Daily Forecast Archives - Page 27 of 156 - Elisabeth Grace

Astrology for News Junkies

This planetary commentary offers advance notice and analysis on the zeitgeist of the day, with an emphasis on what's happening in the headlines. It is presented as a public service for your information, education and enlightenment. If you have ever wondered "why is this happening NOW," these unique astro-logical insights will transform what you see and read in the news, adding new meaning and understanding. So if you're curious to know why the Impossible Burger is trending now...or why efforts to decriminalize marijuana have been so successful in recent years...or why "Woodrow Wilson, Stud Muffin" was a New York Times headline in December 2013, you will find it here. Use the SEARCH function to find your favorite public figure or world event in over a decade's worth of historical research and reporting. Sign up here to receive this forecast by email (with my compliments).

Tuesday 12/27/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week

Moon continues in Sagittarius, pushing boundaries and spouting opinions, whether you asked for them or not. It goes void at 8:45PM ET, not to enter Capricorn until 10:12AM ET on WEDNESDAY. Chill during the void and resist the urge to make a mountain of crisis out of a molehill. With the added snafu potential of Mercury still retrograde, chances are you may have misunderstood whatever was said. Err on the side of caution and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.

The Moon will be void again on FRIDAY between 3:07AM and 8:29PM ET – another day to chill and take care of routine concerns.

We are in the dark side of the Moon — the end of the lunar cycle. It’s a good time to wrap up projects started a few weeks ago, if you haven’t wrapped them all up already before adjourning for the end-of-the-year holiday break. Cooperative connections between the Sun (life force; ego expression) and Mercury (mindset; communication) and Mars (action) and Neptune (vision; inspiration) offer plenty of productive potential for Mercury “RE” projects: REpair, REvise, REsearch, REconnect, REorganize, etc.

The New Moon begins at 1:53AM ET on THURSDAY at 7 degrees of Capricorn. Its enterprising drive may be accompanied by quite a jolt, vision or scandal. Why? First, Uranus turns direct on Thursday at 4:29AM ET. Uranus refers to revolutions, seismic events, rebellion, innovation, genetic mutation, accidents, aviation, space travel, technology, astrology, uranium, rocket scientists, mad scientists, lightning and genius, to name a few. So we may see movement in the headlines on these areas — and in fact, we already have. On the 25th, a 7.6 quake in Chile made news.

Also on the 25th: a Russian military aircraft whose passengers included 64 members of “the famed Alexandrov military music ensemble”disappeared off the radar two minutes after take-off at 5:25AM in Sochi and apparently crashed in the Black Sea. Hmm…military and music…symbolized by Mars and Neptune, respectively. These two planets will be at an exact meet-up in Pisces on January 1st. Currently they are separated by the South Node, which can suggest destruction. I had to look up the chart for the plane’s departure — wasn’t surprised to see this trio right at the bottom. No astrologer would choose this time for a successful launch.

And now, more news.

UPDATE: on Queen Elizabeth. Back in April and June we noted the potential for a break-up or fresh start for Her Majesty in 2016 until February of 2017, as transiting Uranus shakes up her enterprising Capricorn Ascendant. The Brexit break-up would reflect this potential — and how intriguing it is to read a BBC reporter’s claim that a source told her that the Queen supported it. Of course, with Mercury retrograde (and other planetary patterns currently in effect), one is wise to be a bit skeptical of what makes headlines.

In other news, Merriam-Webster declared “surreal” to be the defining word for 2016. How very Saturn (reality) square Neptune (meltdown of whatever it touches), which was 2016’s defining planetary pattern. Dictionary.com voted for “xenophobia” — another astrologically apt reflection. Fear (Saturn) of foreigners (Sagittarius), amplified irrationally by the Neptune in Pisces challenge. Astrology is amazing. I predict the words for 2017 will reflect the spectacular windfall potential of Jupiter square Uranus, mixed with Saturn trine Uranus. Have to think about what those words might be. Any ideas?

I’ve been meaning to look at Dan Rather’s horoscope for a few months, given the buzz his beautifully written posts have generated on Facebook. The legendary journalist celebrated his 85th birthday on October 31st. He’s a Scorpio with Moon in Cancer; Taurus rising. So he needs to use his depth and substance in ways that establish emotional and home(land) security, and be seen as a steady rock of material comfort. He was born in 1931 — during revolutionary Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Cancer. This year, transiting Pluto and Uranus made contact with his natal Uranus and Pluto, suggesting opportunity for a radical breakout and/or transformation in his professional status and his connection with the public (or a significant other). And behold, he has become a comforting Facebook sensation. Coincidence or conspiracy?

UPDATE: as of Jan 4, 2017, Mr. Rather now has a million followers on Facebook. Huzzah!!

RIP, George Michael. Your untimely passing at the tender age of 53 has dominated headlines all week, sadly reflecting planetary patterns suggesting upsets, music and other intangibles….

Got a burning question about your potential in 2017? I’m all ears! Here’s how to order a report or schedule a personal consultation.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Saturday 12/24-25/2016: The Astrology of 2017, Part 1; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto in the Spotlight

Merry Happy Happy Merry…I don’t know where the week went, either.

Since 9:43AM ET on Friday (yesterday), the energy of the day has been driven by the Moon in Scorpio, seeking depth, control and substance. It goes void at 2:22AM ET on SUNDAY (Christmas Day/Hannukah)…and will remain drifting/wandering until 10:19PM ET. That explains any twists and flakes that may disrupt your efforts to reach Grandmother’s house for your holiday dinner (and do keep in mind that Mercury is still retrograde, also interfering with focus, communication and travel plans).

We haven’t had any exact aspects among the planets — except to the Moon — since December 12th. That changes today, starting with a rare harmony between Saturn and Uranus, exact at 7:17PM ET. This is the first of three exact trines (that’s the technical term for the “rare harmony”) that will happen between now and through 2017. This easy flow between Saturn and Uranus is one of the dominant patterns of the new year. And may I just say that it is astonishing to note that as 2017 approaches, Spellcheck still underlines “trines” in red because it does not believe it is a word.

Pattern #1: Saturn trine Uranus.

Keywords for Saturn include the old guard, patriarchy, authority, ambition, gravitas, structure, fear, control, limits, brick walls, time and borders. Saturn is in Sagittarius for most of 2017, as it was in 2016. Thus, we expect to see structuring efforts in Sagittarius concerns which include: publishing, foreigners, collective beliefs (legal, higher education and religious), opinions, broad comedy and the need to push boundaries. Possible manifestations include efforts to control the media, collective thoughts, personal opinions and borders. This includes access and censorship.

Keywords for Uranus include disruption, the avant garde, innovation, seismic events, aviation, genetic mutation, shocks, technology, eccentricity, freedom, astrology, fringes, chaos and rebellion. Uranus is in Aries through 2017 and has been there since March 2011, the day of the earthquake in Fukushima. So we the continued potential for innovation and disruption in Aries concerns such as self-reliance (think: gig economy); war (think: drones); automobiles (think: self-driving, Uber et.al); head injuries (think: concussions; amazing tech cures). Got that?

With Saturn and Uranus symbolically in harmony, we see the potential for cooperation between the old guard and the avant garde; innovation and structure – for better or for worse. What could that suggest? Here’s a recent example, perhaps: the Electoral College — an old-guard institution — votes for the Uranian Trump. Here’s a hypothetical scenario for 2017: old guard Republican senators like John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins break ranks to support a bill introduced by the opposing party to…errm…uhhhh…I have no idea. Russia something? Rosh Hashanah?But somehow they are able to reach across the aisle in a curious coalition.

Another scenario: lawmakers approve tons of legislation to use technology (Uranus) to control, limit or structure (Saturn) access and expression of opinion (Sagittarius) by individuals (Aries). So much for that “controversial” visitor registry President Obama ordered to be dismantled? Perhaps. Another scenario: the Powers That Be (Saturn) are united in their efforts to shake up the system (Uranus). Organized chaos? We shall see.

You are more personally affected by the potential to structure your ambition with surprising innovation if you have a planet or angle around 19-27 degrees of just about any sign, and especially 27 Leo. The exact dates of this trine are Dec 24, 2016; May 19 2017 and Nov 11, 2017.

Pattern #2: Jupiter opposing Uranus and…

Pattern #3: Jupiter square Pluto

We experienced the expansive influence of Jupiter with Uranus and Pluto in 2013 and 2014, when Jupiter in Cancer opposed Pluto and squared Uranus. More recently, Jupiter squared Pluto on November 24th — Thanksgiving Day. The next two hits are on March 30th and August 4th, 2017.

The first exact Jupiter – Uranus opposition happens at 1:32PM ET on December 26th. The next two hits are March 2, 2017 and September 28, 2017.

Jupiter keywords include: collective belief systems, such as higher education, religion, political philosophies and the media; optimism, benevolence, inflation, bombast. Whereas Saturn restricts, Jupiter expands, for better or for worse. How will it apply its expansive efforts in 2017? Through the sign of Libra. Keywords for Libra include: fairness, balance, relationship, compromise, rational discourse, people-pleasing, diplomacy and the rule of law. Got a conflict? What a horrible concept for a Libra. Conflict? Eek! How can we avoid it? Can we talk about it? Rationally? Weighing the pros and cons? In court or with some other mediator?

Pluto keywords include: perspective, news from underground, plutocrats, power, seismic activity (volcanoes), breakdown, elimination, transformation, corruption, obsession, regeneration and catharsis. Oh — and radiation — especially when coupled with Uranus, as in uranium and plutonium and nuclear power and arms. Is it any surprise that the Twitterer-in-Chief rattled nerves a few days ago by suggesting the U.S. expand its arsenal of nuclear weapons?

Jupiter opposing Uranus suggests sudden changes of fortune, luck in speculative gambles, breakthroughs and breakouts. It suggests inflation and exaggeration of Uranus in Aries concerns.

Jupiter square Pluto refers to expansion of power and resources, along with exaggeration and inflation of Plutonian themes. With Pluto in Capricorn, we see the potential of expansion in Capricorn concerns: the Establishment, corporations, government institutions, status, infrastructure.

With Jupiter is in Libra, we see the potential for efforts to expand power and resources to be met with howls of “That’s not fair!” followed by “See you in court!” Or we might see a lot of, “Gee…I can’t make up my mind. I’ll just go along with whatever so-and-so says.” Judgments issued in 2017 when Jupiter is in touch with Uranus and/or Pluto may be shocking, tipping the balance of power.

Meanwhile…over the next two days…

Along with major contacts among Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, the next two days offer input from other planets that are potentially sweet. On SUNDAY, Venus in “can’t we all be friends” Aquarius harmonizes with Jupiter, Uranus and Saturn at 8:23 AM, 11:35AM and 1:33PM ET respectively. Count your blessings in the Moon void; revel in tidings of comfort and joy; chill and enjoy the day. A dreamy alignment between Mercury (mindset) and Neptune — exact at 11:19PM ET on MONDAY may infuse the next two days with a rosy glow.

This friendly planetary vibe reminded me of two old Looney Tunes cartoon characters: Ralph the Wolf and Sam the Sheepdog. When they’re on the clock, Sam defends his flock against Ralph’s deadly schemes. It’s a cartoon, so naturally Ralph never succeeds. When the two adversaries punch the clock at the end of the business day, they’re the best of buddies. Funny how that is — and here’s a clip so you can see for yourself.

Rumor has it that at the end of our shift on Planet Earth we will all see ourselves in each other — recognizing that every one of us comes from the same source: love. Rumor has it. And I’m an idealist at heart.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Thank you to Avid Readers who have shared and supported my work for nearly eight (!) years. I could not do this without you. Thank you especially to Avid Readers who are also clients. I am deeply appreciative of your trust and faith in astrology. Thank you for allowing me to be of service.

The 411 on consultations and reports is here. The link to the Cosmic Tip Jar is here. PayPal says the link has been made 100% hassle-free, as of last week. Time will tell if PayPal is right.

To be continued…

Late Weekend 12/17-18 Post: Mercury Retrograde Alert; Mars in Pisces; Going to Carolina in My Mind

Party on, dudes!

Since 8:15AM ET on Friday, the Moon has been in rip-roarin’ regal Leo, cruising without interference to fulfill its need for love-love-love me do. How can you shine — and help others shine, too? Buy them a warm and fuzzy gift. Pay them a compliment. Get together and play. On the downside, watch out for other kinds of plays made by would-be drama kings and queens.

There’s no Moon void to deter your shopping this weekend, save for one hour between 11:55AM ET and 12:53 PM ET on SUNDAY. After that hour of potential cranky twists and flakes (the void begins on a combative face-off between Mars and the Moon), Moon enters Virgo, getting everything organized and sorted for the last week before the holy-days. And perhaps putting back in order whatever feathers were ruffled over Sunday brunch ET.

BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS. Did I mention BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS? Mental Mercury is slowing to a dead stop, turning retrograde at 5:55AM ET on MONDAY. There is no need to panic or grouse!

Those who know just enough about astrology to make them dangerous often curse Mercury retrograde, and that’s a shame. It gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. Ya 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 — and an opportunity to review our progress over the past few months. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose this time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down.

Be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, people you haven’t seen in years showing up on your doorstep and having to repeat what you just said. Take advantage of this prime opportunity to review and rethink a project you may have abandoned. It’s probably worth a second look.

Get out your Rolodex and reach out to people. Trust that they will be delighted to hear from you. Take a break from your routine. Take a vacation. Unplug your computer and cellphone. Avoid signing contracts, making major purchases (especially mechanical ones) and losing patience. Make sure the restaurant you’re meeting at is still in business. Don’t believe everything you read in the papers and ignore the juicy gossip at the water cooler. Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating.

A key survival tactic to Mercury retrogrades is FOCUS. Your mind is tuned inward. Your autopilot is not reliable. FOCUS and triple check before transmitting thoughts and speech in any form.

Mercury retrogrades have a curious way of revealing what’s been hidden — often in plain sight.

Mercury will turn retrograde allllllmost exactly on a meet-up with dirt-digging Pluto at 15 degrees of Capricorn. So close — but no cigar? In terms of whatever revelation that could tip the balance of power if thoroughly reviewed? On a day when the Electoral Collage meets to vote on whom shall be declared fit to become the 45th U.S. President? With Moon in Virgo needing to get it right? The plot thickens…

Mercury will travel backwards through practical, status-seeking Capricorn — back to 0 degrees Capricorn (the prominent Aries Point) on January 5th. It backs further still into sloppy Sagittarius — to 28 degrees (where it was on December 1st), before turning direct on January 9th. During that period of sloppiness and prominence (Jan 5- Jan 9), the 115th U.S. Congress will meet. Mercury will finally meet up with Pluto at 15 Capricorn on January 29th — let’s see how what’s going on in the headlines then compares to what’s going on in the news on Monday.

Now is the time to get your 2017 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmarks(which includes this upcoming retrograde). They are $3.88 for one and $5.99 for three — cross my palm with silver via my Cosmic Tip Jar and I’ll send them off to you pronto — and I’ll need your snail mail address.

No sleeping on Monday — there is no Moon void. You might want to note your dreams that morning, as the Virgo Moon will be in touch with nebulous Neptune. You might need a double espresso to clear the fog — but proceed with caution. Also of note on Monday: Mars — symbolizing action and anger — leaves rebel Aquarius and plunges into the soulful waters of suffering Pisces — about an hour before Mercury turns retrograde.

Frankly, Mars is not particularly comfortable in Pisces; it’s like putting a hot poker into a vat of water. What do you get? Plenty of steam! Point is, Mars is more comfortable in an element which allows it to be direct, whereas the nature of Pisces is diffusive. Not only that, but on January 1st, Mars will be aligned with nebulous Neptune, ruler of Pisces. What does that suggest, you ask. On the plus side, it is excellent for glamor, charisma, show-stopping Hollywood spectacles, healing, faith and sublime escapes. On the down side, it can facilitate con artists and deceptions of all kind, fanaticism and seamy scandal — often in government and religious institutions. Actions taken or proposed may not be what they seem to be — especially with Mercury retrograde — so read the fine print if something lands on your desk on the last week of the year.

And now, the news.

In the wake of this week’s Full Moon and other patterns noted in the last forecast, I expected a few ice shelves to fall into the ocean — metaphorically speaking.

“Aleppo is now a synonym for hell,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York this week. It is humbling to confess that I can’t remember all the reasons why and all the parties involved in the war that has been going on for years in Syria — Syria is where Aleppo is, for geography-challenged Avid Readers. It’s like the war in 1984 — George Orwell’s prescient dystopian novel — a must-read and/or worthy re-read in the aftermath of Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune (fake news; thought control) and Uranus square Pluto (upheaval of the status quo). The war’s been going on for so long — and no one can remember since when or why. It keeps people in a state of tension and fear. This week, the hell that is life in Aleppo got even worse.

Meanwhile, some may recall that at the end of November a court ordered North Carolina to redraw 28 electoral districts, finding that they were unconstitutional and discriminated against Latino and African-American voters. A special election is to be held at the end of 2017 — unless the federal judge’s ruling is overturned by the Supreme Court.

Republican legislators who oversee redistricting blasted the decision in a news release:

“This politically-motivated decision, which would effectively undo the will of millions of North Carolinians just days after they cast their ballots, is a gross overreach that blatantly disregards the constitutional guarantee for voters to duly elect their legislators to biennial terms,” Rep. David Lewis and Sen. Bob Rucho said in the release, adding that they have already appealed the original U.S. District Court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This week, Republican legislators staged a coup. A Democratic governor — Roy Cooper — will be sworn in next month. The Republican legislators, working with the current Republican governor — Pat McCrory — spent the day passing a slew of bills in a special session expressly intended to curtail the governor’s authority. Stunning. How can this be happening?

Not a day goes by when I do not remember first reading — around 2005 or so — astrologer Bill Herbst’s sobering essays on how the seven squares between Uranus and Pluto (2012-2015) might be reflected in world events. He’s the one who piqued my interest in learning how planetary patterns are likely to be reflected in world events….which led to me developing my own passion for what we see in the daily headlines. Herbst pointed out that the last time we had a square between Uranus and Pluto was back in the early 30s — with rebel Uranus in warrior me-me-me Aries (where it is again now) challenging Pluto. Mussolini and Hitler played roles suggested by Uranus in Aries — e.g., electrifying and eccentric demagogues. Bill Herbst correctly anticipated over 10 years ago that this most recent Uranus-Pluto square would likely coincide with the rise of other rebel and eccentric (Uranus) leaders (Aries). And here we are.

Back to North Carolina…

Governor-elect Roy Cooper (D-NC) was born on June 13, 1957. Like Donald Trump, he has a 22 degree Gemini Sun — which means it was hit by this week’s Full Moon — and it will be opposed by transiting Saturn in January — the first of three hits, like Trump. Saturn refers to control, authority and limitation; the Sun is life force; ego energy. Unlike Trump, Cooper has Moon in Capricorn. He needs to make something happen with his diversified intelligence; he’s not desperately seeking respect. Still I’m intrigued — let’s see what kind of controls and focused advances these two men playing on opposite teams will experience around the same time in 2017.

Like Trump, Cooper has a planet or point at the end of Leo, conjunct the fixed star Regulus. This star is strongly connected to matters of honor and reputation, but the conventional wisdom caveat for people with a strong Regulus is this: “success if revenge is avoided.” Really. Hmm. In Cooper’s case, he has Pluto conjunct Regulus — so matters of power and transformation are tied to integrity and honor. In Trump’s case it’s his Leo Ascendant and Mars — how he needs to be seen and how he needs to act. The total solar eclipse of August 21st happens at 28 Leo.

I wish we had a birth time for the incoming governor, but even so, his horoscope is hot in 2017. His Jupiter (expansion) is at 22 Virgo, and transiting Saturn squaring this planet suggests a serious structuring effort, tempering exuberance. Other measurements suggest an intense application of effort and force, possibly innovative and daring, though with transiting Neptune squaring his natal Saturn, reality is likely to be surreal or confounding in the near-term.

In other news…

A few quick stories reflecting illumination of information — and the fallout of this week’s Gemini Full Moon. First, Facebook is now fact-checking and flagging fake news. Second, if you have Google Chrome, you can get an extension that will fact check every one of Trump’s truth-twisted tweets instantly, courtesy of the Washington Post. Third, Google Chrome users can also get an extension that will change every image of the president-elect into an adorable kitten. Pepper the Thanksgiving Cat is lobbying hard for that one — and with her Mars in ruthless Scorpio, odds are she’ll prevail. Let’s close with the ever-cheerful NYT columnist Gail Collins, dashing off thoughts about the bromance between Vladimir Putin and the instantly-morphed adorable kitten that’s now on my computer screen.

Thank you for reading this forecast. To find out how Saturn may be streamlining your sphere of influence in 2017, schedule a personal consultation — or consider giving a consultation as a gift this holiday season.

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Tuesday 12/12-13/2016: Full Moon in Gemini; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

Monday’s buzz is brought to you by the Moon in info junkie Gemini as of 7:41AM ET, looking to yak it up with facts and figures. It travels without interference throughout the business day. At 10:31PM, clarity may be challenged by a hit from rose-colored Neptune. Trust, but verify, as it were.

Guess what kind of week this is? A week with no exact aspects among the planets except to the Moon, other than a harmonious flow between the high-flying Sagittarius Sun and innovative technogeek Uranus, exact at earlier today — 1:56AM ET. It’s already behind us. In fact we’ll have to wait until Christmas Eve for any planet to make a major contact with another planet other than the Moon.

You know when the last time this happened? The week of the November 8th election, for which I wrote:

There are no major aspects between planets this week — except to the Moon. I’ve found that these apparent lulls are often deceptive. To me it’s like looking at a giant ice shelf on the most sparkling sunny day ever…and then, for no apparent reason, half the shelf crumbles into the ocean.

Verrrry interesting.

Also interesting: the Full Moon at 22 Gemini opposing the 22 Sagittarius Sun. That happens at 7:05PM ET. Full Moon suggest illumination. You know who has key planets at those degrees? Donald Trump, with his 22 Gemini Sun opposing his opinionated, boundary-pushing, desperately seeking respect Moon at 21 degrees of Sagittarius. Fun fact: we had a Full Moon on this axis the day before Trump’s birthday in 2014 — so that would have been an important time of potential illumination for him personally. Wonder what he had on his calendar?

Gemini refers to a individual’s need to think and communicate. Language is a Gemini thing — the practical mechanics of communication. Sagittarius refers to how we think as a collective — which may be a boundary-pushing opinion. What is our collective philosophy, religion, laws, etc.? A Gemini-Sagittarius Full Moon may be seen as a opposition between how the individual thinks vs. the collective. Which is truly the smartest in the room?

Summer Brennan has posted a must-read article: “Notes From the Resistance: A Column on Language and Power.” Words speak volumes. Those in power choose them carefully.

Orwell wrote that freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two equals four. He wrote that he who controls the past controls the future, and that he who controls the present controls the past. If you can colonize the minds of a population with untruths and confusion, you forcibly re-write reality. This is done with stories. It’s done with language. How we speak about the world is a reflection of how we see it.

It is interesting to note two midpoint pictures demanding prominence this week — they are at the Aries Point. One is between disruptive/weird Uranus and nebulous Neptune; the other is between Jupiter (publishing) and Neptune. Both suggest strong prominence of the surreal and faith-based facts, a.k.a. lies.

The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon are — first, for the 22 Gemini Moon: “three fledglings in a nest high in a tree.” Now remember, this also is the Sabian Symbol for Trump’s 22 Gemini Sun — his life force — what he brings to the table. Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee says of this Symbol: “Little birds sing the tune of their family of species. Having voracious appetites, they sing for their supper with competitive insistence: ‘Me first!’…Fledglings are impatient to leave the nest…they’ve yet to stretch their wings in flight in the open air…a bird’s song expresses identity and a kind of bravado: ‘This is who we are, our clan, our family, and we are safe high in our tree!'” Or high in a penthouse in a tall tower.

You can use these Sabian Symbols to gain a deeper perspective on the potential of every planet and angle in your horoscope. They are fascinating.

Speaking of being high in a tall tree, did you know that Hitler’s retreat was called Eagle’s Nest? And that the Third Reich ran on crystal meth? “High Hitler: How Nazi Drug Abuse Fueled the Course of History.“Amazing how these Sabian Symbols crop up. Looking at Hitler’s horoscope, with transiting Uranus hitting his Mercury and his Ascendant next year, we can see the potential for electrifying thought and a fresh start. The horoscope lives forever, doncha know — and if you want to read more, Astrodienst selected my article about this amazing phenomenon as its complimentary offering from The Mountain Astrologer. Here it is — although frankly, if writers and their words have any value to you at all, I believe you should pay for them.

Back to the Symbols for tomorrow’s Full Moon in Gemini, opposed by the Sag Sun.

For the Sagittarius Sun we have: “immigrants entering.” So immediately we see a polarity between fledglings who are not quite ready to leave home (but must, eventually), and the immigrants who have left their homes and just arrived in a whole new world. Bovee suggests we apply these symbols with a mind to “…a passage to a new life, a new level of maturity, the moment before a new independent life takes off…conflicting emotions about what lies just ahead but is still out of reach…songs of home and nationality…trembling in the face of being received.” Bovee has a lot more to say, and if you enjoy the Sabian Symbols, why not buy his book.

How interesting to have these Symbols activated one week before the Electoral College meets to presumably elect our next president. Last month I noted that we could expect a battle. I can’t bring myself to speculate which way it will go right now, but I am convinced that if you believe you have a stake in the outcome, it is useless to act as if you are a spectator in someone else’s drama.

In your own personal world, if you have a planet or angle at 22 Gemini or Sagittarius — and to a lesser extent 22 Virgo or Pisces, you may receive illumination or a release on a “let’s get down to business” new stage in life. As I’ve noted before, many people making headlines now have planets and angles at these degrees — off the top of my head: Trump, President Obama (Virgo Mars), Hillary Clinton (Pisces Moon), Mitt Romney (Pisces Sun), the United States (Mars and Neptune), James Comey (Sun, Pluto), Mike Pence (Gemini Mercury and possibly Gemini Moon), Stephen Bannon (Gemini Jupiter). Everyone noted here will be experiencing the first of three sobering hits from transiting Saturn at 22 Sagittarius, starting in January.

Your Moon voids for the week: Wednesday 12:57AM ET until 7:09AM ET; Thursday 4:37PM ET until 8:15AM ET FRIDAY — so in the Americas it’s mostly a full speed ahead work week, with few voids during business hours that may throw a wrench into your efforts to move forward in a straight line.

HOWEVER…

MERCURY is slowing down, getting ready to turn RETROGRADE at 5:55AM ET on MONDAY 12/19. Now is the time to BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS. Mercury will be retrograde until January 8th, giving us a chance to review our progress over the past few months.

Now is also the time to get your 2017 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmark (which includes this upcoming retrograde). They are $3.88 for one and $5.99 for three — cross my palm with silver via my Cosmic Tip Jar and I’ll send them off to you pronto — and I’ll need your snail mail address.

And now, the news.

You may recall my forecast for Friday, posted on Thursday:

Watch the headlines for whatever shocker they are hoping you won’t notice as you’re heading out to do some holiday shopping or join a holiday party on a Friday evening.

The “shocker,” courtesy of the Washington Post late Friday night — hours before the Sun (leader; life force) and Saturn (heavy; control) met up early Saturday morning — was that:

The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency, rather than just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system, according to officials briefed on the matter.

The article reports that there was a “secret meeting” in September in which these allegations were presented to Democratic and Republican congressional leaders by intelligence officials, asking for a bipartisan agreement, i.e.,

a “show of solidarity and bipartisan unity” against Russian interference in the election, according to a senior administration official.

Specifically, the White House wanted congressional leaders to sign off on a bipartisan statement urging state and local officials to take federal help in protecting their voting-registration and balloting machines from Russian cyber-intrusions.

The article reports that the Democrats were all for it; but:

According to several officials, (Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell raised doubts about the underlying intelligence and made clear to the administration that he would consider any effort by the White House to challenge the Russians publicly an act of partisan politics.

Some of the Republicans in the briefing also seemed opposed to the idea of going public with such explosive allegations in the final stages of an election, a move that they argued would only rattle public confidence and play into Moscow’s hands.

McConnell’s office did not respond to a request for comment. After the election, Trump chose McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, as his nominee for transportation secretary.

Meanwhile, over at the Washington Times, the lead story on the home page quotes Donald Trump denouncing intelligence claims that the Russians hacked the election in his favor as “ridiculous.” Another story on the home page reports that U.S. senators have said America should be “alarmed” by the report, accompanied by a photo of Senator John McCain (R-AZ). Nowhere in the Washington Times will you read a current Washington Post home page story quoting Trump saying that “nobody really knows” if climate change is real. Who are you going to believe? Where do you get your news?

There are less reindeer in the Arctic now, reports today’s edition of The Guardian, because of climate change.

In other news…

The president of South Korea is going to be impeached. The NYT published a photo essay documenting “57 homicides in 35 days” in the Philippines — casualties of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “antidrug program.” In other words, the United States is not the only country that seems to be going berserk. While the New York Times wondered in a headline posted over the weekend (that I can no longer find), “Why Are So Many Governments Falling Apart” (or something to that effect), Avid Readers of this forecast know that this potential was anticipated years ago, as a reflection of the release of the Never-Ending Uranus-Pluto Square that happened seven times between 2012 and 2015. Such a shame that mainstream media outlets have so little respect for practical insights astrology can provide.

Last but not least — Madonna’s second Saturn return was exact this weekend. She gave a speech about women, sexism and ageism. People are still talking about it.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Please support my efforts to keep you informed by gifting yourself with Mercury Rx bookmarks, reports and consultations — details are here. Random acts of kindness are also appreciated, as the Cosmic Tip Jar never closes.

Happy holy-days!

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday & Friday 12/8/2016: Jupiter Returns; Pet Rocks & Other Mind-Blowing Sensations

Alll-righty then!

By the time you read this, the Moon will have zoomed into me-me-me Aries, falling down stairs because it’s faster than walking. This happens at 5:16AM ET. It rushes about on its mission to lead, inspire and cut in front of you at the post office — without much interference. There’s a friendly connection with Venus at 7:02AM ET — a sweet way to start the day. The only resistance could come around 6:43PM ET, when the fiery Moon is challenged by some status-conscious wonk’s way of thinking, represented by Mercury in Capricorn.

Sparks are more likely on Friday, as the Moon makes its weekly clash with power playing Pluto (at 8:52AM ET), followed by a meet up with disruptive Uranus at 4:24PM ET. Watch the headlines for whatever shocker they are hoping you won’t notice as you’re heading out to do some holiday shopping or join a holiday party on a Friday evening.

Speaking of shopping, astrology reports and/or consultations make totally awesome thoughtful gifts. Please indulge, as I love making up gift certificates for lucky recipients of your generosity. My Really Useful 2017 Mercury Rx Survival Guide Bookmarks are fun stocking stuffers, and they will come in handy soon — Mercury turns retrograde on December 19th! Bookmarks are $3.88 for one and $5.99 for three — cross my palm with silver via my Cosmic Tip Jar and I’ll send them off to you pronto.

On a day with the Moon in me-me-me Aries, I feel I must also shamelessly tell you how excited I am to have my first byline in The Mountain Astrologer. The article is called “The Horoscope Lives Forever,” meaning that in writing this forecast for seven years, I’ve observed that people make news when their horoscopes are hot — and it doesn’t seem to matter if that person is dead or alive. Astrology is amazing! Magazines make great gifts, too!

And now, the news.

Oh, the outrage. The president-elect was named Person of the Year by TIME magazine — but really, we should not be surprised. And there’s no reason to get mad at TIME now — that moment was over a year ago. This recognition and apparent reward is an apt reflection of the president-elect’s horoscope, which has Jupiter at 17 degrees in Libra. That’s where Jupiter is right now, too –it’s a once every 12 year happening. It’s called a Jupiter return. Jupiter will hit 17 Libra twice more in 2017 — more expansion, for better or for worse.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you have Jupiter halfway through Libra — or any other significant point or planet — you are likely to experience opportunities for expansion, too. The president-elect’s 5th House is Jupiter -ruled, suggesting that expansion will happen for him in matters of ego recognition — and perhaps through his children. The key here is expansion. Whether it’s “good” or “bad” depends on what’s being expanded. There is a thing called wretched excess.

On the forecast for November 19th, I just added some news items reflecting Neptune turning direct, i.e., “the bubble bursting.” One of the bubbles bursting was a fake news item known as Pizzagate. You may be surprised to learn that the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington D.C. was not the headquarters for a child sex slavery ring run by Hillary Clinton, depending on where you get your “news.” Hillary Clinton has never run a child sex slavery ring, but she did spearhead an initiative – SCHIP — to expand health care for children in the United States.

But if you’re like Maddison Welch, the North Carolina man who shot up Comet Ping Pong with an assault rifle on Sunday, {determined to “save the (non-existent)children”}, you might have been born (on 4/29/1988) with a whole bunch of planets in touch with nebulous Neptune. And we could understand why you’d have trouble discerning fact from fiction. Mr. Welch seems like a perfectly well-intended — if misguided — soul in this NYT interview. With his natal Jupiter also involved with multiple planets in his horoscope, we can see how he could blow things out of proportion.

The horoscope of the United States will continue to be under the influence of Neptune through 2017. One potential of this pattern is having a hard time seeing things clearly; wandering in a fog; tilting at windmills.

The antidote for Neptune is something rock-solid — just like the Sabian Symbol for last week’s New Moon at 8 degrees of Sagittarius. Do you remember what that Sabian Symbol was? “Rocks and things forming therein.” What is the hottest item at Nordstrom’s right now? A rock wrapped in a leather pouch — priced at $85 — and sold out. So is the bargain-priced rock — sold out — at $65 each. These rocks must be sprinkled with a lot of Neptunian pixie dust to be selling like hotcakes. And of course that New Moon rock symbol was squared by nebulous Neptune. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Given a choice between gifting you and your loved ones with a rock in a leather pouch — or gifting them with the invaluable clarity and validation astrology can provide, I hope you’ll opt for the latter.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and for the kind words about Pepper the Awesome Thanksgiving Kitty. She’s a blessing. I hope that you have many blessings, too.

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 12/5/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week; Late New Moon in Sagittarius Observations

Good Morning and happy holydays — whichever one(s) you celebrate.

I did not intend to disappear last week, but as it turned out, the blast of New Moon energy coincided with a calendar chock-full of doctor’s appointments I’d been putting off — routine except for the ones designed to address the knee malfunction I’ve been experiencing after stepping into a pothole on an exact Mars transit to my Ascendant. No ballet and tap this fall. Astrology is amazing. The knee is going to recover. I am determined.

Meanwhile, if there are any routine tests and appointments you’ve been delaying, take care those ASAP! You need to be in tip-top shape for the exciting times ahead. Put the oxygen mask on yourself first!

Today the Aquarius Moon is void between 6:23AM and 11:31PM ET. Taking care of routine concerns is apt, as is rolling with twists, flakes and other upsets that may interfere with your efforts to move forward in a straight line. My current upset is Pepper, a five-month old kitten adopted the day before Thanksgiving and pictured below. Interjecting herself between my hands and this keyboard is her prime directive this morning.

An Aquarius Moon favors the unconventional — but remember it is currently void, thus suggesting matters of little consequence. As I type, I see that retired neurosurgeon/celebrity author Ben Carson has been named to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It seems an odd choice, inspiring one to wonder about his qualifications and experience. Well, he might have a Taurus Moon, which does need to build material stability and comfort. Although with transiting Saturn putting a squeeze on his Virgo Sun in January, June and October, he may not be able to follow through completely on an ambitious agenda. For some reason this makes me think of a past life in network television, when the network would occasionally order an “Urban” promo. The copy would be pretty much the same as the non-Urban spot, except we’d hire an African-American to read it against music from a production library CD with a groovy name like “Urban Trax.” Did our Urban marketing messages connect effectively with our target audience? I guess so, because the network continued to ask us to produce them. This was many years ago, btw. I’m sure things have changed.

I think my kitten Pepper would make an excellent Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Tiny houses would rule.

Moon voids for the rest of the working week: WEDNESDAY 9:05AM until 5:16AM ET on THURSDAY — a bit of a wandering adventure, much like today, only the Moon will be in soulful Pisces, seeking a vision and laced with exceptional feeling and (potentially) suffering.

Other patterns of note this week: a cooperative connection between Mars in Aquarius and Uranus in Aries, favoring humanitarian, rebel-with-a-cause action, innovation and technology. That alignment is exact TUESDAY at 10:30PM ET, and it follows another cooperative connection between Mars and Saturn (structure; authority) that was exact at 7:16AM on Saturday.

On Wednesday we’ll have the First Quarter Moon at 4:03AM ET, suggesting a challenge or next step in the New Moon agenda you set last week. More on that in a minute. Also on Wednesday: Venus enters Aquarius (mantras: “I love you, but don’t take it personally” and “Can we still be friends?”).

As we get closer to the weekend we will be seeing the reflection of the Sagittarius Sun’s cooperative contact with Jupiter on Friday at 4:39PM ET (expansive leadership), followed by the Sun’s annual meet-up with controlling Saturn on Saturday at 6:51AM ET (restrictions and structure imposed by Authority Figures). If you were born around the 10th of December, March, June or September your energy may be feeling a little pinched or restricted as you focus on essential concerns or ambition. A personal consultation about your strategy and timing would be beneficial. Here’s the 411 on consultations.

About last week’s New Moon — which was at 8 degrees of Sagittarius and thus directly affected anyone with that degree of Sagittarius, Pisces, Virgo and Gemini in their horoscope. Don’t know where your degrees are? Order an Astro-Basics Report and you’ll find out. Plus I will tell you how this New Moon and next week’s Full Moon is likely to affect you.

The New Moon was tightly configured with Neptune — suggesting issues of vision, water, oil, lies, victims, drugs would be front and center this cycle. Add to this the need of Sagittarius: to express its righteous opinion and push boundaries. What have we seen so far: righteous protests at Standing Rock over disputed boundaries, an oil pipeline and a fresh water source appear to have been resolved in favor of the rebels with a cause (Uranus in Aries) when the Department of the Army (Mars in Aquarius) announced it would seek an alternate route for the pipeline.

Let the record show that Mars and Uranus are in a pattern known as “mutual reception.” Mars is in the sign ruled by Uranus. Uranus is in the sign ruled by Mars. Thus we expect cooperation between the issues symbolized by the two planets, e.g., innovation and humanitarianism working effectively with martial action. This would be an upside potential. There is also a downside potential. Which would you prefer?

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon is “rocks and things forming therein.” Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee notes that this suggests “the inner space where things like oil, water, diamonds and minerals are formed…crucial resources…[these things] can be material or immaterial.” We are advised to be mindful of opportunities during this cycle to release a pressure cooker of energy that has built up, for purposes that may be creative or destructive. We have a choice between “shoring up old ways” vs. clearing a path for something new.

For the record, when set in Washington DC — the seat of the U.S. government — the New Moon is in the 12th house of the chart — suggesting no small amount of backroom dealing going on — potentially obfuscated with the smoke and mirrors potential of dazzling and duplicitous Neptune. We do not know what we do not know — and this is a concern.

And now, the news.

Old news from the week of November 21st — reflecting what can happen under patterns suggesting heavy thoughts and controls in matters of politics and education, combined with women who are empowered and extremely resourceful. The thinking is broad and idealistic, a bit short on details. Poster children: 1) Betsy DeVos, who is Trump’s pick to become Secretary of Education. She’s a billionaire philanthropist (reflecting the abundance suggested by Venus in Capricorn square Jupiter and Pluto). She’s never gone to public school or sent her kids to a public school — and seems to be against the whole concept of public education (Saturn conjunct Mercury in Sagittarius). Think big! Fun Fact: Ms. DeVos actually has Mercury conjunct Saturn in her horoscope! Born Jan 8 1958 — no birth time available. And she has transiting Pluto about to meet up with her 17 degree Capricorn Sun — suggesting a major change of perspective and potential empowerment. And she will soon be having her second Saturn return, too. What a year she has ahead of her.

Then there’s Jill Stein, who zooms out of nowhere to launch a recount effort in three swing states and is able to raise millions of dollars — $7 million so far of the $9 million needed (because the states involved keep raising their filing fees) — within days. Dr. Stein says the recount is necessary to preserve the integrity of our election system — a righteous opinion indeed. I am sure errors will be found, if those recounts are completed. I am certain because I served as a poll worker on Election Day and saw first hand how human error and ignorance — along with technical snafus — combined to prevent voters from casting a ballot that would count.

Will the recount make a difference? Will the Electoral College vote to elect someone other than the current president-elect when they meet on December 19th? I do not know. However, I am certain that if we act like we are mere spectators in someone else’s drama, nothing will change. For confirmation I give you Beth Owlsdaughter’s Tarot card for the Week — and read the one for last week, too.

Jill Stein is a Taurus with Moon either in Aries or Taurus, with rebel Uranus prominently placed in her horoscope. Her fun fact is her Mars at 22 Virgo — provoking Donald Trump’s Sun-Moon opposition in Gemini-Sagittarius. And also likely provoking Hillary Clinton’s sensitive Pisces Moon if that Moon is at 22 Pisces. Another fun fact: Dr. Stein’s Sun and Mercury are at 23 Taurus, shining their light on Trump’s Midheaven (point of career and status). One could argue that without Dr. Stein’s energy in the race, Mr. Trump would not be where he is today. Astrology is amazing.

Meanwhile…

On Friday mental Mercury was at the very last degree of opinionated, foreign-oriented Sagittarius. This is also the Aries Point, suggesting broad-reaching opinions and transmissions would be prominent in the headlines. The current president-elect has been pleased to reflect this potential, indulging in a phone call with the leader of Taiwan (a country the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with, thereby upsetting China); and tweeting 1) that he actually won the popular vote because that millions of votes were cast illegally; and 2) that SNL is not funny. Factually, one of those tweets is a lie; the second is a matter of opinion.

The United States is not the only country facing upsets and uncertainty in these interesting planetary times. The Prime Minister of New Zealand resigned. So did the Prime Minister of Italy, after a so-called populist coalition defeated an alleged establishment-backed referendum. In Austria, a right-wing populist was defeated in a re-do of the presidential election; the victory went to an independent who — according to this Guardian article — successfully addressed concerns that had made his rival so appealing in the first vote. There is a lesson to be learned here.

That’s it from me today. More inisghts can be had as follows: Book a consultation to get clarity on what you can expect in your own personal world in 2017. Order a written report for yourself or a friend. Get the 2017 Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmarks — the next retrograde happens on December 19th! I will happily send you one for $3.88 or three for $5.99, along with a personalized note of thanks for your support. Just click on that link to the Cosmic Tip Jar to make payment. Then reply to this forecast with your postal address and I will send bookmarks to you with good cheer and gratitude!

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 11/23/2016: Let’s Talk Turkey; Bookmarks Are Back!

Alll-righty then!

Writing this during a Moon void in Virgo, seeking to fulfill its mission to be exacting, perfecting and right. Its been drifting since 12:41PM ET and it won’t be fully in gear (in Libra) until 2:42PM ET on WEDNESDAY. During voids we are advised to stick to routine matters and roll with whatever twists and flakes that crop up in efforts to move forward in a straight line. Chill!

Once the Moon enters Libra on Wednesday, the focus shifts to partnership and relationship concerns: fairness, diplomacy, people-pleasing, social graces. This is the need that carries through Thanksgiving — more on than in a minute.

Get your Black FRIDAY deals done before 8:52AM ET — Moon goes void at that time until 3:01AM ET on SATURDAY. Not a time for impulsive shopping, as such purchases often fail to prove as useful as you hoped. Don’t believe me? Test the theory yourself.

SUNDAY and MONDAY are dead Moon days. We’ll be in the last phase of the lunar cycle, presumably wrapping up projects launched on last month’s New Moon on the 30th. Without the light of the Moon to reflect the energy of the Sun, we may feel restless or listless during this time. We sense something new is about to begin, but we don’t know what. Moon will be void on Sunday between 4:48PM ET until 3:46PM ET on MONDAY. So if you’re taking an extra day for the Thanksgiving holiday, you’re not likely to miss much. The New Moon in Sagittarius begins on TUESDAY at 7:18AM ET.

Planetary patterns of note this week include the following:

On Monday at 4:23PM ET, Sun left Scorpio for Sagittarius. Whereas Scorpio seeks to control and master; Sagittarius pushes boundaries. Even if it trips over its feet. Whereas Scorpio expresses suspicion — and keeps its hand close to its chest. Sagittarius expresses optimism — and its opinions. Even if its foot lands in its mouth. If you are a Sagittarius born in the back half of the sign, you may be feeling squeezed, depressed, anxious and/or pressured to advance. If you are a Sagittarius born ten days into the sign, you may be feeling lost or dreamy. Would you like to talk about it? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Mercury has been hot during the first half of the week. It’s also in Sagittarius, suggesting that collective mindset and communication are also pushing boundaries and tripping over the furniture. Mercury in Sagittarius is not known for its attention to detail, though today it was in a cooperative connection with Jupiter (expansion and publishing are two Jupiter keywords). On WEDNESDAY it meets up with authoritative Saturn, suggesting some heavy limiting opinion landing on a front page near you — possibly from the same source that pushed boundaries the day before. Be kind to your inner bipolar child. By Friday, Mercury will be in harmony with tech-savvy Uranus, which bodes well for tech topics and unconventional thinking hitting the news.
The big aspect this week is the first of three potent squares between “resistance is futile” Pluto in Capricorn and expansive Jupiter in Libra, suggesting a burst of action/expansion/destruction involving matters of power and resources, including news from underground. This is exact on THURSDAY at 5:42PM ET, just as many Americans will be sitting down to a Thanksgiving feast with relatives who Voted For the Other Candidate. Yikes! In Libra, Jupiter may expand a need for rational debate, fairness and balance — while avoiding unpleasant emotional conflict at all costs. Good luck with that, given Jupiter’s challenge from Pluto — and see #4 below. The second square between Jupiter and Pluto happens on March 30th. The third Jupiter-Pluto square happens in early August.
Venus — which refers to social expression, money, arts and women — is heavily engaged with Jupiter and Pluto — and we are feeling this expansive charge now. On the one hand, Venus with Jupiter suggests generosity to the point of indulgence — wretched excess. The two make an exact connection on Friday at 8:45AM ET. Venus in a challenging focus with Pluto suggests a ruthless perspective that may be cathartic and empowering. It is exact on Friday at 6:48AM ET. One possible scenario: stuffing your feelings with a third helping of pumpkin pie, so as to avoid an unpleasant — albeit cathartic — debate with Uncle Joe or Cousin Sue. Also reflecting Venus (money), expanded and empowered by Jupiter and Pluto: the stock market set another record this week — the Dow is up over 19,000; other markets also hits record highs. Coincidence or conspiracy?

I have a ton of other news to report — so much that I am going to break this forecast into two parts, and finish the news segment — hopefully tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that the 2017 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide bookmarks are in! Get one and you’ll always know when Mercury is retrograde, along with Important Mercury Retrograde Safety Tips. I will happily send you one for $3.88 or three for $5.99, along with a personalized note of thanks for your support of this forecast. Just click on that link to the Cosmic Tip Jar to make payment. Then reply to this forecast with your postal address and I will send them to you with good cheer and gratitude!

Avid Reader Bonnie says:

That bookmark was awesome. I kept it in my datebook and referred to it many, many times during the retrogrades :)

Avid Reader Patricia raves:

Your book markers have been a major success, everyone I gave them to loves them. So the big question is are you going to be doing it again? because if you are I want 10.
Thank you.

You’re welcome! And yes I am ! These make great stocking stuffers — and they’re super-timely, as the next Mercury Rx begins on December 19th!

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Astro-logical Forecast for Saturday 11/19/2016 & Then Some: Neptune Direct; the Bubble Bursts

Happy day driven by Moon in rip-roarin’ drama king Leo! Life is a cabaret, old chum. Let the razzle-dazzle, royal edicts begin! Nebulous Neptune colors it all rose, engaged as it is with the personal planets: Mercury and Venus — as noted in Monday’s forecast. Themes of idealism, illusion and lies — for starters — certainly they are all over the news, which we will get to in a minute. Neptune — as you may recall — turns direct tonight at 11:39PM ET. You’re more personally affected by the uptick in idealism, dreaminess, bewilderment and/or potential ego wipeout if you have a planet or other significant point in your horoscope around 8-11 degrees of Pisces, Virgo, Sagittarius and Gemini.

Generally speaking, planetary patterns facilitate a need for a beautiful escape. Pay attention to your dreams now and over the next day or so. Neptune pulling focus suggests a flow of information on the “dogwhistle channel,” which finally breaks through to the conscious mind. Note the symbols and signs. Note also the potential for a ruthless effort at consolidating power and control, suggested by the Sun’s passage through the last few degrees of Scorpio.

No Moon void this weekend is apt for shopping impulses. It’s not too early to be thinking of holiday gifts — someone you love would be thrilled to have a gift certificate for a personal consultation about their horoscope — and with the Moon void at 8:52AM ET on Black Friday, I’m not convinced those deals you scoop up during that Moon void will please. Shop now!

The Sun enters Sagittarius at 4:23PM ET on Monday. No sleeping in.

And now, the news — most all of it related to Neptune: oceans, oil, ships, fraud, water, fantasy…

Dutch warships at the bottom of the Java Sea are missing — believed to have been sold as scrap metal. An untapped oil field three times larger than North Dakota’s Bakken has been discovered in Texas. The Arctic Ocean is now off-limits for oil drilling — for now — says the Obama Administration. J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them premiered in London. In Slovenia, water was declared a constitutional right, not a market commodity. In Miami, Monday’s Supermoon was followed by record-breaking “king tides.”

Meanwhile, JP Morgan settled a bribery case — in which it was accused of hiring the children of Chinese leaders “to win business in the fast-growing nation.” Late Friday, another case was settled — this one a class action suit alleging fraud on the part of Trump University. You may recall Donald Trump tweeting earlier this year that he would never settle — on principle. You may also recall a post here last week noting that the November 28th start date for the trial was on a Moon void that was also dead, suggesting a high flake factor, twist and/or a back-room negotiation. JP Morgan settled its bribery case for $264 million. The president-elect settled his for $25 million. Such a deal.

If you missed the Trump U fraud settlement, perhaps it’s because social media is now all abuzz with news that Mike Pence went to see “Hamilton” on Broadway last night, and he was mostly booed by the audience (some did applaud). At the end of the show, the cast addressed Pence, thanking him for attending the performance and adding — with the idealistic social expression we might expect with Neptune pulling such strong focus this week:

“We, sir — we — are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” he said. “We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”

The president-elect took to Twitter to demand the cast apologize.

Which brings me to the bubble that is showing signs of bursting. And this is one of the bubbles suggested by Saturn (reality, control, authority) in Sagittarius (opinion, publishing, collective belief) square Neptune (surreal, lies, faith) in Pisces (victims, feelings, faith). This was the major planetary pattern of late 2015 until just about now.

The bubble that is bursting is fake news, now that Saturn and Neptune are moving away from each other. Alas, too little, too late. This story cites seven fake stories — most of which I saw posted on various FB pages — that were circulating before the election. This Washington Post interview with fake-news writer Paul Horner is a must must must-read — here’s an excerpt:

You mentioned Trump, and you’ve probably heard the argument, or the concern, that fake news somehow helped him get elected. What do you make of that?

My sites were picked up by Trump supporters all the time. I think Trump is in the White House because of me. His followers don’t fact-check anything — they’ll post everything, believe anything. His campaign manager posted my story about a protester getting paid $3,500 as fact. Like, I made that up. I posted a fake ad on Craigslist.

UPDATE — posted on 12/7/2016 — but written on Nov 22 or so — MORE NEWS!Still more fallout from nebulous Neptune turning direct — real vs. unreal — also reflected in Beth Owlsdaughter’s always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week. This week’s Card is the Page of Swords. He sounds a lot like Mercury in sloppy Sagittarius, coupled with the potential witchy-bitchiness of Venus with Pluto. Fascinating.

Today’s forecast was subtitled “The Bubble Bursts.” One of the SNL sketches generating buzz on Sunday was this one about liberals living in a bubble. Dear liberals, you must visit the Washington Times — Justice Antonin Scalia’s favorite paper. There you will find headlines proclaiming that Donald Trump is looking “very presidential;” and that unarmed protestors at Standing Rock who were blasted with water cannons (in 25 degree temperatures), teargassed and shot at with rubber bullets were “rioting.” No mention at all of the 21-year-old woman who may well lose her arm after being hit with a concussion grenade thrown by a law enforcement officer — and paid for with your tax dollars. It’s a different world in Washington Times land — and here are a few other conservative websites to peruse, courtesy of this helpful article from The Guardian. Get out of the bubble — whichever one you’re living in. With the Sun in Sagittarius, you can afford to explore foreign territory.

Meanwhile, the NYT published a case study of how a fake news story went viral. Also fake: a story about a DC-based pizza joint, Hillary Clinton and pedophiles. But that hasn’t stopped the owner and employees of Comet Pizza from receiving death threats. Not fake — but no less surreal: a video and tweets of clean-cut members of a white nationalist group raising their right arms in a Nazi salute at a dinner gathering in a DC restaurant on November 18th.

Today, the president-elect disavowed white nationalist groups in a meeting with staffers at the New York Times. That meeting — which was canceled via Twitter and then happened anyway — is described by NYT columnist Frank Bruni here. It’s an apt profile of a person with heavy love, love-me-do Leo and dualistic Gemini and Sagittarius ingredients.

Totally serious — thank you, Mercury (thinking) meeting up with Saturn (control): AppNexus is blocking Breitbart.com, alleging evidence of hate speech. This will cut into Breitbart’s revenue stream.

True item about a fake product: there is no evidence of actual aloe vera in the aloe vera gels sold at CVS and Wal-Mart.

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 11/14/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week; the President-Elect’s 2017

Happy Monday!

…in the aftermath of the Full Moon, which was exact at 8:52AM ET. Moon is now void for the next 12 hours, suggesting a focus on routine matters in your Moon-in-Taurus efforts to build and preserve material security. Once the Moon enters Gemini at 8:23PM ET, the focus will be on information and communication — real and unreal, as Moon makes challenging contacts with Neptune and Saturn TUESDAY at 10:53 AM ET and 9:34PM ET, respectively.

Moon will be void on WEDNESDAY at 5:57AM ET until 7:57PM ET, again suggesting a focus on routine matters. Impulse shopping expeditions are not advised. Whatever runaway buzz of a crisis that may dominate headlines on Wednesday is to be viewed cautiously, as crises which crop up during voids often prove to be much ado about nothing. Roll with whatever twists and flakes may deter your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Chill!!

Moon enters Cancer on Wednesday at 7:57PM ET, suggesting a focus on emotional/home/homeland security. Said security may be disrupted by an upset and/or power play as the Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus, at 9:39PM ET Thursday and 7:10AM ET on FRIDAY. Moon will be void between 5:02PM ET and 10:14PM ET. It then enters Leo for the rest of the weekend, carrying out its regally entitled agenda or partying like there’s no tomorrow. Which will it be for you?

Planetary aspects this week include a cooperative aspect between Mercury (thought, information) and Mars (action), facilitating initiative on your brilliant ideas. Said brilliance may be visionary. It may also be delusional, given that Mercury will be challenged by Neptune at 11:04AM ET on Friday, followed by an alignment between Venus and Neptune at 6:04PM ET on Saturday. Neptune aspects come with rose-colored glasses. Buyer beware — unless you’ve consciously signed up for a fantastic escape.

Not only that, but Neptune turns direct at 11:39PM ET on Saturday, ending a five month period of subtle focus on your own dreams and intuition for guidance. When a planet is retrograde, the suggestion is to turn inward on issues involving that planet, as opposed to looking outside the self. You’ll feel the effects of Neptune’s change of station more personally if you were born 8-11 days into Pisces, Virgo, Gemini and Sagittarius…or if you have a planet or angle at 8-11 degrees of those signs. What kind of effects? Oh…perhaps you are feeling somewhat bewildered…or less inclined to be in Type A personality mode (if you are normally a Type A personality). You may find yourself needing to express your creativity — even if you have never thought of yourself as a “creative” person. You may also find being of service richly rewarding.

In the news this weekend, watch for headlines involving Neptune concerns: oil, victims, suffering, forgiveness, music, drugs, scandal, lies, suicide, refugees, rarefied art, spiritual concerns, drinking — to name but a few.

Other planetary patterns to keep in mind as we continue through the year and into year. First, Saturn is now halfway through Sagittarius — at 15 degrees of that sign. Here’s an excerpt from a post dated 1/27/2015 — read the full post for the rest of the story.

The Saturn in Sagittarius lesson here is that the police chief did not like the photo — so much that, according to the promo producer’s boss, he would not give the TV station any more one-on-one interviews. Restricted access (Saturn) for that TV station (Sagittarius). The boss was not happy. He thought the photo the promo producer used made the police chief look like “a buffoon,” if the recording of the conversation made by the promo producer is authentic. Does it look that much different from the one that ran in the New York Daily News? Why, when the police chief refused to grant the TV station any more interviews, didn’t the station make that a news story?

Here’s a detailed post about what we can expect when planets travel through the back half of a sign. Briefly, with Saturn in the back half of Sagittarius through 2017, we see the potential for actions taken to control and incorporate (Saturn) Sagittarius concerns (publishing, collective beliefs, foreigners, travel, broad comedy, broadcasting, religious dogma, sports, opinions).

Consider also that Pluto is now at 15 Capricorn, ruthlessly moving forward on its power agenda of breaking down (Pluto) the Establishment (Capricorn). Consider also that Jupiter — which refers to expansion — has been triggering the series of disruptive Uranus-Pluto squares we experienced between 2012 and 2015. Jupiter is currently at 13 Libra; the squares are triggered when Jupiter hits 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15 degrees of Libra — which it will do several times now and through 2017. So we see the potential for expanded disruption of the status quo, for better or for worse. We live in interesting times.

What do these interesting times have in store for you? Book a personal consultation and move ahead with renewed clarity and confidence — here’s how to contact me.

And now, the news.

Newspaper headlines are expressing concern that the current president-elect’s administration will usher in restrictions on press freedoms. This would be in sync with patterns noted above. Other headlines express concern about surveillance, another way of controlling opinions and publishing. When Melania Trump announced she would campaign against bullying on social media, we see another potential control on freedom of speech/opinion/publishing, for better or for worse.

Meanwhile, media maven Stephen K. Bannon has been named to a special post in the president-elect’s administration. No birth time is available. Born Nov 27 1953. Sun in Sagittarius; I’d argue Moon in Leo — where it would be aligned with his boss’s Leo Mars and Ascendant — but it could be early Virgo, too — and still aligned with his boss. The Moon would be conjoined with Pluto, suggesting added emotional intensity to a regal need for ego recognition (if the Moon is Leo) — or a need to be seen as right (if it is Virgo). Further thought and research is required. What’s hot in what we can see of his horoscope now is transiting Pluto squaring his Mars, suggesting he’s been on a major action plan for empowerment all year and into 2017. His natal Pluto will be eclipsed in August — and possibly his Moon, too — we’d need a birth time to be sure.

UPDATE: I no longer believe Mr. Bannon’s Moon is in Leo — though still likely aligned with his boss’s Ascendant.

Washington insider Reince Priebus has been named White House Chief of Staff. He is a Pisces with the Sun at the Aries Point, destined to attracted prominence and power. His Sun at 28 Pisces is opposed by Pluto at 0 Libra — also the Aries Point. Both are involved with Scheat, a Fixed Star known for its association with intellectuals and shipwrecks. This is likely a sensitive soul who may have felt suppressed in his early home life. His Taurus Moon suggests a need to establish material comfort and security however he may feel things “ought to be.” His naturally buzzing me-me-me Aries mindset is opposed by Uranus, and that’s being supercharged now by transiting Pluto — adding power and persuasion to potentially disruptive ideas.

Also of interest: his Mars at 24 Taurus, just illuminated by today’s Full Moon. His Mars is on his boss’s 23 Taurus Midheaven. 23-24 Taurus corresponds to the Fixed Star Capulus. You will recall that Capulus refers to “male sexual energy” — and we’ve seen in the horoscope of Roger Ailes Donald Trump, Gretchen Carlson, Mick Jagger and David Crosby. Hillary Clinton has her North Node at 24 Taurus.

Really — Gretchen Carlson? Yes — and here is her NYT op-Ed on sexual harassment — published under the illumination of the Full Moon conjunct Capulus. Astrology is amazing.

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

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

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

Back to the president-elect…

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

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Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 11/11/2016 & the Weekend: Full Moon in Taurus; Now What?

Friday is driven by the Moon in me-me-me Aries, seeking to initiate, lead and champion the underdog. That’s on a good day. The downside is a need for combat, self-absorption, macho impulsiveness and falling down stairs because it’s faster than walking. This energy cruises without interference until 6:45PM ET, when it may be blown out of proportion by a contact with expansive Jupiter. At 10:09 PM ET we have a clash between the Moon and Pluto, suggesting a power play that is streamlined effectively by an easy alignment with Saturn minutes later.

Moon goes void on a rebellious meet-up with Uranus at 7:45AM ET on SATURDAY for much of the day — not settling down in Taurus until 9:24 PM ET. A Moon void in Aries sounds like an apt backdrop for a lot of crusading noise, attracting attention — unfocused and ultimately without consequence. No impulse shopping; no freaking out over crises that will likely prove to be much ado about nothing. Chill.

As I type, Venus — money, women, social expression, art — is at the Aries Point at the very end of Sagittarius. It’s demanding prominence for its boundary-pushing, high-flying expression. Is the stock market’s continuing surge reflecting this pattern? I’ll buy it. At 11:55PM ET Venus leaves Sag for crusty Capricorn, seeking to use people and things for its enterprising ambition and social status. Not much compassion with Venus in Capricorn.

Mercury enters Sagittarius on Saturday at 9:40AM, inclined to think broadly without bothering to fine-tune the details. Eh, fix it in post — as we say in the TV and film production world. On SUNDAY, Moon will be Taurus, seeking to establish material security and comfort — however you feel the world ought to be. Good food, drink, music, a massage or snuggle with your sweetie would be excellent forms of self-medication.

You definitely want to look at the Moon on Sunday night. It hasn’t been this close to Earth since 1948 — if memory serves — and it won’t be this close again until 2034. This Super Duper SuperMoon is looming large — right on Donald Trump’s point of professional status and on Hillary Clinton’s point of relationship — one on one — and with the public. If you have a planet or angle around 23 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius, whatever actions were key in your life in June and July are ready for their close-up now.

This Full Moon pits our need for material comfort and preservation (Taurus Moon) against the Scorpio Sun’s energy for breakdown, decay and regeneration. It shines a light on values — what yours vs. what’s ours — including finances. The Sabian Symbols are — for the Moon — “a jewelry shop” and for the Sun — “a bunny metamorphosed into a fairy.” Oh, these Symbols are wicked fun.

Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee advises us that “jewelry” is connected to “joke.” In French, jeu is a game. Bovee notes that buying jewelry requires “some savvy,” as all that glitters is not gold. As for the bunny, Bovee suggests that this is an image of something ordinary transformed into the extraordinary. The word bunny derives from the Scottish word bun — which refers to a rabbit’s tail, “the short stump of the buttocks.” “Bunny” is a diminutive term. How curious to have this Symbol show up now, suggesting the potential for being “the butt of a joke.”

“Fairy” is from the Old French word for fate, says Bovee — also resonating with the word fati — that which is divine or spoken. Bovee advises us to be mindful of “the playful allure of words and enchanting realities; heightened sensitivities about reality issues”….(he lists other potentials — buy his book)…ending with “trading one’s last cow for a handful of beans.”

The Full Moon happens at 8:52 Am ET on MONDAY — and then goes void until 8:23PM ET. During these long voids you may experience the sensation that time is moving at a slower pace. Once the Moon enters Gemini at 8:23PM ET Monday night, I anticipate a buzz of information over the following two days.

And now, the news.

File under Venus (women) in Sagittarius (media, publishing) at the Aries Point: a review of Megyn Kelly’s new book, “Settle For More,” in which she alleges that debate questions were leaked to the Trump campaign beforehand; that the candidate called network executives to complain about it. Then she tells a story of an incident that occurred on the day of the debate which will make some wonder if she was poisoned. The book comes out on November 15th. Here’s what I wrote about her horoscope on August 14th:

Megyn Kelly is a Scorpio with Moon in either Cancer or Leo — we do not have a birth time. A measurement between her Scorpio Sun and Uranus suggests this is a breakout period for her. We’d expect her to be uncompromising in matters of self-expression, and likely get away with it. Another measurement between her Mars (planet of action) and Uranus suggests a higher probability of taking action outside the box, with surprising results that clear the air. These measurements will be in effect for some time. Wouldn’t you say that’s apt, given the unfettered independence she showed in her questioning of Donald Trump in last week’s debate? And the airwaves are still buzzing about it…

In other news, Hillary Clinton won….the popular vote. Donald Trump captured more electoral votes and is our current president-elect. If you have been reading this forecast for a year, you should not be surprised by the outcome. Numb and/or sad, perhaps — but surprised? Not given the strength of Trump’s horoscope. Not in the aftermath of the Uranus-Pluto square, which we would see the potential — based on what has happened when this cycle has been active (e.g., the early 1930s and the mid-60s), for angry disruptions of the established status quo, revolution and demagoguery. Not given how the U.S. horoscope has been hit by this cycle, with all its potential for anguish and skeletons in the closet revealed. Search the archives for gems posted over the years — here’s one about what was going on in the U.S. horoscope in the ’70s, explaining the planetary patterns behind our vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980.

And yes, I know that in the aftermath of the explosive reveal (“grab ’em by the p****”) suggested by planetary patterns on October 7th, I did write that this anticipated wound (as noted in Trump’s horoscope) could serve as the chink in the armor that would lead to a win for Hillary. I admit that I wrote it even as I anticipated a surprise attack on October 29th — which ended up being FBI Director Comey’s red herring letter to Congress about Hillary’s emails. Mea culpa. Should have waited until after the 29th.

Let’s pause for a minute to share a really cool piece of news that has nothing to do with any particular planetary pattern: “Wireless Brain-Spine Connection Overcomes Paralysis in Monkeys”. You may find it uplifting and miraculous, so long as you don’t wonder too much about how those monkeys came to be paralyzed in the first place.

Fun fact: the next Full Moon on December 13th happens at 22 Gemini, opposing the Sagittarius Sun. This axis falls exactly on Trump’s Sag Moon and Gemini Sun. More illumination.

The class action suit against Trump University (charged with fraud) is supposed to begin on November 28th — a day with a dead Moon and a long Moon void. A postponement? A back-room deal? A sudden twist favoring the underdog? One can appreciate why Trump’s legal team would argue for this trial to start after the inauguration. The Electoral College meets on December 19th, and they get to make the final call on who will be the next president.

How is that possible, you may ask, having totally forgotten what you learned in high school civics. Don’t we live in a democracy? No, because if we did, then the winner of the popular vote would be our next president. And no citizen would be denied the right to vote. We live in a republic, crafted by men of a certain class who apparently did not believe that the populace should be trusted to choose the best candidate for the Oval Office. It is fascinating to learn that these electors can vote for whomever they choose. In fact, an elector in Washington State made headlines last week when he announced that if Hillary Clinton won the state, he would not vote her. You can imagine the outrage. And now there’s a petition going around urging electors not to vote for Trump on December 19th. What will they do?

December 19th is when Mercury turns retrograde, ohhhh so close to an exact meet-up with Pluto in Capricorn, suggesting a need for an empowered, possibly ruthlessly persuasive review. On that day Mars will shift into Pisces, after opposing Trump’s 29 Leo Ascendant. We could see the potential for an attack or outburst of energy that day and a few days beforehand.

To be continued…though frankly, I’d much rather talk about YOU. Obviously we’re on track for continued upheaval in 2017. What’s going on in your horoscope? What challenges and rewards may be in store? This is the time to contact me for a personal consultation…with gratitude for the many referrals I’ve received from appreciative clients.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

(from Beth Owlsdaughter’s Tarot Card of the Week)

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Astrology for News Junkies

Tuesday 12/27/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week

Saturday 12/24-25/2016: The Astrology of 2017, Part 1; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto in the Spotlight

Late Weekend 12/17-18 Post: Mercury Retrograde Alert; Mars in Pisces; Going to Carolina in My Mind

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Tuesday 12/12-13/2016: Full Moon in Gemini; Sneak Peek at the Week

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday & Friday 12/8/2016: Jupiter Returns; Pet Rocks & Other Mind-Blowing Sensations

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 12/5/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week; Late New Moon in Sagittarius Observations

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 11/23/2016: Let’s Talk Turkey; Bookmarks Are Back!

Astro-logical Forecast for Saturday 11/19/2016 & Then Some: Neptune Direct; the Bubble Bursts

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 11/14/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week; the President-Elect’s 2017

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 11/11/2016 & the Weekend: Full Moon in Taurus; Now What?

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