook, Amazon, T-Mobile, others sued over age discrimination in Facebook job ads. Yep. Ageism and other squeezes placed on People of a Certain Age. We’ll be seeing more reality checks on that in the next couple of years. Capricorn refers to what is old.
Capricorn and Saturn refer to time — and mortality. What a coincidence to see this headline now: U.S. Mortality Rate Falls for Second Year in a Row (the cause: drug overdoses, reflected by Neptune in Pisces in a tough aspect with the horoscope of the U.S.).
Hmm…also a coincidence. Time is what I am running out of, in an effort to post this forecast before the close of the business day. More news to come in the next forecast…thank you for reading…thank you for your Mercury retrograde bookmark orders…and thank you for purchasing gift certificates for reports and consultations for your friends, family and colleagues. It is a joy to be of service!
I leave you with this album that always makes me think of the Winter Solstice: “December” by George Winston. Cheers.
Happy holidaze!
As I type, it appears the House vote on the sloppy “tax reform” bill will need to be re-done tomorrow, thanks to excitable elected representatives who rushed through provisions which do not conform to their own rules. Mercury retrograde much? Think their do-over will happen after 10:37 AM ET, when the proactive Capricorn Moon goes void on a potential upset from rebel Uranus? One can only hope. Moon will be void until 9:29 PM ET tomorrow — no impulse shopping — just stick to routine and chill.
Big shifts this week. Monday brought us a New Moon in Sagittarius — exact at 1:30 AM ET. It happened at 26 degrees of Sagittarius — which corresponds to the Galactic Center of our Milky Way. The Galactic Center is a “supermassive black hole” around which everything in our galaxy revolves. The black hole seems to be a source of massive radio waves, so if one had a planet or point around 26 Sagittarius in the horoscope, that planet/point might be exceptionally tuned in to messages from Central Command…what do you think? And here I would thinking of a gifted intuitive I know whose Sun and Ascendant are indeed connected to the Galactic Center– and she is quite a channel. Hmm, and I have a planet in touch with the GC, too. I’m making a note to do further research. Where is the Galactic Center in your horoscope? Consult your local astrologer for details.
A New Moon in Sagittarius suggests an opportunity to plant seeds in matters of big, bold collective beliefs and opinions — backed by structure and control. The latter is suggested by the Sun and Moon in touch with Saturn. With Mercury still retrograde and in a tough aspect with Neptune, the seeds planted may be in an exquisite shade of rose. If you have a planet or angle around 26 degrees of Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini or Pisces, you are likely feeling a push to state your case more than others.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “a sculptor,” i.e., a person chiseling a form out of an amorphous blob of earth (e.g., marble, metals, clay). It’s curiously in sync with this week’s ingress of Saturn (structure) into Capricorn (one of the three Earth Signs). Also curiously in sync: Tarot Diva Beth Owldaughter’s Card of the Week: the Ace of Pentacles. Beth writes:
The Ace of Pentacles represents the power of the Earth, since the Pentacle is a magical tool that is ruled by the element of Earth and North.
Sabian Symbol Guru Blain Bovee has this to say about sculpting:
Thought of in terms of human character, giving shape to or forming character assumes the awareness of the possibilities that lie before one, like a sculptor with a vision of the possibiliites in a block of wood. The sculptor releases the form of beauty from the uncarved block….Sculpting requires a gentle, penetrating regard for what shapes lie within an uncarved block. Heavy-handedness may ruin delicate potential; one must go with the grain.
Bovee suggests that what enables a sculptor to go with the grain (and not destroy the source material) is good character. Hmm. Something to consider for those rushing to leave their mark on Earth during this lunar cycle.
Speaking of marks — I’m still putting my 2018 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Bookmarks in beautiful envelopes with handwritten notes of appreciation. Today I sent a pack of 10 to Australia — what fun! You can order one bookmark for $3.88 — or splurge on three for $6.99 and gift them to your friends. Gods willing, you can click on the link above and toss payment into my Cosmic Tip Jar — or contact me here. Don’t forget to include your snail mail address.
Other major patterns this week: first, Saturn enters Capricorn at 11:48 PM ET tonight (Tuesday), just two hours after the Moon meets up with Pluto. A prominent power play and/or assertion of government structure and control? Watch the headlines.
These next few years of Saturn in Capricorn can be put to most excellent use in your own personal world. Wherever it is transiting in your horoscope is where you can turn your fears of lack into a plan for advance. Your success depends on your willingness to grow up, assume responsibility and authority, already. Time to get real and practical!
A long list of keywords for Capricorn can be found here. Watch for streamlined, focused and controlling efforts in those areas over the next two years.
In the horoscope of the U.S., Saturn in Capricorn is likely to put a squeeze on its usual need for abundance and nourishment. Saturn will oppose the U.S. Venus (money, women, art, social expression) and Jupiter (abundance, expansion) in 2018. Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, here’s looking at you.
Meanwhile, a harmony between Venus and Uranus on WEDNESDAY at 6:12 PM ET suggests unconventional attractions, friendship, humanitarianism and expressions of unity among eclectic groups. Here’s how Venus trine Uranus was reflected in the last Emmys — on September 17th.
Next up: the Winter Solstice — a turning point — on Thursday at 11:29 AM ET. That’s when the Sun enters Capricorn. What’s so important about a Winter Solstice? Here’s a post from the past. — A few hours later, at 4:09 PM ET, the Sun meets up with Saturn, suggesting prominent and/or sobering news involving heads of state and business. The gravitas of this annual conjunction will be felt more personally if you were born 1-2 days into the signs of Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra….or if you have a planet or angle around 1-2 degrees of those signs. Potentials of this transit include feeling restricted and controlled. Some may find this transit grounding, facilitating an ambitious reach.
Finally, Mercury turns direct on FRIDAY at 8:51 PM ET. Easy does it on the roads — and in all communication and transportation endeavors.
There’s a ton of news to report — will do a clown car full of it next time. Meanwhile, let’s bid farewell to Saturn’s efforts to control free speech and collective beliefs with these seven words that officials at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention were reportedly banned from using:
- fetus
- transgender
- science-based
- evidence-based
- vulnerable
- diversity
- entitlement
Mercury being retrograde, those who thought that CDC had been banned from using the words when communicating with the public may have been outraged, but apparently for the wrong reason. According to a former federal official:
…the move[is] unprecedented.
“It’s absurd and Orwellian, it’s stupid and Orwellian, but they are not saying to not use the words in reports or articles or scientific publications or anything else the C.D.C. does,” the former official said. “They’re saying not to use it in your request for money because it will hurt you. It’s not about censoring what C.D.C. can say to the American public. It’s about a budget strategy to get funded.”
Ah. Yes. I see.
These words are currently being projected — in shades of green and purple — on the facade/front entrance of the P45 International Hotel in Washington D.C. If you’re more of an audio person than a visual person, you might enjoy these seven words set to music.
Take that, Saturn in Sagittarius! And order your Mercury Rx bookmarks while we still have books!
Thank you for reading this forecast.
…and we’re back in the Home Office, after an indulgent Midwestern holiday escape. Today’s Moon is in Scorpio, intensely focused on its need for depth and control. After a dreamy early morning (Moon in harmony with Neptune), an expansive and/or exuberant reach is suggested, courtesy of a meet-up between the Moon and Jupiter around noon ET. Tonight, Moon goes void at 8:42 PM ET on a harmony with Pluto (the Powers That Be).
Moon doesn’t enter the next sign — Sagittarius — until 8:07 PM ET on FRIDAY. That’s a long time to chill and focus on routine concerns, but chill you must — especially with Mercury still retrograde. Got a closet or a desk to REorganize? With Mercury meeting up with Venus at 9:09 AM ET, your efforts may be blessed with artistic flair. Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) and Venus (what and how we love) together suggests a need to see the best in everything. In Sagittarius, look for expression in matters of publishing, sports, opinion, education and foreign affairs. The sky’s the limit.
Echoing the sense of the “far-out” is a harmony between the Sag Sun and rebel Uranus in pioneering Aries, exact on SATURDAY at 6:27 AM ET. Meanwhile, Moon will be in Sagittarius until 8:33AM ET on MONDAY — with only a 20 minute void, so no sleeping in. The New Moon occurs in Sagittarius a few hours earlier — at 1:30 AM ET. Then we’ll be off to an action-packed week.
And now, the news.
Astrology is amazing. And here I would be referring to Tuesday’s special election in Alabama. Planetary patterns suggested the outcome would be declared an upset — and it was! Creepy Roy Moore had a comfortable lead up until around 10PM, when Doug Jones began catching up. The election was called — for Jones — at 10:25 PM ET, just 24 minutes before the Libra Moon opposed Uranus in Aries. Yes — an upset — declared as such in headlines everywhere. Cue Snoopy Dance now, please. And a round of applause for the African Americans — especially women — who went to the polls to vote.
Score a big one for humanity and the avant garde in a week with the Sun and Mercury in harmony with Uranus. Next week may be a different story — especially on Thursday, when the Sun and Saturn meet up in Establishment Capricorn. Sobering fact: had the election in Alabama been a congressional race, even though a majority of votes were for the Democratic candidate, six of the seven congressional districts would have been won by Republicans….because gerrymandering. Another way of putting this — says WaPo — is that Doug Jones lost in six congressional districts — check out these maps.
A few thoughts about Saturn — which refers to authority, structure, discipline and control — moving into Capricorn next TUESDAY at 11:48 PM ET. Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn. The Capricorn mantra is “I USE.” What’s the most efficient way to get something done? Great! Let’s do it. Capricorn is a master of strategy: let’s put X with Y and make something happen. Take care of business! What’s the bottom line? Whereas Cancer needs to build a structure that supports home and family, Capricorn needs to build structures that support the home on a collective scale: governments and corporations. Saturn and Capricorn refer to ambition, responsibility and maturity. That’s the upside. The downside potential is a literal downer: depression, worry…and fear.
Saturn was in Capricorn between December 1929-early 1932….coinciding with — oh how interesting — the Great Depression in the U.S. (don’t worry; eventually we got over it). Let the record show that in 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president. What did he say in his first inaugural address? “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Fun fact: studies suggests there may be only one essential difference between conservatives vs. liberals — fear. When we are afraid, we build walls. When we feel safe, we build bridges. The number of walls you build is likely in direct proportion to your level of anxiety. How does this apply in relationships? Hmm. Saturn in Capricorn suggests ambitious initiatives one way or the other…
Saturn was in Capricorn between 1959-1961; here’s where the U.S. was at back then. Note a historian’s assessment of newly-elected president John F. Kennedy’s confidence that “the government possessed big answers to big problems.” No fear there, apparently. Saturn was last in Capricorn from 1988-early 1991. In 1989, Uranus also entered Capricorn, making a total of three outer planets (Neptune entered Capricorn in 1984) in the sign of governments and corporations. That combination was reflected in meltdowns (Neptune) and shake-ups (Uranus), with the avant garde (Uranus) winning over the old guard (Saturn). 1989 was a year that changed the world, reports the Guardian.
In 2019 and 2020, Saturn in Capricorn will meet up with Pluto, suggesting great effort required against a perceived threat of loss. If you were born with Saturn in the last ten degrees of Capricorn, your Saturn Return is likely to be exceptionally intense. Ask your friends born several months earlier what battles and triumphs they’ve had in 2017. Everyone born with Saturn in Capricorn will soon be having a Saturn Return — a crucial period of reckoning, planning and strategic advance, for better or worse. The upside is a new lease on life, which can be very, very good indeed. Consult your local astrologer for details.
Other boundary-pushing, far-out headlines:
Finally, apologies to Avid Readers wishing to order the 2018 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Bookmarks. Many of you were frustrated by the ridiculously confusing PayPal link, and so am I, given the fees they charge. Try this one — and if that doesn’t work, just hit reply to this email and I will send you a fail-proof invoice. Never heard of these bookmarks? You must have some…and here’s why:
On the bookmark you’ll find the dates of 2018’s Mercury retrograde periods — there are THREE. You’ll also find helpful reminders of how to handle the retrograde so you do not lose your mind. These bookmarks make great stocking stuffers for everyone! Just ask Avid Reader Jane:
I would like to find out how much it would cost to get 10 Mercury retrograde bookmarks – I am so tired of my idiot friends who don’t get it, they just know something is off. To have your bookmark on hand to give them is the best idea ever.
Agreed! Or take it from Avid Reader Bonnie, who raves:
That bookmark was awesome. I kept it in my datebook and referred to it many, many times during the retrogrades :)
You can order one bookmark for $3.88 — or splurge on three for $6.99 and gift them to your friends. Bookmarks come with a personalized note of thanks from me. When was the last time you received a handwritten thank-you note? Gods willing, you can click on the link above and toss payment into my Cosmic Tip Jar. Regardless, you’ll need to EMAIL me your MAILING ADDRESS so I can send the bookmarks to you by post. Bookmarks come with a personalized note of thanks from me. When was the last time you received a handwritten thank-you note? I’m thinking…a long, long time.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Greetings from Chicago! When a college chum invites you to an eggnog party and flights are reasonable, just go — especially during a Mercury retrograde. It’s a perfect time to REconnect, REcreate and RElax. Sure the flights were a little off-track during Saturday’s East Coast storm — but mine wasn’ — at least not because of the weather. After passengers were urged to board ASAP — so we could depart before the snow closed the airport, we ended up having to wait 40 minutes for the first officer to arrive. D’oh!
Meanwhile…
Moon entered Libra just after midnight, seeking fairness, diplomacy and a need to be seen as a people-pleaser. There are no aspects to the Moon today — no exact hits to challenge or support its agenda. Note the difference in the flow of energy today vs tomorrow, when the Moon will make its weekly clash with Pluto (10:09 AM ET) and Uranus (10:49 AM ET). The former suggests power plays; the latter suggest upsets to the status quo. Also exact on TUESDAY: a meet-up between the Sun and Mercury (still retrograde), suggesting idealistic thinking, some of which may be sloppy. Another meet-up between Mercury (mindset) and Venus (money, values, women, social expression) on Friday at 9:09 AM suggests more of the same. A harmony between the Sun and rebel Uranus on SATURDAY at 6:27 AM ET suggests significant headlines about humanitarism, rebels and other people on the fringe, astrology and technology.
Your Moon voids this week are WEDNESDAY 7:27 AM – 8:59 AM ET; THURSDAY 8:42 PM ET – 8:07 PM ET on FRIDAY. Avid Readers know that when the Moon is void, the energy of the day is more likely to wander off course. Stick to routine concerns; roll with the twists and flakes; avoid impulse purchases and chill, chill, chill.
Meanwhile, be advised that Mars — planet of action, anger, aggression, courage and assertion — finally left Libra on Saturday at 4 AM ET. And there was much rejoicing in the land! Mars is much happier in Scorpio. Its preference for direct action is freed from Libra’s people-pleasing concerns — which can turn a need for directness into passive-aggressive snark. In Scorpio, Mars needs to act with depth and substance in its quest for world domination – or annihilation. Scorpio is so interesting that way. Generally speaking — but not in all cases — surgeries are aided and abetted when Mars is in Scorpio.
THIS JUST IN…
The 2018 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmarks are in — just in time for the holidaze!! On the bookmark you’ll find the dates of 2018’s Mercury retrograde periods — there are THREE. You’ll also find helpful reminders of how to handle the retrograde so you do not lose your mind. These bookmarks make great stocking stuffers for everyone! Just ask Avid Reader Jane:
I would like to find out how much it would cost to get 10 Mercury retrograde bookmarks – I am so tired of my idiot friends who don’t get it, they just know something is off. To have your bookmark on hand to give them is the best idea ever.
Agreed! Or take it from Avid Reader Bonnie, who raves:
That bookmark was awesome. I kept it in my datebook and referred to it many, many times during the retrogrades :)
You can order one bookmark for $3.88 — or splurge on three for $6.99 and gift them to your friends. Bookmarks come with a personalized note of thanks from me. When was the last time you received a handwritten thank-you note? For those of you receiving this by email, there is a link at the bottom to click and make your payment. But you’ll need to EMAIL me your MAILING ADDRESS so I can send the bookmarks to you by post. You can also click on the link above if you are reading this on my website. Please let me know if you have any trouble using the link. Hit reply to this email and I’ll write up a hassle-free invoice with a link that is sure to work. If using your credit card to make a payment via PayPal is confusing, checks are also accepted.
And now, the news.
Mercury retrograde suggests a higher probability of factual errors in the headlines. No, Breitbart and Fox “news,” one of the women accusing Roy Moore of sexual harassment (when she was a teenager and Moore was over 30 and an assistant DA) did not forge any part of a loving inscription Moore penned in her high school yearbook. Even a moron looking at a photo of the inscription can see that there is no forgery effort going on here. Fox corrected the story. No, Brian Ross at ABC News, Michael Flynn was not ordered by P45 to contact “the Russians” while he was still a presidential candidate — as far as we know. ABC corrected the story and suspended Brian Ross for a month. Time will tell if that story is true or not. And no, Telemundo, an iguana did not crawl out of a toilet and bite a Florida man’s naughty bits — video or no video. Be wary of the headlines until Mercury turns direct!
I have no idea who will win tomorrow’s special election in Alabama. Both candidates are having expansive hits from Jupiter in their horoscopes, but we don’t have exact birth times for either. If I lived in Alabama, I’d vote for Doug Jones — and sure, consider that an official endorsement. Current polls show Mr. Jones is ahead by ten points over creepy Roy Moore, but that doesn’t mean anything when you consider how hard the government of Alabama works to deny Certain People the right to vote. Whichever way it goes, it’s likely to be seen as an upset, given the Moon’s opposition to Uranus at 10:49 PM ET. If you haven’t been following the pros and cons in this contest, here’s NYT columnist Gail Collins to cheerfully explain.
Of all the men resigning from positions of power after, perhaps the most controversial was Senater Al Franken. The sudden surge of condemnation from 32 of his colleagues — many of them women — does look on the surface like a sloppily-thought out Mercury retrograde mess. Time with tell if it will be REvisited before the end of the month. It is curious that Senator Franken did not give a firm exit date other than “by the end of the month.”
In other news, how interesting that P45 opted to announce the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during a sloppy Mercury retrograde, combined with Saturn (patriarchy, control) at the end of Sagittarius (worldview, foreign policy, education). Elsewhere, an in-depth exploration of the attacks on Title IX — an important read for those interested in womens rights, sexual assault, legal process and education.
On Sunday, technology and compassion converged in the form of 1) a harmony between Mercury and techgeek Uranus; and 2) a challenge between Venus in opinionated Sag and foggy Neptune. What went viral? A video of a Tennessee boy tearfully recalling being bullied at school. Millions saw it. Celebrities offered support. Cue Mercury retrograde with a fascinating twist: a backlash over social media posts by the boy’s mother. The boy — Keaton Jones — has apologized for his mother’s apparent lack of empathy over the bullying of Certain People.
Finally, one more example of sloppy Mercury Rx in Sagittarius: “Senate Republicans Make $300 Billion Mistake in Their Tax Bill” Yeah. Sloppy. Told ya so.
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Up and at ’em, with the gentle reminder that Mercury is retrograde. Here is the Survival Guide, if you need a refresher:
Even if you know nothing else about astrology, you may have heard this term before. Often it’s accompanied by curses and groans, and that’s a shame. Yes, all of the flights on American Airlines might be grounded because of a computer glitch. Or the entire country of Finland might be offline because there’s a transportation strike (actual Mercury Rx events). But there’s much good that can be accomplished when the Messenger Planet appears to be retracing its steps.
Mercury—which in the language of astrology refers to mindset, travel and communication—will appear to move backward through the sky until December 22nd. 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 which has 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. The key is not to RUSH.
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.
In general, 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.
This Mercury retrograde happens at 29 degrees of Sagittarius, suggesting that whatever is up for REview and RElaxation likely involves an expansive quest for vision and truth, as old opinions and beliefs are RE-evaluated. Watch areas involving the judiciary, sports, media, religion and foreign affairs. If you have a planet or angle around 29 degrees of Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius and especially Virgo, you are more personally affected by this particular Mercury retrograde. FUN FACT: this month’s retrograde at 29 Sagittarius is likely to recall things that were hot during the Mercury Rx that began on August 30, 2016 — at 29 degrees of Virgo. Here’s a post from mid-September 2016 with a few examples.
Back to today and the rest of the week. The information junkie Gemini Moon is opposed by Saturn and Mercury at 12:46 PM ET and 2:13 PM ET. Someone throws a wet blanket on someone’s parade, in an effort to take control. And then starts an argument about it. Chill during the brief Moon void…and shift your focus to matters of emotional/home/homeland security at 3:37 PM ET, when the Moon enters nurturing Cancer.
Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus at 8:07 PM ET TUESDAY and 7:17 AM ET WEDNESDAY. Note that time frame as a potential for catharsis, power play and/or upsets. Other Moon voids are Wednesday 12:56 PM ET – 3:37 PM ET; FRIDAY 5:40 PM ET – 6:09 PM ET — you won’t even notice that one.
Wednesday is busy, as in heavy, provocative and action-packed. First, Mercury Rx re-connects with reality king Saturn. When it did that at the start of last week, Matt Lauer was pink-slipped. The nurturing Cancer Moon will be challenged by Uranus and Mars before lunch ET. Mercury Rx in sloppy Sag with harmonize with Mars in Libra, seeking fairness and balance; Mars will harmonize with Saturn at 4:21 PM ET, seeking an action plan that is pleasing, but still maintains control. Perhaps Congress will agree on a funding plan to avert a government shutdown on December 8th.
As we get closer to the weekend, Wednesday’s reality check fades in favor of the high-flying aesthetic dream suggested by SUNDAY’s exact patterns: a harmony between Mercury and rebel Uranus; a tension between Venus (women, money, art, social expression) and Neptune. Sounds like bitcoin to me. Meanwhile, Mars leaves Libra for Scorpio on SATURDAY. More on that in the next forecast.
And now, the news.
Jupiter expands. Neptune refers to drugs, healing, TV and film, music, refugees/migrants and scandal. It also dissolves boundaries and creates fog. Here are the headlines:
Meanwhile, Saturn is barreling theough the last few degrees of Sagittarius, giving it prominence. In Sunday’s NYT magazine, Saturn was the subject of its Letter of Recommendation — with an entire paragraph about the wisdom of being mindful of first, second and third Saturn returns. Pigs have flown again!!
Elsewhere, on SNL, I saw a few topsies saucily asserting themselves (reflecting the potential of the Sabian Symbols for the Sunday’s Full Moon). Here’s “Welcome to Hell” — a music video awash in rose-colored Sun-square-Neptune pixie-dust — perfectly in sync with planetary patterns.
Today the Supreme Court will hear the case of the Colorado baker who said he was exercising his right to free speech and religious liberty when he refused to bake a cake for the wedding of two men. Well, that’s an apt case for Saturn (control) and Mercury (communication) at the end of Sagittarius (religion, judiciary, opinion). I found this intriguing quote from Justice Antonin Scalia in WaPo, suggesting that this is going to be an opinion about freedom of speech:
In a 1990 case, the justices said two Oregon men were not protected from being fired from their jobs as drug counselors because they had used an illegal drug, peyote, as part of their Native American religious ceremonies. The opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia in Employment Division v. Smith said a person may not use religious motivation as a reason not to obey a law generally applicable to the public and passed without animus to a specific religion. To find otherwise, Scalia wrote, would invite “a system in which each conscience is a law unto itself.”
Finally, as you may have heard, Senate Republicans passed their sloppy 500-page tax bill that no one had time to read, let alone have a committee hearing about. Amazing, given that there were over 30 hearings on Benghazi….none so far on the four soldiers killed in Niger…but…hey…priorities. The bill passed at 1:51 AM ET — during a Moon void (much ado about nothing?), a Mercury in sloppy Sagittarius stationary retrograde (subject to review) and a Neptune-Sun square (we’re so confused!). People were, in fact, so confused that they forgot that this bill is not law! Now the sloppy Senate bill needs to be reconciled with the sloppy House bill — and then and only then — and only if P45 decides to sign it — will whatever ends up in it, end up destroying the country.
Here’s the chart for the Senate tax bill — with the comfort and security-seeking Taurus Moon locked away in the 8th House, not able to do anything of consequence, as it is void. The Moon refers to the people. The 8th House is debt and taxes. Coincidence or conspiracy?
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TGIF!
Efforts to maintain the status quo, preserve material comfort and security would suit the needs of the Moon as it continues in Taurus. A Taurus Moon is not a big fan of change. With the potentially reckless and disruptive face-off between Mars (action) and Uranus (risk) now in the rearview mirror (as of 5:04 AM ET), perhaps the rush to pass a sloppy-minded tax overhaul won’t fly. Yes, sloppy — as anticipated, with Mercury in sloppy Sagittarius — now standing still and about to turn retrograde. Just look what the National Review has to say about it:
Even if we forget about their impact on the deficit (and we shouldn’t), the Republican tax plans have been characterized by extraordinarily sloppy thinking, so sloppy indeed that it’s impossible not to wonder what, if anything, was going through the heads of the GOP leadership.
I think readers of the National Review would benefit from the astrological perspective — though it’s not the only publication to describe the tax plan as “sloppy.”
Frankly, with delusional Neptune squaring the Sun and flowing so well with Jupiter in Scorpio (other peoples’ money), scams are favored. Holdout Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has just signed on, saying he was “promised protections for ‘Dreamers.'” Dream on! Where’s Dionne Warwick when you need her? Cue “Promises, Promises” now, please.
All I know is that for the next couple of years, corporations are likely to fare better than actual human beings — once Saturn enters Capricorn on December 19th. I also know that House Speaker Paul Ryan has had reason to be feeling awfully full of himself in November, with transiting Jupiter (expansion) meeting up with his natal Jupiter (ruler of his Sag Ascendant), squaring his wonky Aquarius Sun and Venus. Not to mention another potentially empowering pattern between that Sun and Pluto. Here’s a lengthy write-up of Ryan’s horoscope from 2012. Planetary patterns suggest a potential brick wall or streamlined advance in his future when transiting Saturn challenges his high-functioning Mars in me-me-me Aries. When it comes to action (says Aries astrologer Rick Levine), the Aries creed is Ready. Fire. Aim! Ryan’s Saturn-Mars thing happens in mid-January.
Moon goes void tonight at 8:53 PM ET — chill, snuggle with your sweetie, indulge in material comforts and sleep in tomorrow. Moon buzzes into Gemini at 4:21 PM ET, waxing to its fullness on SUNDAY at 10:47 AM ET — just a few hours after Mercury turns RETROGRADE and the Sun squares Neptune.
Meanwhile, I am fascinated by the timing of this Full Moon — happening with the Sun at 12 Sagittarius and the Moon at 12 Gemini — both, as I said squared by wiggy Neptune. When is the last time we had a Full Moon with the Sun and Moon at 12 Sag and 12 Gemini? On June 2, 2015. The Sabian Symbols for this lunation offer intriguing clues to what we can expect. Here’s what I posted about them re: the Full Moon in June of 2015:
Shall we focus on our immediate surroundings; the thoughts inside our brains; the immediate family of our biological brothers and sisters (Gemini)? Or shall we place a higher priority on the Really Big Picture; collective belief systems; metaphorical siblings with whom we share a planet, as opposed to a split-level in the ‘burbs (Sagittarius)?
You will feel the illumination of this Full Moon more intensely if you were born around the 2nd of June, September, December and March…or if you have a planet or angle around 12 degrees of Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces and Virgo. For insight on what the degrees of this lunation suggest, let’s look at the Sabian Symbols — with the help of Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee.
For the Sun at 12 Gemini: “A topsy saucily asserting herself”. For the Moon at 12 Sagittarius: “A flag that turns into an eagle that crows”. You do know how these Symbols were created, don’t you? Here is the story.
A topsy, as we learn from Blain Bovee’s marvelous book , is a fictional character — a black slave child — in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Under the light of this Full Moon we can expect saucy self-assertion — not just from a female but from any group or individual that no longer wishes to feel oppressed. Caitlyn Jenner does look saucy in her glamorous white bustier, now that she’s free to assert herself as she pleases.
As for the “flag which turns into an eagle….” Bovee notes this is also an assertive Symbol. Only here, it is an inanimate object — a “standard bearer” — that takes on a life of its own. Hmm. That is thought-provoking, as we consider how it is manifesting in the headlines. Much of notorious Patriot Act was ditched over the weekend, as Congress now considers legislation to replace it. More on that in a minute. This item just came in: ‘The FBI is Operating a Small Air Force to Spy on Americans”. What will Congress do about that, I ask rhetorically.
Bovee has a lot of interesting things to note, but ultimately advises us to be on the lookout for “an awareness of experiences that defy one’s version of reality….standing up for the flag, for the establishment, or for expressing unsavory elements of the establishment.” Did you hear that the head of the TSA is out, after a test of “security” at dozens of airports found that fake explosives and firearms were successfully smuggled through checkpoints 95% of the time?
Bovee also suggests we be sensitive to “breaking through invisible barriers; defying prejudices” — plus so much more that as always, I suggest you get his book if you enjoy the Sabian Symbols.
Do you remember other topsies saucily asserting themselves in the aftermath of that June 2015 Full Moon? Yes, there was Caitlyn Jenner. Another was Rachel Dolezal, the white woman who identifies as African-American. When it was revealed she was not whom she appeared to be, outrage ensued. But there was another saucy topsy — one also arguably suffering delusions of being oppressed/unaccepted — and that one was…(drum roll, please)….P45…who announced his run for office during a Gemini New Moon void on June 16th.
I expect we’ll see more topsies and eagles crowing between now and the next New Moon on Dec 18th. That will happen with the Sun and Moon at 27 Sag — almost exactly opposing the 26 Gemini New Moon that occurred on June 16th, 2015.
And now, more news.
Mars-Uranus oppositions suggest seismic activity, and yesterday at 4:42 PM ET we had a 4.1 in a surprising location: Dover, Delaware. Also surprising: 4.1 is pretty teensy, but it was felt in DC and NYC — and here in the home office of Grace Astrology. Other news described as “seismic” in a headline I can no longer find: the White House apparently plans to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo…with Senator Tom Cotton (write up of his horoscope at that link) replacing Pompeo at the CIA.
Signs Mercury might soon be turning retrograde: American Airlines Flights Still Without Pilots After Massive Computer Glitch. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW. And slow down over the weekend. Patience will serve you well.
Other seismic news: Michael Flynn Pleads Guilty of Lying to the FBI on Contacts with Russian Ambassador. One has to assume that he’s pleading guilty to just one charge of lying because he’s giving Mueller the goods on those much higher up on the food chain. We don’t have a birth time — or even an exact date of birth for Flynn — though I have theories. He is definitely experiencing his second Saturn return as I type. Congratulations, General Flynn. This is your opportunity to get real and get a new life — in ways that might actually be productive. Whatever you must give up to get there, just let it go — and be glad your brain is likely no longer under Neptune’s delusional spell.
UPDATE: on Colin Kaepernick, discussed here in September. He continues to be recognized as a disruptive thinker for positive change. He’s receiving the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for…
the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy and has used sports as a platform for changing the world. “I am proud to be able to present this to Colin for his passionate defense of social justice and civil rights for all people,” says Lonnie Ali, Muhammad’s widow…
UPDATE: Jimmy Kimmel — continues to pack a punch, as anticipated. Here’s the latest — a Twitter war with alleged sexual assaulter Judge Roy Moore.
Finally…reflecting the wiggy cray cray potential of general patterns this week….you may have noticed a seismic shift in how the media is talking about P45’s mental state. Examples: (P45) is Cracking Up….(from the NYT); (P45) is a Madman (from the editors of the NY Daily News); If (P45) Believes What He Is Saying, He Must Be Removed, says the Chicago Tribune; “Are You Insane?” asks Seth Myers ( after P45 denied that the infamous Access Hollywood tape was real). Well it’s about time everyone got up to speed on this, especially people who don’t read this forecast.
What’s going on in your horoscope? Now is the time to plan for the year ahead and book that personal consultation. Mercury retrogrades are great for review! Or gift a special someone with some cosmic — and totally practical — insights. Here’s the 411 on consultations and reports. And YES…to those who have asked, I will have 2018 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Bookmarks in stock soon. They make great stocking stuffers.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
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