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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).

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 8/4/2015: A Venus Conjunct Jupiter Bonus — Cash In!

Arise, go forth  and charge ahead, driven by the pioneering Moon in me-me-me Aries. Yeah, Aries energy can be a little self-absorbed and it tends to fall down stairs because it’s faster than walking, but other patterns exact today are so exuberant! Surely you can tolerate a little impulsiveness to accompany the luscious, luxury-loving potential of Venus (social expression, money, women, aesthetics) meeting up with expansive Jupiter in love-love-love (me-do) Leo (exact at 5:47pm ET).

What may also be on your plate at that time is a little emotional power play or catharsis, as the energy symbolized by the Moon is challenged to change or die by Pluto at 5:50PM ET. That’s your Important Safety Tip for the day.

Meanwhile, if your horoscope is personally affected by the abundance potential of Venus meeting up with Jupiter, you may have cause for celebration. I know I do. Yesterday, two out of the hundreds of people who read this forecast responded to my invitation to express appreciation for my efforts with  generous tips of a monetary kind. How wonderful to feel that my efforts over the past six years (and counting) are worthwhile. Gratitude! And gratitude also to the lovely “Writer in NYC” who sent me a check waaayyyy above and beyond my usual consultation fee, followed by this email:

It was truly a joy to send that check.  You so deserve it!  You gave so generously of your time, energy, thought and heart during our wonderful session!   As I said before, I’ve had many astrological readings in the past.   But never such a thorough and incisive and comprehensive reading as yours !   (Feel free to quote me anonymously)

OK, I did. What a lovely person.

I hope all of you who have planets around 28 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus or the early part of Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces are having pleasurable and expansive experiences…to balance the discipline and structure suggested by Saturn at the end of Scorpio.

And now, the news.

With Saturn making its last trek through the deep, dark waters of Scorpio since June 15th, we could expect unsavory consequences of mishandled or misdirected sexual energy to pull focus again in the news. Saturn entered Scorpio in October 2012; here’s what we expected to be facing. Saturn leaves Scorpio — finally — on September 18th. When it re-enter Sagittarius, we can get back to the business of try to control and limit what everyone thinks, religious dogma, immigration issues, restructuring higher education, the media, the travel industry, etc.

Meanwhile, we have a manufactured scandal about Planned Parenthood, featuring edited videos of fake medical research company representatives trying reeally hard to get Planned Parenthood executives to sell aborted fetuses at a huge profit. Outrage ensued on both sides, but this last-gasp Saturn in Scorpio effort to defund an organization devoted to managing sexual energy was blocked yesterday in the Senate. Did you know that Congress legalized the use of fetal tissue for medical research in 1993? Here’s a recent CNN piece on what researchers were able to accomplish as a result.

Ewwww….do we have to get real about this icky and disturbing topic? Yes, if Saturn in Scorpio has anything to say about it. Life and death are messy.

Rape is another icky and disturbing consequence of misdirected sexual energy we’ve collectively had to get real about in the past two and a half years. Bill Cosby is a lightning rod for this awareness. In case you missed it, here is the cover of New York Magazine featuring the 35 women who described their experience of being sexually assaulted by Mr. Cosby, as transiting Uranus (lightning bolt; disruption of the status quo) continues to made contact with his horoscope. Hard to sweep that image under the rug.

Backtracking a little bit…

I’ve been meaning to share a few items reflecting the “getting back to one’s roots” potential suggested by the Sabian Symbol for the New Moon we had on July 15th. Immediately after the New Moon, England was captivated by an ancient home movie of Queen Elizabeth (then 7 years old), with her mum and uncle Edward (then heir to the throne), apparently learning the Nazi salute. This prompted calls for a closer look at the roots and ties of the British nobility. Meanwhile, President Obama visited Kenya, where his father was born.

Last month in an historic first, President Obama also visited a federal prison. We could expect that ginormous number of citizens incarcerated in the U.S. would be a focal topic now, as transiting Pluto makes contact with Saturn in the U.S. horoscope. This can be a brutal transit, requiring us to get real about unpleasant and inequitable realities unique to our country, e.g., race relations, corruption and prejudice (Pluto) in law enforcement (Saturn), the Confederate flag controversy, etc.

It was interesting that the issue of “confinement” was part of the Sabian Symbol pair in last month’s New Moon. It was also interesting that one of the biggest headlines in the wake of that New Moon was Sandra Bland, who was stopped by a minor traffic offense (failing to signal when changing lanes), ended up being arrested and allegedly killed herself while confined in the county jail. Brutal.

Let’s see…what else…Venus is retrograde…Venus rules copper…and copper is down, squeezed by Saturn perhaps. But we must find a cause for celebration reflecting the upside of Venus conjunct Jupiter — hate to end on a down note.

OK, I have two items. How perfect that a story about the most celebratory song ever written has just made the NYT home page. What is it? “Happy Birthday,” of course. It may become free for everyone, as its copyrighted status has been challenged.

Finally, my favorite website to share when Venus is retrograde: www.unclaimed.org Go there right now and see if any state in which you’ve ever lived is holding some cash for you — e.g., a paycheck, insurance reimbursement, utility deposit, dividend, etc. Venus retrograde is a perfect time to review financial plans and also discover a bit of gelt from your past. Let me know if you find anything. Share the website with all of your friends!

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 4th, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 8/3/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week; Expansion vs. Contraction; Saturn is a Bitch

Good Morning!

I hope your last week went well. My spies report plenty of action in the lives of those whose personal horoscopes were affected by the emotional surge and release of Friday’s Full Moon, which happened with the Sun at 7 degrees of Leo opposing the Moon at 7 Aquarius. Personal vs. impersonal. The need to shine as an individual vs. the needs of the collective. If you were born one week into the signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio….or if you have a planet or angle around 7 degrees of those signs, that means you.

If your horoscope also contains a planet or angle at 28 degrees of Scorpio, Leo, Taurus or Aquarius, you’re likely still processing the pressure of taskmaster Saturn, which turned direct at 28 degrees of Scorpio at 1:53AM on Sunday. Saturn refers to ambition, structure, control, separation and streamlining. When Saturn is active in your horoscope, you may experience feelings of isolation, lack or loss. A productive response would be to turn that realization of loss/lack into a strategy for advance.

Cue Joni Mitchell now, please. Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…

Saturn went retrograde on March 14th. Since then, many may have experienced delays  or been forced to reconsider plans related to structure, discipline and ambition. Now these projects may pick up speed, as Saturn moves forward. If Saturn is sitting on top of a planet or angle in your chart, its contracting pressure is being countered by the expansive drive of Jupiter at 28 Leo, which is exactly square Saturn this morning at 6:37AM ET.  How can things be contracting and expanding at the same time? Exactly. This is the challenge, especially in matters of business and executive authority.

A good example of this conflict hit the NYT on Sunday. Back in April (and reported in this forecast),  the CEO of a Seattle-based company called Gravity made headlines when he decided to pay all of his employees $70K/year because a study concluded that if you’re making $70K/year, you’ll have what you need to be happy. Anything less: unhappy. Anything more: doesn’t make you happier, even though you could buy more stuff and do more things. So how is Gravity doing?  And how cool is it that GRAVITY is making headlines with Saturn turning direct? Saturn is gravitas!

Gravity is expanding at a rapid pace. That’s good, right — and how very Jupiter (expansion)? Yes and no. The company is expanding, but that means it has to hire more people and pay them more than it might have done before the new $70K/yr policy. And the income stream from these new clients won’t kick in for another year. That’s a squeeze — and how very Saturn (contraction, loss). It’s a fascinating story — especially the reaction from his employees over the equalization of everyone’s pay —  check it out here.

Saturn is verrrry active in the horoscopes of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as noted many times before. Today, President Obama will unveil an ambitious slate of controls  in an effort to cut greenhouse gases and reduce global warming. It’s a planet thing — and also a legacy thing.   Meanwhile, Joe Biden is now seriously seriously considering a run for president  — perhaps driven in no small part by the recent passing of his son, Beau. Or so pundit Maureen Dowd opines. As I said…Saturn stimulating ambition out of loss.

But back to the patterns of the day and the week ahead. The Moon is in Pisces, where it has been stimulating an intuitive flow since Saturday at 6:36PM ET. Its need to identify what is ideal is supported by easy connections from Mars (action) and Saturn (structure). Moon goes void at 4:35PM ET. Chill and/or focus on routine matters until 7:24PM ET, when the Moon zooms into Aries and the pace noticeably picks up for the next couple of days.

Here are the highlights for this busy week. First, Venus — which refers to social expression, aesthetics, money and women — reconnects with Jupiter, the cosmic sugar daddy, at 5:47PM ET on Tuesday. Look up in the sky tonight and you’ll see what you may have missed on June 25th when these two brights lights first met up this year.  Venus together with Jupiter suggests abundance and enjoyment — huzzah, huzzah.

Oh. But wait — Venus will be squared by Saturn on Wednesday at 11:08AM ET. Venus challenged by Saturn can put a stern face — literally — on matters ruled by Venus. I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see an update in the NYT on the “bitchy resting face” that first made headlines two years ago under another Venus-Saturn square — and noted in this forecast. Apparently the bitchy resting face is now known simply as the “RBF” — and right now it is the 4th most-viewed story in the NYT, right after the story about Gravity. Coincidence or conspiracy?

As the week progresses, mental Mercury meets up with Venus and squares Saturn (Thursday) and then meets up with Jupiter at the very end of Leo on Friday. So we can expect Mercury-related matters (communication, transportation, etc.) to wrestle with the same theme of expansion vs. contraction.

So much more news to report. I did not mean to take a break, but apparently I needed it. Back now with regular daily updates.

Briefly: Cecil the Lion, whose senseless murder by a presumably self-absorbed and dangerously unaware American dentist first sparked outraged opinion during last Monday’s void of course Moon in animal-loving Sagittarius, along with 17 other planets in Leo…not to mention  Venus retrograde in perfectionist Virgo conjunct the fixed star Regulus. Venus retrograde holds nothing back; the continued public outrage on social media shut down the dentist’s business and he has since gone into hiding. Regulus, by the way refers to honor, integrity and reputation. It is also known as “the heart of the lion”. Yesterday another lion-murdering health care professional made headlines. Astrology is amazing.

Stay tuned…make a donation if you enjoy these musings…or make an appointment to find out what’s happening in your horoscope — and how you can make the most of it.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

August 3rd, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday- Friday 7/27-31: Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

Planetary patterns are light this week, with exact aspects only to the waxing Moon, which reaches its fullness in Aquarius on Friday at 6:43AM ET. But as we have seen in other “light” weeks, a heavy event may pull focus in the planetary lull, as there are plenty of other aspects that are building to exactness (and impact) next week. Stay on track, as the action next week offers rewards on seeds planted now.  Note that the approaching Full Moon suggests a rise in the emotional tide — let that knowledge keep you grounded, even if others are not.

Today’s energy is driven by Moon in Sagittarius, continuing yesterday’s mission of pushing boundaries, the higher (and more high-flying) the better. Sag is optimistic, fiery and opinionated, and its drive fuels the action without any other exact contacts, save for an innovative and accepting connection to Uranus at 10PM ET. What’s your big idea? Have you told the world about it?

On Tuesday, the Moon will be void between 9:37AM and 2:47 PM ET, occupying most of the work day for East Coasters. West Coasters, you’re excused if you happen to sleep in. Moon voids suggest natural breaks in the action, where efforts to move forward in a straight line are more likely to be subject to twists, flakes and delays. Crises that crop up are often much ado about nothing, so if one of those lands on your plate, chill out and roll with it. Avoid spending sprees during voids, as items purchased have an odd way of not being needed. Feel free to defy this maxim if you need to prove it for yourself. Once the Moon enters Capricorn at 2:47PM ET on Tuesday, you’re likely to notice the shift from “wandering” to “engaged” and ready to get down to business. Capricorn needs to makes things happen with earthy practicality and ambition.

On Wednesday, note your dreams upon waking, as the Moon’s connection with Neptune offers a practical vision. Note the potential for an intense emotional power play or catharsis around 2:23PM ET, as the Moon meets up with Pluto.  An upset or other surprise may manifest around 1:51AM ET on Thursday, as the Moon is challenged by disruptive Uranus.

If you’re curious to know what’s going on in your own personal horoscope (as well you should), I invite you to schedule a consultation. I guarantee you will find it accurate, illuminating and helpful. But don’t just take it from me; read what others have to say.

On Thursday, a push for action — for better or for worse — starts the day, as the enterprising Moon is opposed by Mars in emotionally sensitive Cancer at 7:24AM ET. Take it out during your morning workout or some other productive channel, not on your dearly beloveds. With Venus now retrograde, the usual social graces we employ to grease the wheels of our relationships are more likely to be forgotten.  However, “Please” and “Thank you” still work wonders.  Otherwise the day is free and clear until 2:50PM ET, when the Moon goes void for three hours. West Coasters can enjoy an extra-long lunch. At 5:40PM ET, the Moon enters humanitarian Aquarius, looking to be socially significant in a detached and oddly unique way.

On Friday we’ll have the Full Moon in Leo-Aquarius. Stay tuned for details. At 11:27AM ET, Venus will move back into Leo, where it will remain until October 9th. In Leo, Venus suggests social expression that needs to be dramatic, playful, fiery and often regal. How many drama kings and queens can you stand? I can’t wait for the Republican debates next month — can you?

There will be a ton of patterns to talk about later this week, in advance of next week. The two most significant shifts are: Saturn turning direct at 1:53AM ET on Sunday, facilitating the advance of projects that may have been put on hold or reviewed over the past four months; and the first of three squares between Jupiter and Saturn, exact Monday at 6:37AM ET. The second and third squares happen on March 23rd and May 26th, 2016. Jupiter is the principle of expansion; Saturn is the principle of contraction; both mean business, and the square suggests a conflict requiring change. That’s your thumbnail sketch for now.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

To be continued…

 

 

July 27th, 2015 | Tags: , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 7/24/2015 & the Weekend: How to Handle Venus Retrograde

TGIF….

…on a day with Moon in Scorpio, seeking knowledge for the sake of power and control. An artsy or intensely dreamy escape can be yours this afternoon, as the Moon aligns perfectly with rose-colored Neptune. I’m off the museum…

Tomorrow, emotional intensity may be further disrupted by the clash between Mars (action, war, cars, guns, violence) and Uranus (technology, accidents, aviation, seismic activity, shocks to the system, cosmos) at 5:42AM ET.  I say “further” because we usually see these tense aspects reflected in our experience before they become exact. And a quick look at the headlines confirms this:  LaGuardia airport shut down by a power outage (disruption); the closest Earth-like planet yet (possibly) discovered; a 4.0 quake reported in California (so tiny, by earthquake standards — and still it makes headlines); a random shooting in a movie theater in Louisiana. There are other stories reflecting more long-term patterns that I hope I will find time to discuss soon.

There is no Moon void on Saturday to deter your yard sale shopping sprees. Venus turning retrograde at 5:29AM ET is another story.

Venus turns retrograde at 0 degrees Virgo, a placement that suggests a need for refinement and analytical detail in social expression. It’s also a bit of a perfectionist. Venus will move backwards through Leo until September 6th. Then it will move forward again at 14 degrees of Leo, so you can go over what you just went over all over again.

Venus goes retrograde every 18 months. I understand that was a long time ago, so let’s review the basics. Ready?

Venus refers to how we need to express ourselves socially. It also refers to women, art, beauty and money. In health matters, Venus refers to the belt line area of the body (and internal organs at the belt line, as well as the thyroid and the throat).  Venus also rules copper, which is an important indicator of economic growth in the commodities markets.

In our social interactions, Venus is the sugar that sweetens our needs and demands, facilitating cooperation in relationships. When direct in motion, Venus supports social graces and words like “please” and “thank you”. When retrograde, courtesy and consideration do not come so easily — and relationships suffer the consequences. The image I hold of Venus retrograde is one of those old-fashioned sardine cans — the ones where you had to use a key to open them. Roll back the lid of the sardine can and there you have it: stinky fish exposed, for all to see. There’s no hiding that smell.

Venus retrograde often presents a relationship, material or aesthetic challenge wherever it is traveling in your horoscope.

Generally speaking, tried and true connections may be strained, but durable. Less sturdy bonds may snap. All that fishy smell can mess up your aesthetic senses, too. Be very careful about starting a fling with that hot new thing during this time period, lest ye awaken in a month or so with buyer’s remorse — or worse — the horrible panicked aftermath of a coyote date. This applies to all partnerships, not just romantic ones.

Exercise caution in matters of decor. If you’re planning on redecorating, pick your colors out now, rather than during Venus retrograde. Putting in an offer on a new home? The value of the home may be inflated; make sure you’re not paying too much. Look under the rugs, kick the tires — make sure you’re not seduced by surface charm covering up so much…stinky fish.

What good can come out of Venus retrograde? Plenty!

Artistic and creative projects you abandoned may be ripe for a second chance at completion. You may REconnect with a past love. You could REview your handling of financial matters; perhaps there is room for some REorganizing and REstructuring.  You may find yourself REconsidering the value of all of your relationships during the month of August, but there’s likely no need to make an impulsive leap forward or a major break. You may even REconsider the value of what you value, including money.

So that’s Venus retrograde.

On Sunday, Uranus will follow suit — please refer to Monday’s forecast for thoughts on that. The Moon will be void between 5:14AM ET and 8:24AM ET. Then it blasts into Sagittarius, likely lifting spirits for the next two days. No sleeping in on Monday….

July 24th, 2015 | Tags: , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Sunday 7/20-26/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week, Part 1

Good Morning!

Moon is in Virgo today, where it has been since  8:47PM ET on Saturday.  Use its organizing and discerning energy to put things right in your world today. Your efforts can be supported by an easy flow of communication and action, as the Moon makes contact with Mars (action) and Mercury (mindset) at 7:3oAM ET and 11:02PM ET, respectively. Refine, revise, reform….with an eye towards perfection and service.

Construction, stabilization and productive use of time is supported by two other easy flows among Sun and Mercury in emotional security-conscious Cancer and Saturn in reality check Scorpio. Those aspects are exact tomorrow at 7:08AM ET (Sun-Saturn), and Wednesday at 1:51PM ET (Mercury-Saturn). Use these building blocks well!

The smooth flow of planetary patterns at the start of this week give way to more excitement towards the end. After a brief Moon void on Wednesday (6:06AM ET – 9:23AM ET), Moon enters Libra and attempts to find balance, social graces and fairness in relationship — at least in theory. Note the potential for an emotional catharses or  power play around 1:36PM ET when the Moon is challenged by ruthless Pluto. Late Wednesday night, the Sun leaves Cancer for drama queen Leo. Mercury follows suit on Thursday (8:15AM ET) and then meets up with the Sun (3:24PM ET). This suggests a certain stubborn and fiery idealism in thought and communication.

Early Thursday the peace-seeking Libra Moon is further rattled by conflict and upsets from Mars and Uranus (12:04AM ET and 3:02AM ET) — exciting, if you’re working the night shift. Patterns are relatively supportive for the rest of the day on Thursday, though be advised that the Moon will be void between 2:12PM ET and 10:07PM ET. That’s a good time to focus on routine matters and roll with any twists that may crop up in your efforts to move forward in a straight line.  Crises during voids tend to be much ado about nothing.

If you work in a mercurial business such as the media, where you have daily deadlines, you’re more likely to notice these “road to nowhere” crises. When I was working onsite in TV news, I can’t tell you how many times a “hair on fire” project would show up during a void, and somehow fizzle out after the void was over — but not before a number of tech snafus and other flaky events that could have raised my stress levels if I were less informed. So CHILL if this happens to you.

Friday’s fun includes a tense and stubborn First Quarter Moon at 12:04AM ET, as the Moon, now in control and depth-seeking Scorpio, is challenged by the regal Leo Sun. Whatever agenda you set on last week’s New Moon may now be adjusted. A dreamy flow between Neptune and the Moon at 4:41PM ET aids your need for a weekend escape.

Humming in the background on Friday are three significant patterns exact on Saturday and Sunday. First, the other shoe of last Wednesday’s face-off between Mars and Pluto drops at 5:42AM ET. That would be rebel Uranus (aviation, seismic activity, accidents, sudden outbursts, technical breakthroughs, astrology) in a hard aspect to Mars (action & assertion, for better or worse).  Second, Uranus pulls focus again on Sunday at 6:38AM ET when it turns retrograde at 20 degrees of Aries.  It  will back up to 16 degrees before turning direct again on December 26th.

When a planet is retrograde, the energy it represents is best expressed by turning inward, instead of outward. When direct, Uranus tends to rebel against the status quo set by others. When retrograde, Uranus needs to set itself free from limits that are self-imposed. So if you have a planet between 16 and 20 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn…or if you were born around the 10th of April, July, October or January, you can expect an intense second hit of issues you’ve recently experienced (i.e., since April),  involving freedom, independence, being yourself without compromise, sudden revelations and upsets of the status quo.  Exhibit A: Bill Cosby, whose status has definitely been disrupted, as predicted in this forecast last year — with more to come all this year and into 2018 (because after Uranus is done with Mr. Cosby’s Cancer Sun and Aries Ascendant, Pluto will take over).

The Sabian Symbol for this year’s Uranus retrograde is this: “a pugilist entering the ring”. Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee suggests we apply this symbol to “the focused contest between social organization and individuality; the natural inclination to define one’s space; finding the range of one’s power, the impact of one’s punch”.  What are we fighting for? Are we championing a noble cause or are we just in it for ego recognition, born of insecurity? Will we inspire the world with our battle cry or will we just throw a temper tantrum and never mind the damaging consequences of our actions? Aries can go either way — big baby or warrior-hero — what will it be?

Third, Venus — which refers to women, aesthetics, social expression and values/worth — also turns retrograde. That happens at 5:29AM ET at O degrees of Virgo. In Leo, Venus needs a dramatic, playful, heart-centered expression of affection and values. In Virgo, such expression is likely to be more analytical and refined in its quest for perfection. It can also be priggish and hypercritical.  Venus has been in Virgo since 6:38PM ET on Saturday (last weekend), so perhaps you’ve already noticed the shift.

Tomorrow I’ll post some helpful guidelines for handling this year’s Venus retrograde. I’ll also recap the news — always amazing to see the synchronicity between planetary patterns and the headlines. Isn’t it fun to have a sense of what’s going to happen before it makes news? I’m only planning to post two forecasts this week — and I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.

Meanwhile, why not find out more about what these planetary patterns mean to you? Consider that an invitation to schedule a personal consultation. Find out why you are the way you are, what you need in order to feel fulfilled, and what opportunities you can create for yourself now and in the near future. Astrology is amazing.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

July 20th, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 7/16/2015: Shine On, Leo Moon!

East Coasters, your day starts with an easy flow between stabilizing Saturn and the intuitive Cancer Moon at 7:24AM ET.  It launches a brief Moon void (yes, there really IS one this morning) for a few hours, until 10:15AM ET. From then on, Moon will be in sunny Leo, cruising with no contact from other planets until early SATURDAY morning. Then it does make contact with a planet before going void. This does not happen very often. In fact, I can’t remember if it’s ever happened since I started writing this forecast over six years ago.

What are we do to with all this Leo lunar energy, flowing without static for almost 48 hours? How about what Leo does best: shine, shine, shine — love, love, love — play, play, play. Which doesn’t mean take the day off…but perhaps incorporate this heart-centered energy into every facet of your routine: work, relationships – and yes, play. Weren’t we just talking about the heart in yesterday’s New Moon forecast? Yes, indeed. Here’s another perspective on the potential of this New Moon and the seeds we can plant now, courtesy of the lovely and talented Tarot diva, Beth Owlsdaughter.

There’s no lack of stimulation to inspire your creativity, as mental Mercury is still buzzing from its encounter with Mars and Pluto yesterday. On Saturday, it buzzes even more when it connects with innovative Uranus — but we’re feeling the build-up now. Genius or just plain nuts? Maybe a little of both.

The downside of Leo is the potential for drama queens and kings to seize the stage. However, many of them can be tamed by a wee bit of applause. OK, a lot of applause. That’s your secret weapon for managing anyone who was born with a Leo Moon.

Here’s a little exercise/meditation I learned from a most excellent teacher with Moon in Leo (many Leo Moons are shine in a classroom as well as on stage). Ready? OK. When was the last time you gave someone a compliment? Why not express appreciation at every opportunity over the next two days? If that’s feels like overkill for you, then try to give at least three compliments each day, especially if you are someone who does not hand them out like Kleenex at a funeral. Note how it feels, as well as the response. See how creative some people can be at deflecting your sincere admiration. Isn’t that interesting? What’s up with that?

And what about you? How well do you receive a compliment? Why do you think this is so? Extra bonus points for giving yourself a big compliment when you look in the mirror each morning. Go ahead, do it now.

What did you come up with? How did it make you feel?

You are awesome. Thank you for reading this forecast.

July 16th, 2015 | Tags: , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 7/15/2015: New Moon in Cancer

Dead Moon or not, the early part of today looks busy — especially in the wee hours while you were sleeping. First the sensitive Cancer Moon met up with Mercury and Mars – then opposed Pluto at 4:10AM ET. A need for emotional security is given the potential for expressive communication and action, followed by a catharsis or power play. How wild  and intense were your dreams?

At 10:08AM ET Mars (action) is opposed by Pluto (underground, underworld), suggesting more than the average amount of force and persuasion. At 7:38PM ET mental Mercury takes no prisoners when it is also opposed by Pluto. An empowered perspective or a verbal lashing may be yours, especially if you have a planet or angle around 14 degrees (halfway through) Aries, Libra, Capricorn and Cancer.

In between that turbulent threesome, more revelations and/or disruptions may pop up, as the Moon is challenged by rebel Uranus. So much action…and we don’t even get to today’s main event — the New Moon — until 9:24PM ET. Finally you can light a candle, make a list and set your intentions for the next lunar cycle!

The Moon functions well in Cancer, the sign it rules. Here it seeks to fulfill a need for emotional/homeland security Y’know, core foundational concerns. Are you standing on solid ground? Where is your home? Tell me about your family, your mother, your ancestors. How are you being nourished and nurtured? How are you nurturing others?

We are challenged this month to think deeply about these core foundation concerns.  Don’t like what you’re standing on — or standing for? Sending the wrong message, are you? Then use the penetrating perspective and force of this particular New Moon to change it.

As if on cue, the  daily news digest delivered to my emailbox by the good folks at The Washington Post featured this “BIG IDEA” headline: “A New Conservative Self-Help Manifesto From the Head of the AEI“. Here’s the opening paragraph:

 Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, is positioning his think tank to play a bigger role in 2016, offering more issue briefings and debate preparation for candidates. His new book out this week, “The Conservative Heart,” can be read as a communications manual of sorts. It also prods GOP leaders to outline a conservative social justice agenda. “Forget the scapegoats,” Brooks writes. “When the vast majority of Americans agree that conservatives are not compassionate, the time has come for a little introspection. The central problem is not what others say about us. It is what we say about ourselves.”

The timing of this book’s publication fits perfectly with planetary patterns. Perhaps it motivated the Oklahoma Republican Party to delete its Facebook post comparing food stamp recipients to animals. Ditto for Donald Trump’s tweet with him pictured next to an image of Nazi soldiers.

Interesting to note how another heart caused a stir yesterday — the one seen on Pluto. That planet is named for the Lord of the Underworld — a deity not known for its warm and fuzzy compassion. Who knew?

Plutoapproach-640x640

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon at 24 Cancer seems daunting at first: “a woman and two men on a bit of sunlit land facing south.”  Huh? Thank goodness Blain Bovee wrote a book to help us figure it out: “This is an image of a classic love triangle, the challenge of choosing personal affinities born of the heart“.

Again with the hearts. Must be reflective of Jupiter and Venus nearing the end of Leo, that great-hearted sign.

Bovee suggests that a choice between two perhaps worthy but different options must be made. Consider that Arthur Brooks used to be a “liberal bohemian musician”. What was sacrificed in order for him to be where he is right now?

Bovee suggests we apply this Sabian Symbol with a mind to “the challenge of choosing one’s path in life; finding oneself in triangulated situations; feeling confined in the world; confinement as spiritual freedom; toying with the hearts of others; withholding one’s favor”. And also this: “finding that even the love of God involves a third party”. That one is deep. Have to think about it. Meanwhile, look for headlines reflecting these themes coming soon to a newspaper near you.

You are more personally affected by this potent New Moon if you have a planet or angle at around 24 degrees of Aries, Libra, Capricorn — and especially Cancer. If you do not know the degrees of your planets and angles, consider ordering the Astro-Basics Report here — or book a consultation to find out why you are the way you are, and what opportunities you have to become more empowered in the next several months.

And now, a bit of news.

Reflecting the potential for extreme force that transforms one’s perspective of core foundation issues, the wizards at the Giant Atom-Smashing Hadron Collider announced the discovery of a new particle: the pentaquark. Like the Higgs boson, the existence of this particle was first posited on the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in the mid-60s. So cool and apt that it would materialize now, on the Uranus-Pluto square.

Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with your friends. You are sharing it with your friends, aren’t you? Much gratitude to you for doing so.

July 15th, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 7/14/2015: Power & Control; Ambition and Perspective

My spies tell me that yesterday’s Mercury-Neptune alignment (translation: mindset influenced by idealism, vision or escapism) was especially spacey. I can appreciate that feeling, given that we’re still dealing with a “dead” Moon…in Cancer, btw. Cooking at home tonight? What a lovely idea…

Mercury-Neptune aspects may be bewildering, but they also reflect the sublime. For example, I was on the subway at 3PM ET, 14 minutes before the exact Mercury-Neptune trine. My ride downtown was embellished by a barbershop quartet’s rendition of “Under the Boardwalk”, followed within two minutes by a jazz saxophonist. Both performances were pretty darn good, above and beyond the usual subway talent. Neptune does refer to music….

And now, the news.

I’ve reading about the state budget Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) signed into law on Sunday, just after 4:30PM in Waukesha, WI. The budget cuts funding for education and conservation, replaces the words “living wage” with “minimum wage” and other fun things Governor Walker says will “benefit taxpayers”. The horoscope for the budget signing has Saturn (control) in Scorpio exactly on the Ascendant, squaring Venus (money, social expression, women, aesthetics) There is nothing fun about that aspect. It’s harsh. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Saturn-Venus aspects are also reflected in stories of “women of steel”. Here’s one about a woman who survived a plane crash in Washington state….

The streamlining potential of this Venus-Saturn aspect, combined with the force of Mercury (mindset) and Mars (action) in Cancer (homeland security) challenged by Pluto (perspective, transformation, power, plutonium) is reflected in a rare ALL CAPS headline on the NYT: IRAN AND 6 WORLD POWERS REACH DEAL TO CURB ITS NUCLEAR PLANS. In exchange for the “curbs”, it seems that economic sanctions will be lifted, resulting in this joyful reaction from some Iranians.  This makes sense when you consider that Saturn symbolizes ambition and advance, as well as limits and controls. It is up to us to decide how it energy will be used. Meanwhile, over at the Washington Times you can see how homeland security concerns shaped its headline for the story: “Iran Reaches Landmark Nuclear Deal After Compromise on UN Inspections”. Ditto for some members of Congress, where heads may well explode.

And then there is Pluto the planet,  which is also pulling big  focus this week, as NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft zips by it. How big is it? Bigger than was thought…

When Pluto is active in your own unique horoscope, you are challenged to transform your perspective, often with considerable effort. Resistance is futile….and it’s an experience you might want to know about beforehand, so you can plan a strategy for maximizing opportunities. Here’s how to contact me to schedule a personal consultation.

July 14th, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 7/13/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week

Good morning!

A dreamy buzz drives the day, courtesy of the Moon in information-junkie Gemini. Talk, talk and more talk. The dreamy part is the inspiration suggested by an easy connection between mental Mercury and nebulous Neptune, exact at 3:14PM ET.  This is wonderful if you’re a poet or some other visionary creative type. It’s also useful if you’re trying to sell someone a bridge in Brooklyn. Mercury-Neptune aspects suggest a tendency to see things through rose-colored glasses.

The reality check arrives as we move into the later part of evening and Tuesday, courtesy of a tense aspect between Venus (money, aesthetics, women and social expression) and stern Saturn. This is the aspect that coincided with the first big story I noticed about the so-called “bitchy resting face”. Seriously. Better to be a creditor than a debtor with that aspect in the cosmos. Here’s what hit the news on another tough Venus-Saturn day a couple of years ago (including the bit about the bitchy resting face).

Note that we are in the dark side of the Moon. The new cycle starts on Wednesday at 9:24PM ET when the Sun and Moon meet up in Cancer. Between now and then you may feel a bit listless or restless, sensing that a fresh start is just on the horizon, but you can’t quite see it yet. This is a good time to wrap up projects begun on the last New Moon and think about your intentions for the next cycle. It’s also a good time to negotiate or take action on a matter you’d like to keep fairly under wraps. It’s the dark of the Moon, after all.

And as if on cue, here’s a article that just showed up in my newsfeed about the start of a military exercise in Texas called Jade Helm. Maybe you heard about this operation back in March or early May, when conspiracy theories about its true nature ran amok. Said theories were ridiculed by Jon Stewart. In any event, the exercise is presumably now underway, and media observers are strictly prohibited. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Certainly military/militant themes are favored this week, as warrior Mars in homeland security-focused Cancer joins forces with Mercury and opposes potent Pluto on Wednesday. That configuration suggests action and mindset that is potentially ruthless and/or explosive. It is fascinating to look at the headlines on the NYT home page right now: Japan arms makers want to sell to new markets aboard; a treasure trove of WWII history has been revealed in the form of boxes and boxes of letters written by an army private to his wife in Brooklyn; the firing of a female commander in the Marines is controversial; 23 are dead in the collapse of a military barracks in Russia.

More news…

When I was drafting the forecast last night, I read that Governor Scott Walker was probably going to announce his bid for president today. And in fact, he has. A launch video has been posted — in the dark of the Moon — and the New York Times writes about it thusly:

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who built a national conservative following by crippling public employee unions and then defeating a forceful effort to recall him, announced on Monday that he is running for president as a Washington outsider whose taste for big fights would lead to a smaller federal government.

All those words in italics are an apt reflection of the potential of this week’s planetary patterns. They also reflect patterns in Scott Walker’s horoscope, which I first wrote about in early 2011. 

Also reflecting this week’s planetary patterns: the announcement that a “deal” has been reached so that Greece can have a bunch of money and still stay in the EEU. It happened in a “breakthrough” negotiating session early this morning. Speaking of breakthroughs, we’ve just had a significant pattern suggesting breakthroughs in the form of last night’s challenge between the Sun and innovative Uranus.

OK, so what kind of deal is it? “Draconian…harsh…vindictive” are some of the words being bandied about. And not only that, notes the linked article above:

In order to get these desperately needed funds, the radical left government of Alexis Tsipras had to submit to draconian economic reforms that the Greek people had rejected in a referendum barely a week before.

Enjoy today’s dreaminess. We’re off to the start of a volatile week.

On a lighter note…

Add the surprising jolt of Sunday’s Sun-Uranus square to this week’s focus on Mars-Pluto (explosive, news from underground), and it’s fun to see this item about  scientists who were looking for lobster larvae and instead found “Huge and Ancient Volcanoes Discovered Off the Coast of Sydney”.

For another jolt — but hopefully one that will make you smile — check out this video that first launched on Valentines’ Day, on a Venus- Mars meet-up in boundary-dissolving Pisces. It was making the rounds on the internet again on Sunday. Love, love, love…though my money says Scott Walker would hate it.

Last, but hardly least, if you are enjoying these forecasts and wondering what’s going on in your own unique horoscope, I invite you to wonder no more! Schedule a personal consultation and we will have an enlightening and Really Super Useful conversation about who you are and where you are likely heading.  I also invite you to support my efforts to keep you up-to-date on planetary patterns, improve your timing and better understand why things are happening in the world. How? By sharing this forecast with your friends. If you would also like to express your appreciation by making a donation, you would really make my day.

Oh — almost forgot — your Moon voids for the week: Monday 11:31PM ET until Tuesday 2:14AM ET and Thursday 7:24AM until 10:15AM ET. We’re not due for a lengthy Moon void during business hours until the 23rd, which will make some people very happy. If you are new to the forecast (welcome!) and unfamiliar with these natural cosmic rest periods, here’s a full explanation.

July 13th, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | | Leave a comment

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 7/10/2015 & the Weekend: Living in Interesting Times; Shades of Venus Retrograde in Leo

TGIF!

Today’s Taurus Moon is tinged with the pixie-dust of Wednesday’s alignment between Mars (action!) and Neptune (vision). Sprinkle it onto whatever you need to build comfort and security through late Saturday, and you’ve got it made.   There is no Moon void today or tomorrow to misguide your shopping sprees. You could seriously indulge in regal luxury, encouraged by lunar contacts with Venus and Jupiter in Leo.

Note the potential for a moment of stern sobriety around 5:52PM ET, as the Moon is challenged by Saturn and then digs in its heels during a two-hour Moon void. Chill! The pace lightens up at 8:16PM ET when the Moon enters Gemini. Now you can talk about it, with wit and charm.

Sunday features a dreamy challenge between the Gemini Moon and nebulous Neptune around 1:19PM ET. Art, music, water…that all sounds good. At 10:53PM ET, the Sun is challenged by a disruptive square from rebel Uranus, and I expect we’ll be feeling the buzz of impending shake-ups well before then. Watch the headlines for tech breakthroughs, cosmic revelations, revolutions and other quirky upstarts.

Next week there’s even more rock and roll potential, when Mars, planet of action and Mercury (mindset, communication) tangle with potent Pluto in a super-charged New Moon happening on Wednesday. Stay tuned.

And now, the news.

The debate was contentious and emotional, as expected. In the end, the Confederate flag was voted off the island by the South Carolina House of Representatives. Why, then,  would any member of the U.S. Congress try to sneak a provision permitting this controversial flag to be flown on federal grounds into a House bill?  Y’know, history and heritage, suggested by a few planets currently in Cancer, clinging to the past.  How appropriate that this account of yesterday’s failed effort opens with these four words: “The anguished national debate…”

Why is that appropriate? Because “anguish” expresses beautifully what one may experience when ruthless Pluto makes contact with Saturn (structure, law, karma) in a horoscope. And as I’ve noted before, that’s what is going on the U.S. horoscope from now into early 2016. Anguishing. But times are changing. People are waking up.

Take this item, for example. Incorporating themes of deception (Mars trine Neptune), power plays, revelations and energy resources (Sun in touch with Pluto and Uranus), this story reveals how Exxon apparently knew quite well thirty years ago how the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere might impact the planet.  But this did not stop the world’s largest oil company from spending millions over the next few decades promoting climate change deniers. Surreal.  But now we know.

Meanwhile, a power play and a disruption of the status quo happened in Florida when its  Supreme Court ruled against gerrymandering in eight Congressional districts. The districts have been ordered to be re-drawn before the 2016 elections. Quite a shift.

Oh but it is Friday. Surely I can find something light and amusing for the weekend. It can be challenging in these interesting times! Oh — here’s one that might make you cheer. Take it in the spirit of Venus, now in its shadow period, ready to turn retrograde on July 25. It’ll back up through drama queen Leo, and social graces shall be tossed out the window unless you’re very, very mindful. Ready?

So Broadway diva Patti LuPone was on stage the other night, and she was not at all amused by a woman in the audience who persisted in texting during the performance. Ms. LuPone would not stand for this rudeness. Presumably the crowd went wild. In other news, over the weekend a theater patron thought it would be awesome if he could plug his cell phone into an outlet….which happened to be on stage. The outlet wasn’t real, of course…given that it was part of a set. Who are these people anyway? What in the world is going on in their horoscopes? Thank goodness you won’t be tempted to fall into boorish behavior, since you’re up to speed on planetary patterns. For details on how these patterns affect you personally, consult your local astrologer.

UPDATE: The texting theatergoer incident happened on Wednesday, a day which was predicted to be volatile, with communication and computer issues (symbolized by Mercury) prominent. Also happening on Wednesday: a computer glitch grounds United Airlines and shuts down the NYSE. Rumor has it that public transportation in DC was also not functioning as designed. In London, the Tube was shut down by a strike. Astrology is amazing.

It could be a long, hot summer.

Searched in vain to close with an adorable cat video from my Facebook feed. Have to make do with latest from next week’s Pluto fly-by… enjoy!

 

July 10th, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | | Leave a comment
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